History Park: Starting with the Imjin War

Early in the morning, the smell of burning fire still lingered.

Mo Qin pinched his nose and finished standing on the frame.

I had just relaxed my shoulders and back when the public chat started flooded with messages again.

[Channel Announcement: Breaking news! Breaking news! Something big has happened in Liaodong!]

[Anonymous: Seeking information on Shen Weijing's last whereabouts, at a high price.]

[Anonymous: No way, that number one swindler of the Wanli era was really robbed?]

[Anonymous: It doesn't seem like that, they only said the person disappeared!]

[Drinking Horse in Jiangnan: These people really know how to pick their stuff. Of all people to choose, they picked a big liar who talks a lot of nonsense.]

[Anonymous: Even a big conman is a piece of meat, and a very large piece of fat meat at that.]

[Anonymous: Haha, if he really dies, the pro-war faction will be devastated.]

Upon seeing the message, Mo Qin truly admired Wolong's foresight!

Said Cao Cao, Cao Cao.

The next moment, Wolong's private message popped up.

[Wolong is from Chengdu: Nine-headed bird, bad ball.]

With a sigh, Mo Qin replied:

[Central Nine-Headed Bird: What's wrong? Tell me.]

[Wolong is from Chengdu: The worst has happened! Sigh, I'm such a jinx!]

[Wolong is from Chengdu: the guards, those bastards really managed to tear them apart.]

[Wolong is in Chengdu: Shen Weijing is missing! Our men are also missing, their fates unknown.]

[Wolong was from Chengdu: the officials and Ming soldiers protecting him only found his body.]

[Wolong is from Chengdu: It was the Japanese pirates who did it, and I bet those bastards from the Qingliu faction will try to take advantage of it.]

[Wolong is from Chengdu: Don't be stunned, Li Rusong is definitely about to make a move.]

[Wolong is from Chengdu: I already warned you before, this time it's not a joke.]

[Wolong is from Chengdu: Once the central army selects men, you must go.]

[Wolong is from Chengdu: This person is important to both of us. Think about what will happen after we cross the river.]

With his arms crossed, Mo Qin pondered for a moment.

[Central Nine-Headed Bird: Understood.]

[Central China Nine-Headed Bird: Do you have any other news from your side?]

[Wolong is in Chengdu: even if it exists, we wouldn't dare to put it there randomly.]

[Wolong was from Chengdu: He only knew one thing, that the Japanese pirates had sent a master.]

[Wolong is from Chengdu: If you can take it back, you eat meat. If you can't, there'll be a pot of half-cooked rice left for you to eat until you're sick of it.]

[Central Nine-Headed Bird: Okay. Let's rob it then.]

[Wolong is from Chengdu: You make it sound so easy.]

[Wolong is from Chengdu: In short, sharpen your knife first, lest you start acting like a fool when it's your turn to take the plunge.]

Mo Qin had just closed the private chat when Han Shouyi strode over with great speed.

"Stop standing there! Everyone, put on your armor and head to the central command post."

Mochin picked up the gun: "What happened?"

Han Shouyi didn't even turn his head: "You'll know when we get there."

Liu Gao was eating a pancake when he heard this, and he almost dropped it.

"Sir, should I go too?"

"go."

Han Shouyi didn't waste any words, "If you dawdle any longer, I'll kick you first."

Liu Gao shoved the cake into his mouth and scrambled after him, saying, "I knew it! If anything happens, you'll have to rely on me."

Yan Qi took the bow from the wall and followed without saying a word.

Lin Jun strode over from the other end, and when her eyes met Mo Qin's, Mo Qin knew that she had also heard the news.

The four men left the front camp and headed towards the central camp.

When they reached the supply depot, two old soldiers were carrying boxes with their heads down, muttering to themselves:

"The central army is probably going to take a tough stance today."

"Nonsense. After what happened with Shen Weijing, it would be strange if no one pointed fingers at him."

"I just passed by the drill ground, and Zhou Hu also sent someone to deliver a message."

The other action paused.

"Zhou Hu is here too?"

"Come on. If the gun king doesn't come, who dares to take this job?"

Liu Gao's ears perked up. He glanced at Mo Qin, his Adam's apple bobbing, and he didn't dare to utter a sound.

