There were less than 30 bandits left, and the rest were all dead. No one knew how deep the cliff was. Anyway, no one would be able to survive. It was said that it was bottomless. The bandits dared to build their stronghold here because it was surrounded by cliffs. The only way for the imperial army to attack was through the front checkpoint. This checkpoint was easy to defend and difficult to attack. The imperial army would not suffer too many casualties because of a small group of bandits. Of course, they did not expect Ang Lee's troops to be so elite. They broke through this seemingly indestructible checkpoint without much effort. The imperial army did not suffer any casualties, but the bandits suffered such heavy losses.
"Assistant Minister Li, these people are ruthless. They actually killed their own companions in order to live a little longer. I'm afraid we can't let such vicious people live!"
Chen Long reminded from the side.
Obviously, these bandits were too ferocious. In order to save their own lives, they would even kill their own companions. It was too dangerous to leave such vicious and merciless people in this world. It would be better to get rid of them. Otherwise, they would be a big worry in the future.
Ang Lee smiled. He naturally understood this principle. However, since he had promised these bandits to let them live a little longer, he could not go back on his words. Besides, there were also bandits in other places. If these people could provide some clues, they could be given a chance to perform meritorious deeds. However, in the end, these people would still be eliminated. This would never change. For example, when Zhao Wufu eliminated the bandit leaders in the south, he burned the celebration building to ashes and all the problems were solved.
However, in Li An's opinion, although this method was slightly sinister, it did allow these bandits, who should have died long ago, to live a little longer. Moreover, these bandits had been eating meat and drinking wine every day, living a good life. To be able to receive such good treatment, they should be satisfied even if they died.
"I'll give you a chance to perform meritorious deeds. I just don't know if you can seize it. If you can't, then don't blame us."
Ang Lee looked at the bandits and said.
"What chance to perform meritorious deeds?"
The bandits did not know any etiquette and were more direct. However, Ang Lee did not care. As long as they could do something, it was enough.
"Some of you should know the bandits nearby, right? If you can provide us with some useful information, it will be a meritorious deed. "
Ang Lee said.
"I know the people in Nine Dragon City, which is a hundred miles away. I know the back door of their stronghold and the situation of their defenses."
A man who looked like a leader said.
Li An was very satisfied and said, "Very good. If you didn't lie, this is a meritorious service. Meritorious service can reduce the punishment. If you have more meritorious service, it is also possible to completely pardon you."
When the bandits heard this, they all said that they were willing to perform meritorious deeds and were willing to provide clues and lead the way. However, Ang Lee did not intend to listen to the clues they provided publicly. Instead, he let them report what they knew individually. Then, as long as the bandits said the same thing, there would be no problem in this matter.
After asking around, Ang Lee felt that it was very wise to let these people stay. Although these guys were not good people, they could really help him. There was no doubt about this. These guys provided a lot of information. This information was of great significance in eliminating the bandits in other places.
"Yes, these guys told us a lot of things. There are more than a dozen bandits nearby. At least three of them are evil bandits. These people must be eliminated. The rest can be fought for."
Chen Long said.
Ang Lee nodded and said, "You're right. These people can really be of great help. Let them live for a few more days. When they are no longer useful, we can get rid of them."
Li An had never intended to let these villainous bandits off. However, they were still of some use to him for the time being, so he decided to let them live for the time being. Once they were no longer of any use to him, it would be time for them to lose their lives.
This was not Ang Lee's ruthlessness. It was really for the long-term stability of Dongnu Province. It was difficult for these evil bandits to really change their habits that had formed over many years. They might be able to behave themselves if they were temporarily controlled by the official army, but one day, they would be free. If there were too many of them, it would be a big problem. These guys would ruin Dongnu Province sooner or later, and Dongnu Province would soon become Dongnu Province. Leaving these unstable elements behind would simply cause trouble for Dongnu Province in the future. Ang Lee obviously would not condone this kind of thing. Finding an appropriate opportunity to deal with these bandits was the best way to deal with it.
"Assistant Minister Li, there are three groups of bandits within three hundred miles. Should we deal with them one by one?"
Chen Long asked.
Ang Lee said, "No, we can deal with one. The other two are closer to the area that the Fifth Minister is in charge of. Let him deal with them! Just report the news to him. He has more soldiers under his command, so it's more appropriate for him to do this. "
"Well, then I'll leave it to the Fifth Minister. After we deal with the next group of bandits, what should we do next?"
Chen Long asked.
Ang Lee smiled and said, "Farming, okay?"
"Farm? You want us soldiers to farm?"
Chen Long said with a surprised look.
Obviously, he did not expect Ang Lee to make such a decision. Naturally, he was surprised.
Ang Lee said with a smile, "What's wrong? Farming is hard for you. You should know the situation here. Right now, what we lack most is labor for farming. We can only let the soldiers suffer a little."
At this moment, Dongnu Province urgently needed a large number of manpower to completely transform the terraced fields so that they could immediately plant a new batch of food. Before doing this, it was obvious that they had to deal with all the bandits in the surrounding area. First, they could obtain more labor. Second, they could prevent the bandits from robbing them when they were working and prevent the transformation work from being sabotaged.
When Ang Lee came to Dongnu Province, he brought a lot of food. However, this food would run out sooner or later. After that, they could only consume the food stored in Dongnu Province. As a result, this became a burden. Since they had eaten, they naturally had to work. This could also reduce the predicament of the lack of labor here.
