"Marshal Thẩm, if I were to choose between the common folk and my family, I would rather choose the common folk, for they are the providers of this subordinate's livelihood, and I cannot allow them to be disappointed."

Lý Thành returned to his seat and sat down. Though his expression was pained, it remained resolute.

"Lord Lý, this junior has decided not to leave today. This afternoon, I shall go assess the situation with the mountain bandits. You need not be overly anxious; this junior will handle everything properly." Thẩm Hiên could only offer soft words of comfort.

"Marshal Thẩm, this subordinate is not hurried. This subordinate is merely worried that the mountain bandits will harass the common folk," Lý Thành replied with a wry smile.

Thẩm Hiên, however, chuckled. "Lord Lý, isn't that the same sentiment? Do you have any wine? This junior was previously disturbed by you, and now my craving for alcohol has resurfaced."

"Yes, yes..."

Lý Thành naturally knew that Thẩm Hiên was helping him resolve an awkward moment, yet he readily assented.

Twenty li northwest of Thanh Huyện lay a mountain called Thanh Phong Sơn. Upon this mountain stood a stronghold, named Thanh Phong Trại.

Originally, only a few dozen people resided within Thanh Phong Trại.

They tilled fields at the foot of the mountain, gathered wild fruits from above, and lived a relatively peaceful life.

However, later, due to the righteous army's invasion of Bạch Vệ, the Bạch Vệ army was routed and scattered.

A small number of Bạch Vệ army officers and soldiers were wounded and, after being left behind, dispersed among the populace.

Later, once these individuals' injuries had healed, they regrouped. Seeing Thanh Phong Sơn as an auspicious land of feng shui, they drove away all the original residents of Thanh Phong Trại.

Residing in Thanh Phong Trại, these officers and soldiers began to live a life of extravagance. They quickly squandered their resources, depleting all the stronghold's accumulated wealth.

The Stronghold Master, originally a general in the Bạch Vệ army, had lost a leg but still possessed superb martial arts.

He ordered his stronghold brothers to frequently descend the mountain to raid for provisions.

Meanwhile, Lý Thành, the County Magistrate of Thanh Huyện, actively organized civilian forces to combat the mountain bandits of Thanh Phong Trại, naturally to protect the common folk of Thanh Huyện.

In a fit of rage, the Thanh Phong Trại Stronghold Master decisively led his men down the mountain himself.

This time, he not only plundered a large amount of grain, pigs, sheep, and poultry, but ultimately even captured the Magistrate's daughter and brought her to the stronghold, using her to pressure the Magistrate into ceasing his encirclement and suppression of the stronghold.

This morning, Lý Thành dispatched Lý Nhị, a renowned constable from the county yamen, to lead thirty yamen runners to ambush Thanh Phong Trại.

Unexpectedly, Thanh Phong Trại was tightly guarded. Lý Nhị and his yamen runners were discovered by the mountain bandits while ascending. Before Lý Nhị and his men could even enter the stronghold to carry out their encirclement and suppression, they were instead surrounded by the bandits.

Lý Nhị and his yamen runners fought fiercely for a long time, but in the end, he only managed to escape back to the county seat with fewer than ten men.

Up on Thanh Phong Trại, however, everyone was overjoyed.

Firstly, they had reaped a bountiful harvest, and secondly, they had even captured the County Magistrate's daughter. It was truly like double happiness arriving at their doorstep.

The Stronghold Master's strategist, who had previously been the Stronghold Master's deputy general, understood his master's thoughts well. When several of the leaders were drinking together, the strategist smiled and said:

"Gentlemen, the Stronghold Master is now over forty, and his family has been lost amidst the chaos of war. As the ancient saying goes, of the three unfilial acts, the greatest is to have no male heir.

This humble one believes that the Stronghold Master's most important task now is to take a wife, bear children, and continue the family line. What do you gentlemen think of this humble one's suggestion?" The strategist wore a sly expression.

"Strategist, your suggestion is truly excellent! This younger brother fully agrees."

"Indeed, we all agree! We might even catch some of that joyful energy ourselves."

"There's no time like the present! In this younger brother's opinion, today is an auspicious day. Why not carry out this joyous event today?"

