Lin Yuan forgot where he saw it. He remembered that a professor said that the prosperity of the Qing Dynasty’s three reigns (TN: Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong) was achieved by confining oneself. Such prosperity could not last, because people’s thinking had not progressed, and their thinking was restricted. Economic development was just an illusion.

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Therefore, Lin Yuan did not control the people’s thinking in Gaoyou. He didn’t know whether the final result of letting it develop was good or bad, but it was only in Gaoyou. Gaoyou’s economy was the most developed. Economic development would promote the development of people’s thinking. Whereas there was no similar soil for the growth of ideas in other places.

Even if Gaoyou really had a problem, it would be easy for him to change it back to the right path.

At this time, Lin Yuan had already settled in Hanyang City. It had been half a month since they started the war with Hanyang.

Ni Wenjun had consumed a lot of Hanyang’s forces. It was now indeed much more convenient for Chen Baisong and Zhu Yuanzhang to fight against them.

As for Ni Wenjun, Lin Yuan had already sent Zhu Yuanzhang and Li Congrong to pursue and surround him, the goal being to kill Ni Wenjun and let none of his soldiers escape.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Li Congrong were indeed quite covetuous of Ni Wenjun’s soldiers.

After they chased out in pursuit, only Chen Baisong and Lin Yuan were left in Hanyang. Lin Yuan locked Xu Shouhui and his important officials together. As for the small and minor officials, they were all smart people and knew what choice was left to them. Lin Yuan now controlled all of Hanyang’s main roads, and those who patrolled the city walls were also his people.

Unless these people didn’t want their heads anymore, they wouldn’t bet on their lives.

“Xu Shouhui said he wants to see me?” Lin Yuan finally finished cleaning up. He had recently been on the march with his army the whole time and had no chance to take a bath. He felt like he was close to spoiling so the first thing he did after handling all the affairs that needed to be handled was to have people boil water and run a bath for him.

But as soon as he came out, while still drying his hair, he heard a soldier reporting the news to Chen Baisong.

Lin Yuan only wore a single robe and dried his long hair with a coarse cloth.

Both his chest and arms were exposed, and as Lin Yuan basically worked indoors and didn’t go out very often, his skin was whiter than that of ordinary people.

Chen Baisong’s gaze was fixed on Lin Yuan, but he suddenly realized something and turned his head to say to the soldier, “Retreat.”

The soldier hurriedly retreated.

Chen Baisong’s Adam’s apple moved: “Why did you come out wearing this?”

Lin Yuan said strangely: “What am I wearing? It’s quite normal. It’s not like there are women here, so it’s fine.”

There were only men, and it didn’t matter even if he was naked.

Chen Baisong was speechless. If he said too much then he would come across as the strange one. He could only keep his mouth shut, and planned in the future to wait outside and serve Lin Yuan in dressing when Lin Yuan took a bath.

So as to avoid letting outsiders see.

Lin Yuan didn’t notice Chen Baisong’s abnormality either. He sat on the kang (heatable brick bed) on the side which had a cushion on it. He found a comfortable position, with his legs propped up, completely uncaring of his image: “What else can Xu Shouhui say to me now? Negotiating terms?”

Chen Baisong poured tea for Lin Yuan: “The cunning rabbit digs three holes, he should still have something worthy of discussion since he had at least been an emperor.”

For Xu Shouhui, being the emperor was practically not even better off than not being one. He not only had no freedom, but also no real power nor dignity.

People called him Your Majesty, but only he could know how he felt about his situation.

Lin Yuan: “Then I will go see him. Call someone in to help me tie my hair.”

Chen Baisong stood behind Lin Yuan with a comb in his hand. Lin Yuan smiled and said, “When did you learn this?”

Lin Yuan really wanted to cut his long hair into short lengths, but while the ancient people could cut their hair, they couldn’t cut too much, and only trimmed it a bit when needed. If it was really cut too much, some people would jump out and lecture about how the body, including hair and skin, was received from one’s parents and should be respected.

Chen Baisong’s hands were large, with rough palms that had thick calluses on them, but they were not clumsy at all. He held Lin Yuan’s long hair under the flickering candlelight in the room. Chen Baisong’s eyelashes were lowered, and ran the comb over the long hair to get the knots out.

Lin Yuan’s eyes were closed as he sat there, eventually slipping down to lay in Chen Baisong’s lap. Lin Yuan closed his eyes and said, “If you don’t fight battles in the future, have you ever thought about what you will do? Guarding the frontier, maybe?”

Chen Baisong: “I will stay by Young Master’s side, and I will do whatever Young Master wants me to do.”

Staying by his side? Lin Yuan didn’t open his eyes. He didn’t know if it was Chen Baisong’s own intention or someone had taught him.

Once a general stayed by the emperor’s side, either he had overwhelming power, or he had handed over his power and was kept a watch on by the emperor.

Lin Yuan said: “It depends on the situation then, it’s not that you can be wherever I want you to be.”

Lin Yuan took a deep breath: “Help me massage my head. I have a headache during this period, don’t use too much strength.”

Chen Baisong had become a little massager. He was not a professional, the strength he put in the massage going back and forth between being too weak or too strong. In the end, Lin Yuan could only teach him personally: “You lie down, I’ll massage it for you, so make sure you learn sincerely.”

So Chen Baisong lay down, feeling overwhelmed with favor and also nervousness, with his head resting on Lin Yuan’s legs. He could only hear a loud and strong heartbeat in his ears, and he could see Lin Yuan’s brows and eyes when he looked up.

It seemed as if this was the first time he knew Lin Yuan.

Chen Baisong quickly closed his eyes. He felt that if he looked at Lin Yuan again, he would definitely expose something.

Even now he himself did not know what this thing that might be exposed was.

Chen Baisong didn’t feel how Lin Yuan massaged him at all. He only heard Lin Yuan ask him in a soft voice, “Have you memorized it? It’s this level of strength, just massage here.”

Then Chen Baisong didn’t remember anything at all. When he opened his eyes, he could only see Lin Yuan’s opening and closing lips. Lin Yuan’s lips were very thin and the lip color was very light. Chen Baisong could only feel his mouth continuously salivating.

Lin Yuan looked down at Chen Baisong: “Why is the look in your eyes like this? Like I am a piece of braised pork.”

Chen Baisong quickly closed his eyes.

Lin Yuan was amused by Chen Baisong’s appearance of deceiving himself: “It’s not like I said anything.”

He also discovered that Chen Baisong’s ears were red, so he shifted his hand and squeezed it: “Your ears are red, and they are a little hot. You have gotten tan recently, and the blush can only be seen on your ears.”

Chen Baisong couldn’t control his mouth at all now. He didn’t know what he was going to say or what he was saying. His mind was blank, and he couldn’t say a word after opening his mouth several times.

Lin Yuan: “I know, the two of us haven’t been close for a long time…..”

Chen Baisong heard the word “close” and now his eyes were a little red as well.

Lin Yuan said in a nostalgic tone: “When we were young, we always slept on the same bed, and even competed on who peed the farthest.”

Too much time had passed after Lin Yuan transmigrated over, and it had been a long time since his own memory merged with the memory of the original body. Sometimes he would become confused, wondering which was something he did and which was not.

Chen Baisong’s eyes dimmed, and it was obvious that what Lin Yuan said was not the same as what he had hoped.

Lin Yuan: “Forget it.”

Chen Baisong was startled, not knowing what Lin Yuan was talking about.

Lin Yuan: “I won’t go to see Xu Shouhui tonight. Anyway, he has been waiting for this long already, and a day or two more won’t make a difference.”

Chen Baisong calmed down. Lin Yuan didn’t give him a massage anymore and lay down on his side instead. He smiled: “Fortunately, my hair has yet to be tied up.”

“There are now 60,000 prisoners, which is a real number.” Chen Baisong saw that Lin Yuan was not ready to speak any more, and racked his brains to come up with an official business that could be talked about.

Lin Yuan nodded: “More than I thought.”

Chen Baisong said: “Ni Wenjun still has a hundred thousand people with him. If narrowed down to true numbers, there are still fifty to sixty thousand.”

