Chapter 84: Subduing Golden Soup Camp And The Tao Family
Linjiang Prefecture City, South Water Gate.
The Jade Belt River flows through here.
This is the most important water checkpoint for cargo transshipment between the prefecture city and the outside world.
The Golden Soup Camp, one of the Linjiang Three Guards, is stationed here. Its barracks are built against the City Wall, resembling a Water Fortress with a wharf and watchtowers inside, inspecting all passing ships.
But at this moment, the place lacks its usual noise and bustle, with the sluice gate tightly closed, blocking all Grain Transport Boats and passenger ships outside the city.
The soldiers on the city wall and watchtowers look tense, gripping sabers and spears.
In the center of the barracks, inside a fairly spacious pavilion, more than a dozen generals in armor, hands on their steel sabers, wait restlessly.
Some get up from time to time, step out of the pavilion, and gaze in a certain direction from the parade ground.
Others glance with their eyes at the man seated at the head, a middle-aged man with a lean face and steady demeanor.
This man is not wearing armor, dressed in a luxurious wide robe, with a meticulously groomed beautiful long beard, exuding an air of refined elegance. He doesn’t look like a military general, but more like a learned Confucian scholar.
This elegant middle-aged man is the Commander of Golden Soup Camp, Tao Gongwang.
Compared to the White Scale Guard and Iron Wall Guard, which are mainly held by the two great noble clans in the prefecture city, the Wei Family and Xiang Family, Golden Soup Camp has fallen into the hands of more than a dozen small and medium noble clans.
Among them, the three most powerful forces are the Guo Family of Guo Wei and Guo Zhen, the Yang Family, and the Tao Family.
Among the three families, the Tao Family is slightly weaker.
But precisely because the Guo Family and Yang Family are vying against each other, neither willing to yield, it ended up letting the Tao Family take the position of Commander.
The Guo and Yang then took the positions of Left and Right Commanders.
Of course, even sitting in the Commander’s position, Tao Gongwang can’t command the Guo and Yang families.
Fortunately, he knows his place well. For many years, he has always been a cheerful mediator, acting as a lubricant between the Guo and Yang clans.
“Lord Tao, we can’t just wait here forever. Your mind is sharp; please come up with a plan.” A general in his thirties with a rough face stood up anxiously, paced back and forth, then cupped his hands toward Tao Gongwang and spoke.
News from Mingguang Courtyard keeps coming.
That comet-like rising star, the ‘Soaring Swan Spear’ who became famous in Linjiang Prefecture in less than a month, broke the formation with one spear thrust, routed two thousand soldiers, and killed two great figures, Guo Wei and Hua Shouren.
This alone has terrified them greatly, but that person hasn’t left. He then forced the remaining soldiers to surrender. What he wants to do is self-evident.
Even great clans like the Guo Family and Hua Family collapsed in the blink of an eye; how can their small and medium families not be shocked and panicked?
“Stay calm in the face of matters. The sky won’t fall. Sit down.” Tao Gongwang didn’t even lift his eyelids. Unhurriedly, he picked up the teacup from the small table beside him, blew away the steam, and savored a sip.
Behind Tao Gongwang stood a silver-armored young general, his son, Tao Jingxing.
Tao Jingxing stared closely at Tao Gongwang’s hand, his eyes flickering. Only he could see his father’s fingers tremble slightly, spilling a bit of tea.
He sighed inwardly, knowing that the pressure and urgency in his father’s heart were no less than anyone else’s in the room, but years of self-cultivation barely maintained his composure.
Indeed, they might soon face that demon-like powerhouse directly. How many could avoid their hearts pounding?
Thinking of the intelligence brought back by the scouts not long ago, with such a battle record, Tao Jingxing felt his scalp tingle and was speechless with shock.
His family had recruited many martial artists, and he himself often consulted them. He knew that great masters in the Jianghu could fight a hundred with one, but one man routing two thousand soldiers—such martial power was truly inconceivable to the extreme.
Those who reach the peak of martial arts, are they like ghosts and gods?
Tao Jingxing said to himself in his heart.
“Lord Tao…” That rough-faced general couldn’t calm down, stepping forward a few paces, his expression increasingly urgent.
Tao Gongwang finally glanced at him, a wry smile appearing on his face. He sighed, “You want me to come up with an idea. What can Tao have? There are only a little over a thousand soldiers in the camp now. What can this many people do?”
As soon as he finished speaking, a huge sound of gongs and drums suddenly came from the parade ground.
