Chapter 92: Little Song, Give Brother Yuan Some Face!
In addition to the notices plastered throughout the streets and alleys, both sides dispatched numerous prefecture soldiers to gallop along the long streets, shouting back and forth, reading the contents of the notices.
Everyone clearly realized one thing: the heavens had changed in Linjiang Prefecture.
The old upper-class forces had all been purged, and now it was a situation of dual dominance between Crouching Tiger Manor’s Song Yinglong and that ‘Soaring Swan Spear’.
While the common folk were naturally trembling in fear, weren’t the gentry and great families also filled with apprehension?
But life had to go on.
Mingzhou was indeed prosperous, and the lives of ordinary people were better than in the vast majority of prefectures, but there were also many impoverished people at the bottom who could not eat if they did not labor for a day.
On the second day after the city-wide announcement, many marketplaces had already reopened, and although the crowds on the street were not as bustling as usual, they had become lively again.
At this time, Hong Yuan was meeting with his high-ranking subordinates at the Tao Mansion.
Besides some Golden Soup Camp generals who remained after the investigation, there were also many high-ranking members of the Grain Transport Gang.
The Grain Transport Gang’s influence spanned the twelve counties of Linjiang Prefecture, and there was a branch headquarters in the prefecture city. As soon as Hong Yuan defeated Song Yinglong, he had sent someone to summon that branch master.
He was instructed to contact the Twin Dragon Gorge main headquarters and have Qian Shan Zhi and others rush to the prefecture city.
Twin Dragon Gorge was only sixty to seventy li from the prefecture city, so these people had actually arrived yesterday.
However, after plundering the libraries of noble clans like the Hua Family and the Guo Family and acquiring many classics, Hong Yuan was busy reading and naturally left them waiting.
Hong Yuan paced in the garden with his hands behind his back, while a group of people bowed and waited before him.
He slowly turned around, the two groups clearly distinct, and first looked towards the Grain Transport Gang side.
Besides Steward Qian Shan Zhi, the other attendant he selected, Steward Zhao Qifeng, was on the right.
Also present were the flag masters of three River Patrol Flags and Mountain Guard Flags, as well as a group of incense masters from branch headquarters who had rushed back to the main headquarters upon learning of the changes in the Grain Transport Gang.
Even though these people were unwilling in their hearts, after returning to the Twin Dragon Gorge headquarters and learning from numerous disciples about Hong Yuan’s martial arts that could break through a thousand armies and his ruthless methods, they could only submit.
If they didn’t want to submit but also didn’t want to die, their only option was to abandon their foundations and flee to another land.
But without the Grain Transport Gang as their support, and carrying a large amount of gold and silver wealth to another prefecture, wouldn’t that be like a child carrying gold through a crowded marketplace?
“I’ve summoned you all here, not only for you to meet and get to know each other, but there’s nothing too important…”
Hong Yuan spoke lightly, his gaze falling on Xie Yansheng.
Beside him were seven or eight scholars, both old and young, who were staff officers recruited over the past day or two.
Both at the current stage and for a long time to come, Hong Yuan would undoubtedly focus on martial arts, but he could not abandon power.
Naturally, he had to win over a large group of people to his command to manage affairs on his behalf.
Was Xie Yansheng alone enough?
Even if he wasn’t afraid of Xie Yansheng acting arbitrarily, as a superior, he could not entrust all matters to one person.
These scholars were his civilian staff, and for now, the first to pledge allegiance, Xie Yansheng, would be their leader.
“Mister Xie, you explain!”
As he spoke, Hong Yuan turned and slowly stepped into the stone pavilion in the garden to take a seat.
Tao Xiyue followed closely behind him, her red skirt fluttering. She knew Hong Yuan enjoyed fine wine, and fine wine had already been prepared in the hall, so she poured a full cup for him at this moment.
Xie Yansheng respectfully accepted the order and then, facing everyone, loudly began to explain Hong Yuan’s plans.
First, the old and weak of the Golden Soup Camp would be eliminated, and elite cadres would be drawn from the Grain Transport Gang to supplement them, reaching a total of three thousand. The Golden Soup Camp would be renamed the ‘Town Sea Army’.
Second, the Grain Transport Gang and the Town Sea Army would be integrated into one entity, collectively known as the Town Sea Alliance, with important positions held by individuals from both sides. The Town Sea Alliance would temporarily have four halls: the Grain Transport Hall for water transport, the War Soldier Hall for managing soldiers, the Supervision Hall for gathering intelligence and rectifying military discipline, and the Wealth Hall for logistics and finance.
Qian Shan Zhi would be the Hall Master of the Grain Transport Hall, Tao Gongwang would manage the War Soldier Hall, Xie Yansheng would be in charge of the Supervision Hall, and Zhao Qifeng would be the Chief of the Wealth Hall.
Of course, Qian Shan Zhi and Zhao Qifeng would retain their positions as Left and Right Steward of the Grain Transport Gang respectively, and Tao Gongwang would remain the Commander of the Town Sea Army.
In addition to collecting taxes and managing civil affairs within its territory, the most important matters for the Town Sea Alliance would be to collect all sorts of heavenly materials and earthly treasures, rare and exotic fruits, force techniques, mysterious sorcery, and true skill and gang body classics!
In fact, for Hong Yuan, the latter was far more important than the former.
After Xie Yansheng finished speaking, everyone present fell silent.
The scholars were aware of this, as these plans were conceived by them according to Hong Yuan’s requirements.
