Chapter 37: Setting Out for the Heist

After three rounds of drinking, the atmosphere grew tense. Gao Jie pulled Li Yi aside and asked anxiously, "Captain, are we really going to rob the Ai family's shipment tomorrow?"

Li Yi glanced around and smiled. "The Zhenyuan Escort Agency sent a letter to the Ai family, saying the goods would arrive at Guanzhuang on the thirteenth day of the twelfth lunar month."

"The thirteenth? Isn't that the day after tomorrow?" Gao Jie inquired.

Li Yi nodded with a slight smile. "Once these goods enter Mizhi County, the Ai family will certainly send men to meet them. So our only chance is before their escort arrives—attack the Zhenyuan Agency and seize the shipment."

"But with goods this important, there will be plenty of armed guards."

"Then we use our wits, not strength."

Li Yi led Gao Jie to a pile of firewood, where he dug out several cloth bundles.

Gao Jie picked one up and cried out in surprise, "They're Inspectorate badges!"

Li Yi laid out his plan in detail. Gao Jie's eyes widened, and he clapped his hands in approval.

"Tomorrow, I'll take the Fourth Squad and act according to plan. You lead the able-bodied men from Gaojiazhuang and Lijiazhuang to support us outside."

"Isn’t that too few people?" Gao Jie worried.

Li Yi patted him on the shoulder, confident. "They’re in the open, we’re in the shadows. So long as we plan well, we’ll succeed in one fell swoop."

That night, Li Yi summoned Gao Honest and Li Zijing, telling them of his intent to rob the Ai family’s goods.

Li Zijing was shocked. "Brother Yi, didn't you and the Ai family reconcile?"

Li Yi gave a cold laugh and told of the Ai family’s plot against him.

Li Zijing, though angry, tried to dissuade him. "Brother Yi, this is too dangerous. The Ai family is powerful; we needn’t make enemies of them."

"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. If Ai Yingjia and his son want me dead by the border troops’ hand, should I just wait here to die? Brother, against wolves and tigers like them, only if we hurt them, make them fear us, will we ever have peace."

Li Yi was unmoved, his resolve unshakable. Such an opportunity was rare. Fortune favors the bold—if they could seize these heavily guarded goods, not only would the Ai family suffer, but he could also strengthen his own power.

Li Zijing, realizing he could not dissuade Li Yi, sighed deeply. "Brother Yi, I joined the militia only to help you, not to make enemies and shed blood. This time, I won’t take part."

Li Yi didn’t press him, knowing Li Zijing was timid by nature and just wanted to protect himself. "Brother, I’ll pick twelve men from Gaojiazhuang and Lijiazhuang to form a squad. The rest, you drill these next two days."

Li Zijing nodded in agreement.

Li Yi turned to Gao Honest.

Gao Honest grinned. "Captain, those twelve need someone to lead them. I’ll go with you."

Li Yi smiled in relief. Now, everything was ready.

Gao Honest selected twelve able-bodied men and told them of Li Yi’s plan to target the Ai family.

Both villages had long supported Li Yi, but the idea of robbing the Ai family made them uneasy.

Li Yi looked over the men, his tone grave. "You all know how chaotic the world is. The Ai family lives like immortals without working the land. And how did they gain all this? By squeezing it from us. We bleed and toil; they live in luxury. We go cold and hungry; they wear fine silk and feast. Are we to be trampled under their feet forever?"

The young men clenched their fists, stifling resentment burning in their hearts.

Li Yi continued, slow and solemn. "I don’t know what exactly the Ai family is transporting, but it must be something precious. If we seize it, every man here can live well. Last year brought drought; who knows about this year’s harvest? We all have parents, wives, children—do you want them starving and freezing, dying wretched deaths?"

"To hell with it, I’m in!"

"Me too!"

"Let’s do it!"

One after another, the young men agreed, gritting their teeth.

Li Yi was a bit surprised; he thought at least a few would shrink back in fear.

Gao Jie led the men in, hauling in weapons seized from Liu Mazi and Inspector Xu and their men. With their own arms as well, there were just enough to equip everyone.

"No one leaves the yard tonight. At dawn, we move out," Li Yi ordered, then told everyone to bed down with bundles of straw for rest.

Luckily, the wine had dulled their senses and most soon slept heavily.

Gao Honest lay near Li Yi and asked quietly, "Captain, do you know why all twelve agreed to go rob the Ai family?"

"Why?"

"Because of you."

"Me?" Li Yi looked at him, puzzled.

Gao Honest explained, "It's simple. You dare stand up to the Ai family and the authorities. You feed them, teach them skills—they respect and admire you. More than that, they believe following you will lead to a good life."

"They trust me?" Li Yi mused, silent for a long time.

Next day, Li Zijing brought Li to deliver food. Li Yi secretly handed him a money pouch.

Li Zijing opened it to find silver scraps, looking at Li Yi in confusion.

"This is all I have left. If we don’t come back, divide it among their families."

Li Zijing’s face darkened. "Don’t say such things. Take it back."

Li Yi smiled. "Just in case. Many families lack food and clothing. If these men fall, their families will be ruined."

Li Zijing thought it over and nodded, his voice low. "I’ll hold it for now. Just promise—you all come back alive."

Li Yi nodded.

