Chapter 1059: Rebels Enter Sichuan
Zhao Sheng nodded. "Good, you understand. This crop isn't easy to grow! In the past, your grain yields weren't enough to fill your bellies, so you naturally wouldn't dare plant this. But now, through the scientific cultivation of potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn, and with the power of Celestial Fertilizer, you can all eat your fill. This is the time to start exploring more barren land and planting profitable cash crops like Coptis."
He waved the "Heavenly Book" in his hand. "This is the divine text bestowed by the Heavenly Lord, allowing you to easily cultivate Coptis, chili peppers, and water shield, and thus prosper and grow wealthy."
The old farmers listened, feeling a bit confused, but they generally understood a little. Mister Zhao's meaning was, after they'd eaten their fill and had nothing else to do, they could clear a couple more patches of barren land and plant some strange, inexplicable things.
While they weren't sure if Mister Zhao's words were true, if it truly could bring in money, it wasn't impossible to give it a try.
The old farmers quickly perked up their ears, listening to Zhao Sheng's rambling explanation, half understanding, half not, and unsure if they'd actually learned anything.
After a good while, Zhao Sheng finally finished his lesson and took a few sips of water.
Seeing that he was on a break, Li Daoxuan finally spoke. "Oh, Zhao Sheng, you're doing great."
Zhao Sheng exclaimed, "Ah, the Heavenly Lord has actually arrived!"
Li Daoxuan asked, "Traveling all this way to Wan Shou Zhai in Sichuan, are you worn out?"
Li Daoxuan was happy for him. "That's good. By the way, could you ask Qin Liangyu and Ma Xianglin if they can find any extraordinary individuals in Sichuan, the kind who know how to communicate with giant pandas?"
Zhao Sheng questioned, "Giant pandas?"
Li Daoxuan clarified, "Uh, yes, the Iron-Eating Beast!"
Zhao Sheng was startled. "Communicate with an Iron-Eating Beast? What kind of divine skill is that? How could anyone possess it? Unless we summon the ancient demon god Chiyou, it seems impossible, doesn't it?"
Li Daoxuan spread his hands. "It's certainly a specialized skill, but pandas have been active in Sichuan since ancient times. Perhaps someone keeps one or two as pets—you never know until you look, right? Qin Liangyu and Ma Xianglin are officials, however minor, so they should have some connections. Ask them if they can think of a way."
All right, it was a divine decree from the Heavenly Lord. Regardless of the circumstances, he had to act quickly. Zhao Sheng scurried over to Qin Liangyu and the others.
The moment he started to run, Li Daoxuan knew something was amiss and quickly said, "Why are you running? Can't you walk slowly?"
Zhao Sheng panted, "Haa... Hahh... Heavenly Lord... Your... Your divine decree... I... of course, must... quickly... fulfill it."
Li Daoxuan pointed out, "Didn't you just say your asthma had improved?"
Zhao Sheng gasped, "It... has... improved, yes, but not entirely... haa... well."
Li Daoxuan was speechless.
At that moment, Qin Liangyu and Ma Xianglin were in high spirits.
Qin Liangyu said, "In recent years, our Shizhu has had bountiful harvests every year. Our military provisions have grown substantial, and the common people no longer go hungry. It's truly wonderful."
Ma Xianglin laughed. "It's all thanks to the assistance Gao Family Village has given us. New crops, Celestial Fertilizer, and new planting methods have helped us immensely. Ah, this son truly must find a moment to visit Gao Family Village."
Just as they were speaking, Zhao Sheng approached them, a little awkwardly, and relayed the request about finding an Iron-Eating Beast.
He had expected Qin Liangyu and Ma Xianglin to look at him as if he were insane after hearing his words. To his surprise, Ma Xianglin's expression was utterly calm. "An Iron-Eating Beast, you say? I have indeed heard of people keeping them. However, the owner fed it iron, which it wouldn't eat, and in the end, it starved to death. Perhaps it didn't want to be captured—what a proud creature."
Li Daoxuan instantly wanted to hit someone. "Damn it! Can you introduce me to that person? I swear, I'd smash his idiotic head in!"
