#213 - Chapter 213: Suppressing Bandits

The Hongmen also followed the main force to Black Wind Mountain to suppress the bandits.

Along the way, they saw ragged refugees who scattered and avoided them upon seeing so many people, not daring to obstruct them.

They saw tree bark stripped bare, and even, while climbing mountains and wading through rivers, they saw the tiny bones of children and pots beside them.

Cheng Feng didn't know what others were thinking, but he felt incredibly miserable and couldn't bear to look.

After traversing dense forests and rugged mountain roads, they finally arrived at the foot of Black Wind Mountain.

The mountain terrain here was treacherous, shrouded in clouds and mist, like a giant barrier separating the world from the outside.

The peaks soared into the clouds, and the steep cliffs and dense forests inspired awe. Sunlight filtered through the clouds, creating dappled shadows that made the entire mountain range appear even more mysterious and majestic.

The county magistrate leading the team was about forty years old, his face etched with the steadfastness of weathering many hardships. He looked at the mountain before him with a grave expression, knowing that this mission was fraught with danger, but he firmly believed that the government would eventually succeed in suppressing the bandits.

He turned to face the soldiers behind him and said in a low, firm voice, "Brothers, we are about to face a tough battle. The Black Wind Mountain bandits have been a scourge for too long. These bandits commit all sorts of atrocities, burning, killing, looting, and causing untold suffering to the people. Our mission is not only to eliminate the bandits but also to protect the peace of this region. Everyone must be careful and cautious, stay vigilant, and not only defeat the enemy but also protect ourselves."

Upon hearing this, the soldiers nodded in agreement, indicating their understanding. They gripped the weapons in their hands, their eyes filled with determination. At this moment, a flame ignited in everyone's heart, and their hands, calloused from years of training, were now their strongest reliance.

At the county magistrate's command, the soldiers began to organize their equipment and check their weapons. Every detail was carefully attended to, ensuring that every preparation was in place. At this moment, they were no longer individuals but a closely united collective, sharing life and death together.

While the government soldiers were preparing their equipment, the people from the other forces were leisurely watching the performance of the government soldiers. Although it was agreed that they were here to provide assistance, those who dared to run away when the real battle began would be dealt with by military law.

Subsequently, under the command of the county magistrate, the group cautiously moved along the steep mountain road, constantly paying attention to the surrounding movements. The grass and trees on the mountain concealed countless dangers, and lurking poisonous insects and snakes were the most deadly.

The terrain in this area was complex and dangerous, but they had no choice. They carefully traversed the mountains and forests, remaining vigilant at all times, not daring to be careless in the slightest. Every step was filled with the unknown and challenges, and a slight mistake could lead to a desperate situation.

The mountain road was rugged and difficult to travel, and sweat soaked their clothes, but their pace became even more determined.

Just as they were trudging forward, suddenly, a burst of urgent shouts came from ahead, breaking the silence of the mountains. Everyone was startled and stopped, nervously looking in the direction of the sound. Immediately afterward, a group of bandits appeared before them like ghosts.

This group of bandits was a dark, dense mass of people. Looking at them, there were no fewer people than the government's side. They wore tattered clothes and held various weapons, some with knives, spears, and clubs, and others with bows and arrows on their backs.

Their faces showed fierce expressions, and their eyes revealed greed and cruelty. Obviously, these bandits had already learned of the arrival of the government soldiers.

Upon seeing the Hongmen members, the bandits immediately became excited, their eyes gleaming with greed. They seemed to think that this group was an easy target and could be a lucrative score.

One of the bandit leaders stepped forward and shouted loudly, "Where are you government soldiers from? How dare you trespass on our territory!" His voice echoed in the valley, carrying a hint of threat.

Faced with the bandit leader's provocation, the county magistrate steadily stepped forward, his eyes like torches, staring directly at the other party, his voice not loud but full of authority: "We are here to eliminate the scourge of Black Wind Mountain and restore peace to the people. Now the government is determined to deal with you. If you are willing to surrender, there is still time."

The bandit leader's face darkened upon hearing this, and a trace of surprise and annoyance flashed in his eyes. He did not expect that these government soldiers in front of him would have such courage and determination, daring to challenge their authority on the territory of Black Wind Mountain. He sneered, "Hmph, so what if you're government soldiers? We've fought before. On my Black Wind Mountain, if you're a dragon, you have to coil up; if you're a tiger, you have to lie down! You bunch of ignorant fools, today is your death day!" As he spoke, he waved his hand to signal his subordinates to prepare to attack.

Following the bandit leader's order, the bandits waved the weapons in their hands and roared as they charged towards the Hongmen members. Their eyes gleamed with ferocity and greed, as if they wanted to swallow the opponents alive.

On the other side, the county magistrate also began to shout loudly: "Ahead are the bandits of Black Wind Fortress, brothers, take them down for me, and there will be heavy rewards!" His voice was full of authority and power, inspiring the county soldiers behind him to bravely move forward.

The county soldiers quickly formed a formation, closely arranged together. Their movements were uniform, and their steps were steady and powerful. Years of training and combat experience allowed them to remain calm and vigilant when facing the enemy.

Swords clashed, making crisp collision sounds; arrows fell like rain, drawing streaks of cold light in the air. The two sides engaged in a fierce confrontation at the foot of the mountain, with shouts, screams, and cries interweaving into a chaotic battlefield.

This time, the people from all forces who came were not weak. Relying on their superb martial arts and tacit cooperation, they gradually stabilized their position. They attacked or defended, advanced or retreated with reason, and every attack was precise and deadly.

In contrast, although the bandits were numerous, they were mostly a rabble, lacking organization and discipline, and soon fell into a passive and beaten situation.

During the battle, the Hongmen disciples took the lead. Wu Feng wielded a long sword, like a swimming dragon leaving the sea, moving freely in the enemy formation. Wherever he passed, bandits fell one after another. His heroic performance greatly boosted morale, making the Hongmen disciples fight even harder.

Watching the Hongmen disciples' soaring morale, the disciples of other forces were not willing to be outdone, but this large-scale fight to the death was not comparable to the street gang brawls. A stray arrow could kill someone.

Cheng Feng watched from the rear, privately contacting Cheng Yi and the robot dog, dispatching the robot dog to keep an eye on Black Wind Fortress to see if he could get some benefits.

When he took Xu Miao into his room, Xu Miao introduced the situation of Black Wind Fortress. What Cheng Feng remembered was not anything else, but the wealth of Black Wind Fortress.

At that time, kidnapping Li Mo yielded two thousand taels of silver, and doing some other channel business yielded more than three thousand taels. Who wouldn't be envious? Cheng Feng had been sending robot dogs to stare at the Black Wind Fortress's vault for days!

After chatting with Wang Tieshan, Cheng Feng knew that this County Magistrate Liu didn't necessarily have to wipe out the bandits completely, as long as it had an effect. But this time was different from usual.

From the robot dog's screen, Cheng Feng saw the bandits of Black Wind Fortress hurriedly moving things. No wonder they dared to attack the government soldiers. Were they transferring something good?