Outside the gates of Qiyun Village, several rows of archers and crossbowmen aimed at the troublemakers.

The fire in the tripods burned brightly, casting a red glow on everyone’s faces.

Chu Chengji and Lin Yao stood among the archers and crossbowmen, with Wu Qing and Zhao Kui standing behind them.

Wu Qing, a man in his early thirties, had a yellow face, short beard, and a muscular build.

Known for his excellent archery skills, he was affectionately called “Uncle Wu San” by the younger members of the village due to his third rank in the family.

Zhao Kui, on the other hand, was a large man whose size could match that of three people. He carried a spiked hammer on his shoulder, glaring menacingly at the crowd.

The ringleaders of the troublemakers were shouting loudly but didn’t dare to truly attack the village.

After all, Qiyun Village had 300 archers and crossbowmen.

The martial skills of Chu Chengji and Zhao Kui were well-known to them, so they just stood outside the gates, trying to incite more people to join them.

“I became a bandit for money and women! Back in my own village, I took plenty of women and nobody said a word. Now, in Qiyun Village, we can’t touch women or rob the people at the foot of the mountain. I might as well go back to my own village and live freely!” shouted the ringleader punished by Chu Chengji. “Brothers, don’t you agree? I don’t want to be like those fools from the government, fighting to the death for military merits!”

Many former bandits, used to a life of looting, were incited by these words, especially after being disciplined repeatedly.

They echoed his sentiments: “We followed to become officials and get rich, to marry as many wives as we want. Qiyun Village tricked us, promising food, weapons, and pay, but we’ve been drinking plain porridge for days! Do they even have any food left?”

Zhao Kui’s temple veins throbbed as he turned to Chu Chengji. “Strategist, let me smash that son of a gun with my hammer!”

Chu Chengji raised his hand, signaling for patience.

The ringleaders noticed the movement and one of them pointed at Zhao Kui, cursing, “Zhao, you traitor! Master Ma valued you, and now you’ve joined Qiyun Village without a thought for your old master. So what if you’re skilled? I have no respect for you!”

Angered, Zhao Kui tightened his grip on his hammer, ready to charge, but Chu Chengji calmly stopped him and addressed the ringleader. “Brother Zhao served Master Ma out of gratitude for saving his life. He worked for Xiakou Village for three years. Now, all the leaders of the mountain strongholds have agreed to join Qiyun Village. Master Ma is also working for us. So, which old master do you say Brother Zhao should be loyal to?”

The current situation was instigated by those carrying numerous crimes.

The leaders of the strongholds, who had been given their own squads, were not yet fully integrated.

These leaders, shrewd and cunning, preferred to watch the commotion rather than openly oppose Qiyun Village.

They knew that the village’s crossbows would decimate them if it came to a real fight.

So, after Chu Chengji’s question, no one dared to respond.

The fear and respect Chu Chengji had built during his training sessions held sway.

The ringleader’s arrogance diminished noticeably under Chu Chengji’s cold gaze.

Lin Yao, also losing patience, pointed at the loudest troublemaker and cursed, “Earn military merits for me? How long have you been freeloading in Qiyun Village? Have you fought the government once? What military merits have you earned? Did I trick you into joining the village with empty promises? Tell me, are the weapons you train with from Qiyun Village? Are the three meals a day provided by Qiyun Village’s grain? Without Qiyun Village, you’d either be dead or rotting in a government prison! Want to go back to your own mountain? Fine, tie them up and throw them into the abyss!”

Zhao Kui, filled with pent-up anger, strode forward forcefully, kicking up dust with each step, making it seem like the ground was shaking.

Despite having many lives on his hands, the troublemaker still felt a chill down his spine seeing Zhao Kui approach. Drawing his weapon and pointing it at Zhao Kui, he kept retreating in fear as Zhao advanced.

Realizing his cowardice was humiliating, he shouted to the other troublemakers, “Brothers, let’s take him together!”

Having reached the point of no return, the other troublemakers, driven by desperation, raised their weapons, preparing to attack Zhao Kui in unison.

“Swish!”

The leading troublemaker was suddenly struck through the heart by an arrow.

He looked down in disbelief at the blood spreading across his coarse clothes. Struggling to lift his head towards the gates of Qiyun Village, he saw only the quivering bowstring in the hand of a man in dark scholar’s robes, standing by the burning fire basin.

His eyes, now unfocused, couldn’t make out the expression on the man’s face before he collapsed to the ground.

The other troublemakers, who were about to advance, halted in their tracks, glancing fearfully at Chu Chengji, whose aura was even more intimidating than Zhao Kui’s imposing frame.

Chu Chengji, appearing uninterested in further negotiation, looked at them as if they were already dead.

One of the troublemakers, gathering his courage, spoke up, “Is the strategist planning to kill us to silence us? We’re just seeking justice for everyone!”

He knew most had turned to banditry out of hunger, while only a few, carrying numerous murders and wanted by the authorities, had thrived on their original mountain.

Quickly changing his tone, he continued, “We’ve been able to drink porridge for the past few days, but with the government forces surrounding us and not retreating, soon we’ll only have water left!”

Zhao Kui, standing nearby, stepped forward and kicked the troublemaker hard, sending him sprawling. “Ungrateful wretch! I served three years for a meal. You’ve been freeloading for days and still have the nerve to cause trouble? You want women, official titles, and wealth? Do you think you have the skills to earn them? Do you think barking here will make the chief and the strategist give you high positions?”

The troublemaker curled up on the ground like a shrimp, unable to get up.

One of the mountain leaders suddenly spoke, “Chief Lin, they are wrong to cause trouble, but some of their concerns are valid.

