CHAPTER 60: CHAPTER 60: DESCENDING THE MOUNTAIN

Qin Zhan personally led the people to search for the tunnel and dig a secret room. With many hands, they managed to open the chamber in less than half a day.

The chamber wasn’t very large, about ten feet square, and inside were neatly stacked about a dozen wooden boxes. Upon opening them, the shimmer of silver and gold intertwined, dazzling the eyes.

Roughly estimated, there were at least a hundred thousand liang of silver and several thousand liang of gold in the chamber. Who knows how many wealthy households and merchants Zhu Yidao had robbed to accumulate such a fortune.

Now, it all belonged to the Commandery Princess.

Jiang Shaohua personally went down to the secret room for a look, feeling much more cheerful, and smiled at Song Yuan and the others: "We’ve gained quite a lot in this campaign against Black Pine Village."

"Pass on my command, for the soldiers who were wounded or killed this time, their pension silver will be doubled. For everyone else, reward them with half a year’s military pay. For Tao Da and Xiao Tian, who achieved the first merit, reward them with a year’s military pay."

"Commander Song, General Qin, and General Liu will also receive a year’s military pay."

The order was spread, and everyone was filled with joy.

Qin Zhan’s eyes gleamed, and he rubbed his hands together: "Commandery Princess, didn’t that old bandit say there’s another bandit camp in Li County? It’s not far from here, only about half a day’s journey. I’ll lead a team to take it down."

Jiang Shaohua gave Qin Zhan a sidelong glance with a smile: "Warfare is not a trivial matter. If by any chance he spoke recklessly or pointed us in the wrong direction, we’d lose people. The personal soldiers of the Personal Guard Camp are a hundred or thousand times more precious in my eyes than gold and silver."

"The Commandery Princess is right," Liu Hengchang chimed in. "It’s better to send someone to scout the path first, understand the bandit’s camp terrain and manpower, and then make a move."

Song Yuan said: "Currently, there’s something more pressing. The Commandery Princess has been in Li County for three days and hasn’t gone to the county government to hold County Magistrate Cai accountable."

Qin Zhan, not ashamed, grinned: "Old Qin here is a simple man, good only for fighting and killing. You decide on these brainy things. Anyway, when there’s a need for someone to charge into battle, I’ll be the first."

Jiang Shaohua smiled faintly.

Everyone has their strengths. Song Yuan always puts her will first, Liu Hengchang is genuinely talented as a general, and though Qin Zhan’s insight isn’t as broad, he is filled with fierce courage.

Meng Dashan, staying at the Personal Guard Camp, is also a fierce general.

Among the younger generation of personal soldiers, Qin Huma, Meng Sanbao are the leaders, and Tao Datiantian each have their strengths. The more talents like these, the better.

Yin Zhu came over holding a stack of papers: "These are the records made by Miss Kong, please take a look, Commandery Princess."

Jiang Shaohua responded and took the papers, quickly flipping through them.

"Miss Kong has such beautiful handwriting," Yin Zhu quietly praised, "compared to her, my writing looks like chicken scratch."

The script was elegant and graceful, indeed very well written. Furthermore, the writing was smooth, with a flair evident in the choice of words and sentences.

Despite coming from a scholarly family with such talents and looks, she ended up in a bandit’s camp, abandoned by her father and brothers. Kong Qingwan’s fate indeed is quite bitter.

After reading, Jiang Shaohua said to Yin Zhu: "All the gold and silver in the camp have been gradually moved down the mountain. This camp must be dismantled and burned down before nightfall. Go inform them to pack their belongings and descend the mountain. After reaching the military camp, arrange four tents for them."

"Also, once in the military camp, assign them tasks. Those who can cook should go to the kitchen, and those brave enough should be arranged to help in the Wounded Soldier Camp, assisting the military doctors. In short, don’t let them be idle."

Idle minds are prone to wander, and someone might even harm themselves. It’s better to keep them busy. When people are occupied, they have no time for sorrow.

Yin Zhu nodded and quickly went to convey the Commandery Princess’s orders.

...

As more than half a day passed, the women’s emotions had gradually stabilized, and upon hearing the orders, they returned to their rooms to pack their clothes.

Lin Huiniang returned to her room, packed a few clothes into a bundle, and left the room without a moment of hesitation. Shanxing, still not clear-headed, kept following behind Lin Huiniang.

Lin Huiniang looked on with heartache, gently caressed Shanxing’s head, and softly coaxed: "Shanxing, don’t be afraid. The Commandery Princess has rescued us. We’ll be going down the mountain with her now, and afterward, no one will dare bully us again."

Shanxing smiled foolishly, not knowing how much she understood.

Kong Qingwan also came out with a small bundle, stood beside Lin Huiniang, and looked around with a heart full of desolation.

Lin Huiniang glanced at Kong Qingwan and softly said: "Sister Qingwan, we are both unfortunate people. You were abandoned by your father and brothers, and I was despised by my husband. They all left us and ran away. The hardest days are already behind us. Do we still lack the courage to live on?"

"I know you are different from us. You are a lady from a distinguished family, educated and beautiful. The Commandery Princess saved us; our lives are hers now. Never consider such foolish things as taking your own life."

"It’s better to live miserably than to die well. Let’s all live well together."

Kong Qingwan’s eyes glistened with tears. After a moment of silence, she nodded vigorously.

After persuading Kong Qingwan, Lin Huiniang loudly called the women to line up. She had always been warm-hearted, and the women trusted her, quickly forming two lines.

Yin Zhu noticed and admired Lin Huiniang’s actions, saying to her: "From today on, you and Miss Kong will be the leaders. If there’s anything, I’ll assign it to you two, and you’ll arrange for them to do it."

Lin Huiniang immediately agreed, tugging at Kong Qingwan’s sleeve. Kong Qingwan came back to her senses and nodded as well.

Half an hour later, they left the camp and slowly descended the mountain.

After walking a distance, a loud noise sounded from behind them.

All the women jumped and turned around, seeing the gate of Black Pine Village being toppled. Then flames shot up into the sky, crackling continuously.

From today, Black Pine Village no longer exists in the world.

Kong Qingwan quietly watched the flames, feeling as if something in her heart was also being burned. After the searing pain, came lightness and relief.

Lin Huiniang suddenly tugged at her sleeve again and whispered in her ear: "Sister Qingwan, that big silly guy has been looking at you."

Kong Qingwan came back to her senses and quickly glanced in the direction Lin Huiniang indicated.

The big silly guy Lin Huiniang was referring to was the one who saved her and beat her father and brothers the day before. He was a head taller than her, dark-skinned, sturdy like a tower, with fists large enough to intimidate.

A team of personal soldiers was escorting them down the mountain, and the big silly guy was among them. Using his height to his advantage, he occasionally glanced at her from afar.

When she looked over, her eyes met his. The big silly guy grinned.

Kong Qingwan’s heart tightened, and she quickly turned her head away, inadvertently walking ahead of Lin Huiniang, using Lin Huiniang’s form to shield herself.

Lin Huiniang, being quite loyal, cooperated well.

Tao Da could only see the back of Miss Kong’s head and withdrew his gaze in disappointment.

By the time they reached the military camp, it was already dark.

Jiang Shaohua, within the military tent, gathered the military generals for a meeting to discuss the next steps for the bandit suppression. After the meeting, they had dinner together.

"Commandery Princess," Tu Bai quietly reported, "that big oaf Tao Da is outside the tent requesting to see you!"

...