Chapter 113: Vowing to follow to the death only to have one's own man poached.
I just took a nap, and it was time to go on duty again.
This time, Django waited early at the office for everyone to appear.
First were Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu.
Within seconds, Hei Fu and Huo Qubing arrived, along with Bai Qi, Yuchi Jingde and Qin Shubao, Wei Zhongxian, Wei Shun, and Du Fu.
Du Fu wore a faded blue robe, his face was thin, and there were shadows of weariness under his eyes. He walked with a slight hunch.
Jiang Ge couldn't help but frown, put down his soy milk, and asked, "Lord Du, have you had breakfast?" This was a question he asked every day.
Du Fu was taken aback by the words of concern, then smiled and shook his head, saying, "I left in a hurry and haven't had time yet."
Jiang Ge, who was prepared, sighed, took out an oil paper package from under the table, and handed it over: "These are freshly bought pancakes, still warm. Have some to tide you over."
Du Fu was a little flustered, but he still accepted it and thanked him in a low voice: "Thank you very much, Magistrate Jiang."
Jiang Ge waved his hand and poured him another cup of hot tea, saying, "Your health can't withstand hunger."
After all, the environment was harsh and they had families to support, so it was really tough.
Finally, Zheng He appeared. Seeing that it was Zheng He again today, Wei Zhongxian breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, it wasn't Zhu Yuanzhang, otherwise his life would have been in danger.
Presumably, their ancestors for eighteen generations would be implicated and their skin peeled off.
Zheng He could tell what Wei Zhongxian was thinking from his evasive gaze, so he sighed and said nothing more.
These past few days have been busy with affairs, and Huo Qubing and Yuchi Jingde have not had time to look after the children. They could not entrust them to Zhuge Liang again, as Zhuge Liang has been busy dealing with matters, especially the war against the imperial court.
Zhuge Liang wrote the "Proclamation Against the Rebels," portraying the court as a tyrannical ruler who persecuted loyal officials, in order to gain the upper hand in public opinion.
Now that everyone has arrived, we can take this opportunity to have a meeting.
Morning light streamed through the window, casting dappled shadows on the floor. The air was filled with the scents of ink and tea.
Jiang Ge sat upright in the main seat, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the wooden table, listening to Zhuge Liang meticulously explain the rationale behind the proclamation denouncing the rebels. Zhou Yu occasionally flicked his feather fan, while Bai Qi stood with his arms crossed in the shadows by the door, his hawk-like gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall, his silence as firm as iron. Yuchi Jingde was discussing something in hushed tones with Qin Shubao, the steel whip and golden mace hanging at his waist swaying slightly with their movements. Du Fu, meanwhile, was hunched over a small table in the corner, his pen moving swiftly as he jotted down key points, the cuffs of his faded blue robe already frayed.
Wei Zhongxian wanted to bribe Zheng He, and the two of them hid in a corner and whispered to each other. Huo Qubing and Heifu Kui Shun were both in a daze and couldn't understand what they were saying, so they simply stayed in a daze.
Everything was in perfect order; it was a rare moment of peace.
Sudden--
Without warning, the warm celadon teacup in front of Django suddenly trembled! The emerald green tea inside shook violently, and several golden characters appeared in mid-air.
The hall was deathly silent.
The sign read: "Capture five cities within one hundred days, and receive a reward of one million for each city."
Even those present, men of historical renown and seasoned veterans, were shaken to their core by this sight. Zhuge Liang, his feather fan held before his chest, gleamed with a sharp light as he stared intently at the words. Zhou Yu's fingers tightened slightly, his knuckles turning white. Bai Qi stepped out from the shadows, his icy gaze seemingly piercing through the characters. Yuchi Jingde and Qin Shubao rose abruptly, their weapons instinctively gripping tightly. Du Fu's brush hovered in mid-air, a drop of ink silently falling, spreading a thick black blot on the paper. Even Hei Fu and Huo Qubing, standing in the corner, held their breath, the young Huo Qubing's eyes gleaming with an indescribable excitement.
That's a million!
They couldn't earn that much money even if they saved their entire lives.
Django took a deep breath; this was the first time the system had appeared directly in front of people to issue an emergency mission.
She slowly raised her head, her gaze sweeping over the diverse expressions of the crowd below. Her steady voice broke the silence: "Gentlemen, we have already broken ties with the imperial court. Rather than waiting for them to send troops, we should strike first." She paused, her tone suddenly turning sharp, "Time waits for no one! The five cities are the true foundation upon which we stand in this chaotic world!"
Since we have already made up our minds to conquer the world and have good ministers and famous generals to assist us, why should we be timid and hesitant?
