Chapter Eleven: Stone Cloud Tiger’s Thoughts

“Quickly clean up the blood on the ground, and carry the bodies out to bury them,” Shi Yunhu ordered from the central seat in the main camp tent.

Several bandit leaders acknowledged and left the tent.

Shi Yunhu turned to Zhao Yutu beside him and asked, “Any news from the archer battalion?”

Zhao Yutu replied, “Those sent toward Zheng Village haven’t returned yet, so the situation with the archers is still unclear.”

“No need to keep the archers,” Shi Yunhu said. “Previously, Wu the Blind and Zhou the Black-Faced were holding them back, which is why the archers remained. Now that Wu and Zhou are dead, our men have replaced the entire bandit camp. People like Li Shuheng, who oppose me, must be eliminated.”

“I’ll arrange for an ambush halfway there immediately.”

Zhao Yutu turned to leave but was stopped by Shi Yunhu.

“No need for you to get involved directly. I have my own plan.” Shi Yunhu called outside the tent, “Bring Zheng Daqiu here!”

Soon, two bandits dragged Zheng Daqiu into the tent. One kicked Zheng’s calf sharply and barked, “Kneel!”

Zheng Daqiu staggered but then knelt down as commanded.

“Zheng Daqiu, how do you think I should deal with you?” Shi Yunhu’s gaze was icy as he looked down at him.

“Mercy, Commander Shi! Mercy!” Zheng Daqiu kowtowed repeatedly, weeping. “It was Wu the Blind, leader of the left battalion—no, Wu the Blind himself—who threatened me. He forced me to deliberately lead the Ma Leader and his cavalry away from the central camp, or else he would have killed me.”

“Hmph!” Shi Yunhu snorted coldly. “You deserve to die. But since you have diligently handled supplies all this time, I’ll give you one chance to live.”

“Thank you, Commander, for your mercy, thank you!” Zheng Daqiu’s face brightened as he crawled forward on his knees.

Shi Yunhu said coldly, “Do one thing for me. If you succeed, not only will your life be spared, but the position of rear camp leader will remain yours. Fail, and you will be punished for both crimes.”

“I’m willing to face fire and steel for you, Commander. I will go through hell and back without hesitation,” Zheng Daqiu said hastily.

Everyone in the tent except Shi Yunhu wore expressions of scorn upon hearing his words.

Zheng Daqiu paid no mind to their mockery, his eyes fixed intently on Shi Yunhu.

Shi Yunhu tapped the low table twice with his fingers and said, “I’m giving you two hundred men. On the way to Zheng Village, ambush the archer battalion and that Liu Heng. I want their heads brought back.”

“Two hundred men...” Zheng Daqiu hesitated.

He knew the archer battalion alone numbered over a hundred, and Liu Heng’s newly trained militia had about three hundred. With only two hundred men, he had little confidence in successfully ambushing both groups.

“What? Unwilling?” Shi Yunhu’s cold gaze bored into him.

“N-no, I’m willing,” Zheng Daqiu stammered nervously. “I just worry the force is too small to accomplish what you’ve tasked me with.”

Shi Yunhu withdrew his gaze and said, “Don’t worry. I’ll have Ma Yunjiu lead his cavalry to assist you.”

“At your command, Commander,” Ma Yunjiu stood from behind the low table.

Zheng Daqiu glanced at Ma Yunjiu behind the table and sighed in his heart. He thought Wu the Blind and the others had planned everything secretly and had a good chance of winning, which was why he had secretly agreed to cooperate. But Wu and Zhou’s men had long been bought off by Shi Yunhu. Once things got underway, they fell right into Shi Yunhu’s trap, ending up with their heads severed.

He looked up carefully at Shi Yunhu seated in the center, feeling even more intimidated by his commanding presence. How had he been so foolish as to agree to collaborate with Wu the Blind and his group?

With that thought, Zheng Daqiu hurriedly said, “I’m willing to cooperate with Ma Leader to ambush the archer battalion and Liu Heng’s group.”

Shi Yunhu said, “If you succeed, you won’t lack rewards. If the archers return alive, you won’t be returning.”

Zheng Daqiu trembled and quickly said, “I understand. I won’t give them a chance to make it back to camp.”

“The men are ready outside the camp. Go now, and remember, I only want their heads,” Shi Yunhu waved him off, signaling he could leave.

Zheng Daqiu rose from the ground, smiling awkwardly at others in the tent as he cautiously exited.

“Ma Yunjiu, you go too. Once the archers are dead, make sure to kill him... then blame the deaths of the archers on him,” Wu the Blind made a throat-slitting gesture to Ma Yunjiu.

Ma Yunjiu nodded and left the tent.

Outside the central camp, a force of two hundred men had already assembled. Zheng Daqiu sent someone to fetch Old Ma the Limp from the rear camp and gave him detailed instructions before approaching Ma Yunjiu on horseback nearby.

Drawing near, Zheng Daqiu cautiously asked, “Ma Leader, do you think we can set off now?”

“Let’s go!” Ma Yunjiu spurred his horse and led the way.

Zheng Daqiu then turned back to his troops and shouted, “Move out.”

...

Five miles from Zheng Village, seeing no pursuit, Liu Heng breathed a sigh of relief. With so much grain gathered, not only was the rear camp leader position secure, but even if he left with a group to go independent, he had no worries.

“With this much grain, we’ll never starve again,” Yang Yuan said excitedly.

“Look at your small ambition,” Li Shuheng teased. “With this haul, Liu Heng, your position as rear camp leader is guaranteed. No one can find a reason to deny you.”

“It won’t be that easy. Shi Yunhu won’t let me become rear camp leader so readily,” Liu Heng was not so optimistic. Shi Yunhu would not give up command of an entire battalion lightly.

Yang Yuan shouted, “If they don’t make you rear camp leader, Liu Heng, we’ll just break off with our own group. With this much grain, who wouldn’t want to join us?”

Liu Heng shook his head slightly. “It’s not that simple. Shi Yunhu will definitely be tempted by all this grain. If it comes to a fight, we’re no match for him. Don’t forget, he still has a cavalry unit, and Wu the Blind’s men won’t let us take the grain easily.”

Li Shuheng nodded in agreement. “Liu Heng’s right. Let’s avoid clashing with Shi Yunhu for now. Luckily, Wu the Blind and Zhou the Black-Faced are still holding Shi Yunhu back with their left and right battalions. He won’t attack us just yet. We should seize this chance to secure the rear camp leader position and strengthen our own forces.”

As they spoke, Chen Xunping hurried over from the front of the grain convoy.