The various leaders at the banquet enthusiastically voiced their opinions, all extremely excited.

The Stronghold Master, however, feigned a frown. "Gentlemen, how can marriage be a jest? Even if this Stronghold Master has such a wish, at the very least, there must be a young lady willing to marry this Stronghold Master!"

"Stronghold Master, why are you so forgetful? A few days ago, didn't we bring back a young woman? This woman is so beautiful; if you marry her and make her the Stronghold Mistress,

how could it not be acceptable? Once the stronghold's power grows, we brothers will descend the mountain, conquer Thanh Huyện, and carve out our own territory!"

"Precisely! From troubled times emerge heroes. The righteous army led by Thẩm Hiên, for the most part, are nothing but farmers. Now, the righteous army is fighting Bạch Chấn to the death over in the capital,

why don't we gather our scattered forces, take advantage of the righteous army's weakened rear, deliver a fatal blow to them, and seize the opportunity to expand our own power?"

"Gentlemen, what you have raised is not something this Stronghold Master hasn't considered. However, the stronghold's current strength is not yet very formidable. A mere Thanh Huyện yamen,

can already fiercely confront the stronghold without yielding an inch. If you gentlemen wish for greater achievements, I fear it will be very difficult." In truth, the Stronghold Master only desired a peaceful and comfortable life on the mountain.

"Stronghold Master, what we brothers mean is for you to immediately enter the bridal chamber and marry Miss Lý. After this, you will be the Magistrate's son-in-law.

Even if the Magistrate wishes to lead troops to annihilate Thanh Phong Trại, he will surely give face to you, his son-in-law, won't he? Hahaha..."

The strategist laughed heartily, a hint of cunning in his eyes.

"Stronghold Master, just listen to the strategist; enter the bridal chamber tonight!"

"Men, hang lanterns and string flowers! Decorate the stronghold! Tonight is the Stronghold Master's grand wedding celebration, and every brother shall be rewarded ten taels of silver!"

"Congratulations, Stronghold Master..."

At the banquet, all the leaders raised their cups in celebration.

The banquet lasted from midday until dusk, until the setting sun cast its last, lingering light.

By then, Thanh Phong Trại was festooned with lanterns and flowers, everything properly arranged.

Twenty small-time bandits slaughtered pigs and sheep in a flat area of the stronghold, setting up cooking fires.

These pigs and sheep had all been plundered from neighboring villages. Most hateful of all, some even seized the villagers' plowing oxen.

In the Wei Dynasty, plowing oxen were the common folk's means of production for survival. The authorities had clear written regulations: unless an ox died of old age or illness, anyone who killed an ox for its meat would be considered guilty of the same crime as murder.

But the inhabitants of Thanh Phong Trại were merely a band of local bandits; the laws of the authorities held no restraining effect whatsoever on them.

As the night grew deeper, the Thanh Phong Trại Stronghold Master's wedding was officially ready to commence.

The Stronghold Master wore a long blue robe, adorned with a large red flower on his chest, presenting a picture of smug satisfaction.

Up on Thanh Phong Trại, as the leaders raised their wine cups to congratulate the Stronghold Master, a small-time bandit suddenly rushed up from below, shouting: "Stronghold Master, someone is visiting the mountain from below!"

The Stronghold Master, in a drunken stupor, stumbled over and called out to the strategist, "Strategist, go see who has come to visit the mountain..."

The strategist descended the mountain, and not long after, he returned, saying, "Stronghold Master, the one who came to visit the mountain from below is none other than Lý Thành, the County Magistrate of Thanh Huyện!"

"Good heavens! The County Magistrate himself is visiting the mountain? Is he here to congratulate this Stronghold Master on his joyous grand wedding?" The Stronghold Master slightly furrowed his brow, yet his face showed a smug satisfaction.

"Stronghold Master, how should we deal with this?" one of the leaders asked.

"Gentlemen, follow this Stronghold Master down and see. If this Lý Thành has come to offer congratulations, then we shall entertain him well with food and drink. If he has come to cause trouble, we shall simply throw him down the mountain!"

The Stronghold Master stepped out, swaggering confidently towards the foot of the mountain.

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