Volume 1, Chapter 47: The New Lieutenant Relocates to Phoenix Island

When the order promoting Li Shandao to Grand Commander—which was essentially a Captain—arrived two days later, accompanied by the Captain's tally and a newly assigned unit of a hundred men, Xu Shiji’s intended approach of "letting things happen first and discussing them later" was quite effectively achieved.

Without a shred of psychological preparation, Li Shandao was both astonished and delighted.

Handing over his original squad leader's tally and hanging the new Captain's tally at his waist, Li Shandao had no time to get acquainted with his newly assigned troops before hurrying off with Liu Huer to pay his respects to Xu Shiji and express his gratitude in person.

Xu Shiji was not at his quarters, but at the Gathering Hall.

Li Shandao waited for him for the better part of the morning, and it was close to noon when Xu Shiji finally returned.

Li Shandao said, "I naturally understand the First Young Master's painstaking efforts. When it comes to sheer bravery and fierceness, those valiant men are certainly superior, but in terms of obeying orders, valiant men cannot compare to displaced refugees. By doing this, the First Young Master is making it easier for me to train them afterward."

"Precisely, that is exactly what I had in mind. It is good that you understand my intent. There is another matter I must tell you. Previously, you only had a hundred men in your command, which was fine while staying in the main stronghold. Now, with the addition of the families of those refugees, your force numbers over two hundred. You can no longer remain in the main stronghold—that valley is no longer large enough to accommodate you and your troops. Pack up your things, leave the mountain today, and go garrison our Fenghuang Branch Stronghold. I have already sent orders to the branch stronghold to arrange a quartering area for you."

Li Shandao respectfully accepted the order.

"Furthermore, Second Brother, you have never been to our branch stronghold before. Let me briefly introduce it to you. With the newly recruited men assigned to our branch stronghold recently, we currently have over eighteen hundred able-bodied men. Including you, there are now nine Captains in total. Aside from these eighteen hundred-plus able-bodied men, there are also four or five hundred women, children, the elderly, and the infirm. These vulnerable groups have their own veterans' camp and do not normally live with the rank-and-file outlaws. Once you arrive at the branch stronghold with the families of the refugees assigned to you, you will also need to separate them and send them to the veterans' camp."

Li Shandao acknowledged the instruction.

"As for the affairs of the branch stronghold, when I am not present, they are mainly managed by Luo Silang, Heita, Gouzi, and others. Luo Silang is my second-in-command; Heita primarily manages the military affairs of the branch stronghold, and Gouzi handles logistics and other matters. You have seen and met all three of them. When you arrive at the branch stronghold, you may first go pay your respects to Silang. I hardly need to remind you of Silang's background, do I?"

Li Shandao replied, "No, there is no need for the First Young Master to say more; I already know."

"That is about all I have to instruct you on. Wang Bodang has sent someone back to the stronghold in advance with news, and he will be able to return to the stronghold this afternoon. This time down the mountain, he has recruited another hundred or so valiant men for the stronghold. Combined with the people Fang Yanzao recruited the other day, the two of them have brought in four or five hundred people for the stronghold this time. Lord Zhai is very happy and is going to host a banquet this evening, inviting Duke Pingshan, Wang Bodang, Fang Yanzao, and others to drink and dine. I must return to the Gathering Hall shortly. Second Brother, I won't keep you any longer. Return to your valley and begin moving to our branch stronghold to settle in."

Li Shandao cupped his hands in a salute and said, "With the appointment of Captain coming down so suddenly, I won't conceal it from the First Young Master—I had not the slightest preparation. For the First Young Master's gracious promotion and deep favor, Shandao does not know how to repay you!"

Xu Shiji stroked his full beard and smiled, saying, "You and I are men from the same county; members of the same family do not stand on ceremony. Second Brother, no more polite words are needed." He called over Liu Huer and instructed him, "Today is Second Brother's first time going to our branch stronghold, so you go along with Second Brother and show him the way."

Liu Huer assented.

Li Shandao then took his leave and returned to the valley with Liu Huer.

Back in the valley, he met with several leaders among the newly assigned unit of a hundred men.

Li Shandao gave an order. Combining his old troops with the new ones, along with the dozens of elderly, weak, women, and children brought by the new troops—totaling over two hundred people, leading horses, and pushing handcarts—they departed the main stronghold and headed for the Fenghuang Branch Stronghold.

Fenghuang Island was not far from the foot of Mount Dapei, connected by a pontoon bridge.

After crossing the bridge, on the shoals at the western bridgehead, more than a dozen people were already waiting for Li Shandao.

The leader was none other than "Gouzi." Gouzi's surname was Zheng, and he was also a household servant of Xu Shiji. He was eloquent, literate, and skilled in arithmetic, which was why Xu Shiji put him in charge of the branch stronghold's logistics and other affairs.

As the two sides met, Liu Huer completed his task and took his leave.

After seeing off Liu Huer, Zheng Gouzi led Li Shandao to inspect the camping ground arranged for him.

The camping ground was a low-lying area, flanked on one side by river water, bordered on two sides by briars and wild trees, and facing the interior of the island on the remaining side.

Zheng Gouzi stopped outside the depression and said, "This is the temporary garrison site chosen for Second Brother. Have a look, Second Brother. Will this do?"

This low-lying area was quite large, spacious enough not only for Li Shandao's troops to garrison but also providing ample space for military drills.

