Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 81 Originally a Soul from the Wujiang River (Bonus 4k chapter for readers who stayed up all night)

late at night.

The government office of Zhen Ding Prefecture.

A seated figure is projected through the screen, with wisps of tea smoke illuminating the screen.

"How did you handle Yixi?" The voice was steady; it was Prefect Guo.

"After searching around, we found signs of thieves." Zhong Tong and Zhong Yixi reported truthfully.

"Since there was one, they posted notices to warn the villagers."

"promise!"

Zhong Tong bowed and took his leave of the government office.

The tea soup is clear and bright, with a fragrant aroma. Take a sip.

"Good tea, good result!"

"Your younger brother has made rapid progress in handling affairs."

Prefect Guo put down his teacup, the grease clinging to the sides. He looked at Guo Huai and chuckled, “If you weren’t clever, how could you be my worthy brother? In just half a year, look at the splendor of Peach Blossom Spring. Tsk tsk tsk, even I, as your elder brother, am somewhat envious.”

"Then why don't you take it from him?" Prefect Guo sneered.

“Uncle, your joke is too much.” Guo Huai adjusted his sleeves and poured another bowl of tea into the teacup of Prefect Guo. “My virtuous brother is Tang’er’s savior, and I am very fond of him.”

"With the establishment of this paradise, no matter how hard or busy we are each month, my household will always have more chickens, ducks, and eggs. Recently, we've even had more fine wine. How could I possibly harm someone who treats me so sincerely!"

“Sigh.” Prefect Guo placed his finger on Guo Huai’s wrist, indicating that there was no need to add more: “Ziren, you should use your brother’s method of raising bandits less often. Julu has already become a force to be reckoned with. Reports from all directions indicate that it has become a force to be reckoned with in several prefectures. But, bandits are bandits after all, and the killing of their lords is common.”

“My nephew has severed most of his ties with Julu, only occasionally sending money and supplies. Now, he sends even less money and supplies.”

"Well, it's good that you know how dangerous it is. Zhang Xian, what are your plans now?"

“I treat him with sincerity, and he treats me with sincerity in return. This kind of relationship is the best. Besides, doesn’t my virtuous brother and uncle also appreciate this?”

Guo Huai put down the tea kettle, added ingredients, and ground them again.

"I do admire him to some extent. At his age, he is both famous and knows how to accumulate and distribute wealth. Before, only you helped him, but now, the Zhou family is also more inclined to support him."

"So my virtuous brother is wise and knows how to conduct himself."

"Uncle must know about what happened in Nanyang by now." Guo Huai raised his eyes, but his hands did not stop moving.

The prefect, Guo, who was over fifty years old and had some white hair and beard, stroked his beard and sighed: "He traveled a thousand miles to take the head and leave. His chivalrous spirit was too much!"

"But they're clever enough to keep their actions secret; otherwise, I would never have let them have peace. Hmph! What audacity! To assassinate a prefect in the street! What do you think? If I provoke them, will they take my head?!"

"Uncle, what are you saying? How could my brother fight against his own family?"

"Furthermore, why would my uncle provoke my brother? He always has a reason and justification for everything he does."

He paid all his taxes in full, making him arguably the most law-abiding person in Changshan! With someone like him around, my uncle's public achievements look much better.

"Sharp-tongued and quick-witted, just like when she was a child."

Prefect Guo chuckled and cursed, finished the last sip of his oil tea, and rose to see his guest off: "It's getting late, you should go back now."

"only."

Guo Huai bowed, took his leave, and departed.

Under the moonlit sky, Guo Huai, inside the carriage, drew back the curtain and looked out. Seeing the streets still lit up in the deep of night, he lowered the curtain again, shook his head, and chuckled softly.

"Although I don't know who offended my virtuous brother, thanks to you, this matter will make it much easier for me to persuade him to be recommended for the civil service examination."

The carriage swayed and rattled all the way back to the Guo residence.
-
Day two.

