Damn it, I'm in the garbage book I wrote

Chapter 599: Ten zhang tall, red hair, fangs, long arms reaching past the knees, double ears and double pupils.

"what?"

When the surrender document was handed to Xia Lin, he exclaimed in astonishment. He turned around and looked at the pack of majestic, howling wolf cubs and the old wolf with its fierce eyes behind him, and then he fell silent.

This was completely unexpected. He read through the surrender documents three times, then looked at the general's seal in front of him...

This whole mess means that these soldiers, eager to make a name for themselves, won't get any benefits this time. The credit will definitely go to the special agents at the front lines.

He glanced back at the expectant soldiers behind him, took a deep breath, and called out, "Shao Jianwu, Liu Delu! Come here!"

Soon, two generals ran up to Xia Lin, clasped their hands in salute, and said, "General."

"You two take a look."

Xia Lin handed the surrender document to the two of them. After they looked at it together, they both exclaimed "Huh?" in unison.

This is terrible. They originally came here to make a name for themselves and their people. But in this competition for even the smallest achievement, the other side surrendered, and surrendered so gracefully that no one could find fault with them.

"So people should still maintain some dignity." Xia Lin put his hands on his hips and looked back at the soldiers for the third time: "Here's what we'll do, you two each lead 10,000 men to Lipu to bring the goods back. Put what's due into storage, distribute what's due to the brothers, and don't record 30% of it. Do you understand what I mean?"

"Order!"

"understand!"

The two generals stood at attention on the spot, almost shouting "Loyalty!" Xia Lin was silent for a while before speaking, "Take another three thousand men with me westward out of Guizhou to meet this respectable man."

As night fell, morale in the military camp was low. Although everyone knew they would certainly reap the rewards this time, they were already living very well. Now, all they needed was to achieve some glory and distinguished service!
But the guy on the other side was really smart. The soldiers got together and cursed Wei Changsheng's ancestors for eighteen generations. The young soldiers wanted to gain merit, to advance, and to climb the ranks. But if they didn't fight, they would only get money. Money alone was useless. They didn't feel a sense of accomplishment or self-improvement, so they were unhappy.

But now that things have come to this point, they don't really have any better options. After all, killing surrendered soldiers doesn't count as a military achievement and will lead to a trial, which is really not worth it.

Well, we can only settle for second best and get some money. The general has already secretly leaked the commander-in-chief's words: 30% of the spoils will be distributed to the soldiers. That means each of these 30,000 to 40,000 men will receive nearly 300 taels of silver, which is already very good. It would be a huge sum anywhere else. After all, there's nothing we can do but compensate them this way.

In contrast to the soldiers who did nothing, the special agent team led by Luo Shixin and Hongxiu, who made great contributions in this incident, received about seven times more per person than the ordinary soldiers.

That's nearly two thousand taels of silver, and everyone received some. Luo Shixin and Hongxiu even slapped ten thousand taels of silver in their faces.

When Luo Shixin got the money, he just casually stuffed it into his pocket, whistled, and went out for a stroll, while Hongxiu looked at the money in her hand with some confusion.

"Brother Luo... Brother Luo, please wait for me."

Hongxiu quickly caught up with Luo Shixin: "Brother Luo, wait for me..."

"What, you're coming with me to the brothel?"

Hongxiu laughed heartily, then snatched the silver notes from Luo Shixin's arms and held them in her own hand: "I am the most beautiful courtesan in the capital. Brother, you'd be better off coming to me than going to a brothel."

Luo Shixin stroked his chin and looked Hongxiu up and down, then narrowed his eyes: "I'm going to tell the commander that you're selling yourself here."

"Hey, hey, hey..." Hongxiu quickly grabbed Luo Shixin's arm: "Good brother~~~~ I was just joking, I just wanted to ask, what is this money... for?"

Because Hongxiu was mainly in charge of Liuzhou, not Guizhou, and Luo Shixin hadn't said what he was going to do when he arrived, he just started handing out money, so she was a little confused at the moment.

"Oh, my bad, I didn't tell you." Luo Shixin cleared his throat and took back the silver notes from Hongxiu's hand: "This publicity campaign was very successful. Wei Changsheng has already submitted his surrender document. We deserve the most credit for this, and this silver is our reward."

In terms of purchasing power, 10,000 taels of silver is equivalent to a first-win reward of 7 million RMB. It's not a lot, considering that this was for conquering three states, but it's not a small amount either, considering that this was a relatively easy task that didn't require much effort.

The people below each received an average of around two thousand taels, which is about 150 million in individual performance bonuses. Considering that a skilled craftsman earns five to six taels of silver a month, these people suddenly received a super prize equivalent to thirty years of work.

Just imagine how happy the people below would be. Even someone like Hongxiu would have her eyes light up when she saw ten thousand taels of silver. She used to work for the Dugu family and only earned two hundred taels a year, which included operating expenses. This person was giving her a bonus equivalent to ten years' worth of income. It would be strange if she wasn't tempted.

"Brother, brother. Is this money really mine?"

