Chapter Twenty-Four: Confrontation

  When Feng Guo brought Guoshan Feng back to the camp, it caused a sensation. In Chong County, few people had not heard of Guoshan Feng's great name. Seeing him being tied up by Feng Xianwei and brought back like a bundle, everyone came to watch the excitement.

  "Is this the mountain pass wind?"

  "Look at how ferocious he is, no wonder he's been rampant in Chong County for so many years?"

  "He's formidable, but General Li is even more formidable. Did you see that? General Li just casually sent one of his men and they captured him alive."

  Everyone was discussing and speculating, Feng Guo stood up straight, with a spring breeze on his face. Just at this moment, Wang Qinyan, who had received the news, rushed over, saw Guoshanfeng, and his eyes turned red. He raised his fist as big as a basin and was about to smash it down. Feng Guo hastily stopped him, "Old Wang, don't do it, if you hit him with one punch, how can I explain to the general? It's easy for you to beat him up now, this little guy is like a fish on a chopping board, when can't he be beaten? Wait until I hand over the command, and then come back to beat him up." While speaking, he directed the soldiers to take Guoshanfeng to Li Qing's large tent.

  At this moment, Guo Shanfeng also recognized the big-bearded captain as the one who had chased him to the ends of the earth and forced him to flee into Chicken Cry Marsh. His face turned deathly pale, for he had killed many of the captain's men. Now that he was caught, his fate was sealed. Bound like a rice dumpling, with a large wad of dry grass stuffed into his mouth, he could neither beg for life nor seek death.

  Seeing Feng Guo blocking the way, Wang Qiniang's face turned bright red, and he followed Feng Guo to Li Qing's large tent in a hurry, waiting for Feng Guo to give the order before pouncing on this scoundrel.

  As they entered Li Qing's large tent, Li Qing was discussing matters with Shang Haibo and Xu Yunfeng. Li Qing planned to divide the remaining people of Chong County into separate camps, all under the direct jurisdiction of Changsheng Camp. However, Xu Yunfeng disagreed, believing it did not conform to the system.

  "Mr. Xu, this is no ordinary time. With so many people, if they don't divide the camp and take their responsibilities, it will be hard to survive." Li Qing explained patiently to him.

  "And besides, if these people are not incorporated into the regular army system, what reason do I have to keep them alive? In theory, shouldn't it be that they should be keeping my regular army alive instead?"

  After talking for half a day, Li Qing had lost some patience and hadn't gotten through to Xu Yunfeng, so he pulled out his trump card and threatened him.

  Xu Yunfeng's face turned bright red. To say nothing of supporting Changsheng Camp, at present, if there was no Changsheng Camp, it would be very difficult for these civilians to survive.

  "Director Xu, this is also General Li's expedient plan. If not, it would be difficult to improve efficiency. At present, we are in the same boat, and if one is not careful, there will be a risk of capsizing, and at that time, none of us can escape." Shang Haibo and Li Qing had discussed for a long time before coming up with this plan, but without the agreement of Xu Yunfeng, who has high prestige in Chong County, it would be difficult to implement. Now they are also persuading Xu Yunfeng.

  "But sir, according to this plan, all the able-bodied men in Chong County have been recruited into the army. Then who will provide labor for spring plowing next year? How can these families survive without their strong labor force, the backbone of the household?" asked Xu Yunfeng.

  "Lord Xu, although these people have been incorporated into the military camp, they are not actually soldiers, but rather for convenient management. At present, Chong County is in a state of disrepair, and many families only have the elderly and weak left. What do you plan to do tomorrow when it's time for spring plowing? If we organize these able-bodied men into groups, we can temporarily allocate manpower according to actual needs, so that all families can plow on time, and thus ensure that Chong County can be self-sufficient next year."

  "What does it mean to organize the elderly, weak women and children into a camp? What can they do?"

  Li Qing shook his head and said, "Director Xu, at present, Chong County is in such a situation, of course, everyone should do their duty, that is to say, no one can idle around, the old, weak, women and children also have many things to do, for example, what we are doing now, organizing them into camps, establishing a systematic management system, this can improve their labor efficiency."

  "And after they are organized into a battalion, they will all be the logistics personnel for my Invincible Battalion. My Invincible Battalion will provide them with food and all daily necessities." Li Qing emphasized.

  Xu Yunfeng felt somewhat depressed, although he knew that Li Qing was right, but if it really came to this, then Chong County would become a large military camp, and everyone would be a part of this camp. What use would he, the county magistrate, have then?

  "It's settled then!" Li Qing said with a slap of his hand, "Lord Xu and Mr. Shang, you two go take care of this matter, the sooner the better. When Lord Lu returns with the grain, we'll have many things to attend to this winter."

