The old man in the field was swinging his hoe, sweat beading on his forehead and dripping down. He was panting with exhaustion but didn't stop, wanting to cultivate the entire field.
A woman passing by, carrying a bamboo basket, greeted him with a smile!
"Old Man Wu, your family has several acres of good fertile land. If you plant it all, this year will definitely be a big harvest."
"Getting a wife for your son shouldn't be a problem."
The old man, named Old Man Wu, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and a smile appeared on his wrinkled face. He chuckled!
"I just hope this year is a good season and we don't suffer from any banditry."
"If we have some surplus grain, I'll ask you to help my boy find a good wife then."
The middle-aged woman, hearing this, laughed heartily and said!
"Don't worry, Old Man Wu, I'll definitely find a good girl for your son."
The two chatted and laughed by the fields, both appearing very simple and honest.
Just then, a middle-aged man in the distance, his face filled with panic, fled towards them, shouting loudly without stopping!
"The mountain bandits are here! Quickly tell the village's militia to organize and resist!"
The common people still busy in the fields, hearing this, trembled with fear, their eyes filled with terror.
They all dropped their things and began to run wildly towards the village.
These mountain bandits were ruthless killers, specifically coming to loot their villages and people. If anyone dared to resist, they would be killed without mercy.
Soon, gongs also began to sound in the village, and some people shouted loudly!
"The mountain bandits are here! The mountain bandits are here!"
The respected Old Village Chief, learning of the situation, was extremely anxious. He immediately ordered the young and capable men of the village to gather.
The middle-aged man who delivered the message, after running back to the village, said in a trembling voice!
"These mountain bandits number over a hundred. Our Wu Family Village will have a hard time resisting. We should send someone to notify the stationed soldiers; otherwise, our Wu Family Village will be massacred."
The Old Village Chief, hearing this, almost dropped the cane in his hand, and the fear in his eyes grew even stronger.
This time, over a hundred men had come, clearly intending to completely loot Wu Family Village. With all that money and wealth, they might not even need to descend the mountain for a year.
His aged face was filled with anxiety. He urgently shouted to a young man beside him!
"Wu Xing, quickly ride the village's donkey to the military camp a dozen li away and ask the newly appointed Lord Liu to come and suppress the bandits."
"Remember, you must be fast! If the soldiers don't arrive, our Wu Family Village will face utter destruction."
Wu Xing nodded quickly, his face anxious. He immediately mounted a donkey, wielded his whip, and galloped towards the outside of the village.
The Village Chief then ordered the other young men to gather, weapons in hand, ready to fight these mountain bandits.
Seeing the rumbling footsteps outside the village, over a hundred mountain bandits, armed with sharp blades, were marching mightily towards them.
The leader, Scarface, with a full beard, had a fierce look in his eyes as he gazed at the Wu Family Village.
He licked his lips and said loudly to the hundred-plus mountain bandits behind him!
"Brothers, follow me down the mountain today, and I guarantee you'll eat your fill, drink your fill, and make a fortune!"
The hundred-plus men behind him, hearing this, all showed excited smiles and shouted loudly.
"Second Leader is mighty! Second Leader is mighty!"
Instantly, these hundred-plus men followed the Second Leader, charging towards the Wu Family Village.
The two sides met at the village entrance. The Old Village Chief, trembling and leaning on his bamboo cane, led over a hundred young and strong men from the village, blocking the way.
The Old Village Chief looked at the leader, a hint of fear in his eyes, but still politely asked!
"Second Leader, our village has already paid this year's interest. Why are you still coming to loot our Wu Family Village?"
The Scarface man chuckled coldly and said!
"The stronghold is short on grain right now. The little money and grain you paid isn't even enough to fill our teeth. Our brothers are all starving, so we can only come down the mountain for a raid."
"Old Man Wu, if you're sensible, hand over a hundred shi of grain, ten thousand coins, and ten young women right now, and I might spare your Wu Family Village this time."
"If you dare to disobey, then don't blame us for being impolite. We'll just kill our way in, loot everything, and then men, women, and children, young and old, will all die."
The people of Wu Family, hearing this, all showed anger in their eyes. Some even gritted their teeth, wishing they could kill all these people.
A hundred shi of grain and ten thousand coins was half of their entire Wu Family Village's savings.
If they really handed it all over, their Wu Family Village would starve for the next half a year, and some might even resort to cannibalism, dying of starvation.
Rather than that, it would be better to fight to the death with this group of people.
Village Chief Wu's old face showed anger, and he coldly shouted!
"Second Leader, you dare to open your mouth so wide, demanding so much money and grain? Whether our Wu Family Village can survive is a problem!"
Scarface laughed loudly, shrugged his shoulders, and coldly shouted!
"Whether you can survive or not is none of my business! These are my conditions. If you don't agree, I'll kill my way in right now."
"And kill all of you!"
The Old Village Chief, hearing this, pondered for a moment in his deep-set eyes, and his tone involuntarily softened. He said gently!
"Second Leader, please wait a moment. I will discuss with them and see if we can agree to this."
Scarface snorted coldly, nodded, and his hoarse voice continued!
"Hurry up! I'll only wait for the time it takes an incense stick to burn. If you haven't come up with a result by then, don't blame me for being merciless with my blade and killing all of you!"
After the Old Village Chief turned around, the young people around him all looked anxious and urged him!
"Village Chief, we can't agree! Let's just fight these beasts!"
"Handing over so much money and grain, we'll starve to death sooner or later anyway. It's better to repel these people now; at least we can ensure the survival of most of the villagers."
The Old Village Chief winked at everyone, making a shushing gesture, and then whispered!
"Everyone, don't panic. This is just a temporary measure to stall the mountain bandits and let Wu Xing get reinforcements earlier. As long as the soldiers arrive, these bandits will be nothing to worry about."
The young people around, hearing this, suddenly understood and all breathed a sigh of relief.
They all felt the Old Village Chief's wisdom; delaying for a while could also save some lives.
An incense stick quietly burned out!
The leader, Scarface, looked at the Old Village Chief, who was still chattering and discussing, his brows tightly furrowed, feeling a bit impatient.
His full beard trembled slightly for a moment, and he coldly shouted!
"Old man, have you finished discussing? If you dare to dawdle any longer, I'll just kill my way in!"
The Old Village Chief, hearing this, quickly stepped out from the crowd and said, trembling!
"Second Leader, please wait a moment. I am still discussing with them. After all, taking out so much money is no small matter."