Eternal Immortal Dynasty: Starting as a Petty Official

Chapter 207 Night Raid by Thieves, Battle Against Foundation Establishment (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

The night was deep, the bright moon hung high, and the cold wind was biting.

Gao Jun had already left, leaving only Zhao Xian sitting alone in the carriage, lost in thought.

County Magistrate Gao Su resigned and returned to his sect for seclusion.

The cultivator who succeeds him as county magistrate is definitely not a member of the Gao family.

This was something Gao Jun secretly revealed to Zhao Xian, and his words were quite sincere.

However, there are several hundred core disciples in the Jade Liquid stage within the Yunlan Sect who are qualified to succeed Gao Su.

The county magistrate is known as the Marquis of a Hundred Miles, a highly coveted position!

The appointment of county magistrates and prefects in Qingzhou, which consist of seven prefectures and sixty-five counties, has always been controlled by a group of Golden Core cultivators. Without a powerful background, how could they possibly become the Marquis of a Hundred Miles?

Gao Su was able to sit in the position of magistrate of Rongtai County not because of the Gao family of Cangjun behind him!

Gao Su's master, Master Yuhe, put in a lot of effort.

Yuhe Zhenren was a direct disciple of Danghai Dazhenren of Yunlan Sect.

The term "True Person" is an honorific title for cultivators who have survived the Yin Wind Tribulation and refined the Golden Core.

Nowadays, Golden Core cultivators are extremely rare, while Core Formation cultivators, although they have not yet refined a Golden Core, have embarked on the path of Core Formation and are associated with the word "Core," so they are naturally respected as True Persons by a group of lower-level cultivators.

However, it is somewhat inappropriate to refer to both the Condensed Elixir and the Golden Elixir as True Persons.

Later, a clever junior cultivator suggested respectfully addressing Golden Core cultivators as Great True Person or Grandmaster!

Subsequently, this title gradually spread throughout the cultivation community.

As a result, an unspoken rule that has never been made public has emerged.

That means if you want to establish your own sect, you must refine the Golden Core; otherwise, no one will recognize your sect!

In short, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the core disciple who will succeed Gao Su as magistrate will undoubtedly be a core disciple of the lineage of the Great Master Danghai.

Therefore, Gao Jun also advised Zhao Xian not to worry too much.

After all, they are from the same lineage, and the new magistrate will not exterminate Zhao Xian and other former officials of the dynasty!

At most, we'll just abandon it and stop using it!

As long as you don't act too ostentatiously, the new magistrate will naturally not make an example of you!

"Acting ostentatiously~"

Muttering something under his breath, Zhao Xian looked back at the densely packed Daoist people in the camp and couldn't help but smile bitterly.

In recent years, I have been acting far too flamboyantly!

No wonder the county magistrate used Gao Jun's words to secretly warn himself.

Just as Gao Jun said, the county magistrate is truly a kind and virtuous man!

I've heard that the county magistrate is an excellent swordsman and quite famous within the Yunlan Sect. Perhaps he'll earn the title of "Gentleman Swordsman" someday!

Upon thinking of this, Zhao Xian couldn't help but smile slightly.

Silent all night.

The next morning, the group of Taoists began packing up their campsite in preparation for their departure.

Faced with Zhao Xian's extremely strict camp regulations, the Daoist people have been secretly harboring resentment for the past seven or eight days!

It even reached Zhao Xian's ears.

But none of this could shake Zhao Xian's rules; setting up camp every day had to be done meticulously.

If anyone disobeys or complains, Liu Ping's soldiers are not known for their good temper!

Even after being beaten, they still had to continue pushing their wheelbarrows during the day!

After finishing their meal and extinguishing the fire, a long procession of horse-drawn carriages slowly moved forward.

The procession stretched for more than ten miles, like a long dragon, moving along the official road, truly raising clouds of dust.

With so much smoke and dust, it would be wishful thinking to try to cover up the momentum!

Not long after the main force had left, several agile figures appeared on the ruins of the camp.

"Inspect the kitchen!" The leader looked around and immediately shouted in a stern voice.

"Here you go!"

Upon hearing this, the other four people each cupped their hands in response.

They immediately scattered in all directions.

Checking the stoves was a common method used by scouts in the army, and these men were agile and quick, clearly having mastered the art of physical training, so they must be scouts in the army.

Moreover, the personnel arrangements for the grain transport teams from Rongtai, Ronghuai, and Rongguang counties had already been communicated to the Xiao County Prefectural Government.

