Chapter 3: The Mountain Dwellers (Part 2)

Where there are strong fortifications and solid dwellings, only then can the people be sheltered; this is quite orderly!" Wang Shoutian took a sip of tea and said calmly, "Meticulous carving is merely a minor path at this time.

He hesitated for a moment and replied, "Agreed!"

Indeed, there is a reason why Li Chengye is able to accept these mountain dwellers

This object appears to be a short sword, yet it is adorned with a guard shaped like a feather, and the character "令" is carved upon it

The young man before him appeared calm and composed, leaving He Wulang somewhat perplexed. However, this air of tranquility and self-satisfaction also evoked a sense of envy in him—this was the demeanor of a nobleman's offspring

In the hall, the beams and columns crisscross, exposed and appearing quite rough

Wang Shoutian turned back and instructed Zhang Yi: "You wait outside and rest."

Not wanting a reversal on the battlefield, Lu Yan was killed in action, leading to the defeat of his army, as the enemy managed to triumph over one thousand five hundred with only eight hundred.

Hearing Wang Shoutian's words, He Wulang almost burst out laughing

We have four armies at our disposal; is there any reason not to increase our strength? Moreover, the enemy's forces are currently scattered in several locations, taking advantage of their victories. Not to mention that even if our commander sends a large army, if we respond appropriately, we can eliminate one or two camps in one fell swoop, forcing them to retreat!" As Wang Shoutian spoke, he noticed He Wulang deep in thought, realizing he had struck a chord. He continued, "This battle is merely a superficial conflict, neither side will suffer fundamental losses. However, for us, it is an opportunity for advancement and promotion. Young Master He, do you intend to languish in the mountains indefinitely? If we do not seize this moment to achieve something, when the commander sends a large army to eradicate or drive back the enemy, how long will Young Master He have to wait for the next opportunity?" He reiterated, "This battle is merely a superficial conflict, neither side will suffer fundamental losses. However, for us, it is an opportunity for advancement and promotion. Young Master He, do you intend to languish in the mountains indefinitely? If we do not seize this moment to achieve something, when the commander sends a large army to eradicate or drive back the enemy, how long will Young Master He have to wait for the next opportunity?"

"The raid on the headquarters? This young official truly has a great appetite!" He Wulang and Tu Shuting were taken aback, but upon hearing the promise, their hearts raced.

The mountain dweller took a glance and retreated.

He glanced around and instructed, "Spread out the furs for everyone, light a fire in the center, and also bring some food!"

Wang Shoutian said calmly: "No problem!"

With this troop strength, it is sufficient. There is no time to delay. We will rest tonight and deploy tomorrow. We will launch a surprise attack tomorrow night... We cannot wait for the enemy to reinforce.

"Lord Wang, it is only right to serve the great commander, and besides, I have faith in you, Lord Wang!" He Wulang's expression changed, and he respectfully handed over the silver feather sword talisman.

After watching it several times, although he is a mountain dweller, he can tell that this item is exquisitely crafted and does not appear to be a forgery. Moreover, forging such an item is a grave crime that could lead to the destruction of a family, and he does not believe that Wang Shoutian would dare to deceive him with a fake.

Silver Feather Sword Talisman

The enemy forces are now scattered in various locations, and our unit consists of only a few hundred men. The mountain dwellers are adept at surprise attacks. It would be better to gather our troops in one place and launch an assault. If we can capture them in one decisive strike, the enemy will surely suffer a great defeat. With this achievement, you can shed your identity as a mountain dweller and become a military officer—if you succeed, I will certainly recommend you for the position of squad leader

In front of a large house in the middle of the village, it is primarily constructed of stone blocks, making it quite sturdy

Currently, the entire town has only four districts and a population of six thousand. The position of team leader is quite significant, equivalent to that of a deputy director of a county public security bureau on Earth. To attain the position of team leader, many valiant warriors clad in armor and wielding weapons must spend several years.

After declining a few times, He Wulang once again took the main seat, while Wang Shoutian occupied the position of the honored guest, with several personal guards seated below them.

Wang Shoutian's words brought great comfort to He Wulang, who smiled heartily and said, "I wonder what brings Lord Wang, the Bookkeeper, here. If it is merely a temporary stay, please feel free to stay for a while."

However, does the person before me really have a connection to the governor?

It is only natural that there are matters to attend to; if it is merely to avoid something, the county town is certainly much more convenient. Wang Shoutian took another sip of tea and said to his personal guard: "He Zhong, you all go down and rest now"

"Longding Town can increase its troops," He Wulang said in a muffled voice

The hall was silent, with only the sound of Wang Shoutian drinking tea.

I am not joking... He, the village chief, what do you think will happen if the war continues? Wang Shoutian smiled as he spoke

Walking at the forefront, besides He Qi, there is another person

As he spoke, he opened a small pouch that had been tightly secured around his waist, took out an item, and held it up in front of He Wulang, saying: "This is the silver feather sword talisman given to me by the great commander. In critical moments, it can temporarily control the troops, and naturally, it also grants the right to recruit. Chief He, you may decide on this with a single word!"

In the distance, voices could be heard, occasionally accompanied by the sound of armor clinking.

According to He Qi, the general and this person share the same surname, but merely sharing a surname is not sufficient, as there are thousands of individuals with the same surname in a large family.

He Wu Lang glanced around and waited for the mountain folk to serve the coarse tea. With a hint of apology, he said to the guests: "The accommodations in the mountains are somewhat rudimentary; I hope the esteemed guests will not take offense."

This young man, does he really think that under such circumstances, he would still send troops?

Upon arriving at the mansion, there were not many people inside, only five personal guards followed.

Well! As He Wulang responded, this matter was thus settled.

