Chapter 118: The Battle Begins

Eagle’s Nest Ridge was about 40 to 50 li away from Jincheng, the same distance from Daliushu Village. The three locations formed a tripod-like stance, each occupying one side.

Before long, Pear Blossom entered the enemy detection range of ten li.

The system quickly relayed information from Eagle’s Nest Ridge: nearly 2,000 troops were marching toward Jincheng in a grand display, while another group of about 300 was heading in a different direction—toward Daliushu Village.

The 300 people heading toward Daliushu Village were dressed in tattered clothing, clearly a group of displaced refugees.

Pear Blossom couldn’t help but admire Dong Yun’s foresight. As predicted, these refugees had indeed been lured by Eagle’s Nest Ridge, attacking Daliushu Village as a pledge of loyalty.

The combat capability of the refugees was obviously inferior to that of bandits. Barring any unexpected events, with the traps and battle plans already in place, the united efforts of the villages in Wuli Slope should be enough to fend off these 300 people.

The greater pressure, however, was on Jincheng.

With part of her mind at ease, Pear Blossom rode back and handed the binoculars to Daniu, instructing him:
“Follow the plan we discussed last night. We’re well-prepared, and these mere 300 people are not worth fearing. If you encounter any uncertainty, consult Master or Sister Dong immediately. Do not act on your own judgment.”

“Above all, protect my sister and mother. If anything unexpected happens, take them to the mountain forest behind the village and buy time. I will finish my battle quickly and return to meet you.”

Daniu quickly acknowledged her orders and rode back to the village.

Pear Blossom, meanwhile, led 100 cavalry and 100 archers toward Jincheng.

Daniu returned to the village and conveyed Pear Blossom’s instructions to everyone.

Dagen promptly spread the news of the 300 refugees heading toward Wuli Slope to all the villages, ensuring everyone followed the plan.

Hearing that it wasn’t the 2,000 bandits but only 300 refugees, the villagers’ tension eased significantly.

Many who had been planning to flee gradually returned home, following the village chief’s arrangements and looking for ways they could help.

The leader of the group heading toward Wuli Slope was named Zhang Qiang. If Pear Blossom had seen him, she would have remembered him as the man who had led the mob that ambushed her outside the city gates when she went to fetch Fubao. Back then, Zhang Qiang had fled early when the situation turned against him.

Now, across Jinyang County, villages and estates had fortified their defenses, and ordinary people dared not venture out.

For refugees who roamed around, relying on robbing lone travelers to fill their stomachs, finding a meal had become increasingly difficult.

They couldn’t enter the city gates or capture well-defended estates. Constant harassment made Zhang Qiang’s life even harder.

After hearing of Eagle’s Nest Ridge’s reputation, he gathered over 200 people and headed there.

The bandit leader, Ghost, was furious over the mysterious disappearance of Li Datou and his 100 men. Zhang Qiang’s arrival was a timely solution, easing his dilemma of not wanting to send his own men to attack Daliushu Village, which might disrupt his siege plans. It also allowed him to vent his anger.

He proposed that Zhang Qiang slaughter Daliushu Village as a pledge of loyalty. If successful, they would be accepted into Eagle’s Nest Ridge, and Zhang Qiang would even be given the position of fifth leader.

“Our camp at Eagle’s Nest Ridge is large enough, with plenty of women and food. The only question is whether you have the skill to earn your place!”

Hearing that food and women were plentiful, Zhang Qiang’s eyes gleamed with excitement.

After all, his journey east and south had been driven by the desire to eat his fill and enjoy more women.

Despite his excitement, he maintained a shred of rationality. “The villages are well-defended. My 200 refugees are neither familiar with the terrain nor equipped with decent weapons. Isn’t this too difficult a task, Chief?”

Ghost laughed heartily. “You’re a bunch of desperate refugees. How many people have you killed and how much rotten meat have you eaten to survive this far? You’re naturally twice as strong as those cowardly villagers. Facing five times your number wouldn’t be a problem. If you still cower, don’t expect me to respect you!”

