Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 340 The Grassland (Part Two)

After killing Kunbu, the surging hatred in Hemu's heart subsided slightly.

"Brother Fang, thank you."

As usual, Fang Datou glanced at him disdainfully and said, "Who's your brother? Call me Chief Fang!"

He Mu felt a lump in his throat and respectfully changed his address: "Thank you, Chief Fang."

Fang Datou snorted and turned to call everyone over: "Burn the corpses of these bandits, and pile their heads together. Send this as a warning to all Xianbei herdsmen. Anyone who dares to be a bandit again will suffer the same fate!"

On the grasslands, there is little regard for etiquette or shame; the law of the jungle prevails. Those without ability deserve to be robbed or killed. Only the strong and powerful deserve respect.

After the ferocity of that night, the Xianbei herders who came to exchange goods became much more docile and obedient. The leech-like bandits also disappeared by midnight.

In just over half a month, the goods in dozens of horse-drawn carts were all replaced with horses. More than 900 horses, most of which were pregnant mares, and the stallions were all good horses that had never been whipped.

After changing horses, it's time to head back.

This is when the caravan's true strength is tested. Changing horses is not difficult; the difficulty lies in safely leading the acquired good horses out of the grasslands.

When the caravan arrived with goods, the herders were all warm and courteous. Now that they had the goods in hand, the herders looked at the departing caravan with its large number of fine horses as if they were looking at robbers who had stolen their horses. Those who were resentful secretly banded together, following the caravan by day and waiting for an opportunity to strike at night.

The caravan had to be constantly vigilant, traveling by day and unable to sleep well at night. These wandering herders were impossible to drive away; instead, they gradually gathered in even larger numbers.

“We need to give them a good beating.” Hemu knew the Xianbei people’s temperament well and calmly suggested, “Kill them until they are afraid, then they will disperse.”

A murderous glint flashed in Fang Da's eyes as he nodded: "Alright, let's stop and rest, and have a fight while we're at it."

Dozens of large horse-drawn carriages, lined up end to end, formed a natural barrier, capable of blocking any malicious intrusions or attacks. The group skillfully set up tents and rested on the spot.

By the second night, "bandits" arrived.

The group was prepared and, under the cover of the carriage, kept shooting arrows. When the "bandits" got close, they raised their swords and slashed at them.

The bloody slaughter continued into the night. The bravest and most formidable was Hemu. He single-handedly killed seven or eight "bandits," his sharp blade stained with blood, his eyes like those of a ferocious, hungry wolf, sending chills down one's spine.

Two hundred cavalrymen in the caravan also suffered casualties.

The dead were buried on the spot. Everyone was used to a life of constant danger. One moment they were raising a glass in celebration and laughing heartily, the next they might be separated by death. They wiped away tears for the dead, carried the wounded to the carriage, applied medicine to their wounds, and didn't delay their journey in the slightest.

They changed over nine hundred horses, and adding the warhorses ridden by Fang Datou and his men, they had over a thousand horses in total. Wherever the horses went, they left tracks. Completely concealing their tracks was extremely difficult.

The return journey involves a much longer detour and constant fighting. It takes at least several times longer than the journey there. With good luck, a round trip might take about six months. With bad luck, it takes even longer. The unluckiest, like the Zhan family caravan of yesteryear, are completely wiped out.

After August, the grasslands grew colder and colder at night.

“We’ve been out here for four months,” said Fang Datou, as the aroma of roasting mutton filled the air around the campfire. Fang Datou, with only one arm, found it difficult to move around. Hemu sliced ​​the mutton into pieces and placed them on a plate. Fang Datou, holding a fork in his left hand, poked a piece of meat with it and chewed it heartily: “At this rate, we can go home in another month.”

The warm red flames illuminated Fang Datou's rough, grinning face, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Hemu suddenly asked, "Why don't you get married? Or marry into the family?"

Women make up more than 30% of the population in Pei Family Village, and the number of men marrying or marrying into the family is increasing. Although Fang Datou is missing an arm, given his position in the Pei Family Army and the general's trust and favor, he is a core figure within the army. Getting married is by no means difficult for him.

"I'm getting old, I'm used to being a bachelor," Fang Datou said casually. "I spend most of my time traveling the grasslands buying horses. Even if I got married, my wife would just be left alone. I'd better not cause trouble for anyone." The soldiers with long ears sitting around him all grinned.

Hemu laughed too: "The general already had a son-in-law last year. It's been almost a year, and you still haven't let go?"

Fang Datou immediately flew into a rage: "What nonsense are you spouting! The General is like a god in my heart, how could I dare to have any improper thoughts about him?"

Fang Datou, who hadn't laid a hand on Hemu in a long time, punched Hemu hard.

Hemu winced in pain and kept quiet.

The soldiers chuckled inwardly.

Fang Datou was not the only soldier in Pei's army who secretly admired the general; there were countless others. Fang Datou was simply the most senior and longest-standing infatuated man with this crush.

Zhai Sanlang, who died in Liaoxi, was young and handsome, his heart and soul devoted to the general. Sadly, he died under the sword of the Xiongnu barbarians. It is said that the general even shed tears for Zhai Sanlang.

This made the soldiers who heard the rumors extremely envious. One wonders if, when they closed their eyes, the general would shed tears for them.

……

The night wind howled.

Hemu, who was on night watch, pressed his ear to the grass and felt a slight tremor from the depths of the earth. His expression suddenly became serious.

He quickly blew the bamboo whistle.

Startled awake, Fang Datou rolled over, pulled a long knife from under his pillow, and rushed out of the tent. The first thing he saw was Hemu's anxious face: "Chief Fang, something terrible has happened! A large group of bandits is coming!"

Excluding those who died or were wounded, there are only about 150 people left who are still able to fight.

"Dump the horse and run!" Zhan Fei, who had also been awakened, made the decision without hesitation.

A fierce glint flashed in Fang Da's eyes: "No! We must bring the horse back! Master Zhan, you take the horse and go first. I'll cover the rear!"

Zhan Fei's heart skipped a beat.

Staying behind to cover the rear at a time like this is tantamount to suicide.

Before Zhan Fei could offer any advice, Fang Datou barked, "Buying horses is up to you, but fighting is up to me. Take the horses and run!"

In a life-or-death situation, there was no time for pretense or politeness. Zhan Fei gritted his teeth, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, and quickly pointed to a dozen or so people. Fang Datou pointed at He Mu: "You protect Master Zhan."

Hemu's eyes were a little red, and he nodded silently.

Fang Datou rallied the remaining hundred-plus men: "Everyone, fight to the death to stop the bandits! Get Master Zhan to take the horses back!"

Fang Datou took out the black flag that had been stored away for several months and stuck it on the roof of the carriage. The night wind whipped the military flag, and the character "Pei" fluttered in the wind.

"We are members of the Pei family army, and we cannot disgrace the general!"

"Brothers! Kill!"

(End of this chapter)