Chapter 676: I'll Scout Ahead
A flicker of hope ignited in Fan Shangzheng’s vacant eyes as he saw Great Hero Xiao Qiushui suddenly arrive with five hundred Flintlock Rifle soldiers. Yet, the hope felt tenuous. While firearms possessed formidable power, they were plagued by slow reloading, a propensity for barrel explosions, and numerous other flaws.
With such a massive disparity in numbers, even these flintlocks seemed futile, he thought.
"Bang bang bang!"
Just as his mind reeled with despairing thoughts, the Flintlock Rifle soldiers opened fire.
"Eh? That's not right!" Fan Shangzheng suddenly realized that the firearms in their hands were entirely different from the bird guns he had seen before.
The rate of fire was astonishingly fast.
A Flintlock Rifle soldier, having just discharged his weapon, swiftly cleared the barrel. Then, reaching into a pouch, he quickly pulled out another paper cartridge, loaded it, and with surprising ease, completed the reload.
He then raised his weapon again, barely even needing to aim—after all, the area was teeming with rebels. With a squeeze of the trigger, another "thwack" sounded, and another rebel crumpled to the ground outside.
Fan Shangzheng stammered, "Ah? Ah ah ah? This is..."
It wasn't just them; the men of the South Camp Eight Great Kings outside were shouting the same thing: "Such fast guns!"
"No, wait!"
The South Camp Eight Great Kings seemed to realize something. "The soldiers on those boats, when we crossed the Yellow River at Mengjin County last time, they also used these kinds of firearms."
"Damn it, these aren't government troops; it's that lot who took Xiaolangdi!"
"It's those damn people again!"
"Just what is the origin of these people?"
The South Camp Eight Great Kings knew that whenever these people appeared, and their flintlocks fired a couple of volleys, his own morale would crumble. He had seen his forces collapse under flintlock fire several times already and possessed extensive experience in "how to get one's army routed the fastest."
"Retreat! Fall back!"
The South Camp Eight Great Kings decisively pulled his forces back, abandoning hundreds of corpses. They fled with such speed that in a blink, his presence vanished.
Fan Shangzheng exclaimed, "What? The rebels retreated so cleanly?"
Li Daoxuan chuckled, "When things go awry, a swift and decisive escape is the path of expedience. However... it's not necessarily a genuine retreat."
Fan Shangzheng blinked, "Oh?"
Li Daoxuan glanced through his telescope and saw that while the South Camp Eight Great Kings and his cohorts appeared to be fleeing in disarray, they had actually retreated a considerable distance. Now, they were peeking from behind distant trees, cautiously observing Wenshui County.
"Clearly, the rebels haven't given up," Li Daoxuan observed.
"They'll be back."
Chen Yuanbo and the captain of the militia also approached, their opinions aligning: "The rebels haven't withdrawn completely. They're peeking at us from afar, clearly unwilling to accept defeat, and will likely organize another assault on the city."
By now, Fan Shangzheng’s mind was slowly clearing. "If they attack in broad daylight, with Great Hero Xiao's flintlock formation arrayed, they stand no chance. This means, if the rebels are to attack the city, it will definitely be at night."
Li Daoxuan nodded, "Excellent. Everyone, rest up and prepare to defend against a night raid."
Silence settled over the county town as soldiers began resting in shifts.
Those on break retreated from the city walls, carefully wiping down their Flintlock Rifles with cloth, cleaning the barrels meticulously to ensure nothing would hinder their next engagement.
The remaining seven hundred-plus villagers emerged from their houses.
When the rebel army had stormed in earlier, these villagers were terrified, fearing Wenshui County would once again suffer rebel depredations. They had never imagined that the five hundred soldiers brought by the new magistrate would so easily repel the bandits.
At last, the hearts of the common folk found peace.
Living in this chaotic era, what ordinary people sought was simple: enough food, warm clothing, and safety.
With just these few things, tiny Wenshui County could blossom with powerful vitality.
The elderly, women, and children began to build fires and cook meals for the soldiers, while the able-bodied men continued to repair the city walls. Their renewed vigor quickly caught Fan Shangzheng’s eye.
As a Governor, Fan Shangzheng had held many previous official posts—county magistrate, prefect, grand prefect—he had experienced them all and seen countless places. Yet, he had never witnessed such burgeoning strength erupt from the common people in a small, war-ravaged county.
"They truly see a future, that's why they possess such power," Fan Shangzheng sighed, feeling quite pleased with the new magistrate, Chen Yuanbo.
He then pulled his attention back to the present and clasped his hands towards Li Daoxuan, bowing slightly. "Great Hero Xiao, we are truly indebted to you again. Last time, it was entirely thanks to you that the Yellow River was defended, preventing the rebels from crossing. And this time, it is again your people who have fended off the bandits. Compared to you, those government troops... alas... those government troops, I will deal with each and every one of them upon my return."
Li Daoxuan mused, "They've really upgraded me to 'Great Hero.' What will they call me next time I win?"
Fan Shangzheng continued, "I heard about Great Hero Xiao's efforts against the rebels last time, but I didn't fully understand it. Now, having witnessed this today, I realize Great Hero Xiao possesses such a formidable Flintlock Rifle militia. This truly commands respect."
Li Daoxuan feigned a worried expression. "Illegally manufacturing firearms is against the law, isn't it? Is Governor Fan not going to prosecute me?"
Fan Shangzheng laughed. "Great Hero Xiao, you jest. In this time of national crisis, with our land in ruins, all actions can be taken expediently. Why should we get tangled in such trivial matters? Look at the military officials under my command; they vanished without a trace the moment battle loomed. In contrast, Great Hero Xiao, you are willing to provide funds, provisions, and effort to help the imperial court suppress the rebels. This is already a great virtue. As for these firearms, I think they are better off in the hands of someone like Great Hero Xiao."
Li Daoxuan inwardly chuckled. "This Governor must be thoroughly exasperated by his military officials."
That evening, dusk gradually descended.
The villagers of Wenshui County had cooked dinner for the militia, and after a satisfying meal, everyone retired to their homes for the night.
Fan Shangzheng and his retainers were invited into several colorful tents to rest temporarily.
Using the last vestiges of twilight, Li Daoxuan could still discern a subordinate of the South Camp Eight Great Kings peeking from the edge of the distant treeline, observing their position.
Chen Yuanbo stood beside Li Daoxuan. "The rebels have a significant chance of launching a night attack tonight."
Li Daoxuan smiled. "Indeed! At night, vision is limited over distance, turning our Flintlock Rifles' hundreds of meters of range into mere tens of meters. The South Camp Eight Great Kings likely thinks the same."
Chen Yuanbo said, "Then I will make preparations and remain vigilant against a night raid."
Li Daoxuan replied, "Constant vigilance will tire the soldiers, keeping their spirits highly strained, making them vulnerable to being worn down by the enemy. We must instead discern the rebels' actions."
Chen Yuanbo asked, "How should we do that?"
Li Daoxuan instantly flipped open the panel on his chest. A palm-sized cc-01 reconnaissance-type Heavenly Lord leaped out from within. "You all just focus on getting some good rest. I'll go scout ahead to learn the rebels' plans."
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