"Five cities?"
Bai Qi's deep voice rang out. He strode to the enormous characters, his rough fingers carrying an indescribable sense of pressure. He unfolded a map of Songyang County beside him, sharply pointing at its location, then drawing five lines outwards like a blade, marking five important prefectural capitals or military strongholds in the surrounding area. "Lintong Pass (guarding the vital northern route), Pingyang Prefecture (granary), Wu'an City (iron mine), Huaishui Town (water and land transportation hub), and... the prefectural capital Dingyuan!" His fingertip heavily touched Dingyuan City, leaving a clear indentation, his eyes burning with fierce battle intent. "If we obtain these five cities, we can advance and eye the Central Plains, or retreat and defend ourselves, establishing a solid foundation!"
He whirled around, his gaze flashing like lightning as he struck Jiang Ge, then swept over Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu: "Indeed! Even a skilled cook can't cook without rice! Even if I had a strategy to conquer cities and destroy kingdoms, without troops, how could I possibly capture a city? Songyang County has mobilized all its forces; how many soldiers are capable of fighting? Two thousand? Three thousand? And most of them are inexperienced new recruits! With a few thousand exhausted troops, how could you capture five fortified cities in a hundred days? Among them is the prefecture city of Dingyuan, with a garrison of no less than eight thousand! This is not a siege; this is driving sheep into the tiger's den, courting certain death!" Bai Qi's voice, carrying the coldness and cruelty of a war god, instantly tore apart the rosy picture painted by the system rewards, revealing the bloody reality beneath. Five million is not easy to obtain; no one can defeat ten thousand men.
Under the imperial court's strategy of killing many people, even the strongest generals would get tired, and the military officers were well aware of this.
A heavy pressure enveloped the entire county government office. The words were still brilliant, but the exhilaration brought by the stroke of luck had been thoroughly chilled by Bai Qi's words.
Five cities in 100 days?
With no troops available, this is simply an impossible task!
Even the shrewd and infallible Zhuge Liang frowned deeply, his feather fan waving faster as he rapidly considered all possibilities. Zhou Yu's gaze darted between the map and Bai Qi, a shadow of gloom clouding his handsome face. Yuchi Jingde scratched his head in frustration, while Qin Shubao stroked the golden mace at his waist, his eyes grave.
Jiang Ge's heart sank. Bai Qi's words were like knives, hitting the nail on the head.
The system provided the goal and the reward, but not the resources to start! She looked at Zhuge Liang: "Prime Minister, do you have a good plan?"
Zhuge Liang pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Magistrate Jiang, what General Bai said is indeed true. A direct attack would be tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock. The only way now is... to borrow momentum. To borrow the momentum of the escalating conflict between the imperial court and local powerful families and rebel armies, to borrow the desire of the displaced people to survive, and to borrow the strength of heroes from all directions. However, this is not something that can be accomplished overnight, nor can it be done in a hundred days..." He shook his head slightly, his unfinished words already clear.
Time is what they lack most.
A suffocating silence fell over the hall. Even the sound of breathing seemed particularly jarring at that moment.
Just when everyone was shrouded in gloom and despair, racking their brains without finding a solution—
“Report—!”
A constable rushed into the main hall, his face ashen: "Reporting...reporting to the magistrate! A group of fierce-looking men have arrived outside the yamen. They specifically request to see Qin Shubao! They don't look like they have any good intentions!"
"Hmm?" Qin Shubao's tiger-like eyes snapped open, his golden mace already in hand. He said in a deep voice, "Who goes there? Do you know your name?" Someone dares to come to his door seeking revenge?
The constable replied, "The leader claims to be... claims to be Zhang Baichuan! He says he's a leader of refugees who fled here!"
Zhang Baichuan? A leader of the disaster victims? Specifically looking for Qin Shubao?
Everyone in the hall was taken aback.
This name was not unfamiliar to Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu, who were closely following the political situation.
Months ago, the northern lands were flooded, resulting in a complete crop failure. The imperial court provided no disaster relief, and instead of reducing taxes, it increased them, finally sparking a popular uprising. Zhang Baichuan, originally a schoolteacher, managed to gather tens of thousands of desperate refugees in a short period of time. They rallied in the mountains and forests to resist the government, becoming a powerful rebel force that was a thorn in the side of the imperial court!
According to the latest intelligence, the imperial court is furious and is mobilizing a large force, intending to wipe them out in one fell swoop!
How could he possibly be in Songyang, a thousand miles away? And why did he specifically ask to see Qin Shubao?
In a flash, the eyes of Jiang Ge, Zhuge Liang, Zhou Yu, and Bai Qi met silently in the air, and an extremely bold, even somewhat absurd, idea simultaneously arose in their minds!