He added, “Of course, I won’t send you alone. I’ll have Fourth Leader Shanmao lead 50 men to accompany you.

“Three hundred men against a mere village—surely that’s not too harsh of me?”

Zhang Qiang, overjoyed, readily agreed.

A force of over 200 refugees and 50 bandits set off from Eagle’s Nest Ridge, descending in a winding line. After traveling for over three hours, they finally reached the Wuli Slope area.

Unlike Shanmao’s 50 well-fed bandits, Zhang Qiang’s 200 refugees were still not officially part of Eagle’s Nest Ridge. Early in the morning, they shared two buckets of thin porridge. By the time they were halfway there, their stomachs were growling.

Starving and desperate, their eyes roved like hungry wolves, scanning the villages along the way for anything edible.

They passed many settlements, but each one had barricades at the entrance. Shadows moved behind the walls, with villagers glaring at them vigilantly.

Although they had the advantage in numbers, attacking these defended villages would take time and effort, delaying their mission.

Moreover, under Shanmao’s watchful eyes, the refugees didn’t dare make trouble.

But as they passed the wealthy Majiazhuang, seeing smoke curling from its chimneys, they couldn’t help but hesitate.

The situation in Majiazhuang was quite different from other villages.

Although a roadblock was set up at the entrance, and there seemed to be people on watch, a wooden sign hung prominently at the entrance. It read in large characters: “Eight miles ahead is Daliushu Village,” followed by a thick, long arrow pointing the way.

Clearly, they believed Daliushu Village had provoked the bandits and wanted to avoid getting caught up in the trouble, adopting a stance of indifference and trying to redirect the disaster elsewhere.

Zhang Qiang, who was literate, saw the sign and laughed. “Such cowardice. Well then, let’s get some food in this village to fill our stomachs, regain some strength, and then head to Daliushu Village.”

But Old Fourth, nicknamed “Wildcat,” was growing impatient.

Ever since Li Datou had gone and never returned, he had a vague sense that something was off about Daliushu Village. He only wanted to finish the task quickly and report back, unwilling to create additional complications.

In his eyes, the wealthy families in Jincheng were the real targets. What oil and water could these remote villages offer?

He felt it was humiliating to have been assigned this task.

However, the group of refugees was already starving and couldn’t care less about the bigger picture.

In the past few days, they had waited below Eagle’s Nest Ridge day and night without gaining anything.

Only Zhang Qiang and the other leaders had managed to have a decent meal. The rest of the refugees were reduced to eating wild grass and tree roots by the roadside.

Before leaving in the morning, they had barely managed to share half a bowl of gruel each, which wasn’t enough to fill the cracks between their teeth. By the time they reached Dongping, it was already noon. The blazing sun made them dizzy with hunger.

Seeing a village standing alone, without any apparent alliance with others, was like a child flaunting gold in the market.

Emboldened by their numbers, the refugees grew bolder and veered toward Majiazhuang.

Being a disorganized group, the refugees were impossible to control.

Zhang Qiang didn’t want to stop them either. To make the refugees follow him, he had to let them taste some benefits first.

As a result, Wildcat could only watch helplessly as the group swarmed into the village like a pack of starving wolves.

One of his subordinates approached him and suggested, “Fourth Chief, since they’ve already gone in, why don’t we join them? If there’s anything good, why let them take it all?”

Hearing this, a greedy gleam flashed in Wildcat’s eyes. He spurred his horse and followed them.

Even a mosquito is still meat, after all.

The village head, Ma Changbao, was stunned when he heard the report that bandits had entered the village. He fell off his bed in shock.

“What’s going on? How could bandits come to our village? Weren’t they looking for the people of Daliushu Village? Didn’t we already put up a sign at the village entrance?”

The villager reporting to him replied tearfully, “Who knows? Over 300 of them stormed into the village. We couldn’t stop them. They’re like starving ghosts, attacking anyone they see, grabbing women, and even catching hens to eat raw. It’s terrifying!”

