Chapter 201: Good Deeds Will Be Rewarded
“Bandits!”
A scout raced back to Bai Family Fortress.
This scout, Shi Jian, was a member of the Gao Family Village Militia. He was one of the two who had gone to learn scouting techniques from the salt smugglers, Old Zhu and Old Zhang, during the previous battle.
Having learned from that experience, he was now beginning to resemble a scout.
Cheng Xu peered over the fortress wall. “Elaborate.”
Shi Jian quickly reported, “Dian Dengzi, the captain of Bu Zhan Ni’s second troop, leading roughly two thousand... or three thousand... well, around that number, has already arrived very close to us!”
Cheng Xu smiled wryly; this scout was still green, and his report was a complete mess. Fortunately, Cheng Xu could roughly guess the enemy's position.
He looked up towards the hillside, where he faintly discerned several figures on the mountaintop within his line of sight.
Bai Yuan stood beside him, pointing to the same spot. “They should be right there.”
Bai Yuan chuckled. “The exact same route Bu Zhan Ni took last time. Once they descend the mountain and are within missile range, I’ll use the Divine Missiles to blast them to smithereens.”
Cheng Xu couldn't help but recall the previous battle here, and a faint smile touched his lips, though his masked face concealed it.
He scanned the slopes carefully for a long moment, checking behind trees, behind rocks—nowhere could he see Grandma. Not a trace! Completely gone!
Grandma wasn't here this time, hahaha, this battle was sure to be a victory!
“Huh? Someone’s coming down the mountain,” Bai Yuan said. “Look, only three bandits are descending.”
Cheng Xu looked intently. Sure enough, only three bandits were coming down. The one leading them was actually wearing a long gown, stumbling along, clearly unaccustomed to mountain paths, relying entirely on the two beside him for support, barely managing to slide down the mountain trail.
Bai Yuan and Cheng Xu exchanged a bewildered glance. “What’s happening?”
Under these circumstances, shouting "Attack!" was, of course, out of the question. The Divine Missiles, catapults, and giant crossbow vehicles all remained silent, not a single shot fired. Everyone watched, wide-eyed, as the three bandits slowly made their way down. As they walked, the man in the long gown nearly tripped and fell, prompting the two beside him to quickly steady him.
Only then did he regain his footing and continue. They finally reached the foot of Bai Family Fortress. Cheng Xu and Bai Yuan exchanged wry glances. “Is this fellow playing the fool?”
The man in the long gown stood firm before the fortress gate, looked up, and announced loudly, “Unworthy as I am, may I boldly inquire whose esteemed household in Chengcheng County this might be?”
Bai Yuan leaned out. “My surname is Bai, and my given name is Yuan.”
The man in the long gown cupped his hands in greeting. “So it is Master Bai of Bai Family Fortress. I am Dian Dengzi, and I extend my respects.”
Everyone stared in surprise. Dian Dengzi? Wasn't that a bandit chief?
Zhao Sheng, having introduced himself by his bandit moniker, a hint of awkwardness in his manner, daring not to reveal his true name publicly, said, “My deepest apologies for disturbing you, Master Bai. However, behind me are three thousand brothers who have traveled a very long distance to reach this place. None of them have eaten, and they are on the verge of collapsing from hunger. From afar, we saw this Bai Family Fortress, which appears to be the stronghold of a powerful and esteemed lord. Thus, I have boldly come to ask for food, to save my three thousand brothers. I humbly ask that you extend your generous aid to us.”
Cheng Xu gave a cynical chuckle. “He’s threatening us. First he says he has three thousand brothers behind him, then he demands grain. If we don't give it, then all three thousand brothers will come charging in, right?”
Bai Yuan considered this, and indeed, wasn't that exactly what he implied?
However...
The man called Dian Dengzi spoke with a very sincere tone. He didn't sound like one of those vicious ruffians who outright threaten people.
“Instructor He, are you suggesting we ignore him?”
“Of course we respond! And fiercely,” Cheng Xu said, touching the saber at his waist. “He came with only two subordinates; his audacity is truly astounding. If I rush out now, I can easily capture him.”
Once the bandit leader is captured, the remaining bandits will be no cause for concern. Let's see if he still dares to threaten us for grain.
“Unwise,” Bai Yuan said, shaking his head. “I suspect this man is not the bandit chief at all, but rather a scholar the chief has forced to act as a messenger. If we were to harm this scholar, the bandits would have a perfect excuse to attack our Bai Family Fortress.”
Cheng Xu interjected, “Huh? You have a point! But... do bandits truly need an excuse to attack someone?”
His logic snagged at that point; he couldn't quite resolve it.
Just then, Dian Dengzi, outside the fortress, spoke again. “Please, Master Bai, do not misunderstand my words. I harbor no intention of threat whatsoever. I have come with utmost sincerity to seek your aid. My three thousand brothers are all decent folk, unwilling to plunder ordinary citizens. They have traveled all the way from Qingjian County, and their provisions ran out long ago. They have subsisted on bark and roots for quite some time now and are truly at their breaking point.”
“Hunger will turn men into devils. Eventually, driven by starvation, they will draw their blades against other common folk. On that day, even I will be unable to save them. I beg you, Master Bai, to extend a helping hand and save them. At this moment, they have yet to commit grave wrongs, and they can still be saved.”
His speech was utterly sincere; his eyes welled with tears.
Cheng Xu couldn't help but frown.
Bai Yuan, however, waved his hand and declared loudly, “Open the fortress gate! Give him ten measures of grain.”
Cheng Xu exclaimed, “Huh? Master Bai, he's surely trying to trick us, isn't he? You actually believe him?”
“This man, from what I observe, does not appear to be an evildoer,” Bai Yuan said. “It is better to believe than to disbelieve. If the Heavenly Lord were here, he too would first meet them with benevolence. Only if they proved to be true villains would he then resort to arms.”
Cheng Xu tsked, a soft sigh escaping him. He had seen countless villains. Even before the three-year drought, he had dealt with all sorts of shadowy characters and underworld figures. He wouldn't trust a single word from a scoundrel.
But since Bai Yuan chose to believe the man, Cheng Xu no longer voiced any objections. Because Bai Yuan’s words, "If the Heavenly Lord were here," reminded him of the Heavenly Lord's consistent benevolent demeanor.
It was just a bit of grain, wasn't it?
The Heavenly Lord had always prioritized saving people first, then settling questions of right and wrong.
Following the Heavenly Lord's will could never be wrong!
The gates of Bai Family Fortress swung open. Ten measures of grain were carried out and placed before Dian Dengzi.
Dian Dengzi was utterly astonished. He hadn't expected them to give the grain so readily. He had only brought two men down the mountain; they couldn't even carry these ten measures of grain back.
He quickly turned and frantically waved towards the slope. “Send ten people, no more, absolutely no more than ten! Come and carry this grain back up the mountain!”
Ten able-bodied young men, still possessing some strength, descended from the slope. They hoisted the ten measures of grain and laboriously made their way up the mountain, grunting with effort.
Ten measures of grain was not much for three thousand people.
Even if they rationed it carefully, it wouldn't last for more than a few meals.
But in this year of disaster, it was already a considerable fortune.
Dian Dengzi bowed deeply towards Bai Family Fortress. “Master Bai, you will surely be repaid for your good deeds.”
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