Chapter 432: No One to Steal Credit

When Old Zhang Fei saw the man before him, he knew it would be tough.

Damn it, this was absolutely a commander among the officers and men, no mistake about it. Just look at this regulation Mountain-patterned Armor, the textbook horsemanship honed through long training, those elegant spear maneuvers…

“Damn it, the officers are disguised as salt smugglers to ambush me!” Old Zhang Fei channeled his rage into battle prowess. With a jerk, he drew his weapon—an eight-foot serpent spear—and spurred his horse, charging straight at Old Nan Feng.

Old Nan Feng took one look at the weapon and chuckled: A serpent spear? Why don’t you go perform in an opera? Serpent spears are inventions of storytellers! The real Zhang Fei never used one. What good is this thing except looking fancy? Bandits sure are troublemakers. Did you deliberately have this forged to match your name?

Both men were mounted, closing the distance fast.

As the horses converged, Old Zhang Fei’s spear—being an eight-footer—thrust out with imposing might, while Old Nan Feng’s ordinary six-foot spear was at a clear length disadvantage.

But with a deft flick and pull of his spear, Old Nan Feng deflected the serpent spear aside.

In that brief exchange, the horses swept past each other, bringing the two riders perilously close. Old Nan Feng’s free hand snapped out, drawing his waist knife, and plunged it deep into Old Zhang Fei’s belly…

He didn’t pull the knife back. Instead, he released the hilt and let the horses bolt forward. Galloping several yards away, he reined his horse, turned, and saw Old Zhang Fei’s body tilt and slowly slide off the saddle, landing with a “thud” on the ground.

With the chieftain dead, the rest fell into chaos.

The bandits scattered even faster, fleeing in every direction.

If this had happened within Li Daoxuan’s field of vision, he would have intervened, stopping the fleeing men with giant hands and tossing them all into a labor camp.

But all was happening in Shanxi, beyond Li Daoxuan’s reach. The militia there also had limited manpower. Capturing so many prisoners was impossible. They could only let the desperate bandits retreat.

Old Nan Feng returned triumphant to the stockade.

Victory had already solidified at the stockade. The moment the warships appeared, the bandits’ fighting spirit collapsed. The stockade walls quickly stabilized. All bandits who had breached the stockade were wiped out. Those outside gave up scaling the walls and fled instead. Gao Chuwu ordered the gates opened to welcome back the cavalry.

Returning to the stockade, Old Nan Feng marched proudly, Old Zhang Fei’s ear skewered on his spear tip. He laughed heartily to the sky: “See? The bandit chief’s ear! I killed the bastard myself! Not asking for triple promotion—just want a transfer back to civilized lands. No more frontier duty for me!”

“Ew, that ear’s disgusting. Throw it away!” Gao Chuwu was sweating: “All bloody—don’t bring it back to camp!”

Old Nan Feng retorted: “It’s proof of my merit! Disgusting? It’s beautiful.”

Gao Chuwu shook his head: “Just record the achievement. No need to prove it with an ear.”

Old Nan Feng thought: That’s because you don’t know officialdom’s corruption. When a small man earns merit, the Great General above him immediately tries to steal it… Remember those history books, claiming Emperor Zhengde personally hacked an enemy soldier to death? Who knows whose merit that emperor claimed?

As this thought struck him, Old Nan Feng realized he should act wisely. He quickly leaned close to Gao Chuwu’s ear and whispered: “General Gao, when we report this, let’s say you and I killed Old Zhang Fei together. What d’ya say?”

Gao Chuwu was utterly bewildered: “Wouldn’t that be lying? You killed him alone.”

Old Nan Feng insisted: “Wouldn’t do to report that. It must be a joint kill!”

“No, no.” Gao Chuwu gave a silly grin: “He was so weak, I could beat three like him with one punch. If we report a joint kill, wouldn’t it make us both look weak? Ha ha ha! Your kill is yours! I don’t want credit.”

Old Nan Feng pondered silently: He’s not splitting credit with his subordinate? Tsk! This man… is he truly foolish, or is this just not the Gaojia Village way?

He couldn’t quite understand: Why doesn’t Gaojia Village operate this way?

Suddenly, a phrase leaped into his mind: “There are deities above us, three feet above our heads.”

Old Nan Feng abruptly understood: Above Gaojia Village, celestial beings watched. Who’d dare lie and steal others’ military merit? The Divine would surely know!

In Gaojia Village, one was one; two was two. The sleazy practices common in past military life were absolutely forbidden. If they offended the Deity—more terrifying than upsetting any emperor—it would be disastrous.

This realization brought immediate relief. His entire body felt lighter.

If meritorious deeds were earned by skill? Who exactly was he supposed to fear?

He plucked the ear off his spear tip. Proof wasn’t needed anymore. No one would dare deny, in bad faith, that it was he who had killed Old Zhang Fei. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled the ear into the surging Yellow River.

A monstrous fish leaped from the river, gulping down the ear before vanishing into the depths…

Old Nan Feng laughed heartily at the river.

Mid-laughter, the warships floated back. The captain waved at him despondently: “General Nan Feng, I only got one barrage out before the bandit army collapsed. It wasn’t fun at all!”

Old Nan Feng guffawed: “Don’t worry. Soon enough, you’ll fight the imperial navy. Westerners sailing massive ships from across the sea will come for you to blast. You’ll have plenty of fun then!”

Li Daoxuan was gnawing on a “Great Desert Sand Chicken,” smacking his lips in delight at its rich flavor.

His focus was currently locked on Qiachuan Port, the busiest place recently. Not only was it handling logistics for the “Shanxi Expeditionary Force,” but it was also constructing vast blacksmith workshops.

The workshops were already over half-built.

Squads of blue hats and yellow hats worked together. The cement workshop held a gray, geometrically imposing beauty.

Truth be told, cement buildings clashed with Eastern sensibilities!

Easterners of the time prized “refinement.” Eastern architecture emphasized carved pillars, painted eaves, intricate angles—beauty in meticulous artistry.

Cement buildings couldn’t replicate that. They offered “geometric beauty”—a Western aesthetic.

Li Daoxuan, a modern man appreciating beauty from north, south, east, and west, didn’t mind. But the ancients saw a giant cement house, muttered “big and sturdy,” then shook their heads with “ugly and clumsy.”

Bai Yuan was already complaining!

In fluttering white robe, he stood splendidly by the riverbank, fan waving: “This workshop… is a bit unsightly.”

Mid-boast, boat shadows appeared on the river. The warships were returning.

Rushing with pride, Bai Yuan perked up: “News from Shanxi is back!”