Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 82 The Overlord (Please read 4k words)

Zhong Tong's grip on the reins tightened slightly, his knuckles turning white.

The man before him, armed with armor and riding a horse, stood before five hundred riders, yet he was as imposing and unyielding as a deep pool and a towering mountain, weighing heavily on his heart.

That armored warhorse was even more bizarre—ordinary warhorses, though armored, moved slowly, but this horse tore a hole in the army formation like a ghost, and no one could stop it!
"General—" Zhang Xian's voice came from under his mask: "I'll ask you one more time, retreat or not?"

He had already mounted his horse, his golden mace pointing forward with a sound like muffled thunder.

Zhong Tong gritted his teeth and pulled out the jujube-shaped hammer from his waist. He squeezed his legs against the horse's belly and charged forward with a loud shout.

“Zhong Yixi of Zhending! In the fourth year of the Xiping era, he led troops and lost thirty-six heads! Two were the first to scale the walls, and one captured a flag! By the grace of the Duke, he shall be appointed as the Commandant of Zhending!”

"Enemy generals have common names!!"

"Haha, General, you have guts!" Zhang Xian smiled.

"As for my title, General, you shall guess it yourself!"

Zhong Yixi is truly courageous. I originally thought he got his position because of his family background, but now it seems he is a good general!
Within twenty or thirty meters, Zhong Tong's horse had already charged close.

Two jujube-shaped hammers swept across, creating a gust of wind.

Zhang Xian blocked with one hand using his golden mace, and with the other hand he pulled the reins, dissipating the force of the mace while turning his horse around.

Fu Ling, the warhorse beneath him, kicked out with its hind legs, striking the side of Zhong Tong's warhorse.

The vests rustled, like the sound of autumn wind sweeping away leaves.

Immediately, Zhang Xian also blocked with his hammer, using the combined force of his warhorse to push both men and horses back.

As he fell from his horse, Zhong Tong felt a rush of blood to his throat, and a trickle of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth. His helmet fell to the ground, and his long hair was disheveled, leaving him looking extremely disheveled.

Looking up at the armored warhorse, all that could be seen was its swaying tail.

On the warhorse, the heavily armored bandit also had his back to him, only turning half his head to look at him sideways.

"General, you should know what's good for you. I have already shown you leniency several times. If you pursue this further..."

The golden melon hammer head hit a stubborn rock on the ground and sparks flew out.

"I will kill him without mercy!"

"drive!"

Immediately, the horse galloped away.

The speed was so fast that it left the soldiers speechless.

"General!"

Several attendants dismounted and helped Zhong Tong up.

The latter felt a severe tightness in his chest; the heavily armored bandit's final blow had struck his chest, and he was now in excruciating pain.

"Ahem, I report to the Duke: the enemy is fierce! Like a tyrant!"

".only!"
-
After holding off the county soldiers for about half an hour, Taoyuan and his group had already run far away, but even though they were half an hour behind, Zhang Xian's horse still caught up with them very quickly.

"Lord!"

Huang Zhong's horse lagged behind the group, frequently looking back. Only when he saw Zhang Xian did he feel relieved.

Zhang Xian pulled on the reins, slowing the horse down so that it could run alongside Huang Zhong.

"How is it, my lord?"

Huang Zhong was quite curious about Zhang Xian's ability to hold off an army single-handedly. He had long anticipated that his lord could defeat an entire army by himself, but this was the first time he had ever known whether it was possible.

Judging from this, it seems to have been successful.

Zhang Xian's laughter rang out from beneath the mask. He removed the ghost mask and exhaled a breath of foul air.

“Zhong Yixi is indeed a good general, but it’s a pity he’s not from Taoyuan.”

"It seems that our lord has indeed stopped them all. It's a pity we can't see it with our own eyes!"

Huang Zhong gleaned the gist of Zhang Xian's tone, and a hint of disappointment appeared on his face. If he hadn't left, he would have witnessed firsthand the scene of that one man blocking the army.
Tsk tsk tsk, this is truly a topic that a general can boast about for his entire life.

"Don't rush, there will be plenty of opportunities later!"

Zhang Xian glanced at Huang Zhong and smiled.

This was his first attempt, and he dared to do it only because he had the Spirit Bone Short Whistle Warhorse as a backup plan.

With his riding skills enhanced and his load reduced by the same amount, if he wanted to run, no one in the world could stop him.

However, tonight's events were indeed fortunate. If Zhong Tong had been a mere figurehead who didn't know his place and charged in recklessly, things would have been much more difficult for him.

In summary, what happened tonight served as a wake-up call for the powerful clans of Changshan, and also gave Zhang Xian a deeper understanding of himself and the military strength of Taoyuan.

"Who's leading the way?" he asked.

“Ah Yun often leads the team to race, so he is most familiar with the surrounding area.”

"Alright, I'll cover the rear. You go and inform them to find a place to set up camp and rest, and return during the day!"

"promise!"
-
The government office of Zhen Ding Prefecture.

Zhong Tong was carried into the main hall.

Upon seeing this, Prefect Guo, who was reading by lamplight and awaiting news, was so surprised that he stood up and went to greet Zhong Tong.

