Chapter 69

The bandit gang, however, proved incredibly formidable, dealing the government troops a crushing defeat. Since then, the Prefect of Wuyang has dispatched troops to suppress them multiple times, but instead of being wiped out, the bandits only grew in number and strength. Today, Zhao Heihu, the bandit leader, has absorbed most of the outlaws in the Suizhou region. Over a thousand bandits occupy Qingyang Mountain, southeast of Wuyang Prefecture, robbing passing merchant caravans and frequently encroaching on the city to plunder and kidnap for ransom. Sun Changxiao’s youngest son was also kidnapped by Zhao Heihu a few days ago. Zhao demanded a ransom of thirty thousand taels of silver from the Sun family. Though the family has some assets, they simply cannot scrape together such a sum, leaving Sun no choice but to beg the Prefect of Wuyang for help. He has pleaded with the Prefect three times already, but while the Prefect offers empty promises, he is far too terrified to actually send troops to suppress Zhao Heihu’s gang.