Black-Haired, Red-Eyed Girl

Even if Yukino is included, the true fighting force here is only one samurai who has received combat training since childhood. He can resist five bandits from untrained backgrounds, but five villagers may not be able to kill one bandit.

If the area to be defended is too large and reinforcements cannot be reached in time, and if the bandits on horseback charge into the village and the panicked villagers, women, and children are captured, then the situation will spiral out of control.

"Everyone! Follow me! Why should we, the people from the upper village, abandon our own homes to protect the homes of the people from the lower village?" the villagers shouted.

"Yes! Our houses will be destroyed by bandits!" the villagers of Shangcun cried out in frustration. Just because their homes were located further away, were they to be left to fend for themselves?

When the bandits arrive and find they can't cross the other side, they'll definitely take the houses on this side to vent their anger and show their defiance. All the houses on the other side will be burned down!

That's a house they've built with their whole lives, maybe even two generations of their ancestors' hard work. How could they just give it up like that?

For rural people, two major life events are owning land and owning a house; these are things that affect their entire lives.

To get married and have children, both are indispensable; otherwise, no family with decent means would marry their daughter into such a family.

Women who are more attractive and have better financial conditions will also make choices regarding whether the land is barren or fertile, and the size of the house.

Every year, villagers would compete with each other about the yield of their fields, and it was clear who was the best farmer and who was not good at farming.

If everyone around them renovates their houses into beautiful new ones, those who only live in dilapidated old houses will be looked down upon by their fellow villagers.

Giving up their house is like giving up their future. They can survive, but what kind of cruel future awaits them?

"Hey! Are we going to lose our house? You heartless bastard! Say something!" But upon hearing this, the woman, carrying her child, ran over, threw herself at the man's feet, and grabbed his trouser leg.

The man clenched his fists, head bowed, remaining silent.

Seeing her husband's reaction, the woman understood what was happening and burst into loud sobs. "Waaah! How are we supposed to live now?!"

When the child saw his mother crying, he also started wailing loudly.

"Enough! We'll protect our own homes! People from the upper village, come with me!" The villagers threw down their bamboo knives and ran back to their homes.

"Stop!" Kojiro drew his nodachi and blocked the villagers' path.

"Go back! Otherwise, you'll be punished according to military law!" Tawara Toda shouted, drawing his ancestral golden sword.

"Pick it up! Go back to your ranks! Immediately!" Houzoin Inshun usually trained them, shouted at this moment.

The farmers who had run away were so frightened that they hurriedly picked up their bamboo spears and ran back to the ranks.

Even the usually easy-going, kind samurai named Shirou now wore a cold expression as he surveyed the crowd.

"Listen carefully, this place is now in a state of war preparedness. People can die at any moment, and there is no room for negligence. It's a pity that the houses will be burned down. But if the village is not defended and bandits break in, it won't just be the houses that are destroyed; your wives and children will also be in danger."

If we lose this battle, everyone will die! You understand, right? Sacrifice is unavoidable, so please be prepared."

Shirou said in a deep voice that although he hated such things the most—sacrificing some people to save the majority—he hoped that everyone who saw it could be happy.

But the situation was so difficult, and there was no other way. So Shirou hardened his heart and made a clear, forceful order to the villagers.

"From now on, no one is allowed to leave the unit without permission. If anyone disobeys military discipline again..." Shirou picked up a bamboo spear, stuck it in the ground, then drew his sword. In a flash of silver light, the bamboo spear was cleaved in two from end to end!

"Just like this bamboo spear!" Shirou scanned each villager in the line, meeting their gazes, and said earnestly.

The villagers were all frightened, avoiding eye contact and daring not to utter another complaint.

In military campaigns, the worst thing is disagreement. Even if a task can be accomplished, it will become impossible due to mutual conflict and delays. Military orders are absolute; once a battle plan is formulated, it cannot be disobeyed but must be carried out with all efforts.

If even one point of defense falters, the battle could be lost. And once lost, there is no second chance; the price is the lives of the entire village and dozens of families. That is war.

It is a terrifying monster. People understand this, yet they cannot resist it. Once it occurs, the initial struggle for interests will evolve into mutual hatred, which may even last for hundreds of years.

