For some reason, the rainy season in Hebei Province came earlier than usual this year.

In May, Hebei experienced continuous rain, and the wind blowing from the north was somewhat chilly. The massive outline of the Taihang Mountains was hidden in the white clouds and rain.

Heaven and earth are ruthless; when the Creator created humankind, He implanted greed and evil into human nature.

And so came the killing.

Starting in April, all the bandits and outlaws in Hebei Province seemed to emerge from the grasslands like locusts.

From the prefectures and counties of Chan, Cang, Ji, Ying, Bo, Di, Mo, Xiong, Ba, De, Bin, and En in the east of Hebei Road, to the prefectures and counties of Xiang, Ding, Xing, Huai, Wei, Luo, Shen, Ci, Qi, Zhao, and Bao in the west of Hebei Road.

They're everywhere!

Imperial historians referred to this rebellion as the "Rebellion of the Bandits".

Some say that the banditry in the third year of the Jingkang era was actually a legacy of Emperor Huizong's reign.

During the reign of Emperor Huizong of Song, military preparedness was neglected, finances were in disarray, and heavy taxes and levies led to rampant banditry and banditry in the north.

In the third year of the Jingkang era, it was instigated by certain individuals, causing large-scale turmoil.

The newly implemented policies, which had just begun to show promise, suffered a heavy blow in Hebei province.

Some say this was the last stand of local traditional landlords and powerful families.

The rain pattered on the newly sprouted leaves, and the whole world was shrouded in a thin curtain of rain.

Hearing that Han Shizhong's army was coming to Zhongshan City, bandits and outlaws along the way all popped their heads out.

In a mountain a hundred miles away from Zhongshan City, a burly man named Wang Fugui was eating meat and drinking wine with gusto. His mountain stronghold had captured several hundred women.

His mountain stronghold was quite powerful among the many bandits in Hebei. Recently, he received guidance from a master and made a fortune.

They not only gained money, but also people.

He conscripted two thousand men from the surrounding villages and is now forcing them to become his subordinates.

Not only that, he was also given the position of Commander of All Things.

Anyway, he didn't know what a Du Yuhou was, but it sounded pretty impressive.

So, someone like me, a mountain bandit, could actually become a general!

This world is truly amazing!

"Report..." the person below drawled as he ran in.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Han Shizhong's army has entered Fengxia Ridge."

Wang Fugui jumped up from the tiger-skin chair, clearly energized.

Han Shizhong!

That's Han Shizhong, who's supposedly several meters tall, with an impenetrable wall of copper, eyes that shoot lightning, and mouth that can breathe fire!

Should we go and meet them?

If we can't win, let's send him to Zhongshan City and watch them fight!

Um……

Wait a minute, I'm a commander now, and this is my territory!

As the saying goes, even a mighty dragon can't suppress a local snake. Even if Han Shizhong can breathe fire, I can still kill him with stones from the mountain!

Once I defeat Han Shizhong, will I be able to get a promotion and a raise, marry the princess, and reach the pinnacle of my life?

yes!

This is my territory, I'm in charge!

I am no longer a mountain king with only a thousand or so people. I need to have a bigger vision and greater courage so that I can do great things!

For some unknown reason, Wang Fugui suddenly felt a jolt, as if the spirits of many famous generals, such as Bai Qi, Wang Jian, Han Xin, Xiang Yu, Wei Qing, and Li Jing, had possessed him.

He exuded the aura of a war god, as if he could already see himself being appointed as the Great General Protector of the Nation, marrying the princess, and that damned Wang Tiezhu from the next mountain kneeling at his feet, pledging himself to him.

While licking them, he said with ecstasy: "Wow, Fugui, oh no, General, your feet smell so good!"

As he thought about it, a blissful smile crept onto his lips.

"Guards! Guards! Gather all the brothers quickly, we're going to kill Han Shizhong!"

That's how bandits and outlaws are; they have little concept of how powerful the imperial court's elite troops are, and they only know that they definitely can't win in a head-on fight.

However, they also have a strange confidence that even if they can't beat someone head-on, they can come from the side. What if they win?

If I kill Han Shizhong, I can marry the princess!

Wang Fugui quickly assembled his five thousand men.

Just like how CEOs of startups in later generations would try to fool their employees, Wang Fugui roared in a rough voice, "Brothers! The time to make a name for ourselves has come! Han Shizhong is going to pass through here, this is our territory, kill him!"

Then, the arrogant shouts of the mountain bandits echoed through the forest.

Cheng Min rushed over quickly, bringing more than a dozen men, and they explored the entire Fengxia Ridge.

Describe all the terrain and landforms in detail.

Han Shizhong originally planned to take a detour; his target was Zhongshan City, and he didn't take these petty bandits seriously.

However, just at that moment, the Imperial City Guard's spies caught up with them.

Upon learning of the latest situation in Hebei, Han Shizhong fell into deep thought.

Han Shizhong thought: What use would it be if I were to capture Zhongshan City now? Defend the city? What about the rest of Hebei?

Han Shizhong made a decision: to abandon Zhongshan City first.

Now that bandits are rampant in Hebei, let's start by eliminating them.

But how to defeat these suddenly emerging bandits and outlaws in Hebei in the shortest possible time?

Soon, Han Shizhong came up with a plan.

Excited, Wang Fugui led his men to guard the important geographical location.

Fengxia Ridge is a long and narrow pass with steep cliffs on both sides and treacherous terrain.

Wang Fugui believed that he could wipe out Han Shizhong's entire army here.

An hour later, a scout reported that Han Shizhong's army had indeed arrived.

Wang Fugui was so excited he almost jumped for joy.

Before long, an army appeared below, a long line marching towards them.

Once they reached the bottom, Wang Fugui suddenly gave an order, and horns sounded throughout the mountains.

Stones rolled down the mountain.

Han Shizhong's troops below were greatly alarmed.

"There's an ambush! Run!"

Before long, the bugle call changed again, and suddenly the sound of a battle erupted from the crossroads. More than a thousand mountain bandits, looking fierce and menacing, charged towards Han Shizhong's army, which had been terrified.

Wang Fugui stood above and saw it all.

Ah, so this is the famous Han Shizhong's army?

That's all there is to it!

"Brothers, follow me down there and slaughter Han Shizhong until not a single one of them is left!"

Wu Feng, the second-in-command, said, "Boss, could this be a trap?"

Wang Fugui was slightly taken aback: "Huh! You're right! Then go! Go and get Han Shizhong's head back for me!"

Wu Feng was immediately enraged, wishing he could sew that foul mouth shut.

Wu Feng led his men out of Fengxia Ridge to give chase, his heart filled with both fear and resentment.

When he chased them for a while, constantly preparing to turn and flee, he discovered that Han Shizhong's army was indeed running away.

He tried to chase them for several miles, but Han Shizhong's army kept fleeing.

When Wang Fugui learned that there was no trap outside, he became excited.

He began to gather his men and immediately went out to give chase.

P.S.: I'm begging for monthly votes!