The officials set out early in the morning to post notices throughout the countryside of Zhengding, warning people not to go out alone and to keep their doors tightly closed at night.

The notice was naturally posted in Taoyuan as well. After being warmly received, the clerk left satisfied, and Zhang Xian in the main hall was also satisfied.

"With this notice, things will be much easier for us."

Han Ji said lightly, "I'm afraid we'll run into the county troops on patrol."

"No worries. If we do encounter this, you all can leave first. One of us can hold them off."

"My lord is valiant, but it would be better to be cautious."

"Of course, I am not a reckless person who is brave but lacks strategy."

night.

The troops were assembled, and the gates of Peach Blossom Spring were tightly shut.

Since the number of people involved in this dispute and the extermination of the clan could not be too large, Zhang Xian only counted 150 people, all of whom were from the Sword and Shield Battalion.

"Huang Zhong, Zhao Yun, Xiahou Lan!"

"exist!"

"The three of you will each take fifty men and follow me!"

"promise!"

At the third quarter of midnight, the moon was hidden in the clouds.

Zhang Xian stood on his horse, surrounded by 150 silent swordsmen and shieldmen. Their bodies were covered in black armor, revealing only a pair of cold eyes. The night wind swept by, and the iron armor creaked softly, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue.

“Remember—” Zhang Xian’s voice was low: “Leave no survivors, leave no trace.”

"Yes!" the crowd shouted in a low voice, like muffled thunder.

"With gags in their mouths and hooves wrapped in cloth, march on!"

The lights at Lijiawu Fortress gradually went out.

The guard on night watch yawned, leaning against the gate tower, half asleep. Suddenly, he rubbed his eyes—there seemed to be dark shadows moving in the distance.

"Who?!" He had barely uttered the words when an arrow pierced his throat.

"Enemy—" Another guard had barely opened his mouth when another arrow came flying, pinning him directly to a wooden post.

Outside the fortified village, Huang Zhong coldly released the bowstring of his four-stone bow and nocked an arrow again.

A skilled archer, as if selecting prey, will fire an arrow swiftly and decisively whenever someone is alone or in a line.

Zhang Xian emerged from the shadows, followed by over a hundred men clad in fur coats and wearing demon masks.

As Huang Zhong systematically eliminated the guards on the fortified village, Zhang Xian, clad in seventy-pound armor, charged straight down into the fortified village as if it were nothing.

"Come on!" He leaned against the wall, bent his knees, patted his thighs, and shouted.

Zhao Yun immediately rushed out, using one leg to push off his brother Xian's folded hands, and with the help of the momentum, he climbed up the wall of the fortified city like a gecko.

Before long, a creaking sound was heard from the main gate of the fortified village, and Zhao Yun poked his head out from the entrance.

"Safety."

"Enter!"

Zhang Xian waved his hand, and more than a hundred people filed in. After Huang Zhong, the last person, entered, Zhang Xian went in, closed the door again, and locked the bolt.

"Hansheng, lead your men to guard this place. Yundi, lead a team to block the other entrances and exits! The rest of you..."

His figure emerged from the shadows of the doorway, raising his long-handled golden mace high in one hand, no longer concealing his presence, and roared.

"Leave no chickens or dogs behind!"

"kill!"

The shouts of battle immediately resounded. Many guards who were still fast asleep and had not yet opened their eyes heard the door being kicked open, followed by a cold touch, and then they fell into a deep sleep, feeling utterly powerless.

The torches for illumination were taken from the wall by the Peach Blossom Swordsmen and thrown directly into the house. Flames began to rise, and cries and screams immediately erupted.

The knife-wielding men, who were killing for the first time, were initially somewhat bewildered, but as the Li family servants fought back, their muscle memory made their movements faster than their brains could process.

blood.

fire.

smoke.

The reflection on the ghost mask truly made it look like a demon had attacked.

In the back courtyard behind the main hall, Li Yong suddenly awoke with a start.

"What's going on?!" He threw on his clothes and got up, only to see flames shooting into the sky outside the window and screams echoing everywhere.

