Chapter 117: Combing Through and Suppressing

The morning mist had not yet completely dissipated; on the official road north of Chan Prefecture, hoofbeats sounded like thunder and armor clanged.

Chen Wen led the charge on horseback; behind him were the five hundred elite Jing'an Army troops commanded by Shi Dun.

Everyone wore light armor and a quick blade, with strong bows and crossbows slung on their backs.

A surge of killing intent spread, startling the roadside forest birds into silence.

"Military Envoy, ten li ahead is Black Wind Ridge."

Qian Gui galloped back from the front on horseback, lowering his voice to report,

"Originally there was a band of deserters turned bandits on the ridge, about thirty or fifty people, who usually only robbed lone travelers."

"But according to the local elders nearby this morning, two days ago they saw strangers entering the mountains, whose attire did not look like ordinary folks……"

"It was more like…… the conduct of military scouts."

Chen Wen's eyes narrowed slightly.

In these troubled times, bandits and deserters are commonplace.

But if an external force colludes with them, their intentions are no longer simple.

"Pass the order, increase speed, target Black Wind Ridge."

"Received!"

The troop's speed increased further, like a drawn sharp blade piercing straight into the mountains and rivers of Bei Jing.

Black Wind Ridge's terrain is treacherous, the mountain path rugged.

However, for those who have undergone rigorous mountain march training,

and for the Jing'an Army frequently strengthened by Chen Wen's 2-fold wide-ranging Ability Granting, it was like walking on level ground.

In less than half an hour, the crude bandit stronghold's walls on the ridge were already visible in the distance.

The bandits at the gate evidently also spotted this well-equipped, swift-moving official army, and instantly fell into panic.

Some tried to close the rickety wooden gate, while others nocked arrows and shouted, fierce in voice but weak inside.

"Those inside, listen up!"

Shi Dun followed the preset strategy, gathered his inner strength, and his voice shook the valley.

"The Jing'an Army, ordered to suppress the region and protect the border, safeguard the people!"

"Lay down your weapons, come out and surrender, and you will be spared!"

"Those who stubbornly resist will be killed without mercy!"

In response, several crooked arrows flew his way, landing weakly before the formation.

"Obstinately ignorant!"

Shi Dun gave a fierce grin and looked toward Chen Wen.

Chen Wen gave a slight nod.

"Smash the door!"

At the command, Shi Dun led the troops forward like a tiger bursting from its gate.

He already possessed boundless strength, and now he received from Chen Wen a precise 4-fold boost in strength and speed!

All that could be seen was him taking a few steps for a run-up, then fiercely kicking the seemingly heavy wooden door!

"Boom—"

Amid the tremendous noise, wood chips flew everywhere; the entire gate together with its frame was actually split into pieces by his kick!

Behind him, the Jing'an Army soldiers surged into the gate like a tide.

The battle…… or rather, the suppression, almost instantly lost its suspense.

When had the bandits ever seen such a ferocious official army?

The hulk who kicked the gate flying was practically inhuman!

And the other soldiers were each agile, with fierce blade techniques and seamless coordination.

They often formed groups of three to five; a squad would lock onto a target, and in the flash of blade light the bandit would already be beheaded—efficiency so high it was frightening.

Occasionally a few brave bandits tried to resist with sheer blood-and-qi courage.

They were also swiftly slain by the Jing'an Army soldiers using a more exquisite combined-attack technique.

Chen Wen stood outside the broken gate, calmly observing the battlefield.

He did not personally strike, but his focus was highly concentrated, like a precise controller.

According to the needs of the battle, he would occasionally grant a temporary 2-fold efficiency boost to a squad stuck in a brief stalemate.

Or he would maintain a longer-lasting, wide-ranging 2-fold effect across the entire assault formation.

Such fine-tuned control saved him more mental expenditure than simply buffing the whole army, yet the effect was far more pronounced.

In less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the shouting within the stronghold had already ceased.

"Military Envoy, the bandit chief has been slain, and the remaining twenty-six have all been captured!"

