Chapter 236: First Volume_Chapter 236: Bandit's Den

First Volume_Chapter 236: Bandit's Den

Li Xiaolan smiled charmingly, completely ignoring Qin Feng's brazen flattery. She glanced at the map of Beixi County spread out on the desk, as well as Yinggang Mountain which Qin Feng had specially marked, and immediately understood his next move. She promptly offered a reminder: "The one hundred guards you brought from Jingdu are certainly formidable in combat, but if you rashly enter Yinggang Mountain, you are bound to pay an unacceptable price."

"Apart from its complex terrain, the various factions entrenched within Yinggang Mountain are also not to be underestimated."

Qin Feng had only just arrived, and his understanding of Yinggang Mountain was entirely based on Ning Hu's oral account.

Now that he was about to attack Yinggang Mountain, Qin Feng's mood was undoubtedly heavy.

Hearing Li Xiaolan's words at this moment, Qin Feng's eyes immediately lit up. He downed the chicken soup in one gulp and said excitedly: "Third Sister, looks like you know Yinggang Mountain very well? What's the deal with these so-called various factions? Tell me quickly."

The corners of Li Xiaolan's mouth lifted slightly, tracing an arc full of deep meaning. She spoke unhurriedly: "It's not that I can't tell you, but I have a condition."

Because the intelligence on Yinggang Mountain was extremely important to Qin Feng.

On a small scale, it concerned the peace and stability of Beixi County.

On a large scale, it concerned Qin Feng's honor and rise or fall.

Qin Feng knew he had no room to bargain. He simply slapped his chest and said with full confidence: "Let alone one condition, even ten conditions would be fine."

Hearing this, the smile on Li Xiaolan's face deepened by another fraction: "Very well then, as you said, grant me ten conditions. However, I only need to cash in one right now. For the other nine matters, I'll come collect them from you when I need them in the future."

Qin Feng stumbled as if he'd been blindsided. He looked at Li Xiaolan in disbelief and wailed: "Sister, I was just being polite, and you really took it seriously!"

Li Xiaolan burst out laughing. She reached out and pinched the tip of Qin Feng's nose, twisting it back and forth twice. It looked like affection, but was actually scheming: "We're all family, why stand on ceremony? Let's get back to the point. This condition, actually, is not hard to say, nor is it simple to say. If you manage Beixi County well, it will actually come about naturally."

Hearing these words, Qin Feng already vaguely sensed what it was. He asked in a low voice: "Could it be taking you and Mother back to Beijing?"

Li Xiaolan directly reached out and patted Qin Feng's head, her eyes full of gratification: "Worthy of being my brother, truly clever."

Qin Feng felt so depressed he wanted to die. He himself was like a clay bodhisattva crossing a river—unable to save himself—how could he possibly have the ability to take Madam Cheng and Li Xiaolan back to Beijing?

Moreover, the only way to take the two of them back to Beijing was for the Imperial Noble Consort to give her consent.

And the matter of the "First Prince's Death" back then had always been a sore spot in the Imperial Noble Consort's heart. There was simply no room for negotiation on this matter.

To put it bluntly, the difficulty of this matter was even greater than governing Beixi County itself!

However...

Qin Feng had always been fond of writing blank checks.

Whether he could deliver or not was another matter. He'd agree first, get his hands on the intelligence on Yinggang Mountain, and at worst default on the debt later.

They were siblings from the same family—could Li Xiaolan possibly slaughter him?

Thinking of this, Qin Feng slapped his chest again, his face full of confidence: "Just this small matter? Easy! Even if Third Sister didn't bring it up, how could I possibly watch Mother and Third Sister suffer here?"

Li Xiaolan looked deeply at Qin Feng.

That gaze made Qin Feng's back bristle with unease.

He always felt that Li Xiaolan and Madam Cheng were cut from the same cloth—a pair of eyes that seemed able to see through every lie in the world.

Fortunately, Qin Feng's skin was thick enough, and he toughed it out without showing weakness.

Li Xiaolan ultimately chose to trust Qin Feng. After all, besides this brother, who else under heaven could she trust?

Li Xiaolan immediately pointed at Yinggang Mountain and said softly: "Besides Feiying Stockade, there are also a total of four other bandit gangs of various sizes inside. The largest faction has over fifty members, and the smallest has over twenty."

Hearing this, Qin Feng couldn't help but feel a wave of lingering fear in his heart.

If he had rashly barged into Yinggang Mountain and been surrounded and attacked by these bandit gangs, that would have been a disaster!

Qin Feng said in disbelief: "How did this tiny Yinggang Mountain turn into a bandit's den? By that reckoning, at least six or seven hundred people are entrenched inside."

Li Xiaolan sighed softly, a hint of helplessness flashing in her eyes: "Ultimately, the problem still lies with Chen Li. During his years as County Magistrate, the entire Beixi County could be said to be a living hell for the people. Countless common folk lost their means of survival and could only flee to the mountains to become bandits, making a living by robbery. We can't really blame them."

Hearing these words, Qin Feng was displeased: "They may have their own difficulties, but the moment they fled to the mountains to become bandits and imposed suffering and despair upon other common people to make a living for themselves, they had already committed unforgivable sins. Whether to forgive them is the King of Hell's business; my mission is to send them to meet the King of Hell."

Hearing Qin Feng's decisive and resolute words, Li Xiaolan's eyes showed even more gratification. Her brother had indeed grown up.

In chaotic times, the greatest taboo was womanish benevolence.

Li Xiaolan immediately informed Qin Feng of Yinggang Mountain's terrain as well.

This Yinggang Mountain was composed of three large mountains, divided into East Mountain, WestMountain, and BackMountain.

Feiying Stockade, relying on its numerical superiority, occupied BackMountain alone, while the remaining bandit gangs were distributed across East Mountain and WestMountain.

To attack Feiying Stockade, one must first pass through one of the East and West mountains. But these two mountains were the only two Yin Mountains in Beixi County, and even in the entire Northwest border region.

The so-called Yin Mountains were those where large amounts of fungi and ferns grew within them. Coupled with the two mountains arching toward each other, moisture became trapped within, and over time this gave rise to miasma.

Even locals rarely dared to venture close to Yinggang Mountain; a moment of carelessness could result in being poisoned by the miasma.

To eliminate the bandits of Yinggang Mountain, one would need at least five to six times the兵力.

Relying solely on the guards at Qin Feng's disposal, along with the small number of Border Army soldiers and yamen runners temporarily dispatched, it would likely be difficult to make much of a showing.

But this risk had to be taken!

Qin Feng directly called for Qi Meng, ordering him to personally take two guards and head to Yinggang Mountain first to scout the terrain and try to open up a safe path as much as possible, making preparations for tonight's operation.

No sooner had Qi Meng left than the scholars recruited last night陆续 arrived at the County Yamen one after another to assume their posts.

Qin Feng briefly arranged their duties, then posted the Public Notice he had prepared last night.

The common people of Beixi County were extremely sensitive to Public Notices.

In less than One Cup of Tea Time, the area around the Public Notice was packed with people.

Before this, every time Chen Li posted a Public Notice, it was under some fabricated pretext to squeeze Beixi County inside and out. The local common people had become terrified, and upon seeing a Public Notice they wished they could rise up in revolt on the spot.

Watching the Public Notice posted by Qin Feng, the surrounding common people were so anxious they scratched their ears and cheeks.

"Sir, what does the Public Notice say? Is it Taxation again?"

Upon hearing the word "Taxation," many of the common people present immediately began to wail.