"Father! Thieves have broken in!" Li Sheng rushed in, his clothes disheveled and his face pale.

"A thief?!" Li Yong was taken aback at first, then quickly realized: "What a Zhang Xian!"

He abruptly drew his longsword from under the bed and shouted sternly, "Gather all the guards and defend the inner courtyard to the death! Now!"

Wearing only a single layer of clothing, Li Sheng's legs felt weak, and he was stunned and unable to react for a long time to his grandfather's command.

"What are you standing there for? Call for help! Light the signal fire and inform the authorities!" "Okay, okay."

Li Sheng ran out in a daze.

Li Yong, who was in his fifties, stepped forward, holding a sword in one hand.

"I am Li Yong, the head of the Li family! All men of the Li family, gather here! All guards, take up your weapons! Quickly!"

The shouts of battle from the outer fortress quickly reached the inner quarters.

A huge beacon fire was lit, its flames soaring into the sky, instantly illuminating Lijiazhuang.

"what happened?"

"Look at the fortified village! It's flooded over there!"

"Fire! Oh no! Bandits have broken into the fortified village! Report to the village chief immediately!"

The village outside the fort was also in chaos, with countless tenants waking up from their sleep.

"Should we go and rescue the head of the family?"

Several men who came out of the house asked.

The response I received was several pairs of eyes looking at me like I was an idiot.

"The bandits are too powerful, we can't get close. The head of the family won't blame us if he finds out. Now we must quickly take the family and run away, lest the bandits go berserk!"

The sound of bells and chimes rose one after another.

Village chiefs were pulled from their sleep, talking about the affairs of Lijiazhuang. Beacon fires were lit in various places, conveying messages. Then the pavilion chiefs, township heads, and the Zhen Ding prefectural government offices woke up.

"Yi Xi, don't let the thieves escape!"

Wearing only a shirt, trousers, and black shoes, Prefect Guo, who had been woken up, had no expression on his face.

He was awakened by the sight of the beacon fires. Although he was mentally prepared, he still couldn't help but feel a pang of fear when he actually saw the beacon fires blazing.

This person is incredibly audacious!

Upon hearing the order, Zhong Tong, who was already dressed in armor, clasped his hands in a salute and said, "We will not let the thieves escape."

Having said that, he rode off on his horse, gathering five hundred cavalrymen to head in the direction of the beacon fire.

The back residence of the Li family.

The last male soldier who resisted had his head smashed open, his brains splattering everywhere, a horrifying sight.

The road was littered with corpses, men and women, old and young.

At first, he considered whether to kill only the bandit leader, but when he thought about the fact that this was a blood feud that would wipe out his entire clan, he simply gave up.

The entire Manchu clan must be exterminated; not a single one can escape! We must eradicate them completely!
Li Sheng sat astride the ground, trembling violently, his groin soaked. Gone was his previous arrogance; only endless fear remained.

Li Yong's face was half-covered in blood; half of the blood from the blow that shattered his head had splattered onto his body.

Ghost Mask looked at the two of them and the group of Li family members who had just been protected behind them. With a wave of his hand, more than thirty people behind him stepped forward and surrounded them.

"How come Hengyuan looks so disheveled after just one day?"

He slowly stepped forward, using his long-handled golden mace to lift Li Sheng's chin, making the fear on his face even more obvious.

"Even Lord Li looks haggard, and it's only been a day. What has happened to your household?"

"Zhang Xian! You have ruthless methods! I only wanted to..."

puff--!
The hammerhead shot out with a bang, and Li Yong was sent flying before he could finish speaking.

"Yes, yes, I hate it when people ask me for things. What I give you is yours! You dare to take it from me? You're asking for it!"

"Kill them all! The county troops should be here soon. Grab the supplies and let's retreat!"

"promise!"

The thirty-odd swordsmen wielded their blades without a trace of mercy. After the fierce battle, their worship of their lord had reached the heavens.