“Please!” Jiang Ge made a decisive statement, her voice steady and powerful, carrying an unquestionable authority. “Open the door and invite Chief Zhang in! Jingde, Shubao, come with me to greet the guests! Prime Minister, Gongjin, General Bai, please be patient.” Her last sentence was full of meaning.
The constable obeyed and rushed off.
Before long, heavy footsteps, accompanied by the smell of dust, approached from afar.
A group of about twenty or thirty men, surrounding a thin figure, stormed into the main hall of the county government office. The man in the lead looked like a scholar, while the men behind him were dressed in rags, but their eyes were fierce and stubborn, and they gripped a variety of crude weapons—hammers, hoes, and sharpened wooden sticks.
This person was none other than Zhang Baichuan!
The moment he stepped into the hall, his gaze instantly locked onto Qin Shubao, who stood beside Jiang Ge, a man of imposing stature and a commanding presence as solid as a mountain. His eyes were filled with urgency, longing, and a thirst for talent.
"You are Qin Qiong! Qin Shubao!" Zhang Baichuan's voice was hoarse, like sandpaper being rubbed. He ignored Jiang Ge in the main seat and the other imposing figures in the hall. He only had eyes for Qin Shubao. "I, Zhang Baichuan! I have brought ten thousand brothers. Please save my life!" He clasped his hands in a plea.
These words caused another moment of silence in the hall.
Ten thousand brothers?
Help?
Qin Shubao frowned and said in a deep voice, "Chief Zhang? I've heard so much about you. You've come all this way to my Songyang County government office, only to ask for help? What brings you here? And where are your ten thousand brothers?"
Zhang Baichuan pulled a cloth bag from his pocket, opened it with trembling hands, took out a secret letter, and slammed it to the ground. "The dog emperor has given a death order! He's mobilizing tens of thousands of elite imperial guards! There's only one objective—to annihilate us rebels! Leave no one alive! The army... the army is already on its way! The vanguard cavalry will catch up with us in ten days at the latest!"
Tens of thousands of Imperial Guards! Annihilate them!
These words struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer. Bai Qi's eyes instantly sharpened like knives. Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu quickly exchanged a glance.
Zhang Baichuan's voice trembled with a sob. As his men grew in number, fear finally gripped him: "General Qin! What can our brothers do against tens of thousands of well-equipped, ruthless Imperial Guards? Hoes? Wooden clubs? Are they to fight to the death? My death is insignificant! But those ten thousand brothers represent ten thousand families! Parents, wives, and children! They shouldn't die!" He took a sudden step forward, as if to kneel before Qin Shubao. "I know I've come here shamelessly to poach your men! I'm begging you! I beg a valiant general like you to come out of seclusion! Help us! Lead our brothers! Fight for their lives! If you're willing to go, my life will be yours! My ten thousand brothers will obey your command!"
The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Only Zhang Baichuan's heavy breathing could be heard.
Django's heart began to pound violently at that moment! She thought of the urgent mission, and then looked at Zhang Baichuan, the rebel leader who was desperate but held the trump card of "ten thousand brothers" (although it was highly questionable, it must have been there).
A golden opportunity!
This isn't about poaching our employees.
This is clearly a "resource of troops" and a "breakthrough point" delivered right to our doorstep by the system! Isn't this the very army that Bai Qi needs? Although these troops are a rebel army, a rabble, it's better to have something than nothing!
Moreover, the leader of this rebel army is now begging them to take his lead!
Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan, his eyes flashing with wisdom, clearly engaged in the same assessment and calculations. Zhou Yu's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile. Bai Qi crossed his arms, his cold face expressionless.
Jiang Ge cleared his throat and spoke just before Zhang Baichuan was about to kneel down. His voice was calm but carried a reassuring power: "Chief Zhang, please wait."
All eyes immediately turned to the young county magistrate.
Jiang Ge did not immediately respond to Zhang Baichuan's plea to Qin Shubao, but said, "It seems that the chaos in the world is no longer a problem confined to one place or corner, but is caused by the incompetence of the court."
She stood up and slowly paced back and forth, her gaze sweeping over Zhang Baichuan and the ragged but determined men behind him, finally settling on Qin Shubao: "General Qin is a man of great righteousness and a kind heart. How could he not feel for the suffering of the people? However..." She changed the subject, "General Qin cannot leave Songyang County lightly."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Baichuan's face instantly turned ashen, and the glimmer of hope that had just ignited in his eyes was about to be extinguished.
“However—” Django’s voice suddenly rose, carrying an undeniable decisiveness.
