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Xie Cang spoke confidently, clearly disdainful of these bandits.
Xie Cang certainly had the demeanor to say such things. Although young, he had seen all sorts of situations on the battlefield. Why would he be afraid of this group of small-time bandits?
If he had brought his own personal soldiers, he would have immediately dispatched them to wipe out the so-called Dongzi Mountain bandits.
Normally, Xie Cang's words would have made this a trivial matter, but at this moment, Fang Jingzhi's expression showed hesitation.
With some doubt, he said, "Lord Xie, it's not that I am unwilling to borrow soldiers, but this matter is too complicated."
"Complicated? Hmph, just a bunch of bandits, that's all? Before I joined the army, I've already eradicated some bandit groups. Now, because they are in Lingbei, it's complicated?"
Xie Cang's face clearly showed anger. This was just about borrowing soldiers to eradicate bandits, a small matter that should not have required his involvement.
But the stubborn and uncooperative magistrate of Lingbei, instead of cooperating, even claimed it was complicated.
Saying this in front of Su Qi'an was practically a slap in the face. If Fang Jingzhi didn't explain himself properly, Xie Cang would not let him off the hook.
Fang Jingzhi hurriedly explained, "Lord Xie, you misunderstood me. It's an honor for me to have you lead the soldiers to eradicate the bandits."
"But these Dongzi Mountain bandits are not like others. Not only are they ruthless and bloodthirsty, but the position of Dongzi Mountain itself is strategically significant."
"There is only one entrance to the mountain, and over the years, the bandits have fortified it, making it nearly impregnable. The back of the mountain is a steep cliff, several dozen meters high. Even a skilled climber would find it difficult to scale."
"I have been the magistrate of Lingbei for over twenty years, and I loathe these bandits with all my heart. Every year I send soldiers to eradicate them, but they always return empty-handed."
"Not long ago, I borrowed some soldiers from the Prefect during the county exam. We had around two hundred people, including the local constables, and we ventured into the mountain to fight the bandits. But these crafty bandits, who had received word in advance, fled before we even got close."
"And then, while our soldiers were on their way back, the bandits ambushed them. In the ensuing battle, more than ten soldiers were injured, including the county constable, who is still bedridden recovering."
Upon hearing Fang Jingzhi's words, Xie Cang was somewhat taken aback.
After all, he was the Marquis of Lingdong, and although the two counties weren't far apart, he had never heard of such vicious bandits in Lingbei.
Xie Cang asked, "Since these bandits are so ruthless, why not report it and have the Prefect send soldiers to eradicate them?"
Fang Jingzhi smiled bitterly, "Lord Xie, you should understand the situation in Chuandu Prefecture. If there were any uprisings or rebellions, the Prefect would certainly send troops. But this is just a group of bandits."
"Without the county exam opportunity, I might not even be able to borrow soldiers to fight these bandits. Moreover, Dongzi Mountain is wide and open, with the area in front being flat. The bandits can escape at the first sign of any movement."
"Sending soldiers to deal with a group of bandits like this isn't worth the effort. Over the years, these Dongzi Mountain bandits have grown stronger, and wiping them out all at once is no easy task."
Xie Cang understood now that Fang Jingzhi's concerns were valid. The government soldiers would be a waste of resources against such bandits.
Moreover, these bandits were incredibly sly. They never fought head-on and would always flee as soon as they sensed danger. Once the soldiers lowered their guard, the bandits would strike fiercely, slowly wearing down the forces until the army had to retreat due to exhaustion and the consumption of supplies.
Especially since Dongzi Mountain's bandits had perfected this strategy, even if Xie Cang personally led the charge, the outcome was likely to be the same—failure.
But once the challenge was issued, it was like water poured out of a container. If Xie Cang were to retract his words now, it would be as if nothing had happened, and his face would be lost.
It was rare for him to have the chance to prove himself in front of Su Qi'an, yet now he was about to mess it up, and Xie Cang couldn't bear losing face.
Just as Xie Cang was about to forcefully agree to the matter, unexpectedly, Su Qi'an, who had been silent until now, spoke up.
"If I could borrow soldiers from the magistrate once more, I'm confident I could wipe out these bandits within a month."
This time, it was Fang Jingzhi's turn to be stunned. Having dealt with the Dongzi Mountain bandits for so many years, no one knew them better than he did.
The Dongzi Mountain bandits had become a persistent thorn in Fang Jingzhi's side for years.
Dongzi Mountain's location blocked the way between two counties, where the bandits could rob travelers coming down the mountain or retreat into the mountains to escape. For years, the people of both counties had suffered.
But despite this, the government had always been unable to do anything, and the bandits continued to grow stronger. As a result, the counties could not attract merchants, and the local economy was greatly hindered.
More importantly, due to his lack of accomplishments, Fang Jingzhi had been stuck in the position of magistrate for over twenty years with no prospects for promotion.
But if Su Qi'an could help him eliminate these bandits, then Su Qi'an would be his benefactor.
No matter what Su Qi'an asked, as long as he could do it, Fang Jingzhi would agree.
