Chapter 67
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Ming Yu having this much confidence was not without reason, because the underground tunnels in the village have a wide range of functions. Initially, because of these tunnels, Bai Village suffered heavy damage from bandits, but there was no harm to the village itself. The news spread wider and wider, and the villagers had no objections to the construction of underground passages.
The officials sent by the government and the craftsmen were warmly welcomed by the people. The villagers actively cooperated in the construction of the underground passages, considering it the most important task. Even villages from far away, due to the government’s inability to accommodate them all, sent people to learn and replicate the process.
It can be said that now about eighty to ninety percent of the villages in Liangzhou have built complex underground tunnels. Each village has also formed patrol teams to safeguard the village’s safety.
Moreover, Ming Yu had also imposed a strict rule that all the young and able individuals from each village must undergo training in basic skills, including investigating skil, combat, physical training, and how to respond to enemies. This is all based on practical situations, enabling everyone to have the ability to protect themselves and the village.
As a result, the bandits within Liangzhou have been successively eliminated by the village patrols and defense forces. The remaining weaker forces are isolated and helpless, barely able to hide, let alone daring to commit open robberies.
This had also given the people of Liangzhou an unprecedented confidence in Duan Wang and his guard battalion. Ming Yu and his guard battalion have gained the support of the people in Liangzhou. In the people’s hearts, they can already be compared to the Red Robe Army.
Therefore, whether there were enemy invaders or bandits, as long as they dare to show up, it is believed that they cannot escape the vigilant eyes of the masses. With these foundations, Ming Yu had no reason to fear them. In fact, he hoped that they will show up sooner, so that this matter can be resolved quickly and his horse farm can be built in peace.
Regarding Ming Yu’s guard battalion, Xie Yixiu understood how exceptional they were. It should be said that they have accomplished many miracles under Ming Yu’s leadership. The guard battalion, consisting of men from the capital, was not initially well-received, but after being trained by Ming Yu, they transformed entirely. Even Xie Yixiu found himself admiring them now.
“While the guard battalion is impressive, caution is still necessary,” Xie Yixiu cautioned, his tone carrying a hint of concern. He felt an inexplicable sense of unease, as if the recent activities of the barbarians were not as simple as they seemed.
Perhaps it was the pressure from the arrival of Hunle Wang, Tuoba Ren that brought about this unease. The news of his arrival had put pressure on them, leading to this sense of discomfort.
The fact that Xie Yixiu approved of the guard battalion made Ming Yu proud. Unconcerned, he didn’t pick up on the worry in Xie Yixiu’s words and just grinned, as if he hadn’t heard him. Tsk, tsk! To receive praise from someone as composed as Xie Yixiu was truly an honor. Back then, they were looked down upon, but now, they had earned Xie Yixiu’s admiration through their strength.
Nuha led a team of soldiers and horses smoothly into the territory of Liangzhou. He regarded what Mr. Song said about the Liangzhou commoners and their underground pathways as ridiculous.
These Southern people are all as timid as mice, and when faced with danger, they can only hide like rats in holes. But what of it? When his iron cavalry emerges, they will flatten all these caves and tunnels.
As soon as they crossed the border, he couldn’t suppress the bloodthirsty thoughts. These Southern people were like lambs waiting to be slaughtered. If only…
However, when he thought of the gaze of Tuoba Ren cold gaze, he had to calm down. Their Wang Ye was probably bewitched, which was why he followed the advice of that guy named Song from the South. He ordered them to restrain themselves, drag the frontlines as much as possible, and attract the attention of the officials. Ultimately, it was to use them as bait for their later plan. Nuha didn’t know what Wang Ye’s plan was, but since he had given the orders, he would definitely follow them.
Entering the territory of Liangzhou, they followed the topography provided by Mr. Song. To avoid being discovered, they took routes where human presence was scarce. When they reached deep into enemy territory, Nuha finally gathered his people.
This was also the reason they lost their trail as soon as they entered the border. Of course, they couldn’t stay hidden for too long. They were a cavalry unit. Once deep behind enemy lines, they had to fight lightly. They couldn’t carry too much supply. When the supplies they brought ran out, they could only plunder from the people of the Great Yan. To them, this posed no moral burden. Survival of the fittest was an inheritance from their ancestors, and in the eyes of the people from the Suixi Kingdom, Southerners were like pigs and dogs, easily controlled by them.
They didn’t have much food left. Nuha took out the map and studied it. With a clear direction in mind, he realized they could reach a village not far away in no time. As long as there were people, they would have food.
The map drawn by Mr. Song finally proved useful. With a destination in mind, they wouldn’t be wandering aimlessly like before. Didn’t his small squad last time fall into the clever trap set up by the cunning Southerners and get wiped out by them? It caused him to leave without success and unable to lift his head in front of the others.
“Tonight’s dinner is right here.” Nuha pointed to a spot on the map, folded the map, then patted his rear and mounted his horse with a leap. He shouted, “Brothers, there are two villages not far ahead. Let’s hurry there. A hearty dinner is waiting for us!”
His men were thrilled upon hearing this. After spending so many days in the Great Yan’s territory, all they had to eat was dried meat, and they were tired of it. Now, hearing the General say this, it naturally ignited their determination.