People will continue to feed the monster until it grows larger and larger, to the point that neither side can control it, eventually reaching a point where it can even engulf the lives of tens of millions of people at once.

No one can truly be without reverence for death. As long as you're alive, even if you don't care about your own life, there will always be people or things around you that you want to cherish.

No matter how brave a soldier is on the battlefield, constantly experiencing killing and the death of comrades will accumulate mental stress, leading to mental illness after retirement.

In more serious cases, a riot could break out, where someone who was perfectly fine one moment might suddenly go berserk and start wildly attacking their comrades with a knife. What's even more terrifying is that this kind of madness can be contagious.

Therefore, if a soldier is found ignoring military orders, shouting hysterically, or suddenly going mad from having nightmares at night, the first reaction of those around him is to kill him, otherwise the entire camp may descend into a frenzied brawl.

So before a battle even begins, they're already fighting amongst themselves, wasting a huge amount of manpower.

"Don't cry. After this battle is over, let me stay and help you rebuild your houses," Shirou said, comforting the families living in the distance.

"No! I couldn't possibly accept that," said Aichi, the village leader.

At this moment, the most reasonable village chief spoke up, "Warriors! All you need to do is lead us to victory against the bandits. The entire village will bear all the losses from this war. If anyone's house is destroyed, the whole village will help rebuild it. If anyone dies in battle, the whole village will support their family."

"Yes, it's best if you can understand that." Shirou nodded.

After the physical labor of harvesting grain was completed, all the other fine and trivial tasks were left to the women. All the men in the village spent their days practicing thrusting with bamboo spears or helping to build defensive structures.

Inside the small house where they lived, Shirou and several other samurai were discussing their plans for the upcoming battle, using a drawn map as a guide.

The main entrance to the village is now blocked off, with a three-meter-high iron fence made of wood and planks nailed together. People can only get through by climbing, but the climbable parts have all been wrapped with sharp wire by Shirou. To climb over, you'd have to scrape off several pieces of skin.

Meanwhile, preparations were made on the other side of the bridge. Protective walls were erected on both sides with wood, and once news of the bandits arrived, the ropes could be cut and the wooden bridge dismantled to prevent horses from crossing. Anyone wishing to cross would have to jump into the stream, walk to the bank, and climb up.

When the time comes, the splashing water as people walk along the stream will be the best warning. As long as we arrange for people to use bamboo spears to kill the bandits climbing up, this side can be considered a perfect defensive barrier.

The fields that were previously submerged by the floodwaters have now become a natural barrier. The soft, sticky, wet mud in the fields is impossible to walk on with shoes on; even barefoot, one would sink in. The slippery and heavy mud would trip up any bandits trying to come up from this side.

If the bandits dare to come over, the villagers only need to beat them up from behind the barrier of trees.

With everyone working together, the village formed a complete defensive system on three sides, like an iron wall. It restricted the enemy's advantage of Riding, and unless an unexpected opponent or unforeseen event occurred, it was virtually impossible to break through.

Chapter 228 Black-haired, red-eyed girl

Nestled halfway up the mountain, the village is built on undulating ground, with houses suspended in the air to prevent moisture. The ground is supported by thick and thick wooden pillars of varying heights, which are then filled and secured with stones and soil. The houses are made entirely of wood, with white paper pasted on the windows and thatched roofs to protect them from the wind and rain.

This is Yamada Village. Everyone in the village, young and old, shares the surname Yamada. The village is nestled against a high mountain and is divided into two sections by the terrain, connected by a three-meter-long wooden bridge.

Shirou and his companions constructed protective measures according to the terrain of the village.

Currently, the village is secured by a wooden fence erected at the entrance and by obstacles built on the banks of flooded farmland using long logs and slats. The village is now safe from two sides, ready to be defended by dismantling the wooden bridge should bandits attack.

Meanwhile, in the house that had been given to the samurai, six samurai and a farmer were discussing their plan. Nobu was not in the room, but was wandering outside as usual.

In her words, what she could think of, the bad Nobu could also think of, so there was no point in her staying here.

The farmer who was invited was Yamada Tanichiro, the leader of the village who had gone out to invite Shirou this time. Everyone in the village called him "Aichi".

