Chapter 614 – Shangyang County? My (4)
On the other side.
An Huan secretly hid a portion of food and valuables in a concealed location, ensuring everything was perfectly safe before returning to report back without a hint of concern.
He had initially been forced out to deliver messages, going days without a proper meal and dressed in tattered clothes, which led him to faint in the snowy landscape, nearly losing his life.
Once he returned to a small village stronghold near Chengde County, he was immediately surrounded by a few loyal, simple-minded brothers.
These brothers may not have been the sharpest, but they had hearts full of warmth and sincerity.
“Big Brother! Where have you been for so long? I was so worried!”
A burly man with a dark complexion said anxiously. The sincerity in his eyes made it clear he genuinely cared.
If not for the others holding him back, his irritable temperament would have had him rushing out to search for An Huan without a second thought.
“Big Brother, what’s with your clothes? Did you run into some trouble?”
An Huan subtly waved his hand, gesturing to his brothers to keep quiet, glancing around as if checking for prying eyes.
Another sturdy man caught on and spoke up.
“Don’t worry, Big Brother! It’s just us brothers here, no one else. We can all be trusted.”
An Huan, feeling quite unsafe, insisted on confirming everything himself before relaxing. He let out a secret sigh of relief.
He quickly gathered a few brothers and close confidants into the small thatched hut.
The hut was fairly shabby, not well hidden, so An Huan spoke in low tones.
His brow showed fatigue, but he still held on and seriously addressed his brothers, “… The situation with the Red Lotus Sect, from my perspective, I fear it won’t last much longer. The world is far too harsh right now, and as your elder brother, it’s not just about me. I also need to think about your futures. If we’re tied to the sinking ship that is the Red Lotus Sect, who knows how we’ll end up dying.”
His brothers, being simple and honest, had not been affected by the Red Lotus Sect’s brainwashing, so he felt at ease speaking these truths. For them, the Red Lotus Sect was just a place to survive, not their final destination.
The straightforward dark-faced man immediately said, “Wherever you go, I’ll follow, Big Brother! I’m with you for life. The Red Lotus Sect isn’t a good place; let’s find another one!”
Others shared his sentiments; though they didn’t voice it, the dark-faced man had completely expressed their thoughts.
Another brother, slightly more refined and articulate, asked, “Big Brother, do you have any plans? Just let it be known; we brothers are willing to charge through fire and water, no hesitation!”
An Huan felt a sense of satisfaction in his heart, finally laying out the complete plan.
The brothers looked surprised, glancing at each other, unsure of what to think for a moment.
Did it mean their brother was preparing to strike out on his own, building his own enterprise atop the ruins of the Red Lotus Sect?
The dark-faced man, being more impulsive, was the first to express his support for An Huan.
“Whatever big brother decides, I’ll follow. The Green Garment Army is open robbery, and the Red Lotus Sect is all about cunning; a nest of snakes and rats, none of them are good people. Big Brother, you’ve got a kind heart and the ability to do more; it’s a disgrace to settle for such a low position. Why not seize this opportunity and make a strike? If we win, we’ll be our own masters. If we lose, we just lose this worthless life. What kind of miserable life are we living now? If it weren’t for Big Brother looking after us, we might as well be buried under a field of weeds!”
The dark-faced man was immensely agitated. Though his words were crude, they hit home for everyone.
Without An Huan’s care, they couldn’t survive within the Red Lotus Sect.
Thinking about the frostbite on An Huan’s hands and feet, and how he had to share his food and clothing with them, sentiment stirred in them.
The more refined brother suppressed his bubbling emotions. “Fourth Brother is right; if we don’t find a way out now, Big Brother will eventually be dragged down with us. Now that a good opportunity is laid before us, if we don’t take it, we’ll surely regret it later.”
It’s just about being an insider and giving the Red Lotus Sect a swift stab in the back, right?
They weren’t incapable of doing that.
“… But…”
Someone hesitated.
The dark-faced man growled, “What’s with the ‘but’?”
The hesitant one fumbled for words, and after a moment, managed to add, “… But why should such a good thing fall to our Big Brother? Could there be a trick in it?”
This was indeed a concern everyone had, fearing Jiang Pengji might betray them.
However, An Huan said, “We can’t afford not to trust this matter. Even if we don’t help, do you think the people of the Red Lotus Sect can guard Chengde County? Though they claim to have a hundred thousand followers, look at them; how many are capable fighters? Meanwhile, the force at Yi County truly has two thousand elite troops that could easily fight ten. If that’s the case, will we still have a part in this?”
From Jiang Pengji’s perspective, attacking Chengde County could go two ways.
First, an easy takedown.
Second, a harder fight, losing some men and resources before securing victory.
To An Huan, Jiang Pengji seemed like the foolish heir of a landlord, but Liu Zhi standing behind her was definitely not stupid.
In the early stages of establishing power, who wouldn’t care for their reputation?
Even if Jiang Pengji didn’t cherish it, Liu Zhi certainly understood the stakes.
Therefore, betrayal simply wouldn’t happen.
An Huan spoke gravely, “Our future depends on this.”
The more refined brother looked troubled, realizing big moves required ample manpower.
“Big Brother, we’ll do as you say, but… are we perhaps too few in number?”
An Huan pulled out a heavy pouch from his sleeve, pouring out a pile of shining silver and gold pieces.
The room was filled with the light of the flames, casting it not too dim.
When the glistening gold and silver spilled out, it sparkled so brightly it almost blinded everyone.
An Huan felt satisfied deep inside; maintaining a serious expression, he said, “No rush. There’s still some time before spring, we’ll plan this slowly. Brothers, this matter concerns your lives and mine, we must be cautious and absolutely cannot let any word slip.”
The brothers clasped their fists together and replied in unison, “Big Brother, don’t worry!”
As the saying goes, having money makes things easier. An Huan used Jiang Pengji’s funded supplies to gather a batch of lower-tier members from the Red Lotus Sect.
On the other side, Shangyang County had truly fallen under Jiang Pengji’s influence.
Shangyang County had many gentry families, but except for the Feng family, the others were small in scale, and Jiang Pengji didn’t need to worry about their opinions.
By handing Shangyang County to Jiang Pengji, the Feng family was essentially transferring troop command, finances, and political affairs.
Jiang Pengji couldn’t wield the local troops of Shangyang County yet, so she could only draw some forces from her own ranks.
With the territory doubled, it also meant the workload for her men increased by double.
Naturally, the recruitment had to continue.
Feng Zhen held his forehead, “Great, are they trying to work us to death here?”
What holiday? What vacation? What running wild once we reach Shangyang County? All lies!
What finishing up this bustle and then resting? Still a lie!
The truth was, it’s one year of hustle, with the hustle lasting a year!
Wei Ci chuckled, “Zixiao, don’t be too upset; during the festival, there’ll be seven days off!”
