Chapter 16: The White-Faced Bandit Chief

  When Long Xiao Tian saw Meng Yao, Meng Yao was still holding a can of beef and couldn't bear to let go. In the midst of his busyness, he still managed to sneak a peek at Ma Da Hu Zi's bundled up beard, and then glanced at Long Xiao Tian who was staring at him, and couldn't help but nod in approval, "No wonder even Biaozi didn't dare to tie you up, you really don't look like a bandit, and what's more, you're a big shot bandit."

  However, just as Long Xiang Tian's face revealed a hint of pride, Meng Yao suddenly let out a cold snort and ordered Xu Shu: "Tie him up for me, tie him up even tighter than that Ma Da Hu Zi. Hmph, people like this are more likely to deceive others, ordinary people will still be at his mercy."

  "Wait a minute," Long Xiao Tian suddenly shouted after hearing it, and with a "thud", he knelt down on one knee.

  Meng Yao was taken aback and stared at Long Xiao Tian, "How is this? You're asking for mercy so quickly?"

  "It's not begging for mercy, it's just that I'm convinced." Long Xiao Tian said, "You are heavenly soldiers and generals, and with just six people, you took down the two largest strongholds. What I read in books has happened to me personally, so I admit defeat. However, I also have something to say. I didn't slaughter innocent civilians, I just had a bit more ambition than they did."

  "You didn't oppress the common people, and you didn't butcher them?" Meng Yao looked at Long Xiao Tian with a smile, suddenly remembering that Pan brother who had suddenly turned his back on him. How was it that these two people's tone of voice was so similar? However, this Long Xiao Tian was indeed eloquent, and his demeanor and speech were quite refined. He suddenly shifted his gaze to Ma Da Hu Zi, who was bound up, and casually asked, "And you, Master Ma, do you also think you haven't slaughtered the common people?"

  Ma Dashuai, with his big mustache, hastily nodded, but as Meng Yao's smile grew deeper and more sly, he quickly shook his head instead. Looking at him with a bear-like expression, he was far inferior to Long Xiaotian.

  "It's not up to you to decide whether I'm a tyrant or not; it's also not up to me to say whether I am or not."

  As he spoke, Meng Yao smiled and waved his hand, "Take them all away. Oh, let the two brothers be locked up together, so they won't feel lonely."

  This time, the two largest bandit dens were taken down without a single shot being fired, leaving him somewhat caught off guard. He had thought that at the very least, there would be some exchange of fire, and his suppression troops could gain some experience in battle, but it seemed that not even a single bullet was wasted. The superior man uses strategy, the superior man uses strategy.

  Soon, a complete battle report and list of spoils were delivered to Meng Yao's hands. After glancing at it for two eyes, he handed it over to Lu Tao who was already impatient on the side, and then took Xue Ying out with him.

  Lu Tao caught up with him after just a few steps.

  "I was saying, let's not talk about the battle process, but I didn't expect that with such a big haul, you're not excited at all?" Lu Tao asked angrily, waving the report and list in his hand.

  "What a big harvest," Meng Yao said with disdain, "there will be even bigger ones in the future, what are you going to do, laugh for three days and three nights or simply get a heart attack? Look at your little temper, we will definitely become a kingdom in the future, just look at this small thing now, it's just a drizzle."

  "What are you doing now?"

  Meng Yao rolled his eyes and hummed, "What are you talking about? Don't you know my personality? As soon as I have a bit of extra money in my hands, I won't be able to sleep if I don't touch it myself. How about this, why don't you go take a look too? They're all good stuff, the feeling of holding them in your hands must be great."

  Lu Tao looked at Meng Yao with a sly expression, furious and punched him. "You dare to flirt with me, you are the one who is greedy for money."

  Zhuge Dun smiled and said, "Instructor, you've really been fooled. The battalion commander just told me that it wouldn't take two minutes for you to chase after us. Haha, as soon as we left, you came chasing after us. You didn't even think about it, with so many spoils of war, the battalion commander would be excited, no wonder."

  A few people just arrived at the newly established material equipment warehouse and found it as lively as during the Chinese New Year. It seems that the soldiers all know they have work to do. Sometimes working is also a way to relax, isn't it?

  Zhang Jun rushed over excitedly as soon as he saw Meng Yao and Lu Tao, saying: "Commander, instructors, you're both here. We're currently counting and categorizing some captured weapons and supplies. The comrades in charge of logistics have already taken the first batch of supplies to each company and corresponding distribution units. I believe that by tomorrow, the main forces will all be equipped with these old relics."

  Meng Yao nodded and corrected: "To us, they are antiques, but to this era, they are not what you'd call old antiques."

  "Yes," Zhang Jun said with embarrassment, puffing out his chest slightly.

  "When will Biaozi be back?" Lu Tao asked following up.

  "Oh, it's like this, Instructor," Zhang Jun hastily turned around and reported in detail: "Biao Zi is leading the main force of the bandit-extermination team to control two mountain strongholds. Due to the restrictions of our camp, most of the bandits are currently being held locally, and a large quantity of grain, livestock, and goods are also left on site. The platoon leader ordered me to bring only two bandit leaders and all their subordinates, totaling 212 people, along with all automatic weapons and horses, back to the camp first, awaiting further instructions from the battalion commander."

  "Good, very good." Lu Tao praised, looking at Meng Yao, "Yao'er, shall we go up the mountain now and take a look?"

  Meng Yao shook his head slowly and said, "Not good, Biaozi still doesn't consider the problem thoroughly."

  After finishing, he suddenly ordered Zhang Jun, "You temporarily put down your work and immediately lead a team of soldiers to select thirty low-level leaders of the bandits. Hurry back to the mountain and release them back into the midst of the bandits. The ideological work will be resolved on the way. Comfort the bandits well and tell them that as long as they do what we say, we will consider their meritorious behavior this time. Go quickly and tell Biaozi that I and the instructor will arrive soon."

  "Yes," Zhang Jun responded loudly and quickly ran up the mountain.

  Lu Tao thought for a moment and suddenly wiped the sweat from his forehead.

  It's often the most dangerous moment, also the most relaxing moment. The soldiers are all immersed in the bloodless victory, and facing such a rich booty, it's hard to avoid mistakes. It's no problem for a 200-man anti-riot squad to face nearly 3,000 armed bandits. But if they have to face 3,000 disarmed bandits, that's a big problem. Thinking of this, he couldn't calm down anymore, constantly urging Meng Yao: "Yao'er, let's hurry up and go up the mountain, I feel my eyelids jumping."

  Meng Yao heard him say this, and suddenly laughed: "You silly fool, you're making a big deal out of nothing. If your eyelid wants to twitch, let it twitch. Don't worry, I'm just being cautious, it's not as serious as you think."