RWNEFE -Chapter 150 Appointed as Minor Flag Commander!

There’s no such thing as miraculous foresight in this world—unless someone is the true mastermind, the original instigator! Whether the bandits would act, she didn’t know.

But when it came to the people under her command, all it took was a single order from her to make them move.

Soon, Niu Zhuang returned with their appointment orders.

“Lanxi, for your merit in rescuing Centurion Cao, the Commander-in-Chief has issued orders: you are promoted to Minor Flag Commander.”

“Hu Zhu, promoted to Decurion…”

“Xiao Fang…”

Along with their promotions, Niu Zhuang was promoted as well—jumping straight to the position of General Flag Commander.

A General Flag commands fifty soldiers; a Minor Flag commands ten.

Shen Lanxi now held the rank of Minor Flag Commander, a seventh-rank position—an official status for a soldier.

Niu Zhuang said, “Commander Tian ordered us to eliminate the bandits before spring. Complete the task, there’s a reward; fail, and you answer with your heads!”

Shen Lanxi replied, “We accept the order!”

Niu Zhuang was heavily injured. After returning, he stayed in bed, leaving the full responsibility of the anti-bandit mission to Shen Lanxi.

“He’s just faking illness to pass the task onto us. If we fail, he’ll pin the blame on us,” Wei Dongzhu muttered.

Shen Lanxi sneered. “Does he think we’re idiots? Wasn’t he already taken away by the main army?”

“Master, you mean he faked the injury?” someone asked.

Shen Lanxi clarified, “It’s not just him.”

Besides Niu Zhuang, there were several others left behind with injuries to guard the garrison. Coincidentally, all their injuries were to the legs. What kind of coincidence is that?

Xiao Fang said angrily, “He smiles at us, and I thought he was a good man. Turns out he’s just a soldier!”

Shen Lanxi said coldly, “If people don’t provoke me, I don’t provoke them. If they do, I destroy them.”

“Master, do you have a plan?”

Shen Lanxi looked at the group. “We all have official positions now, each commanding ten soldiers. Niu Zhuang has given me full authority. His fifty soldiers, plus mine, give us a total of sixty. All of us together can easily command two hundred soldiers.”

Wei Dongzhu’s eyes lit up. “The Dayu Village garrison was wiped out by the bandits. They’re probably recruiting there now. If we can join forces, we could raise at least three hundred soldiers!”

Shen Lanxi nodded. She thought: no wonder he’s experienced in war.

“You go inform Niu Zhuang to request permission from Tian Maofeng, and get the Dayu Village garrison to assist.”

“Yes, sir!”

Shen Lanxi addressed them all, “Ten days. We must form a unit capable of basic offensive operations within that time.”

Feng Wu said, “Instead of recruiting outsiders, let’s use our own people!”

That was exactly Shen Lanxi’s idea. They had trained along the way; now it was time to test the results.

“Go to Hongliu Village and bring half the women from Liu-Zhao Village. Then recruit more through Zhang Liao.”

Feng Wu understood and immediately set off back to Hongliu Village.

“These bandits come and go like shadows. The authorities and garrisons have no intelligence on them. Xiao Fang, you spread the word that a batch of government food supplies is being sent to Baihe County, arriving soon.”

Xiao Fang raised an eyebrow. “Master wants to lure them out?”

Shen Lanxi nodded. “Finding them is like searching for a needle in the ocean. So, I’ll let them come to us instead.”

Xiao Fang’s heart leapt, and he hurried away.

A day later, Zhang Liao arrived with recruits.

Shen Lanxi calmly watched the Shen family men, her gaze passing over them to familiar faces—all the adult males who had been exiled together.

“Hu Zhu, Liu Yanhui, take half the men to Dayu Village. Enter the garrison and seize control as soon as possible!”

“Yes, sir!”

“The rest of you, divide into ten groups and train the new soldiers!”

“Yes, sir!”

Five days later, at noon, a supply convoy slowly reached the area near the Dayu Village–Baihe County border.

A pale young man leaned against the grain sacks with a staff in hand, resting with his eyes closed.

The sound of hooves was suddenly pierced by a sharp eagle-like cry. The horses stamped nervously and shook their heads.

“Master, they’re here!”

Wei Dongzhu put on his mask, lightly tugged the reins, and slowed the wagon.

“Stop! Rest here for a while!” he shouted.

“Yes, sir!”

The ten wagons behind stopped, and everyone jumped down to rest.

Two squads hidden on the snowy slope slowly sank into the snow, blending perfectly with the white surroundings.

In a distant mountain hollow:

“Boss, look! Ten wagons, all grain! We can steal it and sell it for a fortune!”

“We just sell? With this much grain, we don’t need to work again this winter!”

“Idiot! A few days ago, we raided Dayu Village and Baihe County garrisons and barely got a few sacks of grain. Word is the south is at war, and all the grain is gone. Even if we steal gold or jewels, we can’t buy grain. We have to eat it first; whatever’s left, we sell!”

“Exactly! Second-in-command speaks wisely!”

The boss squinted and smirked. “Once they’re full, we strike!”

“Yes! Our boss is generous—let them eat and get fat!”

“That guy just knows how to flatter!”

Smoke curled from the cooking fires. The supply convoy soon ate and drank their fill.

Suddenly, a rustling sound came from nearby, followed by a group charging with weapons!

Shen Lanxi sat calmly by the fire, her staff planted firmly in the snow, unmoved by the wind.

At the moment a bandit reached the lead wagon, a cold shout rang out: “Attack!”

Wei Dongzhu raised his right hand. Soldiers hidden on the right snowy slope sprang from the snow. Some ran, some slid down!

“Ambush!” shouted the second-in-command.

The boss said steadily, “Don’t worry. Even with an ambush, they are outnumbered by us!”

Wei Dongzhu drew his spear and yelled, “One head, two taels of silver, one pound of rice!”

The cry electrified the soldiers sliding down the right slope. They raised their weapons and charged recklessly at the bandits.

Wei Dongzhu led the Wei family soldiers to seize the bandits’ horses, fighting fiercely with their spears.

One soldier, one horse down—they targeted mounted bandits.

The soldiers on the left slope, hearing Wei Dongzhu’s call, grew impatient.

“Lord Xiao, when do we charge? One head, two taels, one pound of rice—that’s enough to feed my family for a month!”

“Yes, Lord! Let’s charge too! If we wait, the bandits will kill everyone!”

Every bandit killed reduced their opposition, and they wanted spoils to take home.

Xiao Fang lowered his voice: “Orders are orders. If you disobey, I’ll cut off your heads!”

Hearing that, the restless soldiers fell silent.

Even Xiao Fang itched to charge, but he couldn’t—the order to kill bandits was not his command.

Suddenly, Xiao Fang saw someone fleeing.

He shouted, “We’ll follow quietly and wipe out their nest!”