In addition to the number of false reports, there were also people who were seriously injured, who were sick, and who were unable to go on the battlefield and had no fighting capacity.

These people had no impact on the battlefield except to make the numbers appear impressive on the battlefield.

Everyone knew this, but they still used this anyway.

In the battle between the two armies, sometimes the important thing was the momentum and intimidation. It had a similar reason to animals roaring before fighting.

Whoever had a louder voice was more powerful.

When the weaker side saw that the situation was wrong, they lost before even fighting. Compared with fighting, they would first want to retreat.

Lin Yuan’s army was not like that. He knew that once the old, weak, sick and disabled went on the battlefield, there was basically no chance of surviving.

What was more, if they did not win on the momentum then when the fight really started it would be a complete defeat, and the military’s confidence would be dissipated at that time.

Lin Yuan glanced at Chen Baisong, inexplicably thinking that Chen Baisong’s silly and dazed look was a little cute. He stretched out his hand and squeezed Chen Baisong’s face, saying with a sigh, “You sleep out in the wilds under the sun and in the wind, yet why is your skin better than mine?”

Chen Baisong: “?”

Although Lin Yuan was not an exquisite boy before transmigrating over, he still used facial cleanser. When the weather was dry, he would also buy a moisturizer. After transmigrating over, his skin would also be dry. When the season changed, his face would even peel as well as itch. So Lin Yuan envied Chen Baisong’s skin.

Chen Baisong didn’t feel it at all.

Lin Yuan asked him: “Why don’t you marry a wife? Big brother has already married, and second brother feels that the world is not peaceful enough for marriage, and third brother has long ago had a wife and children.”

Chen Baisong: “…..I never thought about it.”

Lin Yuan: “If you fall in love with a girl in the future, I will help you propose the marriage, and I will help you prepare the betrothal gifts for your marriage.”

Chen Baisong stood up suddenly, with no expression on his face: “I’m going to fetch you water, and the tea also need to be changed.”

Looking at Chen Baisong’s back, Lin Yuan clearly felt the change in Chen Baisong’s mood.

But he did not understand why Chen Baisong was unhappy.

Because he mentioned the matter of marriage? But getting married was a good thing, and it was reasonable for him to help his nanny brother on this.

Lin Yuan sat on the kang and thought for a while.

Could it be…..that Chen Baisong had some kind of hidden illness? That was why he didn’t want to talk about getting married?

When Chen Baisong returned to the room, he saw Lin Yuan looking at him unblinkingly, with indescribable understanding and sympathy in his eyes.

Chen Baisong put the basin down in front of Lin Yuan, and rolled up his sleeves to help Lin Yuan wash his feet.

Lin Yuan sat cross-legged.

Chen Baisong: “Put your feet down.”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Lin Yuan patted Chen Baisong on the shoulder: “It’s not like I have no hands. I can wash my feet by myself. In the future, I won’t talk about marriage with you. Don’t worry, on this matter, only heaven knows and earth knows, you know and I know.”

Chen Baisong: “???”

AN: Chen Baisong: “I’ve been wronged.”

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“Zhang Jiuliu, the general wants to see you.” The person who carried the word glanced at Zhang Jiuliu, envy and jealousy in his heart. Of the four brothers of the Zhang family, Zhang Jiuli was now a commander of ten thousand. Of the three younger brothers, Zhang Jiuwu was still just an ordinary soldier, Zhang Jiuliu had been promoted to platoon leader a few days ago, and Zhang Jiuqi while not good at martial arts, was good at scholarship and had become a student of Manager Song.

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Zhang Jiuliu was a bit confused.

He was born tall and was even sturdier than his eldest brother, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, looking like a very honest man. When on the battlefield, he would always charge in the front and therefore had a fair amount of military merits. He also married a wife and was rewarded with a big house. In the future, even if he had 8-10 children, the house would still fit all of them.

Zhang Jiuliu was worried that he had done something wrong, so he followed the person who brought the message in an anxious manner, pondering about it the whole way.

It should be a good thing. If it was a bad thing he was being called for, it would not just be a person with the message, but soldiers to arrest him. He was also a platoon leader. If he had committed anything major, a review meeting would be held.

When Zhang Jiuliu returned to the dormitory in a dazed manner, his comrades in the dormitory asked him enthusiastically: “What is it? Are you going to be promoted again? It will be the battalion commander next on the promotion ladder. Then you will also be the youngest battalion commander. That’s too impressive.”

Zhang Jiuliu looked at him blankly, and then said, “The general, told me to go to Gaoyou.”

“Why Gaoyou? The soldiers at Gaoyou hardly fight and don’t have much military merit. Being stationed there is safe though.”

“Yes, even though you can’t get military merit, you at least don’t need to live with the prospect of dying on the battlefield.”

The comrades were all comforting him. After all, if he was still a platoon leader when he went to Gaoyou, it would be equivalent to a demotion.

Zhang Jiuliu swallowed: “The general asked me to take 10,000 people to Gaoyou.”

“What?!”

“Zhang Jiuliu! Are you going to be the commander of ten thousand troops?!”

They stared at Zhang Jiuliu, as if this person they had been facing every day and night suddenly grew three heads and six arms.

Zhang Jiuliu couldn’t restrain his emotions, he had always admired his eldest brother.

From his point of view, his eldest brother was practically omnipotent. He was righteous, tall, and after his eldest brother became the commander of ten thousand troops, he also wondered if one day he could become a commander. At that time, would that mean that he and his eldest brother were the same kind of people? And that he could stand shoulder to shoulder with his eldest brother?

“By the way, you have all been promoted this time, should you not change your names?” A comrade asked.

Zhang Jiuliu smiled and said: “We have thought about it a long time ago. My eldest brother said that the reason us brothers can come here is because of a person who has the same surname as ours. If it were not for him, we would not have today. So my eldest brother took the name of that benefactor.”

“Zhang Shicheng.”

“Us brothers followed this name when choosing our own names. My second brother is Zhang Shixin, my name is Zhang Shide, and my younger brother is Zhang Shiyi.”

Comrades: “This name! Honesty, trust, virtue, and justice, what good names!”

Zhang Shide said with a smile: “My eldest brother thought of it.”

Someone next to him said: “It’s a pity that some people have nothing to do with the word trustworthy.”

Zhang Shide was taken aback for a moment, and immediately knew who the other was talking about, and asked, “My second elder brother went to gamble again?”

The man: “Who said no, you got a house as a reward last time, and didn’t you give it to him? Yesterday he went to the gambling parlour, and when he left, he lost the house you gave to other people. If you ask me, you shouldn’t give him anything. And he is actually your second elder brother, yet he is not even as good as your younger brother.”

Zhang Shide also had a headache. His second elder brother was not like his eldest brother. Since his eldest brother became the commander of ten thousand, his second elder brother acted like he didn’t even know what his surname was, becoming arrogant and conceited.

Now that he had also become a commander of ten thousand, his second elder brother would likely…..

When Zhang Shide thought of this, he couldn’t help but show a bitter expression. Gambling was not a big deal. Generally, when caught, the punishment at most would just be a fine.

But it would only be during these few years where there was a shortage of people and soldiers. In the future, when the world was peaceful, and his second elder brother still loved gambling, then what could be done?

“If you ask me, your second brother is not a soldier’s material, and it is better to tell him to stay at home. The monthly salary you and your eldest brother receive is enough to support him, so don’t let him implicate you when the time comes.”

“Exactly, think it over carefully yourself.”

Zhang Shide thanked his comrades first before packing up his things and preparing to leave.

He had very clear thoughts. The general told him to go to Gaoyou, and it must not be for him to go over there to enjoy life. If Gaoyou was fine, the original troops stationed there were already enough. That he was sent over meant that Gaoyou had a problem.

Serving as a soldier, he could only climb up the ladder by fighting, and if there were no battles to be fought, don’t know how long it would take to climb up that ladder.

Although it was not an easy job to be a soldier now, it was not a difficult job either.

Nowadays, as a soldier there were many opportunities to earn military merit. So long as one was not timid, basically one would be able to earn some savings. After retiring, they would be able to spend a few years of leisurely retirement. Even if they didn’t look for things to do, they still won’t starve to death. Moreover, the South Bodhisattva had issued a decree the other day saying that even if soldiers retired, the superiors would still arrange things for them do.

