Chapter 265

"Who in the clan has the greatest combat strength?"

Chen Luozi laughed and said, "This is naturally the Chen Clan's Two Bulls; their talent is exaggeratedly outstanding, others can only look up to them. As for the mountain bandits Wushuang just mentioned, numbering nearly a hundred, you can imagine how strong those two must be."

"As for the others, their level is average, barely enough to defend themselves."

Chen Wuji nodded, but he remained doubtful of Chen Luozi's words.

Many recent events have let him realize that what Chen Luozi and others say and what he sees here are actually two standards. Raising their so‑called mediocre level to that of elite troops and capable warriors might just about match.

Chen Wuji then asked, "Who in the clan is good at strategy?"

"This…" Chen Luozi looked at Xiong Paozi.

Xiong Paozi was also thinking seriously.

After a moment, both shook their heads, and Chen Luozi said, "Really, there isn't any."

"Not at all?" Chen Wuji pressed.

Both shook their heads, "Indeed, there isn't any at all."

Why is Chen Wuji so distrustful?

He thought it over, then stopped pressing; he would slowly come to understand the others' basic strength.

Having heard those things, he now has a rough grasp of the Chen clan's MainVein's foundation.

Indeed, there is quite a bit.

The two Chen Clan Bulls capable of taking a mountain stronghold are even more formidable than being worth a hundred men.

And the fact that nearly everyone understands Battle Formation is even more exaggerated.

As long as they go through a few slightly larger battles, each of them could become a commander of troops.

Chen Wuji now finally understands why Qin Zhenghong and others, when mentioning the Chen clan, cannot avoid the word "foundation"; even though the Chen clan has fallen to such a low state, that foundation remains astonishing.

The foundation for an eastern mountain comeback is far beyond what an ordinary clan or rebel force can match.

Chen Wuji finished the pear in his hand in a few bites, swallowed, and said, "We should consider sending scouts up the mountain; the enemy could appear at any time, so we must prepare early."

The mountain paths are blocked, traps have been dug; if we don't promptly send personnel, all this work will be for nothing.

"I'll take Wushuang to handle this, then pick a team from the branch lines," Chen Luozi said.

"Good." Chen Wuji nodded in agreement, "We need to station more people along the mountain paths so news can be relayed back promptly; I think it's best to select skilled archers."

"Using skilled archers would naturally be best, but this is really difficult," Chen Luozi said with a wry smile.

"Our Chen clan is poor; few households have bows, and nobody has the conditions to practice. With only four teams, we have to pick commanders from the short‑statured ranks; the clan troops have just finished reorganization, and their first mission shouldn't be split up."

"What about not considering the provincial troops at Tianchi Pass?" Chen Wuji asked.

Chen Luozi spoke frankly: "For now we don't really trust them; it's better to use our own people. Although we don't trust them, doing this actually has benefits—our Chen clan members will be the first to fight, which is good for morale."

Chen Wuji nodded to show his agreement.

If we used the Tianchi Pass provincial troops right away, they would inevitably think Chen Wuji is unwilling to sacrifice his own clansmen and is sending them to die.

Chen Wuji thought over what he needed to do next, then suddenly said, "I'll go with you; clan affairs can be handled by Shi Yi Shu and Wushuang. Few of the branch lines remain unmanned, and if nothing unexpected happens, San Shu should be back soon."

"What are you going to do? A commander of the Three Armies shouldn't stand on a dangerous wall," Chen Luozi immediately objected.

Xiong Paozi also nodded in agreement.

Chen Wuji waved his hand, "First hear me out: my status is far from that exalted; we only have two brigades of troops—where would a Three Armies come from? If we lose this battle, what difference does it make whether the Chen clan has me as its Family Head or not?"

"Second, as the Family Head I haven't yet fully won everyone's submission; I need achievements to overawe them and shut them up."

"Least important, my archery is decent; adding or losing one archer in an ambush still makes a big difference, and I also have a secret weapon up my sleeve."

"Right, there's another reason: I've hired a strategist who will arrive in a few days."

Chen Wuji's litany of reasons left Chen Luozi and Xiong Paozi speechless for a moment.

"Where did you find this strategist?" Chen Luozi asked, frowning.

He felt this was rather unusual and seriously suspected that Chen Wuji had been deceived.

Chen Wuji said, "The manager of the Dongshi Guancai Pu, Xu Zengyi, was once the chief strategist of the Western King!"

Chen Luozi and Xiong Paozi stared in shock; Xiong Paozi's mouth opened wide enough to fit a duck egg.

After a while, Chen Luozi roughly rubbed his cheek and asked, "Just that sickly fellow from the coffin shop—could he be the Western King's strategist? The Western King you mean is the one who once raised the rebel banner, left the court powerless, and finally surrendered to the court, right?"

Chen Wuji nodded.

Chen Luozi stared, then let out a long sigh: "He actually was the Western King's strategist! In our Yunan region, how could it hide dragons and crouching tigers? Even someone like this appears."

Chen Wuji was somewhat surprised: "You guys don't know anything at all?"

Chen Luozi and Xiong Paozi shook their heads in unison.

Xiong Paozi added with a bitter smile: "Who could have guessed that? Such a great strategist ended up making coffins in Yunan City. If you hadn't said it, I wouldn't believe it even if Xu Zengyi told me himself."

Chen Wuji's heart stirred: "Then do you know any other notable figures in Yunan City?"

"Zhang Family, Zhou Clan?" Xiong Paozi Shìhòu asked.

Chen Wuji shook his head: "Those wealthy clans—even the village elders know about them."

"Then we don't know," Xiong Paozi said.

"I don't know either."

Chen Wuji suddenly realized the Chen clan's biggest flaw: lack of intelligence capability.

Countless people in Yunan City know the Chen clan's details, yet they know almost nothing about the city's inhabitants, especially shopkeepers.

This is actually quite frightening.

Behind Yang Tiejiang and Xu Zengyi stand four hundred local militia.

This force is not inferior to the Chen clan in the slightest.

And in Yunan City, they are not the only ones.

Yang Tiejiang has hinted at this matter several times in an indirect way.

But now letting the Chen Clan's people handle intelligence is already too late; we're stretched thin.

It seems we can only rely on Qin Zhanhong's Imperial City Department and the intelligence network of Zhang Lao, Yang Tiejiang, and a few others.

This matter must be clarified.

"In Yunan City there are not a few people like Xu Zengyi, and there are even more extreme ones." Chen Wuji said, "We've been rooted in Xishan Village for so many years, yet we know nothing about these matters—this shouldn't be."

"What?!" Chen Luozi exclaimed in shock.

Chen Wuji nodded, "More accurately, there should be many."

"Pick someone; after this battle we need to establish our own spy network. However, this matter doesn't need to be rushed for now—I'll have someone look into it."