Chapter 528: Capturing the Four Counties

On the carriage, Wei Zhuang handed over a pot of hot tea and asked, "Cheng Feng, are we going to Hong Village now?"

"To Hong Village." Cheng Feng took the tea. "Call everyone together. We leave the city at daybreak today."

He lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and gazed at the figure still standing at the alley entrance, until the carriage turned a corner and the figure could no longer be seen.

After leaving the county seat, Cheng Feng went to Hong Village.

Da Hei, a major combat force of the Hong Sect, was still there!

Just thinking about that snake head as big as a carriage and that powerful snake tail—it was the perfect choice for attacking a city!

Furthermore, Cheng Feng was considering whether to move its nest...

Da Hei was too big now; it was hard to hide.

If outsiders saw it, they might just kill the snake for its meat to advance their Martial Dao.

The people of Hong Village were very enthusiastic and insisted that Cheng Feng stay for lunch.

Cheng Feng did not decline; he sat at a table with several village elders, eating simple, home-cooked country food.

After the meal, he went to check on the newly built martial arts hall and the granary, as well as the Snake Group Cave that Cheng Feng had specifically designed, and felt much more at ease seeing that everything was in good order.

In times of famine, snake meat was a delicacy too!!

In the afternoon, Cheng Feng went specifically to see Da Hei.

Da Hei's snake cave was in a natural stone cavern in the hills behind Hong Village, with the entrance facing south, sheltered from the wind and facing the sun.

This spot was chosen by Cheng Feng himself—when he was scouting locations in Hong Village, he had walked over every inch of the hills behind the village and finally settled on this stone cavern.

The cave was not deep, but it contained an Earth Spring Eye inside, with steam rising; it was warm in winter and cool in summer, just right for a Strange Beast like Da Hei that liked shade and feared the cold.

The Snake Cave itself was also designed by Cheng Feng based on Da Hei's habits.

The entrance was narrow on the outside and wide on the inside, shaped like a gourd. The outer opening only allowed one person to pass through sideways, but the interior was suddenly spacious, measuring a full three zhang square.

Cheng Feng had people level the cave floor and lay down three layers: the bottom was gravel, the middle was dried mugwort and pine needles, and the top was a layer of fine river sand.

Da Hei coiled within it, the sand grains warmed by its body temperature, pressing against its scales—it was very comfortable.

Along the cave walls, Cheng Feng had the village stonemason chisel four shallow grooves that led diagonally from the cave ceiling to the outside.

On rainy days, rainwater would flow along the grooves to the sides of the cave walls and then into ceramic vats in the corners, so it would not accumulate in the snake's nest.

At the Earth Spring Eye, he used a chisel to carve a small pool, the bottom of which was paved with fine pebbles; when the water was full, it would overflow and flow into the stone crevices outside the cave, becoming a tiny, hidden stream.

The most special feature was the "skylight" Cheng Feng opened in the cave ceiling—there had originally been a natural fissure above the stone cave, no wider than a palm.

Cheng Feng had the stonemason widen it into a three-inch square hole; during the day, sunlight shone in, landing right where Da Hei usually coiled, and at night, if there was moonlight, a small patch of clear radiance could also spill down.

"You like to bask in the sun, yet you fear being seen by others," Cheng Feng had said to Da Hei, who was coiled by the pool at the time. "I've opened a skylight for you in this cave. When the sun reaches its peak at noon, it will shine right in. You can bask while at home."

Da Hei flicked its tongue, whether it understood or simply found the water vapor in the cave comfortable, it slowly slid into the pool.

When Cheng Feng arrived tonight, Da Hei was coiled on a slab of bluestone by the pool.

That stone slab was one Cheng Feng had the stonemason move from the riverbank; its surface was as flat as a mirror, and because it was moistened by water vapor year-round, a thin layer of moss had grown on it.

Da Hei's snake body was coiled in three loops, its head resting in the center, its two golden pupils half-open and half-closed, as if sleeping yet not sleeping.

It looked a full circle larger than before.

Cheng Feng did not disturb it, only squatting at the cave entrance to watch for a while.

"We will have to move our nest in a while," Cheng Feng said softly. "This place will be left for the future Snake King."

Da Hei raised its head and looked at him, a flash of golden light in its pupils, as if responding.

Cheng Feng did not stay long and got up to leave. Night fell through the pine forest, and deep in the Snake Cave, Da Hei slowly slid into the pool.

The sound of water was extremely light, like someone turning over in the night.

That evening, Cheng Feng returned to Qingxi County and had Wei Zhuang call over the managers, including Li Yang and Wang Hu.

