At the end of the thirty-sixth month, the grain was collected.

After Wutong Village officially became affiliated with Xiaobai Village, Zhan Xiaobai ordered support for Wutong Village’s development and reorganized its leadership and personnel. Wutong and his subordinates were not fools; they had simply acted too hastily at first and exhausted their supplies, so that by the time regret set in, it was already too late. With the help of Jianba and other experienced builders, Wutong Village’s economic crisis quickly improved and normal operations resumed. However, reaching a truly stable state would still require at least another month or two of effort.

Zhan Xiaobai judged that, since Wutong was out of food, the bandit attacks would not be too fierce. He instructed Wutong to return with the players of Wutong Village and focus on defense. If they were unable to hold their ground, they could retreat to Xiaobai Village.

Wutong, delighted, returned with his brothers after receiving supplies including fish, timber, medicine, and a few copper coins, as well as Zhan Xiaobai’s personal promise: “In a month, I’ll gift you some farmers free of charge.” He did his best to recruit farmers and defend Wutong Village.

“It’s wasteful to let neighboring villages idle about. Not only must we make good use of our own resources, but also those of our partners,” Zhan Xiaobai remarked.

Jianba agreed, “Efficiency determines the speed of development.”

In the blink of an eye, two days passed.

January 25th, harvest day.

Xiaobai Village was fully prepared. In just three short days, the number of NPC farmers had surged to sixty-three.

At dawn, as the sky brightened, the village was in lockdown; not a single player could be seen outside. Over three thousand combat players lay in wait within the small village, ready in silence. Traps, tripwires, stakes, and chevaux-de-frise were densely arranged in every defensive zone. Not even a field mouse could sneak through, let alone bandits.

In the fields, Li Asan led all sixty-three farmers in a frantic harvest. Even Hanxue No. 1, the militiaman, was ordered by Zhan Xiaobai to take up a sickle and join the harvest. Carpenters and wounded veterans were settled in the safest administrative courtyard.

Tension ran high that day. Daqi Village was also bracing for battle; they even sent a five-man “neighboring military observation team” to see how Xiaobai Village would face the threat. Zhan Xiaobai welcomed them cheerfully and kept them close at hand.

Wutong himself brought a small squad from his village, along with the newly recruited dozen or so farmers, to help defend Xiaobai Village. Only a few hundred players were left to guard Wutong Village; there was little of value left, so if it fell, there would be little loss.

The command center was set up in the fields, and everyone waited in silence.

Afei was worried. “The sun’s been up for a while and there’s still no sign. Could it be the bandits aren’t coming?”

Spring-Autumn Young Hero spat and grinned, “All the better if they don’t come. By the time we finish the harvest, even if they show up, it’ll be too late for them.”

People whispered among themselves.

At last, the thunderous drumming of hooves kicked up a cloud of dust, and just as the sun blazed into view, the bandits appeared on the horizon.

A player on the palisade, keeping watch, caught sight of the bandit horde and gasped. “Oh my God!” He tumbled down in fright, scrambled to his feet, and dashed to the fields to report, “Bandits—loads of them!”

Everyone was shaken.

Zhan Xiaobai didn’t bother asking how many there were, but led everyone to the palisade for a look. In the distance, a line of bandits, faint but unmistakable, charged straight toward the village. In less than five minutes, they would arrive.

Zhan Xiaobai cursed inwardly. Judging by the mood, at least four or five squads of bandits were coming—more than twenty killing machines. Four times more than he had expected.

There was no time to think further. He issued a rapid succession of urgent orders.

“Qiushui!”

“Here.”

“I appoint you first-line commander. Take charge of 1,500 defenders at the wall, and carry out the plan: lure the enemy into the trap.”

Qiushui accepted the order with a solemn nod. “Yes.”

“Young Hero!”

“Here.”

“You’re now second-line commander. Lead six hundred defenders in the fields, ready to support Qiushui at any time. Do not let a single bandit set foot in the fields.”

Spring-Autumn Young Hero accepted, “Yes!”

“Afei!”

“Here!” Afei perked up, eager for his orders.

“You’ll take a hundred men and stay in the fields. If things go badly, immediately evacuate all the farmers to the courtyard. Not a single farmer is to die.”

Afei nodded fervently to himself. He might not be good at fighting, but leading a retreat was simple enough.

Zhan Xiaobai looked at the remaining people, his expression grave. “The rest of you, come with me to the courtyard. The fields are no longer safe for command.”

He had no desire to linger by the palisade. Leading Li Asan, Jianba, and the others, he headed straight for the courtyard.

Wutong followed closely behind, his heart pounding at the sight. He couldn’t help but admire Zhan Xiaobai. To remain calm and command so effectively in the face of so many bandits—Xiaobai truly was extraordinary.

The observation team from Daqi Village, who had been trying to play the hero, saw the overwhelming number of bandits and quickly abandoned the palisade, retreating to the courtyard as well.

Qiushui and more than a dozen guild leaders stood at the front line, observing. Four squads of bandits advanced in a single line, making everyone’s hearts race in terror. A single squad had previously caused them endless trouble, and now four had arrived. This was a death sentence.

Defenses were in place on all four sides of the village, with the strongest concentration along the southwestern wall, closest to the fields and the likely focus of the bandits’ attack.

Three minutes later, the bandits drew near.

At their head rode a bandit leader. With a sweeping gesture, the four squads split into two columns and began circling the village, loosing arrows as they went. Anyone showing their head over the palisade was met with a hail of arrows.

The players pressed themselves flat to the ground, not daring to move.

The bandits circled the village twice, shouting and firing randomly, before gathering together.

Reining in their horses, the bandit leader signaled.

The first squad drew their five gleaming horse-cutting sabers with a synchronized flourish and charged at the southern palisade, blades flashing.