Chief Armaments Master of the Ming Dynasty

Lin Fan nodded, without explaining further: "Just a little self-defense trick, nothing more than to scare people."

The man looked him up and down a few more times. Seeing that although he looked disheveled, his eyes were clear and his demeanor was not like that of an ordinary vagrant or bandit, the guard on his face relaxed slightly.

"Thank you for your help! If it weren't for you, we would probably be in grave danger today."

He cupped his hands in greeting. "My name is Han Jinhu. I was originally a blacksmith from Yanchang County. Unable to make a living, I led my fellow villagers northwards in search of a way to survive. May I ask your name, brother? And where are you from?"

"Lin Fan fled from the south," Lin Fan said vaguely, without mentioning the post station or Li Zicheng.

"Brother Lin, you've got some skills!" Han Jinhu praised, then his face showed worry. "This world is truly unbearable. Officials aren't officials, soldiers aren't soldiers, and bandits aren't bandits. Those guys just now were probably deserters from some garrison, even more ruthless than bandits."

He glanced at Lin Fan's meager belongings and weary expression, and then said:

"Brother Lin, where are you headed? If it's on the same route, why not travel together? It'll be safer to look after each other. We don't have much to eat, but it's always safer with more people."

Lin Fan pondered for a moment.

He needed food and information, and it was indeed dangerous for him to be alone in these increasingly chaotic deep mountains.

This group of people looked like genuine refugees, and Han Jinhu seemed like an honest and straightforward man.

Joining them might be a good option.

"I was just thinking of going north to see where I can settle down and make a living," Lin Fan said.

"That's perfect!" Han Jinhu's face lit up with joy. "Let's head north too! I've heard that in the mountains to the north, there are men led by 'General Chuang' and 'Eighth King,' who specialize in opposing the government and local tyrants and taking in desperate people! Let's go and join them!"

A daring intruder! Just as expected. Lin Fan's heart stirred.

It seems that Li Zicheng's name has already spread among these struggling common people.

"Brother Han, do you know where 'General' is?" Lin Fan asked.

Han Jinhu shook his head: "I don't know the exact location, I've only heard it's somewhere in the mountains to the north, and they're elusive. But you can always find out about it on the way. Brother Lin, are you also thinking of joining the army?"

"Let's go take a look." Lin Fan said noncommittally.

At that moment, Lin Fan led his chestnut horse down the slope and joined Han Jinhu and his group.

Aside from women and children, there were only six able-bodied men in the convoy, including Han Jinhu. Two of them were injured in the previous battle.

They were both curious and grateful to Lin Fan, this young man who suddenly appeared and scared away the fleeing soldiers with his "strange methods," and shared some precious fried noodles and water with him.

Lin Fan heard more news from the outside world from them.

The people of Yanchang County had long been living in misery, burdened by exorbitant taxes and levies. This year's severe drought had resulted in a complete crop failure, empty granaries, and wealthy households staying at home.

Han Jinhu was a well-known craftsman in the county town, but he was forced to flee north because he was in arrears with the "craftsman's wages" and his family was ruined.

They had also heard about the Yinchuan Post Station Incident and knew that Li Zicheng had killed officials and started an uprising, but they didn't know the details. They just thought he was another post station worker who had been forced to rebel, no different from other "heroes" who rose up in rebellion.

After a short rest and treatment of the wounded, the team continued northward.

With Lin Fan's addition, especially his "unconventional methods" and calm observation skills, the exhausted team felt more secure.

However, the journey north became increasingly difficult.

Food shortages remain the biggest threat.

Lin Fan tried using lassos and traps, but with little success.

Han Jinhu and others sometimes had to dig up grass roots and peel tree bark to fill their stomachs.

Even more frightening was the illness; the two children began to have fevers and diarrhea, and their condition deteriorated rapidly due to a lack of medical care and medicine.

Lin Fan was at a loss.

His chemical knowledge couldn't conjure up antibiotics.

He could only suggest stricter boiling of drinking water and pointed out several wild herbs he knew that might have heat-clearing and detoxifying effects, but the effect was minimal.

Just when the group was in despair, they encountered another group of people at a mountain pass.

This group was larger, numbering about five or six hundred, mostly young and strong. Although they were also dressed in rags, their spirits were noticeably different, and the weapons they carried were more uniform, mostly spears and swords and shields.

They seemed to have just been in a battle; some were wounded, but their morale was high.

In the middle of the procession, a dirty flag, its original color still faintly discernible, was being carried, bearing the character "王" (King).

It's not a flag with the word "闯" (chuǎng, meaning "break through" or "venture").

"He's one of King Wang Jiayin's men!" Han Jinhu said in a low voice, his tone filled with awe and a hint of excitement.

Wang Jiayin?

Lin Fan quickly recalled.

He was one of the important early leaders of the peasant army in northern Shaanxi at the end of the Ming Dynasty. Historically, Gao Yingxiang, Li Zicheng, and others served under him.

It seems that before I could find Li Zicheng directly, I encountered another, even larger, peasant army.

This group also discovered Han Jinhu's small group of refugees.

Several mounted scouts galloped over, their attitude not friendly, but they did not immediately resort to violence.

The leader of the gang questioned Han Jinhu about his background and whereabouts.

"We are refugees who have been fleeing for a long time. We can't survive anymore and want to seek refuge with the 'General' to find a way to live!" Han Jinhu replied respectfully.

"A 'rebel general'?" The petty leader scoffed. "Li Zicheng's small force is still stuck in the mountains! Following our King Wang is the right path! King Wang is benevolent, he targets the local tyrants, and he distributes grain from his granaries! You guys seem to have some strength, why not join us? We'll have food to eat and weapons to fight!"

Han Jinhu and the others looked at each other, some tempted, some fearful.

Joining the army meant truly taking up arms and fighting against the government.

Lin Fan stood at the back of the crowd, silently observing the peasant army under the banner of "King".

They had a distinctly rough and unruly air about them; their discipline seemed better than that of deserters, but it was far from being strict.

The "benevolence and righteousness" and "distribution of grain" they spoke of were undoubtedly a huge temptation in a chaotic world.

The leader's gaze swept across the crowd, then suddenly landed on Lin Fan, or more precisely, on the standard-issue knife at his waist, and his eyes sharpened instantly.

"You!" He pointed his riding crop at Lin Fan. "Where did you get that knife? Judging from your appearance, you don't look like an ordinary vagrant!"

All eyes immediately turned to Lin Fan.

Lin Fan felt a chill run down his spine, knowing that trouble was brewing.

His grip on the knife hilt tightened, but he tried to remain calm on the surface. His mind raced, considering how to respond to this sudden interrogation, and...

Should we take this opportunity to truly step into this surging tide of peasant armies?

……

The tip of the whip, smelling of dust, was pointed directly at Lin Fan's face.

The leader's eyes were like those of a hawk, fixed on the knife at Lin Fan's waist, then swept over his ragged but not completely hunched figure, and the composure he was trying so hard to maintain that was out of character for his age.