Chapter 99: Zhang Xianzhong Bows Down

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Liu Zongmin brought several men running down, opened the stockade gate, and waved torches as a signal.

The militia youths, who had been lining up a mile away, came jogging over in formation.

One man led a warhorse forward. Li Yi vaulted onto its back and took the Tiger-Fang Spear from Gao Jie.

“We have fewer than two hundred men, while the bandits number a thousand. To achieve a complete victory, we must make full use of the advantage of surprise. Once inside, set fires wherever the opportunity arises. Then, amid the chaos, cut down and scatter the bandits as they gather. Do not give them time to react.”

He then turned to the twenty Uriankhai cavalrymen.

“You five will form a squad. Set fires in every direction and shout loudly, then pursue and kill any bandits who flee.”

Buyan, seated on horseback, inspected his quiver and said, “Patrol Inspector, rest assured. With me here, I guarantee none of them will get away.”

The task was not dangerous, and the Uriankhai cavalry were more than capable of handling it.

Li Yi nodded. “Move out.”

At his command, Li Yi led Liu Zongmin toward the main compound he remembered.

Hooves thundered as the Uriankhai cavalry spurred their horses into a gallop, hurling burning torches at the thatched huts.

It was spring, and the weather had been clear for several days. The torches landed on the highly flammable roofs, which quickly caught fire.

Fed by the wind, the flames leaped skyward. A raging inferno soon engulfed the houses and began spreading outward.

The sleeping bandits were jolted awake and fled from the buildings in terror. Many had not even had time to put on their clothes.

Barefoot, they stared blankly at the burning huts, unable to comprehend what was happening.

The militia youths moved in squads of ten. Whenever someone came rushing out, they did not hesitate for an instant; they advanced and drove their spears through the bandit's chest.

The shrill screams and roaring flames left the bandits trembling, their eyes darting wildly in every direction.

“The soldiers have broken in! The soldiers have broken in! Run!”

The militia youths shouted as one, while their bloodstained weapons showed no mercy, hacking down every enemy before them.

Before long, the entire small stockade was engulfed in flames.

The bandits wailed for their fathers and mothers and fled for their lives. Without weapons or armor, and unable to find their leaders, they had no means of resisting. They could only run in terror or cry out for mercy.

In less than fifteen minutes, the militia youths had killed more than a hundred bandits and captured several hundred more, without encountering any meaningful resistance.

Li Yi paid them no attention. He led Liu Zongmin and the others straight to the main compound, where they happened to see more than a dozen bandits escorting Zhang Xianzhong outside.

Zhang Xianzhong was hurriedly putting on his armor, his face filled with shock and fury as he looked around.

When he saw Li Yi charging toward him, he cursed furiously, “Li Yi, I swear I’ll kill you!”

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“Want to kill me? We’ll see whether you have the ability.”

Li Yi kicked his horse in the belly and galloped forward. The Tiger-Fang Spear in his hand shot out like lightning.

Zhang Xianzhong did not dare meet the attack. He rolled awkwardly across the ground as two fierce bandits charged forward with loud cries.

Li Yi swept his spear aside and knocked one of them away, then drove the blade straight into the other bandit's eye socket.

With not even time for a scream, the bandit fell dead.

The remaining bandits raised their weapons and prepared to rush him together.

Li Yi brandished the Tiger-Fang Spear and shouted, “I am Li Yi of Ganquan! Who dares come forward to die?”

When they heard that the man before them was the infamous killer Li Yi, the bandits' expressions changed, and they all stopped in their tracks.

Li Yi gave a cold laugh, reined in his warhorse, and pointed at Zhang Xianzhong.

“Eighth Great King, were you not dissatisfied in your heart? If you still refuse to submit, come forward. I will see this through to the end.”

Flickering firelight illuminated Zhang Xianzhong's broad, rugged face.

His eyes remained fixed on Li Yi, but all around him the flames roared, mingled with screams and cries for mercy.

