Chapter 24: Unifying the Yi River

Most people grow weary the longer they fight, but not Li Gui. For him, killing brings a flow of vital energy that strengthens his body, leaving him increasingly invigorated with every battle.

In the heat of the slaughter, Li Gui led his personal guards in a chase after the fleeing bandits, pursuing them all the way to Lotus Mountain.

The mountain strongholds had already been stripped of all able-bodied men, leaving behind only the elderly, the weak, the sick, and the women. Li Gui couldn't be bothered to finish them off; instead, he sat near the gate and sent his guards back to summon the rest of his troops.

His spearmen had lost their formation during the chaotic fighting and returned to their usual habit of individual combat. However, the bandits were so terrified that few dared to stop and resist, resulting in minimal casualties for Li Gui's men.

After nearly an hour, the soldiers had gathered, reforming their ranks on Lotus Mountain. A quick tally revealed three more dead and over a dozen wounded. It was their first direct confrontation, and Li Gui found these losses acceptable. Still, if even these bandits could inflict such damage, he wondered how long they would last against a true professional army.

Once Li Laoqi and his team had thoroughly looted Lotus Mountain, Li Gui ordered the troops to return in triumph. Because the enemy had been numerous and almost every man had bloodied his spear, Li Gui granted everyone a promotion in rank.

These battle-hardened men no longer cared much for titles; instead, they cast lecherous glances at the women brought down from the mountain, already picking out their future wives. Li Gui knew their thoughts well. Upon returning to their stronghold, he counted the women and, finding there were enough for everyone, skipped the victory banquet and held an immediate assembly in the square to distribute the women among his men.

The entire camp erupted in celebration, everyone beaming with joy. Those who had become grooms the day before now acted with a sense of calm superiority, pointing and mocking the eager men.

"Heh, look at these greenhorns who’ve never seen a woman..."

They had completely forgotten how pathetic their own performances were the night before.

After this battle, the spirit of the surrounding strongholds was thoroughly broken. Li Gui no longer needed to take the field himself; he simply sent his junior commanders, each leading a small squad, to easily crush the remaining camps. Within a few days, every stronghold in Yishui County had been swept clean by Li Gui. Gold, silver, valuables, grain, livestock, and women were all brought under the control of Yu Mountain.

In addition to his existing unit of iron-spearmen, he trained two more reserve units, drilling them daily with bamboo spears. They would be fully equipped as soon as more lances were acquired.

News of Li Gui’s rampant expansion had reached the county seat. Magistrate Ding was both relieved that his earlier gamble to legitimize Li Gui's status had worked, yet distressed that Li Gui was truly acting like a rebel and seemed to have actual designs on an uprising. He had discussed the matter with his advisor, Master Song, many times, but they were both at a loss for a solution.

They had originally hoped to pin the blame for any potential uprising on the military officers, but if the leader of the rebels was Li Gui, then this massive responsibility could not be shifted. Li Gui was a known outlaw who had killed officials; if anyone were to be blamed, it would be the previous magistrate. No matter how much the soldiers oppressed the people, it had nothing to do with Li Gui. Yet, as the local official in charge, while Magistrate Ding didn't have to answer for Li Gui's past crimes, he could not escape the responsibility for having rebels emerge under his jurisdiction.

"Alas, if I had known, I never would have come to Yishui County!"

Magistrate Ding sat dejectedly in his courtyard, sighing repeatedly as he poured cup after cup of bitter wine down his throat. Across the table, Master Song, already somewhat intoxicated, sighed softly.

"I advised you against it, sir. When so many others refused the post, you should have known the danger. You insisted on taking this gamble; what is the use of complaining now?"

"Changping, is there really no way out?"

"It’s difficult," Master Song replied, his head throbbing. "In recent days, several people have come to the office to report that Li Gui has seized Yu Mountain and is conquering the surrounding areas."

"They claim to be commoners, but I have privately asked Chief Li; these men are actually heads of the nearby strongholds who only came forward out of resentment because their camps were destroyed."

"From them, I learned that Li Gui now has hundreds of soldiers, well-trained and capable. Even the joint forces of a thousand men from the various strongholds were no match for him."

"Think about it, sir. If Li Gui didn't intend to rebel, why would he be so calculating?"

"More concerning is: where did he get his weapons and armor?"

"Is there some powerful aristocratic family supporting him from the shadows?"

"They say bandits comb the land like a brush, and soldiers like a fine-toothed comb. With all this combing, how many displaced people will there be, and how much land will be seized?"

"I dare not think on it further, I dare not!"

Master Song shook his head, sighed, and poured himself another drink. Magistrate Ding was trembling like a leaf, clearly terrified by Song's words.

"Changping, you mustn't speak so recklessly!"

"Rest assured, sir. It is only the two of us here. These words leave my mouth and enter your ears; they shall never be repeated."

Magistrate Ding shivered for a moment, then a sudden realization flashed in his eyes. He leaned in and whispered:

"Changping, if what you say is true, doesn't that mean Li Gui has a master behind him?"

"If we can find this master and negotiate, couldn't we pacify him for the time being?"

"As long as he doesn't revolt during my tenure, I can secretly facilitate whatever he needs."

"I only need to finish this term as magistrate. Whatever happens after that will have nothing to do with me."

Master Song was stunned into silence by his superior's words. After a long pause, he stammered:

"Sir, I was only speculating. It may not be true; perhaps there is no such person at all!"

"In matters like this, it is better to believe it exists than to assume it does not!" Magistrate Ding’s eyes flickered; he was already convinced.

"Besides, Li Gui is nothing but a ruffian. How would he dare pull off something this big? It must be 'the dog acting on the master's authority'—someone is backing him."

Thinking he had found a way to save his official hat, Magistrate Ding’s mind began to race faster than it had during the imperial examinations.

"The master manipulating Li Gui from the shadows must be from this county!"

"According to our reports, Li Gui has never left this county. He used to run errands for the wealthy. Perhaps some noble took a liking to him and groomed him for this purpose."

"Those weapons and armor must have been provided by his patron. Otherwise, as a mere thug, where would he get such fine equipment?"

The more Magistrate Ding thought about it, the more it made sense.

"If Li Gui starts an uprising, the first to suffer will be this county, and many of the gentry will be ruined."

"If I were the one behind this, I would find an excuse to take my family and flee the county just before the uprising, then return to seize more land once the imperial court had suppressed the rebels."

"I only need to investigate which gentry families were on bad terms with the previous magistrate, and which families have quietly left the county recently, to know who the mastermind is."

As Magistrate Ding was analyzing the situation with great excitement, a servant rushed in from outside.

"Sir, a visitor has arrived to see you. He claims to be the Inspector sent from the prefecture, by the name of Liang Wanshen."