"As we discussed before, Soji, Nobu, and Master Yin Shun will lead the militia to guard these three routes. Kojiro and Tawara Toda will lead the largest number of militia to guard the road behind the mountain. I will be in the center to coordinate the manpower, and Yukino will be in charge of relaying messages," Shirou said.

"I understand," everyone nodded in agreement.

"Um... speaking of which, why is that path on the back mountain still there? Wouldn't it be better to build a protective wall there as well?" Aichi, who was called to assist the samurai because he was familiar with the terrain, couldn't help but ask.

Shirou smiled and explained, "No, anyone who has read the Art of War should know that whether attacking or defending a city, if you are not prepared for a long war of attrition, then the ideal approach is to surround three sides and leave one side open in order to seek change and gain an advantage."

After all, if we hold out to the death, the bandits, driven to desperation by their inability to break through, might abandon their food supplies and burn the village down. So it's necessary to give them hope. We can take advantage of this to lure them in, weaken their forces, and this back mountain will be where we decide the outcome of our battle with the bandits."

"Heh, the general is right." Tawara Toda nodded with a smile, clearly agreeing with Shirou's idea.

"I have no objection. We will do as Shirou says," Houzoin Inshun said with a smile.

"This battle shouldn't be a passive defense, but a counterattack with defense as the main focus," Shirou said, pointing to a point on the map with a thin wooden stick.

"At that time, we will guard the three sides and prevent the bandits from entering from other places. Meanwhile, Kojiro and Tawara Toda will lead the militiamen with bamboo spears to ambush on both sides of the path in the back mountain, using the grass and trees on the slope as cover."

The bandits will definitely charge on horseback. Only two horses can pass at a time. Let one or two bandits in first, then lead the militia to use spears to block the procession.

I will lead the remaining militia to prepare traps and surround and kill the bandits on the road where they ride their horses from the back of the mountain into the village."

"A trap? Shirou, do you have a good idea?" Houzoin Inshun asked curiously.

Shirou chuckled and said, "Yes, I've scouted the path the bandits take into the village from the back of the mountain. It's all soft mud, so I'm thinking of digging five or six horse traps there. We can also put tripwires on the ground, cover them with mud, and pull them up instantly when the horses pass by. If the bandits fall off their horses, the villagers can handle it themselves, right?"

"Eh... How insidious. So don't say such dangerous things with that cheerful smile." Soji said, seemingly frightened.

"That's a good idea, although it's not exactly honorable. But if the opponent is bandits, it won't matter."

"No, anything that reduces our losses in this battle is worthwhile, no matter the method. But to do that, we need to dig up the ground for that road, is that alright, Aichi?" Shirou asked the villager beside him.

Aichi in agreement, saying, "Yes, Shirou! Please teach us how to set up these traps."

Shirou nodded and continued, "Yes, actually, as long as the arrangements are made, dealing with those bandits shouldn't be a problem. The real problem is Demon Nobunaga. If she can use her Noble Phantasm, then the situation will be completely reversed."

"That wicked Nobu said she would go looking for help, and there will be three powerful enemies, including herself. That ninja from before should be one of them," Soji said seriously.

Kojiro laughed and said, "Then it will be my turn to make my appearance. I'm more interested in slaying those powerful figures than bandits."

"I'll leave it to you then. I'll fight with all my might and won't be a burden to you," Shirou assured him.

"No, no, Shirou, you're already strong enough," Soji retorted, waving his hand dismissively.

Meanwhile, on the other side, several villagers who were related by blood were gathered together in front of several houses, practicing thrusting with long black-handled spears.

Just then, a girl wearing a sun crown military cap, with long black hair and red eyes, was wandering around the village when she happened to pass by. She originally planned to walk directly to the other side to check the terrain of the village, but suddenly stopped, turned around, and looked towards the villagers, as if she was attracted by something.

"Hey! Hey! What are you all holding?" the black-haired, red-eyed girl called out to several villagers.

"No, no... it's nothing," the villagers said somewhat flusteredly.

"I meant this gun," the black-haired, red-eyed girl said, pointing to the long, black, straight gun held by the villager.

"What?! You guys have something good! This can't just be something your family has, right? There must be more, right? There definitely are more, right?!" The black-haired, red-eyed girl grabbed the black gun and asked.

"Uh..." The villagers exchanged glances, realizing the samurai girl wasn't angry, and whispered, "Actually... there are four full sets of armor in the village."

