IDWBE -Chapter 167 The Qian People

The more violently the ground shook, the closer came the thundering of elephant hooves and their trumpeting cries.

Everyone could see the giant, fan-like ears and long, snow-white tusks glinting in the sunlight.

Trees as thick as arms were crushed under their feet.

The garrison soldiers formed ranks—over a thousand bows drawn and arrows ready. The cheering Qian people hurriedly ran ahead of the elephants, shouting to signal them to stop. They weren’t foolish—they certainly didn’t want to see their own tribesmen trampled into a human porcupine.

Hundreds, even thousands, of Qian people—elderly, women, and children—stood between the elephants and the garrison troops. Finally, the elephant troops halted.

Obscured by dust and toppled trees, the elephant army stretched as far as the eye could see.

Kang Bao, the Lian tribe leader, cupped his hands toward Shen Chu. “Prince, don’t be fooled by the two hundred elephants—they look impressive but are mostly useless.”

The Lian and Li tribes had attempted elephant taming before, but the animals were disobedient. Repeated incidents of elephants trampling people had forced them to give up.

Yet looking at the sheer, earth-shaking power of these elephants, Lin Yi was utterly shocked.

If they went to battle like this, forget infantry—even cavalry wouldn’t stand a chance!

Ignoring Kang Bao, Lin Yi turned to Shen Chu. “Treat them all equally, host them well—don’t dampen their spirits. Tell them: if we can break the Ayu army this time, I will reward them with a thousand bushels of grain, a thousand bows, and ten thousand bolts of cloth.”

In the wilderness, grain, cloth, and iron were real currency—far more valuable than gold or silver.

Shen Chu, Kang Bao, and Chen Dashui approached the elephant troops. Shen Chu shouted instructions; Kang Bao echoed them.

The Qian people roared back in response, accompanied by the elephants’ trumpeting.

Language barriers prevented Lin Yi from meeting the Qian leaders directly, so he left all matters to He Jixiang, Shen Chu, and the others.

Within a couple of days, the camps spread across the mountains resembled a bustling marketplace.

The Sanhe laborers brought goods to trade. With just a bolt of cloth and a pair of scissors, they could exchange for tiny nuggets of gold or fist-sized chunks of silver from the Lian and Qian people.

There was no easier way to make money anywhere in the world.

Some were so eager to profit that they traded away knives, axes, pots, and even their clothes. If not for a sense of shame, they might have given away even their undergarments.

In this isolated land, exchanging useless gold and silver for practical goods delighted the Qian and Lian people a hundred times more than the Sanhe laborers.

For a while, over ten thousand laborers were mostly bare-chested and bare-legged, wearing only loincloths or, in some cases, just towels.

Lin Yi, accustomed to being bare-chested, blended right in.

Meanwhile, the local tribes were neatly dressed, walking proudly among the laborers.

Sanhe soldiers looked envious but, bound by military discipline, could not trade their swords, armor, or inner garments.

Finally, Pando returned.

“Prince, after the 3,000 vanguard troops exited the Ten-Thousand Mountains, they did not advance further, only sending out a few dozen scouts. All small matters have been handled.”

“You’re injured?”

Lin Yi noticed the dark bloodstain on his chest.

“Just a minor wound, nothing to worry about,”

Pando patted his chest and laughed. “If nothing goes wrong, in three days another 10,000 troops from Ayu will exit the mountains to join the 3,000 vanguard. Together with laborers, we’ll have around 20,000.”

Lin Yi smiled. “Good work. Go rest and have Hulu apply some medicine to your wound.”

“Thank you, Prince!”

Pando cupped his hands and withdrew.

He Jixiang shouted, “Prince, rest assured. I have set ambushes on both sides of Jinji Mountain. Even the elephant troops will not return.”

Lin Yi said, “When Mei Jingzhi marched south with 100,000 troops, they only managed a stalemate with Ayu’s 30,000.”

“You may not know, Prince,” Chen Desheng, who had accompanied the army despite warnings, said, “Twelve years ago, Mei Jingzhi claimed 100,000 troops, but 40,000 were laborers. Many soldiers were from the north, unaccustomed to Sanhe’s climate. An epidemic broke out, morale collapsed. Only with the full support of local tribes did they manage. Our Sanhe army is different—most are locals. Many outsiders are martial practitioners. No matter how fierce the Ayu troops are, we have nothing to fear!”

“Chen Da’s words are correct,” Bao Kui, still haunted by the defeat at Daxi City, rarely spoke, but now couldn’t resist. “I’ve fought Ayu before. They rely on brute force. When our armies face them, we are no pushovers.”

Everyone argued and debated enthusiastically. Hong Ying quietly poured tea for Lin Yi and stepped out of the tent.

He walked directly to Pando, sitting on a rock resting.

Pando opened his eyes. “Chief, any orders?”

Hong Ying said, “You’re already an eighth-rank master. Who could harm you? Did some expert from Ayu hurt you?”

Pando hesitated. “I went to rescue a porter captured by Ayu. There were many enemies, and I got slightly injured. Sorry for troubling the Chief.”

“You almost died—that’s nothing. Don’t delay the Prince’s plans.”

Hong Ying’s face darkened. He suddenly struck Pando’s chest.

Pando had no chance to dodge. His initial shock turned into calm acceptance. He did not resist.

After a while, Hong Ying withdrew his hand, and Pando rested his hands on his knees.

“Thank you, Chief.”

Though his external wound remained, his internal injury had almost healed.

Pando had to admire the dead eunuch’s incredible skill—he had applied internal energy for so long, yet not a bead of sweat appeared on Hong Ying’s forehead.

Hong Ying asked, “Are you learning our Huayuan Technique?”

Pando panicked. In martial circles, secretly learning someone else’s technique was taboo. He gritted his teeth. “Do with me as you will. I only ask for some leniency until I return to Baiyun City to settle matters with the shopkeeper. After that, I’ll not disobey again.”

“Hmph,”

Hong Ying told Ye Qiu beside him, “From today, teach him the complete Huayuan Technique. Wherever he goes, you go. Stay by his side.”

Without arguing, Ye Qiu turned and followed.

When Hong Ying entered the tent, Ye Qiu patted Pando’s shoulder. “Brother, you’ve really screwed me over. Not only do I have to teach you martial arts, I have to act as your bodyguard!”

“Thanks, Brother Ye,”

Pando was naturally overjoyed.

All his previous Huayuan training had been incomplete; now, with someone teaching him properly, he believed he would improve significantly.