Chapter 42: Tiger-Leopard Stronghold

Chapter 42: Tiger-Leopard Stronghold

Han Da bowed with his hands clasped and said, “Prince, rest assured. You have personally filtered this batch of grain-transporting youths, and they are all good workers with plenty of strength. With a little training, they will be ready for the battlefield!”

Yan Jia agreed, “Prince, I have also selected a thousand from among them. However, our Mounted Archers cannot be trained so quickly! It takes time! What I can guarantee is that once on the battlefield, they will be able to fight!”

Xiao Ce nodded and said, “Excellent! Next, I will give orders to ensure our soldiers have meat with every meal. We need to strengthen their bodies properly!”

The two bowed and thanked him.

“By the way, here is the army training method I have written. From now on, train the troops according to this method!”

As he spoke, Xiao Ce took out a bound booklet.

This was a training guide Xiao Ce had compiled over this period, combining modern army training methods and tailoring them to their current situation.

The two men took it, flipped through a couple of pages casually, and then bowed in agreement.

They did not show any surprise.

Because, as they looked at these training methods, they found them unheard of but seemingly ordinary at a glance.

Seeing this, Xiao Ce asked them to leave.

Along the journey, Yan Jia and Han Da continued to march while simultaneously drilling the troops.

Since they had resupplied horses in several nearby cities, they had managed to provide a horse for every person.

A five-thousand-strong Cavalry force was beginning to take shape, and with the presence of the Stirrup, even those who had never learned to ride could adapt much more easily.

Along the way, Xiao Ce saw many Disaster Victims heading towards the Four Northern Desert Prefectures, including quite a few young men.

These young men were in their prime, but due to long-term malnutrition, they were somewhat thin.

As long as they ate well, their health would recover quickly.

Xiao Ce told Han Da to send people to recruit soldiers!

When these people heard about the Military Pay offered by Xiao Ce, and that they could eat meat at every meal, they were eager to join.

Xiao Ce asked Han Da to make a selection and incorporate them into the infantry ranks.

He also instructed Han Da to help them regain their health during the march.

Since Han Da had to recruit soldiers and travel on foot, Xiao Ce made a temporary decision to split the group into two.

One group, primarily the Cavalry, would set off first for Maoming City.

This was because Xiao Ce had previously made an agreement with those Death Row Prisoners: after recruiting soldiers, they were to gather at Maoming City.

Han Da would follow later with the troops recruited from the Disaster Victims along the way.

After the split, on the thirty-fifth day after leaving Anhua City, Xiao Ce arrived at Maoming City on the border of the Central Plains.

A few hundred miles north of Maoming City lay Yanmen Pass, the gateway into the Four Northern Desert Prefectures.

When they were a few hundred meters away from the city, Yan Jia caught up.

“Prince, should our Cavalry assemble now?”

During this time, they had been riding day and night, but not as a large force.

They traveled in small squads of ten to avoid drawing attention.

Along the way, Xiao Ce spotted many spies from various sides, including some from the Imperial Palace in the Capital and many from the Four Northern Desert Prefectures.

However, Xiao Ce had their Carriage, including the women’s Guard Team of Yin Pan’er and the others, and Lin Zhong stay with Han Da’s infantry unit.

Therefore, the messages those spies sent back led everyone to believe Xiao Ce was with the infantry.

Little did they know that Xiao Ce had already arrived at Maoming City.

Xiao Ce wanted the effect of catching them off guard.

Xiao Ce shook his head at Yan Jia and said, “Continue as before, maintaining the dispersed state. You go ahead first, and we will catch up shortly!”

After hearing this, Yan Jia bowed and left!

Yin Pan’er led her horse forward and asked, “Young Master, what do we do next?”

Because Xiao Ce had concealed his identity along the journey, they all addressed him as Young Master.

Xiao Ce smiled and said, “Review the troops!”

Yin Pan’er asked curiously, “Have the people you sent out recruited soldiers?”

Xiao Ce replied with a smile, “Indeed. The reason I came here in such a hurry these past few days is because I received word from Shen Hu. The three thousand men previously sent out have all returned as scheduled! And they brought many people with them.”

Yin Pan’er listened curiously, “How many did they bring?”

Xiao Ce teased, “You’ll find out soon enough.”

Nie Bing couldn’t help but pour cold water, “No matter how many soldiers you recruited, they have never been on a battlefield. If your soldiers see the bloody carnage of battle, they will probably wet their pants on the spot!”

Xiao Ce waved his hand and said, “You underestimate them too much. Besides, who says This Prince wants them to fight battles? This Prince wants them to fight the Turks, not our own people.”

Nie Bing asked with a hint of doubt, “Not to fight battles?”

Xiao Ce smiled and said, “Even if I told you, you wouldn’t understand. The best strategy is to thwart the enemy’s plans, next best is to disrupt their alliances, the next is to attack their army, and the worst is to besiege cities. Understand? Fighting is the worst option!”

As he spoke, Xiao Ce took the reins and prepared to enter the city.

Yin Pan’er said, “Are the soldiers you recruited in Maoming City? Then there probably aren’t that many. Otherwise, if tens of thousands suddenly appeared in a city, people would definitely notice.”

