Top-notch Little Horseman

Zhang Bapi's lips trembled, and after a long while, he managed to squeeze out a sentence.

"So... so we're just going to leave it at that? Your father's ear was cut off for nothing?"

Zhang Shaojie remained silent, his face grim.

This is no small matter. If they make one wrong move, the Zhang family could face utter ruin.

In these chaotic times, it's normal for a few people to die, and it's also common for a faction to be wiped out.

Although the Zhang family had some influence, in front of truly powerful figures, their annihilation was merely a matter of a single word.

He walked to the table, picked up the bowl of cooled ginseng soup, looked at it, and put it down again.

His gaze turned cold, and he said in a deep voice.

"Since open methods don't work, let's try covert ones. But we can't do it ourselves; we can use someone else to do the dirty work!"

Zhang the Skinflint immediately perked up, raised his eyes, and asked, "How do you intend to use someone else to do the dirty work?"

Zhang Shaojie took two steps forward and said in a deep voice, "The refugees are already approaching Dingyuan County, and there are several bandit groups of varying sizes in this area!"

"These refugees are in groups of dozens or even hundreds, and they are worried about where to rob food."

"We'll send people to spread the word that there's newly cultivated land in Huangchen Pass, a large area of ​​it has been planted, and there's a lot of grain stored in the granary. Also, there are sheep in the villages around Huangchen Pass."

"With such a large piece of meat, don't you think those refugees would be tempted?"

Zhang Bapi's eyes lit up, and he nodded, saying, "That's a great idea! Let those bandits deal with him!"

"But how should we do it? After all, Huangchen Pass is the territory of the imperial court. Do those refugees have the guts to do it?"

Zhang Shaojie didn't say anything, picked up the cup of cold tea, and took a sip.

He then looked at Zhang Shaojie and said, "The bandits aren't fools, so they naturally won't easily attack Huangchen Pass. Besides, the news of the bandits storming the pass not long ago must have spread among them."

Zhang the Skinflint nodded, somewhat anxiously asking, "Yes, so what should we do?"

"Moreover, it is said that there are quite a few people in Huangchen Pass, so those refugees probably wouldn't dare to make a move easily."

"Hmph! There are at most a dozen or so people at Desolate Dust Pass. Even if one group doesn't dare, then two groups will!"

"If a few dozen people aren't enough, then a hundred, even several hundred! As long as the food is tempting enough, the refugees will pounce on them like hungry wolves!"

"Even if Ye Chen had three heads and six arms, he couldn't withstand the attack of hundreds of people!"

Liu the Skinflint nodded vigorously: "That's right! If hundreds of people attacked together, they could drown them even if they just spat on them!"

"But... how should we spread this news?"

"That's easy!" Zhang Shaojie took a step closer to Zhang the Skinflint and lowered his voice, "Last year, a tenant farmer owed rent and ran away to the mountains to become an outlaw, didn't he?"

"Go and tell him to spread the word that Huangchen Pass has a lot of grain stored up."

"Those bandits are starving; wouldn't they pounce on them upon hearing this?"

Zhang Bapi nodded, then asked with some worry, "What if they're captured alive and confess that we were the ones who set up the smokescreen?"

"Heh, who would believe the words of bandits? Besides, our people are delivering messages in the shadows, so they can't trace it back to us," Zhang Shaojie chuckled.

"Even if the bandits are captured, they come and go every day. Who knows who said which thing? They don't even know who spread the word, so how could it implicate us?"

Zhang Bapi nodded and said, "Then let's do it that way. This matter is entrusted to you. You can't let your father down!"

"Okay!" Zhang Shaojie nodded and said, "I'll find reliable people to go into the mountains and spread the word. They'll absolutely not reveal their identities and will cover their tracks completely!"

"Father, please focus on recovering. This can't be rushed!"

"When will that be?" Zhang Bapi frowned upon hearing this, immediately becoming displeased.

"I'll wait until I find the right person." Zhang Shaojie said, turning around and walking to the door. He glanced back at his father. "Father, as for collecting rent from now on, just let the servants handle it. You should stay home as much as possible."

Zhang Bapi opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

......

Half a month passed quickly, and Ye Chen and his group underwent tremendous changes after this period of training.

For the past two weeks, every day at dawn, before the sky had fully brightened, they would gather to train.

After half a month of training, all twenty people were able to easily achieve their goals.

"Captain, who came up with this push-up? But it really does train your body. I feel incredibly strong now, I could kill a bull with one punch!" Monkey said, clenching his fist.

After Liang Biao finished one hundred, he did twenty more on his own. His skills were the best there.

After finishing the last one, Ye Chen stood up, dusted off his hands, and said, "Well, everyone's physical fitness has improved. Starting tomorrow, we'll increase it to 150."

"One hundred and fifty!" The monkey howled in pain, lying on its back on the ground. "Captain, you might as well train me to death!"

The smoker glanced at the monkey and said, "If you practice until you die, I'll dig a hole for you. Come on, do some sit-ups, I'll massage your feet!"

"Hey, you smoker, when did you learn to make sarcastic remarks?" The monkey rolled his eyes, but still obediently lay down.

Liang Biao walked over to Ye Chen, watched the monkey holding its head and doing crunches, and said with admiration, "Captain, to be honest, after training for half a month, I really feel a difference! My arms are stronger, and I don't get out of breath when I run."

Liang Biao and the others were all considered horse herders, so they followed Monkey's lead and called Ye Chen Captain.

Ye Chen wiped his sweat: "Physical fitness is the foundation. If your physical fitness can't keep up, no matter how good your swordsmanship or spearmanship is, you won't last even an incense stick's time in a fight."

Liang Biao nodded in agreement. He had gained a deep understanding of Ye Chen's training over the past two weeks and greatly admired it.

After finishing the sit-ups, the next activity was a five-kilometer cross-country run. The group ran along the official road, their footsteps gradually fading into the morning light.

After running back, we started standing at attention.

The autumn sun has risen, and it feels warm on my skin.

The monkey stood there for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, then started to sway and stagger again.

"Captain, can I ask you a question? Can you tell me the truth?"

"Speak!" Ye Chen glanced at the monkey and said.

"You're saying we stand like wooden stakes every day, does that really have anything to do with fighting?" the monkey asked Ye Chen.

Ye Chen stood motionless, glanced at him, and said leisurely, "During a war, if I asked you to stand guard behind the crenellations of the courtyard wall for an hour straight, could you have stood still?"

"Of course I can't resist!" the monkey said without even thinking.

"If you can't hold back, you'll expose your position. If someone shoots an arrow at you, you understand what will happen to you?"

The monkey was taken aback by these words, and the smoker beside him chimed in, "Monkey, shut up, the more you talk, the dumber you look!"

"I called it asking questions when I didn't understand!" the monkey retorted.

"Alright, don't move. Stand there for another half an incense stick's time," Ye Chen said, withdrawing his gaze.

He straightened his back even more.

Next, they completed all their goals for the day, and the sun was already high in the sky.

"Let's go see how the potato seedlings are growing," Ye Chen said, leading the group eastward toward the dry land where potatoes were planted.