RWNEFE -Chapter 153 Sword Pointed at the Centurion

Similar scenes were unfolding in the other rooms.

Shen Yuanxu and Shen Yuankun each carried two bundles from the corners of the courtyard into the house.

“Father, mother, there’s charcoal in the yard, rice in the bin, meat, and—these are the spoils we seized from the bandits!”

Shen Conglian and his wife were so overjoyed they barely slept all night! Not only those who profited couldn’t sleep—those who didn’t profit also lay awake!

“It’s just a little worthless loot—look at them acting so proud!”

“My son is going to take the civil service exams in the future—he cannot be associating with rough peasants!”

“Aunt, I want to go too~”

The next morning, the Shen brothers got up an hour earlier than usual, waking their father and talking with him for a while.

When they set out again, the cart carried not only several Shen family juniors but also Shen Conglian himself.

“Son, your father can’t lift or carry much—make sure Lanxi arranges a lighter position for me,” he said.

“Yuanjing, especially you—your second uncle is here representing the family to support you. If things get tough, make sure you protect me a little!”

Shen Yuanjing glanced sideways at his second-branch brothers. Shen Yuanxu and Yuankun awkwardly turned their heads elsewhere.

They’d come this far—let’s see what eldest sister has to say!

…

Shen Lanxi sat down and gestured for the people on either side to take seats.

“I’ve called you here today to announce that I’m going to take the position of Centurion before the New Year!”

Everyone on either side was stunned.

The words sounded familiar—they’d just heard this a few days ago!

How quickly was she rising—was her promotion measured by the day?

Cheng Zheng wrote a few characters: “Kill Tian Nong!”

Shen Lanxi watched her subordinates, who were increasingly understanding her thoughts, and nodded in satisfaction.

Liu Yanhui replied, “We just dealt with Niu Zhuang. If we act against Tian Nong now, won’t it raise suspicion?”

Wei Dongzhu said, “Tian Maofeng has many under him. Plenty of people would want the Centurion position—how could he just leave it open for someone below?”

Ordinarily, appointments to important positions first need to satisfy the people around them, unless…

Shen Lanxi smirked coldly: “The Grass Camel Ridge bandits are about to run rampant again!”

Eyebrows raised. Weren’t the bandits already wiped out there?

How did she know they would resurge?

Suddenly, everyone held their breath, staring at her.

Shen Lanxi calmly said, “A small unit of a hundred households—I believe with your skills, it won’t be hard to eliminate them.”

Killing them isn’t difficult; the hard part is that when a new Centurion is sent later, they’ll still need to fight. If every incoming Centurion dies on the way to their post, suspicion will be inevitable.

Wei Dongzhu replied calmly, “Tian Nong must die at the hands of the bandits!”

Liu Yanhui: “Maybe we can make his death a bit more glorious.”

Cheng Zheng: “Protect the civilians!”

Xiao Fang’s scalp tingled—this wasn’t a garrison at all; it was a gang of bandits!

Killing and looting came more naturally to them than to actual bandits.

~

Just a day later, Tian Nong died on the way to Baihe County’s garrison. According to the locals, Tian Nong fought the bandits recklessly to protect the people, moving with courage that touched their hearts. The people of Baihe County were so moved they made a “Ten Thousand People Umbrella” from blood as a gift to Tian Nong.

Even officials from Donglin Prefecture were alerted and inquired with the Suiyuan Government. Suiyuan passed it down to Tian Maofeng, and the pressure came layer by layer, almost bending Tian Maofeng’s old back.

Tian Nong was praised for treating the people like his own children, while Tian Maofeng was scolded for poor management that allowed bandits to run rampant, even daring to kill imperial officers.

Since Tian Nong was promoted by Tian Maofeng, and given Tian Maofeng’s tangled connections in Suiyuan, the merits and faults balanced out. But he was ordered to wipe out all bandits before the New Year, or his post as the Three-County Commander would be given to a capable person.

Tian Maofeng, having schemed all his life, could not tolerate making clothes for others!
He immediately issued a bounty in his garrisons: whoever killed all the bandits would become Centurion.

Shen Lanxi stepped forward without hesitation and, in front of Tian Maofeng, issued a military pledge: if the bandits weren’t wiped out by the New Year, she would present her own head!

The other two competitors, seeing her risk her life for military merit, withdrew. A military pledge was no joke—failure could mean decapitation.

Tian Maofeng admired Shen Lanxi’s audacity. If all his soldiers were like Lanxi, he might have already reached the rank of Marquis.

Tian Nong’s death pleased him enough to grant Shen Lanxi command over the garrison’s troops. He even said, “If troops aren’t enough, recruit more. If provisions aren’t enough, requisition from the county office!”

A sharp gleam flashed in Shen Lanxi’s eyes as she accepted the order.

After returning, she didn’t rush to suppress the bandits. First, she called her people to discuss strategy.

“Tian Maofeng gave me authority to recruit troops and requisition supplies!” A county garrison usually has about 200 men—she could now place 200 of her own people there.

Wei Dongzhu reported: “We now control Baihe County’s garrison and Dayu Tun garrison. There are 150 registered soldiers and 108 unregistered soldiers—258 total!”

Shen Lanxi’s eyes burned with excitement: “We can finally openly recruit soldiers!”

Wei Dongzhu was equally thrilled. If he understood correctly, Shen Lanxi intended to recruit a private force under the guise of official enlistment.

The recruitment notice was posted that day. It promised twenty taels as a settlement bonus, or silver could be exchanged for rice and charcoal.

The moment the notice went up, applicants flooded in.

While Liu Yanhui was registering recruits, he spotted a familiar face in the line.

“Brother Zhang, what are you doing in line?”

Zhang Liao, caught off guard, covered his face in embarrassment.

“Mr. Liu, to be honest, since Cao Lianwang died, my position as squad leader has been forgotten. I thought I wouldn’t be able to recruit soldiers in Hongliu Village, so I might as well handle it myself!”

Of course, he was mainly after the silver and rations.

Liu Yanhui knew of Zhang Liao’s feud with Cao Lianwang. Previously, when Cao Lianwang came to Hongliu Village to collect grain, he demanded too much, causing a fight with Zhang Liao. Since then, Cao Lianwang had been suppressing Zhang Liao. By seniority, Zhang should have been promoted long ago, but he remained a squad leader.

The squad leader’s pay was already low, and the court had delayed half a year in paying salaries. This forced Zhang Liao to leave Hongliu Village to seek opportunity.

Thanks to Cao Lianwang’s ill intent, he inadvertently helped Zhang Liao—he hadn’t been allowed to follow the main force. Now, with Cao Lianwang dead, Zhang Liao benefitted from misfortune.

“Brother Zhang, you don’t need to queue—come with me!” Liu Yanhui called him over.

Zhang Liao was startled—would Mr. Liu accuse him of taking pay he didn’t deserve?