Chapter 40: Beginning to Expand the Militia

Early the next morning.

Li Yi was polishing his Tiger Fang Rifle when Li Guo rushed in.

“Master, Second Uncle brought home a demon. Come and see!”

“In broad daylight? Where would a demon come from?” Li Yi shot him a glance, set the Tiger Fang Rifle aside, and followed him out of the cave dwelling.

At that moment, all the villagers of the Li family hamlet were crowded along the roadside, staring at a woman seated atop a horse.

She had willow-like brows and ruby lips, a slender and delicate figure, with almond-shaped eyes brimming with tenderness. Seeing so many people gathered, she raised her long sleeves to shield her face, feigning shyness, though her gaze betrayed nothing but disgust.

Li Zicheng led the horse, careful not to jostle the woman, guiding her slowly to the doorstep.

“Jin’er, we’re home.”

The woman cast a cold glance at the dilapidated cave, her voice soft as silk: “Husband, I do not wish to live here.”

Li Zicheng went forward, helping her down with gentle words: “I no longer work at the relay station. If you live in the city, I won’t be able to visit often. Stay here for now; when next year’s harvest comes, we’ll move back to town.”

Hearing this, the woman nodded pitifully, melting Li Zicheng’s heart.

Li Yi stepped outside, scrutinizing the woman from head to toe, noting the air of worldliness about her, and frowned.

“Brother, who is she?”

Li Zicheng smiled. “She’s my sweetheart from the city—Han Jin’er.”

Han Jin’er glanced at Li Yi, thinking to herself, “What a handsome young man.”

She offered a graceful salute, her voice soft and sweet: “Greetings, young sir. I pay my respects.”

Li Yi frowned slightly.

If memory served, Li Zicheng’s rebellion stemmed from two reasons: relentless famine, leaving him unable to repay a debt to the Ai family, and his beloved Han Jin’er’s dalliance with another, which, when caught, drove Li Zicheng to murder in fury.

Li Yi drew Li Zicheng aside, speaking quietly: “Brother, you’ve been gone several days just to fetch her?”

Li Zicheng’s cheeks reddened; he waved his hand. “The fellows at the station were reluctant to let me go, so I stayed a bit longer. I planned to move in with Jin’er, but it took a few more days.”

Li Yi shook his head and whispered, “Forgive my bluntness, brother, but this woman is not your ideal match.”

“What does ideal match matter? I like Jin’er, that’s enough,” Li Zicheng replied indifferently.

Li Yi thought to himself, Is that really affection? You’re clearly lusting after her.

Pathetic.

After a few polite words, Li Zicheng coaxed the reluctant Han Jin’er into the courtyard.

Li Yi sighed inwardly; you can’t talk sense into a lovesick fool.

“Captain, the new copper coins are back. When will wages be paid?” Gao Jie approached from a distance, catching sight of the tender Han Jin’er. His eyes brightened.

“Where did that woman come from?” Gao Jie craned his neck, savoring her shapely hips and slender waist.

“She’s quite alluring, quite a catch.”

Li Yi patted his shoulder. “That’s my second brother’s woman. If he hears you, I won’t be able to save you.”

“A pity,” Gao Jie said, regretful, reluctantly withdrawing his gaze.

“Captain, the copper coins have arrived. Honest Gao is guarding them.”

Li Yi nodded. “Then let’s pay the wages.”

Previously, lacking silver, the rural association’s progress had been sluggish. Li Yi couldn’t ask the able-bodied men of Ganquanli to leave their work for training, so everything was voluntary, with him providing some food as extra incentive.

But after robbing the Ai family of their silver, Li Yi suddenly found himself flush with funds, able to realize all the plans he’d dreamed of.

First and foremost, he would pay the able-bodied men for training, attracting more to join and strengthening their ranks.

That afternoon, Li Yi decreed that every participant in the militia could receive three hundred copper coins monthly; squad leaders five hundred, section leaders eight hundred, and captains a whole silver tael.

The announcement stirred the entire group. In the bitter cold of winter, even if they made charcoal or found odd jobs, they couldn’t earn three hundred coins in a month.

Not to mention, training meant learning martial skills, drilling in formation, and having enough food to eat—like a dream come true.

Li Yi finished his speech and distributed, in advance, the promised hundred coins plus the first month’s wages.

Grasping their full pouches of copper coins, the able-bodied men grinned, tears streaming as they laughed and cried.

Goudan, clutching his share, said, “With these coins, I’ll buy my mother a padded coat. She won’t have to stay indoors for lack of winter clothes. I can even get myself a new pair of shoes.”

“Next month it’ll be another three hundred coins—if I save up, within a year I can propose to a wife,” said another excited bachelor.

The men eagerly discussed what they’d buy for their families, how they’d store more grain, and no longer fear missing next year’s taxes.

Honest Gao came over, smiling. “In past years, the militia never even provided food—let alone paid wages. The Captain gives us three meals a day and meat every so often. That’s a huge favor. If anyone fails to follow his orders in the future, their conscience must be eaten by dogs.”

Goudan stood up and cursed, “Anyone who dares defy the Captain’s orders is a scoundrel, worse than a beast. I’d be the first to deal with them.”

The other men chimed in, echoing his words.

Thanks to Li Yi, they had food to eat and wages to collect.

If anyone dared oppose him or undermine the militia, they’d be their enemy, and the men wouldn’t wait for Li Yi’s command—they’d tear the offender to pieces themselves.

After distributing the wages, Li Yi granted the men two days’ rest.

He also announced that recruitment would continue; if any had relatives or friends willing to join, they could come and try out.

That day, the men strode home with heads held high, tossing their coin pouches onto the table, proudly accepting their families’ praise.

Word spread quickly throughout Ganquanli. Everyone asked the men about the militia, and, learning that food and wages were provided, grew eager to join.

The next day, countless villagers dragged their sons to Li Yi’s gate, begging him to accept them.

Li Yi had Yun Niang register them and told them to assemble at the threshing ground in two days, finally persuading the crowd to disperse.

“Uncle, you’re so impressive—so many people come to beg favors from you.”

The coy voice drifted through the fence.

Han Jin’er, fingers poised in an orchid gesture, tilted her head and smiled sweetly at Li Yi.

Li Yi smiled back. “It’s really nothing. Where’s my second brother?”

Han Jin’er sighed, her expression forlorn. “My husband went to the Ai family early to buy seeds, saying he wanted to divide the land quickly so we could farm more next year. He left me alone to guard the empty house, so I’m feeling quite bored.”

Li Yi replied, “My brother has big ambitions. Sister-in-law must bear with him.”

“If Uncle has nothing urgent, you could come and sit with me. A chat would ease my loneliness,” Han Jin’er said, lowering her eyes, looking pitiful.

All foxes under heaven—why play ghost stories with me?

Li Yi was unmoved, smiling politely. “I have business to attend to. Perhaps another day.”

With that, he went straight to the ancestral hall.

Han Jin’er watched his retreating figure, biting her lip in frustration.

“Hmph, if it weren’t for your good looks and your ability to distribute wages, I wouldn’t waste my breath on a village bumpkin like you.”

Han Jin’er cursed inwardly and returned to her room in anger.

Looking at the cracked walls and sparse furnishings of the cave dwelling, her heart was filled with misery.