Too Many Thieves in All Under Heaven (5)
"Whoa, whoa."
Jang Je pulled his horse to a halt, scanning the land his men had just ransacked.
"What fine land this is."
Even in winter, the terrain told him everything he needed to know about how well it had been tended. Compared to the ravaged fields around Luoyang and Chang'an that he'd seen—laid waste by plunder—this Jingzhou soil was rich and fertile at a glance. No traces of looting, the signs of human habitation still intact.
In Jang Je's memory, it evoked the Taiping era before the Yellow Turban Rebellion, a rare time of peace. Nothing like Yangzhou's barren wastes, the charred ruins of Luoyang, or Chang'an bloated with embezzlement. A place too perfect for people to live.
If he weren't a warlord and the realm were at peace, he might've fancied building a manor here and living out his days. But.
No.
"Not anymore."
Fwoosh.
"Set it ablaze."
At Jang Je's raised hand, the soldiers lit the fires. Where had they gotten firewood for torches in midwinter? The houses themselves. They smashed wooden homes, ripped off planks, and set them alight.
They plundered farmsteads in northern Jingzhou, emptied granaries to fill their bellies, stole utensils to stuff their pockets.
"Burn it all. Make sure they know we passed through."
"Yes, sir!"
Not content with pillars, they torched the ripped planks toward what had once been homes. Flames roared to life, devouring the abandoned structures as black smoke billowed into the snowy expanse. A nose-stinging stench mixed in, but the soldiers, accustomed to it, didn't even cover their faces as they spread the blaze.
Seizing food, valuables, indulging in rampant looting and abuse. Some might call them bandits, but what of it?
"This is resupply."
The proper way for an army to provision itself.
"Jingzhou's outskirts are tough living, huh? So many fleeing the chaos."
"No doubt. With rebels against His Majesty swarming the land, the people can't return to their homes amid the wars. Haha."
"Truly tragic for the folk."
The original residents? Fled or dead. Every house had been empty from the start. Those that weren't soon became so, owners deemed to have journeyed far away. Strictly speaking, since the goal was "resupply," no need to kill needlessly.
Unless it wasn't needless.
If they hindered provisioning, if the army needed to eat...
"General! Found the estate steward's granary. Hidden basement vault too."
"Oh? Anything good inside?"
"Looks like it, but facing off against ten private guards."
"Let's go."
Jang Je spurred his horse with his aide toward the granary. The manor was already a smoldering ruin, red bloodstains splashed like decorations everywhere.
Screeech.
Jang Je descended into the granary, savoring the shouts from below. Dim without torches, but beyond their glow, an old man and ten able-bodied men trembled, swords in hand—clear as day.
"Calm down! Fetch your leader! I'll negotiate with him!"
The elder, sword shaking in his grip, bellowed threats at the soldiers. Those behind him gripped their blades uneasily, guarding his back.
"As for me—"
"I'm the boss."
Jang Je shoved soldiers aside and stepped forward. The elder and guards blanched at the blood caking his armor.
"...Great hero!"
The old man dropped his sword, clasping hands in salute before Jang Je.
"We beg your boundless mercy! If you seek wealth, take half—spare our lives, I implore!"
"Spare you in exchange for half the granary? Hm."
Jang Je stroked his chin beard.
"Reminds me of what the Chancellor said. Never thought I'd echo him."
"Pardon?"
"Men."
Jang Je lowered his hand with a murmur.
"Kill them all. Take it all."
"You—"
Twang!
Arrows flew at the owner and guards blocking the entrance.
"Gahk!"
No chance to speak—they crumpled, riddled like hives. Straight corridor, one-way slaughter for the defenders.
"Urk..."
The granary guards fell too. Now, an ownerless vault.
Step, step.
Jang Je trampled corpses into the depths, flung open the inner doors. Torchlight gleamed on a golden feast—he grinned wide.
"Ha. Hoarding all this, yet offering half? A third wouldn't suffice. Stingy old fool—that's why you don't die in your bed."
