43: Chapter 0043 Becoming a Concubine

"Bandits?"

Hearing this, Lin Xiao frowned.

The supplies that the Shibao Border Army had sent over last were mostly seized from the Northern Barbarians.

Although it wasn't much, in times of war, every mouthful of grain was a lifesaver.

"Is it a group of bandits with the character 'Song' embroidered on their chests?" Su Wansha immediately asked.

The Border Army soldier nodded hurriedly: "Exactly! There are only fifty or so of these bandits, but they are skilled in horsemanship and possess great martial strength!"

"Our brothers were simply no match for them. Plus, we had the commoners of Stone Fortress to protect, so in the chaos, they managed to snatch away several carts of supplies!"

Lin Xiao couldn't help but look at Su Wansha and asked: "Miss Su knows this group?"

Su Wansha didn't have the time to throw a tantrum and nodded seriously.

"Wansong Stronghold is a group of bandits that appeared last year in the area of Wansong County, which is closest to Baishui City."

"These people are familiar with the terrain and possess formidable martial arts; they are not your average highway robbers."

"The government has mobilized troops to encircle and suppress them several times, but they were defeated one by one, suffering significant losses."

"Furthermore, Wansong Stronghold never robs civilians, only government officials and wealthy merchants. Many among the populace secretly praise them, calling them chivalrous heroes who rob the rich to help the poor."

Lin Xiao let out a soft snort: "It seems our Shibao Border Army has really made it big, to have been targeted by such 'chivalrous heroes'?"

When bandits rob, on a small scale, it just means the loss of some property.

But on a larger scale, it concerns the security of the entire Baishui Prefecture and the foundation of steady development.

Lin Xiao had taken huge risks to secure this small base in these chaotic times; he could not let a few pests spoil the whole pot.

"Miss Su, do you know anyone familiar with the situation at Wansong Stronghold?"

Su Wansha was stunned: "You want to suppress the bandits? That group is not to be trifled with."

Lin Xiao smiled: "If I can't even handle a group of bandits, how can I manage Baishui Prefecture?"

"As the saying goes, if one cannot sweep a single room, how can one sweep the world?"

Su Wansha's beautiful eyes flickered!

Sweep the world? Is this his true ambition!?

For some reason, when others said this, she would think it was just empty talk of ideals.

But coming from Lin Xiao, it sounded so pleasing...

"I will take you there!"

"You?"

"Don't forget, I am the owner of Baiyu Pavilion. Where do you think the most reliable intelligence in the entire Baishui Prefecture comes from?"

Su Wansha gave a faint, knowing smile, a trace of pride appearing in her beautiful eyes.

Lin Xiao suddenly realized. Good heavens, he had underestimated this woman; to think she had this intention when opening a restaurant!

It seems that only being able to see three traits is somewhat limiting; this woman actually has the potential to work in intelligence!

"Suppressing bandits is dangerous. Can you handle it?"

"Stop looking down on people!"

Su Wansha took a step, lightly mounted her horse, and looked quite heroic.

"This young lady is not some weak woman without the strength to truss a chicken!"

Seeing that she had 7 years of swordsmanship cultivation, Lin Xiao figured she should barely be able to protect herself, so he let her be.

Lin Xiao had his men return to inform General Zhao Kuan that he was going to Wansong County, and then he set off immediately.

Su Wansha was somewhat puzzled: "You aren't bringing troops?"

"No need. Making a big fuss will only alert the enemy."

Lin Xiao smiled confidently: "Besides, I've even charged into the Northern Barbarian camp. What is there to fear from a mere Wansong Stronghold?"

Su Wansha's heart trembled: "Is the intelligence true? Did you really kill your way into the Northern Barbarian vanguard camp alone and kill Bate?"

Lin Xiao directly took out the Skull Ghost Head Blade and the wolf fang cold moon blade.

"Bate's blade, and the blade of Bota, the young master of the Greedy Wolf Tribe."