Mo Qin took his words to heart, but quickened his pace by half a step.

Han Shouyi walked at the front, as if he hadn't heard anything.

But the people behind him could tell that he was more anxious than usual today.

Outside the central command tent, there were twice as many armored soldiers as usual.

Li Rusong sat at the head of the table, while Li Rubai stood beside him, his hand on the hilt of his sword.

A messenger was kneeling in the middle, his armor covered in mud, and there was still unmelted snow around his knees, as if he had rolled all the way back.

Say it again.

Li Rusong spoke, his voice low and deep.

The messenger swallowed hard.

"Shen Youji disappeared on the mountain road east of Liaoyang. Eleven people were killed in total, including the escorting officials, personal guards, and accompanying soldiers. The bodies of the guards were found in a ravine; some had their throats cut, and others had arrows embedded in trees. Three horses were missing, and one cart was overturned. Shen Youji... disappeared without a trace, neither alive nor dead."

Upon hearing this, the tent fell completely silent.

Someone muttered a curse.

Li Rusong got up and took a few steps inside the tent.

I don't like Shen Weijing.

"He's a chatterbox, bold, boastful, and good at flattery; eight out of ten sentences he utters sound like he's selling medicine."

Someone below twitched their shoulder, almost unable to hold back.

When Li Rusong glanced at him, the man immediately stiffened his expression.

"Although he has many flaws, this guy has dealt with Japanese pirates before and knows them inside and out."

"I've been to North Korea a few times, so I'm familiar with the routes and the situation."

"The army will still need him as it marches north."

Li Rusong stopped and turned around.

"Therefore, he cannot die."

Lin Jun, standing by the tent, added, "He's not dead; he must be hiding."

As soon as she said that, everyone looked at her.

Lin Jun added, "Based on experience, if someone's life or death is unknown, they are basically alive."

Li Rusong looked at the messenger again.

"How many sets of footprints did you see on your way back?"

"Reporting to Commander Li, two groups."

The messenger hurriedly ordered, "One group goes into the woods, and the other goes down the western snow slope. The snow is heavy and the roads are confusing beyond that point; you won't be able to see anything further."

Two routes?

The person is gone?

The meaning is already quite clear.

Standing at the back, Liu Gao asked Yan Qi in a low voice, "Is this big swindler really that valuable?"

Yan Qi looked straight ahead and said softly, "Sometimes, those who can talk are more valuable than those who can kill."

Liu Gao was stunned for a moment: "Then I'm doomed, I'm only so-so at both of these."

Han Shouyi, with his sharp ears, slapped him on the back of the head.

"Shut up."

Li Rusong waved his hand.

"Call someone."

"I know that place. The brigade can't operate effectively there, so we need to find the best people, not the most numerous! We need five of the most capable ones."

"Go to the place where he last disappeared and bring him back to me."

"I want to see him alive or dead!"

After looking around at the people in the tent, he continued:

"Today, the drill ground will be used to screen people."

"Run first."

"Let's compete again."

"Those who can't run, get back home as soon as possible."

"If you play terribly, don't show your face in front of me."

Li Rubai added from the side:

"Look at your true strength! Losing isn't shameful, but losing badly is."

Liu Gao felt a chill run down his spine and muttered under his breath, "This is really embarrassing, especially in front of the entire battalion."

Mo Qin glanced at him: "If you're scared, go back and grab a door panel now."

Liu Gao stiffened his neck: "What's there to be afraid of? I'm just feeling sorry for the other side in advance."

Li Rusong had already sat back down and tapped his fingers on the edge of the table.

"Get ready now."

"See you at the drill ground this afternoon."

Once outside the tent, the channel was flooded with messages again.

[Anonymous: Shen the Great Conman has been taken away. Will things stay quiet in Liaodong?]

[Anonymous: I can't sit still.]

[Drinking Horse South of the Yangtze River: The Japanese camp did a good job; they finally accomplished something decent.]

[Anonymous: What you're saying! Be careful, or Li Rusong might send you to your doom.]

[Anonymous: Will even those with a pure and upright character join in the fun?]

[Anonymous: Why not just collect them? Whether you have the chance or not, start with three shots.]

Wolong immediately started cursing in the channel.

