Chapter 23: Is Three Months Only a Little More Than Half?

Fear scattered the bandits in all directions, their once tightly-knit attack formation collapsing in an instant. Everywhere, panicked figures fled for their lives. The soldiers of the reconnaissance company did not press the attack, but instead, following Tang Mengxiao’s orders, continued to sweep the battlefield with overwhelming firepower.

Heavy machine guns and rapid-fire cannons cut down the fleeing bandits like wheat, creating a scene of utter carnage.

In the distance, Zuo Shandiao stood frozen, overcome by a mix of anger and helplessness at the sight of such a devastating defeat.

“Has Wang Lin really sent troops to wipe me out? These were my elite men! To think they’d be routed so easily by government soldiers—my entire bandit gang, the foundation of my power, is gone. How will I maintain my standing in the underworld now?” Zuo Shandiao was filled with a sense of crushing defeat.

Though he commanded several thousand men, only two thousand could truly be called elite. He had believed that, with such numbers, overwhelming the two hundred government soldiers would be a simple matter. Never did he imagine it would turn into such a massacre.

This small detachment of troops was even equipped with heavy machine guns and artillery—something Zuo Shandiao could never have anticipated.

“Damn it, we’ve beaten the bandits!” On the Chenyun Army’s line, the soldiers erupted in cheers.

At first, there had been some anxiety in their hearts, but after witnessing the effortless rout of the bandits, their courage grew.

“Boss, what should we do next? Our losses are too heavy!” one worried bandit asked.

“Yes, Boss. We lost seven hundred brothers in just that last charge. If it happens again, we’ll have nothing left,” another added.

“Boss, these government troops are too tough for us, we’re no match for them—let’s just admit defeat!” The bandits’ morale had sunk to its lowest.

“Retreat immediately!” Zuo Shandiao was well aware that this Chenyun Army force was no ordinary opponent; their superior equipment made his band of bandits utterly outmatched. With no other choice, he ordered a withdrawal.

The remaining bandits retreated like a receding tide, disappearing into the forest.

Watching the bandits being driven off, Tang Mengxiao felt a similar sense of relief. “The weapons from the blacksmiths are truly impressive—at this rate of fire, the old machine guns we used to have would’ve long since overheated and failed.”

“Everyone, rest where you are. Check your weapons and ammunition, tend to the wounded. No one pursues without my orders.”

“Yes, sir.”

Tang Mengxiao’s reason for not pursuing was simple: their mission was reconnaissance and scouting. With limited manpower, it was unwise to act rashly.

“Send a swift-footed soldier back to report: tell them we’ve encountered Zuo Shandiao’s gang here. Though they’re numerous, they lack combat ability and have poor equipment. About eighty percent are able-bodied men, but only sixty percent are armed with firearms—the rest rely on cold weapons like blades and spears,” Tang Mengxiao ordered.

“Understood, I’ll handle it immediately!” Dong Ping’an replied confidently.

“First platoon takes the vanguard, second platoon forms the center, third platoon covers the rear. Mark the roads as we go!” Tang Mengxiao instructed again, sending the unit to scout toward the bandit stronghold.

This battle, won at minimal cost while routing hundreds of bandits, greatly boosted the morale of the reconnaissance company and the entire force. They began to believe that, with just four regimental reconnaissance companies and one divisional reconnaissance battalion, they could completely eradicate Zuo Shandiao’s gang—a feat that would bring them great merit.

Zuo Shandiao led his battered remnants back to Shiren Mountain. The bandits who had been awaiting his triumphant return were shocked instead by news of a crushing defeat. Many returned wounded, and many more would never return at all.

The defeat left the bandits anxious and fearful. Rumors spread that the government troops were formidable—far beyond their ability to resist—and that their annihilation was inevitable.

As a result, some bandits began to slip away in secret. Many had turned to banditry merely to survive; if even this last resort could no longer sustain them, they had no choice but to seek another path.

“Zuo Shandiao, what was the fighting strength of those government troops you encountered?” Hassan asked, stunned at the sight of Zuo Shandiao’s tattered survivors.

