Overwhelmed by the domineering and authoritative aura emanating from his words, even a veteran mercenary general like Xiao Lin couldn't help but stand up and say, "Present!"
"You will lead eight thousand men to defend Dagu City. You have full authority to act as you see fit. Do whatever is beneficial to my strategic implementation!"
Xiao Lin gave Li Jun a deep look and replied, "Yes." Li Jun then turned to the others and said, "The rest of the men, come back to Leiming City with me. I need to wait for those four families to come and deliver their surrender documents!"
Li Jun deliberately omitted a key element of the plan: Peng Yuancheng. If it were Peng Yuancheng, he would surely see through his strategy. Once he realized that his side was in a strategically unfavorable situation, Peng Yuancheng would definitely take tactical measures to make up for it. The best course of action would be to attack the other four forces, annex them to prevent them from becoming Li Jun's henchmen, strengthen his own side, and prevent being strategically surrounded on three sides.
But as soon as Peng Yuancheng makes a move, those four families will have no choice but to submit to him even more in order to protect themselves. At that time, he can force those four families to hand over hostages, so that they will not dare to disobey his demands. The purpose of arranging Xiao Lin to lead 8,000 men here is precisely to provide support when Peng Yuancheng attacks the four families.
Although this military expedition resulted in a defeat in a local battle, it placed Li Jun in a highly advantageous strategic position, filling him with undisguised delight. The frustration from the minor setback at Peng Yuancheng's hands had vanished; now, his task was to devise a plan to force Peng Yuancheng's surrender. He possessed an enthusiasm for this that others could not fathom.
“We can’t let such a talent die in vain on the battlefield. We killed too many people when we attacked the Tong family, so we felt like we didn’t have enough people later. We can’t do that this time.” It was Peng Yuancheng’s presence that made Li Jun realize the importance of talent to him. Poaching a talent from the enemy camp not only weakened the enemy but also strengthened himself. The benefits of this addition and subtraction were immeasurable.
On July 2nd of the twelfth year of Chongde in the Chen Dynasty, Li Jun returned to Leiming City and joined Yu Sheng and Su Xiang, who were stationed there.
"The commander has still managed to capture Dagu City." Upon meeting Li Jun at the city gate, Yu Sheng first congratulated Li Jun on capturing Dagu City, carefully using the word "captured".
"It's just an empty city we picked up; there's nothing to boast about," Li Jun thought to himself, but he didn't say it aloud. "It's all thanks to the dedication of the entire army that we were able to achieve this goal. Mr. Yu, you've worked hard. During this time, Leiming City has been supported entirely by you and Su Xiang."
Yu Sheng smiled slightly, feeling a warmth in his heart. If Hua Feng were here, he would have been polite as well, but his attitude and tone would never have been as sincere as Li Jun's. Hua Feng's words sounded more condescending, more like he was bestowing favors than expressing gratitude. But Li Jun was different. Li Jun spoke naturally, as if it were mutual gratitude between friends, giving people a sense of equality. Thinking of Li Jun's unexpected slogan of equality between the noble and the lowly in the oath in Kuanglan City, Yu Sheng couldn't help but feel secretly impressed.
"Why doesn't the commander take advantage of the victory and wipe out the other four families as well?" After bowing, Su Xiang immediately got into the mood. "How about the commander order someone to stay in this city for me and let me go to Dagu City to join the battle?"
Although not a first-rate general, Su Xiang's contributions during the founding of the Peace Army were no less than those of others, and his thirst for war was comparable to that of Meng Yuan and Song Yun. Therefore, Li Jun smiled and patted his arm, saying, "Let you rest for a few more days, let your arm grow a bit more flesh, and then we'll send you to the battlefield."
Meng Yuan grabbed him and laughed, "I've been bedridden for half a year and haven't even had a proper fight. You fought so many battles while I was injured, aren't you satisfied?"
Su Xiang chuckled and scratched his head. He said, "It's so boring staying in the city all the time. Last month, those cowards from the Zhu family attacked the city. It wasn't satisfying at all."
Li Jun briefly inquired about the situation when Zhu Wenhai attacked the city. At that time, Zhu Wenhai had a large number of troops while the city's defenders numbered only 10,000 Tiger Wing Army soldiers. Although Leiming City was high and the moat was deep, after repeated battles, many places had gaps. Fortunately, Yu Sheng and Su Xiang commanded well, and Zhu Wenhai did not dare to attack with all his might. The city only lost less than a thousand men.
After listening, Li Jun wanted to go and check on the wounded soldiers, a suggestion that Yu Sheng and Su Xiang strongly agreed with. Although the Tiger Wing Army was not the main force of the Peace Army and its combat strength was not as good as the Peace Army, as the commander-in-chief, he had to be impartial in order to win the soldiers' respect.