Xiao Ce did not answer them and directly entered Maoming City.

Maoming City was located on the border, so it was relatively desolate here.

It couldn’t compare to Anhua City. Following the instructions in Shen Hu’s letter, Xiao Ce went to an inn within Maoming City.

As soon as they arrived at the inn, a waiter warmly greeted them.

“Honored guests, will you be dining or staying?”

Xiao Ce said, “We’ll rest for a bit and also look for someone named Shen Hu!”

He handed over a piece of silver.

The waiter’s manner became even more obsequious. “Please have a seat, honored guests. You’re looking for Boss Shen, right! He has been waiting here for a long time. Please rest here while I go and fetch Boss Shen for you.”

The waiter instructed others to serve tea and water and hurriedly went upstairs.

Yin Pan’er asked with a puzzled expression, “Who is Shen Hu? Why have I never heard of him?”

Having spent this time with Xiao Ce day and night, Yin Pan’er thought she had become familiar with everyone around him, including his Death Warriors.

Xiao Ce smiled and said, “Do you remember the veteran camp I established earlier? That Shen Hu is the camp commander I appointed!”

Yin Pan’er nodded, “Young Master, you’ve hidden it quite well.”

Xiao Ce smiled cheerfully and said, “Of course. How could you possibly see through me?”

As they were speaking, a man around forty with a resolute face came down from upstairs.

Led by the waiter, the man spotted Xiao Ce at once and hurried over.

“I greet Young Master!”

Xiao Ce had been afraid he might slip up, but it seemed his worries were unnecessary. This man was much steadier than he had imagined.

Xiao Ce nodded and said, “While traveling, there’s no need for formalities. Sit down.”

Shen Hu nodded and then sat down.

Seeing that no one else was around, Shen Hu said to Xiao Ce, “Young Master, everything is ready here. Whenever it is convenient, I will take you there.”

Xiao Ce smiled and said, “Right now will do.”

Shen Hu nodded, stood up, and went out first.

The group mounted their horses and followed Shen Hu.

As she rode, Yin Pan’er asked Xiao Ce, “Young Master, did you already know those troops were outside?”

Xiao Ce smiled and nodded, “Of course. Isn’t that why we’re here for him to guide us?”

Yin Pan’er asked, “Then where are we going?”

Xiao Ce said to Yin Pan’er, “Tiger-Leopard Stronghold.”

Before Yin Pan’er could speak, Nie Bing beside them exclaimed in surprise, “Could Shen Hu be the chieftain of Tiger-Leopard Stronghold?”

Now it was Xiao Ce’s turn to be surprised, “You know about Tiger-Leopard Stronghold?”

Nie Bing nodded, “Tiger-Leopard Stronghold is a famous bandit stronghold in the area. The stronghold is led by two brothers, the Tiger and the Leopard, who are very formidable. They specialize in robbing the rich to help the poor. It’s said they have a force of over two thousand men. Their stronghold is hidden in Mount Luoxia, which is very steep and easy to defend but hard to attack. That’s why government troops have been unable to deal with them over the years!”

Xiao Ce said as he rode, “Nie Bing, you know quite a lot! Correct. This Shen Hu has a brother named Shen Bao. The two brothers were originally in the army, but after offending a local noble, they were forced to become outlaws. Shen Hu formed a band of over a thousand bandits, called Tiger-Leopard Stronghold. Later, during a raid on official grain stores, Shen Hu fell into a trap and was captured, sentenced to the Death Penalty. According to the Great Xiao Legal Code, all executions must be carried out in the Capital!”

“So, this time when I sent them to recruit soldiers, Shen Hu told me about this. He also said that the brothers from his Tiger-Leopard Stronghold were willing to serve me!”

“After seeing his stronghold’s location, I set the gathering point at Maoming City and had him receive the other recruits here. After all, a large number of strangers lingering here would definitely attract attention. But if Shen Hu promptly took the people away, it wouldn’t be a problem.”

After hearing this, Yin Pan’er said in surprise, “Young Master, how many things have you kept from us?”

Xiao Ce smiled without answering.

In less than half an hour, they reached the foot of Mount Luoxia.

Shen Hu blew a sharp whistle, and over a dozen strong men emerged from the dense forest.

“Greetings, Great Chieftain.”

Shen Hu said, “This is the King of Northern Desert!”

The over a dozen strong men then performed a deep bow to Xiao Ce.

Shen Hu said to Xiao Ce, “Your Highness, the horse path is too dangerous. Let them hide the horses in the dense forest, and we’ll lead you up the mountain trail. It’s faster this way.”

Xiao Ce nodded.

Nie Bing, however, looked wary and pulled Xiao Ce aside.

“You and this Shen Hu are complete strangers. Do you trust him so completely? What if…”

Seeing Nie Bing’s concern, Xiao Ce asked, “Have you noticed anything unusual?”

Nie Bing shook her head.

Xiao Ce shook his head and said, “There’s nothing to worry about! I’m a good judge of character. My personal principle is to trust those I use and not use those I distrust… Trust me!”

With that, Xiao Ce turned and asked Shen Hu to lead the way.