Myths Begin From Boys' Gong

Conquering the world is never a matter of a single decisive blow, but a long and arduous undertaking that tests a wide range of comprehensive abilities.

In this process, gathering a large following is a very important ability and a key factor in whether one can dominate the world.

Throughout history, there have been many who have been able to dominate a region. Perhaps all it takes is a powerful ruler to maintain a region.

However, in order to truly conquer the world, in addition to the top leader having great talent and vision, the team below must also be capable and competent, so that they are not useless without the main pillar.

In terms of gathering a crowd, Li Zheng, the incarnation of Meng Zhao, was inherently disadvantaged, being a commoner whose background was even worse than that of ordinary people.

After all, ordinary people still have their families to rely on and their brothers and sisters to help them, so they don't end up all alone without any trustworthy and capable people to rely on.

Li Zheng, the incarnation of Meng Zhao, was an orphan who grew up relying on the kindness of others in Xiaohan Village. If Meng Zhao's primordial spirit hadn't entered his body and made his fortune, even though Li Zheng's body possessed a martial arts talent that was rare in a century, it would be hard to say whether his current situation would be much better.

Just imagine, with such a background and such a background, in the face of the vast world and countless heroes, one is as lowly as dust and weeds, not worth a second glance. What kind of talent would be willing to serve one?

Of course, nothing is absolute. Meng Zhao's personal strength, ability, and charisma are unmatched by ordinary people. Naturally, he can attract a group of talented people to join him. At least, those who have met Meng Zhao and have their own knowledge will eventually place their bets on him.

However, such a talent pool is still a drop in the ocean for those who aspire to dominate the world.

It wasn't until Meng Zhao defeated 30,000 elite imperial troops that this inherently disadvantageous situation was greatly alleviated, and even began to reverse.

It has officially shifted from being insufficient to being supplemented.

Just like Emperor Guangwu of Han, who became famous throughout the world and was established as a god, countless people followed him after that. Even when he was in a precarious situation, there were still people who remained steadfast in their loyalty.

Meng Zhao was the same. He occupied Hebei Province and had a solid foundation. Although he came from a humble background, he had the ability to use troops. He defeated the imperial army in one battle, demonstrating his strong military capabilities.

Moreover, its governance capabilities are quite remarkable, forming a dynamic balance with the common people and powerful families, which naturally makes it worthy of many people's bets.

Especially when the imperial army was successively suppressing rebellions and sweeping away the disobedient, Meng Zhao's great victory made him instantly famous throughout the world, transforming him from a remote corner of the country into a trendsetter who stirred up the winds and clouds, and making him well-known to heroes all over the world.

Anyone with ambitions to join the imperial family, dissatisfied with the Tianyuan Dynasty, and wanting to reshape the world order—whether talented, strong, or ruthless—would realize that Meng Zhao of Hebei Province is a promising talent.

Although it's not yet clear whether it has the power or potential to sweep across the world, at least such a possibility exists.

Naturally, many people wanted to place bets.

Moreover, many people consider Meng Zhao's small shogunate to be a makeshift operation, and it is currently in dire need of manpower. If one chooses to bet on Meng Zhao at this time, the returns will surely be substantial.

If Meng Zhao were to establish a new dynasty in the future, these veterans who had served him long ago would enjoy even greater wealth and honor, with endless riches to enjoy.

Thus, in the month following the defeat of the imperial army, people from all over the country flocked to Hebei Province, hoping to join Meng Zhao.

There were scholars, warriors, lonely individuals, and those with families.

Meng Zhao wasn't completely overwhelmed by the windfall; she remained clear-headed.

Of course, not all of these people were wholeheartedly devoted to him; there must have been some with ulterior motives hiding among them.

For example, there must have been quite a few spies sent by the imperial court or other rebel armies, or ambitious individuals who wanted to replace him.

Meng Zhao didn't care; nobody follows a moldy person.

Having just defeated the imperial army, solidified his own foundation, and seen his power grow steadily, it was inevitable that he would be coveted and plotted against.

As long as one remains clear-headed and unswayed by external opinions, one can not only safely defuse various open and covert attacks, but also take this opportunity to strengthen oneself.

This requires his keen insight, wisdom, and skill.

Meng Zhao set up a special recruitment office to select talented individuals for him, who were broadly divided into three categories: scholars, military personnel, and those with special functions.

Scholars and warriors go without saying, but people with special skills are mainly those with a particular skill.

For example, doctors, pharmacists, craftsmen skilled in forging weapons, farmers skilled in farming, and so on.

This can greatly expand Meng Zhao's own foundation.

He understood a principle: only by constantly strengthening his own foundation and resources could he navigate the protracted struggle for supremacy with ease.

Meng Zhao knew this from the beginning and was determined to implement it.

Meanwhile, Meng Zhao was diligently cultivating his inner strength, consolidating his foundation, and strengthening himself.

Meanwhile, the imperial court also took new actions.

Rebellions broke out one after another in Hebei Province, causing huge losses to the imperial court.

The Zhang family set a bad precedent for the world, especially for prominent and powerful families, who all began to take action, with the Zhang family being the first to do so.

Meng Zhao, who followed, annihilated the imperial army of 30,000 in one fell swoop, greatly depleting the imperial army's manpower.

Both were so hated by the imperial court that they were despised to the core.

This time, the imperial court mobilized 100,000 troops, led by a high-ranking general of the third rank, to quell the rebellion in Hebei Province.

Enraged, he ordered the General Zhengwu, a third-rank official, to annihilate Meng Zhao and his gang of bandits, and to send their bodies to the capital to be displayed as a deterrent to disobedient subjects.

This General Zhengwu was only forty years old and in his prime. In fact, he had a relatively low profile in the court. This was mainly because his father and grandfather were both generals in the army and he had a family tradition of learning, which gave him the opportunity to command a large army and sweep away the disobedient.

He had led troops to suppress bandits in the past, but this was the first time he had commanded 100,000 troops.

In his excitement, he immediately signed a military pledge and personally invited the top experts from his Zhengwu General's Mansion to accompany the army to Hebei Province.

Although he hadn't actually experienced such a major battle, he wasn't entirely useless; he gleaned a lot of useful information.

The key was Meng Zhao's unparalleled martial arts skills. On the battlefield, he transformed into a sharp spear, breaking the deadlock in one fell swoop, which enabled the great victory over the imperial army.

General Zhengwu learned from this lesson and specially arranged top experts around himself.

Firstly, to support himself, he knew that on the battlefield, where swords and spears had no eyes, and although he was confident in his martial arts skills, he was unwilling to take risks easily.

Secondly, with more top experts, the strategic depth becomes more flexible, and these experts can be mobilized to do things for him at any time.

Whether it's gathering intelligence, carrying out decapitation strikes, or acting as a vanguard on the battlefield, it is extremely useful.

Immediately, both sides prepared for battle, and another major war broke out.

Moreover, this battle has attracted quite a few interested parties.

Can the imperial court continue?

Is Meng Zhao, this hidden dragon, merely a lucky one, or does he truly possess ability?

This battle must be settled. (End of Chapter)