The days were now full of prospect and the future looked bright. Soldiers were no longer like before, immediately spending all the money they earned. There were also fewer people who gambled. They wanted to save more money so that when they retired later, they could buy a bigger house, get married, and have a few children. It was also fine to marry into the wife’s family if they couldn’t find a wife to marry.

Gaoyou was the place where the South Bodhisattva first started. The atmosphere of Gaoyou had almost all spread to other places, especially the fact that women were now able to establish households and possess property. Since women could also establish households and were eligible to own property, the women have also gradually changed. There were some large families and scholars who felt that women have become untamed. Originally, they were sheep and went wherever the herder drove them.

At home they obeyed their father, when married they obeyed their husband. They could not survive without a man, there was simply no place for single women to survive in the world.

But now it was different. Many women who were able to set up their own households have established their own households when they reached adulthood. Five or six years ago, who would have thought that this would become so common. When walking down the streets, it was common to see single women doing business. Sisters and friends who had a good relationship before setting up their households teamed up and supported each other. If anyone tried to find trouble or harass them, they would go to the guards on patrol.

The more developed the economy, the later the age of marriage. Gaoyou was considered to be the most developed place. There was salt, and now it had the embryonic form of a market economy. Gaoyou originally had a laundry workshop dedicated to washing clothes for soldiers.

After setting up a household, a few women felt that this was a way to make money, so they invited other women to open a laundry workshop together.

At the beginning, no one asked them to wash their clothes, so they went door to door and even prepared some small snacks, which were not very expensive, but it was more sincere than knocking on the door empty-handed. In short, this method led to their first order.

Almost everyone in Gaoyou had a job. Slowly, many people found that sending clothes to be washed could save themselves quite a lot of time. After all, washing clothes was not easy work.

Soon, their laundry workshop got bigger and bigger, and more and more workers were hired, not only from Gaoyou, but also throughout Taizhou.

No one could have imagined that they would succeed.

Their success also gave a boost to the market economy.

Many people worked in the factories while also looking for work outside. Many people wanted to do business.

Chu Lin was now taking care of these things. Since Song Shizhao’s departure, these responsibilities have fallen on his head. Although there were people left by Song Shizhao to assist him, Chu Lin still insisted on taking care of everything personally, lest something happened and caused him to be implicated. This had won him a reputation, and the women also quite liked him.

In fact, iorder to see him a few more times, some women even caused some troubles that had one not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

People around him often made fun of him because of this, saying that if he was a woman, he would definitely be a demonic concubine who would bring calamity to the country and the people.

At this time, Chu Lin looked at the woman in front of him with a serious face. He had already learned to put on a pretense, at least he now looked like a cold and upright “lord”.

The woman’s surname was Li. Originally, she didn’t have a given name. After she established her own household, she named herself Li Shengnan.

She was in the food industry and ran more than a dozen shops selling cooked food. Today, she came to pay taxes.

Li Shengnan looked very frail and delicate, but the shrewdness of a businessman flashed in her eyes. She sat opposite Chu Lin, looking neither humble nor overbearing, and said, “My lord, this is the account book from the previous season. I already had my bookkeeper calculate it, and I have to pay a tax of 1,600 taels.”

All the people that Chu Lin met in person were big businessmen, and they could only see him when the taxes they paid amounted to at least over 500 taels.

Li Shengnan said: “There is another thing I would like to discuss with my lord. I want to rent the open space in the north of the city and construct a house for the employees.”

Chu Lin took a sip of tea: “How many years do you want to rent?”

Li Shengnan smiled at Chu Lin: “Forty years.”

Every ten years was a watershed, and prices would rise a lot.

Chu Lin said to her: “That’s not a small amount of money.”

Li Shengnan sighed: “My business is small, and the employees have accompanied from difficult times. Most of them come from poor families. And since they have given me their lives and entrusted their livelihood to me, I naturally want to treat them better.”

She had begun to bargain with Chu Lin.

Chu Lin smiled and said, “Boss Li is righteous.”

Li Shengnan hurriedly waved her hand: “How can this be called righteousness? The South Bodhisattva is the righteous one, and what ordinary people like us can do is limited.”

Chu Lin: “Boss Li is too humble.”

“I have here some people who have retired from the barracks.” Chu Lin said, “There are those with lame legs or those with amputated arms, but they all have a lot of strength and their disability doesn’t affect their work.”

Li Shengnan lowered her eyes and seemed to be thinking. After a while, she said, “Business is not easy now, and I can only accept another 20 people.”

Chu Lin: “Then Boss Li can go back and wait for the news. There are many people who want to rent the land in the north of the city.”

Li Shengnan: “My lord! This matter can still be discussed, sixty people, it really can’t be more!”

Chu Lin picked up the tea cup and hid his smile behind it: “Boss Li, please come with me and sign the land deed.”

Li Shengnan breathed a sigh of relief. She was born in a small family. She lost her father in childhood and was brought up by her mother. Her mother was born in a merchant family and felt that money was the greatest truth in the world. She remained a widow and tightly held onto the family’s money and shops and taught her daughter by herself. Li Shengnan grew up under such conditions. If there was no accident, she would also do everything possible to control the money and the shops after she married in the future.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

But then, the South Bodhisattva came, and she didn’t have to marry, she could also set up a household like a man and earn her own money.

Even her mother said to her, “I’m not as lucky as you. When luck comes, you have to take it.”

Li Shengnan agreed.

Gaoyou’s economy was developing rapidly.

It had become a shocking behemoth.

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TN: bonus chapter!💕

Chen Baisong no longer knew how many heads he had cut off. He had fought many battles, but not once was it like now, his body and face completely covered by the blood of the enemy and his own.

Like a sharp knife, he led a vanguard team towards Zhao Pusheng and his army as they retreated.

There were the sounds of soldiers’ wailing in the ears, from the enemies and also their own.

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And the army led by Zhu Yuanzhang also charged over at this time.

Zhao Pusheng had obviously lost his composure. Half of their people had entered the city and at the moment the city gates had yet to be closed. Zhao Pusheng’s soldiers were still rushing in. They didn’t know how many people were behind them, they could only hear the shouts and wails from their comrades.

“Close the city gates.” Zhao Pusheng gritted his teeth, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. He was currently standing on the city wall, and he also knew what choice he was facing. When the city gates closed, the enemy would not be able to charge inside, but the soldiers that numbered close to 50,000 would no longer be a combat power he could use.

But if he did not close the city gates, he was not confident that he could defeat them in Hanyang City. What was more, he could imagine the consequences of the enemy entering Hanyang City. Hanyang City was not an empty city. It consisted of numerous common people and their imperial court.

His advisor said to him: “General, you can’t close the city gates! Once the city gates are closed, we will lose nearly 50,000 people. Without these 50,000 people, we might still hold on for a while, but what would we do later?”

Zhao Pusheng asked him: “Then what else do you say we can do? Go out of the city to fight now? They and our 50,000 people are blocking the gates. If we now charge out then we’ll be practically sheep entering the tiger’s mouth.”

The advisor shut up.

At least for now, closing the city gates could keep Hanyang City, and at that time, more troops could be transferred from other places.

The advisor closed their eyes, feeling a little hopeless.

Almost half of the soldiers in Hanyang were taken away because of Ni Wenjun’s rebellion, and now another 50,000 people have been lost.

How would they fight next? He didn’t have a clue.

Chen Baisong looked at the city gates that were slowly closing, and took the reins.

Only the cavalry could rush in at this time, but the gates of Hanyang City could only be opened or closed on the wall. Even if they charged over they would still be unable to stop the gates from closing. And once the gates closed and if they were still inside, they definitely would not be able to escape death.

So the only way now was to just watch the city gates close in front of them.

In the end, they had made a misstep, and Zhao Pusheng was really willing to sacrifice 50,000 men.