"I plan to take five cities within a hundred days."
"One hundred days? Five cities?" Zhang Baichuan and the men behind him were stunned, hardly believing their ears.
While they were still struggling to survive, others were already plotting to seize five cities.
This magistrate of Songyang County... what an arrogant tone!
Zhuge Liang stepped forward at the opportune moment, his voice clear and bright, carrying a wisdom that seemed to see through the secrets of heaven: "Chief Zhang of Songyang wishes to undertake this extraordinary task, which requires extraordinary strength. And you, Chief Zhang, with ten thousand people seeking survival, are united with us in our desire to protect the common people. Is this not a match made in heaven?"
Zhou Yu strolled gracefully to the map, his long, slender hand tapping heavily on several key points, including Lintong Pass, Pingyang Prefecture, and Wu'an City. A smile played on his lips, radiating a convincing charm: "Chief Zhang seeks survival, while we seek to capture cities to protect our people. Our goals may differ, but the formidable enemy before us—the imperial court—is common. Rather than fighting individually and being defeated piecemeal by the court, why not join forces to resist this powerful foe? With your army's strength, coupled with the strategies and bravery of Songyang, we can defeat the imperial army, not only relieving your immediate crisis but also seizing strategic passes and opening up new possibilities! This is a strategy of offense over defense, a desperate gamble for survival!"
Zhang Baichuan was somewhat bewildered by Zhou Yu's series of pronouncements about "divine will," "joining forces," "fighting a powerful enemy together," and "using offense as a form of defense."
He wasn't stupid. His mind was racing, and the deliberate guidance of top strategists like Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu seemed to possess a magical power, compelling him to follow their line of thought: Yes! Songyang has fierce generals, young heroes, unfathomable strategists, and this supportive Magistrate Jiang! If Qin Shubao and the others could help him, coupled with their strategies, they might truly be able to hold off the imperial army!
Even... a chance to counterattack?
Bai Qi finally spoke, his voice calm, cutting straight to the core issue: "Combining forces? It's possible. However, quality is more important than quantity in warfare. Your ten thousand troops are untrained, poorly equipped, and lack discipline. On the battlefield, they will be a burden rather than an asset! When they encounter the imperial elite, they will crumble at the first contact, disrupting our formation."
These words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly calming Zhang Baichuan's feverish mind and revealing shame and anxiety on his face. Bai Qi was telling the truth.
Seizing the opportunity, Yuchi Jingde slapped his thigh hard, the resounding crack like a gavel, drawing everyone's attention. His eyes wide and round, he pointed at Zhang Baichuan, his voice booming like thunder: "Old Zhang! Did you hear that? General Bai is right! Your brothers are good-hearted and courageous! But fighting isn't just about being fearless! They need training! They need good equipment! They need knowledgeable leaders! I, Yuchi, speak frankly, don't take offense! If you lead your brothers to confront tens of thousands of imperial troops like this, you're just sending them to their deaths! Giving them lives and military merits!"
Qin Shubao, standing to the side, sighed at the opportune moment, patted the golden mace at his waist, and said in a heavy and sincere tone: "Chief Zhang, it is not that I am unwilling to help. It is simply that my strength alone, even with the bravery of ten thousand men, is like a drop of water in the ocean when thrown into the midst of a battle involving tens of thousands of troops. We need a strong army as the foundation and a good general as the commander to have any chance of victory."
Zhang Baichuan's heart sank completely, and despair surged into his heart again: "Then... what should we do? Are we just going to watch our brothers..."
“There is a way, it’s not that there isn’t.” Jiang Ge’s voice rang out again, carrying a calm and composed air of someone in control of the situation.
She walked to Bai Qi's side and pointed to the map: "General Bai Qi, he is invincible in every attack and every battle, slaughtering a million armored soldiers like cutting grass. His ability to command troops far surpasses that of the court's generals!" Upon hearing this, Zhang Baichuan and the men behind him all gasped in shock, staring in horror at the old man who had remained silent as ice, yet whose aura was the most terrifying!
They actually killed a million enemies?
How come they've never heard of it?
Jiang Ge continued, “If Chief Zhang trusts us enough to entrust his righteous army brothers to General Bai for training and command, we can spare no effort to provide them with provisions, some fine weapons, and most importantly—strategies and sharp blades! With General Bai’s abilities, Kongming and Gongjin’s strategies, and Shubao and Jingde’s bravery, and with time and training, we can surely forge the righteous army brothers into a fighting force! At that time, not only can we break the current crisis of tens of thousands of imperial guards, but we can also seize the opportunity to capture cities such as Lintong, Pingyang, and Wu’an, fulfilling the mandate of heaven! For Chief Zhang, for the thirty thousand brothers, and for the many more displaced people, we will truly carve out a place where they can live! This is killing several birds with one stone, a feat that will benefit future generations!”
