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Chapter 95: Robbing for Provisions
Chapter 95: Robbing for Provisions
September 25, 2017
With special thanks to 'A Ray of Sunshine Shining into the Eyes' for their generous support!
...
Within the borders of Qiang Yin County, a group of about ten riders were concealed in a mountain forest near the border, intently watching the road ahead.
"How much longer until they arrive?" Lu Hai Kong asked Li Xiong, who was standing nearby.
Li Xiong's face fell. "I can only confirm that they will come today or tomorrow, but I cannot predict the exact time."
After a moment of silence, Lu Hai Kong issued orders for Wang Chao and Ma Han to divide their forces into two teams, taking turns to stand guard while the rest of the group rested on the spot.
Lu Hai Kong had initially planned to push himself harder, striving to increase his Strength Points to 60 before venturing out. However, he was forced to act due to the lack of funds and provisions at home.
When Lu Hai Kong and his group set out, they didn't bring much food with them. Their original group of several dozen could manage with what they had, but as their territory expanded and the population grew, a food crisis emerged.
Despite Lu Hai Kong's diligent efforts in raiding Shanzei and refugee camps, they had acquired a substantial amount of gold and provisions. However, these provisions were still insufficient to meet the ever-increasing food consumption of the Shanzei. In this situation, Lu Hai Kong had no choice but to venture out and make a big move, resolving the food crisis before returning.
Under these circumstances, Li Xiong's role began to show its significance.
As a local influential figure in Qiang Yin County, Lu Hai Kong needed provisions, and Li Xiong could lead him to acquire food and money.
In Qiang Yin County, aside from the trade between Hei Feng Zhai and the foreign tribes, some smaller horse bandit forces also engaged in trade with the foreign tribes. Their trading partners were often smaller tribes, and the traded goods were primarily provisions and winter necessities like cotton clothing rather than luxury items.
In this situation, these smaller forces were the ideal targets for Lu Hai Kong.
According to Li Xiong, a small horse bandit force would transport a batch of supplies every year to trade with a small tribe of the Xianbei people. And today, they were Lu Hai Kong's target.
Lu Hai Kong, accompanied by Wang Chao and Ma Han, arrived early in the morning, but by afternoon, they still hadn't encountered the supposed horse bandits.
During this time, a group of about a hundred Xianbei tribespeople passed by, appearing rather disheveled. Wang Chao suggested eliminating them, but Lu Hai Kong, concerned about potential disruptions to his plan, chose not to intervene.
As evening approached, when Lu Hai Kong had almost given up hope for the day, a caravan appeared.
"Sir, they're here!" Li Xiong excitedly reported to Lu Hai Kong. He had been anxiously waiting, and now the horse bandits had finally arrived.
Lu Hai Kong, who had been cultivating, snapped out of his trance and moved to the original ambush spot. He saw a caravan of about twenty vehicles, apparently carrying a significant amount of goods. If all these were provisions, they would amount to nearly one hundred thousand pounds, enough to sustain Lu Hai Kong's Shanzei for three months if used sparingly. In reality, it was unlikely to last that long.
This group of horse bandits wasn't large, numbering only about a hundred, with the strongest among them having a Strength of 53, and only five Quasi-Generals.
Impressed by this information, Lu Hai Kong praised Li Xiong for his efforts. Not only had he found a lucrative target, but it was also one that required minimal effort. Li Xiong, who had been closely monitoring Lu Hai Kong, noticed his approving gaze and instantly knew he had done well.
"Let's go, we're bringing the food home!"
At Lu HaiKong's command, the twelve riders led by him charged down from their ambush, heading straight for the convoy.
"Enemy attack, be on guard!"
The horse bandits across were clearly not amateurs, as they reacted swiftly. As soon as Lu HaiKong and his group emerged, the bandits responded with a barrage of arrows.
However, the bandits' Basic Archery Technique skill was evidently not very high. The rain of arrows was dense, but their attack power was far inferior to that of the mountain bandits Lu HaiKong usually dealt with.
It was common knowledge that Lu HaiKong often took Wang Chao MaHan and the others for arrow rain training during their free time. They used wooden arrows without arrowheads, but even with those, Wang Chao MaHan and his group were not easy targets for these bandits.
Lu HaiKong and his party broke through the arrow rain without a single casualty, including Li Xiong, and smoothly infiltrated the enemy camp.
With a team of twelve, all with strength points above fifty, attacking a group of bandits whose average level was that of a mountain bandit leader, the outcome of the battle was hardly in doubt.
What followed was nothing short of a massacre. In just a few minutes, the bandit group was annihilated, except for some horse grooms. Even the one with a strength of 53 met the same fate.
"Congratulations on winning a battle. You gain 2000 allocable skill experience."
"Congratulations on winning a battle. You have gained a profound understanding of leadership during the battle. Your leadership has increased to 15 points."
---
After checking the system prompt, Lu HaiKong inspected the twenty carts of goods with Wang Ti, fifteen of which were filled with food, and the remaining five with winter supplies like cotton clothing and blankets—all essential items for Lu HaiKong.
With this batch of supplies, Lu HaiKong no longer had to worry about food for the time being.
"Well done," Lu HaiKong patted Li Xiong on the shoulder and then commanded the team, leaving behind the grooms to drive the twenty carts back to the mountain fortress.
By this time, the sky was already darkening. If they didn't hurry, the road to Qiang Yin County would be treacherous at night, often plagued by wolf packs.
Fortunately, Lu HaiKong's mountain fortress was not far from their current location, just a few kilometers away, and they would be able to return to the fortress soon.
Lu HaiKong was anxious during the journey, as he was only 3000 experience points away from reaching level 20 in his fundamental inner strength. With the 2000 points he had just gained, he estimated that he could reach 1000 points after a night of cultivation. If all went well, his strength points would reach 60 the next day.
Lu HaiKong was eager to see what changes would occur once his strength points reached 60.
However, on their way back, Lu HaiKong suddenly smelled a strong, almost suffocating, scent of blood.
"What's over there?" Lu HaiKong pointed in the direction of the scent and asked Li Xiong.
Li Xiong thought for a moment, uncertain, "It might be a small mountain village."
"You guys head back, I'll go and take a look." Lu HaiKong mounted his horse and followed the trail of the blood scent...
(End of Chapter)
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