Chen Baisong was standing on the hillside, and Zhu Yuanzhang was sitting on a rock not far from him. Both of them could be described as being in a sorry state, with sweat and blood all over, and even flies flying around them. As could be imagined, the smell was not pleasant at all. In contrast, Luo Ben’s situation was much better. He didn’t need to charge forward with Chen Baisong and the others, so he was clean at the moment, and the hat he had on wasn’t even crooked.

“No need to worry, when Zhao Pusheng goes back, he will inevitably be denounced. He lost 50,000 people without a fight. Nowadays, those in Hanyang who can command soldiers are few, and they have to also take care of Ni Wenjun.” Luo Ben was very relaxed. “Ding Pulang and Fu Youde are not as good as Zhao Pusheng.”

In the rear, Lin Yuan and Li Congrong were both lying on the grass, and the two were also talking about Hanyang.

“I had thought that when Ni Wenjun rebelled Hanyang would be up in chaos, but I didn’t expect that they would all still be loyal to Xu Shouhui.” Li Congrong did not understand. Xu Shouhui had no real power in his hands. What was the point of following Xu Shouhui? Why not be the master themselves?

Lin Yuan asked: “How do you think Ni Wenjun will treat them if they don’t follow Xu Shouhui and surrender to him instead? Will they still be high-ranking officials? Ni Wenjun can be regarded as benevolent if he does not kill them.”

Li Congrong did not understand.

Lin Yuan smiled and said: “It’s like if someone under me rebelled against me at this time, will you follow him or follow me?”

Li Congrong didn’t even think about it: “I will kill him.”

Lin Yuan smiled and said: “That’s because the two of us met early and the friendship is naturally different. Xu Shouhui’s hands naturally have people like this as well, but these people have no real power, and those with real power can’t go to Ni Wenjun. And this is why Ni Wenjun is now in a dilemma.”

There was no one in Hanyang City to coordinate outside and inside offensives with Ni Wenjun.

There was also no other army from other places willing to support Ni Wenjun.

If they hadn’t come, Ni Wenjun would have been defeated by now.

In Lin Yuan’s memory, Ni Wenjun’s uprising and downfall were very miserable. After his failure, he went to Chen Youliang for support, but Chen Youliang killed him, incorporated his army, and replaced Ni Wenjun, becoming Xu Shouhui’s important official. As well as replacing Ni Wenjun in holding power.

From then on, Chen Youliang stood on the world stage during these troubled times. He would become more and more powerful, and eventually become a behemoth.

Lin Yuan wanted to cut off Chen Youliang’s path to the top from the very root. He would not be able to take Ni Wenjun’s army for his own and nor would he see Ni Wenjun again.

In Gaoyou City, Jiang Gui was dining with his family. Since he became the senior provincial official of Taizhou, his quality of life had risen, and the power in his hands had also increased. But none of this blinded him and made him take his position lightly. Jiang Gui was well aware of his own skills. If it wasn’t for Lin Yuan not having the right person at the time, he wouldn’t be the senior provincial official at all.

He would never forget what Lin Yuan said to him.

Without him, Lin Yuan still had countless available people in his hands.

He was not unique nor irreplaceable.

But he had a friendship with Lin Yuan, so Lin Yuan gave him the opportunity. As long as he did his duty, even if he had greed, so long as he wasn’t too greedy and that his greed did not affect him from doing practical things, Lin Yuan would not make a move against him.

Jiang Gui’s wife looked at her husband’s expression and asked with concern: “Has something happened? Why is your complexion so bad?”

Jiang Gui smiled a rather reluctant smile: “I haven’t slept well these few days.”

During this period of time, he had been having nightmares. At first, he dreamt that he had died in Wu City. When the refugees broke in, he and his family had nowhere to escape. They could only hide at home, hoping for the refugees to leave by themselves, but this was obviously wishful thinking. They were discovered and the refugees killed his parents in front of him as well as insulted his wife.

As for him, his head was cut off by them in the end.

Later, his dreams slowly changed. He dreamt of Gaoyou up in flames, and he heard someone shouting ‘enemy attack’.

In his dream, a raging fire surrounded him. He sent people to Yang Zi’an for help and personally led Gaoyou’s soldiers to the city gates.

He hadn’t yet dreamt the end yet, and he didn’t know what happened in the end.

But this dream gave him a warning. Jiang Gui believed in the gods. He believed that the dream was a message from the gods.

But he was still hesitating. Did he need to write to Yang Zi’an in advance so that Yang Zi’an could bring people to Gaoyou?

Gaoyou had salt, and the robbers and bandits around were all covetous of Gaoyou. The imperial court also seemed to have not given up on Gaoyou.

Jiang Gui was ready to believe in himself this one time.

After he had eaten, he went to the study and wrote a letter to Yang Zi’an who was in Changzhou at this time.

In the Changzhou barracks, Yang Zi’an was reading a military book. Since he became a general, military books were no longer just a luxury he could only dream of. So long as he hinted at what he wanted, someone would send over it to him.

But he had no interest in anything other than military books.

He did not marry a wife, nor had any concubines, instead he stayed with the soldiers in the barracks all day long.

The soldiers were convinced by him since he was able to fight and also possessed eloquence. Though soldiers expressed “useless were scholars” and seemed to dislike scholars to the extreme, they were unable to utter such things in front of Yang Zi’an.

His personal guard was preparing Yang Zian’s bedding, and he whispered: “I wonder how the South Bodhisattva and the others are doing now.”

The personal guard sighed: “What reason is there for the South Bodhisattva to lead war campaigns himself? If something happened to the South Bodhisattva, they should all atone with their deaths.”

Yang Zi’an was taken aback for a moment. He smiled and said, “Relax, even if they all died in battle, nothing bad will happen to the South Bodhisattva.”

Yang Zi’an lowered his eyes. He didn’t know when he stopped calling Lin Yuan fourth brother. Unlike Li Congrong, who sometimes uttered both names, he clearly knew his position. He didn’t want to one day meet with a headless end.

But sometimes, Yang Zi’an couldn’t help but think.

How did Lin Yuan feel? When he found that no one around him dared to speak the truth, no one dared to look into his eyes, and everyone was looking to benefit from him, how would he feel?

Yang Zi’an smiled.

The distance between Lin Yuan and himself has become farther and farther. Between the emperor and his ministers, there was always one stronger and one weaker.

Lin Yuan was not a weak person. While still living, he would never allow anyone to climb on top of his head.

Yang Zi’an knew what he must do.

He would never make friends with other ministers throughout his life, nor would he touch things that he shouldn’t touch.

He would follow behind Lin Yuan closely, and whatever Lin Yuan wanted to do would be what he wanted to do.

In this way, he would be able to stay in this position for a long time, and when everything was settled, he would get married, and follow the example of Li Congrong by marrying the daughter of a small commoner family to continue his bloodline.

Just when Yang Zi’an was about to fall asleep, the messenger arrived.

He was sitting beside the bed in his inner robes, but after reading the letter handed over by his personal guard, he let out a startled chuckle.

“What the hell is this?” Yang Zi’an looked it over again and found that Jiang Gui was really not joking, he was really asking for help seriously.

Just because of a dream?

Yang Zi’an laughed. He looked at Jiang Gui’s proposed reason why the enemy would launch a sneak attack on Gaoyou.

“Forget it, he has always been timid.” Yang Zi’an said with a smile, “Have someone bring 10,000 people over to give him reassurance, but he will be responsible for food and lodgings.”

However, in Jiang Gui’s dream, the raid must be very serious. After all, Taizhou itself had 30,000 troops. Originally there were 100,000 troops but most of them were taken away by Lin Yuan. Now the most powerful force left was in Changzhou, which was guarded by Yang Zi’an.

Therefore, the pressure on Yang Zian’s shoulders was also great, and his capable subordinates have all been assigned to different counties and big cities.

Once a problem arose, he would lead reinforcement troops over. What Yang Zi’an didn’t expect was that even Jiang Gui would come and find work for him.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

And the reason was only because of a dream.

Yang Zi’an said to his personal guard: “Have Zhang Jiuliu come to see me tomorrow morning.”

The personal guard was taken aback: “His brother is already a captain of ten thousand, but General still wants to use him? Just what luck did this Zhang family of brothers stumble upon?”

How enviable!