Suide County was not far from Mizhi—just a day’s journey. Li Yi split the group into small bands, avoiding checkpoints and heading toward the main road linking Suide and Mizhi.

In just a few days, the road teemed with even more refugees. Last year’s great drought in Yansui, this year’s constant skirmishes between government troops and the rebels led by Gao Yingxiang and Wang Jiayin—all had left tens of thousands homeless. The roadsides were littered with corpses, wild dogs howling and fighting over the bodies in the weeds.

The situation in northern Shaanxi neared collapse; more died of hunger with each passing day.

When everyone gathered on a hillside by the road, the tragic sights along the way left them heavy-hearted and silent. Even these young men saw the signs of worsening chaos and hardship ahead.

They couldn’t help but look at Li Yi, who had become their anchor without them even realizing it.

Weapons were unloaded from the mules and distributed. The cold steel made the young men nervous, but the Fourth Squad members were relaxed and joking, clearly at ease.

Li Yi knew well—the Fourth Squad were the main force; the others would only assist.

"Captain, what next?" Gao Honest asked.

Li Yi pointed at a patch of withered woods. "Take the young men to chop wood. We’ll need it soon."

He then addressed the Fourth Squad, telling Baldy Liu, "Liu Dayong, you and your men change clothes and go three li north to lie in wait. If you spot the Zhenyuan Agency’s banners, report back immediately."

Chen Dayong rubbed his bald head and responded loudly.

Soon, the Fourth Squad changed into Inspectorate uniforms. Li Yi donned the clothes and iron armor stripped from Inspector Xu, with a saber and short spear at his waist, a felt hat on his head, and the fierce Tiger Tooth spear in hand—he looked imposing indeed.

"Captain, where did you get that armor?" Gao Jie asked, envious.

Li Yi sized him up. Gao Jie wore a saber at his waist, leather armor studded with iron plates, and a thick felt hat—well equipped.

"A few days back, I ran into some fools and took it off them," Li Yi explained, then studied the terrain.

The main road between Suide and Mizhi followed the Wuding River, with hills and gullies everywhere. One side was steep earth slope, the other the river.

Li Yi finally chose a curve in the road, ordering Gao Honest and the others to move the wood there and set up.

Before long, Chen Dayong returned to report—the Zhenyuan Agency’s banners had been sighted. The agency had seven carts, each with a driver, two riders leading the way, about twenty armed guards on either side, the Ai family’s steward and staff as well—over fifty people in all.

"There are only about twenty real fighters, but if things get desperate, the Ai family's staff and drivers will fight too. We might not hold them," Gao Jie said grimly.

Liu Dayong added, "And those two fast horses—they won’t engage us. They’ll dash off to the yamen for reinforcements. If we get delayed, the government troops will arrive."

Escort agencies usually dealt with both sides of the law, greasing palms all the way. If faced with bandits, they’d negotiate first; if talks failed, they’d hold out and call for help. Without official backing, they couldn’t operate.

"Stick to the plan. I’ll handle those two fast horses," Li Yi said firmly.

Gao Jie led the young men away, Liu Dayong and his squad stayed with Li Yi.

As they left, Li Yi pulled Gao Honest aside and cautioned him, "When the fighting starts, keep your formation tight and advance steadily—no reckless attacks. I want everyone to return alive."

Gao Honest understood and nodded gravely.

…

Li Yi hung the Inspectorate badge at his waist, stowed the Tiger Tooth spear in the mule cart, then leaned against it, signaling the others with his eyes.

Liu Dayong and the rest immediately caught on and began mimicking the slouching, casual air of Inspectorate archers—though their hands stayed on their weapons.

After a quarter of an hour, a convoy of carts and horses approached.

A li away, the two riders signaled for the convoy to halt. The guards grew alert, scanning their surroundings.

The two horsemen nudged their mounts forward to the checkpoint. One, a burly man in a sheepskin coat, dismounted.

"Wang Tong of Zhenyuan Escort Agency. May I ask, sirs, what is the matter here?"

Liu Dayong spat on the grass, cocking his head. "You blind or what? The Inspectorate is checking for thieves. Can’t you see?"

Wang Tong’s face darkened. "I have some acquaintance with the county registrar in Mizhi. Would you give us some leeway?"

"I don’t care about your connections. You ought to know the rules—no one passes without a toll."

"But checkpoints are usually on main roads. Why set up here, in the middle of nowhere?"

Wang Tong glanced around, suspicion in his eyes.

Liu Dayong hesitated, unable to answer.

"This spot may be remote, but it’s a mountain road—no place to hide, and good for business," Li Yi said lazily, stretching as if unconcerned.

Wang Tong, catching Li Yi’s meaning, sneered. Lawmen robbing travelers—shameless.

Seeing only eight archers, his suspicion faded. He glanced at Li Yi’s badge and clasped his fists respectfully. "Inspector Xu, these carts carry Ai family’s goods. Could you let us through?"

Li Yi narrowed his eyes. "I dare not offend the Ai family, but my brothers must eat. You’re putting me in a tough spot."

"I understand the rules." Wang Tong produced a silver ingot—about an ounce. "This is for the brothers to drink with; there’ll be more later."

He remounted and signaled the convoy to proceed.

Li Yi leaned back against the mule cart. If he hadn’t spoken up, Wang Tong might have seen through them. Clearly, these men of the road were no fools.