Chapter 26: Offering You a Future:
Lei Ying stood and looked toward the imperial army, realizing it was still just five thousand troops. The number hadn’t changed. This left him completely puzzled. Did they really think such a small force could take down Vulture Mountain? Were they just here to die?
“Lei Zhan, pass down the order—double the patrols. We must prevent the imperial army from circling around and climbing up the cliffs to ambush us.”
“Got it. If they dare try anything, we’ll make sure not even their bones are left behind,” said the second-in-command, Lei Zhan, full of excitement.
Lin Yue rode his horse to the front of the army. At that moment, several shopkeepers stepped forward and respectfully greeted him.
“Greetings, Your Highness!”
“No need for formalities, gentlemen. Today, I’ll be relying on all of you.”
“The moment we received Your Highness’s message, we rushed over. We’ll do everything we can,” one of them said.
Lin Yue nodded slightly and motioned to Xiao Cui, who handed him a wooden megaphone. Lin Yue held it up and shouted loudly, “I am the Sixth Prince of the Great Yuan Empire, acting under the Emperor’s command to eliminate the threat of Vulture Mountain. Who leads your stronghold? Do you dare face me and speak directly?”
The bandits on Vulture Mountain stirred with commotion, stretching their necks to see what was happening. They couldn’t understand why the Great Yuan Empire would send a prince to lead the army. Was there no decent general left in the empire? Or was this Sixth Prince actually skilled in war and confident he could break through Vulture Mountain?
Since the shout was directed at them, Lei Ying naturally wouldn’t back down. He stood atop the fortress gate and shouted back, “I’m the chief of Vulture Mountain! Say what you’ve got to say!”
Lin Yue smiled brightly and cupped his hands politely. “So you’re the chief of Vulture Mountain. A pleasure to finally meet you!”
“Drop the fake politeness! Whatever tricks you’ve got, bring them on! None of us on Vulture Mountain are cowards. If you don’t want to die, you’d better retreat before you suffer needless losses.”
Lin Yue shouted back, “This prince has no intention of shedding blood. After all, many on your mountain are innocent. You men are descendants of soldiers from the former dynasty, not inherently evil. I’ve also had people thoroughly investigate your stronghold. You haven’t been robbing villagers or harming the innocent, which proves you have a code of conduct, unlike ordinary bandits.”
Lei Ying sneered coldly. “Cut the nonsense! What do you actually want? Did you bring five thousand troops just to compliment us?”
“Of course not! I’ve come to offer you a future.”
“A future? So you’re here to recruit us? Forget it. We live self-sufficiently on this mountain. We don’t need to be ruled by your court. Life here is as free and carefree as it gets. You’ve sent troops many times before, and they all failed. What makes you think we’d surrender now?”
Lin Yue patiently replied, “That’s where you’re mistaken. Maybe you, as the chief, feel free and comfortable. But have you considered the ordinary people living here? Can they eat their fill? Are they warm? When they get sick, can they receive proper treatment? Do you plan for your descendants to stay trapped on this mountain forever, never able to experience the outside world?”
“Hmph, spare me the sweet talk! At least here, we don’t have to fear corrupt officials or pay taxes. We survive on our own strength. That’s better than life outside.”
“Even if you’re right, have you thought about this—The Great Yuan Empire is growing stronger by the day. Just because we couldn’t wipe you out before doesn’t mean we won’t in the future. When the day comes that you’re fully surrounded, you won’t even have the chance to surrender.”
“Don’t try to scare me! If you want to threaten us, get past the mountain gate first!”
Lin Yue stayed calm. “Besides this main path, there are four other narrow trails that lead to Vulture Mountain. Though steep, they can be used in emergencies to get people in and out. All of them are now sealed off. While there are a few springs on the mountain for drinking and irrigation, the water sources are located outside. If we cut those off, you’ll have trouble even getting drinking water, let alone watering your fields. Once we surround you, your food will run out sooner or later. Yes, the mountain is easy to defend and hard to attack, but surrounding you is just as easy. As long as we block the main routes, none of you will be able to escape. And right now, the vegetation on the mountain is at its thickest. If I order my men to set the mountain ablaze, how long do you think your people will last?”
Each word Lin Yue spoke hit directly at their weak spots, and Lei Ying’s face grew paler with every sentence.
This was Vulture Mountain’s biggest secret—something no outsider had ever known. How did a prince find out? Had someone on the mountain betrayed them?
Lei Ying’s heart skipped a beat. But he quickly shook his head and pushed the thought aside. He trusted that no one in the stronghold would betray them. Nor would they even get the chance.
Gritting his teeth, he shouted, “Then give it a try! Even if we die, every person on Vulture Mountain will take you down with them!”
Lin Yue saw that Lei Ying’s mental defenses were beginning to crumble, and his chances of success had just increased.
“No need to get so worked up. I already said I didn’t come here to start a fight. I came to offer you a better future. Also, there are a few people I’d like you to meet.”
After speaking, Lin Yue gave a signal to the shopkeepers. A few of them stepped forward and greeted Lei Ying.
“Chief, it’s been a long time!”
Lei Ying’s expression turned uneasy. “Were you all arrested by the government?”
Then he suddenly flew into a rage. “You damned officials! Why did you arrest innocent people? Even if these merchants did business with us, they never harmed anyone!”
“You’re mistaken, Chief. His Highness the Sixth Prince is actually our employer—it’s not what you think,” one of the shopkeepers explained. “For years, we’ve been supplying Vulture Mountain with medicinal herbs, paper, ink, cloth, and more. All of it was under the orders of His Highness.”
Lei Ying was dumbfounded. He couldn’t understand—why would a prince be helping their stronghold?
They had been surrounded for years. Supplies were extremely scarce, especially medicine and clothing. When people got sick, they had to endure the pain. Clothes wore out quickly and were patched over and over. Though they secretly sent people down the mountain to buy things, it was never enough to meet the needs of the entire population. Many had nothing left to wear and had to use leaves as clothes.
It was only in recent years that merchants began bringing them goods, and to them, these traders were saviors. But now, they were being told that the one behind it all was a prince of the Great Yuan Empire.
He couldn’t believe it—no matter how hard he tried.