Chapter 49: Never Return Until This Bandit is Destroyed!

"Negotiate?"

The captains and commanders all cast their gazes toward Liang Xiao.

"Your Honor!" Cao Chen quickly warned, a look of anxiety on his face. "The enemy is pressing upon us with over ten thousand men; we are likely outnumbered, especially since most of our soldiers are still raw recruits."

If the brothers were going all-in to support Liang Xiao and the bandit army breached Peixian, death for them and the annihilation of their clan would only be a matter of time.

"Zifang?" Liang Xiao looked toward Zhuo Zifang.

Zhuo Zifang replied, "No matter. Let us find out the enemy's demands, and then inform everyone in an appropriate manner so we share a common hatred against the enemy."

Understanding the implication, Liang Xiao immediately dispatched two Liang estate guards out of the city to negotiate.

Accepting the assignment, Zhuo Zifang led a thousand garrison troops up the city walls to continue setting up defenses. This way, as soon as the negotiating party returned, Zhuo Zifang could learn the terms of the negotiation firsthand, exaggerate them suitably, and pass them on to Liang Xiao and the soldiers and civilians within the city.

Liang Xiao then summoned the remaining two thousand garrison recruits within the city, calling upon the Military Administrator Liang De.

"Liang De, you shall be responsible for leading two thousand men to patrol the other districts. During this time, anyone attempting to loot during the fire or spread seditious rumors shall be taken into custody without exception, to be dealt with after my battle!"

Liang De readily accepted the order and was about to leave when another soldier came to report.

"Zhongli Xiu, head of the Zhongli clan, requests an audience!"

Accompanied by fifty guards, Zhongli Xiu hurried anxiously to the military camp and bowed before Liang Xiao.

"Lord Liang, my guards are also veteran soldiers of unwavering loyalty, and they are willing to assist Lord Liang in defending the city!"

Liang Xiao glanced at the group of guards behind Zhongli Xiu, moved in his heart. He gripped Zhongli Xiu's hand and smiled with gratification.

"Splendid! You shall all assist Liang De in patrolling Peixian! From this day forth, I, together with the soldiers and people of Peixian, shall never fail the Zhongli clan!"

Having just arrived, he had yet to cultivate a sufficient core of direct subordinates, and leaving Liang De and the estate guards in charge of patrolling with three thousand men had truly been a helpless move of last resort.

Zhongli Xiu taking the initiative to bring these fifty guards was undoubtedly providing charcoal in the depth of winter, effectively preventing any potential military confusion or mutiny.

Once Liang Xiao finished his arrangements, Liang De immediately led his men out.

Sitting in his carriage on the way home, Zhongli Xiu's heart pounded with trepidation the entire journey. Peixian was likely facing its greatest crisis in a decade!

For the Zhongli clan to make such a gesture was undoubtedly a public declaration of sharing life and death with Liang Xiao. By the time the Sima clan discovered that the Zhongli clan had leaned toward Liang Xiao, it would already be too late for them to send people to various places to obstruct Zhongli Qingfeng from purchasing goods and recruiting men.

The three thousand and one combat soldiers, gathered near the city gates of Peixian, rubbed their fists and wiped their palms as they awaited Liang Xiao's commands.

Among them, the three hundred vanguard troops wore light iron armor that offered stronger defense than leather armor, and they wielded shields and long spears.

The twenty-eight hundred men in the rear all wore leather armor, with five hundred retired veterans acting as archers, carrying bows with an effective range exceeding forty paces. The remaining twenty-three hundred men each held sabers, spears, and shields as the backbone force.

This was the best armament Peixian could provide at present. According to the laws of the Wu Dynasty, private possession of powerful crossbows and body armor was a capital offense, which was why the Zhongli clan had no such inventory to offer in support.

The three thousand one hundred soldiers looked up at Liang Xiao on the high platform, feeling both nervous and expectant.

They naturally understood that this magistrate cared deeply for the common people and was by no means comparable to the likes of Yuan Bailong. As the descendant of the Loyal and Martial Marquis, he was also a fierce warrior capable of lifting tripods with sheer strength.

This time, they stood a chance to follow him in suppressing bandits and earning military merits!

Especially the three hundred brave warriors, who held both admiration and gratitude toward Liang Xiao, and had thus resolutely volunteered to serve as the vanguard.

Liang Xiao's gaze swept across the crowd below, and he said in a ringing voice, "Each of the three hundred vanguard soldiers shall first be rewarded with ten taels of silver! After the bandits are suppressed, further rewards shall be distributed based on merit! If any fall in battle, in addition to the previously agreed-upon compensation, I will personally donate an additional sum of at least twenty taels of silver to each family!"

As his voice fell, the three hundred men below raised their arms and cheered in unison.

"We are willing to give our lives for Your Honor!!"

Such a generous reward freed them from any worries for the future. Even if they were unfortunate enough to die on the battlefield, their families would be guaranteed ample food and clothing until their children reached adulthood!

Liang Xiao then loudly announced, "The rest of the soldiers shall each be rewarded with two taels of silver first; after the bandits are suppressed, rewards will be distributed according to merit!"

"In this battle, have no fear; our army will surely crush the bandits!"

"We are willing to give our lives for Your Honor!!" The crowd below was ecstatic.

