Chapter 41: Newcomer

  Wang Xichen chose a place with high terrain, surrounded by mountains on two sides and water on one side. There is only one road that can be used to enter, making it easy to defend but difficult to attack, suitable for stationing troops. However, this place lacks wood and can only be transported from afar.

  Wang Xizhen has been working day and night for the past few days, personally leading soldiers to set up roadblocks and traps every day, building barracks. Fortunately, there are many civilians following the army, so labor is not in short supply. The people also know that they are creating a home for themselves, and they all rush to work together. For a time, the scene of the Imperial Guard's military and civilians was one of bustling activity. As time passed, the camp has already taken shape.

  Wang Xi Zhen saw that the time had come and ordered Xue Yue to select 5,000 robust men from among the civilians to join the troops in training.

  The scorching sun beat down, the heat was unbearable, and the newly built campus was filled with the sound of killings. New recruits were making various stabbing motions under the shouts of veteran soldiers, teaching them battlefield experience. Everyone was sweating profusely, and for a moment, the atmosphere was like a rainbow.

  New recruits led by veterans of the Imperial Guard, except for not having undergone a decent battle, have already been influenced by the military soul of the Imperial Guard and possess the temperament to become warriors, only need to undergo the baptism of iron and fire, becoming strong like water flowing into a ditch.

  Xiuer still undertakes a large amount of record work every day, missing Zhao Kun, so she writes down her daily thoughts in letters. Her desk has already accumulated a thick stack. Xiuer turns all her thoughts into motivation for work, perhaps this is the only way to make herself feel better.

  Xue Yue stormed into the camp, and saw Wang Xizhen complaining: "Those mountain bandits on the mountain came to steal things again. When I rushed over, they had already scattered, and not a single one was caught."

  Wang Xichen put down his book and asked, "What are our losses?"

  Xue Yue thought for a moment and said, "The loss is not great, wait a minute while I take a look." He took out a list and said, "We lost three heads of cattle, four sheep, over ten chickens, and five bags of grain were stolen. Two villagers were also slightly injured during the robbery, that's all."

  "It seems that this group of mountain bandits are also poor commoners." Wang Xizhen said thoughtfully.

  "What should we do? Otherwise, I'll take some men and wipe them out." Xue Yue asked for orders.

  "No, we've come from afar and many forces are watching us. If we're too high-profile and make enemies everywhere as soon as we arrive, the surrounding forces will gang up on us, which won't be beneficial for our development." Wang Xichen negated.

  Xue Yue was at a loss for what to do.

  "Let's go and negotiate with them tonight." Wang Xichen said with a smile.

  "Yes sir, shall we take a few thousand men over?" Xue Yue asked.

  "We two suffice."

  Xue Yue: “......”

  Although it was scorching hot during the day, the evening brought a hint of coolness, and Wang Xizhen only took Xue Yue to prepare for camping on the mountain.

  As soon as they arrived at the foot of the mountain, someone above shouted in a trembling voice: "Hurry up and stop, otherwise we'll shoot arrows."

  Wang Xichen said: "We have no malicious intentions, only the two of us came, specifically to visit."

  The people on the mountain and those around them exchanged a few words: "What brings you here? We don't welcome you."

  "Our purpose is simple, to give you a way out." Wang Cen said loudly.

  "Hmph, big words aren't cheap, can you really give us a way out? I think you and those Western soldiers disguising themselves as mountain bandits are all the same, not good stuff." A clear voice replied bluntly.

  Wang Xichen was taken aback, and laughed loudly: "I don't know how to address this young lady, I am Wang Xichen. My troops belong to the Imperial Guard of the inner provinces, and are different from some of the Western Army soldiers who commit crimes. Otherwise, we would not have come with just two people, but would have led a large army."

  A middle-aged man's voice rang out: "Little girl, you've made a fool of yourself in front of the adults. Today, snatching the supplies from the big shots was really unavoidable. Please forgive me, I'll come quickly to escort the adults up the mountain."

  Before long, a middle-aged man led several people down the mountain with torches. With the help of the torches, Wang Xizhen could only see that the middle-aged man had an extraordinary face, his eyes were like gods, but slightly swollen, apparently due to hunger. The middle-aged man bowed and said: "Please come this way, sir."

  Wang Xichen smiled slightly and said, "Thank you."

  Xue Yue still felt a bit depressed in his heart and followed behind Wang Xichen silently.

  "In the lower reaches of Qinghe, I was originally a scholar-official, responsible for national water conservancy logistics. However, when corrupt officials dominated, I didn't want to go with the flow, so I resigned and returned to my hometown. Unfortunately, bandits were rampant in the mountains, and the village where I took refuge was attacked, so I could only bring fellow villagers here to hide out."

  "Fang Xiong's name comes from 'Cocoon silk pulls out thorns, rhinoceros flames shine on the clear river'." Wang Xi Chen said.

  "It's true, adults are indeed talented and I admire you." Fang Chengheng said.

  "I'm not worthy of such praise, just call me Wang Xichen, Brother Fang."

  Fang Chenghao glanced at Xue Yue, who was standing behind him with a cold face, and asked Wang Xizhen: "This general has always had a cold expression, seemingly with a lot on his mind."

  Wang Xichen turned his head and took a look at Xue Yue, smiling and saying: "He has been missing his wife terribly these past few days, so he looks rather pained."

  Xue Yue stumbled and almost fell over.

  Fang Chenghong's expression was calm and clear as he said, "I see."

