Su Fan’s reward and punishment in front of so many people were naturally for them to see, hoping that the news would spread to all the bandits through these captured outlaws, attracting more to come.
After arranging these bandits, Su Fan immediately sent people to Shuiyue Village.
However, he was still a step too late; the warehouse of Shuiyue Village had already been emptied.
Not all traitors had fled to the bandit suppression camp.
Some who remained woke up to find Shuiyue Village deserted, with even the leader and his second-in-command gone.
The first thing they thought of was the warehouse, and all the treasures within were gone.
Su Fan was helpless.
Someone thought of capturing the leaders of Shuiyue Village to claim merit, but why didn’t anyone think of taking the warehouse of Shuiyue Village to claim merit?
However, it didn't matter. Since no soldiers were lost, the absence of spoils was insignificant.
Within three days of setting up camp, two mountain strongholds were dealt with.
They had to break camp and move to another location.
"Camp Commander Li, where is our next target?"
Su Fan asked Li Changmin.
Now they had to consider where to go next.
Li Changmin scanned the map.
"Longhu Mountain."
Li Changmin told Su Fan.
He was already familiar with the distribution of surrounding mountain strongholds; looking at the map was merely a gesture of respect for its existence.
Su Fan was taken aback.
Wasn't Longhu Mountain the territory of Cheng Yaoyin and his men?
"Can we change the target?"
Su Fan asked Li Changmin.
Su Fan certainly couldn't attack Cheng Yaoyin and his men.
"If we change the target, we'll have to bypass Longhu Mountain. Then, if we are fighting other strongholds, the bandits of Longhu Mountain might launch a surprise attack from the rear," Li Changmin explained to Su Fan.
Su Fan frowned.
"Forget it, let's not break camp for now," Su Fan said after some thought.
He decided to go to Longhu Mountain again and see if he could persuade them to join the bandit suppression camp.
On the same day, Su Fan rode his horse to Longhu Mountain again.
Cheng Yaoyin was very happy to see Su Fan arrive.
"Brother Cheng, have you considered it? Do you want to come to the bandit suppression camp with me?"
Su Fan was there for business, not to reminisce with Cheng Yaoyin, so he asked directly.
Cheng Yaoyin's expression immediately became troubled.
He had deeply considered Su Fan's words from last time.
But Longhu Mountain was not just his. He had so many brothers below him; he couldn't make decisions for all of them.
"I've carefully considered what you said last time. You made a lot of sense, but Longhu Mountain isn't decided by me alone. There are so many brothers below, and some don't want to go."
Cheng Yaoyin apologized to Su Fan.
Some of his brothers didn't want to be involved with the imperial court, so he couldn't abandon them. Therefore, Cheng Yaoyin had to politely decline Su Fan's invitation.
Su Fan had anticipated this outcome.
"May I ask which brother is unwilling to join the bandit suppression camp?" Su Fan asked out of curiosity.
He had met everyone at Longhu Mountain last time.
Er Qing was cold and aloof, unlikely to make his own decisions. Aunt Niu was friendly and shouldn't refuse. Wen Yan, Xiao Jiu?
"It's Brother Wen Yan. His life has been quite unfortunate," Cheng Yaoyin sighed and said.
He then began to recount Wen Yan's experiences to Su Fan.
Wen Yan was a scholar from a small county. His family was poor, but he diligently pursued academic success and was a well-known scholar in the surrounding villages.
However, Wen Yan was very poor. He only had one chance. If he didn't pass the imperial examination on his first try, he wouldn't have the money to continue studying.
Through his unremitting efforts, Wen Yan finally felt confident enough to travel to the city to take the examination.
After much hardship, he reached the examination hall and participated in the test.
During the examination, Wen Yan didn't find it difficult and finished writing with ease.
But when the results were posted, Wen Yan collapsed.
Wen Yan's name was not on the list. This was a huge blow to him.
But it wasn't the biggest blow.
Failing the exam would have at most led Wen Yan to return home dejectedly and farm honestly.
What truly devastated Wen Yan was that he inadvertently learned that his ranking had been usurped, and he hadn't actually failed.
This made him furious.
He had studied diligently for decades and spent all his family's savings to take the exam, only to have his spot taken by someone else!
Wen Yan made inquiries and found his way to the Ministry of Rites, but he was driven away before he could even enter the gate.
In a fit of rage, he went to the home of the high official who had taken his place and killed his entire family.
From then on, Wen Yan became a wanted criminal and was forced to become an outlaw.
After listening, Su Fan understood why Wen Yan was unwilling to join the bandit suppression camp. He had been completely disillusioned by the imperial court and harbored a deep-seated aversion to anyone associated with it.
"How about I try to persuade him?" Su Fan tentatively asked Cheng Yaoyin.
After all, Su Fan was now part of the imperial court, and Wen Yan likely wouldn't have a good impression of him.
"Forget it. He probably doesn't want to talk to you."
Cheng Yaoyin directly rejected Su Fan's suggestion.
He was afraid that if Su Fan went to find Wen Yan, they might get into a fight.
"Alright then. Please tell him for me that regarding his usurped ranking, perhaps I can help him clear his name."
"Okay, I will relay your message to him."
Cheng Yaoyin nodded slightly.
"I came here to let you know that the bandit suppression camp will be passing through Longhu Mountain. If anything happens, don't worry, just stay on the mountain."
Su Fan continued to tell Cheng Yaoyin.
"You've started suppressing bandits?" Cheng Yaoyin asked, surprised.
"Yes, Feihua Village and Shuiyue Village have been eliminated. Originally, Longhu Mountain was next, which is why I came here today," Su Fan said to Cheng Yaoyin without any concealment.
Cheng Yaoyin frowned slightly.
"Alright, I will pass down the word."
Cheng Yaoyin nodded and said.
After Su Fan finished speaking with Cheng Yaoyin, he took his leave.
After Su Fan left, Cheng Yaoyin frowned deeply.
He immediately returned to the mountain to find Wen Yan.
Although Su Fan could look after them somewhat in the bandit suppression camp now, it wasn't a long-term solution. What if all the bandits around Beiling City were eliminated?
Would Su Fan still turn a blind eye out of respect for him then?
If it were in the past, Cheng Yaoyin would definitely find ways to oppose the bandit suppression camp.
But now, Su Fan was in charge of the bandit suppression camp, and he couldn't act against it.
Moreover, Cheng Yaoyin had truly taken Su Fan's previous words to heart: a world without bandits would be better for the common people.
Therefore, he had to persuade Wen Yan again. Nothing was insurmountable.
Wen Yan was reading in his room and looked puzzled when he saw Cheng Yaoyin rushing in.
"What's wrong, Brother?" Wen Yan asked, putting down his book.
"Brother Wen Yan, Brother Su Fan is a very good person. He's definitely different from those people in the court. About what he said last time, would you reconsider joining the bandit suppression camp?"