Shi Dun came to report, holding a bloody simple blade still dripping; his aura was thick with killing intent, yet his eyes were unusually clear.

"Our side suffered three light injuries, with no fatalities."

Chen Wen nodded, then entered the stronghold.

The air reeked of blood; the prisoners knelt on the ground, trembling.

"Search carefully, see if there are the 'strange faces' you mentioned, as well as any suspicious items."

Chen Wen gave the order.

Qian Gui immediately led people into action.

Moments later, he returned carrying a bundle and several weapons.

"Military Envoy, we found them. Indeed there were two unfamiliar faces; they were killed while resisting."

These were found on their persons and in their dwellings.

Qian Gui presented the items.

The bundle held a few pieces of dry rations and some scattered copper coins, nothing special.

But those few weapons made Chen Wen's eyes narrow.

The standard waist sword, though heavily worn, still bore discernible markings at the hilt—exactly the standard issue of the Northern Han army!

"As expected, they couldn't hold back."

Chen Wen let out a cold snort.

These Northern Han scouts infiltrated the territory and colluded with local bandits.

The purpose is obvious—either to establish a forward outpost.

Or to prepare, at a critical moment, to coordinate with the front battlefield and disrupt the rear.

"Hand these captives over to the local constables following up to escort them back to Chan Prefecture for trial. Bury the bodies and burn the stronghold!"

Chen Wen decisively issued the order.

"The army will rest for fifteen minutes, replenish water and rations, then march to the next target—Falling Horse Gully!"

"Yes!"

Flames rose on Black Wind Ridge, marking the removal of the first peg in the Pacified Army's mop-up operation.

Over the next few days.

Chen Wen led the Pacified Army, with astonishing efficiency and decisive means, conducting a dragnet sweep of northern Chan Prefecture.

They sometimes split forces, with Shi Dun and Qian Gui each leading a detachment to eradicate small bandit groups;

Sometimes they united forces to launch a surprise attack on a secret stronghold controlled by Northern Han spies.

During the operation.

"Ability Granting" was used with increasing proficiency.

During long-distance raids, the widespread granting of double endurance and speed gave the Pacified Army mobility surpassing that of Jun Ying.

In close combat, the focused granting of fourfold strength and reaction could instantly turn the tide at critical moments, reducing our casualties.

This sense of "effort brings reward" and "the team grows strong because of me" greatly motivated every soldier of the Pacified Army.

They regarded their military envoys as divine and were full of confidence in their own combat prowess.

In just five days, the Pacified Army campaigned over three hundred li, eliminating seven bandit lairs.

They destroyed three suspected Northern Han and Khitan scout outposts, capturing or killing over two hundred enemy personnel, while suffering negligible losses themselves.

Northern Chan Prefecture was thus cleared, and the vicinity of several main roads leading to the border.

No further signs of organized bandits or enemy activity could be seen.

Along the route, villagers initially shut their doors at the sight of the large army, but upon discovering that this troop committed no atrocities,

They would even help drive away nearby beasts and repair fences destroyed by bandits.

Their attitude gradually shifted from fear to curiosity, and they even proactively provided some rural information.

Chen Wen could clearly feel that, with each successful sweep,

The initial stability of rear order, and the faint golden whirl of Fortune Momentum in his sea of consciousness seemed to condense a bit more.

Slowly turning, it grew ever more tightly linked to the land beneath his feet that he protected.

And in the personal system interface, the number representing the Growth Progress Bar also rose quietly through repeated deployments and the accumulation of small-scale battles.

But this was only the beginning.

Chen Wen stood at the edge of the makeshift camp where they had just settled, gazing toward the deeper northern frontier.

He knew that the true venomous snake had not yet bared its fangs.

The shadow of the Iron Crow Army, as well as the true elite of Northern Han and the Khitan, still lay hidden deeper in the mist.

"The mop-up operation is over; next, we should pull out those deeper, more poisonous 'fangs'."