Chapter 197: This Father Will Annihilate Them Utterly
Every time Liang Shixian visited Gao Family Village, it signaled trouble.
If he wasn't borrowing grain, he was borrowing bows.
This time, a sheepish grin stretched across his face, a clear indication that he was once again here to ask for something.
San Shier was the first to greet him, while Gao Yiye hurried back to the watchtower to change into her dignified attire.
Li Daoxuan, meanwhile, settled onto his small stool, preparing his melon seeds and peanuts, ready to enjoy the spectacle.
The moment Liang Shixian and San Shier met, a volley of convoluted pleasantries ensued, the kind that made one's head spin. Both Fang Wushang nearby and Li Daoxuan above in his divine realm wore expressions of distaste, thoroughly annoyed by the chatter.
After a good long while, they finally got to the point.
Liang Shixian began, "My visit this time, I must... *cough*... borrow some more bows..."
He trailed off, so embarrassed he wished he could dig a hole and crawl into it.
Liang Shixian sighed deeply. "Indeed. And they're our old acquaintances: Bu Zhan Ni from Luochuan."
San Shier remarked, "Oh? That fellow suffered two defeats in our Chengcheng County. Does he dare to return?"
Liang Shixian replied, "This requires me to explain the situation in the north..."
His tone grew heavy as he elaborated.
It turned out that several days prior, Wang Er of Baishui had traveled north from Yijun County, entering Luochuan County.
The Luochuan County militia commander immediately led his troops to engage Wang Er in a fierce battle. He had expected an easy victory, but instead suffered a crushing defeat, forcing him to retreat in disarray back to the county seat.
This left the entire Luochuan County completely outside government control.
Wang Er was free to go wherever he pleased, passing directly through Luochuan and continuing north.
Emerging from Huanglong Mountain, Bu Zhan Ni also found a valuable breathing spell. Being a native of Luochuan, he enjoyed a strong reputation there. Upon his return, he swiftly regrouped with several other rebel forces, dramatically increasing his power.
At this moment, Bu Zhan Ni commanded a formidable army, his ranks swelling with hardened bandits, organized into seven divisions:
Team One: Eye-Money, Team Two: Lantern Lighter (Zhao Sheng), Team Three: Prince of Jin Li, Team Four: Scorpion Block, Team Five: Old Zhang Fei, Team Six: King of Chaos, and Team Seven: Night Harriers.
Hearing Liang Shixian recite this list, Li Daoxuan couldn't help but inwardly marvel: "Only seven teams now? When the eighth team joins, that will be truly formidable."
Because... Bu Zhan Ni's eighth team was none other than the famous Li Zicheng.
Currently, he hadn't yet joined, leaving the eighth slot vacant.
Liang Shixian continued, "This Bu Zhan Ni of Luochuan grows ever stronger, running rampant through Luochuan County. His seven teams of bandits are advancing along multiple routes, and two of them are heading straight for our Chengcheng County."
San Shier inquired, "Wouldn't they be stronger if they stayed together? Why split into multiple routes?"
Military Inspector Fang Wushang snorted coldly. "If the seven bandit teams combined, their numbers would swell to tens of thousands, requiring immense provisions. Since they can't breach county towns, only snatching a little grain from the countryside, how could that feed tens of thousands? Naturally, they must disperse to plunder."
Only then did San Shier realize, his face darkening. "This... this scattered plundering... won't it just... make life even harder for the common folk?"
Liang Shixian sighed. "The people of Luochuan are suffering! Alas, I am merely the magistrate of Chengcheng County, and I have no authority over matters in Luochuan. But if these bandits come to Chengcheng County, I must certainly deal with them."
He unrolled an official map, quite detailed, and pointed to a spot on it. "Team One, Eye-Money, will likely attack from Fengyuan Town. As for Team Two, Lantern Lighter, they've entered Huanglong Mountain, so... they will most likely attack from Bai Family Fortress."
San Shier asked, "Your Excellency, what is your plan?"
Liang Shixian explained, "Both Fengyuan Town and Bai Family Fortress must be defended. My idea is this: Fengyuan Town will be defended by me, leading the county and Fengyuan Town militias. Bai Family Fortress will be defended by its own militia and the Gao Family Village militia, working together."
Fang Wushang added, "I will be stationed between Fengyuan Town and Bai Family Fortress, providing aid to whichever side the bandits attack."
Li Daoxuan nodded slightly to himself. This strategic outline seemed quite sound.
Liang Shixian continued, "Therefore, I wish to request that Gao Family Village send its militia to Bai Family Fortress to jointly defend against the bandits. The militia instructor of Bai Family Fortress, Bai Yuan, is a man of good standing. I will speak with him to ensure he accepts your people into Bai Family Fortress. I'm sure Bai Yuan will grant me this favor."
Just as he finished speaking, the sound of hoofbeats filled the air. Several swift horses galloped into view.
Leading them, clad in flowing white, was none other than Bai Yuan himself, followed by a handful of retainers, riding with impressive swagger.
The moment he entered Gao Family Village's vicinity, Bai Yuan clasped his hands in a profound bow from horseback, offering a grand salute to the Heavenly Lord above, for he was indeed very particular about "rites," one of a gentleman's six arts.
He rode straight to the fortress gate, dismounted, and dropped to his knees before Liang Shixian and San Shier.
"Oh? Is this not Your Excellency the Magistrate? And General Fang!" Bai Yuan's manners were impeccable. He quickly bowed again to both of them. "I am fortunate to meet you all here; it fills me with immeasurable joy."
Liang Shixian chuckled. "Master Bai, I was just speaking with San Shier about you. Bu Zhan Ni has split his forces into two routes and is attacking again. I was about to ask Gao Family Village to send its militia to Bai Family Fortress to assist with your defense, and here you are!"
Bai Yuan responded, "I, too, came for this very reason. Hunters in the mountains relayed news that bandits are once again active on Huanglong Mountain. I made a special trip to inform Gao Family Village. Heh..."
At the end, he suddenly let out a "heh" and pulled a book from the saddlebag on his horse. It was "Elementary Math, Grade 6, Volume 2," which he waved in his hand. "And incidentally, to discipline my arrogant, rebellious son."
Li Daoxuan understood his gesture immediately. Bai Yuan had already completed all twelve volumes of "Elementary Math," which was why he was showing off the second volume of Grade 6.
Liang Shixian asked curiously, "What book is this? And why must Master Bai's rebellious son be disciplined here?"
Bai Yuan burst into laughter. "This is Mathematics!"
Then, he turned to the sentry on the wall and called out, "Go quickly and summon my rebellious son! Tell him his father wishes to have a grand math competition with him, and this time, I shall utterly wipe the floor with him!"
Liang Shixian mused, "Mathematics? How interesting. I, too, am skilled in this."
Bai Yuan looked surprised. "Your Excellency is also skilled? Well, that is truly interesting! Come, come, try this problem first: 'There are chickens and rabbits in a cage. There are thirty-five heads and ninety-four feet in total. How many chickens and rabbits are there?'"
Liang Shixian immediately activated his internal calculation mode. Flocks of chickens and rabbits swirled in his mind, thirty-five heads and ninety-four feet spinning like a revolving lantern. Countless lines connected the heads and legs to form their bodies. When the entire image was complete, a 'ding' sounded, the scene paused, and gradually sharpened into focus.
In this world where he had pressed the pause button, Liang Shixian pointed at the image and began counting them one by one. Finally, he got a clear count: there were twenty-three chickens and twelve rabbits.
Liang Shixian declared proudly, "Twenty-three chickens, and twelve rabbits."
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