  When Fang Chenghao brought Wang Xichen to the mountain, the scene in front of him also moved Wang Xichen. Most people were dressed in rags, and eight or nine out of ten had yellow faces and thin skin. Only a few children could eat their fill, playing carefree and worry-free there.

  A group of children saw a stranger approaching and hid behind the adults in fear. Wang Xichen smiled at one of the kids, who suddenly burst into tears. Xue Yue laughed loudly, and Fang Chenghao couldn't help but smile too. Wang Xichen was taken aback, feeling a bit embarrassed, and quickly followed Fang Chenghao as they walked forward.

  When a group of people entered the simple thatched hut, they sat down in their respective seats as host and guest. Fang Chenghuan was the first to ask: "I heard that you, sir, have come to this impoverished place, what brings you here?"

  "I'm not hiding from you, Brother Fang. My establishment of a base for the Imperial Army in the distant suburbs of Qin Feng City is to build my own power, so that in the future when the Jin army invades, I can do my part for the country." Wang Xi Zhen said sincerely, his intention to recruit was clear.

  "If the adults are willing to take in the villagers' elderly relatives, I will do my best." Fang Chenghuan said seriously.

  "This is natural, in fact, the father of the lower house was also a bandit at first, but later followed Zhao Ze out of the mountain. Mr. Fang can rest assured that he treats these common people like his own family."

  "If so, I, Fang Chenghuan, am willing to devote myself." Fang Chenghuan thanked him.

  Wang Xicheng stepped forward to help Fang Chenghao up, saying: "Brother Fang, there's no need for this. You and I are both under the same banner, taking orders from above. We can work together to assist His Highness in his great endeavor."

  Tomorrow morning everyone will follow me down the mountain, and I will provide enough food for all the villagers.

  "It's all good, it's all good." Fang Chengheng was somewhat excited, the stone in his heart had finally fallen to the ground. These people came here to settle down also because they had no other choice, originally wanted to go to Qin Feng City, but at this time, the war with Western Xia was fierce, and there were often Western Xia troops coming and going around Qin Feng City, falling into the hands of the Western Xia army would only lead to a dead end.

  Later, they fled to a larger village on the periphery, but just a few days after their arrival, the village was attacked by a group of brutal mountain bandits, resulting in numerous deaths. Helpless, Fang Chenghuan led the remaining villagers to escape into the mountains, where the bark and wild grass had already been eaten clean. Today, seeing the arrival of soldiers and civilians, they were forced by desperation to come down from the mountains and loot.

  A girl suddenly rushed in, her eyes wide with anger: "Father, how can you easily believe them?" It turned out that she had been eavesdropping outside the door. The girl was not very old, with a beautiful face and a hint of childishness between her eyebrows, her black hair tied back behind her head, casually tied up, with a small bow on her back, looking quite heroic.

  "Xue'er mustn't be rude, hurry up and apologize to the adults." Fang Chenghuan said somewhat embarrassedly.

  "Hmph, I don't think they're good people." Seeing that her father had already completely trusted this person, she turned around and left in a huff.

  "Brother Wang, I'm really sorry. It's all because I've been spoiling her too much lately." Fang Chenghuan apologized.

  "It doesn't matter, Fang's daughter is bold and daring by nature, how could I blame her?" Wang Xichen said nonchalantly.

  "Actually, Xue Er was gentle and delicate before. It wasn't until after we took refuge in a larger village nearby that things changed. One day, while playing, she met an injured Western soldier and brought him back to the village for treatment. Xue Er had a good impression of the soldier and thought that all Western soldiers who protected their homes and country were heroes. She served him food and water every day, but unexpectedly, after he recovered and left, he didn't show any gratitude. Instead, he joined a group of Western soldiers to attack our village. Her mother and brother died at the hands of bandits. Xue Er's personality changed greatly because of this, becoming cold and difficult to approach. When someone asked her about her ideals, she said she wanted to kill all the heartless people in the world. A 15- or 16-year-old child carrying such an ideal... I don't know what to do." Fang Chenghong said with some sadness.

  Wang Xichen suddenly felt that this girl was worthy of sympathy, and his own mother had also died at the hands of mountain bandits. This same kind of thinking made Wang Xichen unable to help but want to care for this girl who had suffered harm. But Wang Xichen knew that if he only went to sympathize, it would have no effect whatsoever; the only thing that could help was assisting her in realizing her own ideals.

  "Fang Ge, I'll take care of Ling Ai's matter. I will definitely help her achieve this dream," Wang Xi Zhen said confidently.

  Fang Chenghong was stunned. Could it be that Wang Xichen had also gone mad? He actually wanted to help his own daughter achieve an impossible dream.

  Xue Yue thought to himself on one side, it seems that this 'Wang Er Dang' is about to have a big explosion of love again.

  "Fang Chenghong said: 'The sky is already late, Brother Wang and General Xue might as well stay on the mountain, although it's simple, I hope you won't mind.'"

  "No, thank you for your kind intention, Brother Fang. I still need to go back and make some arrangements, but General Xue will stay here." Wang Xi Zhen looked at Xue Yue.

  "Why I stayed." Xue Yue exclaimed with wide eyes.

  "Because Your Highness said that after the troops are dispatched, everything will be up to me." Wang Xichen pretended to be serious and looked at Xue Yue's bitter melon face. Wang Xichen secretly laughed, letting you mock me just now.

  "I'll send someone to deliver it to Brother Wang," said Fang Chengheng.

  "No need, just lend me a torch and I'll be fine." Wang Xichen said with a smile.

  Fang Chenghong no longer stayed, and had someone bring torches. Wang Xichen held the torches, bid farewell to everyone, and went down the mountain.