It seems this grain was relief supplies secretly pocketed by some officials. Even if it were lost, those people wouldn't dare to cause trouble, otherwise, how could they have stolen it so easily?

Upon seeing the batch of grain, everyone in Black Cloud Village was overjoyed and even lit a bonfire.

The chieftain and his buddies were drinking heartily, planning how to distribute the grain and how to plunder more gold and silver treasures.

When they were really enjoying themselves, they picked up the wine jars and drank a whole jarful, which immediately drew cheers from the crowd.

Just as this group of people were enjoying their drinks, a small bandit from not far away rushed over in a panic, shouting loudly.

"B-Big Brother!" the henchman stammered, "An army is charging in, laughing like they're getting married!"

The bandit leader, Black-faced Tiger, charged forward with his ghost-headed knife. Dust billowed down the mountain as hundreds of soldiers emerged like tigers from their cages.

The one in the lead was munching on corn as he ran, while another was fastening his belt and shouting, "Don't try to steal my credit!"

"What the hell..." Even Black-Faced Tiger could barely hold on. In the past, when government troops suppressed bandits, they always dawdled and slow. Why were these people acting like they were picking up gold?

"Boss, what do we do? The government officials have stormed in. If so many people really fight us to the death, the weapons in our village simply won't be able to withstand it!"

The second and third brothers beside him said nervously.

Although Black Cloud Stronghold was a tyrannical force in the mountains near Qingzhou, they were not without their rules. They generally wouldn't rob government grain, as that would anger the imperial court.

For so many years they had never clashed with the imperial army, which is why they were able to develop so well. Who knew they would suddenly stir up a hornet's nest?

Black-faced Tiger thought for a moment, then suddenly slapped his thigh: "We've been tricked! We've fallen for their trap!"

"That grain wasn't embezzled by corrupt officials at all; it was legitimate government grain. They're just using this as an excuse to declare war on us!"

"Otherwise, why did those people release the water so quickly when we were looting the grain yesterday? Our people hadn't even arrived yet, and they had all run away!"

Black-faced Tiger pounded his chest in anger. He had been cautious for so many years, but one slip had ruined everything!

"Brother, what do we do now? Those people look aggressive and very strange!" The second brother of Black Cloud Village looked around, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets.

Because some of the soldiers actually climbed the three-zhang-high cliff with their bare hands, and a skinny man swung across the trench with a rope and knocked the guard at the gate over with his butt.

As Wang Gousheng executed a skillful tactical roll to dodge the rain of arrows, the surrounding men pounced on him like hungry wolves.

"What else can I do? Of course, I'll show you my Black Tiger's signature skills. Watch closely, because I'll be passing them on to you in the future!"

The two underlings beside him nodded repeatedly, their eyes fixed on their leader with admiration.

Does our leader still have a secret weapon when facing such a large army? As expected of the leader who led Black Cloud Stronghold to dominate the world, he is not even afraid of a large army!

However, the next second, the two henchmen's eyes widened again.

"Sir, spare our lives!" Black-faced Tiger knelt down faster than anyone else. "We'll return the grain right away!"

“Isn’t it the duty to bring back the grain?” Wang Gousheng kicked him over. “I’m here to earn contribution points!” He then pulled out a rope and tied the bandit up like a dumpling, even tying a bow on his back.

The two underlings: "..."

So this is what they call their signature skill? Brother, you've misled me!

Before long, the entire group of bandits were tied up tightly.

As the sun set, the triumphant army escorted the bandits back to their camp in a grand procession.

People along the way craned their necks to look, and an old man selling steamed buns muttered, "Strange, why is this bandit-suppression team pouncing like hungry wolves? Does Qingzhou even have such a formidable army?"