Chapter 309: Preparing for War

The forest hero answered dejectedly: “We are underlings of Big Honglang. It was Big Honglang who led us to kill you. The one who escaped was Big Honglang.”Bai Yuan furrowed his brow. “Big Honglang? Is that person named Big Honglang? I don’t recall having enmity with him.”

The forest hero said: “Big Honglang… is the Captain of the fourth squadron under Lord Wang Zuogua.”

Bai Yuan asked: “Wang Zuogua? Who is this now?”

This time, even Gao Yiye and Mr. Wang recalled. They whispered: “Mr. Bai, Wang Zuogua is a fierce bandit stationed in Huanglong Mountain. He once attacked Bai Family Fortress.”

Bai Yuan slapped his forehead. “So that’s how it is. It’s that man. I remember him very clearly.”

Everyone: “…”

Bai Yuan: “No wonder! Since he couldn’t take down my Bai Family Fortress, he resorted to these insidious methods to assassinate me.”

The forest hero spoke: “You… stole our five hundred military horses. Brother Wang Zuogua was furious and sought revenge…”

Bai Yuan knit his brows.

Li Daoxuan also frowned: So Wang Zuogua had guessed that it was their group who had seized the military horses. He just didn’t understand their internal structure, couldn’t pinpoint the leader, mistakenly believing Bai Yuan was in charge.

Thus, this assassination attempt had occurred.

“Well, it’s already quite clear.” Li Daoxuan said: “Grant this man a swift end.”

Bai Yuan shot Zheng Gouzi a look. Zheng Gouzi raised his blade and with a crack, chopped off the forest hero’s head.

The mastermind was known!

Now they knew exactly whom to seek for revenge.

Li Daoxuan said grimly: “From this moment, Gaojia Village formally declares war on Wang Zuogua. These bandits must be exterminated. Bai Yuan, you shall spend some money, bribe certain hunters, gather intelligence on Wang Zuogua, and locate his precise position within Huanglong Mountain.”

Bai Yuan bowed deeply. “Deity, Huanglong Mountain is high, densely forested, and complex in terrain. Since ancient times, bandits have favored hiding within it. Even when the government dispatches armies, they often struggle to find and eliminate them. With our strength… can we truly wipe them out?”

Li Daoxuan replied: “The government’s failure in bandit suppression often stems from insufficient logistics or interference from other officials. We face no such problems. Logistics will be unlimited, and official interference is nonexistent. If we set our minds to it, we can achieve it.”

Bai Yuan was rushing with pride: “As you command!”

Li Daoxuan continued: “Yiye, return to Gaojia Village tomorrow and convey my order to the artisans’ well. From now on, Gaojia Village enters a state of war. All artisans must halt civilian tool production and switch entirely to military armaments. All blacksmiths shall forge firearms and grenades, all carpenters shall craft crossbows and arrows…”

Gao Yiye asked: “Ah? If no one makes civilian tools like kitchen knives or sickles, won’t daily life become inconvenient?”

Li Daoxuan answered: “Leave civilian tool production to the artisans of the county town and Fengyuan Town. Magistrate Liang Shixian loves nothing more than matters concerning people’s livelihoods. Let him handle it thoroughly. Then, use the public bus to transport the civilian tools back from the county town for sale in Gaojia Village.”

Gao Yiye understood: “As you command!”

She sensed it: The Deity was truly incensed.

The Deity had never prioritized such weaponry before, always placing people’s livelihoods first. Now, halting livelihood projects to solely forge weapons showed the depth of his anger.

Li Daoxuan said: “Bai Yuan, since the enemy has targeted you, you must take greater care for your safety henceforth. Keep more personal guards and estate guards by your side. Another unit shall be transferred from the militia to protect you. You must be extremely cautious here in the county town.”

Bai Yuan clasped his fists. “A fall into the pit, a gain in your wit. This humble one will be careful.”

Early in the morning the next day, Gao Yiye, Zheng Gouzi, and their group lifted the severely injured Ground Rabbit on a stretcher and hastened back to Gaojia Village at top speed.

Following this, the artisans’ well at Gaojia Village began to boil.

The artisans’ group was operating at full capacity!

The blacksmiths entirely ceased making tools like kitchen knives, sickles, and hoes, dedicating all efforts to frantically casting shells for firearms and iron balls.

Carpenters also rushed to produce bows, crossbows, and arrows, while a large group of apprentices in the firearms bureau began hand-wrapping bombs by the dozens.

The paper mill delivered vast quantities of paper to the gunpowder bureau, intended for crafting pre-measured powder packs for firearms.

Lamp makers became equally busy, crafting long-burning torches meant for night marches.

Gaojia Village’s artisans’ well was no longer the small, modest cohort from its early days. Li Daoxuan’s longstanding “prioritize artisans” policy had attracted many to join the artisans’ well and master these crafts.

Especially the blacksmiths and firearms bureau faced severe staffing shortages, leading to continuous aggressive recruitment drives. Numerous apprentices had now transformed into skilled craftsmen. Once operating at full capacity, they churned out flintlock pistols… one after another… and yet another…

Time began to accelerate its flow fiercely…

Chongzhen Year Two raced forward relentlessly amidst Gaojia Village’s frantic military preparations.

“Ground Rabbit, Ground Rabbit, wake up.”

Ground Rabbit struggled to open his eyes…

He found himself amidst a mist-shrouded mountain, in a valley so breathtaking it appeared painted, where a waterfall hung in the distance like liquid mercury.

An old man with an ethereal aura stood beneath an ancient tree, waving towards him: “Know that divine radiance erupts through your skullcap! So young, already possessing such formidable sinews and bones! Truly a once-in-a-century martial prodigy. Were you to unlock your Governing and Conception Vessels someday, wouldn’t you soar into the skies like a celestial dragon? Remember, ‘If I do not descend into hell, who will?’ The duty to punish evil, eliminate traitors, and safeguard the world’s peace now falls upon you. Will you accept?”

Ground Rabbit swelled with joy: “Entrust it to me without hesitation!”

“Since you willingly embrace this responsibility,” the ethereal elder smiled, “this humble master possesses a distinctive swordsmanship style named ‘Celestial Rabbit Sword’. Today, I shall impart it unto you right here.”

Ground Rabbit stiffened completely: “You’re deceiving me! That sword style name—Celestial Rabbit Sword—it’s non-existent! I completely invented it!”

The old man erupted in hearty laughter—the waterfall dispersed, the ancient tree twisted, the mystical misty peaks vanished instantly, and the entire world collapsed abruptly…

Ground Rabbit’s eyes snapped open once more!

He discovered himself lying on a sickbed, with Zheng Gouzi slumped in a chair beside him, dozing.

“I… want water…”

Ground Rabbit rasped out the words with immense difficulty.

Zheng Gouzi jerked awake, then beamed in elation, crying out as he dashed outside, shouting: “Ground Rabbit’s conscious! Ground Rabbit’s conscious! Ground Rabbit’s revived!”

Immediately, a large crowd surged in—Saint Lady, Thirty-Two, Cheng Xu, Gao Chuwu, Zheng Daniu…

They all crowded around the bed, some rubbing his head, others prying open his eyelids to check, some inspecting his wounds, and one grabbing his shoulders to shake him: “Ground Rabbit! You finally live!”

Thud!

Gao Chuwu, who had been shaking his shoulders, was punched down to the floor by Xing Honglang: “Don’t manhandle the wounded!”