After visiting the wounded soldiers, Li Jun asked, "How are the people in the city feeling? Are they still harboring rebellious thoughts?"
When Li Jun broke through the Fire Ox Formation and captured Thunder City, he caused considerable damage to the city. Later, during his withdrawal, he destroyed the silver mines that most people in the city depended on for their livelihood and allowed soldiers from the Tong and Zhu families to fight in the city. This forced the people of the city to flee in droves. Those who did not flee were killed by the chaotic army. Therefore, the people of the city had no goodwill towards Li Jun, who had brought great disaster to Thunder City. If it weren't for Yu Sheng and Hua Xuan's good relationships in the city, the people might have even retaliated against Li Jun in the form of a riot.
“The people’s lives are quite difficult, so it’s normal for them to have some complaints,” Yu Sheng said. “Given time, there will be no problem. However, if Commander Li allows it, distributing the surplus grain and cloth in the city to the people who have suffered losses in the war would win them more hearts.”
As they talked, the group entered the city. Li Jun looked around. When he first arrived at this main street, it had been somewhat desolate, but the houses on both sides were well-maintained, and people of all kinds were constantly coming and going. This time, however, the city, ravaged by war, was a scene of utter devastation. The houses along the streets had long been demolished, and those few that remained showed signs of fire, most likely the result of Li Jun's breaking of the fire ox formation. Occasionally, a commoner would stand at the door of their dilapidated home, casting cold, even hateful, glances at the group.
This gaze sent a chill down Li Jun's spine. In the oath in Kuanglan City, he had promised to let the people under the jurisdiction of the Peace Army live and work in peace and contentment, but what had the war he launched brought to the people in other places?
“Do as you say.” Li Jun sighed deeply. “What use is it to seize Thunder City if the people in the city do not support us? I bear inescapable responsibility for the state of Thunder City. Mr. Yu, please issue a list of those who feel guilty. I want to apologize to the people of Thunder City.”
Yu Sheng was taken aback. Since ancient times, it was only the common people who admitted their mistakes to those in power. He had never heard of those who held the power of life and death over the common people admitting their mistakes to them. Occasionally, a king or city lord would issue a document blaming himself for natural disasters, but most of the time he would admit his mistakes to so-called "gods" or "divine will," rather than to the common people.
Seeing Yu Sheng staring at him in surprise, Li Jun smiled bitterly. He himself was an orphan who had lost everything in the war, so he naturally understood the trauma that war brought to the people. Such a formal apology and self-blame had very limited effect on appeasing the people.
"In addition, Mr. Yu, please have someone investigate the losses suffered by the people due to the Peace Army. All losses should be compensated by the Peace Army," he added.
This made Yu Sheng even more excited. In this chaotic world, soldiers only plunder the people; he had never heard of them compensating the people for their losses. With these measures, those self-righteous people in Leiming City would surely be stunned, and the people's dissatisfaction could be alleviated to the greatest extent.
"How's the silver mine? Is production normal?" After asking the soldiers and civilians, Li Jun finally asked what Yu Sheng thought he would ask first. Yu Sheng replied, "The cleanup of the damage from last time is progressing slowly, so only some mines have resumed production, but output has been consistently low."
After a moment's thought, Li Jun understood the reason: it must be due to the people's lack of motivation to work. He shook his head and said, "There's no need to force the people. When we post the notice tomorrow, tell them that half of the silver mine's revenue for the first three months will be used for the reconstruction of Thunder City. Ask the people to elect respected figures in the city to form a council to oversee this fund. The more they produce, the more will be used for themselves, which should motivate them to work harder."
This is yet another major reform measure. Although its original form was merely an agreement reached between Li Jun and the merchants in Kuanglan City, its extension here has extraordinary significance. This means that the form in Kuanglan City, where there is no city lord with official authority, but rather a council composed of people elected by the people to serve as the city's leadership body, is also expanding as the Peace Army's power grows.
The day after returning to Thunder City, Li Jun made a special trip to visit the Magic Academy to express his gratitude to Chu Qingfeng. Chu Qingfeng replied, "It was just a small favor, nothing to mention. Commander Li has already been very kind to the Magic Academy. Serving the Peace Army is also serving the people of Yuzhou."
"Besides thanking you, Immortal Master, I have another matter to ask you." After exchanging a few polite words with Chu Qingfeng, Li Jun got straight to the point.
"Oh, Commander Li, please speak. The number of teachers and students at the Magic Academy is limited, and I'm afraid we won't be of much help to you." Chu Qingfeng subtly hinted to Li Jun not to make excessive demands.
