Chapter 384

Chen Wuji truly did not care much about his reputation.

Some people call the commoners "ignorant," thinking they know nothing beyond their own small plots of land, like frogs trapped at the bottom of a well.

But unfortunately, Chen Wuji came from a village himself.

He knew what the villagers would talk about in their spare time.

Incredibly, they talked almost entirely about national affairs, and what they cared about most were national affairs.

Even if the information they had was fragmented and extremely incomplete, they loved to pay attention to the current Emperor, the things the Emperor did, and the decrees issued.

Chen Wuji didn't take it to heart at all when some people deliberately smeared his reputation.

As long as the things he did spread among the people, his reputation would be set straight.

Moreover, the impact of this might be unprecedented.

"Send someone over to ask Li Run what he means. Is he here to surrender, or is he here to fight me? Ask him clearly," Chen Wuji ordered.

Chen Li stepped out from the side. "Commander, let me handle this matter."

Chen Wuji was somewhat surprised that Chen Li would snatch this task. He took a look and said, "Eleventh Uncle, be steady. If things don't look right, run fast."

"Yes!"

Chen Li cupped his hands in acknowledgment and strode out of the tent.

Afterward, Chen Wuji followed him out.

Li Run's style made him feel quite uneasy; he always had the feeling that this kid was also plotting some conspiracy against him.

"Old Yang, prepare for a charge. If they show any unusual movement, kill them immediately!" Chen Wuji walked to the side of Yang Tiejiang and said in a low voice, looking at Li Run's troops not far away.

The veterans under Yang Tiejiang were now counted as part of Chen Wuji's personal guard camp, and Old Yang, being a man who was exceptionally stubborn, naturally took it upon himself to guard Chen Wuji's camp gate.

Since he was now leading the personal guard camp, he naturally considered himself a member of it.

During these days of campaigning, Yang Tiejiang would stand in front of Chen Wuji's big tent holding his Mo Dao, refusing to listen to anyone who tried to persuade him otherwise; he was determined to stand guard for Chen Wuji.

This made it so that Chen Wuji had to suppress his voice during those little happy moments with Qin Zhanhong and Xiao Yuji these past few nights, fearing that Yang Tiejiang might hear.

"Yes!" Yang Tiejiang cupped his hands. "I will go muster the troops now!"

Chen Wuji added, "If there is any movement, do not give them any chance to act. You will be the vanguard for this battle; I will have Qian Fugui and Wu Bu Yong assist you."

"Yes!"

Yang Tiejiang acknowledged the order and strode away from the post he had been guarding.

Out of the twelve hours in a day, when there was no fighting, he would stand there for at least ten hours. His actions caused the pressure on Chen Li and the others to skyrocket, to the point where they wished they could keep their eyes open while sleeping at night.

Chen Wuji then summoned Qian Fugui and Wu Bu Yong and gave them each their instructions.

Although the military camp looked no different from usual on the outside, in secret, everyone's nerves were taut, ready to charge at any moment.

But to everyone's disappointment, after meeting Chen Li, Li Run brought only a few men with him.

"Commoner Li Run pays his respects to Commander Chen!"

In Chen Wuji's tent, the twenty-something-year-old Li Run bowed humbly yet with a grand air. His every movement was neither servile nor overbearing; although he lacked the jade-like temperament of a great family's scion, he was not far off.

Chen Wuji said with a hint of mockery in his tone, "You brought so many troops here; I almost thought you had broken your word and were not here to surrender, but to go to war with me."

Li Run said, "Your subordinate came to surrender, and the only thing I rely on are these troops. If I didn't bring them, it would seem insincere. It is my fault for causing the Commander such a misunderstanding; I apologize to the Commander."

"No need for apologies; I can handle such misunderstandings," Chen Wuji said.

Li Run smiled faintly. "The Commander has the bearing of a dragon and tiger; such a small misunderstanding naturally counts for nothing."

"Can you represent your Li family?" Chen Wuji asked, getting straight to the point.

Li Run shook his head. "I am ashamed. Although I am the most powerful person in the younger generation of the Li family, I still cannot represent the entire Li family."

"However, I have a strategy that can allow the Commander to completely check or... annihilate the Li family. If the Commander is willing to spare the lives of my brothers, I have strategies to check not only the Li family but also the Gu and Xue families. I am willing to reveal them all to assist the Commander."

Chen Wuji's eyes grew cold. "So, are you threatening me?"

"I wouldn't dare," Li Run said, bowing his head.

"How could I dare to threaten the Commander? I am now just fish on the Commander's chopping block, ready to be slaughtered at the Commander's convenience. All I seek is the lives of my brothers."

"They did indeed commit some evil deeds, but they were acting under the orders of the Li family, not entirely my own. I also put in some effort to fully and completely control this unit."

His statement surprised Chen Wuji. "By the sound of it, you came here today intending to die, and all you seek is the lives of those soldiers?"

"Yes!"

"I have already agreed to your surrender; how can you still think that way? You don't trust me?"

Li Run gave a bitter smile. "I have heard of the Commander's deeds: loving the people like children, loving the soldiers like children, and being unable to tolerate any sand in your eyes."

"Since the Commander began the campaign against Yunan City, you have used nothing but ruthless methods. I believe I am not the only one willing to surrender to the Commander, but along the way, the Commander has left no survivors. Whether it was the instigators or the soldiers below, the Commander has not spared a single one."

This left Chen Wuji speechless.

Damn it, this kid knew more details than he had thought.

"Special circumstances call for special measures. You brought so many soldiers to surrender; since I have already promised you the possibility of surrender, I naturally cannot go back on my word," Chen Wuji said.

Saying these words against his conscience made him feel a bit embarrassed.

Li Run lowered his head. "The Commander can naturally handle special circumstances, but I still wish to ask for lenient treatment."

"Under pressure from my family, I did indeed lead these troops to harm several villages, but I only killed some troublemakers and forcibly incorporated most of the young men into my unit. The remaining old and weak were all driven into the mountains; I did not kill indiscriminately."

"They were wrong, but not excessively so. I implore the Commander to give them a chance. Sacrificing the lower ranks to benefit the upper is a path to destruction. I have advised the elders in my family countless times, but they wouldn't listen to me; they stubbornly followed Gu Wenjie's words, believing this was a shortcut to quickly accumulate power."

Chen Wuji sat up slowly. "I can believe what you've said, but can your words stand up to verification?"

"Naturally. I am standing here today precisely to let the Commander investigate clearly," Li Run said candidly.