[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-from-special-forces-to-the-multiverse":3,"chapter-from-special-forces-to-the-multiverse-from-special-forces-to-the-multiverse-chapter-154":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","From Special Forces to the Multiverse",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2315204,4527,"Chapter 154: Rendezvous","from-special-forces-to-the-multiverse-chapter-154",154,"\u003Cp>That year, landlords, scholar-gentry, and martial sects north of the Southern Song fled south as much as they could—there was no choice; those who didn’t flee faced at best confiscation of property, at worst immediate execution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the Revolutionary Army launched a sweeping crackdown on banditry in response to the deteriorating public security, ordering all local bandits to surrender to their regional governments within one month and confess their crimes—those with lesser offenses would be dealt with leniently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, local government public security departments dealt with local hooligans, ruffians, and underworld elements, rigorously investigating whether wealthy families had exploited the poor; if so, they were subjected to labor reform according to their crimes, and those who had taken lives were immediately put on public trial and executed without mercy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The anti-bandit crackdown lasted from February to November; to ensure its success, the Revolutionary Army deployed seventy thousand regular troops to assist local guerrillas and public security forces in the operation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet as he stared at the newly compiled statistics, Guo Jing blinked in surprise: “Only forty thousand executed? Did they hesitate? Is that really all the bandits and criminal elements left in the north?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What else can you do? You can’t execute every petty thief or vagrant—you know what the world was like before; they didn’t want to be evil. Give them a chance,” Hong Qigong said quickly, having been shaken by the Revolutionary Army’s ruthless methods and now rushing to dissuade Guo Jing from accusing them of being soft.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These people were truly ruthless—seventy thousand regular troops armed with firearms, each trio capable of slaughtering hundreds of bandits on open plains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet in this crackdown, the Revolutionary Army’s numbers were nearly double those of the bandits—not even counting local guerrillas and police.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, martial sects across the land were as obedient as they could be—why else would he be here? It was precisely because the martial world wanted this elder to ask: who exactly was the crackdown targeting, and when would it end?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was unbearable—the constant feeling of “when the rabbit dies, the fox grieves”—if it didn’t stop, they would collapse entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re cracking down on public security so hard because we’re about to rendezvous with Chu’an and the others. Soon, we’ll hold a grand ceremony in Sizhoucheng to celebrate the founding of this government—first, we clean house,” Guo Jing said, rising and gazing eastward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He recalled the meeting they’d held in the Mongolian yurt—back then, only four of them existed, and few recognized their ideal of the proletariat ruling themselves; now, the mountains were crimson with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riding hard from Guanxi all the way to Sizhoucheng, he saw Zhang Chu’an leading a group to greet him from afar; after so long apart, both looked more weathered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big Brother Guo, we’ve finally met! Xiao Fan and I missed you so much,” Zhang Chu’an rushed forward, and Guo Jing embraced him tightly: “Yes, I missed you too. You’ve worked hard these days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s been hard, but seeing the people across the land live better makes it worth it. Come on, Big Brother Guo—let’s enter the city,” Zhang Chu’an gestured, inviting Guo Jing and the delegation inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strictly speaking, this was Guo Jing’s first step into Sizhoucheng in this timeline. Though in future years he had indeed walked these streets, that Sizhoucheng—having endured the vicissitudes of the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties—was utterly different from this one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he crossed Sizhoucheng’s gate, Guo Jing’s eyes filled with wonder. Though battered by prolonged sieges and scarred by war, the city had been astonishingly restored through Zhang Chu’an’s meticulous repairs and careful preservation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even more astonishing was how modern technology had been skillfully integrated into the restoration, preserving the city’s ancient appearance while infusing it with modern vitality. Ancient architecture blended seamlessly with modern tech, creating a unique style that evoked both historical weight and urban dynamism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking through Sizhoucheng’s alleys and streets, Guo Jing felt as if he’d stepped back into an age of heroes—or into a futuristic metropolis. This fusion of past and future filled him with novelty and excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, where’s Huaishang? I thought he rendezvoused with you long ago—now that I’m here, why isn’t he out to greet me?” Guo Jing asked, still on horseback after admiring the scenery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s chatting with the envoy from the Song court right now. You should’ve seen their faces when they realized we two factions are practically wearing the same pants,” Zhang Chu’an teased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s the point of asking that? Neither of our Revolutionary Armies could beat the other,” Guo Jing said, wanting to drop the subject.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Song Dynasty was undoubtedly one of the most despicable regimes in history—Qin Gui gave way to Shi Miyuan, Shi Miyuan, Shi Miyuan, then Jia Sidao—corruption passed like an inheritance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Zhongdu Imperial Palace—once the residence of Jin emperors—now served as their temporary headquarters. “Temporary,” because they planned to open it later as a tourist attraction and museum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nie Huaishang lounged lazily on the dragon throne, feet propped on the negotiation table where the Song envoy Wang Nan sat rigidly upright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard your grandfather Wang Lun died in the north during the Jingkang Disaster. Emperor Xiaozong found your lineage and made you an official. I’m curious—why did you betray Han Chengxiang and deliver his head to the Jin to negotiate peace? You people preach morality and righteousness, yet crave fame and profit. I won’t dwell on it—your killing of Han Chengxiang and peace with the Jin makes you their allies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now that the Jin are nearly destroyed by us, when will your ally send troops to save them?” Nie Huaishang said, smiling faintly at Wang Nan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Nan broke into cold sweat—how could he not? They’d chosen peace precisely because they couldn’t defeat the Jin. These people were on the verge of annihilating the Jin—how could Song possibly send troops to aid them? Logically, they should be raising an army to crush the Jin and avenge the Jingkang Humiliation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Nan hurriedly smiled: “Great Khan, please calm down. Song’s peace with the Jin and the execution of Han Chengxiang were forced upon us by Wu Xi’s defection to the Jin—we were pushed back at every turn.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah, you’re a bunch of useless cowards. The Jin are on the verge of annihilation, their main forces are locked in battle with us, yet your entire Song Dynasty can’t even defeat their border garrisons. With such incompetence, what right do you have to bargain? Just surrender. Out of kinship, we’ll let your emperor become a dignified laborer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We won’t sleep with your emperor’s wife or daughters and distribute them to our men, nor will we commission paintings of the process,” Nie Huaishang sneered.\u003C\u002Fp>",1122,"2026-06-20T13:48:22.834Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","1d6281599464aeefffc36e30ba8e0461f9e596ea4950fee8f08f962961cb121d","from-special-forces-to-the-multiverse-chapter-155","from-special-forces-to-the-multiverse-chapter-153",205,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Ffrom-special-forces-to-the-multiverse-cover.jpg"]