“West Ji once wanted to open a trade route through Longchuan. Compared to taking Turbid Dragon Ridge, the journey is at least two days shorter, and the road is flat and easy to travel. But because of the bandit problem, that route simply could not be opened.” Wen Daolun continued introducing the situation to him. “These bandits use the marshes as their strongholds and repeatedly raid the southern-route caravans. When official troops come, they flee. Once the troops leave, they come back.”

He Lingchuan nodded. “Sure enough, the crux is all in Longchuan.”

To cut weeds, one had to remove the roots; to exterminate rats, one had to dig out the den.

“There are also many monsters and beasts in Longchuan, and they collude with the bandits.” Wen Daolun pointed at the sand table and added, “Qianjin Stockade is one of the largest bandit gangs. Its main camp is built in the middle of a lake, and the water monsters...