Chapter Three: Escalation of Conflict

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Having arrived in this chaotic era, Liu Heng had resigned himself to his fate, only hoping to find a suitable opportunity to leave this bandit army and escape to Macau. Even if the Ming Dynasty were to fall under foreign rule in the future, he could preserve his own life. Moreover, with his knowledge of the historical trends of the next several centuries, he believed he might still carve out a meaningful career.

Yet now, being asked to become the commander of the rear camp was something he deeply resisted. No one living in this era understood the brutal decades ahead better than he did, followed by over two centuries of subjugation.

Familiar with the history of the late Ming period, he knew well that the bandits during the Wanli era had no future. Only under the Chongzhen reign would there be a brief moment of glory—so brief that before tasting victory, they would already become slaves to others.

Seeing Liu Heng silent for a long time, Li Shuheng said, “I don’t know what you’re worried about, but in these chaotic times, the stronger our power, the safer we are.”

Hearing this, Liu Heng was startled. He realized he had been thinking in the wrong direction.

He had only thought about escaping to Macau, forgetting that this was the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty—not centuries later when a plane ticket could get you there in hours. Now, traveling from northern Ming to Macau was fraught with countless hardships and far from easy.

In those days, even a simple cold or typhoid fever could claim a person's life.

Chen Xunping beside him said, “What’s there to hesitate? If you become the rear camp commander, we’ll have two camps under our control. Then, just like the left and right camps, even Shi Yunhu will have to respect us.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Liu Heng decided to temporarily set aside his unrealistic dream of Macau. It was better to be practical and strive for the position of rear camp commander. With that post as protection, at least he would be safe before the Ming army’s suppression.

Having made up his mind, he said, “Brother Shuheng, can you explain in detail how I should compete for the rear camp commander position?”

Seeing Liu Heng agree, Li Shuheng smiled and said, “Don’t worry. The competition between you and Zheng Daqiu is simple. The army is short on grain, so Shi Yunhu and several of us commanders have agreed that within ten days, whoever brings in more grain will become the leader of the rear camp.”

“When does it start?” Liu Heng asked. Since he intended to compete, he naturally wanted to understand everything clearly to plan accordingly.

Li Shuheng replied, “Tomorrow counts as day one.”

Liu Heng glanced at Li Shuheng, noticing the other’s evasive eyes. He immediately understood—Li Shuheng had probably already agreed to this competition in his name.

Liu Heng showed no displeasure at Li Shuheng’s unilateral decision. After all, this was a good thing. Anyone else would have accepted it first.

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Since he had decided to compete for the rear camp commander position, Liu Heng grew serious, thinking about how to procure grain—after all, grain wouldn’t fall from the sky by itself.

After some thought, he came up with an idea suitable for someone with little strength like him. He said, “Brother Shuheng, tomorrow you should send some scouts to investigate which village nearby is the wealthiest and which landlord is the harshest on his tenants.”

Li Shuheng answered, “That’s easy. I’ll send scouts tomorrow. But why bother investigating? Why not just raid a small village? With the bowmen we have, that should be enough.”

Liu Heng shook his head slightly and said, “Zheng Daqiu has the support of Shi Dagui’s central camp and can mobilize more troops than we can. Even if we raid a small village and get some grain, it won’t surpass Zheng Daqiu’s acquisition. We have to take risks and try to attack a large village.”

“No, absolutely not. That’s too dangerous,” Li Shuheng refused, shaking his head. “The defenses of large villages are far stronger than small ones. Have you forgotten the lesson from the attack on Wang family village?”

Of course, Liu Heng remembered. The battle at Wang family village was their bandit army’s first crushing defeat. They lost a camp commander that day, and because of that defeat, Shi Yunhu’s position as the chief was questioned. The camps began to show instability, with the left camp leader Wu the Blind and right camp leader Zhou the Black Face among the first to express dissatisfaction.

“Don’t worry, I have a plan.” After hesitation, Liu Heng shared his idea but told them it must be kept secret.

Li Shuheng pondered briefly, then said, “Let’s do it your way. Xunping and I will cooperate with you, but you must be careful. Remember, of the comrades who came out from the same fortress, only the three of us remain.”

Liu Heng nodded firmly.

After finishing their meal and settling their plans, Liu Heng decided to return to the rear camp overnight. Only back there could he gather support among the bandits.

In his plan, the bowmen alone were insufficient. The rear camp lacked a commander, which gave him the opportunity to win over several minor leaders and ordinary bandits within the camp.

Returning to the rear camp, Liu Heng and Yang Yuan passed by the rear camp commander’s tent. He noticed the tent’s curtain had been lifted and rolled up.

Seeing this, Liu Heng slowed his pace and finally stopped in front of the tent. Yang Yuan, caught off guard, nearly bumped into him.

“Head Liu, what’s wrong?” Yang Yuan asked, puzzled by Liu Heng’s sudden stop.

Liu Heng raised his hand, pointing at the tent. “We’ll sleep here tonight.”

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Yang Yuan’s face showed surprise. “This is the commander’s tent. We don’t have the right to stay here.”

“What’s there to fear?” Liu Heng’s lips curled into a slight smile. “The commander is dead, and I’m competing for that position. Staying here will show everyone that the rear camp commander’s tent is not just for Zheng Daqiu, but for me as well.”

There was one thing he did not explain to Yang Yuan. Previously, Liu Heng had been too honest and straightforward; most bandits in the rear camp looked down on him. Though yesterday he had beaten up the cook, Old Ma the Cripple, and clashed with Zheng Daqiu again, it was too soon to change their impression of him as merely a straightforward man. Staying in the commander’s tent was a further step to reshape his image among the others and to demonstrate his determination to seize the rear camp commander position.

The commander’s tent was far more comfortable than the usual sleeping places of ordinary bandits. Inside was a wooden bed with a fur blanket, unlike the others who could only sleep on dry straw.

Liu Heng pulled the blanket from the bed and tossed it to Yang Yuan, then lay directly on the wooden planks himself.

Gradually, both drifted into sleep.

After an unknown length of time, Liu Heng vaguely felt something kicking him. Lazily opening his eyes, he saw Zheng Daqiu staring coldly at him with a sneer.

Liu Heng suddenly sat up.

Outside, daylight had already broken.

“Haha, I was worried you’d run off to the bowmen camp before, but I didn’t expect you to have the nerve to stay here,” Zheng Daqiu sneered, drawing his knife and pointing its tip at Liu Heng.

Facing the gleaming blade, Liu Heng’s heart trembled, every hair standing on end. The last traces of sleep vanished instantly.

To say he wasn’t afraid would be a lie. Anyone just waking up to a blade pointed at them would break out in a cold sweat.