The scout who could come here to investigate the number of people in the grain transport team could only be Huang Tiandao.

Although Zhao Xian ordered the villagers to fill in the hearth holes, the difference between the new and old soil was so great that even these well-trained scouts could not hide it.

Even ordinary Taoists could see it.

"Squad leader, the number of stoves is approximately five hundred and fifty!"

After a while, the four gathered together, and one of them cupped his hands and shouted.

"Ten men per fire, this grain transport team must number at least five thousand five hundred!" The leading scout muttered to himself upon hearing this, "It seems the intelligence we received earlier isn't far off!"

"Go! Return to camp immediately and report to Sima!"

In the blink of an eye, the five people had darted into the forest and disappeared.

During the march, they ate only two meals a day.

After breakfast, we set off and set up camp before having dinner.

If the war is urgent, a midday meal is naturally required. However, this midday meal is not cooked porridge or rice, but rather dry rations prepared in advance. The soldiers eat the warm water from their water bags to stave off hunger.

As the sun set, the camp was ready, and the villagers gathered around the campfire to wait for their meal. Meanwhile, Zhao Xian and his officials were still inspecting the camp, checking for any omissions or deficiencies.

Even if a general doesn't share the joys and sorrows with his soldiers, he is still busier and works harder than them!

"Sir, an official from Xiao County is requesting an audience outside the camp!"

"The county official of Xiao County?" Zhao Xian hesitated for a moment, but his feet moved quickly and he was already walking towards the camp gate.

Several attendants followed closely behind.

Before long, Zhao Xian and his party arrived at the camp gate, where they saw several knights sitting on their horses, gazing at the camp in front of them.

"I am Zhao Xian!"

Zhao Xian did not leave the camp gate, but stood inside the gate and shouted loudly.

"We have come to pay our respects to Lord Zhao!" The knights, without dismounting, bowed from their horses and continued, "Lord Zhao, the grain transport convoy from Rongguang County was attacked last night. The bandits raided the camp, burned the grain supplies, and caused the deaths and injuries of over a thousand militiamen!"

"The transported military rations also suffered heavy losses!"

"The news has reached the prefecture, and the prefect has specially dispatched us to deliver it!"

"Lord Zhao, the prefect has dispatched his cavalry to patrol the prefecture and suppress the bandits!"

"Please be on high alert tonight, Mr. Zhao!"

After saying that, the knights turned their horses around and galloped away!

"Bah!" Zhu Ji, standing behind him, spat and cursed at the departing knight, "A mere brat, so arrogant! How dare he!"

Such disrespect to the military commander!

Upon hearing the news, Zhao Cheng, Zhao Ji, and the others arrived at the scene, their faces grim.

Zhao Xian is the leader of the people; to insult him is to insult Zhao Cheng and the others!

"It's alright! These are all trusted confidants of the prefect; perhaps they have other important matters to attend to!" Zhao Xian waved his hand dismissively and laughed, "The fact that they came in person to deliver the message is already a great help to us!"

After reassuring everyone, Zhao Xian turned and walked towards the center of the camp.

After entering the military tent, Zhao Xian had already understood the inside story of the bandits' night raid on the grain transport team in Rongguang County based on just a few words from the knights he had just heard.

"The bandits' strategy is nothing more than to incite unrest within the camp and cause the local militia to flee in panic!"

"Do you have any countermeasures?"

Looking around at the military officers in the tent, Zhao Xian asked with a smile.

However, his words also carried a hint of testing!

"Even the most well-trained soldiers are highly likely to be attacked by bandits in the dead of night, and a mutiny could easily break out in their camp!"

'

After a few moments of silence, Xu Dekun, as one of the highest-ranking officials in the tent and a close friend of Zhao Xian, naturally...

He spoke first.

"Sir, last year when we led our troops to Ronghuai County to quell bandits, we were also attacked at night!" Xu Dejing continued after Xu Dekun, "In just one night, more than 30% of our soldiers were killed or wounded!"

"With these thousands of militiamen gathered in the camp, if bandits were to launch a night attack, the casualties would likely be heavy!"

"Mr. He, what is your opinion?" Zhao Xian asked with a smile, looking at the middle-aged official behind Xu Dekun.

This man was none other than He Can, the Southern Border Guard, a veteran official who had served in the position for five or six years.

"The military commander uses military law to restrain the local militia, and employs local officials as military officers at all levels. In my opinion, even if bandits attack, there will not be a major uprising!"

