Yu'er looked down at his small frame. He was tall for his age, but compared to the burly Tatars, he was barely a mouthful.
Moreover, at a distance, he had his bow and crossbow, but in close combat, his chances of winning were almost nonexistent.
Yu'er was a sensible child and immediately nodded at Uncle Chen, agreeing with his elder's words.
Below the battlements, the snow had stopped, and the rolling thunder could no longer be heard.
This was agreed upon by the few; no more group attacks, lest they injure their own.
Gradually, the figures of the Tatars and Japanese pirates appeared within everyone's sight.
Liu Ming burst into laughter seeing them struck by lightning: "Hahaha, they all look like they were dug out of a stove, easy to identify, so we don't hit the wrong people."
Someone else wanted to say something, but fearing they would delay their work, they kept quiet.
Afterward, no one spoke. They all focused on their task.
Their movements were remarkably synchronized.
The soldiers from the Thousand-Household Office could occasionally observe the fighting. The compassionate senior disciple (Xu Jiacan) moved with the agility of a cat, and his long saber, whether fast or fierce, left almost no survivors among the Japanese pirates.
The soldiers watched in awe. Some of them emulated the techniques, and indeed, it was far more effective than brute force, achieving twice the result with half the effort.
Seeing the compassionate senior disciples set the example, Qi Yuanshan's soldiers also benefited greatly. He wielded his large saber with even more vigor.
The battle was fought with great vigor. The military and civilians were united, and fleeing became a luxury for the Tatars and Japanese pirates.
General Liu also arrived with his personal guards upon hearing the news. From a distance, he shouted loudly, "Did you leave any for this general?"
Qi Yuanshan replied, "General, you've come a bit late. You can only help us with the cleanup."
"Frustrating," General Liu wanted to say, "Can't you leave me a couple?"
But it wasn't a sensible thing to say, who would leave enemies during a battle?
However, he arrived in time for the battlefield cleanup, which was still satisfying.
But when he dismounted and peered over the battlements, he was also stunned by the scene of carnage below.
The soldiers from the Eagle's Beak Cliff Thousand-Household Office, along with the residents of Qilin Town and Longcheng Town, totaling only about a thousand people, had eliminated over twelve thousand enemies.
"This ratio is truly heartening. This time, I will recommend you for commendation."
After speaking, General Liu's gaze swept over Lan Tianyao and Xiang Tong several times before pulling Qi Yuanshan aside to whisper.
Qi Yuanshan hadn't expected General Liu to think so far ahead. "Old Qi, since the residents of Qilin Town and Longcheng Town are all people of our Great Ming, let's also maintain these two towns."
Qi Yuanshan was pleased to hear this and agreed without much thought.
Xiang Tong and Lan Tianyao, after hearing this, had the same reaction. After a moment of stunned silence, they stepped forward to thank General Liu.
Seeing that both town chiefs were straightforward, General Liu gave them a suggestion: would they like to become subjects of the Great Ming?
If they were willing, he could find a way.
Upon hearing General Liu's words, Xiang Tong and Lan Tianyao exchanged glances and said in succession:
"Thank you for General Liu's kind offer, we are doing well now."
"Yes, we just like to live freely. Those rigid rules and regulations really don't suit us."
General Liu was somewhat disappointed, but he thought of the stubborn officials in the imperial court and the one above who pretended to be deaf and dumb, and he couldn't bring himself to persuade them further.
He envied the two town chiefs' open-mindedness and wisdom.
Xiang Tong: We simply don't want to be bound by the bad habits and rules of a feudal dynasty.
Lan Tianyao: I just want to breathe every breath of free air.
For freedom, fighting is not a problem.
Similarly, who is afraid of fighting!
...
Five years later
It was the season when wild flowers bloomed on the mountains again.
At the entrance of the Qi family's courtyard, Qi Yuanshan had just dismounted and pushed open the courtyard gate when he saw a cute little bun toddling unsteadily towards him along the bluestone path.
Erhu followed closely, wanting to hold him to prevent him from falling.
The little bun impatiently pushed Erhu's hand away and ran faster.
"Grandpa, Grandpa."
"Hey, Chenchen, run slower."
"Mhm mhm." The little bun promised earnestly, but his little steps did not slow down.
Qi Yuanshan handed the reins to Dahou and quickened his steps to catch his grandson steadily.
"Grandpa, Grandpa, big horse." The little bun pointed a chubby finger at his grandfather's shoulder.
"Okay, Grandpa will give Chenchen a ride on the big horse."
Qi Yuanshan lifted his grandson's chubby body, and the fatigue of body and mind instantly vanished.
"Giggle, giggle, big horse, big horse." Qi Muchen, sitting on his grandfather's shoulders, had a face beaming with joy.
The little fellow suddenly turned his head. He heard the sound of horses' hooves. It was his father's warhorse. He pointed at the gate and said to his grandfather in a milky voice, "Big horse, Daddy."
"Oh, our Chenchen's ears are really sharp. Grandpa didn't hear it, but our Chenchen did."
"Mhm mhm." The little bun proudly nodded his head vigorously, like a chick pecking at rice.
Dahou happily went to open the door. A tall and handsome figure entered from outside the gate.
The little bun extended his chubby hand for his father to carry him.
"Daddy."
"Yes." Qi He took his son from his grandfather's arms and gently bounced him, saying, "This kid has gotten heavier again."
"Your grandfather said yesterday that holding him was tiring for his arm."
"You can't let grandfather hold him anymore; the old man's bones can't withstand his tossing."
"Father doesn't want you to hold him either. But your grandfather insisted on holding him, saying he doted on him enough."
When it came to doting on his grandson, Qi Yuanshan had more to say.
"My grandson, I can never dote on him enough."
"Not enough." The little bun also imitated his grandfather's tone and shouted.
This made Qi Yuanshan so happy that he snatched his grandson from his son's arms and ran around the courtyard. The little bun laughed heartily, his dark eyes curving into crescent moons.
Fu Xinci had been helping in the kitchen. Seeing that the meal was ready, she came out to call her father-in-law and Qi He to eat.
She wanted to take the little bun away so as not to disturb her father-in-law's meal, but the little bun was nestled in his grandfather's arms and refused to come out.
The little bun also had his own little schemes. He wanted to eat with his grandfather because his grandfather would give him whatever he wanted.
He liked to eat meat, and his grandfather would secretly feed him a few bites.
But when he ate with his mother, it was different. His mother only let him eat rice porridge and steamed egg custard, which he was tired of.
Fu Xinci really wanted to say, "You little rascal, you're even playing tricks on me."
Don't you think about who gave birth to you?
Seeing his mother staring at him, the little bun guiltily lowered his head and looked at the ground.