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Outside Hanyang City, Ni Wenjun didn’t expect the fight to be so difficult.

In his opinion, he knew everything about Hanyang, knew all the defenses, and also knew what kind of person Xu Shouhui was.

So it was impossible for him to lose, or even to fall into danger.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Xu Shouhui was a useless trash, a fool! He always felt that way, and wondered why anyone would still follow the other? Wasn’t he greater, wiser, and more worthy of being followed than Xu Shouhui?

“General!” The personal guard ran in with a look of fear, looking very terrified indeed.

Ni Wenjun heard too much bad news recently, and hurriedly shouted at his personal guard: “What’s wrong now? Could it be that Zhao Pusheng has found reinforcements?!”

“No, yes…..” The personal guard’s eyes widened, “There is a large army that is approaching the barracks.”

Ni Wenjun was taken aback for a moment, his expression was fierce and also had a trace of panic that even he didn’t realize: “What army? Impossible! The forces over there are now all…..”

The personal guard bit his lip: “Marshal, it’s not Zhao Pusheng’s soldiers, nor Xu Shouhui’s. They are flying the Lin character flag.”

Ni Wenjun: “It’s the Southern King.”

He sat back down on the chair. This was his favorite chair. It was made of precious wood and could not be bought with money. It was his favorite trophy. But now he had no energy to care about this chair.

“Why did he come?”

“Impossible, even if he traveled day and night, he couldn’t have been able to get this far, unless, unless…..”

The personal guard: “Unless he has known the Marshal’s plan a long time ago, Marshal! There is a traitor within the ranks!”

But what was the use of knowing that there was a traitor at this time? It was too late.

Ni Wenjun suddenly said: “Stop the battle and pull up the camp!”

The personal guard was dumbfounded: “Marshal! Are we going to surrender without a fight?!”

Ni Wenjun smiled and said: “That Southern King came at the right time, and now if we pull up the camp, he is bound to face Zhao Pusheng. Let’s watch the fire from across the river, and enjoy the fisherman’s benefit, isn’t that more pleasing? If he doesn’t come, I actually wouldn’t have the chance to win now.” (TN: to watch the fires burning across the river=to delay entering the fray until all others have been exhausted by fighting amongst themselves)

The personal guard breathed a sigh of relief and complimented: “Marshal is wise!”

Ni Wenjun was also quite proud of himself: “Not anyone can be the Marshal. Like Xu Shouhui, uselessly occupying the pit and not taking a shit. Even if he is the emperor, how many people are loyal to him? They just want to give themselves a big banner of righteousness. No matter what, I, Ni Wenjun, am not such a hypocritical person.”

He was talking to himself, without any intentions of having his personal guard to understand him. After saying this, his anger was smoothed over, and he made the order to retreat and pull up camp to evacuate.

Luo Ben sat in a carriage. He was a military adviser and strategist. Most of the time, the carriage was where he ate, drank, and went to the toilet. The army would not stop when on a march, so relieving himself must be on the carriage. When the army finally stopped, he could then ask a soldier to carry it down and dump it out. But Luo Ben felt this was indecent, not to mention that there would be a smell in the carriage, so he would rather hold it back and wait for the next stop to solve it by himself.

Now Luo Ben was holding back urine, sitting in the carriage in anguish.

Marching with the army was a hard job. He had worked as a military strategist for so long but suffered every time during the marching in war expeditions. Only when he was really on the battlefield could he experience what it meant to be energetic and spirited. Even if he did not sleep for a few days, he would not feel sleepy at all.

Luo Ben was different from Lin Yuan. Lin Yuan was in the rear. If something went wrong, Lin Yuan would be able to evacuate. This was also a novel experience for Lin Yuan. Zhu Yuanzhang and Chen Baisong were responsible for leading the charge in the front, and Li Congrong was responsible for stabilizing the rear and protecting Lin Yuan.

“Ni Wenjun pulled up camp.” Chen Baisong sat on his horse and looked into the distance with his clairvoyance device.

Zhu Yuanzhang stopped next to Chen Baisong, frowning: “He wants us to fight Xu Shouhui.”

Chen Baisong nodded: “Good idea.”

Zhu Yuanzhang: “This idea is indeed good.”

“Then we will fight Xu Shouhui.” Chen Baisong smiled, “After occupying Hanyang City, might Ni Wenjun still have a chance to come in again?”

Zhu Yuanzhang: “Hanyang is not easy to capture, easy to defend and difficult to attack, otherwise Ni Wenjun would have already flattened Hanyang.”

Chen Baisong: “It’s not completely without a chance.”

Luo Ben’s carriage finally caught up. He was holding in urine, his face distorted from the effort. His head poked out from the window: “These two generals, can I borrow your clairvoyance device for a brief use?”

Chen Baisong said: “There’s no need to look, Ni Wenjun is pulling up camp, and he will withdraw when we charge over.”

Luo Ben was surprised and said: “I thought he was a fool, but he has some wit it seems.”

Zhu Yuanzhang: “As he can control Xu Shouhui for so long, I imagine he is not a complete fool.”

“It’s a pity.” Luo Ben sighed sincerely.

Zhu Yuanzhang also said: “When he pulls up camp, we will inevitably run into Zhao Pusheng. This person is bold and cautious, and he is skilled in managing his subordinates and soldiers, I fear it will be a fierce battle.”

Luo Ben: “Not necessarily.”

“What good strategy does Military Strategist have?” Chen Baisong turned his head and looked at Luo Ben.

Luo Ben smiled and said: “That Zhao Pusheng is careful, but the more he thinks, the more flaws he has. It will be easy to lure him into a trap.”

Zhu Yuanzhang: “Where is the trap?”

Luo Ben thought for a while and explained: “Why don’t we take down the flag? When Ni Wenjun withdraws, he must think that we are Ni Wenjun’s reinforcements. When that time comes, he will also retreat and return to the city to think about the countermeasures.”

Chen Baisong understood: “Military Strategist wants to take advantage of him returning to the city to attack the city?”

When they returned to the city, they would definitely open the city gates. So long as they seized the opportunity, they could rush through the gates before it closed. Once the gates could no longer be closed, Hanyang City would be the trap.

But this was simple to say, and too difficult to do.

Chen Baisong: “There are too few horses with such speed.”

There were only forty horses at most, and it was impossible for forty cavalry soldiers to complete the mission. He was afraid that they would have been pierced by random arrows before they even got close.

Luo Ben chuckled: “Just set up an ambush on the side. When Ni Wenjun retreats, Zhao Pusheng may take advantage of the victory to pursue him. This is the best way. While the mantis stalks the cicada, the oriole lays in wait behind. But Zhao Pusheng might not follow in pursuit and we will be able to take Hanyang City straight away. Whether he will or not, he will hesitate. The time he hesitates will be our chance to act.”

Now Chen Baisong and Zhu Yuanzhang both understood. Luo Ben had thought of everything he could think of.

While they were working hard in the front, Lin Yuan was doing nothing in the rear. He didn’t know what it was like for the emperor to personally lead an expedition, but he could probably guess that the emperor could not really go onto the battlefield. At most, he likely sat in the back to uplift the military’s spirit, and then? What did they do when there was no battle? They could at least listen to the battle reports while there was a battle.

Sitting next to Lin Yuan, Li Congrong also had an expression of skepticism about life. The scouts had already been sent out, and they would not miss any disturbances around them.

Li Congrong drank a sip of water and said to Lin Yuan, “The lady surnamed Ma, she seems to be not young anymore, I wonder if Guo Zixing found her a marriage partner?”

Lin Yuan was looking at the reports from officials from various places, and he asked, “Why? You already have a lion in your family, and you still want to take a concubine?”

Li Congrong coughed out the water. He wiped the table top quickly, and chuckled dryly: “I dare not, I finally married her with such difficulty.”

Lin Yuan: “How does it feel to be married?”

Li Congrong immediately revealed a blissful smile: “She is educated and well-balanced, natural and unrestrained…..”

Lin Yuan looked at him strangely, Li Congrong actually managed to use the right idiom?

Li Congrong proudly said: “She taught me.”

Very good, he learned how to show PDA.

