Starting as a centurion, he fought his way through the chaos of the world.

Chapter 98 Wu Han's Shock

When Lu Ming arrived outside Baili's house.

The gatekeeper hurriedly came forward to greet him, taking the horse's reins and saying, "What a great honor! Please come inside."

The voice sounded.

Some people were already running into the mansion.

Who is Lu Ming now? He is the Governor of Yunzhou Prefecture.

The entire Three Prefectures region was under the other side's control.

Even the Baili family of the past had to show deference to them, let alone in these chaotic times.

The other party is powerful and is the prime minister's adopted son. Regardless of either of these identities, he is not someone he can easily provoke.

Lu Ming nodded. "Is your family head here?"

"The patriarch and the young masters are all here," the servant said cautiously.

After Lu Ming entered the house.

In just a short while, Baili Xun and Baili Fei came out to greet them.

"Greetings, Your Excellency!" The two bowed upon seeing Lu Ming.

The other party waved his hand and said, "Patriarch Baili, there's no need to be so polite. Baili Fei and I are good friends; we're not outsiders."

“You’re right, sir. Please come in,” Baili Xun said quickly.

while talking.

Let Baili Fei lead the way.

He stayed with Lu Ming.

This is my second visit to the Baili family. They have increased the number of guards in the mansion.

Clearly, the recent chaos has made the Baili family very cautious.

After entering the living room, everyone had just sat down when a maid brought tea.

Lu Ming didn't mince words and got straight to the point, "Patriarch Baili, the reason I'm here today is actually to purchase some medicinal herbs. I wonder if you have any connections? The quantity is very large."

Then he took out the form.

The medicinal materials needed for various elixirs were mixed together, so there was no fear of being noticed.

After receiving the order with both hands, the head of the Baili family gasped.

When he looked at Lu Ming, the awe in his eyes deepened. He naturally realized that these medicinal herbs were probably enough for more than 100,000 people.

This is enough to demonstrate Lu Ming's strength from another perspective.

Even a prestigious family like the Baili family couldn't supply it.

After a moment's hesitation, he said, "I wonder if you have ever heard of the Spirit Medicine Hall, sir?"

"No," Lu Ming shook his head, saying with certainty.

"Lingyao Hall is located outside the realm and specializes in the business of medicinal herbs. They are skilled in alchemy and also sell medicinal herbs. Among the people I know, I'm afraid only Lingyao Hall can supply the quantity you need."

Moreover, there's a medicinal herb hall within our Yunzhou territory; I can go and inquire there."

Lu Ming nodded and said, "Alright, then I'll leave it to Patriarch Baili."

"What are you saying, sir? You are the governor of Yunzhou, and my Baili family is under the jurisdiction of Yunzhou. It is only right that we assist you," the head of the Baili family said humbly.

Then, it seemed as if she had thought of something else.

After a moment's hesitation, he said, "However, I have a request that I cannot make. I wonder if you, sir, would be willing to grant it."

Lu Ming nodded.

Signal the other person to continue.

Baili Xun glanced at his son and said, "Baili Fei is the eldest son of my family. He has accomplished nothing. I hope that you, sir, can give him a position in the Governor's Mansion. Would that be convenient?"

The head of the Baili family was clearly beginning to subtly express his support.

Just like Su Zhe of the Su family, who followed the heir of Prince Yong.

They chose Lu Ming.

After all, in times of chaos, these powerful families were each choosing who to support.

The Baili family didn't have many friends, and among all the prominent families, they could only be considered a third-rate family.

It can't compare to a truly large family.

Now, in Yunzhou, Lu Ming is the only one they can choose.

“Of course. Brother Baili is my close friend, and he has unique insights into business. With his help, I will be even more powerful.”

Lu Ming said with a smile.

The Baili family's weapons workshop is famous in several nearby states.

If they were truly willing to support him, it would indeed be a great help to Lu Ming.

At that moment, Baili Fei stepped forward and said, "Greetings, Your Excellency!"

His expression appeared unusually solemn.

Lu Ming nodded. "Yunzhou Prefecture is preparing to establish an inner court to handle external business. Brother Baili, you can be the captain of the inner court."

Now Yunzhou is under his control.

With more troops at his disposal, Lu Ming naturally wanted to make money.

This is the duty of the Imperial Household Department.

Over the years, Baili Fei has managed the Baili family business in an orderly manner.

Moreover, I've made quite a few friends outside.

Of course, they are capable.

At the very least, he should have no problem being in charge of the inner court of Yunzhou.

"Thank you, sir!" Baili Fei said hurriedly.

