Back when Wang Chong read Water Margin, what he could never understand was why its heroes never held any territory. They would conquer a place, plunder it, and then retreat!?
What the hell did they mean, retreat?
Could that patch of land in Water Margin support so many people?
Even heroes needed clothes and food, didn't they? They couldn't live on plunder alone!
So whenever he had even a few troops at his disposal, he would seize territory for all he was worth, then spare no effort in turning it into war potential. Every inch of land had to produce, every scrap of manpower had to be used to the fullest. He built the Tailwind Army into a massive economic entity, stockpiling grain, opening trade routes, encouraging small manufacturers, and removing every burden.
The mountain stronghold Li Hujie occupied stood on steep, treacherous terrain and controlled a major transport route, making it ideal for stockpiling provisions. How could he possibly imitate bandits and burn it all down? Of course he would occupy it and expand his strength.
The several thousand troops under Li Hujie were former soldiers of Li Geshu. After Li Kerang fled, they had nowhere to go, so naturally Li Hujie had recruited them. When Wang Chong learned this, he was mildly pleased and thought, Now I'll have an excuse to split up this force later. I'll just say I'm returning them to Li Kerang.
Black Wind Mountain was not far from Li Hujie's stronghold, and the army arrived after half a day's march. Confident in his martial arts, Wang Chong sent no one up the mountain ahead of him. Instead, he took Li Hujie along and paid a visit in person.
Up on the mountain, when Flower Fox heard that Wang Chong had actually come in person,