Li Congrong said: “She is actually very sloppy. She often forgets things. Even the jewelry I bought for her she often forgets to wear. She also doesn’t remember what I like to eat, but she is very…..I don’t know how to say it. When she looks at me, I feel like her eyes are particularly beautiful.”

Lin Yuan understood again.

The look in the eyes of a lover could not be concealed.

Especially from their beloved.

Lin Yuan congratulated him: “May the lovers live to a ripe old age in conjugal bliss.”

Li Congrong smiled stupidly: “Thank you for your good words.”

Lin Yuan looked at Li Congrong and felt that if people could live life like Li Congrong, their happiness index would definitely rise sharply. Li Congrong lived life happily no matter when he was poor before or when he was rich now. He could always find something to feel contented about.

Not like him.

It had been a very long time since Lin Yuan had experienced happiness, joy, etc.

There were no ups and downs in his mood.

Even his family members, he had not seen for a long time.

He had limited time and had too many things to deal with. Because of his identity, he couldn’t get close to anyone or regard anyone as a confidant. Lin Yuan felt that he had become a true solitary person.

The people did not dare to show a trace of dissatisfaction in front of him.

When he arrived at his position, it appeared grand and glorious, but in fact, there was not even a person he could chat with.

No wonder so many emperors favored eunuchs. The eunuchs lacked a part of themselves and could not be actual officials. Unlike officials, they had to rely on the emperor’s power, therefore the emperor could treat them more casually. The Ming Dynasty even established the Eastern Depot. In the beginning, the Eastern Depot actually had no real power. (TN: Dongchang=secret police agency run by eunuchs in the Ming Dynasty)

However, the emperor felt that the Eastern Depot was easy to use, and the more it was used, the easier it became, and the power of the Eastern Depot became greater and greater. Afterwards, it even spiraled out of control and eunuchs could control the emperor’s power.

Lin Yuan never thought about maintaining the eunuch system.

He was not prepared to have any harem.

No one could guarantee that they would not make mistakes for the rest of their lives, let alone that their children and grandchildren would also become powerful and effective rulers.

He actually made a decision a long time ago.

When he took that seat, he would establish a cabinet system.

The cabinet system first appeared in the Ming Dynasty. Strictly speaking, if the cabinet members at that time were more ruthless and more powerful, it might be possible to change the social composition from a feudal monarchy to a constitutional monarchy.

Sometimes the times change quickly.

Lin Yuan did not have a mobile phone when he was a child, only a pager. The mobile phone came when he was in elementary school, and then the smart phone in high school.

Then the tablet, and increasingly thinner and thinner laptops.

When he went to university, QR code, mobile payment, and cloud big data came.

Before these appeared, who would believe that technology could enter thousands of households so quickly?

That high-definition TVs with LCD screens would replace old-fashioned TVs so quickly?

If possible, he hoped to see a constitutional monarchy in his lifetime.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

If not, he hoped to establish a perfect cabinet system during his lifetime.

In this way, when it was time for him to die, there was no need to worry that his unfilial descendants would ruin the empire that he had managed to create.

AN: Chen Baisong: Descendants? Will it be me giving birth or you?

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“Wasn’t it just three buns?” Li Congrong muttered in complaint while scratching his belly. “It’s not like it’s a rare delicacy. When we go back, I will treat him to eat 30 buns.”

Zhu Yuanzhang was riding on the horse, listening to Li Congrong’s complaint, and laughed: “I heard that it was given by the South Bodhisattva. Even if you treat him to eat three hundred, it would not taste the same as these three.”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Li Congrong was a little jealous: “Why didn’t fourth brother remember me? It must be surnamed Chen who knows how to flatter too well!”

Zhu Yuanzhang refrained from laughing, and said solemnly: “Brother Li, why don’t you go to the South Bodhisattva to speak bluntly and tell him to share a few steamed buns with you?”

“Am I the kind of person with such shallowness?” Li Congrong snorted, “It’s just a few steamed buns, it’s not like I can’t afford it.”

He was brazen with his words, but in his heart he was thinking, “I will secretly speak with fourth brother and ask him to reward me with some steamed buns, it’ll make surnamed Chen envious.”

Chen Baisong took the lead and walked at the forefront of the team.

He had a dark expression, and the personal guard riding beside him did not dare to speak.

The personal guard felt that since he gave the bun to General Li, if the general’s anger spread to him, then he would be in bad luck. After all, not everyone could become the personal guard of the general. Generally speaking, the personal guards were the general’s left and right hands and if they wefe valued, they would definitely be awarded military official posts.

It was not easy to climb to this position.

After all, no one did not want to climb up.

However, Chen Baisong’s temper came and went quickly. By the time he arrived at the camp, he had calmed down completely, and he was even able to talk and laugh with Li Congrong.

Together, they went inside the tent and summarized the war report once again in front of Lin Yuan.

After hearing this, Lin Yuan said: “Keep it in mind yourselves, and when the war is over, everyone will then give me a written report.”

Then he looked at Li Congrong: “Especially you.”

Li Congrong looked troubled: “It’s too difficult to recognize words! I only know how to write my own name.”

Lin Yuan sighed: “Bai Song was also illiterate before.”

Li Congrong glanced at Chen Baisong in shock, with an expression of “what kind of spell did you put fourth brother under?”. He then said in an aggrieved manner: “I really can’t learn it. I hired a teacher before, and the teacher said that I am a cow that can’t be taught.”

Zhu Yuanzhang coughed lightly: “It’s a child who can’t be taught.”

Li Congrong: “It’s almost the same regardless.”

Lin Yuan almost spat out a sip of tea.

He said seriously: “You can dictate this year’s military report to your personal guard or military strategist, and ask him to write it down for you, but if it remains the same next year, I will send someone to teach you.”

Li Congrong was frightened: “Send who?”

Lin Yuan: “Mr. Song has enough qualifications to teach you.”

Li Congrong thought of Song Shizhao’s old wrinkled face, always looking at people with drooping eyelids, and his heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Don’t know why but he was not afraid of Lin Yuan, wars, or enemies. Only Song Shizhao he was afraid of.

Song Shizhao always made him feel uncomfortable. Every time Song Shizhao looked at him, it was like he was looking at a fool.

Although Li Congrong could not describe it, it did not affect him from feeling it.

Li Congrong didn’t dare to speak anymore, he was afraid that Lin Yuan would show some more “care” towards him when he spoke.

He didn’t dare to mention the steamed buns either.

Lin Yuan consoled and said: “When the situation is stable, I will invite over second and third brother. Us brothers have not gathered together for a long time.”

When Li Congrong heard this, he immediately grinned so wide his teeth were exposed, and he even stuttered as he spoke, “Yes, yes. “

Just as the few people were talking, a small soldier from outside the tent came in to report.

“There is a woman among the prisoners of war.” The little soldier also looked incredulous. There was a woman in the barracks? What was Sun Deya doing?

The few people in the tent were stunned. No matter how short of people, it wouldn’t come to letting women enter the barracks, right? Especially when on a war expedition.

Even Lin Yuan, a “modern man”, had never thought about recruiting female soldiers.

This was unrealistic. The first problem was the physical fitness of women. Their muscle composition was different from that of men, and their physical strength was not enough.

The second problem was the deep-rooted thinking of women at this time, and the social thinking they accepted did not allow them to serve as soldiers.

The third was the problem between men and women. It was easy to separate them during training, but everything was kept simple when marching. It was nothing new that female soldiers in modern country M were forcibly violated by male soldiers or instructors.

It was very dangerous for women in military camps.

Many soldiers in the army did not have a fixed sexual partner, the military discipline was also strict, and there was no opportunity for finding prostitutes.

It was not easy even to find a male sexual partner, because there were people everywhere, and there were strict curfews for bedtime.

The soldier: “She wiped her face with dirt and wore a hat. If we hadn’t just checked, she would not have been found out so easily.”

A woman disguised herself as a man, it was much like Hua Mulan. Lin Yuan became interested: “Bring her here.”

The feasibility of disguising women as men depended on the environment. If it was the upper class which required a clean face and meticulous combing of hair, it was naturally easy to be recognized. Basically, those who could not be recognized were women with natural born masculine looks, who look like men pretending to be women even when they were dressed as women.

