Chapter 5: Decapitation

The man and the two riders behind him were taken aback. These are salt smugglers, yet how is it that there are two beautiful women mixed in with the group

However, the horse galloped through the thicket; while it might be able to avoid the dense bushes, it did not consider the rider on its back. A protruding branch of a locust tree slashed towards the bandit.

However, Wang Ju was already anticipated; barring any unforeseen circumstances, this person was the second leader among the legendary Three Bee Thieves, known as the Knife Thief. Thus, an arrow was shot, and swiftly, a second arrow was retrieved from the quiver on his back, and he drew the bow once more.

This person had no choice but to lower their head and step aside

Dozens of bee thieves quickly raided the camp, desperately fleeing in all directions

Wang Ju looked at Zhu Qing's surprised expression and sneered coldly in his heart. If it were the time of the Black Bee Bandits causing havoc, today would have been disastrous. However, now, as long as they see that flag, everyone will flee in panic. Arrogant soldiers are bound to fail

The leader of the bee thieves, riding on horseback, extended his hand like a blade and effortlessly deflected the arrow with a single stroke

Compared to the fine bows of the Western Xia and the composite bows used by the Song army, the bows and arrows in the hands of the villagers are quite pitiful, yet... they can still kill

Having lost their leader, the morale of the bee thieves, which had been difficult to rally, once again dissipated. Moreover, in order to avoid drawing attention, they did not wear protective armor or carry shields on this journey

The villagers may not know as much as Wang Ju, but they are aware of the officials and soldiers. The word 'soldier' has the character for 'official' in front of it; they are the heavens and the earth, while the common people are like mules and livestock.

As he spoke, his eyes swept around, and at that moment, in order to facilitate archery, the villagers stood up together. He immediately spotted Zhu Qing, for no other reason than that Zhu Qing was dressed the best, standing out like a crane among chickens. Therefore, he spurred his horse and charged into the bushes, swiftly drawing his knife, killing a villager. He charged straight towards Zhu Qing, heading towards Wang Ju and the others.

At least they gradually let down their guard, which is the reason he dared to fight.

The person let out a loud cry, falling off the horse, which continued to run. One of his feet was caught in the stirrup, and although his screams ceased, he had already met his demise

However, due to his distraction, Li Sandog calmly aimed an arrow and shot him down

Could it be that the smuggler of private salt knows the truth, deliberately using these dozens of carts of private salt as bait, and then hiring assassins to lie in ambush here? thought their leader.

There is no need for Wang Ju to give further instructions; those who can ride horses likely hold a significant status. Moreover, cavalry poses a greater threat than infantry. Almost simultaneously, everyone exerted their strength, and a dozen arrows were shot towards the remaining two mounted bandits.

However, it is also a weapon

However, Wang Ju saw very clearly

Uncle Wang Wei, along with another villager, took advantage of the situation and clumsily used a hatchet to knock another person off his horse. However, sensing danger, that person desperately beat the horse's back and fled down the mountain. He was the only one among the five riders to escape.

He shouted again: "Kill them, we retreat"

Wang Juxin and the others in the library were pondering another question: once this arrow is shot, will it be able to go outside the Donghua Gate to announce the name...

As the five individuals were about to catch up with the villagers, they suddenly heard a scream from the mountain path, forcing them to rein in their warhorses and turn to look at the mountain path. This sight sent chills down their spines

Knowing the truth ... In Yan Prefecture, many officials, clerks, soldiers, merchants, and powerful households, even those who carry goods, all rely on private merchants for their livelihood. If they were to know the truth, just thinking about it would send chills down their spines

Wang Ju's third arrow flew out again

However, they are universally despised in the security forces

The court harbors a deep hatred for those who engage in the illicit salt trade

The Song army is not strong, but it should not be underestimated. Even though they suffered defeat at the San Chuan Kou and Hao Shui Chuan, they still inflicted significant losses on the Western Xia. However, it depends on who is in command; if it were Ge Huaimin, the defeat would be utterly disastrous

Unlike the previous skirmishes among the villages, which were merely acts of bravado, this is a battle, a fight that involves killing

In the blink of an eye, more than ten bee thieves fell down

The bee thief had no choice but to once again draw the flying arrow

Those damned mountain dwellers actually dared to turn back

Moreover, the one killed was none other than the infamous Black Bee Thief

The harsh and difficult living conditions have compelled the villagers to resemble the northeastern Jurchens in certain aspects. When faced with crops, they become farmers; when dealing with cattle and sheep, they transform into herders; and when entering the mountains and forests, they become skilled hunters. In fact, there are quite a number of villagers in Wangjiazhuang who are proficient in archery. Once they decide to resist, many of them become top-notch archers.

