The convoy did not continue onward that afternoon. Instead, they immediately set up camp, and everyone began making preparations.
Whether the bandits were overly confident or simply underestimating the convoy, they were behaving with such brazen impunity that many in the convoy were roused to anger.
Zhou Yan joined the drivers in sharpening stakes, setting traps, and digging trenches and reinforcing the defenses. Even the carriages were put to use, arranged inside the camp's palisade to form a series of staggered barriers.
As for the horses and cargo, they were all kept inside the camp.
Unlike ordinary convoys, the Yue Family's convoy was well stocked with supplies and had deep pockets.
By evening, everyone had meat to eat, and after the meal, they were all issued long guns.
Even the coachmen each received a rifle, along with twenty rounds of ammunition.
At the same time, Yue Yuna personally offered a bounty.
Anyone who killed a bandit would receive five silver dollars.
The convoy's morale soared at once.
What surprised Zhou Yan was that everyone in the convoy knew how to shoot.
Even Brother Yun, who looked like an ordinary, honest old man, had been a hunter and was skilled with firearms.
He was no sharpshooter who could hit the mark every time, but his aim was said to be fairly renowned, hitting nine out of ten shots.
While most of the coachmen were assigned to the reserve, Brother Yun went straight to the front line.
Zhou Yan curiously ran his hand over the rifle. It was a genuine imported weapon, with a design and function very similar to the Mauser 98K Rifle on Earth, and was one of the better foreign-made firearms currently available.
A single rifle like this cost at least thirty silver dollars.
In the countryside, sellers would