What kind of extraordinary person is this?
He was invincible in battle, and though clad in armor, he seemed to be nothing. Such a person was simply a reincarnation of a tyrant!
They swept all the valuables from the Li family's house, and the knife-wielding men splashed grease all over the kitchen before setting it on fire.

Instantly, the Li family's house was engulfed in flames.

More than a hundred swordsmen, led by Huang Zhong, Zhao Yun and others, regrouped.

They ran out of the fortified village gate and headed towards the place where the horses were parked.

Zhang Xian had arranged for several dozen of his men to guard the horses here. It was still dark, but the beacon fires all around were particularly conspicuous.

"Mount up and run towards Jingxingkou. We'll turn back when we find an opportunity during the day!"

"promise!"

The swordsmen mounted their horses, with Huang Zhong, Zhao Yun, and Xiahou Lan each leading fifty men. Suddenly, the sound of hooves grew louder, and a line of five hundred riders rapidly approached from afar!

"You guys go! I'll play with them!"

Zhang Xian, carrying the golden mace on his shoulder, patted his horse's rump and sent it off with Huang Zhong and the others.

I, on the other hand, am standing while walking.

Waiting for the cavalry to approach.

"Thieves, please leave!"

The voice sounded somewhat familiar to Zhang Xian.

"Oh, it's Brother Yixi!"

"Stop!"

With just one man, one suit of armor, and one hammer, Zhang Xian's posture was like that of a thousand troops.

"Get out of the way!"

A lone rider arrived first. Faced with the victory he had just achieved, the scout became somewhat anxious. How long had it been since Changshan had seen such an arrogant bandit? This was all money!

'Ugh. '

Zhang Xian sighed and swung his golden mace in a wide arc. With a loud bang, both man and horse fell to the ground! The man's figure also flew out, but Zhang Xian had struck the horse's head, so it was the horse that died on the spot.

As for what will happen to the county soldier, he has already made the most merciful choice.

"end!"

Upon seeing this, Zhong Tong immediately raised a halt flag. One man blocking the way? There must be an ambush! That was his instinctive reaction; otherwise, it just wouldn't make sense!
The five hundred cavalrymen all slowed down in unison.

They stopped about twenty or thirty meters in front of Zhang Xian.

"General, let's make a deal. Go back to where you came from, and don't put me in a difficult position."

Zhong Tong didn't answer immediately. Instead, he scanned his surroundings again. After walking around for a while, there were indeed several places suitable for an ambush, but the activity around them didn't seem to be the right place.

A delaying tactic?
He couldn't help but think of it.

"What arrogance!" With a wave of a command flag, more than ten riders emerged from behind him and charged toward Zhang Xian.

Let's test the waters first; if there's no ambush, then we can pursue them!

'Ugh. '

With another sigh from the bottom of his heart, Zhang Xian suddenly moved.

Still as a virgin, swift as a rabbit—Zhong Tong swore this was the first time he had ever seen this phrase applied to someone fully armored.

In the darkness, the dark armor moved at a speed far beyond what ordinary people could imagine.

Like a bolt of lightning, the man in dark armor suddenly appeared beside a rider, swinging his golden mace the size of a peach, and the warhorse collapsed to the ground, bleeding from all seven orifices.

Before the warhorse had completely fallen, the figure was already beside another rider, delivering another blow with the same hammer.

Zhong Tong was horrified and quickly struck the golden gong, causing the remaining eight riders to flee in disarray.

Beep beep beep——!
A sharp whistle emanated from beneath the deep armor.

But then a commotion arose behind the cavalry.

"what is that?!"

"Get out of the way! You can't block it!"

A warhorse clad in armor identical to that of a heavily armored man charged wildly out of the cavalry, carving a path through its path.

The armored horse charged all the way to the side of the heavily armored man and stopped, its head lowered and affectionately nuzzling the man's shoulder.

"General, I urge you to turn back now, or I will mount my horse and fight you all!"

"you!."

Zhong Tong's breath hitched. He admitted that he had been intimidated, even though he was the one with the most people!
(End of this chapter)