Thus, the inherent shortcomings of the Song army manifested once again, as dozens of bandits on the mountain path became entangled in chaos, with the number of those who fell increasing amidst the disorder

The goose-feather arrow swiftly descended, then splashed a bloom of blood on the back of the knife thief's chest

The horse continued to run, the phoenix beak knife fell, and one of Zhu Qing's servants was cleaved in two by him.

Upon introspection, this person's martial skills are quite commendable, as they were able to deflect two arrows.

Calmly aiming at the target, I recalled the words my second uncle had taught me: to use the heart when shooting arrows. Big Niuzi, your concept of a straight line is flawed; the arrows in our hands are not straight, so how can we talk about a straight line? Where did you learn that term? Even if the arrows were straight, the beasts are in motion. Rabbits are swift; to shoot one, you must act quickly and swiftly determine its escape direction. Tigers and leopards are fierce; to kill one, you cannot be intimidated by its imposing presence. Therefore, archery is not just about aiming with the arms and eyes; it also requires the heart. Even if the arrows are straight, the beasts are in motion. Rabbits are swift; to shoot one, you must act quickly and swiftly determine its escape direction. Tigers and leopards are fierce; to kill one, you cannot be intimidated by its imposing presence. Therefore, archery is not just about aiming with the arms and eyes; it also requires the heart.

The officials and soldiers of the Song Dynasty were deeply devoted to the people, as evidenced by several incidents. For instance, the actions of the Song army during their multiple incursions into Shu, or the troops under the command of the renowned Song general Wang Shao, illustrate this commitment. In the Song Dynasty, there were two categories of individuals who would be marked with tattoos: first, serious criminals, whose tattoos were inscribed on their foreheads; second, soldiers, whose tattoos were often placed on their temples or faces. At one point, local militia in Shaanxi also had tattoos on their faces, which later incited several military rebellions among the militia, leading to the reinstatement of the hand tattooing system. However, the frontier soldiers in Qinzhou, as well as ordinary citizens, actively requested the court to tattoo their faces to avoid being killed by the court's officials and soldiers, who might falsely claim military achievements.

It cannot yet be called a victory, as he turned his gaze towards the mountain below

Upon seeing him make a gesture, Uncle Er and the others quickly got up from the ground, crouched down, and the bows and arrows in their hands were already prepared; all that remained was to draw the bowstring.

"What does it mean to be a soldier?" Wang Quan murmured

However, what this person is thinking about is not the mountain dwellers, but how to handle the aftermath

The focal point of the ambush lies behind a cartload of contraband salt

The battle has ended; although the cargo was preserved, Zhu Qing's expression remains grim.

A greater trouble has arrived

Thus, the villagers were all extremely anxious, and many arrows missed their targets. If it had been the Baojie army, after two or three rounds of arrow rain, it is likely that not a single one of these bandits would have survived

The sharp arrow, trailing pure white feathers, traces a graceful curve in the air before swiftly descending.

Two women simultaneously let out a scream and stood up in unison

However, when it comes to oneself, isn't it nerve-wracking

The bow is an ordinary mulberry wood bow, representing the most primitive type of single-material bow, consisting only of the bowstring, bow limbs, and grip. Unlike the bows in the hands of these poachers, which have a core covered with tendon-like bow backs and a lower surface made of horn-like bow bellies, these bows not only incorporate wood and sinew but also utilize materials from animal horns. As a result, they shoot faster, farther, and with greater accuracy. Additionally, the composite bow has a more significant advantage: unlike the single-material bow, it does not require the bowstring to be removed when not in use, thus preventing the bowstring from loosening and reducing elasticity.

Then he shouted: "Fight back and take the book."

This group of people must have underestimated their opponent

Nervous to the point of desperation, despite the occasional screams echoing around, his heart continued to race, as if it were about to leap out of his throat

Yet a thin layer of cold sweat also began to bead on his back

Charging up the mountain path again with four subordinates

When he rushed back, nearly half of his subordinates had fallen.

At this moment, the ordinary villagers are aware that these individuals are not only bee thieves but also officials of the court

The arrow flew out

"Mengdu Head." Another rider shouted.

All four bandits were shot dead, and one escaped

Wang Ju stood up anxiously

If it were to be spread, who would believe it

Thus, he drew the bow

However, it allowed him to slow down, and two villagers shot arrows at him.

He may not understand the art of war, but he does grasp simple principles, perhaps even more than everyone else present. As long as this person can boost the morale, countless lives will be lost in the stronghold today

Therefore, Wang Ju made a gesture to launch an attack

The five horsemen are the key to this battle

Most of the marauding bandits were shot dead; if the officials and soldiers were to learn that it was their stronghold that had acted, what consequences would await them

With Wang Ju's third arrow, the battlefield finally experienced a turning point

"Is this really success?" Zhu Qing seemed to be in a dream. A group of mountain villagers, predominantly Han, actually defeated the infamous Black Bee Bandits and managed to protect the goods

Indeed, this is his life goal, even though it may be a source of amusement for everyone if it were to be known.