The great leader? '' Speaking practically, Wang Shoutian's earlier remarks truly swayed He Wulang. However, as Wang Shoutian mentioned, a single team is still insufficient for him to stake the bandit stronghold and his own fate on it

After weighing it in his heart, as soon as he heard Wang Shoutian finish speaking, he immediately made up his mind

He Wu Lang inquired, "I wonder what matters Lord Wang has to discuss with Wu Lang, given that he has avoided those around him?"

"Wugong has met Lord Wang, and I apologize for the late welcome!" A man who had come over with He Qi approached Wang Shoutian with a beaming smile, clasping his fists together as he spoke

Seeing He Wulang's expression, Wang Shoutian understood and smiled: "I will show Chief He something."

As time passed second by second, after a moment had elapsed, the gate of the makeshift structure was slowly pushed open, and a group of people emerged to greet.

Wang Shoutian possesses this token, which must indicate that he is a relative of significant importance to the military governor

I do not wish to conceal from you, my lord, that I can muster three hundred men, all skilled archers from the mountains

A glance swept across the various soldiers, passing over He Zhong without pausing, and instead landing on the eleven tooth soldiers, particularly on the leader, Zhang Yi, whose eyelids twitched slightly, revealing a hint of vigilance in his gaze

"As you command," Zhang Yi replied, issuing the order. Moments later, the stone steps outside the mansion were filled with soldiers. The soldiers either leaned against the stone wall or squatted on the steps, all appearing utterly exhausted

So what shall we do now

I initially thought that Wang Shoutian was a clever person, but unexpectedly... As I was pondering this, my gaze swept over and I noticed the young man appeared composed, even exuding a hint of elegance, which made me feel he was not a foolish individual

After a moment of contemplation, He Wulang replied with great difficulty: "Lord Wang, it is not that Wulang is unwilling to assist with this matter, but the people in the mountains, aside from farming and hunting, truly do not possess other skills. If we were to send troops, it would not resolve any significant issues, so please do not jest, Lord Wang."

"There is no need for you to be polite, Master He. It is we who should apologize for the disturbance we have caused." Wang Shoutian also clasped his hands and said with a smile, as there was no point in posturing in front of everyone; it would not be too late to discuss it inside.

As long as it can gather people, it also has the concentration of cloud energy; however, the energy of the mountain dwellers is gray, rather than the white of the common folk

"Wugong, this is Lord Wang!" He Qi stepped forward and introduced Wugong to him.

As the imperial guards descended, He Wulang also instructed his men, saying: "You may go down as well"

Wang Shoutian's attitude made He Wulang hesitate for a moment, asking: "What do you mean by that?"

In such circumstances, how could the mountain dwellers possibly send troops to seek death

This person has a robust physique, taking large strides, with a face adorned by a thick beard and dressed in coarse cloth, exuding a fierce aura. Behind him, there is a group of mountain folk dressed in a haphazard manner, yet each one possesses a valiant and combative spirit. Just a glance was enough to stir something within Wang Shoutian.

Initially, He Qi and the others joined the feudal lords simply because they believed there were profits to be gained from this war. After all, at that time, there were 1,500 men on their side against 800 enemy troops, and they thought victory was assured.

Seeing Wang Shoutian's relaxed demeanor and confident composure, He Zhong could only suppress the unease in his heart and continued to fix his gaze on the mountain gate

Upon hearing Wang Shoutian mention the regional governor, He Wulang's heart stirred immediately. At present, various military districts are established, and the court possesses influence but lacks control. The regional governor is akin to a local lord. If the regional governor truly pays attention to this matter, then...

If one has thoughts in their heart, it does not necessarily mean that one must be an official to possess such demeanor

In the three prefectures and eighteen counties of Shu, our town is located in Wenyang County, which encompasses four counties and one prefecture. The enemy occupies Changding County, which consists of only one prefecture and three counties. Although our side suffered a defeat in this battle, it did not shake our foundation. Does Chief He truly believe that the commander will turn a blind eye and allow them to seize strategic locations?" Wang Shoutian sneered and continued, "Moreover, from the current situation, the enemy forces here are merely half of their total strength. Even if they achieve victory, it will be difficult for them to launch a follow-up attack. If they cannot occupy our strategic locations, then even if they win, there will be no benefit to gain, rendering it unhelpful to military strategy.

However, within the stronghold, there were hundreds of skilled warriors who were not afraid of these ten or so strong soldiers. As Wu Lang spoke, he personally allowed Wang Shoutian and his group to enter.

"Yes, Wulang!" The mountain people should respond.

To achieve great ambitions, merely having talent and waiting without taking risks is not enough!" At this point, seeing that He Wulang still seemed somewhat hesitant, Wang Shoutian chuckled lightly: "If Chief He thinks my official position is too lowly to be trusted, is the position of the Great Commander sufficient?"

Wang Shoutian's response was somewhat unexpected, and He Wulang's eyes lit up: "How could that be? When esteemed guests arrive, we are more than eager to welcome them!"

Moreover, the team already holds an official position of the ninth rank, thus belonging to the status of officials

Then how many people can you spare?" Wang Shoutian asked, feeling a sense of relief in his heart

He cannot read faces, only gazes at the aura. He sees a mass of gray energy surrounding this person, with faintly visible hundreds of strands coalescing into a small cluster, at the center of which stands a single strand of life energy that is red with a hint of yellow, standing upright.

Wang Shoutian observed carefully as soon as he appeared

He Wulang took it and examined the sword talisman closely; what caught his eye was a dazzling silver light

He Wu Lang thought quickly and said, "If Lord Wang can locate the camp and it is a night raid, I will do it!"

"He Zhaizhu, I have come this time hoping that you will lead the mountain people to join the army and pursue great undertakings," Wang Shoutian said calmly