Chapter 616: One Step, One Kill

After roughly estimating when the Niu family's fleet would return to port, Chen Sheng led four hundred able-bodied refugees and a company of household troops south from the refugee stockade. Private salt peddlers familiar with the routes guided them ahead. They carried three days' worth of dry rations this time, and with salt smuggler supply caches to replenish along the way, the march went quite smoothly.

Taking advantage of nightfall, they passed Clam Port and set up camp on a remote, desolate beach. The tidal flats were heavy with damp, and the mosquitoes and insects were thick — it was truly miserable to endure. But the able-bodied refugees could bear hardship, the household troops kept strict discipline, and they wouldn't be staying here long. Everyone simply gritted their teeth and got through it.

There were two problems here, however. One was supplies: they had brought scant dry rations and had no way to judge exactly when the Niu family's people would return, so they began reducing portions, scavenging shellfish and seaweed from the shore to boil into a supplement. But this would certainly spell trouble if it dragged on. The second was the darkness. The able-bodied refugees had only barely managed to stave off starvation this year — nutrition was out of the question — and as a result, most were night-blind, unable to see a thing once the sky darkened. Only the Zhao Battalion household troops could stand night watch and patrol. This kept Chen Sheng in constant fear: if they were discovered and ambushed at night, or if any chaos broke out in the dark, probably only the household troops would be able to withdraw.

But the people of Clam Port were all busy over at the docks at this time; no one was wandering or running about. The camp was also remote enough that no one would discover it. The Niu family's return to port did not come too late.

Chen Sheng was the most prudent in his actions. He had made a point of bringing Li Wu along on this outing. Li Wu was also one of the most senior company commanders. The most outstanding company commander at present was Zhang Hubin, and the one with the deepest seniority was Lu Da; Li Wu was just behind those two.

Zhao Jin and his companions also had a ranking in mind for the company commanders. The current hierarchy was very flat, but it would certainly not remain so in the future. Lu Da, Li Wu, Zhang Hubin, and Zhuang Liu — these few were all to be promoted. So when they were together, Chen Sheng did not treat the other entirely as a subordinate.

Not all the able-bodied refugees were night-blind. Some had once been hunters by trade. These men, back when they were in the new refugee camp, had often made their own traps to catch game. Their nutrition was better than the average person's, they knew how to use a bow, and they adapted well to the wilds. Such men naturally stood out from the rest and were quickly selected into the Zhao Battalion.

These kinds of able-bodied refugees were also assigned to night watch. Such men were even more useful than the Zhao Battalion household troops, especially in circumstances like these — for instance, they could accurately judge the time of day.

While the sky was still pitch black, the men in camp were roused by the night-watch sentries. Reeds were used for fuel. Some went to the shore to gather seaweed and shellfish. The very reason Clam Port could become a port was partly due to several nearby sources of fresh water, though the water was bitter and hard to stomach.

The campfires were rekindled. With this light, the able-bodied refugees were at least not completely blind. The sea vegetables and shellfish were boiled together haphazardly; they were quite savory and the taste was decent. Washing down the dry rations they had been conserving for days with the hot broth, everyone's spirits improved considerably.

Chen Sheng ate the same dry rations as everyone else, only his appetite was larger and he needed a household trooper to help carry his portion. He had risen earlier than all the others, and only began eating after arranging every matter. As he ate, the household troops helped him don his armor.

By the time all this was finished, the line where sea and sky met had already begun to brighten and whiten. Day had broken. Chen Sheng called out an order. The refugees extinguished the campfires. Everything except their weapons was left behind. Then they walked out of the wild grassy flats and began to form ranks.

Led by the guide, the group advanced in silence toward the Niu family compound at Clam Port. Several dozen men ran swiftly ahead, their formation very loose, keeping about a hundred paces from the main body. At a glance, one might mistake them for early travelers on the road. If anything was amiss up ahead, or if someone sensed trouble and hurried back to raise the alarm, the scattered squad charging in front would handle it.

Most of the ships at Clam Port had already returned and were moored. A year's hard toil at sea was over. Men who made their living on the ocean naturally wanted to sleep in comfort once back on land; there was no rush to rise early. Why get up at dawn? Not to mention the Niu family compound had indulged in wine and debauchery the night before — the other households were quiet as well.

It was also because Chen Sheng had led this unit here too early. Even if there were a few early risers in the area of the Niu family compound, they were stunned by the sight of this formation. In their haste, there was no time to flee or cry out. Blades and arrows swiftly finished them off cleanly. Any warning shout was usually just a single cry, not enough to startle those sleeping soundly.

"This is the Niu family compound," the guide said, pointing ahead.

From start to finish, the guide had been very composed. Only now did a trace of terror and dread appear. He suddenly realized that the men from Xuzhou had come here to exterminate every last soul. How many would have to die for this to end?

The stench of alcohol still lingered in the Niu family compound. After so long at sea, they had returned and abandoned themselves to indulgence. Here, they had nothing to worry about. Not even a single sentry could be seen. Only the distant sound of snoring drifted over.

"... Search every room, one by one. Leave no one alive..." Chen Sheng's order was simple.

"They call this a compound?" someone in the household troop ranks remarked. In Xuzhou, a place called a compound had to have at least a three-courtyard layout, covering vast ground, and was invariably enclosed by a brick wall, an earthen wall, or at least a palisade. But this so-called compound before them was at best an open lot. The houses were all rammed-earth and thatch huts, looking utterly crude and shabby.

