The ramifications of this operation against the mountain bandits were immense.
This was not just affecting the bandits, but also the common people of Qin.
If the bandits had remained confined to the mountains, their impact on the populace would have been minimal; people could simply avoid them.
However, the situation changed drastically when the bandits fled down the mountains and began to blend in with the lives of the common people.
Initially, the villagers had been deeply terrified of these bandits. But as the bandits integrated themselves, this fear began to wane.
In fact, many of the bandits were apprehended by the collective efforts of the villagers.
This effectively brought the bandits down from their pedestal of terror.
Before the villagers joined forces to capture them, they were indeed a source of dread.
Once they united and captured the bandits, the villagers felt the bandits were not as formidable as they seemed.
The fear that once gripped them vanished.
After all, they realized they could handle these bandits on their own. Why should they worry if they encountered them again? There was no need.
With this realization, they became even more emboldened.
"Let's capture the bandits! Let's hand them over to His Highness the Crown Prince!"
"Right! We must capture these bandits who plague our land and rid the people of this menace!"
"Those bandits are nothing special, there's nothing to fear. Let's capture them and give them no chance to resist!"
As soon as the call to capture bandits went out, countless villagers responded.
If this were in the past, they would never have dared to act.
But the current situation was different. Lin Tian had led a powerful army to decimate the bandits, scattering them completely.
Many of them were now isolated, relying only on their individual strength.
Under these circumstances, capturing them was effortless.
Because of this, the villagers felt no fear, and the bandits became targets of widespread condemnation.
The bandits deeply resented this public outcry.
They discovered that under such intense scrutiny, they had nowhere left to hide.
Whether in the cities, outside the city walls, or even in the deepest mountain forests, people were actively searching for their whereabouts.
This would have been unthinkable before.
After all, most villagers used to be afraid of bandits.
But now, the villagers seemed to have transformed into agents of justice, actively seeking them out to cause trouble.
It all felt incredibly surreal.
Simultaneously, this also enraged many of the bandits.
"Damn it! Do these commoners think we're easily provoked? Today, we will make them pay!"
"Yes! Make them pay! Let them know that we, the bandits, are not to be trifled with!"
"Good! Then let's behead them and display their heads as a warning!"
Upon hearing this, many immediately agreed.
They had been hiding and enduring for too long.
A simmering rage had been building within them for a long time.
Previously, they had considered acting, but fear had held them back.
But now, the situation was different. They had reached their breaking point.
They could no longer suppress their own impulses.
At this moment, they had only one thought: to strike at these villagers.
Only by doing so could they intimidate the populace and potentially secure their own survival.
While this action would undoubtedly attract more attention from the Qin army, their obstacles would be significantly reduced if the villagers ceased their pursuit.
Therefore, without hesitation, they began to prepare for their hunt.
However, their intentions were noble, but the reality of their actions proved to be less straightforward.
In the past, they operated in large groups.
Their sheer numbers gave them courage and made their raids simpler.
But now, they were different. They no longer had sufficient numbers.
Moreover, their courage had diminished.
Although they still desired to raid, they found it difficult to attack the villagers who were now pursuing them.
This was especially true as many of the pursuers were experienced hunters, making the situation even more complex.
They wanted to act, but they struggled to find the opportune moment.
"Damn it! How can these people be so formidable, making it so hard for us to strike?"
"I can see it too, this group is incredibly difficult to deal with. We might not be able to kill them easily!"
"That's not the most important thing. The most important thing is that they've discovered our presence and are relentlessly pursuing us!"
Being unable to kill these hunters, and being relentlessly pursued by them, was a fatal situation for these bandits, one they could not accept.
Many among them could no longer contain their inner turmoil.
"No, I can't keep running like this anymore. I have to act! I have to strike back at them!"
"Yes! Attack them! Let's go on the offensive, and I refuse to believe we can't defeat them!"
"I also think an offensive is possible. If we attack, we still have a chance. But if we don't, we'll likely be caught!"
If they were caught, their fate was predictable.
Therefore, these bandits made up their minds to attack the hunters who were pursuing them.
While they were making their decision, the other group of bandits also sensed a shift.
"It seems like these people are about to attack us!"
"They are desperate fugitives, fleeing for their lives. Of course, they will attack us, otherwise, they have no escape!"
"Right! I understand. They intend to attack us, and I believe we should devise a plan to deal with them properly!"
"Use arrows! We'll shoot them down with arrows! I believe our archery skills will prevail!"
"Good, then let's use our arrows to avenge our fallen brothers and kill them!"
As seasoned hunters, their proficiency with bows and arrows was unparalleled.
In the past, their weakness in numbers prevented them from engaging the bandits.
But now, the situation was different. The bandits' strength was diminished, and they could finally make a move.
Under these circumstances, they hesitated no longer, drawing their bows and aiming at the bandits.
...