“Damn it, their machine guns fired without end, like motherless children with no one to stop them. Their equipment was first-rate—a unit of barely two hundred men had two heavy machine guns and a 37mm rapid-fire cannon. For a moment I thought old Wang Lin himself had brought his best troops—these are far stronger than any government forces we’ve faced before,” Zuo Shandiao admitted.

He had to confess that his own overconfidence had led to this disaster.

“This is trouble. The government troops are this aggressive—it’s clearly Wang Lin’s retaliation,” Hassan said, his expression grim.

“Hassan, what should we do now? Can we ask the Japanese for help?” Facing such a predicament, Zuo Shandiao was at his wits’ end, almost in despair.

In the face of adversity, Hassan shook his head in disappointment. “These aren’t ordinary infantry—they’re mountain fighters. Not only has the Chenyun Army blocked the mountain roads, they’ve sent elite forces to track us deep into the forests. All the scouts and carrier pigeons I sent out have lost contact. Perhaps we underestimated the government army before, but now, I doubt anyone will make that mistake again. That one force alone could wipe us all out.”

Though Zuo Shandiao was reluctant to accept this reality, he could not deny it—if all government forces were as strong as the ones they faced today, resistance was impossible.

“We may have to abandon this land and head north, deeper into Chenyun territory—perhaps there’s still a way out,” Hassan suggested.

“Abandon our stronghold?” Zuo Shandiao found it hard to accept. He held uncontested authority in western Henan—starting over elsewhere would mean beginning from nothing.

“Think about it, Zuo Shandiao. Your old saying goes, ‘Where there’s life, there’s hope.’ I believe it’s the best option now,” Hassan urged again.

Zuo Shandiao fell silent, torn by conflicting thoughts.

In the days that followed, the situation for the bandits grew ever more dire.

The Chenyun Army’s reconnaissance units steadily shrank the bandits’ territory.

Their objective was not just to root out Zuo Shandiao’s great gang—even the smallest bands with bounties on their heads, including those listed by the old dynasty, would not be spared.

Once discovered, they would be destroyed.

Chenyun County, Seventh Reinforced Division, Temporary Anti-Bandit Command Post.

In a military tent, Wang Xiao hurriedly brought an imperial commendation to Jiang Bai. “Commander, due to our division’s outstanding performance in suppressing banditry over the past month, the chief marshal has ordered the Chenyun Army headquarters to issue us a royal commendation and a reward of five thousand silver dollars.”

“But only the commendation arrived. That five thousand is probably being pocketed by those good-for-nothings at headquarters,” Jiang Bai said, taking the document from Wang Xiao.

“To the Seventh Reinforced Division of the Chenyun Army: For annihilating bandits, defending our lands, displaying heroic valor, and earning great merit, we bestow upon you the honorary title of ‘Hero Division for Bandit Suppression,’ in recognition of your immortal deeds. A reward of five thousand silver dollars is granted to the division as encouragement. May the officers and soldiers of the Seventh Division continue to display courage and determination, safeguard the peace of Chenyun Province, and achieve new victories. This order is issued to inspire all.”

Chenyun Army Headquarters, New Dynasty, Year XX, Month XX, Day XX

Jiang Bai handed the commendation back to Wang Xiao. “Assemble all officers at battalion level and above and circulate this commendation. Let them know that our actions in suppressing the bandits are being watched by the people, by the chief marshal, and by Heaven itself.”

“Yes, sir.”

Jiang Bai then approached the sand table of the Chenyun Mountain range in the center of the tent. The operations staff officer set down a sand table piece and snapped to attention.

“Commander.”

“Update the sand table map.”

“Staff Officer Wang, what’s the progress on bandit suppression? How many units has the Seventh Reinforced Division deployed?”

Wang Xiao quickly stepped forward to report, “Commander Jiang, our division’s progress is steady and swift. As of 1 p.m. today, we’ve killed three thousand bandits, captured three thousand, and received four thousand surrenders. Aside from the Seventh and Sixty-Second Brigades and the Seventh Artillery Regiment, which are protecting headquarters, all twenty thousand men of the Sixty-Third and Sixty-Fourth Brigades have been deployed. I estimate that in two months, we’ll have wiped out more than half the gangs that have plagued the Chenyun Mountains for years.”

“Only more than half?” Jiang Bai rubbed his brow.