"Don't give it to me." Luo Shixin stretched out his hand towards Hongxiu: "Are you afraid to take it?"

"No way!" Hongxiu quickly put her notes away, but her eyes darted to Luo Shixin's hand. "Good brother, Hongxiu is so pretty, five hundred taels isn't expensive for one time, is it?"

"Kimby? No way!"

"You!" Hongxiu stomped her feet in anger as she watched Luo Shixin stride away. "You're so infuriating, you blockhead!"

After calming down a bit, Hongxiu returned to her room. She had intended to write down what she had seen and heard there, but after picking up her pen, she hesitated to put it down. After thinking for a long time, she put the blank paper aside, put her brush into the brush washer, got up, took some money, and went to the silk shops in the city. She quickly bought several sets of the best silks since they were cheap at the moment. In the past, a single bolt of silk would cost more than twenty taels of silver. Hongxiu had been craving it for many years, but now she bought twenty bolts of different colors at once without even asking the price. Having money made her happy.

While the champagne was being opened, Wei Changsheng dismissed the soldiers of the three prefectures as agreed, and personally went to the place to wait for Xia Lin's arrival. He also brought all the supplies, jewelry, money, and grain that he had stockpiled over the years in order to dominate the area to Lipu to wait for the other side to pick him up.

During this time, there were people who tried to persuade him and questioned him, but Wei Changsheng was very determined to surrender, no matter what people around him said.

"General, I heard that Xia Lin only has three thousand soldiers coming. Why don't we trap him like a turtle in a jar?"

"General, I have deployed more than 100,000 troops. Why did you accept this so easily? General... This is the culmination of your ten years of hard work, General."

"General, this is unacceptable! Our great empire is about to crumble like this! We are filled with sorrow..."

Despite being surrounded by such voices every day, Wei Changsheng continued to pursue the surrender, and many people even began to mock him, saying that he had no ambition but was trying to imitate others by raising an army and creating momentum. Some even said that he was scared out of his wits by a single name and wondered how he had become a high-ranking official.

Wei Changsheng never uttered a word in the face of these insults, persuasion, and doubts. He simply did what he was supposed to do in silence, and then sat in the house at the handover site all day without going out to see anyone.

He didn't explain, because explaining would be useless. These people didn't know how terrifying Xia Daosheng's Jiangnan Road was. Everything he did was to protect their lives and property. He had failed, and failed inexplicably, but he was also glad that Xia Lin had given him a warning in advance. If he hadn't been clear-headed, he would soon have faced the iron cavalry of Jiangnan Road.

He had over a hundred thousand soldiers? Think of the mounds of Turkic heads cast in Chang'an, and how he learned of this only through the Jiangnan Daily, published in Jiangnan Province. He had the advantage of terrain? Think of the Eastern Sea Rebellion of the Duke of Dingguo, how he was utterly defeated by the newly formed army. Now he faced a new army with unobstructed supply lines, a clear southward route, strong and well-equipped troops, and high morale. Meanwhile, on his side, the people were impoverished, morale was low, rumors were rampant, fear was high, soldiers were deserting en masse, and civilians and merchants were fleeing.

Then these people came up and said, "Why doesn't the general fight to the death?"

Destroy him, truly. Wei Changsheng, raised by a weaver mother, became a top-ranking scholar at nineteen, rising rapidly through the ranks by sheer luck, becoming a high-ranking official before thirty, and now he's to be humiliated by this bunch of fools…

He knew he wouldn't be humiliated by Xia Lin, because Xia Lin was known for not killing those who laid down their weapons and surrendered, and was also a renowned scholar-general. Surrendering was not shameful for him; he could even save the upcoming summer harvest, the people's peace, the soldiers' lives, and his own reputation.

But who would have thought that after going to such lengths, he would be humiliated to this extent by his own people?

Wei Changsheng suddenly felt that this world was truly despicable...

Because he was surrounded by idiots, he suddenly really wanted to see Xia Lin and have a serious chat with this number one in the world, to talk about the present, the future, or even about his own stupidity.

Perhaps only intelligent people can understand intelligent people.

As Xia Lin approached, the rumors began to change. At first, rumors started circulating in the city that the cannibalistic demon Xia Daosheng was about to arrive at Qingxi Ferry, committing murder, arson, rape, and kidnapping. But the people didn't believe it, because Xia Lin and his men were clearing plank roads and repairing houses in areas that had been flooded during the summer. Wherever they went, they left many people to help the locals rebuild their homes, distribute food, and provide medical treatment.

The news spread faster than Xia Lin approached, reaching the three states. However, some people remained unconvinced, saying that in places of rebellion, the Jiangnan soldiers would inevitably massacre the city upon arrival—this was an unchanging cause and effect throughout history.

But few people believed this, because the advance team arrived. The advance team from Jiangnan Province came by fast horse and boat, and after entering the city, they quickly took over the court. Their first task was to stabilize prices, rectify speculative buying and selling, and recall the people to engage in production and life. Finally, they purged some local bullies and bandits who had taken advantage of the chaos, and reorganized the previously seized land and real estate, as well as even the unreasonable indenture contracts. It didn't look like they were going to massacre the city at all.