Our brothers from various mountain heads are not allowed into the village. We don’t know if there’s any grain left.

We’re willing to fight for the cause, but even horses need grass. People can’t go without food. If there’s still grain, show it to the brothers, and they won’t be swayed by troublemakers.”

Though his words seemed reasonable, constantly mentioning food and calling them outsiders was clearly an attempt to sow discord.

The truth was that the village’s grain had run out, and Lin Yao could only hope for help from Qin Zheng.

Clenching his teeth, Lin Yao remained silent, while the troublemakers resumed their agitation: “Leader Liu is right! If Qiyun Village still has grain, Chief Lin should show us!”

Whispers spread through the crowd, with many swayed by the government soldiers’ taunts and roasted meat, leading to a chorus of, “Show us the grain!”

Lin Yao’s expression grew increasingly grim.

Chu Chengji, frowning slightly, responded, “Since you all wish to see, give us a moment to bring the grain to the gates.”

One troublemaker sneered, “How do we know you’re not deceiving us again?”

Chu Chengji’s eyes grew colder, but just then, a shout came from inside the village, “The grain is here!”

The archers and crossbowmen parted, making way for a group of Qiyun Village men pushing wooden carts piled high with sacks of rice.

Accompanying the carts were two women. One, in a dark red dress, was recognized by everyone as the formidable young mistress of Qiyun Village.

The other, more slender woman, even in an ill-fitting stone blue dress, had a slender waist that caught many eyes.

She wore a bamboo hat, hiding her face in the dark of night.

The murmurs grew louder as people craned their necks to see.

Leader Liu, suspicious, called out, “Chief Lin, are those rice bags filled with sand?”

Lin Yao breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Qin Zheng arrive, knowing the grain must have successfully been transported via the cableway.

He approached a cart, picked up a sack of rice, cut it open, and grabbed a handful to show the crowd. “Brothers, see for yourselves. Is this rice or not?”

“It’s rice! It really is rice!”

“We have food! These carts full of rice will last us a while!”

The troublemakers’ faces turned stiff. Leader Liu, his expression shifting, said, “I only have everyone’s best interests in mind. What if only a few sacks contain rice and the rest are filled with sand?”

This remark plunged the crowd back into silence, considering it a possibility.

Lin Yao, seething with anger, sneered, “Leader Liu, do you want me to cut open every sack to show everyone?”

Leader Liu did not deny it.

Qin Zheng, her view obstructed by the bamboo hat, had to tilt her head to see Chu Chengji. Catching his gaze, she heard Leader Liu’s challenge.

She spoke up, “Everyone can rest assured. Each team can come forward and take a bag of rice. For the next few days, you can cook your own meals, whether it’s plain rice or porridge. After seven days, you can come for another ration. You can inspect the rice on the spot.”

With her assurance and the immediate distribution of a week’s worth of rations, doubts were dispelled.

The originally restless crowd was pacified by Qin Zheng’s words.

Leader Liu, still wary, stared at Qin Zheng, “Who are you? Do your words hold weight?”

Chu Chengji’s cold gaze swept over him, “My wife’s words are my words.”

Lin Yao, seizing the moment, added, “The strategist is my brother. His words carry the same weight as mine.”

With that, no one raised further objections. Each team came forward to collect their rice.

Opening the bags, they found it was indeed rice, prompting excited shouts, “We have food!”

The troublemakers, their faces ashen, started to panic.

With the food issue resolved, it was time to settle old scores.

Chu Chengji handed a horizontal blade to Lin Yao, “Chief.”

As the recognized leader, Lin Yao had to personally uphold their authority.

Lin Yao took the blade and strode forward.

A troublemaker attempted to ambush him but was swiftly cut down with a single slash to the throat.

Another, who had been kicked to the ground by Zhao Kui, tried to flee but was pinned down by Lin Yao and decapitated with a swift stroke.

The crowd gasped, but no one spoke up for the troublemakers.

Blood spattered Lin Yao’s face as he surveyed the onlookers, declaring, “Our Qiyun Village uprising is not like Li Xin of Qixian, relying on looting and pillaging to attack Bianjing. Each of you has parents, siblings, families.

When they are oppressed, don’t you feel pain? I, Lin Yao, intend to overturn this corrupt world, seize power, and protect the people! Once we take Qingzhou City, we will govern it.

Do you not hate the corrupt officials and bullies? Should these scum who oppress and exploit people die?”

The crowd fell silent, the only sound the crackling of the fire.

“They should die!”

“They should die!”

The shouts quickly grew louder, echoing through the night.

Those swayed by the troublemakers looked back, seeing the fervor of the crowd.

Faces flushed with excitement, they too raised their weapons and joined the chant.

The remaining troublemakers, pale with fear, saw the tide turn against them. One fell to his knees before Lin Yao, pleading, “Chief, I was instigated by them. I believe they deserve death too…”

Lin Yao kicked him aside, “Beat him to death with sticks!”

Beating with sticks was a slow, painful punishment, meant to serve as a deterrent.

Qiyun Village members stepped forward to apprehend the troublemakers.

As they resisted, Zhao Kui, following Chu Chengji’s signal, swung a massive hammer, crushing bones.

Those struck by the hammer, whether dead or half-dead, were then beaten with sticks until they bled, their screams silenced.

With the disturbance quelled, the crowd dispersed, having received their rations.

Lin Yao approached Qin Zheng, clasping his hands in gratitude, “Thank you, Madam Cheng, for your timely arrival. I wouldn’t have known how to handle this otherwise…”

Noticing the atmosphere, he saw Chu Chengji’s gaze fixed on Qin Zheng and quickly excused himself, “Ahem, let’s have a celebration banquet tonight. I’ll go make the arrangements.”