No matter how unwilling he was to admit it, he had once again been defeated by Li Yi.

With a clang, Zhang Xianzhong threw his saber to the ground. He stepped forward with his right leg, dropped to one knee, and raised his clasped fists.

“Patrol Inspector Li, I, Zhang Xianzhong, admit defeat. Kill me or punish me as you wish. I only beg you to spare the lives of my brothers.”

As he spoke, tears glistened in the eyes of this towering man. There was resentment in them, but also regret.

Li Yi dismounted and helped Zhang Xianzhong to his feet.

“When we unite, both sides prosper; when we divide, both sides suffer. Eighth Great King, will you unite with me, or will you choose division?”

With the butcher's knife at his throat and himself reduced to helpless prey, Zhang Xianzhong no longer possessed the arrogance of two days earlier.

He bowed his head and said, “I am willing to unite.”

Only then did Li Yi pull him upright. Turning to Liu Zongmin, he ordered, “Take some men and accompany the Eighth Great King in persuading the bandits to surrender. Order Gao Jie and the others to put away their weapons. No more killing or wounding.”

Liu Zongmin promptly accepted the command.

Li Yi looked at the fierce bandits, who stood at a loss, and reassured them, “This was merely a quarrel born of wounded pride. Once the Eighth Great King and I have settled our differences, all will be well. Do not panic. Just wait quietly.”

The bandits murmured their compliance.

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When one of them saw Li Yi standing, he hurriedly brought over a chair.

Li Yi sat down with the Tiger-Fang Spear in his hand. Not one of the dozen or so fierce bandits beside him dared show the slightest disrespect; they all remained obediently at his side.

Fortunately, the wind was not strong that night, and the flames gradually subsided.

Half an hour passed before Zhang Xianzhong had finally persuaded his men to surrender.

Seeing the state to which his carefully built stronghold had been reduced, his face was black with rage. He clenched his teeth as though a blade had pierced his heart.

Yet when he returned to the main compound and saw Li Yi sitting calmly in the chair, waiting for him, and when not one of the dozen or so ferocious men beside him dared act rashly, he let out a low sigh and stepped forward to bow deeply.

“Patrol Inspector Li, I was blind and failed to recognize Mount Tai. I offended you. Kill me or punish me as you please; I, Zhang Xianzhong, will not so much as furrow my brow.”

Li Yi stepped forward and helped him up with a smile.

“Eighth Great King, you are being too serious.”

Zhang Xianzhong sighed.

“It is only my narrow-mindedness to blame. Patrol Inspector Li tried to advise me out of goodwill, but I made things difficult for you again and again merely to save face. That is why this disaster befell me. If the authorities sentence me to death, I will have brought it upon myself.”

“When did I ever say I would hand you over to the authorities to be sentenced and beheaded?”

Zhang Xianzhong suddenly raised his head and stared at Li Yi in astonishment.

Li Yi smiled.

“Though I am an official and you are a bandit, I am not an official who wishes to kill every hero he meets. This time, I had no choice but to act, and I frightened the Eighth Great King in the process. All I ask is that from now on we cooperate sincerely, cast aside our former grievances, and work together. Would you be willing?”

“Patrol Inspector Li, a bounty has been placed on my head by the authorities. Capturing me and claiming that reward would be a great achievement. Does that not tempt you?”

Though Zhang Xianzhong had been captured, his spirit remained unyielding as he studied Li Yi.

“Indeed, wiping out Zhang Xianzhong and claiming his head would be a great achievement. But I would rather befriend a hero such as the Eighth Great King, so that we may look after one another in the future. As for the high officials of the government, what are they really worth?”

“Good! Those words have made my heart glad.”

Zhang Xianzhong seized Li Yi by the arm and led him toward the main compound.

Then he shouted to several of his men, “Go heat up the wine and meat and bring them out. I am going to have a drink with Patrol Inspector Li.”

The bandits hurried to prepare the feast in the kitchen.

Li Yi and Zhang Xianzhong sat down together.