In an instant, the more than ten generals in the room, including Tao Gongwang and his son, all tensed up. The teacup in Tao Gongwang’s hand fell to the ground with a ‘crack’, shattering.
Soon, waves of rapid and loud footsteps came, mixed with the clanging of weapons and armor.
Tao Gongwang and the others exchanged glances, all guessing what it was, abandoning any illusions.
“Let’s go. We’ll go out to greet them!” Tao Gongwang straightened his clothes, stood up, and strode outward.
At this time, there was some unrest in various parts of the camp, with considerable clamor spreading. Tao Gongwang waved his hand and ordered, “Go soothe the soldiers. Don’t let any commotion arise.”
He himself didn’t stop, crossing the large parade ground all the way to the camp gate, and shouted, “Open the camp gate.”
Clank clank!
As the camp gate opened, the footsteps like muffled thunder came swiftly. In no time, Tao Gongwang saw densely packed soldiers wearing Golden Soup Camp uniforms hurrying over.
When they drew near, the leading general spurred his horse forward, shook open a large package in his hand, and with ‘thud thud’ sounds, seven or eight heads rolled to the feet of Tao Gongwang and the other generals.
One of them was unmistakably Guo Wei’s head, glaring furiously with eyes wide open, covered in filthy blood.
Tao Gongwang’s eyelids twitched wildly. He involuntarily swallowed, scared into retreating two steps until held up by the equally shaken Tao Jingxing.
Those more than ten generals also paled.
The general who threw the large package shouted loudly, “The Guo Family and Hua Family resisted the Lord and have been executed. Fellow colleagues of Golden Soup Camp, are you willing to submit?”
Tao Gongwang glanced at the speaking general; he wasn’t someone he recognized. Clearly, that fierce god had subdued the soldiers and then purged the old guard, promoting a new batch.
“Father…” Tao Jingxing quickly tugged his sleeve and whispered.
Tao Gongwang’s gaze met Guo Wei’s furious eyes, his heart shuddering—not from fear of the severed head, but from dread of the consequences of this ‘show of force’.
Thud!
Tao Gongwang immediately dropped to his knees, prostrating with both hands, and said loudly, “Tao Gongwang of the Tao Family sincerely submits.”
With his kneel, Tao Jingxing and the more than ten generals also knelt one after another. Even in armor, their movements awkward, they stuck out their rears in a grand salute.
Rumble!
The crowd parted. Under the escort of several generals around him, Hong Yuan sat atop a divine steed black horse. He had also changed into black tight-fitting clothes, exuding an intangible pressure like a mountain.
The horse’s hooves clopped slowly as it approached Tao Gongwang and the others. Everyone heard a flat voice say, “Rise. Tao Gongwang, you will temporarily retain your position as Commander to manage the soldiers for me. The rest will first undergo review; we’ll discuss other matters after they pass.”
Along the way, Hong Yuan had heard reports from Xie Yansheng and several newly promoted captains, knowing that Tao Gongwang had a decent reputation and some ability, so he kept him for now.
As for those more than ten generals, they were dispensable. After review, decide whether to kill or keep.
In an ordinary world, even if he wanted to act, it wouldn’t be easy in a short time; he’d need to reward and win them over to stabilize hearts.
But in this world with martial arts, with Hong Yuan displaying the might of one man breaking an army, he himself was the most powerful sway over hearts.
Naturally, he could act as he pleased.
“Yes!” The more than ten generals trembled but didn’t dare resist, allowing the soldiers to take them away.
Tao Gongwang and Tao Jingxing slowly rose, still keeping their heads lowered, not daring to meet Hong Yuan’s eyes. Only when Tao Jingxing glanced at Hong Yuan with the corner of his eye did his expression become complex.
This one odd expression was immediately noticed by Hong Yuan. He pointed at him and said, “Who are you? I think I’ve seen you somewhere.”
As he spoke, Hong Yuan had actually already remembered.
He now not only had photographic memory, but even many casual little things from the past could quickly flash through his mind if he willed it.
“I am Tao Jingxing. About two months ago, at the Yangquan County Wharf, I witnessed Young Master Hong… the Lord display divine might, slaying the villains, and departing with a triumphant song.”
Tao Jingxing had also heard the rumor that the poem ‘Ten Steps, One Kill’ came from Hong Yuan’s hand. He had some doubts before, but seeing the other’s figure today, he immediately matched it with that black-clad swordsman from the wharf back then.
Hong Yuan nodded noncommittally and waved his hand, “Enter the camp!”
