Chapter 428 – Rebuilding Xiangyang County (12)
Li Yun’s words slightly improved Jiang Pengji’s mood, and she coincidentally caught sight of the comments in the live stream.
【Host V】: With free quality labor, why wouldn’t I use it?
She unapologetically admitted her little selfish thought.
Was abducting Li Yun merely for labor, or was it for that handsome face of his?
【Tuhui Big Boss】: Host, I give you an 82 for your bluntness, the remainder is sent to you in the form of 666.
【Bitter Ginseng】: I give the host 101 for her honesty; one extra point won’t make her proud.
【Musician Zhuge Qinmo】: I’ve never seen someone so brazen; when it comes to thick skin, I only bow to the host.
【Hawthorn Sticks】: Compared to the host, even Zhou Baopi seems gentle and kind now.
【Trinitrotoluene】: Since you’re all talking about the host, I must pity the handsome boy, Li Yun. I’m totally taken by his looks. Handsome and knows how to fight, plus there’s a strong contrast to his personality. A pure, quality young man like this is rare in society – cherish and treasure him!
Li Yun remained blissfully unaware of his appeal to an audience from another world.
He twirled his gun one-handed, shaking off the blood, performing the act with elegance and flair.
This handsome maneuver hit the sweet spot for several infatuated fans.
Jiang Pengji ignored the excited comments and leaped onto Big White’s back.
After a night, the number of troops had been organized.
Counting heads, there were about fifteen hundred captured Green Garment Army soldiers, while around two thousand three hundred common people had been escorted out by the troops. Jiang Pengji offered them a choice: anyone who wanted could join her to Xiangyang County.
If they didn’t want to, that was fine too; she’d distribute one day’s worth of rations and leave their fates to destiny.
Having witnessed the brutality and overreaching of the Green Garment Army, the people dare not return home, let alone wander outside.
Therefore, except for a handful wanting to go to relatives, most chose to accompany Jiang Pengji to Xiangyang County.
After all, things couldn’t be worse than their current situation.
Xiangyang County wasn’t too far away; even at a fast pace, it wouldn’t take six hours.
Though the captured soldiers and common people were somewhat of a drag, they could still manage the journey in two or three days if calculated right.
As for the food consumed on the way, everyone saved some to ensure they could last until reaching Xiangyang County.
As long as they didn’t starve, that was all that mattered.
Jiang Pengji calculated in her heart as she caught sight of the emaciated faces of those troops, her heart softened.
“First, have some food; once you’re full, we’ll set off.”
The troops received the most rations, while the common people only got half.
Despite harboring grievances, the common people dared not voice their complaints.
As long as they didn’t starve to death, those issues could be put aside until they reached Xiangyang County.
Jiang Pengji allowed the troops to eat, and nearly everyone was stuffing their faces with rations, chewing enthusiastically.
Some even found themselves teary-eyed mid-meal, their slightly salty tears soaking the food.
“Uncle, did you cry from hunger?”
A little girl in a red jacket looked at him with wide eyes, using her small hands to wipe his tears.
She thought for a moment, then pulled out half a dry bun that the troops had given her last night and offered it to him. “Here, eat this.”
The dry bun had turned stale, and the troop patted the little girl’s head.
“This one’s better; uncle’s eyes are feasting on it… let’s trade.”
The troop swapped the stale bun for his rations, secretly slipping his food to the child.
“Let’s eat together.”
Not only him, but nearly all the brothers thought they wouldn’t make it till the next day. They never expected their master would personally lead the rescue. Considering the distance between the places, they could easily imagine how Jiang Pengji and the others galloped to their aid.
The more they thought about it, the more they felt moved, wishing they could die for their lord.
“Okay.”
The little girl answered sweetly, her face full of innocence.
“My Lord, it’s bad news!” Meng Hunyun rushed to catch up with Jiang Pengji, his expression serious. “I just questioned a few brothers; they said the Green Garment Army split into two routes. One group is chasing down and executing them, while the other is rushing straight to Xiangyang County. According to their speed, they probably reached Xiangyang County around midnight last night. Should we hasten back to provide relief…?”
Jiang Pengji closed her eyelids, speaking evenly, “No need, let’s proceed at a normal pace.”
Meng Hunyun’s heart tightened, unable to understand why Jiang Pengji remained unfazed or worried.
Their foundation rested too precariously; they only had Xiangyang County as a base.
However, Xiangyang County had just experienced devastation and was under siege from the Green Garment Army, in a state of rebuilding with so much to be done.
It was essentially a bottomless pit. If the Green Garment Army captured Xiangyang County, it would mean handing over everything Jiang Pengji had worked for, even placing Qi Guanrang and the others in peril.
Meng Hunyun was also aware of Jiang Pengji’s concerns.
She said, “You should have more faith in Wenzheng. He hails from the border regions of Dongqing and is accustomed to these matters. The Green Garment Army, to put it bluntly, is just a bunch of rabble; they have numbers like mantises, but their true power is weaker than those insects. Without substantial siege equipment, how do they expect to take Xiangyang County from Wenzheng? If they actually did, Wenzheng wouldn’t need the Green Garment Army to force it; he’d be ashamed to live with himself.”
Meng Hunyun was startled; he never considered that perspective.
Jiang Pengji suddenly scoffed, a glint of malice in her eyes, “Honestly, I worry more about the Green Garment Army than Xiangyang County. Wenzheng excels at cunning assassination methods, essentially playing dirty without a care for morality. If he holds the city, I have no idea how many from the Green Garment Army will survive; Xiangyang County needs people, and I hope not too many die.”
Hearing this, Meng Hunyun was secretly astonished.
He had known Qi Guanrang for years, yet he realized he understood him less than Jiang Pengji did.
“Do you know why the Green Garment Army collapses so easily?”
Jiang Pengji disdainfully remarked, “How can a bunch of unarmored commoners withstand blades and spears? Storming a city is different; if the attacking side lacks enough siege equipment, scaling the enemy walls means risking lives.”
Naturally, Jiang Pengji’s night raid on Xiangyang County was merely a special case.
“After we return, we really need to focus on developing this area. I wonder if there are any renowned Mozi scholars in Dongqing.”
Jiang Pengji nibbled on her rations, mumbling to herself.
If there were, she would love to abduct a few back.
People from ancient times saw them merely as clever tricks, but Jiang Pengji understood that technology could change a nation’s fate.
Without going far, just to mention the basic siege instruments, like ladders, giant catapults, siege towers, well buckets, crossbows, and siege carts… all could play massive roles in a siege.
For the weak side to make up for this disadvantage, one couldn’t imagine how many lives would need to be sacrificed.