Drawing a pie in the sky!
A gigantic, golden, and exhilarating pie!
Zhang Baichuan was completely caught in the trap.
Hand over command of the army? To that legendary killing god Bai Qi? It sounds terrifying. But the magistrate of Songyang County is right! If he doesn't know how to train and fight, his brothers will only face death if they follow him.
With a war god like Bai Qi, brilliant strategists like Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu offering advice, and fierce generals like Qin Shubao and Yuchi Jingde leading the charge... it seems there's real hope of stopping the imperial army! Moreover, they're even going to actively attack cities? Once they capture a city, their brothers and their families will have a place to settle down, right? Isn't this exactly what they've been dreaming of?
“But…but…” Zhang Baichuan hesitated. “My brothers are all poor and used to being wild. I’m afraid they’ll be hard to manage…and General Bai…” He looked at Bai Qi with awe, but didn’t dare to say the rest of his words—the aura of this god of war was truly intimidating.
"Chief Zhang, rest assured." Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan, his smile warm yet full of wisdom. "The way to govern an army is to combine kindness and severity. General Bai commands his troops with iron will and strict discipline, which is the foundation of victory on the battlefield. However, Songyang also values benevolence and righteousness. All who join our army are brothers, sharing food and lodging, and merit will be rewarded. I, Kongming, am willing to serve as your military advisor, assisting in military affairs and comforting the soldiers. Commander Gongjin is proficient in both land and naval warfare and can also assist you. Furthermore, Du Zimei can expound on the greater good and boost morale. I will surely ensure that your brothers understand why they are fighting and have a clear sense of belonging."
Zhou Yu also smiled and said, "In my opinion, Chief Zhang is a true hero, loyal and righteous, and deeply respected by his brothers. After the reorganization, the chief can still be a pillar of the army, leading his old troops and fighting alongside General Bai and the other generals. This is a win-win situation, where unity brings mutual benefit and division brings mutual harm."
Huo Qubing, with his youthful spirit, couldn't contain himself and jumped out, shouting, "General Zhang! What are you afraid of! A cowardly soldier is one coward, but a cowardly general makes a whole army cowardly! With a good general leading the way and a good strategist planning the way, even the most cowardly soldier can become a tiger or wolf!"
Hei Fu, standing to the side, added in a muffled voice, "With food, weapons, and hope, the brothers dare to fight to the death!"
Zhang Baichuan looked at the group of people before him: the unfathomable Magistrate Jiang Ge, the wise Zhuge Liang, the elegant Governor Zhou, the murderous God of War Bai Qi, the heroic Qin Shubao, the rough but meticulous Yuchi Jingde, the brave and capable young Huo Qubing and Hei Fu, the poor but clear-eyed Mr. Du, and the two silent eunuchs... Together, these people formed a powerful aura that was suffocating, a force that made people want to follow and trust them involuntarily.
The scales in his heart had completely tipped.
What do you mean by poaching Qin Shubao?
Compared to the grand blueprint of "uniting forces to seize five cities and build a foundation together," it's simply insignificant! No matter how fierce Qin Shubao is, can he be more fierce than this entire group?
He gritted his teeth, a resolute glint in his eyes, and without further hesitation, knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Jiang Ge, and then to all the key figures in the hall, and shouted in a deep voice: "Magistrate Jiang! Master Zhuge! Governor Zhou! General Bai! General Qin! General Yuchi! And all of you! I, Zhang Baichuan, on behalf of those unfortunate brothers, earnestly request to join! I am willing to hand over all my brothers to General Bai for training! I will obey the orders of Magistrate Jiang and all of you! I only ask that you give my brothers a way to survive! To create a hole in this inhuman world!"
It's done!
A huge weight lifted from Jiang Ge's heart, and a knowing glint of triumph flashed in the eyes of Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu. Bai Qi's lips twitched slightly upwards, and Qin Shubao and Yuchi Jingde also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
It was worth it for everyone to put on this show together.
Jiang Ge stepped forward and personally helped Zhang Baichuan up, his voice strong and clear: "Chief Zhang is a man of great wisdom and righteousness! Please rise! From this day forward, if we are of one mind, our strength will be unbreakable! Within a hundred days, with the five cities as our base, we will carve out a bloody path for the sake of all people!"
"Zhang Baichuan, I swear to follow you to the death!"
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Author's Note: [Melted][Melted][Melted][Melted][Melted] Add me to your favorites~
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