Meanwhile, Baili Xun, standing to the side, wore a satisfied expression.

The Inner Treasury—just from the name, you know it's in charge of managing money.

The fact that Lu Ming could entrust such an important position to Baili Fei shows how much he values ​​him.

"Brother Baili, there are no outsiders here, so there's no need to be so polite."

The other person put on a smiling face.

Then he turned his attention to Baili Xun and said, "Please take care of the medicinal herbs, Patriarch Baili. If you have made the necessary arrangements, you can have Brother Baili notify me directly."

"Rest assured, sir, this matter will be handled properly."

Lu Ming nodded and then left the Baili family.

For the next few days, he cultivated in his residence.

Refine and hone your inner energy.

Strive for an early breakthrough.

At this time, the captains of each battalion led their troops into the territory of Zhelong Prefecture and began to sweep away the scattered remnants of the rebel army.

A large number of officials, under Bai Yan's orders, also moved into Zhelong Mansion.

Besides bringing another 50,000 shi of grain, he also began to lead the people in digging wells, drawing water, and building stream wells.

The entire Zhelong Prefecture gradually came back to life.

Meanwhile, the entire Great Yu Dynasty had descended into chaos.

With the support of the immortal sect, Prince Yong's heir Tuoba Ye once again seized a province.

Now, they occupy three states and have hundreds of thousands of troops stationed there.

Among all the rebel kings, his strength is considered top-tier.

The King of Muye in Zezhou was engaged in a fierce battle with the Imperial Guards.

It seems that a powerful demon is supporting the former.

For a time, the Imperial Guards were unable to inflict a fatal blow on them.

The Prince of Zhenhai of Haizhou launched a fierce attack on the imperial court's Yuzhou.

On the contrary, Yunzhou, which is caught in the middle, is relatively safe now.

However, everyone knows that once these two states recover, they will definitely launch an attack on Yunzhou.

In the blink of an eye, half a month has passed.

Lu Ming had just finished eating with his wife that day.

Zhang Meng's figure appeared outside the courtyard gate.

He didn't dare to come in, and shouted at the top of his lungs, "My lord, Lord Wu Han, the garrison commander of Yunmeng Prefecture, has arrived."

Lu Ming raised an eyebrow and looked at his wife, saying, "I'm going out for a bit."

Then, he walked towards the door.

As soon as he stepped out of the courtyard, he looked at Zhang Meng and asked, "When did you arrive?"

"Just arrived, eating in the front hall of the training ground. Tsk tsk, the way they eat is almost as good as mine back in the day."

Zhang Meng exclaimed in amazement.

It's unbelievable that a dignified expert at the peak of the Gang Qi realm, the guardian of Yunmeng Prefecture, would end up in such a state.

Lu Ming glared at him.

Zhang Meng shut his mouth and then obediently led the way.

Upon entering the training ground, they saw a group of men eating outside the front hall.

He was wolfing down his food.

The dozens of basins on the ground that held meat were all empty.

"These all came from Yunmeng Prefecture. They arrived just in time for our mealtime; otherwise, we wouldn't have been able to get so much food," Zhang Meng whispered.

Lu Ming entered the front hall.

Then I saw a burly man in his thirties gnawing on bones, which were already piled up on the table.

His long, bushy beard was covered in oil.

Upon hearing the noise, he saw Lu Mingshi.

I was taken aback.

Zhang Meng then said, "General Wu Han, this is our Governor of Yunzhou, Lord Lu."

Upon hearing that it was Lu Ming...

Wu Han dared not delay, and quickly wiped his hands before standing up.

He knelt on one knee and said, "This humble general, Wu Han, the garrison commander of Yunzhou, greets Your Excellency."

Lu Ming nodded.

"General Wu, please don't stand on ceremony."

Then, they helped the other person up.

Then, Wu Han glanced at the bones on the table and said somewhat embarrassedly, "I've been eating and sleeping outdoors for days without a proper meal. I'm sorry to have made the general laugh at me."

"General Wu Han, please don't say that. I have heard that you spent all your wealth to buy food for the soldiers to eat in order to protect Yunmeng Prefecture. I admire such actions very much."

His words made Wu Han a little embarrassed.

In the past, my superiors had always been sarcastic and oppressive towards me. They had never praised me like this before.

As Lu Ming spoke, he sat down.

Looking at Wu Han, he continued, "General Wu, I wonder how many troops Yunmeng Prefecture has now, and what their combat strength is?"

At this point, Lu Ming's expression turned solemn.