"General. Soldiers found carts. Bundle up and send to the wife?"
"Yes. How many cattle from those farmsteads earlier?"
"Twenty."
"Good. Have five pull them. The rest fifteen—we'll divide and eat."
"Yes, sir."
Jang Je and his men's efficiency was ruthless. Plunder streamlined for maximum gain.
"Slaughter the cattle. Cut 'em up, roast as you like."
"Fire..."
"Fire everywhere—what's the joke?"
Midwinter snowfield, yet warm as Jang Je said. Snow melted from flames, soaking the earth briefly.
"Pity no liquor. Lads! Sorry! We'll divvy it after taking Yangyang."
"Hahahaha!!"
Plunder veterans. Experts at seizing others' goods—wealth, lives alike.
While Jia Xu and Guo Jia were famed in the Central Plains, Chang'an folk dubbed Jang Je and Fan Chou the "Four Great Bandits" alongside Lü Bu and Zhang Ji. Dong Zhuo's heirs.
Twisting officials, selling posts, looting civilians, rampant villainy with blades drawn. The true face of the army from Chang'an.
"Damn. Oiled my throat with beef fat—now craving warmer spots."
"Surely not heading further south?"
"Exactly. Let's push on. No one in this backwater Jingzhou to stop us."
Jang Je jabbed his gnawed rib bone southward, grinning ferociously.
"I, Jang Je, have come to Jingzhou. Now that I'm here, treat me as your Inspector and serve accordingly."
He bared his teeth toward richer southern lands.
* * *
"Human greed knows no bounds. Get one, crave three; get three, hunger for ten. That's the heart."
"Teacher's right."
I dressed alongside Sima Yi, donning civil official robes like county office folk. No armor. It would undermine the sincerity of what I planned to say.
"Yi. You sure you're okay?"
"Of course, Teacher. I'll guard this place with you."
Sima Yi fastened her garb with a resolute face. Long hair in a topknot, thick overcoat to conceal her form. Thus, she passed for male.
Disguise, yes—but mainly to hide her gender.
"Might see battle."
"How could I hang back if you lead?"
Sima Yi stepped behind, hand on my back.
"Besides, someone must stop you fleeing like a coward."
"You."
"It's true. You rallied everyone to fight bandits—then bolt first? We'd all die."
Sima Yi pinched my cheeks.
"You look the flying general, can't flee first."
"What if I do?"
"Petty man's way. You're ordinary, so fine. But with a woman on the field, your pride as teacher keeps you till the end. Near death."
"Ha, haha..."
Scary because she'd ensure it. I'd eye escape, see her unmoving behind, pride forcing me forward. That's me.
Thus, grateful for Sima Yi.
"Blood might splatter."
"I know. My plan, scheme, strategy. My words will kill men."
"Yi."
"Don't worry. I won't let you bear sole blame. I devised it. And..."
Sima Yi donned her official cap.
"Like Xun You felled Sun Jian as Huang Zu's general, I'll topple the Jang bandits as Prefect Mun Bing."
No hint of defeat in Sima Yi's eyes. I feared failure to madness; her boldness shamed me as elder.
"...So stay by my side, Teacher."
No. She feared too. Tremor in her hand on me.
"Yi. I thank you truly."
"Grateful? Promise me one thing."
"Pre-battle vow? Risky."
"Fine. Boosts morale."
Sima Yi pointed north.
"After this, straight to Henei."
"Henei?"
"Yes. Defeating thousands despite odds—Father will approve."
Sima Yi smirked, hand back on my back.
"He adores loyal patriots."
"Me, a patriot? Nonsense. If this is loyalty, the realm's full of saints."
"Why not? Hero sending Dong Zhuo's dogs to the underworld."
Sima Yi handed me the cap. I knelt; she placed it atop my head.
"......Right."
Time to set aside scholar's robes.
"Let's go, Yi."
I adjusted the cap on my head.