Two oil lamps were lit in the hall, and a map of the counties surrounding Qingxi County was spread on the table.

Cheng Feng sat down at the table and signaled for Wei Zhuang to pour the wine.

"I called you here today for one thing." Cheng Feng picked up his bowl and took a sip; his voice was not loud, but it made everyone in the room sit up straight. "

The situation in Qingxi County and Heimu Prefecture is stable. But in the surrounding counties, the Red Lotus Sect is still deeply entrenched.

Qingxi County must become a true rear base; we cannot have our flanks constantly hanging in the balance.

Before I leave, I want to clear out the Red Lotus Sect forces in the four surrounding counties.

We will acquire the population driven out by the Red Lotus Sect, have them farm our land and build our roads, and ideally, connect the four surrounding counties to become a major city with the strength of five counties.

It can also be considered a meaningful thing I've done for everyone."

Upon hearing this, Wei Zhuang's eyes lit up: "Cheng Feng, how do we clear them out?"

Cheng Feng pointed at the map: "The four surrounding counties: Shiqiao County to the east, Shuanghe County to the south, Songling County to the west, and Liuyuan County to the north.

The Red Lotus Sect's forces in these four counties vary in size. I plan to take a portion of our elite troops and, in the name of 'Clear Bandit and Pacify People,' push westward starting from Shiqiao County.

Once a place is broken, it will be handed over to the local Hong Sect branch to take over. We won't occupy the territory, only clear out the people. Once they are scattered and terrified, they will never be able to gather again."

Zhao Liu rubbed his hands: "What about manpower?"

"Fifty elites from the Hong Sect's Hardened Body division, fifty from the Sword Hall, one hundred in total," Cheng Feng said. "And bring two hundred militiamen to be responsible for transporting loot and escorting prisoners. We don't need many, just the best. I want to make a name for ourselves, not get bogged down."

Wei Zhuang and the other managers looked at each other and nodded in agreement.

Cheng Feng set a few more rules: do not harass the people, do not burn houses, and do not kill prisoners, but as for the leaders of the Red Lotus Sect, big or small, kill every one we see, leaving no future trouble.

"When do we set off?" Wei Zhuang asked.

"The day after tomorrow at dawn," Cheng Feng said. "We'll hit Shiqiao County first. I heard that one of the Red Lotus Sect's branch altars there is set up in an abandoned lime kiln outside the city, with about three or four hundred people. Once we take that down, the situation in Shuanghe County will fall into chaos on its own."

"What about the County Magistrate?"

"This is giving him merit; would he say anything more?

Everyone helps carry a fancy sedan chair.

We take the real power, he takes the merit."

Wei Zhuang, look after this matter yourself from now on; you must firmly grasp military power in your hands.

If they don't know what's good for them, then replace the County Magistrate with someone else."

With his departure imminent, Cheng Feng no longer wanted to overthink things.

The status of an Outer Disciple of the Immortal Sect, he reckoned, would be useful.

"Fine." Wei Zhuang downed the wine in his bowl in one gulp. "I will go mobilize the men right now."

Cheng Feng nodded, stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at Qingxi County in the night.

In the distance, there were scattered lights, like grains of crushed gold sprinkled on black satin.

He would be setting off again soon.

This time, he wanted the flags of the Hong Sect to be planted all over the four surrounding counties. Only then could he leave without any worries.

The morning after next.

Before dawn, the drill ground in the North City of Qingxi County was already full of people.

One hundred elite soldiers were divided into ten rows.

The fifty men from Henglian Hall all had knotted muscles and bones, short axes tucked into their waists, and shields on their backs.

The fifty men from the Sword Hall were all dressed in green with Long Swords, their waists bound with belts, standing like bamboo in a forest.

Further back, two hundred militiamen carried shoulder poles and pushed wheelbarrows.

Some were responsible for carrying stretchers, some for carrying grain.

There were also a few specifically carrying ropes and shackles, ready to bind captives.

Wei Zhuang walked to the front of the ranks, scanned them once, and without any wasted words, just shouted: "Move out."

Cheng Feng came this time to steady the formation; as he was now, he only wanted to kill some experts of the Red Lotus Sect.

As for those coerced refugees, it would depend on their own fate.

The troop followed the official road eastward; the sky gradually brightened, and from afar, the moss on the boundary marker of Shiqiao County could be seen.

Shiqiao County was no more than sixty li from Qingxi County, reachable in half a day of fast travel.

Wei Zhuang ordered the troop to rest and eat in a pine forest twenty li from the county seat, without lighting fires, only gnawing on dry rations.

