Chapter 47: Bravery And Wisdom
On the southern shore of Yunmeng Marsh water, the Wu Family Army launched their first frontal battle against the bandits here. The trigger for this battle was that during the dry season, the Wu Family Army charged into several high grounds in Yunmeng Marsh that were originally puddles, first burning all the reeds with a fire, then using the Golden Bull to dig ponds and build dams for these high grounds in the lake. Subsequently, they built a stronghold about fifty zhang long on top using giant wood and mud.
If the Water Tribe did not interfere, these strongholds would turn into chains of islands blocking the view on the lake in summer. These island chains would block the Yunmeng Marsh bandit army from obtaining saltpeter, herbs, and other items.
Especially herbs, during the last plague, the Water Tribe in Yunmeng Marsh also suffered from water plague bugs, medicine shortages led to many Water Tribe dying from tapeworms in their abdomens, and the survivors were all sallow and emaciated.
And with this move this year, if another great plague occurs, this rebel army gathered in Yunmeng Marsh would disperse.
Therefore, the Yunmeng Marsh rebel leader obviously did not want to fall into this situation half a year later. He chose to take the initiative to form ranks against the Donghua River main camp.
Over a thousand small boats gathered at the shore, water folk wearing fish skin chaotically formed formations and came to the shore.
And these bandits, though numerous, were actually stepping stones, obstacles to block Da Yao heavy cavalry from charging into the central formation. As the saying goes, three hundred thousand pigs would take a long time to catch, when the cannon fodder formation is densely arranged and gathers killing intent, even heavy cavalry chopping would dull their blades.
The true main force of the Water Tribe rebels was the floating sky boats coming from over the lake surface.
These tower ships suspended by hot air balloons looked extraordinarily grand due to their huge lamp bodies. The hanging pod below was five zhang wide, externally mounted with one Yanlin Cannon. The Yanlin Cannon was like a rocket nest, capable of launching multiple rocket projectiles at once, and after firing, metal swimming dragons in the cannon barrels would rotate once in each chamber, then be stuffed full of new rocket projectiles to continue firing.
As the Wu Family Army formation began to confront the Water Tribe cannon fodder, these sky boats lined up in a battle line, facing the killing intent tide formed by the Wu Family Army formations.
These Water Tribe giant ships clearly suffered heavily after entering the killing intent range, their wooden hulls lost lightness, height forcibly dropped a section, and the floating personnel on the ships immediately ordered all sky boats to stop advancing.
After the sky boat members used the mountain sight to measure the distance to the Wu Family Army, they first fired a distant salvo, twenty fire dragon projectiles spraying spiral clouds and mists surged forward, bombing and collapsing the three watchtowers directly in front of the main camp along with a hundred zhang of fence.
A year ago, this kind of bombardment caused huge trouble for the two Da Yao southern armies at the time, the laborer troops recruited locally from Ji Prefecture and Donghua Prefecture were blown with limbs flying by the flames, causing a morale collapse, and at that time the Da Yao soldiers also suffered from the “Night Owl Technique” demonic spell attack.
This spell generated a mud pit, from which several-zhang black mud giant hands extended to slap the generals in the range. At that time, this spell took down the Da Yao supervisor who came to suppress upon appearance, according to survivors’ recollections, in that battle, Da Yao official army corpses fed the water maggots on the marsh.
The Wu Family Army now did not dare to stand in dense queues. After the first wave of cannon fire, the scattered laborer army formation missed most projectiles, only a few happened to hit the lines, this seemingly dense bombardment only caused dozens of deaths.
And at the Wu Family Army side, the cannons in the barriers also began to show their power.
…Gunpowder smoke accompanied by water mist on the sky boat platform…
Yu Li gazed at the opposing grand formation, as a Dragon Descendant she controlled the sky boat, carefully avoiding the firelight shooting from the opposite shore. One by one red fire crows flew from there, seemingly consciously landing on her sky boat’s wind sails.
She picked up the telescope and looked more closely.