He Can and Zhao Xian had only met a few times, so he was naturally very cautious in his words at this moment.

"Zhu Jun, Liu Jun, where are you two?"

Zhao Xian then looked at Zhu Shen, the head of Pinghe Township, and Liu Cai, the western patrolman, who were standing behind He Can.

"We have no other choice!"

After pondering for a moment, the two replied with a wry smile and clasped their hands in response.

"You shall all return to your units and summon officers of the rank of squad leader and above, and inform them of the attack on the grain transport convoy in Rongguang County!"

"To be frank: The able-bodied men transporting grain in Rongguang County were attacked by bandits at night, and most of them were killed or wounded. The rest were captured by the bandits and enslaved!"

"If you don't want to be captured by bandits, from this day forward, strictly abide by military regulations and do not wander around after nightfall!"

"Furthermore, after nightfall, the squad leader would use straw ropes to chain the legs of his men!"

"This~" Upon hearing this, everyone in the tent showed a hint of hesitation.

"They are not bandits; if we restrain them, we risk encountering resistance from the local militia!"

After a few moments of hesitation, Xu Dekun said with a rather helpless expression.

"Each Taoist who voluntarily inflicts bondage will receive three catties of millet and two coins of talisman money each night!"

"Wouldn't that cost over 20,000 talismans just for this one night?!" Liu Ping exclaimed in surprise.

"The millet will be distributed tonight, and the money will be distributed upon our return to Rongtai County!" Zhao Xian, unfazed by Liu Ping's exclamation, continued, "It's already quite an achievement that we've managed to return to Ronghuai County alive; why be so concerned about these material possessions!"

"Furthermore, from today onwards, military officers of all ranks will be divided into two shifts for night duty!"

"Go back and give your explanations!"

Upon hearing this, everyone bowed respectfully and then walked out of the military tent in turn.

"Zhao Cheng, Zhao Ji, tonight you two will move the torches erected outside the camp fifty paces further out, to a total of one hundred and fifty paces!"

"I will obey your command, General!"

The two of them bowed and accepted the order.

Night had fallen, but Zhao Xian remained seated cross-legged on the outermost carriage, meditating peacefully.

Especially in such critical moments, Zhao Xian repeatedly reminded himself that he needed to stay calm in the face of important matters!

As the commander-in-chief, the lives and fortunes of thousands of people are in his hands, and every move he makes must be carefully considered!

When traveling far, stability is key, not haste!

As dawn broke, the eastern sky began to lighten, revealing a pale, fish-belly white glow.

Inside the camp, a commotion gradually arose.

"Aji, inform all officers to perform their duties as ordered, and not to cause chaos in the rush!"

"I need to take a short rest!"

"I will obey your command, General!"

Zhu Ji readily accepted the order, while Zhao Xian, leaning against the rice bag behind him, gradually fell into a deep sleep.

Nothing happened last night, but Zhao Xian and his group were still thirteen or fourteen days away from Xiao County, the capital of Xiao Prefecture.

Meanwhile, the grain transport teams from Ronghuai County were also preparing to set off.

County Commandant Chen Sheng sat atop his magnificent steed, watching his officers and militiamen busily at work.

"Zhou Yan, where has the Rongtai County contingent arrived?" Chen Sheng suddenly asked.

"Reporting back to the county magistrate, according to our estimation, the grain transport team from Rongtai County entered Xiao County two days ago and is currently still within the territory of Xiaoren County!"

"It's at least a seven-day journey for us!"

Upon hearing the inquiry, Cao Zhouyan, a bandit from Ronghuai County, immediately replied without hesitation.

"In that case, order the camp to set up camp today and not to move on further. We will wait for the troops from Rongtai County to join us!"

After a few breaths of silence, Chen Sheng spoke in a deep voice.

"I will obey the county magistrate's orders!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan was somewhat surprised, but he immediately bowed and accepted the order!

"You burned most of the military rations being transported from Rongguang County, yet you've set your sights on my Ronghuai County. I'd like to see if you dare launch a night raid!"

With a cold smile on his face, Chen Sheng slowly turned his head and looked towards the mountain forest on one side.

The second night after entering Xiao County was peaceful.

But on the third and fourth nights, nothing unusual happened.

The resistance of the local militia to being bound with straw ropes at night gradually diminished after seeing the millet in the hands of some of them.

It's just a little inconvenient after falling asleep, but that's nothing compared to the millet I received.