Two taels of silver might be a drop in the bucket for the wealthy, but for the common folk at the bottom, it could buy at least two thousand copper coins. If a family scrimped and saved, it was enough for a year's worth of grain!

Furthermore, there was still the chance to receive rewards after the battle!

This was the most generous commander they had ever encountered in their lives, without exception!

After pacifying the soldiers and officers, Liang Xiao ordered them to ready their ranks and prepare for battle at any moment, setting out whenever commanded. The men continued their training within the camp, familiarizing themselves with their weapons and military formations.

A hundred paces outside the north gate of Peixian, two soldiers from Black Cloud Stronghold were conversing with the personnel sent by Liang Xiao.

Twenty miles away, the army of Black Cloud Stronghold stretched like a long dragon spreading from north to south, with troops continually arriving to assemble.

"The day is growing late. The Chief has given the order: set up the camp and cook the meals, and we shall press beneath the city walls tomorrow!"

The Black Cloud Stronghold troops made camp right where they stood.

Chieftain Gou was issuing orders, and seeing the straggling tail of the long procession in the rear, he grew furious.

"Damn it! We still have to transport supplies and troops, but we must prepare for a siege lasting several days. This time, we are going to strip Peixian clean to the bone!"

At that very moment, a scout from the front came to report.

"Chieftain! We gathered intelligence from inside the city that Liang Xiao intends to lead his troops out on the offensive!"

Hearing this, Chieftain Gou's eyes lit up. "Such a stroke of good fortune?"

Outside the city of Peixian, the negotiators from both sides parted on bad terms, and the two Black Cloud Stronghold soldiers whipped their horses around and fled back to the main force.

After Zhuo Zifang learned the situation from the returning negotiators, he had them secretly inform Liang Xiao to temporarily press the matter down without publicizing it.

"Tens of thousands of men from Black Cloud Stronghold are coming to slaughter us!!"

During the night, inside the city of Peixian, spies arranged by the Wu clan and other factions spread rumors everywhere.

Peixian was plunged into panic.

Fortunately, Liang Xiao had arranged in advance for Liang De to enforce a curfew, preventing total chaos.

Early the next morning, the Black Cloud Stronghold army immediately broke camp and marched toward Peixian.

Liang Xiao had already assembled his troops at the city gates, ready to sortie at any moment.

Thousands of commoners brought their remaining household grain and rushed to the north city, begging to offer rations to the army.

Zhongli Wanxue stayed near the back of the crowd with her aging mother, both mother and daughter wearing worried expressions.

They had already learned the situation through their guards, but did not dare to tell Ningyan, leaving guards behind solely to protect her.

In the distance, the townspeople gathered along the streets south of the military camp, speaking one after another as they petitioned Liang Xiao.

"Your Honor! I am young and strong, and I am willing to assist in defending the city. Please assign me a task!"

"Your Honor! My family has hoes; as soon as the bandit soldiers arrive, I can also help beat the bandits!"

"Your Honor, my family has carrying poles..."

...

Zhongli Wanxue and her mother looked at the emotionally stirred commoners, and could not help feeling deeply moved.

For the first time since Peixian's return, the military and the people were of one heart.

Clearly, Liang Xiao's tax reductions and punishment of bullies had won the hearts of the people. For both public and private reasons, none of them wished to see Peixian lose this magistrate.

Liang Xiao came outside the military camp and bowed with cupped hands to thank the townspeople.

"Thank you, fathers and elders of Peixian, for your support. Everyone can safely return home; our army will surely win this battle!"

"Your Honor..." The crowd gazed eagerly at Liang Xiao, unable to conceal their anxiety.

At that moment, Zhuo Zifang hurried to the scene and reported to Liang Xiao in full view of the soldiers and citizens.

"Your Honor, Black Cloud Stronghold has sent word to Peixian: as long as their demands are met, everyone can live in peace!"

Hearing this, the soldiers and citizens at the scene were filled with anticipation.

"First, offer fifty thousand taels of silver and two hundred thousand dan of grain to Black Cloud Stronghold!"

"Second, present three thousand women to Black Cloud Stronghold for the enjoyment of their men!"

As soon as Zhuo Zifang finished speaking, public indignation surged.

"How is this any different from the city being breached?!"

"What else?" Liang Xiao's face darkened.

Zhuo Zifang continued, "Furthermore, the third condition: capture all members of the Zhongli clan without exception, especially the eldest daughter of the Zhongli family, the number one beauty in Xuzhou, Zhongli Wanxue, and send them all together into the camp of Black Cloud Stronghold!"

In the distance, Zhongli Wanxue's heart leaped, filled with both anger and panic.

Were they going to wipe out her entire Zhongli clan and make her a bandit chieftain's wife to boot?

With all eyes upon him, Liang Xiao flew into a rage. Right there on horseback, he drew an arrow, snapped it in two, and swore a stern oath.

"Gou Bai, the Chief of Black Cloud Stronghold, commonly known as 'Chieftain Gou', has colluded with Yuan Bailong for years, gathering bandits, terrorizing Peixian, and abusing the common people—a crime deserving of ten thousand deaths! And now, he dares to lead a bandit army right beneath our city walls, attempting to burn, kill, loot, and afflict the innocent!"

"Today, I, Liang Xiao, snap this arrow as an oath: if I do not crush these bandits, I shall never return!"