[Wolong is from Chengdu: a bunch of silly kids.]

[Wolong is from Chengdu: It's true that Shen Weijing is a fraud, but if he's going to die, how many people have worked for nothing?]

[Wolong is from Chengdu: Aren't you guys usually so shrewd? How come you're all acting like donkeys this time?]

[Anonymous: Oh, Wolong is getting anxious.]

[Anonymous: You're protecting him so much, anyone who didn't know better would think he's your uncle.]

[Wolong is from Chengdu: He's not my uncle.]

[Wolong is from Chengdu: He's the one in Liaodong who absolutely cannot afford to die right now.]

Lin Jun glanced at it a few times and then turned off the channel.

"This is really going to be lively."

Mochin asked, "Did you think of anything?"

Lin Jun said, "I'm sure the Japanese didn't succeed, and the big liar is still alive."

Mo Qin nodded: "So this time we need to race against time."

"right."

Lin Jun pulled his sleeve down a bit. "Besides, if you're too late, all that'll be left is a dead body."

Afternoon, drill ground.

The snow had already been trampled down, and a large crowd had gathered around it.

The number of people coming to watch was twice as many as usual, including the front camp, outer camp, guard camp, and central army.

Everyone knows these five people weren't going out for a drive.

If Li Rusong personally selects someone, it's likely they're willing to risk their lives, but they can also win a fortune and glory.

Li Rusong sat on the high place and only said three sentences.

"First, run."

"Second, compared."

"Third, I'll order."

"In the mountains, people recognize feet, not faces. If you can't run, go back and eat as soon as possible."

"When it comes to actually fighting, words are useless. You're usually so tough, but let me see how tough you really are today."

Not a single word wasted.

The first round starts first.

Instead of running around the drill ground, they ran three laps around the snow outside the camp.

After running, you can't lie down or fall over; you have to stand up.

As soon as the race started, the different levels of the participants from each battalion immediately became apparent.

Some people sprinted hard on the first lap, but their legs gave way on the second lap.

Someone tried to rush ahead, but was hit by the snow while going around the bend and almost fell into the ditch.

There were also two new recruits from outside the camp who started having tremors before they even finished the third lap.

Mo Qin didn't take first place when he broke out of the circle.

Wang Dexian noticed this.

He stood to the side, initially only watching his own men in the front camp, but when he saw the second lap, his gaze fell on Mo Qin.

The young man didn't take big steps, and his breathing was steady. While others were pushing hard, he kept his strength to himself.

He only started to accelerate when the third lap was almost over.

The two people in front were already running so hard their shoulders were swaying and their feet were unsteady.

Mochin sprinted straight to the outside, and in a few steps, he was the first to cross the finish line.

Han Shouyi was standing at a higher vantage point, giving him a clearer view.

He nodded and only hummed once.

Zhao Tou was standing to the side holding his training pole, his face tense the whole time.

Seeing this, a smile crept onto his lips, but he forcibly suppressed it.

An old soldier next to him chuckled, "Chief Zhao, your apprentice came in first."

"It's just running a lap."

Zhao Tou said coldly, "Going into the mountains to find someone isn't like choosing a top scholar."

Despite saying that, he still tapped the ground lightly twice with his practice stick.

Liu Gao started panting after running the second lap.

"I can do it... I fucking can still do it..."

Someone nearby chuckled, "Are you running or summoning a spirit?"

Liu Gao cursed as he ran, "I'm just giving my legs a boost, what do you know!"

When he came back on the last lap, his face was pale and his legs were trembling, but he gritted his teeth and crossed the finish line.

When he got back, he put his hands on his knees and coughed like a bellows being struck in a blacksmith's workshop.

Han Shouyi stood to the side and snorted, "You're lucky you're still alive."

Liu Gao looked up and replied, "Sir, I think it's quite difficult for you to praise people."

"I never intended to praise you."

Yan Qi's running style is yet another one.

Take small steps and light footsteps, just like when you're walking up a mountain to find your way.

After three laps, he neither rushed ahead nor fell behind, and when he returned, his shoulders barely even twitched.

Several veterans who knew the mountain roads glanced at it and understood what was going on.

These kinds of people are really troublesome once they enter the woods.

Lin Jun started running at that moment.