Once the order was given, the able-bodied refugees, already briefed on the plan, swiftly split up. In squads of ten, they began charging into every dwelling. Breaking in was simple enough — most doors were not even locked, some were directly left half-open. In a place where everyone knew each other, there was no need for much precaution.

Without waiting for Chen Sheng's instructions, Li Wu had already led men charging into one of the houses. They dragged a captured man a distance away to question him briefly, then ran back swiftly.

"Second Master, Niu Er and Niu San's residence is that one in the middle. His trusted men are all there too."

"Pick the armored ones for the vanguard. Find another thirty to follow behind. Let's go together!" Chen Sheng said curtly.

Li Wu acknowledged the order. Twenty armored household troops formed ranks and came over, with thirty more in the rear squad. Chen Sheng stood at the very front and strode forward. Li Wu, also wearing the type of armor Zhao Jin had designed, gripped a long-handled saber and followed closely, half a step behind Chen Sheng.

Cries of alarm and shrieks of agony were already rising from all over the Niu family compound. Roused from sleep by men charging in, they had no time to resist — they were merely pigs and sheep awaiting slaughter.

There were several hundred hands in this compound. The men Chen Sheng had brought were limited, after all. Even launching the attack as suddenly as possible, there were still some areas they could not cover. As soon as the screaming started here, some had already reacted. As Chen Sheng strode forward, he could see men, stark naked, clutching weapons.

"How do these refugee stockade men compare to our household troops?" Chen Sheng asked as he walked.

"Once trained, they won't be inferior to the household troops. These refugee-born men have seen blood. Their hearts are hard, and they don't fear death. Our household troops are excellent in every way, except they've been drilled too obediently," Li Wu replied as he followed.

As they spoke, two men ahead came charging to meet them. Those two had also spotted Chen Sheng walking at the very front. At a moment like this, their thought was to take down the leader first and seize control of the situation.

Chen Sheng quickened his pace. His long blade swung down in a smooth diagonal slash. The blade's flash passed, and half of the man before him was cleaved away. Seeing such a gruesome end, the other man froze in terror, then turned to flee. How could Chen Sheng let him go? His long blade followed through with a downward chop. Blood sprayed wildly as the man toppled.

There were still over thirty paces to Niu Er and Niu San's dwelling. Niu Er and Niu San, weapons in hand, had already emerged from the house. Unlike most of their stark-naked underlings, the two of them were fully and neatly dressed. From the houses on either side, twenty-some more followed them out. After all, it took time to charge this far, giving them a chance to ready themselves. Yet these twenty-some were in disheveled clothing — at most, they had managed to pull on a pair of calf-length underpants.

"Who dares come here! The Niu family follows Guangdong's Great Chief Zhong!" Niu Er roared, declaring his backer's name.

Chen Sheng freed a hand and wiped, snapping his face guard down onto his helmet. Then his body crouched low, his long blade pointed straight forward, and he charged ahead in great strides. He had no idea who any Guangdong Great Chief was. All he knew was that Zhao Jin wanted these men before him dead.

Seeing Chen Sheng charge so recklessly, treating the men beside him as if they didn't exist, everyone naturally wanted to exploit this opening. Chen Sheng, that big, stout man, charged with overwhelming momentum — no one dared block his path. But many struck at him from the sides.

They had simply underestimated Chen Sheng's strength and speed, and underestimated the long blade in his hands, forged of fine steel and tempered a thousand times over. As he charged, his arms swung, the blade sweeping left and right. The long blade reflected the morning sun, like a golden serpent dancing wildly. The men on either side never imagined he could be so fast. They hastily parried with their weapons. The wooden shafts of several long-handled sabers were directly severed by Chen Sheng's blade, and the arms of the men holding them were lopped off along with them. Others had gashes torn open across their chests and bellies.

It was not just brute force. As Chen Sheng strode forward, he retracted his blade and slashed upward, exploiting the gap as a man beside him raised his saber to chop down. He directly slit the man's belly open. The man screamed, dropped his weapon, and frantically tried to hold himself together. Before he could even react, Li Wu, one step behind, stabbed his blade into the man's throat.

Ten paces forward, and still no one could get close to Chen Sheng. Within the reach of his long blade, there were no living men.

At first sight, they still had the courage to fight. But seeing how ferociously brave the opponent was, their courage instantly shattered. What's more, it was not just Chen Sheng charging ahead — behind him was a whole line of similarly armored men.

"Mama!" someone cried out, turning to flee. But escaping was hard now. The moment this man ran, someone immediately took a long spear and gave chase.

"You've offended Great Dragon Head Zhong Bin! No matter where you're from, not a chicken or dog will be left alive! Your whole family will die!" Niu San roared furiously, limping forward as he brandished his blade.

Chen Sheng made no sound. He merely shook his long blade and slowed his pace. Niu San's blade was only a bit over four feet long, and his footing was unsteady. As he approached, Chen Sheng maintained the same posture as before — wide, sweeping movements. He took a step forward, and his long blade chopped down fiercely. Niu San seemed to stumble, as if about to fall to the ground. But with that bend and step, he evaded Chen Sheng's cleaving blade. Using that step, he closed in right before him, thrusting his blade toward the gaps in Chen Sheng's armor.

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