Seeing the gleaming mystic grade treasure blade, Su Wansha had to believe it even if she didn't want to.

This man... is truly valiant!

Su Wansha's heart pounded, and her pretty face couldn't help but heat up; she dared not look at Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao did not know that Su Wansha had grown up in the borderlands and deeply detested the Northern Barbarians, who were always burning, killing, and looting.

Therefore, she felt a special admiration and affection for a hero like Lin Xiao who killed barbarians.

Coupled with Lin Xiao's "talent" in poetry, he could be called both civil and martial!

"Why is he already married... If only he weren't married..."

"Being a concubine... I am not reconciled to that... Besides, Father and Teacher wouldn't agree either."

Thinking wildly along the way, after riding for more than half an hour, they arrived at Wansong County.

The livelihood of the people in Baishui Prefecture was already desolate, let alone the county towns below it; there were refugees wandering the streets everywhere.

Su Wansha brought Lin Xiao to a somewhat dilapidated temple.

In this place, someone was setting up a shed to distribute porridge.

The refugees lined up in long queues, all for some watery rice porridge.

Lin Xiao took a look and discovered that this porridge, which had hardly any rice grains in it, was mixed with tree bark, grass roots, and Guanyin clay.

It was likely, first, to fill their stomachs, and second, to weed out those who were just trying to take advantage.

"Sister Mu!"

After dismounting, Su Wansha waved at a woman wearing a headscarf with a soot-covered face.

The woman looked up, saw Su Wansha, and grinned, revealing a mouthful of bright white teeth.

"Boss Su!"

The woman wiped her hands on her apron, had others continue serving the porridge, and ran over herself.

Su Wansha introduced: "This is Sister Mu, Mu Xin. Her father is the village chief of Wansong Village."

"Regarding the whereabouts of those bandits from Wansong Stronghold, the villagers of Wansong Village who hunt are the most knowledgeable."

"During the last two suppression attempts, it was also Village Chief Mu who led the way, allowing us to find the bandits' stronghold."

"It's just a pity that the bandits were too cunning, and neither attempt succeeded in the end."

Mu Xin looked at Lin Xiao somewhat nervously, "Boss Su, this military officer is..."

"His name is Lin Xiao, a Commander of the Border Army. Since his supplies were snatched by Wansong Stronghold, he wants to ask for your help."

"Leading the way..." Mu Xin was a bit hesitant: "This... haven't we tried that before? Should we still go?"

"The supplies are very important to us. I ask for Miss Mu's help; you only need to let me know the location of the other party," Lin Xiao said, cupping his hands.

Mu Xin hesitated for a moment, then nodded reluctantly: "Alright."

Su Wansha apologized: "Sister Mu, I'm really sorry to trouble you."

Mu Xin hurriedly shook her head, "Please don't say that. If it weren't for Boss Su's generosity, many children in our village would have starved to death."

"I have only done a little to help. Unlike you, Sister Mu, who takes care of so many people and even uses the money earned from hunting to distribute porridge..."

Su Wansha turned back and said: "Commander Lin, Sister Mu and her family are all very good people. Since they are leading the way, you must also protect their safety."

"That goes without saying!"

Lin Xiao smiled brightly; he had to admit, Su Wansha really knew how to find a guide!

[Mu Wanying, 23 years old, daughter of the former General of Agile Cavalry Mu Tiexin of the Great Gan, leader of Wansong Stronghold, aptitude: Earth Grade]

[Cultivation Method 1: Mu Family Mental Method (35 years of cultivation). The Mu Family has been in the military for generations; the cultivation method has been tempered through thousands of trials, suitable for various weapons, and suitable for breaking formations and killing enemies. Grade: mystic grade]

[Cultivation Method 2: Iron Strokes and Silver Hooks (31 years of cultivation). A spear technique created by the founding emperor of the Great Gan, passed down among the nobility. When the spear strikes, it is like a silver dragon. Grade: mystic grade]

[Traits: Mu Family Descendant (Special), General's Talent, Spy]