However, Ang Lee also knew very well that Chen Long and the soldiers under his command were very unwilling to farm. These people were of relatively high birth and almost all of them came from the noble class. Although most of them were born of concubines or collateral branches, they were at least members of the noble class. They despised farmers who farmed and were naturally unwilling to do the work of farmers. However, as long as Ang Lee gave the order, they had no choice but to obey. Moreover, Ang Lee would not make things difficult for them. They would definitely benefit a lot. Ang Lee would only double the salary. Anyway, Ang Lee was now very rich. He had so much money that he could not spend it all. There was nothing wrong with giving some rewards to the soldiers who followed him.
"Assistant Minister Li, we only have a little more than three hundred people. Farming is just a drop in the bucket. We can't help much. Why don't we suppress the bandits?"
Chen Long still looked very reluctant.
Obviously, it was also a soldier's duty to exterminate the bandits. Farming was really not their forte. Therefore, no matter what, he was not very willing to lead the soldiers under his command to farm. He was even more unwilling to transform the terraced fields.
Of course, it was not that he could not do it because he was unwilling. Since Ang Lee gave the order, he had to carry it out. He said this now just to complain. It was not that he really did not want to farm.
Ang Lee also understood this guy's thoughts. He said with a smile, "Even a little help is good. It's better than doing nothing. Tell the soldiers that farming is not worse than suppressing the bandits. They will still get twice the pay. At the same time, those who do well will get extra rewards and better food. However, there is no hurry. There is still one last group of bandits to deal with. As long as we get rid of the last group of bandits, we can farm with peace of mind."
Obviously, Ang Lee was still very willing to farm. Although many people with status regarded farming as a disgrace, Ang Lee was definitely an exception. In Ang Lee's view, farming could cultivate one's character. It was a very happy thing. Ang Lee really found it hard to understand that many people regarded farming as a disgrace.
After escorting nearly 30 bandits away, Ang Lee's team went straight to Nine Dragon City, which was dozens of miles away. This bandit lair was a very traditional stronghold that had lasted for five to six hundred years. Generations of Dongnu Province's imperial court had encircled and suppressed it, but it had never been completely wiped out. This was because the terrain here was too bad. It was not easy to encircle and suppress it. The bandits could rely on the terrain to hide everywhere. After the soldiers left, they would return to the lair. Even if the lair was burned down, they could quickly build another one. Anyway, they did not have high requirements for houses. They could just cut down some trees and easily build a house for them to live in.
In the most glorious time, Nine Dragon City had more than a thousand bandits. At the very least, there were two to three hundred people. This time, there was a famine, so the people in this stronghold naturally grew a lot. However, because Zhao Changkong had given them a lot of promises, this caused the leader of this group of bandits to send all the newly recruited bandits to join Zhao Changkong's rebel army. There were only five to six hundred people left in the stronghold, but these five to six hundred people were all old bandits. The reason why they sent all the new bandits to Zhao Changkong was naturally because they were very clear that a rebellion would definitely lead to death. They were not willing to hurt themselves. Their old brothers were all elites, so of course, they could not be cannon fodder. The new bandits were the most suitable to be cannon fodder.
It was also because of this decision that these old bandits escaped the fate of being wiped out. Otherwise, the fire in the Victory Pavilion would have burned all these old bandits to ashes. However, they could only live for a few more months. Now, Ang Lee's troops were coming, so their good days were over.
After a day and a night of rapid marching, Ang Lee's troops arrived at the periphery of Nine Dragon City. The sky was already dark, so Ang Lee ordered his troops to camp and rest. Then, he found the bandits who had surrendered.
"Nine Dragon City is here, right?"
Ang Lee asked.
"Yes, it's here. This road leads to the stronghold. It's only two miles away."
The bandit said.
"There are only two ways to go in and out of the mountain. There won't be any secret passages, right?"
Ang Lee continued to ask.
"There shouldn't be. However, I'm not a high-ranking official. At least, I don't know if there are other ways. There shouldn't be any."
The bandit said.
Ang Lee nodded and said, "If what you said is true, then it's fine. But if you dare to lie to me and let some of these bandits escape, then your life will end here."
"Sir, I'm not a member of this stronghold. I definitely don't know the secrets. If there really is a secret passage, then it's not something I can know!"
The bandit looked nervous.
Ang Lee said with a smile, "Haha, then you can only pray secretly that there is no third way in Nine Dragon City. Otherwise, you will be beheaded immediately."
Ang Lee would not show mercy to these bandits. They were all bad guys. If he left them alive, they would be a disaster sooner or later. As long as there was a chance, he could kill these guys at any time.
This bandit was helpless. He was a fish on the chopping board, so he could only pray that what he knew was true.
"Assistant Minister Li, it's dark. Shall we set out tomorrow morning? Or should we attack tonight? "
Chen Long asked.
Ang Lee thought for a moment and said, "Speed is the most important thing in war. We'll set out tonight. You lead the main force to attack from the front. My 30 guards and I will block the retreat of these bandits from the side."
"Assistant Minister Li, isn't it too risky? You only lead 30 people. That's too little."
Chen Long said.
"There are not many bandits. There are only five or six hundred of them. 30 people are enough to block these bandits. There won't be any danger. Don't worry!"
Ang Lee said confidently.
The thirty men under his command were the best of the best. They were indeed not something that the bandits could compare to. Their equipment was also top-notch. It was not difficult for thirty men to block a path that could only accommodate two people side by side. In fact, there was no need for thirty men. Five or six men would be enough to block the path.
In addition, Ang Lee had a secret weapon in his hand. It was a big sniper rifle and two small pistols for self-defense. Once the bandits had another escape route, they could go behind Ang Lee. Ang Lee could use the secret weapon to directly kill all the bandits who tried to approach. It was more than enough to ensure his own safety. There was no pressure at all.
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