Chapter 451: This is No Laughing Matter
In the evening, Shi Jian and Bai Mao were leading a large group of government soldiers, strolling through the streets of Han City.
Though they were clearly newcomers, individuals with connections, they had now effectively become two "big bosses" in the army. Several centurions of equal rank had all become their subordinates.
Even the commanders of higher rank, in charge of four hundred fighting men, were bowing and scraping to them, their superiors manipulated by their subordinates.
There was no other way; after all, they controlled the food supply.
In these times, having money didn't necessarily make you powerful, but having grain certainly did.
The army had long been short on food and pay. From generals down to the lowliest soldiers, everyone was starving, daily hoping the imperial court would disburse rations and wages. Under such circumstances, with two men who constantly treated people to meals, who the hell dared to offend them?
Just then, the two were once again treating everyone to a meal, leading a large group of soldiers and gathered around a small shop that made flatbreads.
That flatbread shop had been closed for over a year. Unable to procure flour, the shop simply couldn't open for business. The owner had spent his days in despair, simply waiting to die. He never expected to be surrounded by a large group of military gentlemen today, scaring him so much that his whole body trembled.
Shi Jian smiled and waved a hand at the soldiers around him. "Hey, what are you all doing, looking so fierce? Don't scare the owner. We are all children of the common people; the common people bore us and raised us. Be polite to the common folk."
The soldiers quickly tried to force kind smiles onto their faces for the shop owner...
Outside the box, Li Daoxuan watched this scene and chuckled inwardly. Excellent. Shi Jian and Bai Mao were subtly influencing these soldiers. As long as they kept repeating this message to the soldiers, appealing to their emotions and offering them benefits, they could slowly change their mindset and their way of dealing with people.
Shi Jian smiled at the shop owner and said, "I heard that the flatbreads you make are called Han City Sesame Flatbreads, a local specialty, famous far and wide. So, I specifically brought my brothers here to try them. Don't worry, we'll pay."
The beef patty in Li Daoxuan's hand suddenly lost its appeal. "Damn it, another local delicacy? Argh! I get furious whenever I see local delicacies now."
The flatbread shop owner said with a bitter expression, "The flatbreads this humble one makes are indeed famous, but in recent years, there has been a great drought across the land, and grain prices have soared. The little flour this humble one bought is only enough to feed myself; I can't possibly open the shop."
Shi Jian smiled. "When the common people encounter difficulties, we, the soldiers who are their children, will naturally help you. Don't worry, come, look what this is?"
He unslung a sack from his back and handed it to the flatbread shop owner.
As soon as the owner took the bag, he smelled the aroma of flour. He had a rough idea of what it was. When he opened the bag, sure enough, it contained more than half a sack of flour.
Shi Jian said, "If you help us turn this flour into flatbreads, I'll pay you three cash coins per flatbread as a labor fee. How about that?"
The owner was overjoyed at once. "Excellent, of course, excellent! Military gentleman, you truly are a good person!"
Shi Jian chuckled. "This is what we should do. Soldiers should protect their homes and defend the country, helping the common people. Don't you agree?"
That last sentence was directed at the soldiers behind him.
How could that group of soldiers not oblige their generous patron? They quickly chimed in, "Yes!"
Shi Jian and Bai Mao exchanged a glance, both secretly pleased. "This wave of ideological education for the soldiers was quite successful, wouldn't you say? The Heavenly Lord will surely reward us handsomely later."
Unfortunately, they didn't know that Li Daoxuan was fuming outside the box. "Han City Sesame Flatbreads, huh? You guys get to eat them, but I don't. Just wait until I deal with you later."
Before long, Shi Jian, Bai Mao, and the large group of soldiers were all munching on flatbreads. Centurion Ma grumbled as he chewed, "Ah, delicious, truly delicious... Damn it, with the court delaying pay these past few years, I haven't had a decent meal in ages. Thanks to Centurion Shi and Centurion Wang, these past few days have been truly living like a human being."
It would have been fine if he hadn't mentioned "Centurion Wang," but as soon as those three words were uttered, Shi Jian couldn't help but turn to Bai Mao and chuckle, "Wang Xiaohua!"
At the sound of that name, Bai Mao instantly bristled, like a cat ready for a fight, all its fur standing on end. "Damn it, how many times have I told you not to call me by my real name! Call me..."
He was about to say "Bai Mao," but on second thought, that bandit alias couldn't be mentioned among government soldiers. He had to force the words back, almost bursting with suppressed frustration.
Shi Jian burst into laughter, thoroughly pleased with himself.
The surrounding soldiers all joined in the laughter. They were all laughing happily when suddenly, a low-ranking soldier came running down the street, shouting loudly, "Centurions, urgent deployment! Return to camp at once!"
The announcement stunned everyone. Urgent deployment?
Li Daoxuan also felt a pang of surprise. "Hmm? What are they going to do? Suppress bandits?"
He chewed on his beef patty, watching Shi Jian, Bai Mao, and the others run towards the military camp, still munching on their sesame flatbreads. Inside the camp, Wang Cheng'en, the Shaanxi Commander-in-Chief, was already seated, fully clad in armor. A large crowd of officers and soldiers were bustling about, scrambling to get the army ready.
Shi Jian and Bai Mao had no soldiers under their command; they only held honorary titles. So they didn't have much to do. They simply went to Wang Cheng'en's side and stood with his personal guards.
Before long, the army was assembled.
Wang Cheng'en, the Shaanxi Commander-in-Chief, had a thousand five hundred elite soldiers fully arrayed. Surprisingly, three thousand five hundred garrison soldiers, like a motley crew, had also arrived. Together, the total force numbered five thousand, a rather impressive display.
Li Daoxuan looked down from above. He had seen thousands of bandits before, but this was the first time he'd seen such a large-scale government army. The caliber of government soldiers and bandits was indeed worlds apart. Though the three thousand five hundred garrison soldiers were a bit shabby, they at least had cloth armor.
The thousand five hundred elite soldiers at the front, however, looked truly impressive. Their uniforms and armor were bright, and their weapons complete.
Cavalry, musketeers, sword-and-shield bearers, spearmen—the composition was very diverse. They had all sorts of weapons and equipment.
Li Daoxuan thought to himself, "This battle looks significant."
Once everyone was assembled, Wang Cheng'en cleared his throat and declared loudly, "The bandit chieftain Wang Jiayin is an utter rebel, declaring himself king, establishing his own officials, showing no respect for the Emperor. His crimes deserve death..."
Li Daoxuan thought, "Oh! They're finally making a move on Wang Jiayin."
Wang Cheng'en continued, "The Ministry of War has appointed Du Wenhuan as the Grand General, with Cao Wenzhao, the Deputy Commander of Gushan, as Assistant Suppressor. They will command troops from the four garrisons of Shanxi, Shaanxi, Pingyang, and Ningxia, to encircle Hequ County and eradicate the bandit Wang Jiayin. You are all to depart with me at once, cross the Yellow River, and enter Shanxi."
Hearing this, Li Daoxuan couldn't help but shake his head. "See? As the saying goes, 'the bird that sticks its head out gets shot.' The imperial court's stance on bandits has always wavered between suppression and pacification. But you absolutely must not declare yourself king. Once you do, the court will get serious. This is no laughing matter."
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