Wu Han hurriedly replied, "Reporting to the lord, we now have 32,000 warriors, all of whom are seasoned warriors. About 3,000 have reached the Body Tempering Realm, about 200 have reached the Bone Forging Realm, and 30 have reached the Blood Moving Realm."

This is a booklet; please take a look.

As he spoke, he took a roster from the hand of his adjutant.

How many elite armored troops are there?

"Originally, all three thousand Body Tempering Realm cultivators were equipped with leather armor, but due to the battle with the rebels, their already damaged armor is now in a terrible state." He said this as he spoke.

Wu Han's dark face turned slightly red at this moment.

Yunmeng Prefecture is really too poor.

However, Lu Ming was very satisfied. He was straightforward, didn't know how to make money, and only knew how to charge into battle. Wasn't he the most qualified general?

Then, his gaze fell on Zhang Meng, who was standing to the side.

The other party nodded very cryptically.

It turns out that when Lu Ming took office as the governor of Yunzhou Prefecture, he had already sent Zhang Meng to Yunmeng Prefecture to investigate.

What Wu Han said was basically the same as the information he had received.

"Boom!"

Lu Ming looked at Wu Han, who seemed a little uneasy, and tapped his fingers on the table.

He seems to be thinking about something.

"Sir, if you can't give us a year's worth of rations, six months' or even three months' will do. The brothers are really struggling to support their families," Wu Han said cautiously.

A pleading look appeared in his eyes.

Even a penny can bring down a hero.

He would never bow down for his own sake, but he still has more than 30,000 men under his command who are starving.

Moreover, since the imperial court didn't provide the money, and it was all paid by Lu Ming, he naturally lacked confidence and assertiveness.

The deputy general standing to the side was also watching expectantly.

When Wu Han gave away all his wealth, he acted impulsively and took out all the money and grain from his household.

Now my wife and kids are going hungry.

This is not an exaggeration. After all, there was a severe drought this year, and the people had nothing to eat. They were also robbed by rebels.

Unless they actually go door-to-door searching.

But what difference would that make from being a traitor? Wu Han would be the first to refuse.

"I will make up the difference in the amount of silver for twelve months of the year, and the remaining 32,000 sets of armor will be delivered to Yunmeng Prefecture within three months."

Starting next month, I will assign medical officers to the military to prepare body-tempering soup for the soldiers, so that everyone can reach the body-tempering realm as soon as possible.

Warriors who achieve a breakthrough will also receive a supply of Bone Forging Pills.

Take the pill ten times a month.

Meal expenses are separate.

Lu Ming said slowly.

Wu Han was taken aback.

"Is what you said true, sir?"

“The Governor-General is a man of his word; he would never joke!” Zhang Meng said solemnly.

Wu Han ignored him and stared at Lu Ming. When he realized that Lu Ming was not joking, he immediately became serious.

"From this day forward, Wu Han will follow your lead and never dare to have any disloyal thoughts."

As he spoke, he knelt down on the ground.

The deputy general, naturally, followed closely behind.

"Get up, all of you. Just remember what I said today. This afternoon, you can go to the accounting office to withdraw the money. When you go back, the physician and the officials of the governor's mansion will accompany you."

Cooperate well with local officials; they are responsible for teaching the people how to build wells to store water and mitigate the impact of the drought.

Yunmeng Prefecture is backed by the Yunmeng Great Marsh, so there is no worry about a lack of water. As long as the water is diverted and retained, it will be fine.

"Thank you, sir!" Lu Ming said after hearing that he still cared about the people of Yunmeng Prefecture.

Wu Han admired him from the bottom of his heart.

If it weren't for the people, he probably would have resigned long ago.

With his peak Qi Condensation cultivation.

You can't make a living anywhere.

"Tap tap tap!" Just then, Baili Fei's figure appeared outside the front hall.

Upon seeing the scene before him, he was taken aback, and a smile appeared on his chubby face. "Did I come at the wrong time?"

"Is there something you need?" Lu Ming didn't answer his question, but asked calmly.

"Sir, the medicinal herbs have been arranged and can be supplied at any time, but the price is a bit high."

Seeing that Lu Ming didn't speak, he continued.

"The cost of brewing the Body Tempering Soup once is 100,000 taels of silver for the medicinal herbs. Although the Bone Forging Pill is brewed in smaller quantities, it still costs 50,000 taels of silver per batch. The total cost for a month is about 1.5 million taels."

Even though Baili Fei comes from a prestigious family, this number doesn't seem like a small amount.

"It's decided then. Tell the Spirit Medicine Hall that they'll be responsible for delivering the medicinal herbs, and the payment will be settled monthly. Is that alright?"