Ma Changbao felt his scalp tingle, his stomach churn, and an overwhelming urge to vomit that he couldn’t suppress.

“Village head, what do we do? There are over 300 of them, all strong young men. We can’t possibly fight them off!”

“Go gather the villagers. Let’s face this together.”

The villager had no choice but to go and call for others.

But no one came, no matter how long Ma Changbao waited.

Anxious, he climbed up his stilt house to look around. The village was already in chaos, with villagers screaming and fleeing in all directions.

There was no one left to accompany him to “take a look at the situation.”

Ma Changbao’s heart sank into despair. His limbs turned cold, and he could barely stand as he watched the bandits, riding emaciated horses and wielding rusty knives, roar into the village.

The refugees who had entered the village, seeing the villagers in disarray, were like sharks smelling blood. They broke into houses, committing all kinds of atrocities.

Those who couldn’t escape in time were cornered and toyed with, like cats playing with mice, before screaming and falling, staining the ground with blood.

Leaning weakly against the wall, Ma Changbao heard the chaotic footsteps drawing closer to his house. Despair filled his heart.

Meanwhile, Dagen and over a hundred allied villagers were ambushed at Unicorn Peak, halfway between Fuping and Lu Villages.

When Zhang Qiang and Wildcat’s group entered Majiazhuang, the leaders had already observed the situation through binoculars.

Daniu, holding the binoculars, stared intently at the chaos and couldn’t help but turn to Dagen. “Dad, should we go help them?”

Dagen shook his head. “We’re six or seven miles away and have to descend the mountain. By the time we get there, they’ll have already finished their slaughter. Besides, we only have a hundred people, less than half their number. Charging in now would be suicide.”

Zhang Laowu agreed. “Exactly, Daniu. We’ve already set traps here. If we act rashly now, not only will we fail to save anyone, but we’ll also alert the enemy and ruin your sister’s plan. If this falls apart, several other villages will suffer too.”

Daniu sighed, understanding the stakes, but he couldn’t help feeling some guilt.

Zhang Laowu patted his shoulder. “Back then, Pear Blossom and the village heads of several others tried to persuade Majiazhuang to join the alliance, but they refused. If they had joined, they wouldn’t be facing this disaster today.”

A villager nearby spat. “Hmph! Putting up that sign at the village entrance—see? Their cleverness backfired.”

Daniu pressed his lips together and said no more, keeping the binoculars fixed on Majiazhuang, hoping the attackers would move on quickly to meet their doom.

The villagers of Majiazhuang ran for their lives, crying and regretting their choices. They had thought Pear Blossom’s alliance was a ploy to use them as cannon fodder. But now, facing true disaster, they didn’t even have the chance to be cannon fodder.

The Bandits’ Side

The lynx frowned as he watched the refugees looting with reckless abandon. He turned to Zhang Qiang and said, “It’s getting late. Let’s finish the real task quickly.”

Zhang Qiang, having just killed several people, was still intoxicated by the thrill of slaughter. Though the lynx’s reminder irked him, he knew when to prioritize.

Suppressing his anger, he waved to his men and barked, “Stop dawdling! Get your asses to Daliushu Village!”

However, the men, having just tasted the sweetness of robbery, were reluctant to move, still indulging in their “spoils” of women, money, food, and poultry. They dragged their feet and grumbled as they hesitated.

Zhang Qiang, enraged at their insolence, drew his broadsword and stabbed two of them without hesitation.

The others were instantly terrified by his ruthlessness. Faces pale, they released the women they had seized, tied their stolen goods to their waists, and begrudgingly began marching toward Daliushu Village in a large, disorderly group.

Though reluctant, their initial victory at Majiazhuang had filled them with newfound confidence.

As they left the village, they strode boldly, itching to reach Daliushu Village to continue their plunder.

But their dreams were shattered all too soon.

As they passed through a narrow valley beneath One-Horn Peak, a deafening rumble echoed through the air.