"How could Yoshiki do this?! That thief!"

"Ahem, I have disappointed you, Your Excellency. This humble general is incompetent."

Prefect Guo supported Zhong Tong's shoulder, only to find that the usually valiant Zhen Ding Commandant was pale, with blood still on the corner of his mouth, and a hammer mark clearly visible on the dent of his breastplate.

"This humble general," Zhong Tong gasped, each word seeming to aggravate his internal injuries, "five hundred cavalrymen arrayed in formation were forced back by a single man and horse."

"What?!" Prefect Guo's pupils shrank suddenly.

A candle flame suddenly flickered and popped in the hall, illuminating the uncertain expressions on everyone's faces. Zhong Tong's personal guard knelt down with a thud, his voice trembling as he said, "That bandit general is fierce and brave, wearing armor as if it were nothing, and his warhorse, with its thick armor, charges wildly, causing our horses to stumble and fall! Commander Zhong engaged him alone, but was..."

"By what? Tell me!"

"He was sent flying three zhang (approximately 10 meters) by a single blow!" The guard banged his head on the ground. "That thief threatened before he left, saying that if we pursued him again, he would surely behead Zhong Wei!"

"Clang—"

Prefect Guo staggered backward, knocking over a table, and bamboo slips scattered all over the floor.

"Prepare the horses!" he suddenly shouted. "I will personally..."

His expression shifted between light and shadow, and when he caught sight of Zhong Tong struggling to stay upright, he sighed.

"Enough, enough! Go and fetch a good doctor to save Yixi first!"

"promise!"

Several of Zhong Tong's attendants stood up, bowed, and quickly carried the stretcher to the back.

Just before leaving the house, Zhong Tong grabbed the door frame with one hand.

He cried out weakly, "Your Highness! This bandit's bravery is beyond the reach of ordinary people. Do not fight him! Do not fight him!!"

"I"

"Know!"

Prefect Guo lowered his hands, seemingly powerless.

The main hall was silent for a long while before a few murmurs could be heard.
"He marched a thousand miles to kill the governor, and fought a single man against an entire army in the night."

"Are you a tyrant?!"
-
Daytime.

The tragic situation in Lijiazhuang gradually spread far and wide.

The fire at Lijiawu Fort burned for a full eight hours, until dusk when it gradually went out on its own. Even so, the high temperature inside made it impossible for anyone to enter and investigate.

It is unknown whether any members of the Li family are still alive.

The powerful clans of Changshan were thrown into chaos.

Everyone was on edge, fearing that they would be the next member of the Li family.

The servants of various tribes were being trained more and more frequently, and the expenditure on meat had increased several times over. Besides panic, there was another problem they had been discussing in their almanacs.

Who was it that wiped out the entire Li family? And who did the Li family offend to deserve such a fate?

People of different ethnic groups corresponded frequently, and every matter, big or small, began to be investigated one by one.

Ultimately, all the blame points to one place.

Peach Blossom Spring!

Many people from various ethnic groups served in Zhen Ding, and it was in Tao Yuan that news of the bandits' whereabouts spread.

The news of the thieves' whereabouts spread on the first day, and the Li family disappeared on the second day. To say that there was no connection between these events would be to fool a ghost.

hiss.
Upon realizing the crucial meaning, all the heads of the powerful clans gasped in shock.

Zhang Xian, who was known as the great philanthropist of Changshan, and Mr. Zixu, who carried a medicine bag and saved countless lives, and Zhang Zixu, who made a fortune every day, had this side to him!
Having sensed something amiss, many of the powerful clans withdrew their eyes from the direction of Peach Blossom Spring.

I originally thought he was just a lucky kid who got close to the Guo family.

Little did they expect that a wolf had come to Changshan.

They either don't make a move at all, or when they do, they wipe out the entire family.

The methods were brutal enough.

And the key point is that there's nothing to criticize.

On the contrary, we should thank him for his generosity. If Taoyuan hadn't reported to the government that a major thief had entered the country, the Li family's affairs would have remained unclear.

Who knows, someone might use this as an excuse to suppress other ethnic groups?

Tsk tsk tsk, this move may be crude, but it's definitely effective.

At least for now, none of the powerful clans in Changshan dare to directly say that Taoyuan was behind this; they've shown their strength, they have the power to back it up.

Since they have this ability, they are a group that can sit at the table and eat.

As for the roaming bandits, they remain victims.
Time will deliver justice for them, but when exactly?
Who knows.
-
Before nightfall, the group from Taoyuan returned to Taoyuan one after another.

Each unit proceeded as if nothing had happened, carrying out its training and drills as usual.

Inside the money cellar, Han Ji, Xiahou Lan, and Zhang Xian were marveling at the sight.

"Pottery making is so profitable?"

Counting the gold coins in his hand, Zhang Xian asked listlessly.

The items brought out from the Li family were all things that could be taken away: gold and silver jewelry, silk and brocade, and some bamboo slips and books from the Li family's collection.

They didn't have time to count it all last night, and only now do they have a little free time to properly inventory this ill-gotten wealth.