Qin Liangyu spoke up. "Don't talk nonsense. The name 'Iron-Eating Beast' must be a misconception. When I was young, I heard people say that Iron-Eating Beasts actually eat bamboo."
Li Daoxuan was overjoyed. *General Qin truly is knowledgeable and experienced.*
Qin Liangyu said, "Since this is a request from Gao Family Village, we will certainly do our utmost to fulfill it. I will immediately send men to Chengdu to inquire, to see if anyone is raising such a creature. If so, we will try our best to acquire one."
Li Daoxuan was ecstatic, thrilled, and utterly delighted. His dream of petting a panda was within reach.
However, he immediately realized that if someone of Qin Liangyu's standing made such a request, hunters might proactively try to capture a panda, and that simply wouldn't do.
He quickly gave Zhao Sheng a couple of instructions.
Zhao Sheng said, "The Iron-Eating Beast is an auspicious creature, and we absolutely must not send people to capture one simply because we want it. Please, General Qin, when you send people to search, make it very clear that this beast cannot be forced. If someone already keeps one, we can take it and gently pet it. But if no one is raising one, under no circumstances should we hunt it in the wild, or we would be harming it."
Qin Liangyu cupped her fist and bowed. "Mister Zhao, your benevolence is commendable."
Just as they finished speaking, a rider suddenly galloped up the hillside. He was mounted on a typical Sichuan horse, small in stature, much shorter than northern steeds, and not as fast.
Yet, it could traverse mountain paths as if on flat ground, making it far superior to northern horses in the treacherous terrain of Wan Shou Zhai. The rider reached Qin Liangyu, dismounted quickly, and with a panicked expression, declared, "Bad news! Urgent military intelligence!"
Qin Liangyu let out a questioning sound. "What is it?"
The rider anxiously blurted out, "The Chuǎng Wang has led his army into the Jingxiang region, bypassed Yunxiang, plunged into the Shennongjia mountains, and then suddenly appeared in Sichuan!"
Qin Liangyu gasped in shock.
Zhao Sheng gasped in shock too.
Li Daoxuan also frowned. *Damn it.*
The rider continued, "The Sichuan Regional Commander Hou Liangzhu led his army to engage the bandit forces, but unexpectedly fell into an ambush and was killed at Baiqingba."
Qin Liangyu was greatly alarmed. "The Sichuan Regional Commander is dead?"
The rider confirmed, "Yes, the Sichuan Regional Commander is no more. Now the Sichuan army is leaderless and in utter chaos. The Governor of Sichuan, Wang Weizhang, and the Censor, Chen Tingmo, are running around in a panic. At this point, only General Qin can turn the tide."
Qin Liangyu's brows furrowed deeply.
A few seconds later, she waved her hand. "Xianglin, Fengyi, both of you immediately gather your troops and set out to intercept the bandit army."
Ma Xianglin and Zhang Fengyi cupped their fists and replied, "As you command!"
The two quickly departed, and soon, the urgent bell for military assembly rang out from Wan Shou Zhai.
On the slopes of Mount Wanshou, the young men toiling in the terraced mountain fields heard the bell, immediately dropped their work, and swiftly ran back to their homes.
A few minutes later, when they re-emerged, they were already clad in the uniforms of the White Pole Soldiers, wearing multi-tab hemp sandals on their feet, and carrying long spears with white shafts in their hands...
These White Pole Soldiers converged on Wan Shou Zhai, taking various large and small mountain paths.
In but a moment, a supremely powerful army had thus assembled.
One-Eyed Ma Xianglin stood at the very front of the formation, brandishing his white pole spear, and bellowed, "The bandit army has entered Sichuan! We go to meet them in battle now. No more talk, charge!"
With that, he vaulted onto his warhorse and vanished in a flash.
The White Pole Soldiers cried out, "General, wait for us! We don't have horses!"
Zhang Fengyi emerged from behind. "Alright, he's run off by himself again. Never mind him, just follow me."
The White Pole Soldiers roared, "Ooh!"
Comments