Suddenly, massive logs and boulders rolled down from the mountain with thunderous force, crashing violently into the valley below.

Screams of terror filled the gorge as chaos erupted among the bandits and refugees.

Each rolling log and falling rock seemed like the hand of death, crushing anyone too slow to evade into a bloody pulp.

Zhang Qiang and the lynx stood stunned by the sudden ambush.

Their horses whinnied frantically, spinning in panicked circles.

In mere moments, over a hundred lay dead in pools of blood.

The survivors, petrified and overwhelmed, abandoned their loot and weapons, fleeing the valley in a mad dash for safety.

But the onslaught of logs and stones continued relentlessly.

Zhang Qiang and the lynx had no choice but to lead the remaining refugees in a desperate escape toward the valley’s exit.

With their retreat blocked, they could only press forward.

“Move! Get out of here now!” Zhang Qiang bellowed, slashing his way through panicked refugees and forcing a path forward.

Eventually, they reached safety, collapsing on the ground in exhaustion.

The lynx took a headcount. His fifty bandits had lost over ten men, but Zhang Qiang’s refugees had dwindled to just over a hundred. Combined, they now numbered fewer than two hundred.

Remembering the horrific scene in the valley, the group trembled, their earlier arrogance gone.

“Fourth Boss, I finally understand why Li Datou’s hundred men never came back,” one bandit sobbed. “This place is cursed!”

The lynx gritted his teeth. “We underestimated Daliushu Village.”

A small village capable of setting such an ambush—it wasn’t the work of ordinary villagers. This was war, orchestrated by a tactician!

“Fourth Boss, should we still go forward?” another bandit asked timidly.

The lynx glared at him. “Of course! Why wouldn’t we?”

He turned to Zhang Qiang. “Don’t tell me you want to back out too? Have you forgotten the pledge you made to the leader?”

Zhang Qiang’s gaze darkened as he stared toward Daliushu Village. He wanted to align himself with Eagle Nest Ridge, but losing nearly a hundred men before even seeing their enemy had left him rattled.

Still, retreating now would mean angering Eagle Nest Ridge. If “Ghost” successfully captured Jincheng, Zhang Qiang and his men would have no place left in the county.

Gritting his teeth, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes. “Forget? Daliushu Village must fall!”

---

Meanwhile, in Jincheng, thirty miles away

An intense siege battle raged on.

Ghost led two thousand vicious bandits, surging toward Jincheng like an unstoppable tide.

On the city walls, Murong Jiutian stood steadfast in armor, gripping his long blade with an unshakable presence.

Behind him stood six hundred soldiers hastily gathered to defend the city. Each clutched their weapons tightly, eyes fixed on the approaching enemy.

Ghost, brandishing his ghost-head blade, led the charge toward the city gates with a frenzied roar.

Murong Jiutian shouted, “Release the arrows!”

A dense volley of arrows rained down from the city walls.

The bandits, prepared for this, raised wooden shields above their heads and pressed forward in a crouch.

Inside the city, Murong Jin coordinated her forces, dividing them into small units to guard critical defensive points.

Some of these positions had been hastily repaired over the past three days, but the worst breaches remained open. They relied on Murong Jin’s makeshift militia to hold these gaps.

Soon, flames of battle erupted at the gates and several breaches.

The sky blazed with fire, blood splattering the ground.

Though Murong Jin fought valiantly, she could only defend one breach at a time. When reports came of two breaches falling, her heart sank.

If those breaches weren’t recaptured, her father’s defense at the gates would be meaningless, and Jincheng’s defenses would crumble.

As the bandits poured through the gaps, fierce street battles broke out between the Murong family’s bodyguards and the city’s militia.

Sounds of battle echoed throughout the city, causing Murong Jiutian atop the city walls to grow increasingly anxious. He had no choice but to withdraw another hundred men from the already stretched-thin garrison to reinforce the fight below.

As a result, the remaining defenders on the walls faced immense pressure from the bandits, who attacked like ravenous wolves.