"Da Hei." Cheng Feng squatted under an old pine tree and called out softly.

A rustling sound came from the woods.

It caused a wave of panic among the crowd.

"Don't panic, it's the mount of Master Cheng that has arrived."

There were not a few who knew that Cheng Feng practiced Snake Controlling.

But those militiamen had never seen such a spectacle.

A massive giant snake, three meters high and three meters wide, slithered through the woods.

Its enormous body could even push over some small trees directly.

The huge snake head happily lowered itself beside Cheng Feng.

Cheng Feng reached out and stroked the top of its head. In the connection of heart and blood,

Da Hei sent a wave of restlessness, as if it had smelled the scent of human blood from afar.

"Don't be impatient," Cheng Feng whispered. "You'll have plenty to eat tonight."

Da Hei's appetite was not for human flesh.

What it wanted was blood-food—especially the rich essence and blood of martial artists.

After connecting heart and blood with Cheng Feng, every time Da Hei devoured a martial artist, its Qi and Blood grew a fraction thicker.

This was also one of the sources of confidence for Cheng Feng to sweep four counties with one hundred elites.

He himself was lazy at times; if he could let his spirit beast take action, he would let it.

Otherwise, wouldn't the Snake Controlling True Scripture have been practiced in vain?!!

Wei Zhuang walked over, glanced at Da Hei coiled at Cheng Feng's feet, his throat tightening slightly: "Cheng Feng, for the lime kiln, do you want to let Da Hei sneak in first and release some poison?"

Cheng Feng shook his head: "There are many people in the kiln, and we don't know how deep the water is yet.

Let's follow the plan first—Zhao Liu, take twenty men to take out the sentries; you take thirty men to seal off the path to Hou Shan; I will take fifty men to attack from the main gate. Move fast, try to resolve it within one stick of incense.

If it really doesn't work at the end, then let Da Hei roll around a couple of times.

Those people are all excellent laborers.

Don't waste them."

Five li northwest outside the city of Shiqiao County, there was a lime kiln that had been abandoned for many years.

The kiln caves were opened along the mountain, with over ten kiln mouths of various sizes.

The Red Lotus Sect had set up a branch altar here, and the incense was surprisingly not cold.

During the day, villagers often came to burn incense and kowtow,

praying for "the descent of the Red Lotus to eliminate disasters and cure illnesses."

After nightfall, red lanterns were hung at the kiln mouths. As the mountain wind blew, the lanterns swayed, illuminating the stone steps in front of the kiln a blood-red color.

Cheng Feng led his men to a dirt slope a hundred paces from the kiln gate and watched with bated breath.

There were four men with swords slung at their waists in front of the kiln gate, leaning against the door frame and yawning.

From deep within the kiln cave, the sound of chanting could be faintly heard, mixed with a few shrill cries—those were the villagers who had been forced to "join the sect."

Cheng Feng raised his palm and pressed it down toward Zhao Liu.

Zhao Liu led twenty Henglian elites, spreading out like night cats, sticking to the grass ditches and stone piles to sneak near the kiln gate.

Several muffled groans sounded almost simultaneously; the four sentries had their mouths covered and their throats slit, without even being able to draw their swords.

Cheng Feng waved his hand again, and fifty Sword Hall disciples filed in through the main gate.

The cave dwelling was far more spacious inside than it appeared from the outside; the main hall enshrined a Red Lotus God Statue, and hundreds of red candles burned on the incense table, illuminating the entire hall brightly.

Dozens of Red Lotus Sect members were sitting or kneeling, listening to a yellow-robed Elder expound on scriptures.

When Cheng Feng and his party burst in, the Elder was stunned at first, but upon seeing that familiar white hair, he immediately shrieked: "The Qingxi soldiers are here!"

The hall fell into instant chaos. Several fierce sect members drew their blades,

but the Sword Hall disciples had already struck first with their swords; the sword light covered the area like splashing water, and screams rose one after another.

Cheng Feng kicked over the incense table, and the red candles rolled all over the floor.

He strode forward; several reckless sect members swung their blades at him, but he dodged them by turning his body,

and casually slapped his palm onto the chest of the man in the lead.

That man flew backward, knocked over the god statue, and the blood spraying from his mouth splattered onto the face of the Red Lotus.

More sect members surged out from the depths of the cave, about a hundred people or so, with disheveled clothes and a motley assortment of weapons.

Cheng Feng moved through the crowd as if there were no one there; wherever his fists and feet landed, it was basically one punch per person,

except for those with Martial Dao, who would be blown apart by a single punch from Cheng Feng, blasted into smithereens.