But when marching, the soldiers do not put much effort in cleaning themselves. It was normal for the soldiers to sport shaggy hair and unshaved beards as well as clothes stained by blood or mud. They could sleep immediately when they lay down, eat when they got up, and fight when they were half full.

They don’t have time to care where their comrades went to urinate, or how long their leg hairs were.

Their lives were not even guaranteed, so who would have the idle interest to look at others’ faces?

When Ma ahi was brought over, there was still mud on her face.

Lin Yuan took a closer look, and then he understood why she could mix with men without notice.

She was very ordinary looking, with a square face and thick earlobes. These were facial features that symbolized blessed fortune according to physiognomy. Her face and hands had black and gray soot spots as well as some mud which concealed her original complexion. She was not tall and if she stooped over she would look like an unremarkable short man.

Moreover, her feet were big, and Lin Yuan felt that his feet were probably similar to hers in size.

“What’s your name?” Lin Yuan’s tone was very gentle.

Ma shi’s voice was very light and soft, not like a man at all: “This slave is Ma shi.”

Lin Yuan was taken aback: “Guo Zixing is your foster father?”

Ma shi raised her head and looked at Lin Yuan with some surprise. She didn’t know why the man in front of her knew this. After all, she had been raised in the deep boudoir before she escaped, and no one knew what she looked like.

Lin Yuan glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang was puzzled by Lin Yuan’s look. This was Guo Zixing’s adopted daughter and not his. What was the South Bodhisattva looking at him for?

Lin Yuan asked: “Why did you become part of the barracks? Do you know that as a woman, if you were found…..”

Ma shj raised her head. Her parents only had her and she was regarded as a pearl in the palm of her parents’ hand since she was a child. Later, her mother died early and her father entrusted her to her foster father. After her father died in a foreign region, her foster father pitied her and took her as his foster daughter. He taught her personally, and her foster mother also taught her knitting and embroidery. She loved history books and read often, not knowing day and night.

She fearlessly said to Lin Yuan: “My lord, even though this slave is a woman, I understand the saying that losers are always in the wrong. Now that this slave is captured by you, there is nothing to say, all I ask for is death!”

Lin Yuan: “If my lady wants to die, why did you escape from Haozhou?”

Ma shi gritted her teeth: “The thief, Sun, killed my foster father, this hatred will not be forgiven!”

She was a woman and had little power, but she grew up in the hands of her foster father. She knew all the fortresses in Haozhou clearly, which was why she had to come out and take a gamble! She was looking for a knife to avenge her foster father and foster mother.

“If I don’t avenge my hatred, I will not fulfill my duty as a daughter!” Ma shi’s eyes were tearful, but she didn’t reach out to wipe the tears. She looked straight at Lin Yuan, her eyes firm and unshakable.

After she said these things, everyone’s eyes changed when they looked at her.

Lin Yuan asked her softly: “Do you know the military secrets of Haozhou?”

Ma shi said firmly and loudly: “Very clearly!”

Lin Yuan asked again: “Do you know of the military placements in Haozhou?”

Ma shi nodded.

Lin Yuan: “The granary in Haozhou?”

Ma shi: “I will speak without reserve.”

Lin Yuan looked at Ma shi and chuckled lightly: “Then you can stay.”

Ma shi seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. She was not afraid of death, but was afraid that she would not be able to avenge her foster parents.

Lin Yuan felt that Ma shi’s appearance at this time was like a gift from God. No one knew the situation in Haozhou better than Ma shi. She was not an ordinary woman, her biological parents were not illiterate, and she was also the pearl in the palm of their hands. Naturally, she would have gotten a good education.

Then she was taught personally by Guo Zixing, and no matter what, Guo Zixing was regarded as a successful leader of an uprising.

She got an education that even many upper-class men could not get.

Lin Yuan asked her: “If you didn’t run into me, who would you go to?”

Ma shi said calmly: “Go to Xu Shouhui.”

Lin Yuan smiled and said, “Xu Shouhui doesn’t have the ability to help you.”

Ma shi nodded: “This slave knows that Xu Shouhui is short-sighted and has no real power. Even if there is no Ni Wenjun, there will be others.”

Lin Yuan asked strangely: “Then why would you still go find him?”

Ma shi’s lips pursed: “This slave can only gamble.”

When she entered the barracks, the only possible way for her was to surrender to Xu Shouhui and betray Haozhou. If she did not march with the army, she might die before she could even go far, so she could only gamble.

“Take her to the nurse camp.” Lin Yuan ordered, “Be courteous and don’t be negligent.”

The soldier hurriedly led Ma shi out. This woman who could win the favor of the South Bodhisattva was now his ancestor.

After Ma shi’s departure, Li Congrong touched his chin and said, “This little lady is interesting, I admire her!”

Lin Yuan smiled and said, “How is your wife recently?”

Li Congrong shivered: “She? She is very good, wait! I don’t mean that, I just admire her mettle, just admire only, besides, her face…..”

It was covered in mud and ashes, so naturally it wouldn’t look any good.

Lin Yuan sneered: “How superficial.”

The several people looked at Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan: “What are you looking at?”

With an expression of “I understand everything”, Li Congrong smiled and said, “A slender lady, a gentleman courts.”

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed: “It’s fair lady.”

Li Congrong: “Same thing.”

Lin Yuan: “…..”

Could it be that in the eyes of this group of pigs, there could only be that thing between men and women?

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Besides, Ma shi and Zhu Yuanzhang were the official CP, and let him snatch his subordinate’s wife? Then he couldn’t do it, he didn’t even want to think about it.

Only Chen Baisong was silent on the side, his hands clenched into fists, his eyes lowered, and his teeth gritted. Veins could be seen popping on the back of his hands with how hard he clenched them.

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Zhao Junyong was not a commoner. He had a very good background. He used to be a mid-rank official of Nanjing in the Yuan Dynasty. When Fang Guozhen accepted the court’s recruitment, the official position given to him by the court was about the same and it was only this year he was promoted to the Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces to participate in politics. So Zhao Junyong’s starting point was very high. He was different from the generals who rose to power as a commoner during troubled times. He was a talent in both civil and military skills. Such talents were very few in any era.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“How is it?” Lin Yuan was sitting in a makeshift camp, with food in front of him——steamed bun with ham. This ham was made from pork legs, not modern processed ham, so it tasted delicious and eating it was convenient. It was just that it was a bit hard and chewing it led to sore cheeks.

However, only Lin Yuan, Song Shizhao and the others were supplied with meat wedged in steamed buns as rations. After all, there were only so many people raising pigs.

Luo Ben asked as he ate the meat steamed bun, “Why do you say this is a meat wedged bun? Isn’t this a steamed bun wedged with meat?”

Lin Yuan took a bite, drank a sip of water and swallowed it. He said, “Meat wedged inside a steamed bun.”

Luo Ben was taken aback for a moment, and then chuckled: “It turns out that it’s such a bun.”

The battle report never came. Lin Yuan was a little anxious, but his anxiety was subtle. He would not pace back and forth, nor would he show worry on his face. On the contrary, the more anxious he was, the more calm he appeared.

Luo Ben thought it was because Lin Yuan was already sure of victory, so he could calmly wait for the news of victory.

“Zhao Junyong…..” Luo Ben said suddenly, “I’ve heard of this person. He was originally an official of the dog court. Later, he joined Guo Zixing’s army with another person. This person has a long-term vision, unlike Fang Guozhen who is ever fearful and nervous.”

Lin Yuan thought for a while, and suddenly said: “Sometimes people who are ever fearful and nervous live a long time.”

Fang Guozhen lived to the end, and most of the people who lived to the end in history were not heroes, but villains.

Luo Ben was taken aback for a moment, and he didn’t know how to continue the conversation.

At this moment, the battle report finally came.

Generally, there were only three options at this point, they either won or lost at this time, or in need of reinforcements.

The soldier was covered in mud and blood, as if he had just crawled out of a sea of ​​corpses. He rode his horse and was led in front of Lin Yuan. He knelt on his knees and quickly reported the battle report.

