Chapter 6, Ashore

Indeed

First, the boy is very thin, which is a result of malnutrition. This is understandable; whether in his stepfather's home or his uncle's, he ultimately lives a life dependent on others, in poverty. How can he possibly gain weight?

They can speak of the sacrifices made in the battles against the Xixia people

It is no wonder that historical texts record many prodigies, such as Huo Qubing who traversed the vast desert at a young age, Gan Luo who was appointed as a minister at the age of twelve, and Yan Shu who achieved the highest degree at the age of fourteen.

Why?

Indeed, there are many extraordinary talents in this world

"Not bad, there seems to be a road, it looks like Caoping Creek Road," Zhu Qing said as he took out a map to look at.

Note: In order to prevent shoddy workmanship, the Song Dynasty mandated that craftsmen in workshops inscribe their names and those of relevant supervisors on each weapon they produced. The regulation stated, "For swords and armor, engrave; for bows, crossbows, and arrows, write in red lacquer." The Ming Dynasty also had a similar practice, but its effectiveness was quite poor

As he gazed intently at Wang Ju, the mountain breeze blew in, marking the hottest moment of the year. The wind tousled the young man's long hair, making him appear exceptionally carefree.

However, none of this is important. Regardless of whether a child from a poor family takes on responsibilities early, he is still a twelve-year-old boy. How could he possess such means and cunning?

"There is evidence," Uncle Er pointed to the flag and the veil

This seems to be a solution

"Knives are not allowed to be brought." Zhu Qing said

Wang Ju took over the command from Zhu Qing.

We no longer need the horses and weapons; we will evacuate this place immediately," declared the old patriarch Wang Ju, making a decision on behalf of everyone. The Song Dynasty was short of horses, and a good horse could sell for at least fifty guan. Therefore, Wang Ju used this to boost everyone's morale. However, the weapons were standard issue for the Song army, and the horses also bore marks; we cannot be greedy for this money

A timid villager ran up and said: "Quick, report to the officials"

If we cannot succeed together, then it will not be a matter of drawing swords. Thus, let us withdraw.

It is possible, however, could there be others who share my thoughts? At the very least, they have plundered a great deal of wealth, much of which many cannot squander, or perhaps some prefer to save... Furthermore, they must have one or several such places. In this instance of plunder, if they do not have such locations, how could they possibly dispose of these goods immediately? Zhu, show the map in your hand to the young man.

After thinking for a moment, Wang Ju said: "It will soon be dark, but the weather is clear, and there is moonlight. We will walk from Qingmo Mouth."

However, everyone certainly would not dare to claim this bounty, as it would be self-exposure. Once the reward is obtained, the officials and soldiers will come, and everyone would be executed together for the crime of smuggling salt, serving as a public example.

The horse can leave a mark, and Zhu Guanshi, the script from the Western Xia region is modeled after our dynasty's script, but it is more complex than ours... Some villagers have died, and let's consider it as compensation; I will still trouble Zhu Guanshi. Many neighboring countries are creating counterfeit characters. This is a significant problem; having one's own script is equivalent to having one's own civilization

Why can't it be the officials and soldiers? Just look at how many times our officials have entered Shu to understand. The military discipline of the Song Dynasty also had its good moments: one was under Cao Wei's command, and the other was under Yue Fei's command. The rest were all chaotic. The city soldiers that are kept in captivity are just like that. This is not about doing business or opening a workshop; it requires urban people. To use troops, one must rely on rural soldiers, which was the secret to Qi Jiguang's selection of soldiers. Later, the strongest western army was not the forbidden troops stationed in the capital, but the Baojie army from Shaanxi.

Weng Weng, do not be anxious

These bows and arrows cannot be left behind, but the knives... Wang Ju looked at the dozens of knives; they are worth more, and he felt somewhat reluctant. However, people have engraved military badges, horses have brands, bows and arrows have markings, and the knives also bear inscriptions.

If it were another several dozen miles to the east, it might be acceptable, but here, it is not possible. I am weak in the face of the Western Xia, and the officials and soldiers lack the courage to engage in battle with the Western Xia here.

There is only one reason: it is publicly stated that he was killed by private merchants and their hired thugs during a confrontation with them

"It is the misfortune you have brought upon us," shouted Zhu Qing's subordinate again

Let me think. Wang Ju looked at the eastern horizon, where dusk was approaching and a half-moon began to rise and fall in the eastern sky. Fortunately, he had previously come here to hunt with his second uncle, which was quite a long time ago, and he had only been here once, but he was lucky enough to remember some of the terrain.

Is there a road to Qingmoju?

However, it is hard to say; just now, the battle was like a thunderstorm, and how many people would seriously remember each other's faces? In any case, it would be quite troublesome, so hetushu.com does not want to come up with a good solution and cannot leave immediately

"Xiao Lang, what should we do?" Zhu Qing asked, at a loss.

