Novels online

Chapter 594: Chen Baihu's First Mission

In the council chamber, everyone's eyes were wide, fixed on the Puppet Heavenly Lord.

After what felt like an eternity, the Puppet Heavenly Lord suddenly rustled, shook its limbs, and stood up. "Prepare for a siege!"

"A siege?"

Those two words stunned everyone into silence.

Lao Nanfeng was the first to react. "A siege means we'll be fighting the imperial troops."

The Puppet Heavenly Lord replied, "Tie Niaofei has been captured by the Hedong Circuit's Salt Administration Bureau and is imprisoned in their dungeon. To rescue him, we must conquer the Hedong Circuit."

Li Daoxuan swiftly recounted everything he had just witnessed.

A collective gasp rippled through the room.

Now, everyone's expressions grew solemn.

The Hedong Circuit managed Xie Lake, which was crucial for the salt supply to the Central Plains. The importance of this salt supply was evident from the imperial court's issuance of salt certificates to the eight great Jin merchants, tasking them with delivering supplies to the border army. This was a top priority for the imperial government, and they would not allow anyone to interfere with it lightly.

Lao Nanfeng gravely stated, "Heavenly Lord! Taking the Hedong Circuit is not the problem. The issue is that once we attack that city, there will be no room for reconciliation with the imperial court. Are we to raise our banner and formally rebel? Your subordinate has no objection to rebellion, but I wish to be clear on the course of action."

Cheng Xu added, "If we rebel now, I feel it might be a bit premature. Our manpower is still insufficient, and our bullet production cannot keep pace with the rifles' consumption. Once we directly engage the imperial court, we will undoubtedly expand rapidly in the early stages. However, because our manpower and bullet manufacturing can't keep up, our expansion will slow after the initial advantage, likely leading to a stalemate with the imperial court."

Zao Ying chimed in, "Yes, once the imperial court gets bogged down with us, wandering bandits will seize the opportunity to cause chaos, and the Manchus might take advantage to invade through the passes. The common people of the world would be plunged into utter misery."

Xing Honglang's face was grim. "But Tie Niaofei is locked in the Hedong Circuit's dungeon. To get him out, a siege is our only option."

The Puppet Heavenly Lord clapped its two small wooden mouth-pieces together, making a *clack-clack* sound. "Find a brother to play the bandit, attack the city and kill officials with glee! Honglang then leads troops to suppress the scoundrels, earning merit, promotion, and new territories, new territories, oh yes, new territories..."

Upon hearing this, everyone suddenly caught on. "A brilliant plan!" they exclaimed.

Xing Honglang pondered, "But who can play the part of this bandit? All our important generals from Gao Family Village have, more or less, shown their faces while reinforcing Pingyang Prefecture. Even our soldiers have been recognized. It won't be easy to put together a fake bandit army now."

The Puppet Heavenly Lord seemingly calculated with its fingers. "This brother... has just been released from prison!"

Meanwhile, Chen Baihu was gathering his belongings with over six hundred former Guyuan rebel labor reform prisoners, preparing for release. He carried the modest items he had accumulated with his earned points over the past few years in the labor reform camp, all packed into a single bundle.

He slapped hands with Centurion Wu from Ningxia. "Old Wu, after we leave, you're the boss of this labor reform camp."

Centurion Wu chuckled. "Don't worry, I'll manage the new arrivals. You, make sure you thrive out there. I'll need your protection when I get out."

Chen Baihu laughed heartily. "Don't worry, don't worry! How could I possibly not thrive? My boss, Lao Nanfeng, is doing incredibly well out there. I hear he's invested in some performing arts agency, and his female performers can make him tons of money just by holding a single concert."

Centurion Wu said, "Oh, I'd truly love to see that."

Chen Baihu grinned, "Then hurry up and earn merits for sentence reduction, hahahaha!"

Just as they were speaking, the cotton-thread Heavenly Lord pendant on Chen Baihu's chest suddenly widened its mouth and chuckled. "Chen Baihu!"

Both centurions jumped in surprise and immediately performed a deep bow. "Greetings, Heavenly Lord!"

The cotton-thread Heavenly Lord said, "You're heading to Puzhou to join Lao Nanfeng after your release, right?"

Chen Baihu replied, "Reporting to the Heavenly Lord, your subordinate has that intention."

"Not just yet," the cotton-thread Heavenly Lord chuckled. "Go fight Lao Nanfeng instead."

"What?!" Chen Baihu was startled. "Why? Has Brother Nanfeng betrayed us? Could he... could he have been tricked by women into betraying our Gao Family Village?"

Li Daoxuan thought to himself: *Is that your first thought? Just how easily is Lao Nanfeng swayed by women?*

"Don't jump to conclusions!" the cotton-thread Heavenly Lord instructed. "I need you to impersonate a band of wandering bandits and attack the Hedong Circuit. Then Lao Nanfeng will lead his troops to suppress you..."

Only then did Chen Baihu understand. Having been part of the system himself, he grasped the scheme in an instant. "Your subordinate has been in the Labor Reform Valley since arriving at Gao Family Village, so no one knows that I am from Gao Family Village. Therefore, after I am released, I can pose as a bandit chief and attack an imperial city. Then Brother Nanfeng can lead his army to drive me off, allowing us to naturally take control of an imperial city."

Li Daoxuan couldn't help but admire them. *These guys! When it comes to these underhanded tactics, every single one of them is incredibly clever.*

"Alright, as long as you understand," the cotton-thread Heavenly Lord said. "You may proceed as you deem fit."

Chen Baihu understood perfectly. He immediately gathered the more than six hundred men about to be released. He had them shed their clean, neat cotton clothes and don tattered, mismatched garments fit for wandering bandits. They also put on the worn-out border army armor they used when they were still part of the Guyuan rebel army.

Then, they armed themselves with a large assortment of melee weapons!

There was no need for acting; they were perfectly cast, looking exactly like a rugged border army unit.

Chen Baihu chuckled. "Brothers, as soon as we're released, we've received a glorious and arduous mission: to attack the Hedong Circuit."

The six hundred men all laughed. "It's not arduous at all. The Hedong Circuit is filled with weakling garrison soldiers, guarding a weakling city. We can take it down with ease!"

"Hahahaha, since no one is afraid, let's set off!" Chen Baihu declared. "We'll achieve a great feat right after release, and we'll instantly rise to prominence."

The six hundred men shared the same idea. Leaving the labor reform camp penniless and starting from scratch would be difficult. But if they could immediately accomplish a major feat and receive a reward in silver, they would instantly soar to a glorious life.

After leaving the Labor Reform Valley, they first boarded a Gao Family Village train to the Linyi Yellow River Bridge. After crossing the bridge and passing Sunji Town, they were nearly outside Gao Family Village's direct sphere of influence.

Upon reaching this point, their demeanor instantly shifted, transforming them into a band of wandering bandits.

Chen Baihu carried a small, palm-sized Puppet Heavenly Lord mud doll tucked into his pocket. Li Daoxuan could contact them through this mud doll Heavenly Lord at any time, so Chen Baihu didn't need to arrange any other liaisons.

He simply led the six hundred men into the treacherous mountains and dangerous waters of Shanxi.

Sneaking and hiding, they passed through prefectures and counties, approaching the city of the Hedong Circuit.