In the Wu Family Army main camp, the bed crossbow was drawn, after the three bow arms completed bending and storing power, a tung oil soaked crossbow bolt broke through the air.
The crossbow bolt was engraved with wind control runes, so after shooting out, it maintained a speed of a hundred steps per instant, flying towards the sky boat.
This crossbow bolt scattered large amounts of purple flames after approaching the sky boat by fifty steps, this was the effect caused by the sulfur, saltpeter, and pine oil and other combustibles carried on the ballista’s cannon arrow.
Although the sky boat had “field energy” isolating part of the flames, some “fly”-sized fire sparks still seeped in.
The two sky boats on the left showed defensive flaws, so their heights began to drop.
Due to the sky boats constantly moving during battle with the Wu Family Army, although to avoid the Wu Family Army’s trajectories, more often the sky boats’ own trajectories could not be calibrated, most projectiles landed on open ground.
The sky boat artillery bombing the Wu Family Army was not very efficient. The effective results were that mages on the dragon boats loaded tailwind spells to extend range, a few cannonballs happened to smash into the laborer queues guarding both sides of the cannon team, since that queue stood relatively dense, seven or eight people were blown away, causing several minutes of chaos, but subsequently Wu Hengyu’s cavalry overseer team rushed over, chopped a few people, and the queue quickly recovered.
The sky boats fired copper rune iron projectiles, activating wind sails also consumed Xiu Jade stones, the cost of combat was even more expensive.
The daily maintenance consumption of a sky boat in one cold or hot season could recruit half a team of laborers. When both sides’ cannons could not overpower each other, the two armies could only confront across the cloud water, waiting for the cannon barrels to cool down.
And after one hour, in the Wu Family Army main camp, a taunting formation appeared!
A group of dragon dance team beating gongs and drums appeared, red tassel spears supporting paper dragons, shaking heads and tails in front of the camp, waving up and down, chasing the paper-mache “dragon pearl” in front to play. Quite comical.
Yu Li paused slightly, knowing the opposite side was provoking her. In the Haotian Realm, dragons are sacred, Dragon Descendants absolutely do not allow mortals to make such jokes in folklore.
Even though she could ignore this trick, the retainers who came with her from the Haotian Realm could not withstand this provocation, she was not Pu E, although only one step away from dragon transformation, she ultimately failed to fully transform into dragon form. Moreover, her bloodline was far inferior to Pu E the direct lineage in the clan, and she also lacked prestige.
The sky boats advanced again, retaliating with cannons. Gunpowder smoke once again enveloped the center of the lake water.
…In this battle, Yu Li was the attacker, attacks always have flaws…
Just as Yu Li had to prepare the second round of bombardment, on the lake surface several hundred zhang away to the left of the sky boat, clouds and wind qi suddenly rose without reason, then a cavalry appeared from the side, led by Wu Hengyu riding Wuzhui, his spear knocking away the incoming rockets, and charging straight at the sky boat, together with him in the charge were twenty-eight knights riding dragon horses.
Wu Hengyu divided his subordinate cavalry into three routes, himself as one route, the other three routes charging from other directions.
The cavalry charge ignored the concentrated shots from the bamboo crossbows below the sky boat, penetrating the sky boat from the side, the sky boat airbag like a head spun flying by a great saber directly floated upward, while the hanging boat hull, losing the ropes’ drag, tumbled and fell to the ground smashing into fragments everywhere.
The sky boat hull looked like a small house, but after falling, it was seen that this thing was light and fluffy, made of very light wood, weight even less than a war chariot.
After this battle, twenty-eight riders remained twenty-six, the other two were brought back by their own ground riders after falling, after Wu Hengyu returned to formation, the whole army shouted victory!
In this shout, Wu Hengyu raised the Star River Spear, but suddenly his eyes became confused, then a segment of memory not belonging to this world emerged.
He looked at the Donghua River water in front, involuntarily touched his neck, now there were no scars here.
