Chapter 30: Recruitment

When Tian Mi walked out of the room, she realized that the sky was slowly brightening. The battle had lasted for several hours, and she hurried to the valley entrance. What she saw there would remain the most unforgettable and brutal scene of her life—war was always about life and death.

The enemy, using everything they had, finally broke through the valley entrance. They were ecstatic, pushing desperately to get inside. Even Dong Haibo, hearing the gates break open, showed an excited expression and rode his horse toward the valley. They all assumed that such a heavily fortified place must hold treasures, but when they got inside, they found themselves facing yet another gate.

This second gate wouldn’t open, and the people outside were still pushing in. The courtyard became packed with people. Uncle Xu and Zuo Zhengfeng, as planned, threw in jars of sesame oil! What followed was the scene Tian Mi saw next—thick smoke filled the air, and the smell of roasted meat was everywhere.

The fire ended the battle for the night. Dong Haibo quickly led his men back into the woods. He was fortunate—he hadn’t entered the courtyard before the fire started. The flames illuminated the area, making his skin burn with heat and filling him with fear.

Tian Mi, watching from the top of the wall, saw them retreat, and at last, they were temporarily safe. She sat down on the staircase to rest.

After a brief moment of calm, the women of Fengqiu Village brought thick meat porridge to everyone. The smell of meat made them all feel nauseous, and no one could eat.

Though the enemy had retreated for now, they had still suffered more than thirty injuries, though not as severe as Xu Feiyan and Zhou’s. Even Huang Yuanyi, who came later to replace them, had an arrow in his arm. If it weren’t for Tian Mi’s special medicine and the rapid stitching from her uncles, he probably would’ve died. So, everyone’s mood was heavy.

Even so, the wounded still stood guard at the valley entrance with their heavy swords, ready to fight the incoming enemy. Tian Mi felt a sense of gratitude. The people of this tribe were never afraid of war. To protect their homes and families, they were always willing to sacrifice. However, the atmosphere felt somber and oppressive.

Tian Mi smiled softly and began to sing:

“In my heart, there used to be a dream,
To use my song to help you forget all the pain,
The bright starry sky, who is the true hero?
It’s the ordinary people who move me the most.
No more hate, no more pain,
Let love’s traces be everywhere in the world,
Let our song exchange for your true smile,
Wishing your life to be different from now on.”

In the heavy, oppressive air, Tian Mi’s voice was like heavenly music, igniting the spark of hope in everyone’s eyes.

“Seize every minute of life, give all to our dreams.
How can we see the rainbow without going through the storm?
No one can succeed easily,
Seize every touch in life,
Hugging dear friends with passion,
Let our heartfelt words and happy tears flow in your hearts.”

They wanted their homes, to protect their families—this was their dream, and they gave everything for it. Everyone listened with tears in their eyes, proud of their families.

“Seize every moment of life,
Hug dear friends passionately,
Let our heartfelt words and happy tears flow in your hearts.”

When Tian Mi finished singing, everyone, faces streaked with tears, clapped not out of sadness, but out of excitement. It was as if they had found an endless source of strength—they were the heroes of their families.

The wounded no longer felt pain. It was their hero’s badge.

Huang Yuanyi’s eyes sparkled, as if the world around him had gained a few more colors.

Tian Mi helped everyone rearrange the valley, cleaning up the courtyard, and burying the charred bodies in the wilderness. Afterward, they took turns eating and resting, uncertain if the enemy would come back to attack.

Dong Haibo, though, didn’t feel like continuing the fight. He hadn’t expected such a small valley to be so formidable, with its well-constructed courtyard. The forces from the rear had also retreated, and continuing the fight might lead to no resolution.

He led his men back to the village to rest, while he personally took two guards back to Qinghe County. Who were the people in these mountains? He needed to find someone to investigate. They had captured many people from the surrounding villages, and it wouldn’t be hard to get answers.

When Dong Haibo arrived at Qinghe County, he instructed his subordinates to bring in everyone they had captured from the surrounding areas to inquire about the situation.

In the end, they all said that the villagers who had escaped were just ordinary villagers. However, one of the subordinates suddenly remembered that Xu Chengchang and his son had been captured there as well, so he called for them to be brought in.

Dong Haibo was a general under Bai Dongyuan’s command, specifically responsible for logistics and capturing people. He was highly trusted by Bai Dongyuan. When Xu Chengchang was asked if he knew who was hiding in the mountains, Xu had no intention of concealing the truth. He said, “General Dong, based on the location you mentioned, the people with martial arts skills are likely from the Fenwei Escort Bureau.”

Ah! Finally, Dong Haibo had a clue. No wonder!

“How many of them are there? What kind of people are they?”

Xu Chengchang said, with a flattering expression, “General Dong, they are a group of about forty people, including men, women, and children. Some of them know martial arts, and some are skilled in medicine. The most formidable among them is a strong escort named Tian Dabiao, and another one who has practiced martial arts since childhood, Xu Chengchang’s second brother, Xu Xirong. He’s my younger brother, though he’s a bit simple-minded and only good at fighting and killing.”

Dong Haibo did not believe that there were only forty people, including women and children. While he didn’t know exactly what was inside, from the length of the wall and the distribution of personnel, it was clear there were far more than forty people.

These people were hiding inside, occupying an advantageous position. Dong Haibo had already suffered heavy losses, and continuing the fight didn’t seem wise. How could he lure them out?

He looked at Xu Chengchang and said, “They’ve taken the mountain and rebelled against the government. You’re one of their family members—do you want to die?”

Xu Chengchang hadn’t expected the man who had been speaking to him so amicably to suddenly turn hostile. He had some status now since he was with Bai Dongyuan, but compared to these generals, he was still far from their level. He quickly explained, “General Dong, since I came here, I haven’t seen them at all. I have no idea what they’re doing, and it has nothing to do with me!”

Dong Haibo sneered, “You say it has nothing to do with you? But that’s your own brother. Who knows if you’re in cahoots with them, trying to plot something against General Bai?”

Xu Chengchang was terrified by this accusation. He didn’t dare to take such a huge fall.

Dong Haibo had suffered heavy losses. If Bai Dongyuan hadn’t been there, he might have been able to cover it up, but with Bai Dongyuan in Qinghe County, it would be impossible to keep it hidden. Fortunately, he had found a breakthrough and could report it to Bai Dongyuan.

When Bai Dongyuan heard that the group included doctors, a powerful escort, and martial artists, he realized that such a small group had caused Dong Haibo to suffer so much. Bringing them over would be like adding wings to a tiger!

He smiled humbly and said, “Xu Uncle, these people are all talents! Go and recruit them. Tell them that we’re old friends, and I won’t hold their past actions against them. If they come and work for me, I’ll treat them with respect.”

Xu Chengchang, hearing this, thought the opportunity was promising. It was a much better prospect than chewing on tree bark in the mountains. Coming to the county town and working for the government was far superior.

He felt like Bai Dongyuan was doing a favor to those rough people!

Smiling, he said, “General Bai is truly magnanimous. I’ll definitely bring them all over to hear your instructions.”

With a smug grin, Xu Chengchang said to Dong Haibo, “General Dong, don’t worry. When dealing with strong enemies, it doesn’t always have to be a life-or-death struggle. It can still work in my favor.”