  After sending the two away, Li Qing finally turned around to see Feng Guo and Wang Qiniang waiting for some time. Wang Qiniang was fidgeting as if she had a lot to say, while Feng Guo beamed with pride like a peacock about to spread its tail. Glancing at Guoshanfeng kneeling in the center of the tent with an ashen face, Li Qing said calmly, "Alright, well done. You two can go down first."

  The two were unclear, especially Feng Guo who was expecting praise. "Sir, this guy is the Mountain Wind Bandit, complete with all his hair and whiskers intact. I've brought him to you."

  Li Qing smiled slightly, "I know, that's why I said you did a good job, go down first." He raised his hand to stop Wang Qiniang who wanted to speak. The two of them didn't understand and retreated in embarrassment.

  Only Li Qing and two of his personal guards were left in the account, Guo Shanfeng lowered his head, knelt on the ground, Li Qing looked him up and down, didn't say a word, took over the tea handed by Tang Hu, drank it slowly.

  The stalemate lasted for a moment, and Guo Shanfeng felt a sense of fear in his heart. He couldn't bear the silence, so he raised his head and met Li Qing's eyes. Seeing this young general, Guo Shanfeng was taken aback. This general who had made him suffer a crushing defeat was actually so young, probably not even twenty years old yet.

  Li Qing sat there, looking down at Guo Shanfeng with a condescending attitude, but in his heart he also praised him, what a great Han! Guo Shanfeng was nearly 1.9 meters tall, which could indeed be considered a giant in this era.

  "For a moment, Li Qing said faintly: 'Guo Shanfeng?'"

  The mountain wind, lost in thought, subconsciously replied: "Yes." As soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted it. Since he was already doomed to die anyway, why humiliate himself further? Summoning his last bit of strength, he stood up straight and said loudly: "Even if I fall into your hands, there's nothing more to say. Just ask for a quick death."

  Li Qing didn't think much of it, even ants cherish their lives, let alone humans? This mountain wind thought he was sure to die, that's why he made this flip gesture, if he knew he wouldn't die, who knows what expression he would have.

  "You have dozens of men under your command, and I have hundreds of soldiers, yet you don't fall behind, and can even wound dozens of my soldiers. Not bad." Li Qing said slowly and calmly.

  "What's the big deal?" Guo Shanfeng sneered, "Your soldiers are all hiding in their nests, it's easier to gather them than anything!" Upon hearing Guo Shanfeng's words, Tang Hu and Yang Yidao both became enraged, and with a clanging sound, they drew out their knives. Guo Shanfeng, however, was delighted, being hacked down by the knife would be refreshing, if he were really taken to burn incense, that would truly be worse than death.

  "Is it?" Li Qing laughed coldly: "Then how did you end up here?"

  "That was their conspiracy, and I fell for it." said Guo Jing.

  Li Qing burst out laughing, "You were facing the enemy head-on, and you were chased by General Wang like a rabbit. You're playing tricks, but you can't outplay General Feng. What's there to be unhappy about?"

  "Damn it!" Over the mountain wind spat, "Head-on collision, those hundreds of people with big beards, I have dozens, can I play with him? If I also had hundreds of people, I would have destroyed them early."

  "I'll kill you first!" The big account door was lifted, and Wang Dahuizi, with a red face, rushed in. He had been lingering outside the account, waiting for an opportunity to capture Guo Shanfeng. When he heard Guo Shanfeng's boastful words, he could no longer bear it, and without regard for military orders or discipline, he charged in.

  Li Qing furrowed his brow, thought for a moment, then relaxed and smiled: "Good, Captain Wang has arrived just in time. This Overmountain Wind is so arrogant, you've come to teach him a lesson. Come on, untie this arrogant mountain bandit and let him see the splendor of our army's young heroes." Wang Qinyan was known for his excellent fist and footwork, and was considered the first brave warrior of the Changsheng Camp. He faced off against Overmountain Wind without worrying about any risk.

  Yang Yidao walked up with a stern face, made a "whooshing" sound, drew out his knife, and in the flash of the blade, chopped down directly. Over Mountain Wind was startled greatly, thinking that he would be finished off like this. However, unexpectedly, Yang Yidao's hands loosened, and this knife came down just right to cut through the ropes binding him into two pieces, without harming him in the slightest. This knife technique made Over Mountain Wind suddenly let out a shout of surprise.

  On this side, Wang Qiniang saw that the mountain wind had already gained its freedom and immediately shouted loudly and rushed up, "Damn it, mountain bandit, I'll cut you alive!"

  Tang Hu leapt forward, already blocking the entrance of the large tent, preventing the mountain bandits from taking advantage of the chaos to escape. Yang Yidao held his waist knife in hand, standing steadily by Li Qing's side, protecting him.

  Li Qing smiled and leaned back in his chair, watching the two big men fight. Wang Qiniang was also a tall man of over 1.8 meters, and this Guoshan Feng was just the right opponent for him. This Guoshan Feng was someone he wanted to put in his pocket, and it would be even better if he could subdue him with this opportunity.