And on the charged side, Yu Li dazedly watched the departing cavalry team, despite beside her the burning sky boat spiraling downward emitting smoke, the burning flames reflecting her countenance, as if in a scene she once had.
…Perspective switch to the distant North…
Shu Tian Calendar 28th year spring, outside Yinsi City. This is two hundred li from the Da Yao and Guotai frontline. A disheveled man carrying an iron sword looked around outside the city wall, like a thief.
After a good while, confirming no one noticed, he squatting in the wall corner found a cave, by knocking the wall he confirmed something, then walked two steps to find two other unremarkable caves, he found stones to block the extra caves, then found weeds to cover, leaving only one air inlet and one outlet.
Enduring the smoke, he guarded one cave, soon waited for rat scouts to poke heads, but he did not strike immediately, until the rats rushed onto the slope and slipped on fine sand, then he slashed down with one sword.
This man grabbed the decapitated gray rat, hurriedly left, afraid of being seen by others. Because only beggars catch rats to eat.
Half an hour later, slightly sated, he carried the sword into the city again. Still disheveled, but holding himself with poise.
Pu E in human form watched from afar, yes, this wretch called Zhao Cheng, she had watched him for a full month. In her eyes, this one had nothing special? Even could be said somewhat “lowly”.
Zhao Cheng wanted dignity, but facing the reality of hunger, he would ultimately resort to any means to solve it.
He would mix into others’ funeral processions to walk, then receive meals to eat. When pointed out, he stood woodenly silent, in the end others pitied him and gave him the meal.
Pu E looked at the system screen, clearly surprised, asking the lottery platform: “This is the ‘famous general’ you matched for me after transferring to this world?”
The Wisdom and Courage System gave an affirmative reply, Pu E frowned: “How to approach? If I send him food, I can gain favor?”
System: “This person has the code of a ‘scholar’, emphasizes ‘equal reciprocation’, if you send him food, his reciprocation is only a thousand gold, but what you need is not ‘thousand gold’ but ‘general talent’.”
Pu E fell silent, the system gave the answer: “You need to give him the grace of discovery!” — Pu E looked up and asked: “Enough appreciation, right?”
Her expression was very strange. After these days of observation, for her not to show contempt was already good manners, where does appreciation come from? She sighed, nodded and said: “I’ll try.”
Recalling one year ago, the general she originally pre-ordered in the system matched her, but in this plane, for unknown reasons, the originally prepared famous general had issues during “obsession loading”, could only activate this backup.
…Backup card, not as expected.…
Early February, inside Yinsi City, in the marketplace, a woman set up a special chess game, in the chess game transport there were phenomena of wind, forest, fire, mountain. And chess piece movement even had the momentum of saber soldiers.
This woman (Pu E) claimed: “Those who can break this chess may gain a thousand gold! Even if cannot break, able to make one move, may get ten coins.”
Thus interested people tried, but mostly marketplace ruffians; when picking up a chess piece to place, felt the sense of saber soldiers added, panicked abandoned piece and left.
Within two days, unexpectedly no one could make ten moves, and the young master who made ten moves also did not dare take the money, but horrifiedly looked at this chess game. Deeply bowed to the woman who set the board. Asked where she came from.
On the third day, Zhao Cheng who watched for a full ten hours, looked at this chessboard, wanted to step forward, but just as sitting before the chess game, was mocked by a nearby wandering knight: “Isn’t this the sturdy man who hunts beasts under the city wall! Today coming, can earn dozens of coins to sate hunger.” Although Zhao Cheng did it very concealed, the rat catching was still seen by others, and ridiculed publicly.
Zhao Cheng face sallow, hearing these words, slightly stunned, but did not heed, appearing “forcibly calm” as he sat before the chessboard.
After observing the overall situation, holding black he placed a piece, one step, two steps, three steps. Killing intent crisscrossed on the chessboard, piece movement like army formation advancing slowly.