Shaky siege ladders were erected against the walls, and a few bandits had already made it onto the battlements. Their morale soared as they shouted and surged forward.

The civilians helping defend the city were terrified as the ferocious bandits climbed onto the walls. Chaos quickly ensued, and even the seasoned Murong Jiutian struggled to stabilize the crumbling morale.

At that critical moment, the sound of galloping hooves echoed from the distance.

Everyone turned to look in astonishment and saw a force of over two hundred riders charging toward the city, kicking up clouds of dust.

Leading the charge was a female general, her red cape billowing in the wind. She charged ahead like a crimson-tipped spear piercing through the air.

This unit was clearly trained. The cavalry led the charge, their lances and sabers gleaming menacingly, while archers followed closely behind, bows drawn and ready to fire.

As they reached striking range, the cavalry split to the sides, revealing two rows of archers behind them.

Riding at the front, Pear Blossom held her longbow aloft.

“Archers, ready! Take aim at the enemy vanguard attacking the city walls. Cavalry, stand by for orders!” she commanded.

At her signal, the archers drew their bows, aiming at the bandits climbing the walls.

“Fire!”

Pear Blossom’s first arrow struck true, piercing the back of a bandit who had just scaled the wall. He cried out before tumbling down.

A hail of arrows followed, streaking through the air with a sharp whoosh. Dozens of bandits on the ladders fell, their screams filling the air.

Though their aim wasn’t perfect after only a few days of training, one hundred arrows shot in the same direction guaranteed hits. Even if not lethal, the injuries were enough to sow panic.

Seeing reinforcements arrive, the defenders on the walls rallied, their morale soaring.

Murong Jiutian laughed heartily. “My disciple has arrived! Everyone, charge!”

The bandits’ vanguard, caught off guard by the sudden arrow barrage, lost over a dozen men, giving the defenders a much-needed breather to launch a counterattack against those who had reached the battlements.

The bandits, thrown into disarray, were met with another surprise as the reinforcements pressed their advantage. Below, their leader, Gui Jianchou, shouted in frustration, “Where did these troublemakers come from? Third Boss, take your men and eliminate them! Cover the vanguard’s assault on the walls!”

The Third Boss quickly rallied over a hundred bandits to confront the advancing reinforcements.

Anticipating this, Pear Blossom smirked coldly and shouted, “Archers, retreat! Cavalry, cover them!”

At her command, the archers withdrew swiftly while the cavalry shielded their retreat.

The bandits, seeing their foes slip away like eels, cursed angrily and gave chase. But as mostly foot soldiers, they couldn’t keep up with the mounted troops.

Pear Blossom’s cavalry engaged in a fighting retreat, slowing the pursuers. At her signal, the riders dispersed, revealing the archers, who unleashed another deadly volley.

More bandits fell, their formation breaking into chaos.

“Turn and pursue!” Pear Blossom ordered, leading the charge back toward the disoriented enemy.

Her blade cut through the air with lethal precision, cleaving through several foes and breaking what remained of their morale.

Her cavalry followed, trampling the scattered bandits underfoot. Within moments, twenty more bandits lay dead or dying, and the rest fled in terror.

The Wuyin Army, comprised of villagers who had suffered greatly at the hands of the bandits, now unleashed their fury, slaughtering their enemies without mercy.

Pear Blossom, meanwhile, set her sights on the Third Boss.

“Capture the leader to break the bandits!” she shouted, spurring her horse forward.

Seeing his force decimated, the Third Boss gritted his teeth and barked, “Who are you? State your name! No one dies nameless by my blade!”

Pear Blossom sneered. “I am Pear Blossom of Daliushu Village, the one who killed your leader, Li Datou. You’re next.”

With that, she charged, her sword gleaming in the sunlight.

The Third Boss, shocked at her words, refused to believe it. Gripping his massive saber, he roared and swung with all his might, aiming to cleave both rider and horse in two.

Yet Pear Blossom met his every strike without fear.

