Chapter 377: with translation of chapter title

"The poor monk comes out to beg for alms, why avoid people?" Hongfa chanted a Buddhist name.

Chen Wuji: ……

"Master, with your appearance, can you really beg for alms?"

This guy, not even acting anymore.

Just crossing a mountain gets you to Baiquan Village, yet he just openly blocks the middle of the road.

Is the enemy scout blind, or is he a fool?

Even if you dig a pit for him, at least make it look a bit, a bit mysterious.

This is too disrespectful.

Hongfa's expression was calm and composed: "The Gu family has already discovered Xiao Shizhu's plot; at this point, whether to conceal it or not is meaningless, and the poor monk can't be bothered to do those useless things."

If nothing unexpected happens, the Gu family should already have moved against Xiao Shizhu by now; please, Deputy Commander Chen, quickly order the army to attack Baiquan Village, coordinating inside and out with Xiao Shizhu. Those wearing Yellow Belts are Xiao family members; please, Deputy Commander, do not mistakenly harm them.

Chen Wuji glanced at Xu Zengyi.

Can we trust this old monk's words?

Or perhaps this is just part of their acting show, a little bit of genuine acting to trick him into jumping into the pit?

Xu Zengyi shook his head, giving Chen Wuji a look.

Chen Wuji understood clearly, and laughed heartily: "All right, please, Master, lead the way."

Regardless of whether the monk's words are true or false, first treat him as false.

This place is not for indulging in gambling.

"Deputy Commander, let me be the vanguard!" Qian Fuqi squeezed over and shouted loudly.

As his words fell, Wu Bu Yong also rushed over.

"Deputy Commander, I've been down the mountain for so long, yet I've never asked you for anything; please, let me be the vanguard. When you first went up Tianchi Mountain, I readily agreed to follow you down the mountain; I came down the mountain precisely to be the vanguard, to lead the troops for you, Deputy Commander." Wu Bu Yong spoke with a solemn expression, as if he would kneel and beg if you refused.

Chen Wuji laughed and cried: "I can agree to both of your requests."

"But I have a question: please answer me first, why are you so insistent on being the vanguard? With just this few people, what difference does it make who charges first or later?"

"Deputy Commander, this difference is huge." Qian Fuqi said, "In these few battles, when have you ever thrown all your forces at once? Those charging later get no soup."

Wu Bu Yong nodded, "That's right."

"We, the people of Tianchi Pass, have received the least reward silver in these battles; I don't mind, but the brothers below can't sit still. We were the first to follow the Deputy Commander, yet now we can only get the soup, everyone feels unhappy, they also want meat."

Chen Wuji: ……

Good, it's really good.

This morale is excellent!

He never expected it; just by referencing the Lao Qin and establishing a military merit system, it actually had such a good effect.

Regardless of whether they count as elite troops now, as long as they hear of battle and are happy, they are not far from being elite.

"I understand, I didn't consider thoroughly; you two both be the vanguard, go." Chen Wuji gave the order, then summoned Qian Fuqi and Wu Bu Yong to his side and gave them a few low-voiced instructions.

The key is about the Xiao family's situation.

It's hard to tell true from false among the Xiao family members now; this requires Qian Fuqi and Wu Bu Yong to pay attention and observe, adapting as needed.

First feign cooperation; if the Xiao family members fight back, then really give them hell.

In Chen Wuji's original plan, Yang Tiejiang was just supposed to make soy sauce in this battle; now it's perfect.

Let Qian Fuqi and Wu Bu Yong fight head-on, while Yang Tiejiang leads this group of Old Veterans in the rear to provide support as needed.

Qian Fuqi and Wu Bu Yong received the orders, quickly returned to their formation, mustered the troops, and surged forward in a mighty wave, even at one point surpassing the Hongfa Monk who was leading the way ahead, urging him to hurry.

After Qin Feng's overnight replenishment, Chen Wuji's forces now basically match the state before the war with the Qiang People, and each brigade has reached full strength.

A thousand-strong mighty army surged straight toward Baiquan Village.

And the situation in Baiquan Village matches what the Hongfa Monk said; right now the fighting is fierce.

One group wearing Yellow Belts and another group in ragged clothes are engaged in a massive melee.

If it weren't for that Yellow Belt on their heads, you couldn't tell them apart at all.

Chop his mother!

Qian Fuqi bellowed and once again led the charge.

Wu Bu Yong, seeing that, also refused to lag behind, pointed his knife forward fiercely and roared, "Destroy them, don't let them look down on our Tianchi Guan Militia!"

Chop them to death!

Kill, Laborers' reward silver, you damn well don't run!

Hehehe, you bastards, your grandfather's here, die!

Destroy them, Laborers today will surely make a Duilu appear!

……

This frantic scene left Yang Tiejiang's expression somewhat dazed.

Deputy Commander's training truly has something, this morale…… is tremendous. Yang Tiejiang muttered.

He knows Chen Wuji's battle record well, but he has never personally seen how Chen Wuji's troops fight.

In his usual understanding, a newly formed army must be cautious and timid, morale certainly not high, needing tactics and stratagems to win.

But upon seeing today, those things he once imagined instantly collapsed.

Such high morale is simply unimaginable.

How could this be an army just barely organized for over a month?

Just then, on the complex terrain battlefield, a yellow flag suddenly rose, and a faint voice drifted from afar: "Those surnamed Xiao, and my Xiao Family's Nong Symbol Symbol Symbol households, we've killed someone! Our reinforcements have arrived, but don't let the reinforcements look down on our abilities, old man, show some fire!"

That shout surprised Chen Wuji somewhat, so he fixed his gaze on the source of the sound.

Then he saw a burly old man with a flowing beard wielding a Cleaver, bursting forth from a broken wall with a fierce aura, charging toward the enemy forces on the hillside outside the village.

Beside him also followed dozens of old men with their heads wrapped in Yellow Belts, similarly holding cleavers in their hands...

Each of them looks quite old.

They wielded cleavers, swinging them with ease and nonchalance, as if what they held were not heavy cleavers but light small swords.

A reckless charge, and suddenly they fell into utter chaos.

「I feel like the Xiao family isn't digging a trap for us? 」 Chen Wuji said, 「If this is an act, the acting is too real—look, a bunch of people have already died just in this moment. 」

Xu Zengyi gave a light laugh, 「Commandant, these are truly our own people. 」

「Using cleavers as weapons, these people are all experts! 」 Yang Tiejiang also said.

Chen Wuji turned his head to look behind, called Xiao Yuji over, and said, 「Do you see those people over there? Is your second uncle among them? 」

Xiao Yuji examined carefully, then gave Chen Wuji a definite answer: 「Yes, the person leading the front is my second uncle; those behind are all my uncles and aunts. 」