Chapter 47: Setting Out Once More

After pausing for a moment, Ning Ye continued, "Never feel that you are risking your lives for me. Everything you do now is for yourselves. Others may pocket your contributions and credit, but I will not. I will ensure you receive everything that rightfully belongs to you."

All the veterans firmly believed this. As for the recruits, even if they harbored doubts initially, all it took was experiencing it once for them to believe without a shred of hesitation that not a single word Ning Ye spoke was false.

Ning Ye had Wang Wu and Hu Laosan distribute the weapons and equipment he brought back. While most men would likely not opt for the heavy weaponry, the sets of armor were genuinely high-grade goods.

Once everyone was fully equipped and reassembled on the parade ground, Ning Ye had to admit the sight was quite pleasing to the eye.

"Everyone, prepare seven days' worth of water and rations. We set out today."

Having given the order, Ning Ye called Wang Wu and Hu Laosan over. "Do we currently have enough horses for one mount per man?"

Wang Wu replied, "My lord, although we don't have two horses per man, one per man is not a problem. We have never slackened our efforts in purchasing horses during this period, but the available warhorses on the market are simply too few."

Ning Ye nodded. "I know our situation is tight; it's fortunate we managed to get this many. As long as it's enough, that will do. Everyone will travel on horseback. The riding training for the recruits hasn't fallen behind, has it?"

Hu Laosan assured him, "Rest assured, my lord. Our daily training volume is quite heavy, ensuring these men can fight on horseback. Compared to regular cavalry, however, there is probably still some gap."

"That doesn't matter, as long as they can fight from horseback. Besides, our targets this time are so-called mountain bandits and outlaws; there likely won't be many occasions requiring true mounted combat."

Wang Wu asked with some concern, "My lord, are we truly not heading to the front lines this time? I noticed a considerable number of troops mustering. Just three days ago, an army had already marched toward the frontier."

Ning Ye raised an eyebrow. "Roughly how many men? Are they elite troops?"

"A rough estimate would be around two thousand. They are not elite troops, but rather levies pulled from local garrisons. However, the borderlands rarely require reinforcements, yet such a mobilization was made this time. Clearly, something is amiss."

"Are you saying the situation at the border is already extremely critical, hence the need for reinforcements? But there are only some nomadic tribes over there, and they haven't launched any large-scale invasions yet, have they? Could something be different this time?"

According to past precedents, those barbarians lacked the grand ambitions of the Turks; as long as they plundered enough winter supplies, they would not cross the frontier.

Or rather, those nomads themselves harbored a deep reluctance to truly push deep into the borderlands. After all, it was only in wide-open terrain that they could fully leverage their martial prowess. Once it came to storming fortified cities and seizing territory, those nomads simply lacked the capability.

As for the truth of the matter, Ning Ye had no way of knowing at present. For now, attending to his own affairs was of the utmost importance.

"We don't need to worry about that right now. What we must do is handle the task immediately before us. Hurry up and urge those lads along—make sure no one forgets their gear. Once we step outside, we won't have any logistical supply lines."

Hu Laosan patted his chest and vowed, "Rest assured, my lord. If there's any rascal who hasn't prepared properly, I'll make sure he learns the might of my fists."

In less time than it takes to brew a cup of tea, everyone had their belongings packed and ready. Ning Ye vaulted into the saddle. "This will also be your final test. Those who bravely cut down the enemy remain; those who shrink from battle shall leave."

The soldiers offered no verbal response. They simply fell into silent formation behind Ning Ye, and the procession soon set off.

Of course, Ning Ye was not so reckless as to leave again without a word, especially since he had only just returned.

Under the gaze of the assembled soldiers, Ning Ye hurried back into the grand residence. When he emerged again, a scented sachet hung at his waist, and his face wore a slightly triumphant, pleased expression.

The young man rode a white horse, followed by a retinue of attendants, riding forth from the city gates with high spirits once more.

Along the way out of the city, Ning Ye happened to spot Huang Shan, though that fellow was still lingering on the upper floor of a pleasure house.

"To possess such refined leisure in broad daylight—Young Master Huang's moods are truly surprising."

The moment Huang Shan saw Ning Ye, his expression soured. Ever since that batch of grain was lost, even though it had nothing directly to do with him, he had inevitably suffered collateral damage.

Only recently had he finally been permitted to venture outside again, never expecting to run into Ning Ye the very moment he stepped out.

Come to think of it, ever since he first crossed paths with Ning Ye, his days of comfort had never been peaceful.

"Whom did I think it was? So it's you, you brute. What, do you plan on leading this handful of men out to throw your lives away? These times are exceedingly chaotic; don't assume a few men can protect you."

Ning Ye calmly replied, "For men like us to take to the field and slaughter the enemy is a proper display of boldness. I suppose Young Master Huang will never understand this feeling in his lifetime."

Huang Shan grew flustered at once. "Hah! You can only use such drivel to fool these mud-legged peasants. This young master is hardly as lowly as the likes of you—you're merely a pack of expendable foot soldiers."

"From Young Master Huang's words, it seems you hold no regard whatsoever for us soldiers."

"A bunch of wretches with today but no tomorrow—what is there about you for me to hold in regard? It's utterly laughable."

Ning Ye suddenly turned back and said, "You heard him, everyone. Remember this face, for it won't be long before he pays the price for what he just said."

Instantly, the gazes of quite a few men took on a hardened, hateful edge. There are times when disasters brought forth by loose talk are no laughing matter.

Without lingering any longer after speaking, Ning Ye led his men straight out of Qingyuan County.

For this expedition, Ning Ye had deliberately brought along Ning Silang. Naturally, Ning Silang was much more familiar with the surrounding terrain. Moreover, bandits who had managed to entrench themselves in the region for long periods invariably operated within fixed domains.

Furthermore, with the land plunged into chaos for so many years, the number of bandits could not possibly be small. Breaking them one by one was undoubtedly the best strategy.

As someone who had lived as an honest farmer his entire life, this would be the first time Ning Silang truly tasted blood. To say he felt no fear would be a lie, but perhaps excitement predominated in his heart.

For an ordinary person wanting to achieve military merit and carve out a future, battlefield combat was virtually the only path. After all, not everyone was blessed with a brilliant mind, and the vast majority of people in this world were ordinary.