The absence of a hot air balloon in the sky made Tie Niaofei uneasy.
After all, this was the Dabie Mountains. Bandits prowled these hills like wolves.
But then he thought of Luo Xi. Three days earlier, Luo Xi had entered these mountains by this very route. In theory, if Luo Xi passed safely, the road should not be too dangerous.
With that comforting logic, Tie Niaofei increased his marching speed. He did not creep forward cautiously. He moved with confidence.
Meanwhile, Zhai Tang glanced up at the empty sky and quickened his own pace.
No hot air balloon meant opportunity.
He had to break out of the Dabie Mountains through Guangshan County before the enemy patched this gap in their encirclement. If he was even a little too slow, the hole might close.
With a subordinate who knew the terrain leading the way, Zhai Tang's men moved swiftly.
Ahead.
Tie Niaofei pointed forward. "There is a cliff ahead. Once we turn past it, the view opens up."
At nearly the same moment, Zhai Tang gestured toward a large rock. "That stone blocks the view. Go around it and we can see farther."
Both parties surged forward.
They rounded the bend.
And collided head on.
For a heartbeat, both men stared.
Recognition flashed in their eyes almost simultaneously.
Tie Niaofei roared, "Zhai Tang. Pay with your life for my old subordinates."
Zhai Tang blurted, "What the hell. Tie Niaofei? Why are you here?"
Even as they spoke, both drew their blades.
Unfortunately, neither man was a peerless martial hero. Their swordplay was stiff and awkward. Steel clanged once. Then, as if by prior agreement, both leaped back and shouted to their men.
"Get them!"
Zhai Tang's followers drew sabers and swords.
Tie Niaofei's men raised muskets.
Zhai Tang's side cursed in unison. "That is cheating!"
Tie Niaofei's side answered with one word. "Fire!"
Bang bang bang.
The mountains echoed with gunshots. Zhai Tang's men dropped in clusters.
Amid the thunder of muskets, Tie Niaofei howled, "Do not kill Zhai Tang. I want him alive. I will flay him alive. Three thousand cuts. I will avenge my old brothers."
"How are we supposed to control that?" someone yelled back.
"Boss, you only remember the old subordinates. What about us new ones? I am heartbroken."
Tie Niaofei's eyes were bloodshot. "Idiot. I am furious right now. No jokes."
The joking subordinate took one look at his commander's face and realized he was serious. Boss values loyalty, he thought. Even the dead are remembered. If I die someday, he will remember me too.
Wait. Why am I thinking such unlucky thoughts?
Zhai Tang's men were inferior in number, equipment, and morale. They stood no chance.
Within moments, they were scattering for cover.
A few desperate fighters charged forward in a last attempt, only to be cut down by musket fire and bayonets. After that, Zhai Tang's men lost the courage to rush. They ducked behind rocks instead.
Once hidden, they pulled out their own bird guns and three eyed divine muskets, fumbling to load powder and shot.
When their crude firearms appeared, Tie Niaofei's men hesitated as well. Charging recklessly into a volley could still get a man killed. Their Gaocun armor was excellent, but not bulletproof.
Separated by rocky ground, the two sides began trading shots.
Zhai Tang shouted from behind a stone, "Tie Niaofei, damn your ancestors. I killed a few of your men and you ruined the Jin merchants' border trade for years. You son of a dog."
Tie Niaofei shouted back, "My brothers' lives are worth more than your traitorous smuggling business."
"Damn you!"
"Damn you!"
Gunfire crackled again.
Then came the reload lull.
Seizing the moment, Tie Niaofei pulled out a hand grenade, lit the fuse, and hurled it behind the rocks.
Boom.
Two men who had been loading ammunition were blown into the air.
Tie Niaofei yelled, "Zhai Tang, be careful. Do not get shot. Do not get blown up. Stay alive so I can carve you into three thousand slices myself."
Zhai Tang spat curses.
The exchange continued. With each passing moment, more of Zhai Tang's men fell.
He quickly realized that a positional battle meant slow death. His side's old firearms required formation volleys to be effective. Firing singly from behind rocks was nearly useless. Bullets flew wild.
Meanwhile, the enemy's new muskets were accurate and deadly. Even peeking half a head above cover risked instant death. And the grenades made hiding behind rocks no guarantee of safety.
If this dragged on, his men would be eaten away piece by piece.
Retreat.
The thought bloomed in Zhai Tang's mind.
He glanced at his men, still fighting desperately.
Then he quietly began to slip backward.
As long as he escaped alone, that was enough. Who cared about these subordinates? With his wealth, he could always hire more.
He rolled into tall grass, crawled swiftly, then slid into a shallow ditch. He scrambled through a narrow rocky gap.
The gunfire faded behind him. Tie Niaofei's curses grew faint.
Zhai Tang's heart swelled with relief.
Good. I escaped.
Alone, he would move faster. Even if one hundred thousand men surrounded the Dabie Mountains, surely a single man could find a gap.
Just then.
Bang.
A single shot rang out.
Pain exploded in his chest.
He looked down.
A bloody hole had opened over his heart.
He raised his head.
On the opposite slope stood a man with a musket. Then another appeared. Then another. More and more emerged until an entire force revealed itself.
At their head stood Luo Xi, garrison commander of Shangnan.
Luo Xi was not much better with hot air balloons than Tie Niaofei. He had been stationed farther away. Hearing musket and grenade fire, he guessed friendly forces were engaged and rushed over to reinforce them.
He had not even had time to order the target captured alive.
An eager soldier, hungry for merit, had already fired.
Zhai Tang collapsed slowly to the ground.
Luo Xi walked over and looked down at the corpse. "Ah. He is dead. No idea which bandit chief he was. Hard to report merit like this."
He paused, then waved a hand.
"Record it. One unnamed bandit leader killed."