Chapter 7: Internal Strife

Xu Qian is indeed a significant figure among the officers of the Green Camp: "What are we afraid of? Just a bunch of mud-legged soldiers! Who are we? We are Green Camp soldiers, the state-controlled army. Although we are currently in a bit of a predicament, we are still eating the imperial rations"

Beside him, Jin Peiquan added, "Commander Qu, taking this opportunity, we can make it so that all the shops in the city open for business"

Sun endured the pain throughout his body and refused assistance, forcing himself to rise: "I understand, I understand, I will go over now!"

As they were speaking, the Niangniang Temple had already arrived, with several bodyguards stationed outside the door, loudly shouting: "Qu Jie, why have you only just arrived? Liu Jian Dian and your uncle have been waiting for a long time!"

Qu Zhenhan felt completely confident, his blood surging: "Very good! Very good!"

He considers himself a military strategist, and Jin Peiquan became anxious. Qu Zhenhan, however, did not expect Liu Chang to refuse a specific position: "How can this be! You are the esteemed envoy sent by the Heavenly King and should command the soldiers of the Rainbow Army's three battalions!"

Qu Jie felt uneasy: "What kind of Liu Jian Dian?"

In the barracks located in the western part of the city, the atmosphere has already taken on a muted hue. The green flag that once flew over the barracks has been replaced with the yellow flag most commonly used by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. A regiment of the Red Turban Army has now garrisoned the barracks

How can this be acceptable! Sun is already indignant and demands justice: "He is merely an outsider, how can he summon everyone on behalf of General Qu! Captain Qu, you must be cautious; this is the territory that your Qu family has fought for, and it must not fall into the hands of others"

Ni Tingmo immediately responded, "Zhenhai, rest assured! I will select the best successor from our family."

Qu Jie immediately laughed: "It's just that you get beaten down to the ground and can't get up. That one with long hair, supposedly a big shot from Tianjing, what's his name, the thirty-seventh inspection of the hall, or was it the thirty-eighth? Anyway, he's a big shot..."

However, Liu Chang was completely confident that these one hundred personal guards would definitely not escape his grasp. What he was concerned about was another matter: "Commander Qu, can the miracle revealed by this token help me secure several months' worth of provisions for the Red Turban Army"

Liu Bowen was from Qingtian in Chuzhou, and can be considered half a Wenzhou native. Therefore, he holds significant prestige among the people of Wenzhou, with a reputation that even surpasses that of Zhang Zifang and Zhuge Liang. Qu Zhenhan has effectively incorporated Liu Chang into his inner circle: "From now on, Zhenhan must certainly heed and follow the advice given, and also!"

Qu Jie could hardly compete with someone as seasoned as Sun Bazong; before long, he had already revealed his true thoughts: "It wasn't me, Uncle Zhenhai, it was Inspector Liu who asked everyone to come over."

Qu Jie nodded in agreement with Sun Bazong's opinion, saying, "Well said, why should it be his turn, a guy from Guangxi? I am of the same lineage as Marshal Qu, yet I was actually assigned to serve under this brat as a personal guard captain. It is truly displeasing"

Sun was primarily concerned about what tricks Qu Zhenhan wanted to play at the Goddess Temple. He immediately took Qu Jie's hand and asked, "By the way, Qu Shoutang, why did Qu Shuai summon us to the Goddess Temple? Isn't that place a bit too small for the occasion?"

As soon as Qu Zhenhan spoke, all eyes in the room turned to Liu Chang, who was holding a notebook.

He said generously: "Isn't the gentleman lacking personal guards? Very well, Tingmo, assign a sentry to serve as a close guard for Liu Jian, and select our best sentry for the task."

... ...

Liu Chang has made it clear: "Qu Shuai, my coming to Zhedong this time is to participate in a grand event, not for fame or profit. I have only brought my mouth; if you provide me with a meal, that is enough! Naturally, I must also be worthy of your generosity. Although I cannot claim to be a master strategist or a decision-maker from afar, after years of struggle, I certainly know a thing or two about the intricacies of the matter."

These cunning officers of the Green Camp nodded in agreement: "General Sun, General Xu, we fully support you! As soon as the Qing troops arrive, we will immediately raise our banners on the battlefield and catch these mud-legged soldiers off guard."

The speaker is an old acquaintance of Liu Chang, the big-bearded general who was beaten to a pulp by him. He lowered his voice and said to a few familiar officers: "Marshal Qu? Did you think I was unaware of his background, Qu Zhenhan? He is just a fermented bean curd seller from Hongqiao, and now he has the audacity to boast about being the supreme commander of the military! Bah, in the past, whenever I visited Hongqiao, he would come out three miles to greet me personally"

The guide was a squad leader who was completely manipulated by this group of seasoned veterans. In his early twenties, he lacked much experience and was only appointed as squad leader due to his kinship with Qu Zhenhan. As soon as he entered the barracks, these old soldiers indiscriminately showered him with their tricks, leading Qu Jie to regard Sun Bazong and the others as lifelong confidants, feeling that they had met too late.

Sun was in pain all over and couldn't help but curse, "Damn, that guy is really ruthless; I almost couldn't get up. When I find the chance, I will definitely stab him in the back. Brother Xu, what do you think?"

