Chapter Three: Subduing Li Yunlong and Taking Command of the Twenty-Fourth Regiment

Aba.

“Get lost! My father said this food is for dogs.”

“We won’t lend a grain to you bandits, you bunch of thieves.”

“If you don’t leave now, don’t blame me for shooting without mercy.”

After saying this, the young master inside the fortified tower picked up a piece of preserved meat about the size of a palm from his bowl and threw it down to the earthbound dog below.

“Slurp, slurp...”

“Slurp, slurp...”

“See? It’s for the dog, not for you bandits.”

“If you’re willing to bark like dogs for me, maybe I’ll consider giving you some food.”

“Hahaha...”

Laughter erupted throughout the tower.

As prominent landlords in the Aba region, these wealthy families each hid inside their sturdy defensive towers.

These towers were mostly built from stone and wood, with walls made of stone blocks and mud, and wooden staircases inside.

Their shapes varied—square, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal—even some with thirteen sides.

Such towers served various purposes: military defense, signal fires for early warning, residences for local chieftains, even as talismanic wards against demons.

Now, the Rainbow Army found themselves seemingly cornered by the Qing Tian Party’s forces.

These landlords, relying on their impregnable towers, acted with brazen arrogance.

Not only did they refuse to lend grain to the Rainbow Army crossing the grasslands, they taunted them relentlessly—shooting, firing arrows, even wounding soldiers.

They behaved as if utterly fearless.

“Commander, they’re way too arrogant—those bastards are unbelievably cocky.”

“That’s right. They won’t lend us grain, and as soon as we get close, they shoot arrows at us.”

“Several brothers got injured by their arrows.”

The Rainbow soldiers ground their teeth, glaring at the insolent men inside the towers.

“I heard a few days ago, Commander Li sent men to borrow grain, but his troops were hit by birdshot and severely wounded.”

Hearing the report, Kong Jie clenched his fists tightly.

But he soon sighed, remembering the strict discipline of the Rainbow Army.

Launching a reckless attack on these landlords wasn’t wise—first, they couldn’t guarantee a quick victory, which would jeopardize the strategic withdrawal.

Second, it might cause panic among the local civilians.

Compared to the fearless Li Yunlong, Kong Jie was more obedient to orders.

“If we can’t borrow grain, then we leave. Don’t waste time here. Our brother units are already entering the grasslands, and the Qing Tian Party’s troops will catch up by nightfall.”

The Qing Tian Party’s encirclement was imminent; lingering would mean being trapped.

“This is an order!”

Though reluctant, everyone obeyed Kong Jie’s command.

They prepared to withdraw with the army, entering the grasslands.

Crossing the Pan Song Grassland, they followed the main force moving northward.

“Hahaha, those bandits are cowards, complete cowards.”

“I knew it—just a bunch of scaredy-cats coming to beg for grain.”

“Pfft!”

“My grain? You think you deserve any of it?”

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