She was nimble, shifting swiftly on horseback, each strike aimed directly at her opponent’s vital points.

The sound of metal clashing rang out, “clang, clang, clang,” as their weapons met dozens of times.

The third leader felt his arm go numb, his tiger’s mouth torn, and secretly groaned in distress.

“Just a little girl, how does she have so much strength?”

Could she have truly killed Li Datou with her own hands?

The more he thought, the more anxious he became. In his panic, his movements became sloppy, but Pear Blossom grew more determined. With a swing of her long knife, there was a sharp “swish” sound as it cut through the third leader’s tunic, narrowly missing his skin.

The third leader was struck with fear, realizing he was no match for Pear Blossom, but unwilling to retreat.

Gritting his teeth, he desperately swung his weapon, trying to turn the tide of battle.

However, what he never expected was that the little girl would leap off her horse, aiming her strike at him. He quickly turned his head, only to realize the blade wasn’t coming for him, but aimed directly at his mount.

The horse let out a scream and collapsed, throwing him to the ground.

As he struggled to rise, he heard a light “thud,” and the long knife pierced through his body.

His eyes widened, filled with disbelief and terror.

Looking down at the knife wound on his chest, he lifted his gaze to meet Pear Blossom’s cold, indifferent eyes.

“You… you’re so ruthless…”

With great difficulty, he managed to utter a few words before his body swayed and he died.

Pear Blossom gazed at the man lying on the ground, her heart showing no trace of pity.

Turning away, she looked at the remaining bandits, now doomed souls under the command of the Wuyin Army. She scoffed, raising her long knife, and shouted, “Wuyin Army, follow me for the second wave of attack!”

With that, she leapt onto her horse and charged toward the city gates.

The Wuyin Army had just succeeded in their first small skirmish, and their morale was high. At her command, they immediately mounted their horses, shouting wildly as they followed her into the fray.

The archers followed at a steady pace, keeping a safe distance while preparing to shoot arrows, ready to strike with deadly precision.

The cavalry rode around the city walls, attacking the bandits besieging the city, slashing them with their weapons.

Whenever a bandit attempted to retaliate, the cavalry quickly withdrew.

Back and forth they went, while the archers continued to harass the bandits, who grew increasingly frustrated and distracted, unable to focus on their siege.

Ghost witnessed the bravery of the Wuyin Army, and his heart was filled with shock and fear.

He never imagined that a mere two hundred soldiers could wipe out the first wave of his forces in such a short time. This unsettled him deeply.

At that moment, Li Shubi also recognized the leader of the attackers, and with a jolt, he exclaimed, “Big boss, that’s the woman Pear Blossom from Daliushu. They say the princess once had a debt of gratitude to her—”

At this point, recalling how he was rescued by a fake military officer, he suddenly felt a chill in his heart.

After he was rescued, the imperial anti-bandit army had arrived, leading to the collapse of Baihu Villa.

Could it be… could this girl, relying on her own strength, have started the war between Baihu Villa and the Beizhen Fusi?

And what about Baoxi Village…

In that brief instant, Li Shubi seemed to understand everything—from the beginning to now.

Seeing the figure charging toward him, his face turned ashen, his tongue froze, and his voice trembled.

Finally, he managed to say, “Big… big boss… shouldn’t we retreat?”

Ghost turned around, looking at him in disbelief.

At this point, they were on the verge of breaching the city walls. The bandits’ insider had already entered through a gap, and the sounds of battle could be heard from inside the city. Victory was within their grasp, and now, the strategist who had supported the siege suggested retreating?

In his fury, Ghost drew his sword and thrust it into Li Shubi’s abdomen.

The other bandits gasped in fear, staring at him as though seeing a devil.

Ghost roared, “Why aren’t you charging? What are you waiting for? The city gates are almost down! Charge now!”

Before his words could finish, Pear Blossom’s cavalry were almost upon them, slashing at the front-line bandits.

Unable to tolerate any more, Ghost spurred his horse and charged forward, swinging his great sword toward Pear Blossom.