Banditry 04

Fang Zhiyi smiled. "This commoner is solely focused on eradicating the bandits. Resorting to such an extreme measure was an absolute last resort."

"A last resort?" Yan Qi questioned. "Do you realize the panic your actions have caused among the people?"

Fang Zhiyi nodded. "Would ignoring the problem make it disappear? They needed to know the truth." He paused. "Commander Yan, surely you don't believe your forces alone are capable of wiping out these bandits?"

Yan Qi was taken aback, feeling belittled by the man before him. "My regiment could sweep through the entire Xicheng region! Those bandits are nothing but a ragtag mob!"

"Damn it, why can't I be that guy..."

"What are you mumbling?"

Fang Zhiyi took a deep breath. "Based on my rough estimates, there are over a dozen bandit strongholds of various sizes around Xicheng. The larger ones have nearly a thousand men. They're holed up in the mountains. Commander Yan, you can't possibly believe you have the resources to deal with them all, do you?"

Yan Qi fell silent for a few seconds, his skeptical gaze never leaving Fang Zhiyi's face. The man before him seemed utterly self-assured.

"What do you want?" Yan Qi finally asked.

Fang Zhiyi didn't waste time. "To help you crush the bandits. No, to crush them for the sake of the people."

He knew Yan Qi's nature. This man didn't care about glory or achievements; he sought justice. But such men usually met grim ends. Even if he didn't cross the male lead, he'd inevitably become a casualty in the warlords' power struggles.

After just one night of conversation, Yan Qi clearly sensed that this man named Fang Zhiyi possessed a vision more seasoned than his own—no, even more seasoned than the army commander's. Unconsciously, Yan Qi began to lower his own stance.

"What does the gentleman suggest would be the best course of action?" Yan Qi inquired. "To be frank, I was essentially banished here for garrison duty. Our supplies of ammunition and provisions are far from ample."

This was precisely why, in the original plot, he had been utterly unable to handle the male lead's faction.

Fang Zhiyi simply looked at him and said, "From this day forward, I will direct all bandit-suppression operations. Is that acceptable?"

Yan Qi stared intently at Fang Zhiyi, finding him increasingly inscrutable. After a moment, he said, "Truly, turbulent times give rise to heroes. But sir, you must first give me some reassurance."

Fang Zhiyi was prepared. He stood up, walked over to a map on the wall, and with a few strokes of a pen, outlined an area.

"Here. This is my sincerity to you."

Yan Qi was half-convinced, half-doubtful.

The next day, Yan Qi's troops announced they were conducting field exercises and poured out of the city gates in a great clamor.

Meanwhile, Fu Yunshen was frowning deeply. "Who on earth was behind such a thing?" The incident of the city walls being plastered with grievance petitions had spread everywhere the day before. Now, the common folk everywhere were cursing the bandits' wickedness, which made him, a former bandit chief, extremely uncomfortable. A sense of foreboding steadily grew within him.

Fortunately, Shen Zhixia held him. "It's alright. You're not the Great Chieftain of Qingfeng Stronghold anymore. You are my husband, Fu Yunshen, the proprietor of the general store."

She was profoundly grateful that Fu Yunshen had never revealed his real name, and no one knew what he looked like.

Fu Yunshen forced a smile, but unease churned in his heart.

Wherever Yan Qi's troops went, beasts and bandits alike fled at the mere rumor of their approach. They weren't foolish enough to match firepower with regular army units, which greatly facilitated Yan Qi's mission.

When he saw the chests of gold and silver in the mountain cave, his eyes widened. He was about to step forward and touch them when Fang Zhiyi's words echoed in his mind.

"Who knows how many wronged souls cling to that money."

Yan Qi withdrew his hand and ordered his subordinates to carry the treasure away.

By midnight, the troops had returned to Xicheng. After an inventory, the adjutant couldn't contain his grin. This wealth was enough for them to expand the army! Of course, that was just a thought. If he actually tried to expand, the Marshal would probably have his head chopped off and hung from the city gate.

Now, his look towards Fang Zhiyi changed completely—from initial wariness to a starry-eyed gaze, as if Fang Zhiyi were a walking god of wealth.

"Sir, following the location you provided, we recovered this... ill-gotten silver," Yan Qi reported.

Fang Zhiyi nodded. "Is my sincerity sufficient?"

Yan Qi took a deep breath and suddenly stood up. "I, Yan Qi, am willing to follow your directives, sir!"

The adjutant beside him was stunned. His superior was a good man, but also rigidly principled. What did he mean, 'follow directives'?

"To deliver justice back to the people, even if you demanded my head, sir, I would not utter a single word of protest!"

The adjutant grew nervous. That was going too far!

Fang Zhiyi laughed. "Why would I want your head? To hang it on the city gate to scare the bandits? That's hardly necessary."

Fu Yunshen, having spent a sleepless night, opened his door with dark circles under his eyes. He planned to find an opportunity in the next couple of days to move his secretly hoarded wealth and start a new life elsewhere with the woman he loved.

But as soon as he opened the door, two gunshots made him flinch and duck his head.

Instinctively, he reached for a gun, but he was a law-abiding citizen now. Where would he get a gun?

However, the men at his door made no move to arrest him. A neatly uniformed officer stepped forward, saluted him, and announced, "Fu Yunshen is commended for his contribution in presenting treasure! Our regiment has come specially to express gratitude!" He waved his hand, and several soldiers carried over large crate after large crate. While Fu Yunshen was still bewildered, they proceeded to carry the items into his courtyard, paying him no mind.

"Present to Fu Yunshen: one thousand strings of silver dollars!"

"Twenty bolts of premium silk!"

"A pair of antique vases!"

"One complete tiger pelt!"

Shen Zhixia, awakened by the commotion, looked on in terror, speechless.

Fu Yunshen's mind was a complete fog. Suddenly, someone darted out and pinned a large, bright red paper flower on his chest.

"Shopkeeper Fu is a paragon of righteousness! To aid in eradicating the bandit scourge, he generously contributed a great deal of gold and silver!"

Fu Yunshen stared blankly at Fang Zhiyi before him. Though he had no idea what he was talking about, he could only force a smile for now.

There were letters of commendation, gifts, and then the chorus of praise from the gathered onlookers. Even after returning to his courtyard, Fu Yunshen still hadn't snapped out of his daze.

What in the world happened while I was sleeping?

Shen Zhixia, ever optimistic, happily opened the gift boxes the soldiers had brought. But her expression soon turned to stunned disbelief. The boxes and chests were completely empty.

Fu Yunshen stepped forward to look and fell into deep thought. What was really going on?

And that Fang Zhiyi... how did he seem to be mixed up with the army?

He didn't open the shop for business. Instead, he bolted the main gate tightly. The situation was highly abnormal.

Shen Zhixia didn't understand what he was pondering and could only sit watching him. After a long while, Fu Yunshen's brow furrowed. "Could it be they've discovered my identity?"

But that didn't make sense either. If they had discovered his identity, why didn't they arrest him just now?

He couldn't figure it out.

Similarly puzzled were Yan Qi and his adjutant.

"If the gentleman says he's the bandit chief, then just arrest him and have him shot! Finished!" the adjutant clamored.