Three pounds of millet, if eaten sparingly, is enough to feed a family of four for three to five days.

If we had more, when the harvest season comes next year, our family wouldn't need to borrow from wealthy families!

I don't want to touch that cannibalistic high-interest money again!

By the fifth night, everyone was voluntarily stretching out their legs so that the squad leader could properly tie them with straw rope.

You're asking how to urinate and defecate? A living person can't just die from holding in their poop and pee, can they?

The moon hangs high in the sky, casting its clear light.

A group of bandits emerged from the surrounding mountains and forests without any attempt to conceal themselves, formed a battle formation, and charged towards the camp.

Why is it described as completely undisguised?

A bonfire was burning brightly a hundred paces away, illuminating an area of ​​several miles around, so there was no need to hide.

Inside a military tent in the center of the camp, a burly figure suddenly opened his eyes wide in anger!

"Bandits launch a night attack!"

The burly figure had already stood up, and then took a step that spanned several feet, stepping out of the military tent.

A loud shout, like a thunderclap, echoed through the tranquil countryside.

Countless militiamen who were sleeping were suddenly awakened, their faces filled with panic. They looked left and right, but could only hear their own squad leader's angry curses!

"Everyone, lie down properly!"

"Even if I die before you, I'll lead the way!"

The veterans stationed in each squad were now gripping their ring-pommel swords, their sharp eyes scanning their squad's campfire.

"Anyone who dares to disobey orders and stand still without permission will be killed!"

The squad leaders, garrison commanders, and military officers of each unit also inspected their respective troops, their faces filled with murderous intent!

Zhao Xian had already stated beforehand that killing a few Daoist civilians along the way was not a big deal!

Meanwhile, Zhao Xian's own soldiers appeared behind the carts, spears in hand, watching the bandits striding towards them from afar.

"bass!"

A sharp sound rang out, and everyone looked in the direction of the sound to see a burly figure slowly lowering the thick warbow in his hand and grinning.

"Friends who have come from afar, without even a greeting, are you ready to bully the weak? Do you really think you're some lowly bandits and outlaws?"

Gao Jun looked up at the sky and laughed loudly.

"Fellow Daoist's archery skills, so skillful as to pierce through clouds and chase the moon, are truly breathtaking!"

"I wonder if you are from the Archery Battalion of the State Army?"

A figure appeared out of thin air a hundred paces from the camp, riding a flying sword, the cold wind howling, his clothes fluttering, like a god descending to earth.

general.

This scene left many of the militiamen in the camp speechless!

Ordinary people in the countryside usually only interact with village heads and local officials.

Where else could one possibly have the chance to meet a Foundation Establishment cultivator who is said to be able to fly and disappear into the earth?

There are more than ten Foundation Establishment cultivators in the county. Most of them cultivate in seclusion within their clans and never show their faces in public!

"The Shooting Sound Camp? Fellow Daoist, you flatter me. I would like to join, but unfortunately, I am not qualified!"

Upon hearing this, Gao Jun immediately responded with a smile, and in just a few breaths, he had already walked from the center of the camp to Zhao Xian's side!

Whether he can win tonight does not depend on him, a martial artist with innate talent, but on the young official beside him!

"Shieldbearers in front, spearmen in the rear, archers, prepare!"

Zhao Xian ignored the Foundation Establishment cultivator above him, his eyes fixed on the attacking bandits opposite him!

There must be at least a thousand people covering the entire mountainside!

This group of bandits was not the rabble they had encountered before. Just by looking at the shield bearers at the front, it was clear that they were soldiers who had undergone some training!

Of course, this was only after a period of training, since the gaps between the shields were big enough to fit half a body!

At his command, the soldiers under his command lined up in their respective ranks.

In just over ten breaths, the ranks were complete, a sight that truly surprised the Foundation Establishment cultivator above.

"This Zhao Xian is indeed as the intelligence reports described; he's skilled at training troops!"

"What a pity, such a talented person has ended up in the arms of the Yunlan Sect!"

Upon thinking of this, the Foundation Establishment cultivator's eyes revealed a hint of killing intent!

The forest was several hundred paces from the camp. The bandits strode over and initially managed to form a line, but by the time they reached the campfire about 150 paces away, some of them had fallen behind!

Sparse and indistinct, it's already beyond recognition!

Upon seeing this, Zhao Cheng, Zhao Ji, and the others also revealed a contemptuous smile.