For ordinary people, Cheng Feng would only let them fall asleep first.

Future construction will all depend on them!

Of course, Cheng Feng did not linger in the fight; his gaze remained fixed on that yellow-robed Elder.

Seeing the situation was bad, the Elder turned and ran toward the secret passage in Hou Shan.

"Want to leave?" Cheng Feng's figure flickered, and in a few leaps, he caught up behind him, reached out to grab his collar, and gave a fierce yank.

The Elder was pulled back, flying backward, and the dagger he had secretly fished out of his sleeve also slipped from his hand.

"How many people are left in the branch altar?" Cheng Feng stepped on his chest.

The Elder's eyes were full of fear, but his mouth remained stubborn: "The Red Lotus Holy Mother will not let you off—"

Before the words were finished, a large black snake darted out like lightning from beside Cheng Feng and swallowed him in one bite.

The Elder brushed against Da Hei's fangs, his eyes bulging, his body convulsed a few times, and then he went silent.

Da Hei clamped onto his body and sucked; the snake's body swelled by a circle at a speed visible to the naked eye.

It was just like eating a candy bean.

Cheng Feng silently sensed the wisps of pure Qi and Blood from Da Hei's side, and his internal Organ Refining cultivation slowly climbed, as if a gust of wind had been blown onto charcoal fire.

Inside and outside the cave, the sounds of killing gradually subsided.

On the small path in Hou Shan, Wei Zhuang led his men to block the fleeing sect members; not a single one escaped.

Counting the battlefield: eighty-seven dead at the Red Lotus Sect branch altar, and over one hundred and sixty captured.

Seized over two hundred blades and spears, one hundred shi of grain and rice, and some silver money.

Zhao Liu searched the back room of the cave and found over ten imprisoned villagers, all young and strong men forced into the sect.

Of course, there were also some women with tragic experiences.

Cheng Feng ordered the militia to tie up the captives and settle the villagers properly.

He also had Wei Zhuang take a trip into Shiqiao County to invite several prominent gentry and people from the Hong Sect Branch Hall.

At daybreak, Zhou Dachang, the Branch Hall Master of the Hong Sect lurking in Shiqiao County, arrived at the cave.

This man was in his forties, not tall, with a sharp and tough appearance. He originally worked as a butcher in Shiqiao County, later joined the Hong Sect, and had about twenty brothers under him.

Seeing that Cheng Feng had wiped out the Red Lotus Sect branch altar overnight, Zhou Dachang was both shocked and impressed, cupping his hands repeatedly: "Master Cheng is truly worthy of his reputation! I, Zhou Dachang, have long wanted to clean up these evil cult brats, but I was weak and lacked the strength..."

"From today on, the territory of Shiqiao County is handed over to you." Cheng Feng interrupted him, "But let's make it clear: we only kill the leaders and die-hard elements of the Red Lotus Sect; ordinary civilians must not be wantonly killed or robbed."

"Among the captives, those who were coerced into the sect: those who wish to leave shall be given travel expenses, and those who wish to stay shall be organized under you to build roads and farm, giving them a full meal and a place to rest."

"If you can do it, this Shiqiao County is yours. If you can't, when I return on my next stop, I will replace you."

Zhou Dachang felt a chill and hurriedly patted his chest: "I can do it! I can do it!"

Cheng Feng let Zhao Liu leave thirty militiamen to help Zhou Dachang take over the captives and handle the aftermath.

He himself took the rest of the troops and continued south.

The Red Lotus Sect's influence in Shuanghe County was much larger than in Shiqiao County.

The main branch altar was located in Shuanghe Town, twenty li outside the city, with nearly a thousand sect members.

What was more troublesome was that the news of the destruction of the Shiqiao County branch altar flew to Shuanghe Town.

The Red Lotus Sect Elder in Shuanghe Town immediately closed the town gates, patrolled day and night, and even dug trenches and set up tripwires outside the town, putting on a posture of holding out for reinforcements.

Cheng Feng set up camp in a mountain hollow five li away from Shuanghe Town.

"They intend to hold out." Wei Zhuang spread out the map, his brows furrowed, "Shuanghe Town is backed by water on two sides, there is only one main road in the front, and both sides are mudflats, making it difficult to outflank. If we attack head-on, we don't have enough manpower."

Cheng Feng stared at the map and didn't speak for a long time.

He hadn't intended to attack head-on anyway.

"Da Hei." Cheng Feng stood up and walked outside the tent.