Zhu Qing and Wang Ju spoke simultaneously

"What is a soldier?" the charming young woman murmured.

But it has nothing to do with Wang Ju; he is merely a young man with an uncertain future

Manager Zhu, in a few days, please trouble yourself to send over the drawings of the Xia Guo sword style

Endure some hardship, transport the goods to that road, which is a bit far from here, and then find a concealed location. After a few days, invite a group of pack mules to carry the goods to Yanzhou. This way, when the officials investigate later, they are unlikely to suspect the owner.

***

However, it does not matter if it is someone else

Zhu Qing thought for a long time before realizing Wang Ju's intention, exclaiming repeatedly, "This is indeed a good idea"

Then he clapped his hands and said: "We have successfully reached the shore, watching the fire from across the river"

This is not possible; it can be exchanged for cash or silver. Moreover, many soldiers indulge in drinking, gambling, and other vices, making money easy to come by and even easier to squander. Keeping it outside poses too high a risk, " Zhu Qing objected.

This path cannot be taken

"Second Uncle, they are the officers and soldiers of the Zhenwu Camp. So many of them were killed in an instant; there must be an explanation. But how can we provide one?"

It is precisely because there is no road that we will have vitality. At worst, we can take advantage of the moonlight at night, carrying the goods and the cart on our backs, and after crossing Qingmo Pass, there seems to be a small path.

However, the modifications to the Xixia fake characters are minimal, with many strokes. This presents an opportunity to add some additional marks to the imprint, making it appear as if it comes from the smuggled horses of Xixia, thus enabling it to be sold.

This is still not enough, Zhu Guan Shi. Take another look at your subordinates; which one of their faces is unfamiliar? Have them ride horses and immediately spread the word to the nearby villages, saying that a knife-wielding thief had a shootout here and was killed. His head... seems quite valuable

What can this prove? It cannot be forged? Who will vouch for us? Even if we escape, if they come to plunder, they will probably know some clues. In the future, whether it is the employer or the village, it will be dangerous

"Here we go again. Encountering trouble and resolving it, what kind of skill is it to bully two weak women?" Wang Ju said angrily

"Not only that, they are officials and soldiers. As long as they take the time to check each village and hamlet, there will always be some people who will make them lose face," Zhu Qing said irritably

Zhu Qing is baffled

Suddenly, Wang Ju had a flash of inspiration. He thought of something; if successful, the villagers of Wangjiazhai might no longer have to work as mules: "Take the knife away"

Wang Ju looked at the map, suddenly tearing a corner of his clothing and drawing some ambiguous routes on it. He created several versions, smudged with blood and dirt, and then roasted them over the fire before stuffing them into the arms of several bee thieves

Wang Ju's astonishing performance just now also made him inadvertently overlook his age

Wang Ju also stated: "Over the years, the Black Bee has committed numerous crimes, and it is believed that they have accumulated considerable wealth. This wealth cannot possibly be stored in the barracks, nor could there be a separate place for storing money and silk. Furthermore, this location cannot be near the barracks, as the barracks are often situated in fortresses where the population is dense. Additionally, some of the contraband contains many valuable goods. Therefore, this location is not only not near the barracks, but is also in a sparsely populated area within their operational range, characterized by complex terrain."

It was precisely due to their coercion that the Song Dynasty's officials and soldiers dispatched several groups of troops into the mountains to eliminate the bandits. However, they could not have anticipated that the bee bandits were actually military bandits, resulting in several attempts to eradicate them yielding no results. Consequently, a sky-high bounty was offered: anyone who could capture alive or kill three leaders of the bee bandits would receive a reward of 500 guan. Those who could provide clues would also be rewarded with 500 guan. Other bee bandits would be rewarded between 10 to 50 guan, depending on their rank.

Wonderful

The wealthy families involved in the private market in the surrounding areas all despise this group of bee thieves

This place is not suitable for staying long

"Big Bull, go ahead and speak," said Uncle Er.

However, Zhu Qing still had some confusion

Everyone quickly tidied up, pushing the carts and leading the horses, swiftly advancing towards Qingmo Mouth

Zhu Qing wanted to slap him to death: "Report to the authorities, but how should we report it? Should we say that we resisted during the private trade and killed them?"

Xia Guo Jian? Zhu Qing wanted to overturn it

However, the boy's clothes are indeed very clean. Could it be that he has a meticulous and tidy aunt? Yet, if that were the case, why are the patches he has sewn multiple times so rough?

"Weng Weng, leaving is imperative; otherwise, more soldiers will come... swarming like bees, killing and silencing. Fortunately, although I do not know which barracks they are from, the nearest Shunningzhai is still several dozen li away through the mountains, so we still have time... but we cannot leave like this"