The southern areas had green hills on both sides, there was not much difference between autumn and winter. The scenery remained lush, with a small winding path in the middle, curling up with the shape of the mountain, one could not make out where it ended in the distance.

Gu Yun with a whip in hand, as if directing a country, casually explained to Chang Geng: "Those of us belonging to the military are always filled with anxiousness whenever we are in the face of locations such as this. If the other side had set up ambush, marching directly into it, we could only be beaten up — even in the territory of Great Liang, these places are generally very easy for bandits to take over..."

His last word was not even finished, but they could already hear the sharp noises of a signaling whistle from afar.

Shen Yi said tiredly: "Marshal, are you a black crow in human form?"

https://www.northwestflower.net/sha-po-lang/book-1/chapter-5-southern-bandit/5-iii

On the top of the mountain, a large flag was rising up slowly. At first glance, it almost appeared to read 'Xinghua Village'. But after taking a careful look as the winds blew past, written on it were the words 'Xing Zi Lin'. Large and small mountain bandits hid themselves behind the grass, dressed in self-made armors, their longbows and daggers aimed at the people below.

A glint of silver flashed on top of the mountain. Chang Geng narrowed his eyes to look. There was a Heavy Armor they had stolen from who knows where standing on the hill, resembling a shooting target. The face of its wearer could not be seen from this distance.

Bandits robbing the Marquis of Order himself, Chang Geng momentarily did not know whether to laugh or cry.

But as he looked back, he found that Gu Yun wasn't smiling, in fact, it was the opposite. He appeared quite infuriated, squeezing out a word from between his teeth: "Idiot."

Chang Geng quickly thought about it, lowering his voice: "Then the rumors about the Southern Frontier officials colluding with bandits were no rumor, but the truth?"

Gu Yun did not say anything. His expression darkened even further.

During the Great Liang dynasty, the native products of the Eastern Sea were pearls, the native products of Lou Lan were fine wines, and the native products of the Southern Frontier were mountain bandits.

In the past two years, when the farming puppets were carried out, farmers weren't able to find jobs. Some had followed the traveling merchants to make a living in the North, some had decided to abandon the light for the dark, becoming mountain bandits. When goods and rations became cheaper, money became more valuable. Thus, there were fewer and fewer people who would stock up on food, but instead, hoarded gold and silver: this greatly contributed to and increased the rates of bandits looting.