Chapter 1114: Re-planning
The bandit army retreated...
Zhao Guangyuan led his troops in a long pursuit of the bandit army, but once they reached the mountains, further pursuit was impossible. He reluctantly sounded the gong for retreat and returned to Hanzhong City.
His first order of business upon returning to the city was to head towards the North Gate.
During the battle at the North Gate, Zhao Guangyuan's forces were stationed at the South Gate, so he hadn't witnessed the events unfold there directly. He had only heard the continuous roar of muskets. Soon after, he saw the main bandit force collapse and retreat south, presenting him with the perfect opportunity to rout them.
Now, of course, he had to see for himself and understand what exactly had transpired at the North Gate.
Upon arrival, he found that the Prefect was also there, as were all the local gentry. Everyone was equally curious about the origin of that flurry of musket fire.
As they approached, they saw the Gao Family Village Militia already clearing the battlefield. Militia soldiers were piling the bodies of dead bandits for mass burial, while wounded bandits received medical attention—a quick application of medicine—before being laid out on the ground.
Uninjured but surrendered bandits were being escorted, hands clasped over their heads, trembling on the ground.
The scene was strangely orderly!
Many pairs of eyes darted towards the spoils of war scattered across the field, a strong urge to collect them tempered by fear.
Zhao Guangyuan strode purposefully towards Wang Er, his gaze sweeping over the militia soldiers diligently clearing the battlefield. A flicker of envy touched his eyes; he wished his own men were half as well-trained. "Ah, if only..."
He cupped his fist at Wang Er. "Are these your soldiers?"
Wang Er nodded. "Yes."
"Remarkable," Zhao Guangyuan exclaimed. "Which general do you serve?"
Wang Er disliked dealing with imperial officials and had no desire to speak with this man, but he patiently replied, "We are a militia."
Zhao Guangyuan's voice immediately rose an octave. "What did you say? You call *this* a militia?"
"What else would we be?" Wang Er countered. "Bandits?"
Zhao Guangyuan’s face flushed slightly with embarrassment. "No, no, that's not what I meant at all. You're clearly not bandits. It's just that your discipline is... astonishingly good, to the point I can barely comprehend it."
"Then don't try to comprehend it," Wang Er retorted flatly. "Your imperial soldiers are notoriously undisciplined, burning, killing, and looting just like bandits. Of course, you wouldn't understand a proper militia."
Zhao Guangyuan was speechless.
"I'm not like that," Zhao Guangyuan argued feebly.
"I have no interest in debating that with you," Wang Er dismissed. "Let's discuss more pressing matters."
"Oh? What pressing matters?" Zhao Guangyuan asked.
Wang Er turned his head, looking in the direction where the bandits had fled. "The bandits have entered Shaanxi. We must eliminate all of them who have crossed into the province. We absolutely cannot allow them to disrupt the peace that the common people of Shaanxi have worked so hard to achieve."
Zhao Guangyuan glanced at the vast, distant mountains to the south, a hint of awkwardness in his voice. "But... how are we supposed to eliminate them? It's all mountains out there."
Wang Er shot him a sidelong glance. "I know you're not much help. We'll handle it ourselves; just don't get in our way."
"How dare you speak to me like that?" Zhao Guangyuan erupted in anger.
Wang Er continued to ignore him, turning instead to San Shier. "Steward San, it seems I won't be able to reinforce Wuchang for now."
San Shier nodded. "Indeed! Shaanxi is far more crucial to us. We must first clear out the bandits within the province."
As he spoke, he furrowed his brows and glanced southwest. "We need to establish a defensive line in Hanzhong, to block the bandits here and prevent them from entering the Guanzhong Plain. This is called 'repelling the enemy from a thousand miles away.'"
"I'll stay here and take charge of this," Wang Er declared. "I won't be able to escort Steward San anymore."
San Shier nodded. "I'll proceed to my post in Sichuan on my own. It's fine; my logistics team will still be with me for protection, so nothing untoward will happen."
The two men exchanged a cupped-fist salute and went their separate ways. San Shier, accompanied by the logistics team, boarded a boat and set off down the Han River.
Wang Er, however, remained. He pulled over one of his subordinates. "You'll take the next train and return to our village immediately. Inform the Saintess and Steward Tan of what has transpired here in Hanzhong."
The subordinate nodded, accepting the order.
Only then did Wang Er turn to the Prefect of Hanzhong. "Henceforth, my militia may need to garrison near Hanzhong Prefecture for a while to assist you in resisting the bandits. We won't require imperial provisions or your arrangements for barracks; we only ask that you refrain from sending people to harass us."
The Prefect was dumbfounded.
The Prefect turned to look at Zhao Guangyuan, who was also looking at him.
They exchanged glances, then both shook their heads simultaneously.
Who would dare allow such a peculiar "militia," whose origins and allegiances were unclear, to remain here? If they caused any trouble, the Prefect's and Zhao Guangyuan's meager forces would be utterly helpless against them.
The Prefect was about to politely decline Wang Er's offer...
Suddenly, the Prince of Tang bounded forward. "Excellent! Your willingness to stay here is truly wonderful! My grand train, parked here, is constantly at risk of being plundered by bandits. I've been so worried! If you are willing to protect it, this prince would be eternally grateful, hahaha, eternally grateful!"
The Prefect stared in disbelief!
Zhao Guangyuan was utterly flabbergasted!
The Prince of Tang continued, "Please, would you garrison at the train station? Watch over my grand train at night; we absolutely mustn't let those bandits steal it."
"I already intended to garrison near the train station," Wang Er replied. "It's convenient for transporting supplies, and my backup forces will also arrive by train."
The Prince of Tang was overjoyed. "Excellent, excellent! Then I leave this train station in your hands. Oh, and besides the grand train, please don't let the bandits steal anything else!"
Wang Er was furious. "What else is there to steal at this train station besides the train itself? Even the ticket booth is just a makeshift shack!"
The Prince of Tang retorted indignantly, "Even building a shack costs money! It cost me at least two taels of silver!"
Everyone present was speechless.
Wang Er was momentarily at a loss for words; he wasn't one for idle chatter, and in such situations, he often struggled to find anything to say.
However, a young soldier who had received a bit of schooling piped up from behind him, helping Wang Er out with a sarcastic remark. "If the Prince of Qin's heir, the major shareholder of the West Han Railway, found out you'd turned the Hanzhong station into this, he'd definitely come looking for trouble."
The Prince of Tang scoffed, "He can't even leave Xi'an, he'll never see it, hahaha."
"Ach!" Zhu Cunji, currently touring Wan Shou Zhai, suddenly sneezed, rubbing his nose. "I have a feeling someone's talking ill of me behind my back."
Zhu Yujian advised, "Don't get distracted by baseless thoughts. Look, the Tujia people of Shizhu also have Tujia brocade, just like those in Kaixian. We can transport these Tujia brocade as commodities for trade."
Zhu Cunji waved a dismissive hand. "This prince doesn't understand any of that. You research it yourself. Hey, the scenery over there is quite lovely... such beautiful stone pillars..."
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