A thief is a thief, and he can never become a soldier!

"The mulberry wood bow has a range of seventy paces, and it still has killing power at fifty or sixty paces. However, if you want to shoot it straight through a wooden shield, it would have to be within thirty paces to have even a slight chance!"

"The only way to penetrate a wooden shield or armor at fifty paces is by projectile attack!"

"As for the iron-rimmed bow, its range is over a hundred paces, and its power is so great that it can pierce through iron-clad wooden shields even at a distance of fifty or sixty paces!"

Zhao Xian spoke slowly, his voice drifting across the ranks on the biting cold wind, while a sharp arrow was already nocked on the thunder-patterned golden bow in his hand.

This war bow is a low-grade weapon. In Zhao Xian's hands, it can pierce through wooden shields and leather armor from eighty paces away, making it a deadly weapon.

At this point, it's almost time!

"!"

An arrow shot out like lightning!

"Bang!"

A shield-wielding bandit in the distance fell to the ground with a thud!

The arrow pierced the wooden shield, its immense force pinning it to the ground, though the fletching still trembled violently!

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

Arrows whistled out, and although a few of them were blocked by several first-rate martial artists, the rest of the arrows did not miss.

In the blink of an eye, more than a dozen thugs wielding shields fell to the ground and died!

"Ready!"

Seeing that the bandits had approached within about sixty paces, Zhang Gong slowly raised his left arm, then suddenly swung it downwards and shouted.

"shoot!"

In the blink of an eye, a hundred or so arrows shot out.

Zhao Xian had a squad of archers and over a hundred cavalrymen, enough to form three squads of archers!

Even though their archery skills are weak, they can still reach fifty or sixty paces.

"Bang bang bang!"

Arrows rained down, striking the wooden shield with a clanging sound.

Occasionally, an arrow would pierce through the wooden shield, bringing down the bandits hiding behind it!

The bandits also had archers, but compared to the archers under Zhao Xianmo, the archers used rather ordinary bows and arrows, mostly made of mulberry wood.

Arrowheads were mostly made of bone fragments and rusted arrowheads, which were really inferior to the arrows of Zhao Xianmo's archers.

Moreover, with sturdy carts blocking the way ahead, hitting the soldiers behind them would be an impossible task.

"Pfft! Pfft!"

As the bandits drew closer, the arrows they hurled became increasingly lethal!

They couldn't muster two rows of shield bearers; behind the first row of shield bearers were the archers who were already prepared!

Only by launching the projectile close to the chariot can one possibly bypass it and kill the soldiers behind it!

However, those extra twenty or thirty steps had now become their killing line.

"Gao Jun, can the archers of the state army withstand such a dense rain of arrows, disregard casualties, and advance dozens of paces?"

"How could that be!" Upon hearing Zhao Xian's question, Gao Jun shook his head and said with a solemn expression, "Generally speaking, well-trained soldiers can be called elite troops!"

Having survived several battles, he naturally became a fierce soldier!

"For an army, if more than 10% of its soldiers are killed or wounded in a major battle, but the soldiers still have the strength to fight, then it can be called a strong army!"

"These bandits before us can't even maintain their ranks; how can they be called a strong army!"

Before he finished speaking, a series of wails and cries of agony rose from among the bandits.

Hundreds of bandits had already dropped their bows and arrows, turned around, and ran wildly into the mountains and forests on both sides!

At this time, the bandit group had closed in by about thirty or forty paces.

"Archers, retreat!"

Upon seeing this, Zhang Gong immediately shouted in a stern voice.

Upon hearing this, the three teams of archers retreated under the command of their respective squad leaders and sergeants.

Zhao Cheng, Zhao Ji, and others were already close by and preparing!

In the entire camp, only Zhao Xian was still shooting arrows.

Even with his eyes closed, Zhao Xian could hit the target from a distance of thirty or forty paces!

Even a martial arts practitioner who was clearly a military officer was shot three times by Zhao Xian, his iron armor pierced and his body pinned to the ground!

"Zhang Gong, select a few archers who still have the strength to continue shooting down the bandits!"

Zhao Cheng peeked through the gap in the shield, then turned back and gave the order.

"Here you go!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Gong immediately began to select archers.

The remaining archers who were not called up retreated several dozen steps away and began to sit on the ground to rest.

"You've got some skills, kid!"

Seeing his officers and soldiers carrying out military orders in an orderly manner, Gao Jun said to Zhao Xian with great emotion.