Baili Fei hesitated for a moment, then said, "No problem, Governor. I will go and inform him right away."

Lu Ming nodded, then took out two secret manuals from his pocket.

A copy of "The Art of Breaking the Army" was delivered to Wu Han.

"I see that the reason you haven't broken through to the Innate Realm yet is because of the limitations of your cultivation method. This book, 'The Breaking Army Technique,' is quite suitable for you. Take it and cultivate it well, and you will surely be able to embark on the path of immortality in the future."

At this moment, Wu Han did not refuse.

In his mind, having accepted so much from Lu Ming, his life now belonged to Lu Ming.

In that case, you can accept whatever amount you take without feeling guilty.

Anyway, I'm willing to risk my life whenever the other party needs me.

Then, Lu Ming turned around and tossed a cultivation manual to Baili Fei.

"The Taotie Technique is very suitable for you. Take it and start practicing. Although you are an Inner Palace Captain, you can't afford to lose face too much. In the next few days, recruit three thousand Inner Palace Warriors. You will be in charge of their deployment and the safety of the Inner Palace caravans."

"Thank you, sir!" Baili Fei hurriedly accepted the cultivation technique. In fact, over the years, the Baili family had found him quite a few cultivation techniques.

However, the progress of cultivation is slow.

Now that Lu Ming has asked him to cultivate, he can only do his best.

However, upon seeing the cultivation method above, his eyes lit up instantly.

I might actually give this book, "The Gluttonous Skill," a try.

After everything was arranged.

Lu Ming waved his hand and said, "Alright, everyone go and get on with your business."

After speaking, he walked out of the front hall, preparing to return to continue his cultivation.

At the same time, the Empress of Great Yu suddenly sat up from her dragon bed once again.

This time, her dream was clearer, with more and more jackals and tigers tearing at the dragon vein.

The general who protected him also seemed to be stronger than before.

"Your Majesty, did you have another nightmare?" the female official asked hastily.

Worry showed in his eyes.

Although the Dream Awakening Pill is incredibly effective, it can also cause nightmares to frequently accompany the user.

Unless the crisis is resolved.

Has anything happened recently?

"On his way back to the capital, the Prime Minister was besieged by Tuoba Ye's army in Songzhou."

His eyelids twitched incessantly as he spoke.

Sure enough, the next moment the empress clenched her jade-like hands tightly.

Taking a deep breath, he said, "Where is the Xunfeng Army? It's been so long, and they still haven't killed Tuoba Ye!"

The Queen's voice involuntarily rose in pitch.

The official said cautiously, "They encountered an ambush outside Queensland and are currently fighting with the rebels."

"Notify the Fire Guard to rescue the Prime Minister; they must be rescued at all costs."

“Yes, Your Majesty!” the lady-in-waiting said softly.

Then, as if remembering something, he said, "There's another matter. The governor of Yunzhou has requested to escort the prime minister. He seems to have a close relationship with Prime Minister Li."

"What's a mere commander of the city guard doing getting involved? Does he really think that just because he's fought a few battles, he can stand up to the rebels? Reject it."

The Empress said calmly.

Then, looking at the female official, she continued, "How is the person I asked you to find doing?"

"We haven't found it yet," the female official said hastily.

My heart was filled with bitterness.

With over ninety prefectures in the Great Yu Dynasty, it's not that easy to find one.

"Step down!" the Empress waved her hand impatiently.

At the same time, under the walls of Songzhou City.

Tuoba Hao sat upright on his warhorse.

Behind her were Liu Xuan and her grandfather.

He Song was also there, following along.

At this moment, the latter looked at Li Yan on the city wall and said with a smile, "Old friend, we meet again. Look at my disciple now. He is now a formal disciple of the immortal sect. His cultivation reached the peak of Gang Qi a few days ago. Among the younger generation of Da Yu, he is definitely a dragon among men. If we can capture you this time, our reputation in Da Yu will surely soar."

"I wonder if the apprentice you introduced to me is even half as good as him?"

The sound rang out, carrying a hint of exhilaration.

Li Yan didn't speak, but coldly looked at him and said, "You scoundrel, you traitor, how dare you challenge me? Even if I die today, I will be clean than you."

His voice was tinged with disdain.

Tuoba Hao, standing below, flashed a cold light in his eyes and waved to the army, shouting, "Kill!"

The order was given.

The dark mass of rebels immediately charged toward the city wall.

Meanwhile, Lu Ming, after consuming another Gang Yuan Pill, entered a state of cultivation.

In the past few days, his internal energy has improved again.

Lu Ming decided to try and see if he could break through.

(End of this chapter)