After being reborn as a man, the woman improved her family's fortunes through education.

The most treacherous section is over; the rest of the journey, though difficult, won't be too hard.

When they headed north to support the northern battlefield, they didn't take this route. Peng Qing was urging them on, so Ouyang Zheng had no choice but to lead everyone to take a shortcut.

However, Ouyang Zheng also walked this path that most people take more than a decade ago.

They traveled in silence until they reached a valley, when suddenly the sound of horses' hooves came from ahead. Ouyang Zheng's heart tightened, and he immediately signaled everyone to be on alert.

The sound of horses' hooves drew near, then stopped.

"This mountain is mine! These trees are mine! If you want to pass, leave your toll!"

—A tired, outdated line.

Jiang Xiaoqi and his group looked calmly at the dozen or so "brave warriors" who were riding horses and robbing people about ten meters ahead.

Lin Yueniang and Jiang Xiyue's eyes lit up when the group appeared; the tedious journey had finally become a little more enjoyable!

Li Haisheng subtly spurred his horse to block the view of Miss Jiang and her daughter Lin Yueniang. With their view blocked, the two could only tilt their heads to the left and right to look at the other side.

Li Haisheng could tell that the Jiang mother and daughter had some martial arts skills, but no matter how skilled a young lady was, she had never seen such a scene of robbery on the road.

So he decided to protect the two of them first. Those bandits were no match for his master. Li Haisheng had no qualms about letting his master take the lead.

He was simply relieved that Miss Jiang was dressed so well that she didn't look like a young girl at all.

After admiring Jiang Xiyue's "disguise skills" in his heart, he glared fiercely at the ignorant bandits opposite him.

The bandits who had just uttered their threats were enraged when they saw that the men had no reaction.

"Hey! A bunch of clueless bastards! Now that you've seen our second-in-command, you'd better hand over your money and horses obediently! If our second-in-command is in a good mood, he might spare your lives!"

Wenbin and Li Mo looked at the dozen or so bandits as if they were idiots. Sigh, why couldn't they just live a good life?

In contrast, Ah Niu seemed a little nervous, gripping the two axes at his waist tightly.

Li Haisheng raised an eyebrow, about to speak, but Jiang Xiaoqi behind him spoke first.

"My fellow heroes, we're all in this together, just trying to make money. Let's not hurt our friendship!"

"It's just silver, isn't it? Consider it my way of treating you gentlemen to tea!" With that, he made a gesture as if to unpack his bundle and take out the silver.

Upon hearing this, the bandits exchanged glances, a glint of greed flashing in their eyes. They thought, "This kid is smart enough!"

However, once they received the silver, they had no choice. Longhu Mountain had never let a fat sheep return to the mountain before, and these eight horses were worth a lot of money.

Even if this group of people is of varying ages and abilities, there are still eight men. Even if they are not killed, they can be sold to the mines for another sum of money!

Their second-in-command has always operated this way, hehehe, their second-in-command is really too clever!

"Hehe, since you're so sensible, hurry up and hand over your money! Then we'll let you go!"

Jiang Xiaoqi didn't care what the bandits were thinking. He calmly took out a ten-tael silver ingot from his pocket and threw it to the bandits.

"It's just a small token of my appreciation; I hope you gentlemen will be lenient with it!"

The bandit caught the silver coin tossed to him, bit it to confirm it was real:

"Is that all? Do you think we're beggars? Hand it all over! Or you'll leave your lives behind! Money or your life, you choose!"

"Oh dear, you gentlemen are quite greedy! Ten taels of silver is enough to feed a whole family for half a year! Alas, this is a problem—even the landlord's family doesn't have surplus grain!"

Jiang Xiaoqi spread his hands and then reached for his belt, drawing out a supple soft sword.

The bandits were enraged when they saw that a mere child dared to brandish weapons. They killed him without caring whether he was alive or dead, and the silver naturally fell into their hands.

Just as the bandits were facing the enemy head-on, Wenbin and Li Mo circled around to the rear, suddenly seized their weapons, and subdued two bandits in a few breaths.

"Ah Niu, protect the 'Second Young Master'!"

Li Haisheng shouted and charged forward. Jiang Xiaoqi was not to be outdone, and rode forward on his horse. He couldn't let his senior brother steal the kill.

They didn't kill him, of course; they just severed his tendons and ligaments, as they always had.

Watching the bandits subdue the group in just over ten rounds, Jiang Xiyue gritted her teeth and awkwardly held the nine-section whip she had just drawn in her hand.

Lin Yueniang was alright, after all, she had already figured out that these people weren't very strong.

This is too unchallenging; let's leave it to our son. Once he has a more formidable opponent, she can loosen up her muscles.

"Ah-ah-!"

"Please spare my life, sir! Please spare my life!"

The bandits rolled around on the ground in a sorry state, while Ouyang Zheng sat calmly on his horse, not lifting a finger the entire time, just watching the four young men make their moves swiftly.

Looking at the easily defeated bandits, he thought more deeply. The war in the northern border had just ended. Although the Great Zhou had won, the losses were considerable.

The military supplies and provisions that followed show that the Great Zhou had already emptied its coffers.

At this point, the Great Zhou Dynasty could not withstand another major war. Of course, the barbarians also needed to recuperate before they could make a comeback.

But even without the Northern Barbarians, there are still the Russians, the Eastern Ying, and the Baekje, all eyeing us covetously. The Great Zhou Dynasty has only been established for a short time and its national strength is not yet abundant. How can we deal with these wolves surrounding us?

Upon seeing this group of bandits, Ouyang Zheng had a preliminary idea, but he still needed to send a letter to his junior brother via carrier pigeon.

The master and apprentice had already completed their mission, and they would not interfere in what followed, since their apprentices' provincial examinations were more important.

Next year, when Run will be off the field, four and a half years later, Mingfei will also be thirteen and ready to retire as well.

Being a young scholar who passed the provincial examination or the imperial examination is certainly desirable, but it can also lead to being deliberately suppressed by some self-righteous examiners because of age. If someone can become the top scholar in the provincial examination, why should they be a regular scholar?

Ouyang Zheng was thinking about 'reserving' two top scholars from the imperial examination, while A Niu, Li Mowenbin, and the others had already untied the bandits' belts and tied them up tightly.

As for reporting to the authorities, it would be more appropriate for Li Haisheng, who has the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations), to go, at least he wouldn't have to kneel before the local county magistrate.

"Runzhi took his men to report to the authorities. We'll go into the city first and find a place to stay."

“Alright, we’ll do as Mr. Ouyang says.” Lin Yueniang knew that her son’s teacher was capable, even though she hadn’t seen Mr. Ouyang make a move just now.

But a truly great person possesses a natural air of refinement that cannot be faked.

"However, apart from the women, everyone will take turns keeping watch tonight. After all, we've captured the second-in-command, and we might just have to wait for the first-in-command to come."

“What you say is very true, sir! However, there’s no need to be so strict with me and Xiyue. We are both skilled enough to keep watch at night.”

“Mother, let’s listen to Master. There are many of us, and each of us can’t even get an hour’s work. We don’t need you and sister to help us.”

Lin Yueniang also wanted to contribute, not wanting her son's master and senior brothers to think that women were a burden. However, since Mingfei said so, she did not insist anymore. The journey was still long, and there would always be a time when they, mother and daughter, would be needed!