Li Shandao smiled and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Brother Zheng. It doesn't just 'do,' it is simply wonderful! This is the place!" He asked Wang Xuda, Chen Jing'er, Qin Jingsi, Luo Zhong, and the leaders of the new troops, "What do you brothers think?"

Wang Xuda and the others naturally had no objections and all said, "This place is good, this place is good."

There were scattered stones, wild grass, and the like within the depression.

Li Shandao commanded, "Then let's get to work. Today, clear the ground thoroughly first; tomorrow, we'll build thatched huts and sheds."

As Wang Xuda and the others led the men down into the depression to begin clearing away various debris, Li Shandao asked Zheng Gouzi to lead the way to pay his respects to Luo Xiaode.

The branch stronghold also had a Gathering Hall, located in the center of the island. Upon meeting Luo Xiaode in the Gathering Hall, they exchanged pleasantries, which need not be elaborated upon. That evening, Luo Xiaode hosted a banquet in the Gathering Hall to welcome Li Shandao. Nie Heita, Zheng Gouzi, and the other Captains currently in the stronghold all attended. Some of Li Shandao already knew them, while others he did not, but after a round of drinks, those he didn't know became familiar as well. There is no need to dwell on this.

After working busily for a day and a half, Wang Xuda and the other veteran troops—having had the experience of clearing that valley and building thatched huts and sheds within it—were well-practiced and familiar with the task. By the evening of the second day, the low-lying area had been completely cleared, and the houses and sheds were erected.

Looking down from a high vantage point, one could see the interior of the island to the west of the depression, and the Yellow River bordering it to the east. Gazing far to the east across the wide river surface, one could catch sight of the fields and villages on the opposite bank. The space occupied by the depression was divided into two zones: the northern part was the garrison area, centered around four or five thatched huts scattered with dozens of sheds, and the southern part was the drill ground, though the ground had not yet been leveled.

Compared to the feeling of being in that valley at the main stronghold, this place truly offered an expansive view, with the breeze blowing in from the Yellow River, refreshing both body and mind.

Li Shandao gazed at it for a long time, feeling satisfied in his heart. He instructed Wang Xuda and the others, "Tomorrow, level the ground of the drill area in the south. The day after tomorrow, take a rest day. The day after that, we can formally settle in here and begin our daily drills."

Wang Xuda and the others were also very satisfied and readily agreed.

The very next day, while they were busy leveling the ground of the southern drill area, another group of about a hundred people, led by Zheng Gouzi, came from the direction of the pontoon bridge connecting the island and Mount Dapei. They stopped not far from the edge of the low-lying area where Li Shandao and his men were located.

This group was none other than the hundred or so valiant men Wang Bodang had recently recruited for the stronghold.

Li Shandao went over to inquire and learned that, just as before, Wang Bodang was still unwilling to keep these valiant men for his own use, choosing instead to present them to Zhai Rang and leaving their allocation and placement entirely up to him. Zhai Rang had consequently assigned this group to the Fenghuang Branch Stronghold.

Connecting this with what he had heard the day before—that Fang Yanzao had likewise presented all three or four hundred people he had recruited this time entirely to Zhai Rang—

Gao Chounu asked, "My Lord, why not covet small gains?"

Li Shandao shook his head without answering. He picked up a wooden shovel and rejoined the ranks of those leveling the ground.

To be honest, Li Shandao still felt a certain degree of admiration for the generosity of Wang Bodang, Fang Yanzao, and others, who were all willing to present the valiant men they had recruited entirely to Zhai Rang. Leaving aside those Wang Bodang had previously recruited for the stronghold, such as Wang Xuda and the others, just the ones the two of them had recruited this time totaled four or five hundred people. Such a large following was not a small number, yet they actually had the heart to keep none of them and give them all to Zhai Rang? Although it was clear they did this for a greater ambition—namely, to join the Wagang forces—such magnanimity was definitely something ordinary people could never achieve. One had to know that Wang Bodang's own core troops still numbered less than a thousand, amounting to only a few hundred!

Putting himself in their shoes, Li Shandao asked himself: Could he do it?

Perhaps he could, perhaps he couldn't.

If this could ultimately be traded for joining the Wagang forces, then the reward would certainly far outweigh the sacrifice. But taking a step back, what if it ultimately failed to secure entry? Wouldn't it be like a meat bun thrown at a dog, never to return? It would be better to keep these troops for one's own use, which at least would strengthen one's own power.

Yet, turning his thoughts again, Li Shandao smiled self-deprecatingly, slapped his forehead, and cursed, "Damn it!" Reflecting on himself, he thought, "After all, I am still too shortsighted. While wealth and goods mean nothing to me, I inevitably value troops and men. But as for this Li Mi, he is a man who has accomplished great deeds of rebellion and witnessed grand scenes. To achieve his goal, never mind mere hundreds of outlaws—even if it were thousands of outlaws, I fear he would abandon them the moment he chose to!" With a hint of admiration, he thought further, "Only by being able to let go can one truly gain; everyone knows the principle, but how many can actually do it? Someone like Li Mi, who can let go and dares to make such a grand sacrifice, can truly be called a genuine hero!"

After this self-reflection, he took it a step further, learning the essence of "letting go to gain" from Li Mi, and felt that his horizons had been considerably broadened.

Li Mi, of course, knew nothing of Li Shandao's admiration for his "dare to let go" attitude.

Just as Li Shandao was inwardly admiring him, Li Mi, currently in the main stronghold, was listening to one of his subordinates express contempt for Zhai Rang's pettiness.