Chapter 309: Preparing for War
The outlaw, his voice faint, admitted, "We are Dahonglang's men. Dahonglang led us to kill you. The one who escaped... that was Dahonglang."
Bai Yuan furrowed his brow. "Dahonglang? Is that fellow named Dahonglang? I don't recall ever making an enemy of him."
The outlaw clarified, "Dahonglang... he's the captain of the Fourth Squad, under Lord Wang Zuogua."
Bai Yuan frowned. "Wang Zuogua? And who might that be?"
This time, even Gao Yiye and Mr. Wang remembered, whispering, "Mr. Bai, Wang Zuogua is the ruthless bandit entrenched in Huanglong Mountain. He once attacked Bai Family Fortress."
Bai Yuan slapped his forehead. "Ah, so that's it! It was *that* fellow. I remember him quite clearly now."
Everyone: "..."
Bai Yuan scoffed, "No wonder! He couldn't conquer my Bai Family Fortress fair and square, so he resorted to despicable underworld tactics to assassinate me."
The outlaw continued, "You... you stole five hundred of our warhorses. Brother Wang Zuogua was furious, so he wanted revenge."
Li Daoxuan also frowned. So, Wang Zuogua had guessed that it was their group who had taken the warhorses. He simply hadn't understood their internal structure, didn't know who their true leader was, and mistakenly assumed Bai Yuan was in charge.
That's why this assassination attempt had taken place.
"Alright, it's clear now," Li Daoxuan declared. "Grant this fellow a swift end."
Bai Yuan shot a glance at Zheng Gouzi. With a swift motion of his hand, Zheng Gouzi's blade flashed, and with a sickening *crunch*, severed the outlaw's head.
The true mastermind was known!
Now they knew precisely who to seek vengeance against.
Li Daoxuan's face darkened. "From this moment forth, Gao Family Village officially declares war on Wang Zuogua. This band of roving bandits *must* be annihilated. Bai Yuan, you are to allocate some funds to secure the services of hunters, gather intelligence on Wang Zuogua, and pinpoint his exact location within Huanglong Mountain."
Bai Yuan bowed deeply. "Heavenly Lord, Huanglong Mountain is vast and shrouded in impenetrable forests, its terrain treacherous. Since ancient times, roving bandits have favored it as a stronghold. Even when the government authorities dispatch large armies, they often struggle to locate and eliminate them. With our current strength... can we truly defeat them?"
Li Daoxuan asserted, "The government's bandit suppression efforts often fail due to logistical deficiencies or actions being constrained by other officials. We face no such problems. Our logistics are limitless, and interference from officials is simply not an issue. As long as we are determined to act, we *will* succeed."
Bai Yuan's spirits lifted. "As you command!"
Li Daoxuan continued, "Yiye, tomorrow you will return to Gao Family Village and convey my orders to the Craftsman Well. From now on, Gao Family Village enters wartime mode. All artisans are to cease manufacturing civilian tools and redirect their efforts entirely to producing weapons of war. All blacksmiths are to forge Flintlock Rifles and Hand Grenades, and all carpenters are to make crossbows and bolts..."
Gao Yiye gasped, "Ah? But if no one is making civilian items like knives and sickles, won't everyone's daily lives be terribly inconvenient?"
Li Daoxuan replied, "The task of crafting civilian tools will be assigned to the artisans in the county town and Fengyuan Town. Liang Shixian, he adores matters concerning the populace's welfare, so let him indulge himself. Afterwards, use the public transport vehicles to ferry these civilian tools from the county town back to Gao Family Village for sale."
Gao Yiye understood. "As you command!"
She could tell the Heavenly Lord was genuinely enraged.
In the past, the Heavenly Lord had never been so hasty about production, always prioritizing the well-being of the people. Now, to halt civilian production and dedicate all efforts to weapons—just how furious must he be?
Li Daoxuan added, "Bai Yuan, since these bandits have singled you out, you must be even more vigilant about your safety. Keep more household guards by your side, and I'll dispatch another squad from the Gao Family Village Militia to protect you. You must remain exceptionally cautious while in the county town."