“Charge!” Nuha led the way, cracking his whip while riding his horse. The rest of the men followed in a frenzy toward their destination.”
Below Bullhorn Mountain is a place called Bullhorn Village. It’s remote and the fields are barren. People here rely on the weather for their meals. Even with slightly better weather, the harvest can only just sustain them. Due to the poverty and its location on the fringe, the village has managed to avoid the ravages of bandits and invaders, allowing its inhabitants to lead relatively peaceful lives.
Some days ago, villagers from outside brought news that a man called by Wang Ye, a territory lord in Liangzhou, declared that as long as young people from the village were sent to some training base, they could have ample food, clothing, and even return home with silver. They were also told that as long as they learned to construct underground passages, they could receive money and provisions to be distributed among all villagers.
This news caused an uproar. This was an enormous stroke of luck. Was this Wang Ye some kind of reincarnated benevolent being? How could he generously offer them provisions and money for no apparent reason?
Some were overjoyed, but some were skeptical. Later, the village chief himself went to confirm the accuracy of the news.
Now, no matter what they were asked to do, just for the sake of the provisions and money, no one would refuse. The entire village sprang into action, following the instructions given by Wang Ye’s officials, and embarked on the ambitious construction of underground passages.
After the training, the young men took on the responsibility of patrolling the village. What they didn’t expect was that the underground passages they built for the sake of a little provision would end up saving them from disaster.
Nuha’s horse stomped the ground beneath it. Maybe because its reins were held too tightly by its master, the horse raised its neck, neighed twice in vain, and shook its head with a snort.
Nuha paid no attention to his horse’s actions. He looked at the empty village before him and felt an inexplicable anger.
“General, we’ve searched everywhere, there’s no one, and no food either,” a soldier reported. They had searched inside and out, and not a trace of anyone, not even a ghost, could be found.
Nuha clenched the hilt of his sword, veins bulging on his hand’s back. He scanned around; this village didn’t look like a deserted one. When they entered the village earlier, he had even seen a bonfire lit with damp grass and wood. Smoke billowed, but he had no idea what it was for. Clearly, these people had been here just moments ago; they might have noticed the traces of their party and hidden immediately.
He recalled Mr. Song’s words earlier. The villages in Liangzhou had built something called underground passages. They would stash food or valuable items in them, and in case of enemy attacks, they would all hide underground.
It seemed Mr. Song hadn’t lied. These timid Southerners were hiding like mice, perhaps in the tunnels under their feet.
“They actually hid themselves. Did you find any secret passages or anything like that?” Nuha asked.
The soldier shook his head, “We searched everywhere and didn’t find any passage or hole.”
Nuha dismounted. He was skeptical. If there were no entrances to the passages, how did these people get underground? As long as he found the entrance, he believed he could drag each of these timid ghosts out.
However, after several rounds of searching, he found nothing. Frustration grew within him, and as the sun began to set, it was clear that there was nothing here. Could his entire group really starve here?
For a moment, he had no solution. He thought for a moment, then waved his sleeve. “Gather the brothers and let’s move to the next village.” He refused to believe that the next place would be the same.
He also pondered in his mind; his group had moved quickly and unexpectedly. How did these people know of their arrival and escape beforehand?
As he left the village, he looked back at the smoky wet firewood that was still burning. Why on earth would they light a pile of wet firewood here for no reason? He kicked the wood that wasn’t yet fully burned with his foot. It was really strange. A sense of unease gripped him. Indeed, these Southerners were peculiar.
He hoped for a better outcome at the next destination, but he was bound to be disappointed. The nearest village to Bullhorn Village had been deserted long before they arrived, and a pile of smoky wet firewood was burning at its entrance, just like here.
D*mn it! How did these detestable Southerners detect their arrival? After half a day of frenzied searching and running around, they gained nothing. Anyone would be frustrated in their position.
“Keep searching, dig three feet deep if you have to, but find these wretched rats for me!” Nuha started to lose his temper. He refused to believe that this group could hide forever.
Everyone followed his orders and started to search everywhere. Before long, they received news that a hole about half a person’s height had been found in the village.
Indeed, that must be the entrance. Nuha was ecstatic; he knew it, there had to be entry points for these rats. Now that they had found one, they could easily catch them.
They immediately sent a couple of men down to investigate. However, they waited for a long time without any report coming back. The soldiers below began to talk.
“What’s going on? Could they have eaten their fill down there before coming up?”
“We’re so hungry that our front and back are sticking together. No, I’m going down too. Regardless, let’s eat first.”
“Something’s not right. How come there’s no movement down there for such a long time? Could something have happened?”
“Hmph! What could happen? These Southerners are as timid as mice, and they can only hide. If I encounter them, it’s just like chopping vegetables.”
Opinions varied, and Nuha grew more agitated. He gestured for two men to go down and take a look, regardless of the circumstances, they needed an immediate report.
Finally, news arrived after some time. The two men crawled out of the hole. “General, five, five of our brothers are dead!”
“What?” Nuha couldn’t believe it. How could this be? How could barbarians men like them be killed by rats?
Furious, he grabbed one person’s collar. “What’s the situation down there? Speak the truth!”
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