Li Jun smiled slightly and said, "It's like this. I seized the Tong family's palace in Silver Tiger City. It's just sitting empty anyway, so I'd like to convert it into an academy, which will include a magic branch. I'd like to ask Immortal Master Chu to send a few outstanding mages to teach there. What do you think, Immortal Master?"
Chu Qingfeng's long, thick eyebrows twitched slightly. Mages were extremely difficult to train, and a skilled mage was even harder to cultivate than a skilled warrior. Furthermore, the Thousand-Year War urgently required a large number of warriors ready for immediate combat, not mages who had to train for ten or eight years before being of any use. Mages had already become increasingly marginalized in the Divine Continent. Apart from a few major powers like Lan and Su, which possessed mage armies of tens of thousands, the mage armies of other countries were mostly for show, flashy but impractical. Mages seemed to be valued only in small-scale battles. Chu Qingfeng was deeply worried about this, fearing that one day the essence of their predecessors' hard-earned skills would be completely lost. However, the Magic Academy itself was already dependent on Thunder City, struggling to maintain its own existence, let alone anything else. Li Jun's plan would greatly help expand the Magic Academy's influence.
He stood up, bowed deeply, and said, "Commander Li's foresight is beyond the reach of ordinary people. I am extremely grateful!"
While he was chatting with Chu Qingfeng, a soldier came in to report that envoys from the Luo family of Huaide City, the Zhang family of Changyi City, the Sun family of Pingyi City, and the Jiang family of Huichang City had arrived.
"They came so quickly," Li Jun thought to himself. He got up to say goodbye to Chu Qingfeng, who escorted him all the way to the outside of the Imperial Academy before returning to arrange for the dispatch of people to Silver Tiger City.
Li Jun returned to the central command tent, and the envoys from the four families hurriedly stood up. A torrent of flattery filled the tent. Growing increasingly annoyed by these words, Li Jun straightened his expression and interrupted them, saying, "Stop with the flattery. I have some idea of your purpose in coming here. To make a long story short, I can guarantee the position and safety of your city lord, but your city lord must help me eliminate the Zhu clan."
The envoys exchanged bewildered glances, but the young general before them was not swayed by their usual flattery. The Jiang family's envoy said, "The Zhu family has been a menace to Yuzhou for a long time. It is only right that Commander Li wants to eliminate them. It is truly a great undertaking that will bring happiness to the people of Yuzhou for generations to come. We will follow Commander Li's lead in Changcheng."
Seeing that someone was taking the lead, the other three families also agreed. Li Jun smiled faintly and said, "Since that's the case, I won't ask you to pay too high a price. Your four allied forces will attack the Zhu family's territory on July 17th. If the Zhu family sends a large army to meet you, you should retreat and surrender. I will order the Peace Army of Dagu City to assist you. If the Zhu family dares not send troops to meet you, all the land, people, and towns they occupy will belong to you. How about that?"
These envoys were not fools; they naturally understood Li Jun's plan at this moment: to have them hold back the main force of the Zhu family and then take advantage of the situation to attack. They were to confront the main force of the Zhu family, and it was very likely that Peng Yuancheng, who was well-versed in military strategy, would lead the troops. This made them somewhat hesitant.
Seeing that they were unwilling to answer readily, Li Jun stood up. As he straightened his body, the domineering aura hidden deep within him naturally emanated. He feigned anger and said, "In fact, I could easily lead my army straight down and conquer all four of you, but I have a benevolent heart and do not wish to cause unnecessary bloodshed. That is why I returned to Leiming City and gave you this opportunity. If any of you believe you can withstand my 100,000-strong army, you may refuse me!"
Under his murderous gaze, the group of envoys trembled, knowing that Li Jun's words were true. It was just a feint attack, and even if they couldn't win, they could retreat back to the city to protect themselves. They comforted themselves with this thought.
Section 2
In Yuzhou's summer, the sun blazes fiercely, turning the entire land into a sauna. Everything on earth endures nature's torment between heaven and earth. Li Jun and Meng Yuan, accustomed to a milder climate, can only gasp in astonishment at such high temperatures.
"Damn it, God!" Meng Yuan couldn't help but curse. "Why is it so hot? Isn't this like steaming human flesh buns?"
"Stop complaining. Think about the Zhu family soldiers who are working under the scorching sun. You should feel lucky!" Li Jun said while fanning himself with a paper fan. Although experts like him and Meng Yuan could become immune to heat and cold as long as they used their spiritual power, it would be difficult for someone with such powerful spiritual power as Li Jun to endure using his spiritual power all day long.