Chapter 056: The Mysterious Stone Displays Its Might

After a hearty meal, Luo Shixin, his voice buzzing, questioned Li Dong about whether they were still going to Licheng to seek out Qin Qiong for the forging of weapons.

Li Dong simply smiled in response. This stubborn, almost foolish persistence was, in its own way, a testament to unwavering determination—a ferocity that, once locked on its target, would never let go. Such a spirit, which refuses to concede or despair on the battlefield, vowing never to rest until victory is achieved, is destined to carve out great fame. No one’s success comes easily or by chance; it is always born out of necessity.

If he could be guided and sharpened, made more adept and cunning in the ways of war, what a formidable force he would become.

“Of course we’ll go!” Li Dong thought to himself. After all the effort spent, wasn’t it all for a weapon that truly fit the hand? There were more pressing and complex matters to resolve first, but once they were settled, the journey for the weapon would follow naturally.

“It’s too late tonight. We’ll go tomorrow,” Li Dong said, patting Luo Shixin’s head and urging him to sleep early so he’d have the strength to haul stones the next day.

Satisfied by this promise, Luo Shixin promptly fell asleep.

The next day dawned as any other, but for Li Dong and Du Fuwei, it marked a brand new beginning. From the moment the sun rose, there were no more rival bandits in the Great Wall Ridge—only Du Fuwei’s solitary stronghold remained.

No longer would they have to worry about competing with Zhao Pozhen for the same wealthy targets, nor fear being outflanked by him and left homeless after a raid. The sense of ruling the ridge alone was intoxicating—so wonderful, it defied description.

Within the Great Wall Ridge, Li Dong’s word was law. Beyond it, he commanded two thousand troops—who would dare defy him? Any who did would be beaten into submission, left toothless and wailing, driven to despair.

Yet, the territory of the Great Wall Ridge was pitifully small—merely a pinprick on the vast map of the Sui Empire. The region spanned a hundred miles or more of rugged mountains, where beasts and trees vastly outnumbered men, and humans were little more than embellishments to the wilderness.

To survive in such chaotic times, without being swallowed or defeated, the most crucial necessity was to recruit a massive army. At this stage of development, the conditions at the Great Wall Ridge were no longer suitable for further growth.

When Li Dong voiced his thoughts to Du Fuwei once more, he readily agreed. What he hadn’t understood the previous day—why Li Dong wanted him to leave his homeland—became perfectly clear. Such is the nature of changing times.

Zhang Junke and Fu Gongzhe were easily persuaded and willing to follow south to the Jianghuai region. The bandits within the ridge were tightly knit; with all three chiefs in agreement, no one voiced further objections.

However, the five hundred or so men who had just surrendered yesterday under Zhao Pozhen and Miao Haichao had little rapport with the rest and were deeply resistant to the idea of heading south. The mere mention of leaving the familiar ridge for the desolate Jianghuai region was like pouring water into hot oil—they erupted in protest.

Du Fuwei was clever enough, and Fu Gongzhe far from a fool, but convincing these men to migrate south required Li Dong’s personal intervention. Who among them could know that, despite his age, Li Dong was a man from another world—a skilled special forces commander by training, accustomed to being far from home, with little attachment to his birthplace, the product of years of indoctrination?

Surveying the bandits, Li Dong decided to first close the distance between them before persuasion: “Some of you are older than I, some not much different. Age is no barrier, nor is distance. In Zhangqiu, we risked our lives for a hot meal—would it be any different in Jianghuai?”

“A true man seeks his fortune far and wide, not circling his own doorstep day after day. Only babes cling to their mothers’ skirts, unwilling to venture past the threshold. Are you all waiting here for your mothers to feed you?”

At this, the bandits burst into raucous, sly laughter, their grins both mischievous and heartfelt. It was a laughter free of coercion, opening their hearts to his words. With a bit more encouragement, their spirits swelled.

“We are no children. We are grown men, entitled to seek out wider horizons. There waits a vast new land for us to conquer, a grander game for us to play, and there we can truly showcase our prowess!”

“In Zhangqiu, all we stole and plundered was the hard-earned money of our own kin. Perhaps they set it aside to heal the sick, or as dowries and gifts for their children. We took it and rejoiced, while they suffered. We cannot keep committing evil on our own doorstep, earning the curses of all!”

“Down with such evil! Down with it!” Some of the bandits, moved by Li Dong’s words, raised their voices with him. The fervor was infectious, soon sweeping all into a chorus of shouted resolve.

Sensing the moment was ripe, Li Dong refrained from further exhortation—too much would spoil the effect. He gestured to Du Fuwei, saying, “Now it’s your turn to outline our future plans, so they know what to expect and can look forward to what’s to come.”

Du Fuwei spoke of the prospects awaiting them in Jianghuai—wealth, pleasures, and the promise of riches aplenty. As long as they agreed to go, there would be little competition from other bandits, and great fortunes awaited.

After stepping down, Li Dong was greeted with enthusiastic thumbs-up from Fu Gongzhe and Zhang Junke. His speech had been logical, sprinkled with humor, and powerful in its persuasion. The bandits’ reactions made clear—they were won over. Who would want to spend their life robbing their neighbors, earning nothing but infamy?

When Li Dong asked Du Fuwei to prepare a carriage, the three chiefs understood his decision was made. Once Li Dong resolved upon a path, nothing could sway him. Though reluctant to see him go, they tearfully prepared a war chariot drawn by two fine steeds.

The horse Li Dong had brought to the mountain had been shot full of arrows by the bandits. To ease the burden of transporting the strange stone, Du Fuwei presented him with another good horse and sent a dozen strong men to help retrieve the stone from the ridge.

A dozen bandits, working together, hoisted and heaved the odd stone from the woods onto the cart, securing it firmly with thick ropes.

Luo Shixin sat at the front of the cart, snapped the reins, and shouted, “Hyah! Let’s go!” as they set off along the main road toward Licheng in Qi Commandery.

Li Dong could only shake his head in amusement. Typical Luo Shixin—after all the help those men had given, he didn’t so much as thank them, just turned and walked away!

After expressing his gratitude to the helpers, Li Dong mounted his horse and set off in pursuit of Luo Shixin.

Zhangqiu lay about fifty li from Licheng; with horses, they could see the city by noon.

But the stone was so heavy that, despite their progress, the cart could not bear the weight. About a li from the gates, the cart finally collapsed.

Luo Shixin was thrown hard, landing on his backside. He stood, rubbing his bruised rear and grumbled, “Oh, you want to play tricks on me? Let’s see who comes out on top!”

With that, he wedged his hands under the stone, braced himself, and with a great shout, “Up you go!” the massive rock swayed in his grip, then slowly lifted into the air. Hoisting it to shoulder height, Luo Shixin caught hold of a protruding knob like a handle, raised it above his head with one hand, and strode toward the city gates.

Behind him, the hard dirt road bore a long trail of deep, clear footprints, each an inch deep.

…

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