When Xia Lin was still four days away from Qingxi Ferry, the rumors here changed again. It was said that Xia Lin was lecherous, and every household had to offer young girls to him for his pleasure. It was also said that he was cruel and would cook and eat the girls after he got tired of them.

However, this rumor doesn't seem to have much credibility, because with the resumption of trade, a large number of merchants from Jiangnan came here. Their arrival brought new channels of information. In Jiangnan, let alone cooking and eating, there were no legal brothels. When someone asked them who this General Xia was, every person from Jiangnan praised him, even if they had never seen Xia Daosheng.

"Lord Xia is something else entirely. To put it bluntly, if he wanted to rebel, he would be the king's army, and the people of Jinling could burn down the palace." This was what a porter from Jiangnan Province boasted during his meal: "Let me tell you, you know that studying in Jiangnan Province is free, with room and board included."

"Then why don't you study?"

One sentence made the laborer blush with embarrassment. He coughed and said, "I'm probably not cut out for it..."

"They say that your Lord Xia eats people, is that true or false?"

"Hey...you'll see when you meet our Lord Xia. He has red lips and white teeth, and a refined and handsome appearance. I don't know who spread the rumor that he's ten zhang tall, with red hair, double pupils, and a mouth as big as a bucket." The laborer sneered, "You'll be happy when the time comes."

"Was he lecherous? Would he...would he choose women from ordinary families?"

"What are you thinking?" At this moment, the shopkeeper also came out with a bowl to join in the fun: "Our Lord Xia, the eldest daughter-in-law is a princess, and the second daughter-in-law is the most beautiful woman in Gansu and Shaanxi. When he was in the county, countless beautiful noblewomen and young girls were eager to meet him, but they couldn't. As for you common women who look like monkeys, don't sully the Lord's eyes."

"Hey! The women from Guangnan are very beautiful too! If you don't believe me, go to a brothel tonight and see for yourself."

"Ha, a brothel?" The manager sneered. "It'll be gone soon."

"Why? Why? Why are the brothels gone?"

You'll find out then.

On the day Xia Lin arrived at Qingxi Ferry, Wei Changsheng, shirtless and with his hands bound behind his back, walked to the intersection and knelt directly in the middle of the official road.

The crowd of onlookers pointed and whispered about Wei Changsheng, many of them feeling that he had disgraced them. But Wei Changsheng remained kneeling there, unmoving, sacrificing his own life for the safety of three prefectures.

Soon, the sound of horses' hooves came from the official road. After several turns, the Jiangnan Road entourage appeared, and the local people finally saw Xia Lin's true face.

He wasn't ten feet tall, nor did he have red hair or double pupils; he was just a handsome young man with a face like gold and jade. Although he was said to be twenty-six or twenty-seven, he still looked like a young man.

Many young women even stood on tiptoe after seeing Xia Lin's appearance. After all, people from the Central Plains generally have more gentle features, and Xia Lin's fair skin and well-fitting armor made him look incredibly handsome.

"The armor that this general is wearing is so beautiful... My God, how can there be such beautiful armor?"

"I heard that this armor was passed down to him by the late emperor. It's called something like Jade Lion, and it's the best armor in the world. Even His Majesty wanted it but couldn't have it."

"It looks so good! The armor is beautiful, and the person is beautiful too."

While others were discussing, Xia Lin had already ridden up to Wei Changsheng. He paused for a moment but did nothing. After a period of silence, he dismounted, walked up to Wei Changsheng, drew his dagger, and cut the ropes binding him.

"Why is Lord Wei doing this? Get up, get up quickly." Xia Lin helped Wei Changsheng to his feet. "Someone, put a coat on Lord Wei!"

Wei Changsheng glanced at Xia Lin, not knowing what to say. He simply had someone put a coat on him and was invited into the carriage.

The people who were originally prepared to watch a dramatic scene of life and death were caught off guard. They never expected that Xia Lin, who was known for killing people without hesitation, would be so gentle.

Meanwhile, someone was lying in the county government office of Zhongwu County, listening to actors singing melodious tunes and enjoying the feeling of having immense power.

"Hey, what's been going on outside lately?" Master Hu opened his eyes slightly and glanced at the attendant beside him. "Why haven't we heard anything for so long?"

"Oh, Lord Hu, everything is fine. There were just some minor disputes."

"It's just a minor dispute..." Old Hu closed his eyes again. "Let my brother Zhang handle it. There's no need for me to get involved. Brother Zhang, have you been busy lately?"

"Mr. Zhang has been very busy lately, but it's all minor stuff. He was worried about interfering with your important business, so he didn't bother you, Lord Hu."

“My brother… hey, we’re all family, what’s the big deal about bothering each other? But it’s alright, if he messes things up, he’ll naturally come to me for help.” Old Hu tapped his hand to the beat and sang along for a few lines: “Ah, this is probably what life as an emperor is all about.”

(End of this chapter)