Fang Jingzhi controlled his excitement and quickly asked, "Young Master Su, I know your good intentions, but you can't say such things lightly."
"Lord Fang, I'm not boasting. As long as the magistrate can lend me two hundred soldiers, I'm confident I can wipe out these Dongzi Mountain bandits within a month."
"Young Master Su, are you serious?"
"Once I speak, I will follow through," Su Qi'an replied calmly.
Upon hearing this, Fang Jingzhi couldn't contain his excitement. He laughed heartily, "Hahaha, indeed, true heroes emerge young. With these words from you, Young Master Su, I am confident! Don't worry, I'll handle the soldiers. If there's anything else you need my help with, just let me know, and I'll do everything in my power to cooperate."
Fang Jingzhi tried to hide his excitement. After being an official for so many years, he knew that his reaction might have been a bit too much. He took a deep breath and composed himself.
At this moment, Xie Cang, who had been watching, also showed an expression of surprise. He said, "Since Master Su is so confident, you must have already planned something. This time, I'll be accompanying you to witness Master Su's strategy."
Su Qi'an nodded. This wasn't about showing off but about analyzing the situation.
Su Qi'an had already planned to solve the Dongzi Mountain bandit problem. After all, Dongshan Village was so close, and two months ago, the manager from the inn had been killed along with a few Dongzi Mountain bandits.
Though Su Qi'an had kept his actions covert, the bandits' habits were clear. If several of their men died mysteriously down the mountain, it would be abnormal. Even if no one could link it to Dongshan Village, the proximity meant it would surely have an impact.
Rather than wait and let the problem get worse, it was better to take the initiative.
Previously, Su Qi'an hadn't had the manpower, but now with official soldiers, even if Dongzi Mountain was a fortress, Su Qi'an could still make a breakthrough.
Having a potential threat right under his nose wasn't Su Qi'an's style, and now was the perfect time to use his power to eradicate the bandits once and for all.
For the next few hours, Su Qi'an and Xie Cang, along with Fang Jingzhi, discussed the specifics of the operation.
As the saying goes, "Even when catching a rabbit, one must use their full strength," and the same applied to dealing with bandits. Every detail had to be planned meticulously.
Through the discussions, both Xie Cang and Fang Jingzhi were visibly shaken. After listening to Su Qi'an's strategy for less than fifteen minutes, they were left in deep awe.
In less than a quarter of an hour, Su Qi'an had considered the terrain, personnel distribution, and potential accidents that could occur.
He had even accounted for the logistics and supplies before departure.
This wasn't just a great talent; this was a top-tier strategist.
Previously, Fang Jingzhi had only thought Su Qi'an was a person of great literary talent after hearing his poetry at Wangyuelou, but after hearing the military strategy, he realized that Su Qi'an was also an extraordinary military strategist.
The several strategies Su Qi'an casually mentioned left Fang Jingzhi stunned for a long time.
Now, he understood why Lord Xie valued Su Qi'an so much.
This wasn't just someone with talent; this was a true polymath. If it weren't for Lord Xie insisting on taking Su Qi'an on the mission, Fang Jingzhi would have done everything in his power to keep him.
Such a talent could not be let go; it would be a huge loss.
This discussion lasted two hours, and by the time they wrapped up, the night had deepened, and it was nearly 1 a.m.
Neither Xie Cang nor Fang Jingzhi disturbed Su Qi'an and ensured that he rested as quickly as possible.
Standing there, both men were left with lingering admiration. Even Xie Cang, who had seen countless battles, had to admit that Su Qi'an's planning was nothing short of impressive.
"Lord Xie, I must congratulate you this time. You've truly found a gem. If it weren't for your insistence, I would've kept this talent for myself."
Xie Cang laughed, "Haha, meeting Master Su is my luck. With Master Su's talent, even you wouldn't have been able to keep him. What Su needs is a bigger stage, a place where he can fully unleash his talent."
"That stage, in the end, might even be beyond what I can provide. Master Su is truly exceptional."
Fang Jingzhi was shocked by this comment. Even Xie Cang, with his status, couldn't provide enough for Su Qi'an.
How far could Su Qi'an go? Was it possible that he would...
Fang Jingzhi quickly stopped his thoughts. After over twenty years in office, he understood one thing: "Don't think about things that haven't happened yet."
Even a shining talent, if not at the final step, could still face setbacks. There were too many uncertainties in the process.
And this wasn't something that a mere county magistrate like him could predict. The less he knew, the safer he'd be.
Soon after, Xie Cang, still reflecting, suddenly said, "Remember, everything that happened tonight must be kept secret. If even the slightest word leaks, don't blame me for being harsh."
Fang Jingzhi nodded heavily, swearing on his life.
Xie Cang nodded in satisfaction, saying a few more words to Fang Jingzhi before leaving to rest.
Watching the two men leave, Fang Jingzhi exhaled a sigh of relief, but his heart was full of joy.
After so many years of struggle, he had finally found a huge opportunity. No matter what, Fang Jingzhi would not let this chance slip by.