Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside Chapter 1456: The Ruthless Southern People

The bandits deeply regretted their actions; had they known they would have their tendons severed, they would have fought to the death against the one named Qin.

But Qin was so terrifying, and it was just the four of them. They figured that fighting would mean certain death anyway.

The bandits of Hundred Wolves Mountain suffered great losses this time. By the time Qin San Lang rode back, the remaining bandits and Ding Family People were either killed or escaped. Ding Changsheng was also captured, leaving only over a hundred soldiers from Qianyang County.

These soldiers were in a standoff with Niu Dabao and his men. Seeing Qin San Lang return, knowing he was the leader of several Military Offices, they hastily knelt and pleaded, "Company Commander Qin, we know we were wrong. We were also bewitched by the Ding Family. Please pretend you didn’t see this and spare us this time."

Chen Zongqi also said, "Company Commander Qin, the Northwest lacks soldiers now. Please turn a blind eye and let us brothers follow you to the Northwest to fight the Rong people and make meritorious achievements. How about it?"

Pretend you didn’t see this? Make meritorious achievements?

Ha, to say such shameless words means they are beyond saving.

Qin San Lang sat on his horse, overlooking them, and offered them two paths: "Do you want to die now, or wait for the Ministry of War’s verdict and then die? Choose one."

The soldiers of Qianyang County were shocked.

Chen Zongqi protested, "Company Commander Qin, didn’t you say that those who surrender would not be killed? We not only surrendered but also helped kill the Ding Family People, which counts as making amends."

Qin San Lang’s face darkened. He stared at Chen Zongqi, "I stand by every word I said. But your crime implicates your entire clan. Making amends can only help spare your family from punishment. If you want to survive and continue to follow us to the Northwest, that’s just dreaming."

After saying that, he looked at Hong Dao, "Tie up Chen Shi, cripple him."

"Yes!" Hong Dao immediately stepped forward and struck Chen Zongqi’s hamstring with a knife, making him kneel and scream, "I don’t accept this! I obviously already turned over a new leaf, Qin you...mmph mmph mmph!"

Before Chen Zongqi could finish speaking, Hong Dao gagged him with a rag, preventing him from saying anything inciting.

Qin San Lang’s eyes were cold and murderous as he swept his gaze over the soldiers of Qianyang County, warning, "Wrong is wrong, and there must be punishment. Anyone who dares to resist will be killed!"

Those who do not wish to die should submit obediently.

The soldiers of Qianyang County feared Qin San Lang. Seeing that Ding Ge had been killed by him and Chen Zongqi had been tied up, they didn’t dare make a sound, dropping their weapons and kneeling to be bound quietly.

"Oh, Company Commander Qin, I knew you were capable from the start, and indeed you’re very impressive. If it weren’t for you this time, we might have died in the Ding Family’s conspiracy!" Company Commander Liu said happily, pleased with his team’s choice, as they not only avoided death but also managed to gain credit, likely even earning a promotion.

Other Company Commanders from the Prefecture also praised Qin San Lang.

Qin San Lang raised his hand to interrupt them, saying, "Comrades, you speak too highly. Now’s not the time for this; we must quickly split into two groups to support Vice General Fang and Vice General Xue. Both are still trapped by bandits and Ding Family People."

Ding Ge originally just wanted to swallow the soldiers from several Military Offices in He’an Prefecture, but Elder Ding was vicious and wanted to swallow most of the accompanying Kangrong army, so he didn’t spare Vice General Fang and Vice General Xue.

If the two vice generals died, the accompanying army would be leaderless, and Ding Ge could take over. The Ding Family could use their connections, and once Ding Ge reached the Northwest and earned a bit of merit, he could be promoted to Vice General or Troop Commander.

After all, the Northwest lacked soldiers, and after Duke Wei’s fall, the Northwest Army was in chaos. Sometimes, as long as you had enough soldiers, you’d be given a higher rank.

"Yes, yes, Company Commander Qin is right. We must quickly rescue the two vice generals." The other Company Commanders immediately agreed.

Qin San Lang, without exchanging pleasantries, directly arranged for Xie Cheng to lead the soldiers from other Prefectures to rescue Vice General Xue, while he went to rescue Vice General Fang.

Some Company Commanders from other Prefectures were dissatisfied, but Qin San Lang was too formidable tonight, having repelled the bandits, subdued the Ding Family, and quelled the rebellion of Qianyang County soldiers. They dared not oppose him, accepting his arrangements, and started to move separately to carry out the rescues.

...

Vice General Fang had many soldiers from Yongtai Prefecture with him, but the bandits were fierce, and he had to spare manpower to protect the families of the soldiers. He was already at his wit’s end.

Just when he thought he was going to die, Qin San Lang arrived with a large contingent of soldiers, a mighty force seemingly numbering in the hundreds.

The military flag of He’an Prefecture was held high, and Zhang Zhong, who was holding the flag, shouted, "Ding Ge, the traitor is dead. The Second and Fifth Village Chiefs of Hundred Wolves Mountain have been killed, and most of the bandits they led have been executed. The rest of the bandits should surrender quickly!"

Upon hearing this, the bandits, who were merrily fighting, were stunned, as the Seventh and Eighth Village Chiefs looked around and realized a large number of bandits were missing.

The Seventh Village Chief cursed, "Damn it, it looks like our second brother and the others are really finished. Old Eight, let’s retreat quickly; let’s go find the boss first."

The Eighth Village Chief, seeing the imposing force of soldiers coming, also panicked and nodded repeatedly, "Seventh brother is right, let’s retreat, quickly!"

The two called their men and fled towards the county, hoping to avoid Qin San Lang’s large army and take a detour back to the mountain.

"The reinforcements are here! Quickly stop the bandits and don’t let them escape!" Vice General Fang shouted, unwilling to let these bandits go, as half of his soldiers had died at their hands, and he had to avenge them.

But his soldiers were either dead, poisoned unconscious, or had fled; barely any were left, and they couldn’t stop the Seventh Village Chief and his men.

But the Seventh Village Chief and his men could not escape, as You An led his men and intercepted them. After a brief stalemate with the Seventh Village Chief’s men, Qin San Lang arrived with a large battalion of soldiers.

The Seventh Village Chief, Eighth Village Chief, and over two hundred bandits under their command were all killed, with rivers of blood flowing not far from the gates of Hundred Wolves County. The guards hiding in the buildings on the city wall were terrified upon hearing this.

Oh God, how are these Southern people so fierce, slaughtering all the bandits of Hundred Wolves Mountain?

"Chief, it looks like the soldiers from the South have won. They’re so brutal—since we didn’t help them earlier, do you think they’ll come after us?" A small soldier asked fearfully, probing his small Section Leader.

The small Section Leader guarding the city gate was also scared. How could I have known the Southern people would be so ruthless? If I’d known, I would’ve opened the gates to let them in earlier.

But: "We didn’t open the gates because we were afraid that bandits would storm in and loot the city. We didn’t do it on purpose; we’re innocent too... I heard there are many scholars in the South. Those scholars are all reasonable; we’ll explain things to them later, and it should be fine."

The small soldier felt dubious, "Chief, seeing how they slaughter people like bandits, are they really the kind who are reasonable?"

Smack! The small soldier got hit by the small Section Leader, who cursed, "Damn brat, can’t you speak properly? Are you just trying to piss me off?"

But what the small soldier said made sense.

The small Section Leader thought for a bit and said, "Watch the gate; I’ll go to the county government to request an audience with Lord County Magistrate and ask what we should do. He’s the County Magistrate; he makes the rules, so we shouldn’t take the blame."