"Really? Do you have a better bow? If you do, we won't have to stand so far forward to deal with the bandits, as long as we have a bow!" The black-haired, red-eyed girl reminded him, mimicking Nobu's cute and childish loli tone.

"As for bows, we have some here!" The villager nodded repeatedly upon hearing the samurai girl's words.

"Then bring them all! The samurai will be very happy!" The black-haired, red-eyed girl's eyes gleamed with a strange light, as if she were plotting something wicked, as she encouraged the villagers.

"I know, go and get all the equipment from the other families right now!" the villagers agreed.

A short while later, the black-haired, red-eyed girl arrived in front of the house where everyone lived, pushed the door open wide, strode in, and called out.

"Hey~! Shirou, come and see! I brought some good stuff over."

Behind her were four villagers, divided into two groups, one in front and one behind, carrying four sets of armor, long samurai swords and wakizashi, bows and quivers full of arrows on long poles.

Upon seeing these things, the samurai inside fell silent, showing no joy but rather anger.

"These are... skins stripped from fallen samurai." Shirou felt both anger and heartache, as if the remaining consciousness within his body was roaring.

'Why would this village have complete samurai equipment for battle? A little thought reveals that the villagers here aren't entirely innocent either...'

"Wow, the people in this village are quite capable," Kojiro said shrugly, as if it were none of his business.

"Enough! Get out of here!" Even the usually cheerful and friendly Tawara Toda was angry at this moment, and kicked all the armored warriors who were carried on the carrying poles away.

"Eek!!" The villagers who had carried the equipment over were so frightened that they scrambled away.

Seeing that something was wrong, Aichi, a villager sitting some distance away, also ran out.

"What's wrong? What's wrong?" asked the villagers who rushed over after hearing the noise.

"It's alright! The samurai are arguing, it's dangerous! Let's go!" Aichi pushed his fellow villagers, urging them to leave quickly.

"Hurry up!" Aichi shooed them away, not daring to go in or leave. He could only sit at the doorway, waiting for the samurai inside to decide their fate.

The samurai inside fell silent.

In times of war, farmers were plundered by the government. Every time a war broke out, the invading army would loot and burn all the villages it passed through.

After all, keeping them would only aid the enemy.

When an army is defeated and fleeing samurai are exhausted, they are captured and killed by the villagers when they are discovered passing through a village. This is partly because the villagers want the samurai's superior weapons. On the other hand, if the samurai learn that there are villages in the area, there is no guarantee that they will not be taken there to plunder the villages in the next war.

A tiger that has fallen into a pit in distress will be bullied even by dogs; a sheep will kick and butt a wounded wolf; a hen will pounce on an eagle to protect its chicks; and a rabbit will pounce on a snake that has swallowed its baby rabbit and try to bite it.

Therefore, it is quite common for lone, stranded samurai, even if they are not the same group that came here as the previous group, to be killed by the villagers.

They never expected that, after getting to know each other and growing to like the village, they would discover that everyone there had killed samurai, a feeling akin to betrayal.

The black-haired, red-eyed girl spread her hands and said, "Don't be like that, everyone. These are just props, nothing more. Just use them. The craftsmanship of these is quite good, even compared to my time."

"Nobu, stop talking. You've never experienced the plight of a fallen samurai, so you can't understand," Shirou said, looking at the black-haired, red-eyed girl.

"Then what do we do? Force them to hand over the murderer who killed the samurai and make them commit suicide?" the black-haired, red-eyed girl asked.

Shirou looked at the girl and solemnly rejected the idea, saying, "No, if we do that, we'll be no different from those bandits. Besides, those villagers have their reasons... The problem lies with this chaotic world."

"So, Shirou, are you pleading for the villagers? How do you plan to convince the others? Or are you going to abandon the effort to save these villagers?" Nobu asked.

"No, I'm fighting off the bandits for the sake of justice in my heart. I won't abandon the effort to save the villages just because there are bad people here. But I won't force anyone to do so," Shirou said.

Soji said somewhat sullenly, "But if we leave now, the villagers won't fare well."

Sasaki Kojiro then spoke up, coldly saying, "No, in that case, the villagers will only face death. Having already made preparations to resist, even if the thieves are just showing off, they'll probably wipe out the entire village."