It can only be said that powerful clans are powerful clans; their ability to exploit and bleed people dry is no less than that of capitalists in later generations.

They were just local strongmen in a county. More than a thousand gold ingots were looted from their homes. Moreover, the copper coins that were commonly used as currency could not be taken out at all. Those were actually the real wealth of the Li family. These gold ingots accounted for at most one-tenth of the Li family's wealth, or even less!
One gold ingot is worth ten thousand coins; with over a thousand of them, that's ten million coins.

If you do the math, the Li family's wealth alone, excluding land deeds, must be around three or four hundred million.

Wow, that's enough to buy several seats in the Three Kings competition.

Unfortunately, I only managed to retrieve this small amount.

"Making pottery is certainly not enough to accumulate such wealth; the Li family must also have connections in lending money."

Han Ji put down the last gold ingot in his hand, sketched the quantity on a wooden tablet, sent it to his lord, and then said.

"We have done a good deed. The fire at Lijiawubao burned for a day, and most of the loan contracts inside must have been destroyed. This has saved many rural people."

"I've ordered mine."

Xiahou Lan sketched a line on the wooden tablet and pushed the money box and the tablet toward Zhang Xian.

When the three wooden tablets were combined and the three boxes of gold ingots were collected, Zhang Xian found 1,328 gold ingots, totaling 13,280,000 coins.

The silk cloth was valued at around 500,000 coins, which wasn't enough to satisfy everyone. However, the books were in complete sets: one volume of the Classic of Filial Piety, one volume of the Nine Chapters of Law, and several unfinished volumes of the Spring and Autumn Annals.

No wonder they say a horse won't get fat without night grass; in just one night, it's equivalent to all the income Taoyuan has generated since its construction.

"The harvest is good. Take this silk and make a batch of winter clothes for the people of Taoyuan. Also, those who went into battle with me yesterday will each receive three thousand coins, and those who did not go will receive three hundred coins."

"The books were collected and categorized for use as teaching materials."

"promise!"

The two men clasped their hands in greeting.

It took almost half an hour to count the spoils. The air inside the money cellar was stuffy, and the three of them breathed a sigh of relief when they came out.

Xiahou Lan cupped his hands in greeting: "Brother Xian, I'll go tell the tailor to make the clothes, and then I'll go to the training ground."

Zhang Xian nodded: "Go ahead."

As Xiahou Lan walked away, Zhang Xian put his arm around Han Ji's shoulder and walked alongside him before letting go.

Why is the Duke not in high spirits?

Han Ji lowered his eyes: "These past few days, I have reflected on myself and found that I have been arrogant. I only remembered my origins but forgot to study the new policies, which almost put my lord in danger. This is a great mistake!"

Zhang Xian patted him on the shoulder: "You are so dedicated, and so am I. If we want to survive among the powerful, we must be thoroughly familiar with the new policies of the court. Let's work together to achieve this."

Although the trigger for the destruction of the Li family was not the so-called 'exorcism tax' but rather the Li family's attempt to take what they shouldn't have.

However, the new policy was issued by the imperial court and was legal in nature. If it weren't for the recent scandal involving the Li family, he might have really fallen victim to it in the future.

It's truly absurd that those who help with the epidemic have to bear an additional expense; this court is really something else.
Zhang Xian shook his head and sighed.

The two walked toward the main hall.

"Gongzhi, now that we have this windfall from the Li family, shouldn't we put the matter of buying an official position on the agenda?"

"Is my lord really sure? Buying an official position is a terrible thing to do."

Han Ji frowned slightly. If possible, he would still prefer his lord to follow the path of being recommended for the civil service examination.

"Let our reputation suffer, we need an official position first so that our subsequent actions will be easier."

"Otherwise, if there is one Li family today, there will be a second Li family tomorrow. There is no reason to guard against thieves for a thousand days."

"That makes sense, but does the lord have connections to buy official positions?"

"He's already clearly marked the price, can't we just go and buy it?" Zhang Xian looked at Han Ji in surprise.

"Could it be that it's not like that?"

Han Ji looked into Zhang Xian's eyes, and after a long while, shook his head and gave a bitter smile: "Buying an official position is not that simple."

“At the very least, my lord needs an official to introduce you; otherwise, I'm afraid you won’t even be able to get through the door.”

"hiss"

Zhang Xian gasped.

When rumors of selling official positions reached Changshan, he immediately went to investigate and bribed a number of officials and clerks to obtain the necessary titles.

He thought that with this title and the money-buying of official positions, it was a done deal.

Unexpectedly, Han Ji needs an introducer!
Is this what they call selling official positions?

Isn't this just the same old system of recommending filial and incorrupt officials?! And it even allows them to rake in more money! Emperor Ling had quite the knack for making money; no wonder he was given the posthumous title of Emperor Ling!
"That"

"Master! We have a guest!"

Just as Zhang Xian was about to say a few more words to Han Ji, a farmer ran over to report.

"A guest? Where is his visiting card?"

"My name card is still with you, why do you need to give me another one?"

A familiar, teasing voice rang out, and Zhang Xian's face lit up with joy as he quickly ran over.

"Master Tong! You've come down the mountain!"

(End of this chapter)