Sun patted his chest and assured everyone: "As long as everyone is aware, I will go back and meet that mud-legged man, Qu Zhenhai, no! I mean the Grand Marshal of the Land and Naval Forces of the World. I believe this kid is destined to be childless and without descendants mhetushucomcom"

The bearded Sun took over the conversation: "Indeed, our Green Camp soldiers have served the Qing Dynasty for generations. From the time the Qing entered the pass until now, it has been a full two hundred years. How can we allow this group of mud-legged people to ride on our backs? This is a great opportunity; as long as we seize it, everyone will have the chance to rise in rank and wealth"

"A monkey dressed in a crown, a monkey dressed in a crown!"

Liu Bowen? Liu Jiandian? Sun Bazong has already started shouting: "So who is the boss, Liu Jiandian or General Qu?"

However, Liu Chang is very aware of his own weight; this is the Red Turban Army, not the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army that follows the Party's command. A single word from Qu Zhenhan could reclaim the power: "General Qu is too polite; Liu Chang is merely a闲人 in the Tianwang Mansion, unworthy of great use"

Ni Tingmo suddenly became tense. He was the second-in-command in the Red Scarf Army, and Qu Zhenhan's position was unlikely to change. However, Liu Chang could very well replace him as the deputy commander. He perked up his ears, waiting for Liu Chang's response

He was certainly not speaking from the heart, so Liu Chang took his hand and said: "Absolutely not, I have just arrived in this esteemed place and can say that I know nothing about the situation of the righteous army. I can only serve as a mere pawn on the battlefield and must not take on any significant responsibilities!"

I understand, I understand! Sun, with a full beard on his face, has a very meticulous mind: "Back then, everyone served their own masters, but now we all work for Marshal Qu, we are one family now, let bygones be bygones!"

These few bodyguards usually have a very good relationship with Qu Jie, but now they solemnly said: "It is Liu Chang, Liu Jian Dian, the thirty-six checkpoints in the Heavenly King's Hall, your uncle respects him as Liu Bowen descending to the mortal realm"

Which Liu inspection point?

General Xu Qian encouraged everyone: "Do not be misled by the fact that the mud-legged soldiers have entered the city. Let alone Wenzhou, even Leqing is still within our Great Qing's territory. I have inquired, and both the camps of Dajing and Panshi are as solid as a mountain. When the honorable Lord Qinglian mobilizes troops from Fucheng and Ruian across the river, advancing by both land and water from Taiping and Yuhuan, what can these thousand or so mud-legged soldiers accomplish!"

Liu Chang held the laptop tightly but did not mention its origin: "What is Qu Shuai waiting for? Hurry up and gather the elders and folks of Lecheng!"

The Red Turban Army has now organized three regiments, each consisting of five hundred soldiers, with five posts under each regiment, and each post comprises one hundred soldiers. With a single command, Qu Zhenhan dispatched one hundred warriors to Liu Chang to serve as personal guards.

How is your injury healing? Liu's strike was a bit heavy, but please don't take it to heart, Sun. We will all be working together in the future!

No problem! No problem! Qu Zhenhan's face was still filled with excitement: "This is truly miraculous. Not to mention several months' worth of rations, even tens of thousands of taels of silver can be raised. What exactly is this divine object?"

As he was speaking, a hurried knocking on the door sounded, followed by someone shouting: "Commander Sun, General Qu is waiting for you at the Goddess Temple!"

A young officer beside him also added, "Indeed! Deputy General Yao was caught off guard and was killed by the bandits. We are currently forced to act against the bandits due to the circumstances."

There is always a flicker in the words and expressions, especially among those officers who, although remaining in their original positions, do not dare to engage in public activities; however, private connections continue to emerge one after another.

Everyone is aware that this not only acknowledges Liu Chang's identity as a gatekeeper before the heavenly palace, but also expresses a willingness to relinquish the significant power of the Red Turban Army. To put it in the words of a Wenzhou drum song, it means sitting side by side as kings, sharing the throne.

The once imposing Green Camp soldiers have lost their usual arrogance; they cautiously observe the spirited Red Turban Army, occasionally trying to get closer, and then say, "From now on, we are all on the same side, all serving under Commander Qu!"

The loyalty of the Green Camp soldiers to the Qing court has never been in doubt. Xu Ba, the general, immediately promised everyone: "Everyone, pay close attention. As soon as my Qing soldiers arrive, we will immediately raise the banner of righteousness on the battlefield. At that time, you will not be short of a thousand-man commander or a district commander, and both I and Old Sun will also receive a deputy general or a guerrilla commander."

However, he also knows that Qu Zhenhan has played a trick. Although he has included the outsider Liu Chang into the Red Turban Army, he has not given him any formal position or title. This hundred personal guards are still under the control of him and Qu Zhenhan. When the time comes, with just a command, they can immediately tie up Liu Chang.

Qu Zhenhan concluded based on his topic: "Good! Good! Good! Liu Jianping's integrity and high moral standards are greatly admired by me. From now on, you shall be my Liu Bowen!"

Qu Jie could not help but feel elated; he had never been so flattered by anyone before: "The military affairs are urgent, so it’s better not to! Brother Sun is treating us? No, no, if Uncle Zhenhai finds out, he will definitely scold me. Well then, let’s go take a look; we really won’t come!"

Sun had already placed his arm around Qu Jie’s shoulder and asked, "By the way, Qu Squad Leader, do you have someone special? Would you like me to introduce you to a few beautiful women from inside and outside of Yueqing City..."

His face was a mix of red and blue, the bruises from being beaten by Liu Chang had not faded at all, yet his arrogant expression remained unchanged. Beside him, an external liaison officer whispered, "Director Sun, please lower your voice. We are currently under the same roof and must bow our heads. We must not let these words reach the ears of those chaotic bandits"