Chapter 594: Captain Chen’s First Mission |
Publish Time: 2026-06-23 21:26:43
A+A-Light Off<!--
«Chapter 593: This Is the Last Offer
None »
In the discussion hall, a group of people all widened their eyes and stared at the puppet deity.
After what seemed like an eternity, the puppet deity suddenly made a clattering sound, shook its limbs, and stood up: “Prepare to attack the city.”
“Attack the city?”
These two words stunned everyone.
Old Nan Feng was the first to react: “Attacking the city means we’ll have to fight the officials.”
Li Daoxuan quickly recounted what he had just seen.
The crowd: “!”
At this moment, everyone’s expression turned grave.
Hedong Road managed Jie Pond, which was related to the salt supply in the central plains. The importance of salt supply could be seen from the fact that the court issued salt licenses to the Eight Great Shanxi Merchants to deliver supplies to the border army.
This was a top priority for the court and would not allow others to meddle at will.
Old Nan Feng said seriously: “Deity! We can capture Hedong Road without any problem, but the issue is that once we attack this city, there will be no room for negotiation with the court. Are we going to raise the banner and officially rebel? I have no objection to rebelling, but I just want to ask clearly so that we can proceed.”
Cheng Xu said: “If we rebel now, I feel it’s a bit too early. Our manpower is insufficient, and the production rate of bullets can’t keep up with the consumption rate of rifles. If we go to war directly with the court, we will definitely expand rapidly in the initial phase, but due to manpower constraints and bullet production falling behind, after the initial advantage, our expansion will slow down, and we might end up in a stalemate with the court.”
Zao Ying chimed in: “Yes, once the court is locked in a stalemate with us, bandits will seize the opportunity to cause trouble, and the Jurchens might also take advantage to breach the border, bringing misery to the world.”
Xing Honglang’s face darkened: “But Iron Bird Flies is locked in the dungeon of Hedong Road. To rescue him, attacking the city is the only way.”
The puppet deity’s two small wooden lips clacked together: “Find a brother to pretend to be a bandit, attack the city and kill the officials to stir up trouble. Hong lang leads troops to suppress the bandits, earns achievements, and occupies territory, occupies territory, mah occupies territory…”
Upon hearing this, everyone suddenly realized: “Good idea!”
Xing Hong lang said: “But who can pretend to be this bandit? All our important generals in Gaojia Village have been seen by various people to some extent during the reinforcements at Pingyang Prefecture; even our soldiers have been exposed. Now, it’s not easy to pull out a fake bandit troop.”
The puppet deity counted with its fingers: “This brother just got out of prison!”
At the same time, Captain Chen was with over six hundred labor offenders from the rebel band in Guyuan, packing up their belongings and preparing to leave the labor camp. They carried the belongings they had exchanged with points over the years in the labor camp, which included a few valuables, all bundled up.
He slapped hands with Ningxia Captain Wu: “Old Wu, after we leave, you’ll be the head of this labor camp.”
Captain Wu laughed: “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of the newcomers. You’ve got to mix well outside, because when I get out, I’ll need you to back me up.”
Captain Chen laughed heartily: “Rest assured, how could I not mix well? My boss Old Nan Feng is doing great outside. I heard he invested in some kind of performing arts company, and the female performers under him can earn him a lot of money just by holding a concert.”
Captain Wu said: “Ah, I really want to see that.”
Captain Chen smiled: “Then you should hurry up and earn merits to reduce your sentence, hahaha.”
Just as they were saying this, the Cotton Thread Deity on Captain Chen’s chest suddenly grinned and chuckled: “Captain Chen!”
Both captains were startled and quickly bowed: “We pay our respects to Deity.”
The Cotton Thread Deity said: “Upon your release, you planned to go to Puzhou to join Old Nan Feng, right?”
Captain Chen replied: “Reporting to Deity, this subordinate has that intention.”
“Don’t go for now.” The Cotton Thread Deity chuckled: “Go and fight a battle with Old Nan Feng.”
“What?” Captain Chen was taken aback: “Why? Has Brother Nan Feng betrayed us? He…perhaps…was deceived by a woman and betrayed our Gaojia Village?”
Li Daoxuan thought to himself: Is that his first thought? How much of a weakness do women hold over Old Nan Feng?
“Don’t think wildly!” The Cotton Thread Deity said: “I want you to disguise yourself as a bandit and attack Hedong Road. Then Old Nan Feng will lead troops to suppress you…”
Captain Chen then understood—after all, he had worked in the system—almost instantly grasping it: “This subordinate has been in the labor valley ever since coming to Gaojia Village, and no one knows I’m from Gaojia Village. So after I go out, I can pretend to be a bandit, attack a court city, and have Brother Nan Feng lead troops to drive us away. Then we can logically bring a court city under our control.”
Li Daoxuan couldn’t help but admire quietly: “These guys! When it comes to playing these sneaky tricks, each and every one of them is incredibly clever.”
“Alright, as long as you understand.” The Cotton Thread Deity said: “From now on, you can judge how to operate on your own.”
Captain Chen certainly understood. He immediately gathered the more than six hundred people who were about to be released and had them remove their clean and neat cotton clothes and put on tattered and varied rags like bandits. They also put on the worn-out border army armor worn when they were still in the rebel band in Guyuan.
Grab a bunch of cold weapons!
They didn’t even need to act; they were true to life, the very image of a border army.
Captain Chen chuckled: “Brothers, just as we’re getting out of prison, we’ve received an honorable and challenging task—to attack Hedong Road.”
The six hundred men all laughed: “It’s not challenging at all. Hedong Road has a bunch of cowardly garrison soldiers guarding a cowardly city; we can easily take it down.”
“Hahaha, since none of you are afraid, let’s set off.” Captain Chen said: “Make a great merit as soon as we get out, and we’ll immediately rise to prominence.”
The over six hundred men all had similar thoughts: Leaving the labor camp with nothing, starting from scratch would be tough. But if they made a big contribution right away and got the reward silver, they would soar instantly, calling it a glorious life.
After leaving the labor valley, they first rode Gaojia Village’s train to the Huanghe Linqi Bridge. After crossing the bridge and passing through Sunji Town, they were nearly beyond the “sphere of influence.”
Upon reaching here, everyone’s demeanor suddenly changed, instantly turning into a band of bandits.
Captain Chen carried a small clay doll deity, only palm-sized, tucked in his pocket. Li Daoxuan could contact them through this clay doll deity anytime, so Captain Chen didn’t need to arrange any liaison officers.
Directly leading the six hundred men, he dove into the treacherous mountains and waters of Shanxi.
Stealthily, passing through prefectures and counties, they headed towards the city of Hedong Road.
«Chapter 593: This Is the Last Offer
Index
None »