Hong Yuan slowly savored his wine, his gaze falling on the group, and he smiled, “Does anyone have any questions?”
No one replied.
Soldiers like Tao Gongwang and Tao Jingxing recalled the tragic scene at Mingguang Courtyard and the earth-shattering battle between Hong Yuan and Song Yinglong on the long street.
Members of the Grain Transport Gang like Qian Shan Zhi recalled their Hall Master, who was decapitated at the slightest disagreement.
Hong Yuan’s eyes flickered, his smile becoming even more radiant, and his voice grew gentle, “No answer means dissatisfaction. If you have questions, raise them. Don’t feign compliance today and then go against me tomorrow…”
“Your subordinate obeys.”
Tao Gongwang spoke first.
As his words fell, the others also responded in unison: “We obey.”
“Good!”
Hong Yuan increasingly felt the wonders of extraordinary individuals; power was concentrated in one body. Perhaps many problems couldn’t be solved, but the people who raised the problems could be.
“Then you may all leave. As for the subsequent matters, you can discuss them amongst yourselves.”
The group quickly dispersed, and in a blink of an eye, only Hong Yuan and Tao Xiyue remained in the garden.
Hong Yuan pondered the information he had acquired about the major powers of the world in recent days.
Having arrived in this world for over two months, he had not only established a foundation but also finally understood the truly top-tier forces in this world.
Over a hundred years ago, when the young emperor of the Great Yin Dynasty ascended the throne, first the empresses and concubines interfered with state affairs, disrupting the imperial court, then eunuchs caused trouble, leading to military rebellion. After finally pacifying it, powerful ministers usurped power, even deposing and enthroning emperors, throwing the world into turmoil.
To quell the chaos, the Great Yin Imperial Family had to rely on the strength of the southern noble clans, influential families, and northern military leaders.
Although the world eventually stabilized, it left a great hidden danger for future generations, and even a hundred years later, local separatist forces were everywhere.
Among these countless large and small separatist forces, the south had six major feudal states and eight great noble families, while the north had twelve major military garrisons.
This did not even include Jianghu forces. Besides the overt major sects, there were also numerous evil god cults with vast influence, capable of stirring up trouble at any time.
In the land of Mingzhou alone, because Mingzhou occupied the crucial waterway artery connecting north and south and was the wealthiest in the land, it had spawned three of the eight great noble families.
Hong Yuan only learned recently that the Hua Family actually had ties to the Jiangling Xie Family, one of the eight.
Of course, this was not surprising; in eight hundred years of dynasty, noble families were rampant, and intermarriage was very common.
The Jiangling Xie Family rose to prominence five hundred years ago, serving as imperial merchants for centuries, with numerous masters, many followers, and over ten thousand private soldiers.
As Hong Yuan’s thoughts churned, Xie Yansheng hurried in again and reported, “My Lord, someone from Black Iron Town is here to see you, claiming to know you.”
He paused, then added, “Earlier, scouts on the watchtower saw beacon smoke rising from the direction of Black Iron Town. It is likely that Crouching Tiger Manor’s forces are attacking…”
Hong Yuan’s expression was calm, “Have them come in.”
Soon, three people were led into the garden. Two of them wore leather armor, held steel sabers, and bore signs of battle damage. They escorted a young girl in green robes, who hurried forward.
With a “thump,” the girl in green saw Hong Yuan and her knees immediately buckled, and she knelt on the ground.
“Please, Young Master, save my Black Iron Town.”
East City District.
The Wei Family Mansion had become the temporary base for the high-ranking officials of Crouching Tiger Manor. In a council hall at this moment, Song Yinglong sat upright, facing everyone, “How is Black Iron Town?”
“We’ve been attacking for several hours. With General Shi of the Black Armored Camp leading the charge, we should receive good news soon,” Mister Wuchen said with a relaxed demeanor.
Song Yinglong had spent nearly twenty years planning. In addition to his thousands of retainers, he had secretly trained a Black Armored Army. Although their numbers were only fifteen hundred, each of them was elite and valiant, far superior in combat effectiveness to the Iron Wall Guard and White Scale Guard he had most recently subdued.
This was the Black Armored Army’s first battle.
The reason for heading to Black Iron Town was, of course, to capture this prominent military equipment manufacturing stronghold in Linjiang Prefecture.
“Good, once Black Iron Town is taken, I, Song, will personally reward Brother Shi…”
A smile appeared on Song Yinglong’s stern face, but it immediately changed slightly as a sharp whistle sounded in his ears.
It was the piercing sound of an object rapidly breaking through the air and colliding with the airflow.
Bang!
A loud noise came from the roof, followed by a violent tremor from above as roof tiles were torn apart, creating a hole.
Song Yinglong looked intently and saw a silver light entering his vision. It coiled like a divine dragon, as fast as a lightning bolt splitting the sky, dazzling his eyes while simultaneously chilling the hall.
Swish!
The floor of the council hall was instantly pierced, and a silver spear shot down, embedding itself directly into the floor, with only half of it protruding. The gleaming silver spear shaft trembled violently.
Upon seeing this silver spear, Song Yinglong’s eyes sharpened, and he slammed the table, rising to his feet.
Before he could speak, a long laugh drifted in from outside the hall.
“Little Song, give Brother Yuan some face! For the people of Black Iron Town, just give an order to withdraw!”
Before the voice faded, a commotion came from outside, and a black-clothed youth, with a smile on his face and hands behind his back, strode in unhurriedly.