The surrounding mockery turned to whispers, from contempt to unwilling to believe. The “lowly one” normally recognized, now suddenly showed extraordinary talent, as if turning past commentators into “background”.
After twenty steps, Zhao Cheng stopped placing, he cupped hands: “May I first receive the reward, this game tomorrow continue.” The chess game consumed massive mental power, Zhao Cheng’s originally sallow face even more sickly.
Pu E then packed the chessboard, took out a thousand gold: “I set this game to find Mister, please Mister come with me.”
Zhao Cheng slightly stunned, looked at Pu E, suddenly said: “Madam is not a Da Yao person?”
Pu E face surprised. Then Zhao Cheng picked up a bounty coin, said: “If Madam wants me to help break the game, Cheng has no calculation, does not enter unwinnable games!”
Zhao Cheng stared at this person dressed and appearing unlike Da Yao natives, good at fine calculation, he had guesses in his heart.
Pu E inwardly displeased, thought herself already sufficiently courteous to the talented. But then the system popped a window, showing strategy degree insufficient. Let her suppress emotions to find a plan.
Finally, under system prompt, Pu E thus revealed her true form, wearing dark dragon pattern attire. Such gorgeous brocade robe shocked the marketplace fools into kneeling, but those with some insight knew, such silk clothes not worn by those below kings and nobles, and this style different from Da Yao. Clearly a noble from northern Guotai.
After revealing the brocade robe, Pu E cupped hands and bowed to Zhao Cheng, beside her appeared a lacquer box, the box slowly opened like a giant clam, revealing the general seal inside.
In the Wisdom and Courage System’s strategy: clothes represent status. Under dynasty system, when a person wears brocade robe matching their rank to receive someone, that is, entrusting them with important matters.
Thus, just now even though Pu E took out a thousand gold, but wearing “fish clothes”, and in the marketplace, Zhao Cheng was uncertain if the other truly wanted to use him, truly trusted his talent. Serving someone who does not believe in you equals battling without calculation, even with thousand gold before him, cannot step in.
Theoretically, if Pu E had no system prompt, she could not recruit this general, but now succeeded. Zhao Cheng pledged loyalty to Guotai: “Will not betray Heaven seen”, “Will not betray liege (Pu E)”, “Will not betray iron”.
Several hours later, Da Yao constables rushed to the marketplace, but the chess game was already empty, constables could only report the message to the government office, and the government office master waved hand, issued a “wanted notice” and that was it.
…Perspective turn to Southern Region…
On Yongji Pass, the big iron pot was opened, steam permeated a unique fragrance, due to current special grain control inside the pass, everyone ate taro at this time, so eating taro this season became tradition.
Xuan Chong picked up chopsticks to clip a piece of taro, dipped in the red syrup beside, bit one mouthful, nodded. Very satisfied with the status quo, however at this time the system rang, a progress bar appeared above.
Xuan Chong choked, quickly gulped a cup of water. About the system popping out to ruin his mood when enjoying, not once or twice, Xuan Chong sometimes extremely suspected this system was intentional.
System: “Teaching aid loading soon complete, please note, arriving here is a set of test papers, this will be the ‘interest question’ in this course, may do, may not do.”
Xuan Chong gulped water to clear the sweetness in his mouth, drawlingly retorted: “If I don’t do it, what consequences?”
System: “No consequences.”
Xuan Chong squatted a bit more, weakly asked: “Then the questions? Where? Give some underlined hints.”
System: “Already in your current situation.”
Xuan Chong humbly replied: “But I don’t know?”
System: “I already prompted, next please carefully review the questions, do not miss any doubt.”
Xuan Chong hurriedly ate four or five mouthfuls, then called, San Gu.
Xuan Chong asked San Gu: “Hey, let me ask, do you have any plans?”
San Gu tilted her head looking at Xuan Chong, Xuan Chong also curiously looked at her, not knowing what the question was, so probed her.
Wu Fei let go of face and said: “Be my Madam, good?”
San Gu responded steadily like incense before Buddha: “My intention is the same.”
