Chapter 248: Trouble in the Mountains

All the village’s mules and donkeys had been gathered at the big rock, their braying echoing one after another.

It had been a long time since they’d last been used for a group outing, and the animals were clearly excited. As they were being harnessed to the carts, some of the more playful ones spun in circles.

Yan Lao’er went from cart to cart, inspecting each one.

Yan Xiangheng followed closely behind.

“These few need their hooves looked at when we get back. Heng’er, remind me later,” Yan Lao’er said.

Yan Xiangheng nodded obediently.

“Everything checks out. Let’s move out.”

Sanbao the ox took the lead, followed by a long line of mule carts.

Liang Fengnian turned to Yan Yu and asked, “Why isn’t your big brother riding the ox cart?”

Yan Yu glanced over and saw her eldest brother preparing to share a cart with Uncle Luo. She couldn’t help but laugh. “Big Brother wants to learn how to drive the cart from Uncle Luo. My dad didn’t teach him properly, and he made a fool of himself last time.”

“Then why didn’t Uncle Yan teach him properly?” the boy asked, puzzled.

Yan Yu thought for a moment. “It’s not that he didn’t want to. Back then, we were still fleeing from famine. There was too much going on, and the mules and donkeys were already exhausted. Just getting them to walk was hard enough, let alone pulling one aside to teach Big Brother how to drive. Once we got here, I think Dad just forgot about it…”

Liang Fengnian couldn’t help but say, “Your Sanbao really is something. I heard your dad took him on a raft yesterday, and he didn’t even flinch.”

Yan Yu grinned proudly. “Everyone in the village says my Sanbao is special. A rare and clever ox!”

“Why aren’t you going with them this time?” Liang Fengnian asked.

Yan Yu shot back, “Then why aren’t you going?”

Liang Fengnian lowered his head slightly. “I saw you weren’t going, so I stayed behind too…”

Yan Yu: Kid, that’s not how this works. If you didn’t want to go, just say so. Don’t use your sister as an excuse.

Still, well… whatever.

“I’m heading out with my dad, so of course I need to give proper instructions before I leave.”

The team couldn’t fall into disarray. Once morale scattered, it was hard to pull back together.

With the adults gone, the Young Scouts assembled.

Not at the big rock—there were too many elders there, not convenient.

Instead, the Yan family’s grove had become the new gathering spot for the Young Scouts.

A group of children stood in neat rows, heads held high, backs straight. Aside from their mismatched clothes patched in layers, they actually looked quite presentable.

Yan Yu was very satisfied and began her speech in a loud, commanding voice.

“You’ve probably heard—I’m going on a long trip with my dad. A team can’t be without a leader, and a dragon can’t be without a head.

While I’m gone, you’ll listen to Brother Er Tie and Brother San Tie. Keep training. Don’t slack off. When I get back, I’ll be checking. Anyone who doesn’t meet the standard will be moved to the reserve team. Only those who perform well can move back up.”

After the stick, came the carrot.

Yan Yu continued, “Today, we’re heading into the mountains. We’re not digging for herbs today. We’re hunting rabbits, pheasants, quails… basically, anything edible. When we come back, we’re having a barbecue feast!”

The kids erupted in cheers!

Their formation fell apart instantly. They couldn’t contain their excitement.

No wonder they’d been told to bring their little wooden bows today—it was a hunting trip!

With a dramatic wave of her small hand, Yan Yu shouted with gusto, “Let’s go, into the mountains!”

Maomao poked her little head out of Yan Yu’s backpack.

Yan Yu pushed her back down, but a moment later, the cat popped right back up.

After a few rounds of this, Yan Yu felt something was off.

She found an excuse to step away from the group and set Maomao down on the ground. “Is something up?” she asked.

Maomao raised a paw, and her claws flicked out one by one.

This was the signal system she and Maomao had agreed on.

Someone was nearby. Armed. Six people.

Yan Yu’s expression shifted slightly.

“Which direction did they come from?”

Maomao pointed toward the northern mountains.

“How far from us?”

Maomao flicked her claws again.

Yan Yu did the mental math: fifteen kilometers.

If they were in the mountains, a straight-line distance of fifteen kilometers meant they’d have to travel even farther to actually cross paths.

But there were too many of their villagers scattered in the mountains. How could she call them all back without raising suspicion? Would there be enough time?

Yan Yu stared at the mountain, her gaze dark and uncertain.

That direction. Armed men. It was unlikely they were hunters.

Guanzhou’s soldiers wouldn’t be in that area either. That location was more like the interior of the mountains, as if someone had crossed over from the other side.

Which meant… there was another possibility.

Northern Rong.

Once that thought took hold, a flood of details she’d previously overlooked surged into her mind.

Magistrate Tian had been in office for three years, and he’d spent that time building defensive fortifications, sealing off the Northern Rong outside of Crouching Tiger. That border town had enjoyed rare peace because of it.

Guard stations were mostly built in mountain passes. The towering peaks were natural walls that Northern Rong’s iron cavalry couldn’t breach.

But if they abandoned their horseshoes and traveled on foot, small scouting parties could slip through unnoticed.

Unnoticed by anyone—except her Maomao.

She thought again of their village’s location.

Across the river was Yongning.

The prefectural city of Guanzhou.

One side connected to Gufeng, the other to Crouching Tiger.

A rare three-way junction, with convenient access in all directions.

A place like that could easily be considered a strategic point.

Of course, their village itself held little value. But if the Northern Rong had any knowledge of Guanzhou’s territorial layout, would they see this place as a good temporary foothold? Remote, hidden… and just right for laying low.

Does Northern Rong know the layout within Guanzhou’s borders?

Of course they do!

They’ve been raiding across the border for years. They probably know the terrain better than some of the locals who only recently settled here.

Yan Yu stuffed Maomao back into her backpack and hurried to catch up with the Young Scouts.

No matter what those people were here for, she couldn’t let them get anywhere near the village.

Once their identities were confirmed…

A strange light flickered through Yan Yu’s dark eyes, flashing across her pupils like a spark.

…

After rejoining the group, Yan Yu deliberately guided the Young Scouts toward the main force stationed in the village.

At the same time, she kept a close eye on the movements of those six strangers.

Unfortunately, today of all days, her father had taken a group of able-bodied men from the village with him.

They had ordered large vats from Crouching Tiger, and with fewer people, transporting them back would be difficult.

Most of the seasoned uncles and warriors had gone along with him.

Yan Yu quickly ran through the list of remaining fighters in the village.

Uncle Qi Wu was still at home working on wood, so he hadn’t gone.

Uncle Hu Da had left, but Uncle Hu Er was still around—and his archery skills were even sharper than Hu Da’s.

If they kept moving forward, they’d soon meet up with the group Uncle Hu Er was leading. Among the Young Scouts, there were also older boys like Brother Er Tie and Brother San Tie. They had once been part of the adult squads and knew how to fight.

All things considered, it seemed they might not even need to return to the village. With their current forces, they could probably take down those six.

That is, assuming those people weren’t carrying crossbows or other ranged weapons.

Yan Yu whispered, “Maomao, do they have crossbows?”

Maomao nodded under her expectant gaze.

Yan Yu’s heart sank.

Ranged weapons. That made things a lot trickier.

Especially in the mountains—archers held a huge advantage here.

Even though Uncle Hu Er was a skilled archer, all they had were slingshots and small wooden bows…

There was no way to make full use of their skills!

Northern Rong had crossed the mountains…

Trying to get a feel for Guanzhou’s situation…

(End of Chapter)