Bai Yuan clasped his fists. "Once bitten, twice shy. I will be careful."
The next morning, at the crack of dawn, Gao Yiye, Zheng Gouzi, and their group swiftly returned to Gao Family Village, carrying the gravely wounded Padi Tu on a stretcher.
Subsequently, the Craftsman Well of Gao Family Village erupted into a flurry of activity.
The artisans were to operate at full capacity!
The blacksmiths completely ceased production of civilian tools like knives, sickles, and hoes, instead throwing themselves into forging Flintlock Rifle and Hand Grenade shells, along with iron pellets.
Carpenters, too, toiled relentlessly, crafting bows, crossbows, and arrows. Within the Gao Family Village Ordnance Bureau, a large group of apprentices began hand-assembling Hand Grenades.
The paper mill delivered vast quantities of paper to the Gao Family Village Ordnance Bureau, to be used in making pre-measured powder charges for the Flintlock Rifles.
The lamp makers also bustled with activity, crafting long-burning torches that might be needed for night marches.
The Craftsman Well of Gao Family Village was no longer a small group of artisans, as it had been initially. Thanks to Li Daoxuan's long-standing policy of "prioritizing artisans," a great many people had joined the Craftsman Well and mastered various crafts.
Blacksmiths and the Gao Family Village Ordnance Bureau, in particular, had always faced severe labor shortages and had constantly been recruiting. Now, countless apprentices had transformed into skilled craftsmen. Once they operated at full capacity, Flintlock Rifles would be churned out one after another...
Time began to accelerate rapidly...
The second year of Chongzhen, fueled by Gao Family Village's frantic military preparations, rushed onward.
"Padi Tu, Padi Tu, wake up."
Padi Tu struggled to open his eyes...
He found himself amidst a mountain shrouded in mist, a valley as picturesque as a painting, with waterfalls cascading like shimmering silver in the distance.
An immortal-like old man stood beneath an ancient tree, beckoning him. "Do you know you have a streak of spiritual light bursting from your crown? So young, yet with a body honed through rigorous training—truly a once-in-a-century martial arts prodigy! If you were to ever open your Ren and Du meridians, wouldn't you soar to the heavens like a dragon? As the saying goes, 'If I don't enter hell, who will?' So, I entrust you with the mission of punishing evil, eradicating villains, and preserving peace throughout the land, alright?"
Padi Tu was overjoyed. "Just leave it to me!"
"Since you are willing to shoulder this great responsibility," the immortal-like old man smiled, "this old man has a formidable sword technique called 'My Heaven Rabbit Rending Overlord Sword.' Today, I shall impart it to you right here."
Padi Tu stiffened. "You're trying to trick me, aren't you? 'My Heaven Rabbit Rending Overlord Sword' isn't real at all; it's a sword technique I completely made up!"
The old man burst into laughter. The cascading waterfalls, the twisted ancient trees, and the mist-shrouded immortal mountains instantly vanished. The entire world suddenly collapsed.
Padi Tu opened his eyes once more!
He found himself lying in a sickbed, with a dozing Zheng Gouzi seated beside him.
"I... want water..."
Padi Tu struggled to utter a single phrase.
Zheng Gouzi startled awake, then, overjoyed, he ran out, crying out and roaring to the outside, "Padi Tu is awake! Padi Tu is awake! Padi Tu is alive again!"
A large crowd then surged in from outside: Saintess Gao Yiye, San Shier, Cheng Xu, Gao Chuwu, Zheng Daniu...
Everyone gathered around the bed. Someone massaged his head, another gently lifted his eyelids, someone else checked his injuries, and still others grasped his shoulders, shaking him. "Padi Tu, you're finally alive!"
"Thwack!"
Gao Chuwu, who had been shaking his shoulders, was promptly punched to the ground by Xing Honglang. "Don't jostle an injured person!" she admonished.
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