As Lin Yuan had guessed, they won. Zhao Junyong’s head was cut off by Chen Baisong and hung on a long pole. The confidants who resisted with him wanted to continue to break through, but were all beheaded by Zhu Yuanzhang and Li Congrong.

Now they were counting the number of people killed and the number of prisoners of war.

But there were not many left. Some soldiers climbed up the mountain when they saw that the situation was not right. People who want to live and have quick minds could always find a way, and Chen Baisong and the others would also not go up the mountain to search for escapees. It consumed too much manpower and did not have much significance.

The prisoners of war were surrounded. Most of them didn’t actually have armor, or any breastplates. As for helmets, some had and some didn’t. But this was already considered pretty good. After all, the military required money everywhere and money was not inexhaustible. Sun Deya was not a person with a huge amount of money in his hands. Even if there were merchants who supported him, it was still not enough to equip all his soldiers with expensive equipment.

Except for Lin Yuan’s, most of today’s armed forces were like this.

Lin Yuan spent practically all the money he could use on military supplies. The salt mines in Xinghua provided him with financial assistance, and the grain and grass rations were sponsored by the merchants, so his biggest expenditure was on weapons and equipment.

This time the troops were dispatched, the grain and grass rations were basically given to him by Shen Fu free of charge, and Shen Fu’s youngest son, Shen Rong, followed them all the way as well. He had to learn how to follow the army and arrange the follow-up delivery of grain which could only be done after he knew the route.

Lin Yuan felt that it was impossible for these merchants to not make money. They were practically desperadoes. They could even put themselves in danger for the sake of money.

It was impossible to send these prisoners of war to Ru Ning. The journey was too long and there were so many people, he couldn’t dispatch enough people to escort them over.

Take them with them on the expedition? When the sound of battle started they would flee together, which would mess up the military’s spirit and order.

And it would consume more food.

Lin Yuan remembered Bai Qi, but he couldn’t copy Bai Qi, slaughtering so many people. Not only was it a violation of heaven and harmony, but he had always remembered why he had come this far, which was to prevent young children from crying day and night. So that people did not have to worry about whether they could see the sunrise tomorrow or not. And so that they could rely on their hands to make a better life. (TN: Bai Qi=military general of the Qin state in the Warring States period of China)

He didn’t want to let himself become a devil who regarded human life as nothing.

Even if he knew that copying Bai Qi might be the best way, it was not the only way.

“Guanzhong, these prisoners of war…..” Lin Yuan sought Luo Ben’s advice. He couldn’t think of a countermeasure for the time being, and this was an urgent matter.

Luo Ben glanced at Lin Yuan. He already understood what Lin Yuan meant. Lin Yuan didn’t want to kill these prisoners of war, but it would also be a burden and a possible threat to keep them. Luo Ben thought for a while and said in a deep voice, “Why don’t you let them find a way of survival on their own? “

Lin Yuan said lowly: “Let them go?”

Luo Ben nodded: “This place is not close to Haozhou. Even if they head back, it will take a while, moreover not everyone can walk all the way back.”

There would be many people who would die on the road, due to hunger, disease, and accidental food poisoning.

Lin Yuan understood, this was the last choice he could make.

He called over a small soldier and gave him a secret letter. Both Chen Baisong and Zhu Yuanzhang knew his handwriting. One must have unique tokens on the battlefield to execute orders. Li Congrong——he was illiterate even now, so his military strategist was picked for him by Lin Yuan and the degree of loyalty he had towards Lin Yuan was beyond doubt.

This military strategist was also Song Shizhao’s proud disciple——Yang Shaowei. This person was young but had a talent for scheming. He had inherited Song Shizhao’s skills for conspiracy and tricks, or resourcefulness, and had also inherited Song Shizhao’s pettiness. This pair of master and disciple when added together, accumulated enough vinegar it could drown people. (TN: vinegar=jealousy)

But he was indeed very loyal to Lin Yuan. Song Shizhao had brainwashed him to this effect. Lin Yuan even felt that Yang Shaowei could die without hesitation if he gave the order.

This was also the reason why he could rest assured in putting Yang Shaowei next to Li Congrong.

After all, Li Congrong was really not a reassuring person. He was an outgoing person and said whatever thought came to his mind. He was simply not a man of shrewdness. But he also had many good traits. He was upright, generous and never speculated about the meaning of others with dark thoughts. He was like a little sun, and no one around him would develop feelings of dislike towards him.

Sometimes Lin Yuan felt that only by living like Li Congrong could people live long and happy, as well as positively affect the people around them.

It was a pity that he couldn’t become that kind of person. Even if it was possible before, when he chose this path, it already destined what kind of person he would become in the future.

But he would not regret the choice he made.

After reading the letter written in his handwriting, Chen Baisong and Zhu Yuanzhang released the prisoners of war.

The weapons of the prisoners of war were all confiscated, and those who had armor and helmets were also stripped of them. Of course, it was impossible to leave such things behind for them.

The prisoners of war were at a loss. They knew that they had been released, but this did not bring them the slightest joy. They felt only confusion.

Some of them had entered the barracks because they were homeless, some were forcibly recruited, and some willingly joined the army to have a constant meal.

The general led them on a march for a long time, and sometimes they had to travel day and night, forgetting even how long they had been walking.

Then…..they met the enemy, and then they lost, the general died, and they thought they would also die.

But now the other party says they can live?

How would they survive, walk back to Haozhou with their two legs? But they had rations when they came, and nothing when they left.

Some of them who thought less were very happy that they could go home and didn’t have to lose their lives.

And some others had troubled looks, how could they go back? Drinking northwest wind the whole way back, and then living in hiding after arriving back, otherwise? They were captured as prisoners of war, and then let back? People would just think they were deserters.

The cheering group of people was the fastest to go. They were eager to go back home. Although there was nothing back home, they still had hope in their hearts.

Another group did not leave. These people had no family and relatives in Haozhou. They became soldiers for a bite of food. In their opinion, no matter where they served as soldiers, they were soldiers who put their lives on the line. In any case, it was just to find a place that provided meals so they wanted to stay.

“Theh want to stay?” Zhu Yuanzhang was also a little surprised.

Li Congrong was chewing the meat wedged steam buns and said, “Then let them stay and fight, anyway we are also going to fight battles.”

Fighting battles were costly, and some of their soldiers had died in this battle. It was a good thing to be able to replenish them.

Chen Baisong frowned.

Li Congrong: “Why do you look at me like this? You don’t want to let them stay?”

Chen Baisong had a bad tone: “Where did your meat wedged bun come from?”

Li Congrong looked innocent: “I saw your personal guard busy outside just now, and found that he was going to bring this to you. So I told him to give it to me, and I will bring it to you instead.”

Chen Baisong: “…..And you ate it.”

Li Congrong had a blissful expression on his face: “It tastes good, and chewing it is also a pleasant experience. I didn’t see it, old Chen, but you sure know how to live the good life, don’t tell me you got yourself a woman? I married a wife, but she never cares what I eat.”

Chen Baisong had no expression on his face: “I don’t care what you eat either.”

That was something Lin Yuan had someone prepare specifically for him. Neither Zhu Yuanzhang or Li Congrong got a share, only he did.

But no matter how angry, he could only swallow his anger, and secretly hope that Li Congrong would choke to death on it.

Zhu Yuanzhang didn’t know the inside story, and said on the side: “More than 20,000 people want to stay.”

Chen Baisong said: “It’s still too much.”

If there were only 10,000 people, they could be absorbed.

Zhu Yuanzhang also sighed helplessly.

They had to drive 10,000 people away.

Li Congrong: “At this time of the year, a group of people traveling together won’t die. They can pick bark to eat, and the wild beasts also don’t pass by places with too many people. Tell them and see how many people will leave.”

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, and Chen Baisong had no objection.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

After finishing his last bite, Li Congrong sucked a few fingers and said blissfully: “Next time you eat this, remember to call me. I just ate three and still haven’t eaten enough, so don’t be too stingy.”

Chen Baisong did not speak.

The personal guards outside the tent trembled.

What General Li just took away were the last three meat wedged steamed buns.

TN: lmao brother Dao to bring humor as always🤣

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