Chapter 661: with translation of chapter title

The conscripts' performance of such a huge contrast really left Chen Wuji dazed.

Tang Yu also didn't expect that so many people would step forward all at once.

He also was dazed.

If he wasn't mistaken, it seemed he had pulled the rug out from under the pot.

Altogether there were only about seven or eight thousand people left, and in one go eighty percent stepped forward—what to do?

"Commander Chen, why don't… I'll still pick some?" Tang Yu said with a dry laugh.

He really didn't expect such a situation to arise.

Chen Wuji felt the pain, but still waved his hand: "This is the soldiers' own choice; how can we go back on our word? Once you're incorporated into the unit, that's it."

"But I feel embarrassed, there are too many people..." Tang Yu said.

This is his true inner thought.

Of the less than eight thousand conscripts, after his shout, only less than two thousand remained.

This move was a bit too harsh.

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about; I'm not the type to go back on my word, so relax." Chen Wuji said, "Chen Ruoshui, take the remaining conscripts and incorporate them into your penal army, expand your unit to eight thousand, and we'll fill any shortages later."

Yes!

Chen Ruoshui, with a graceful figure and a demeanor so cold it was almost inhuman, stepped forward to receive the order.

The Qingzhou conscripts never got a chance to be picked by other armies; the handover was just completed like that.

"Sir, I don't quite understand these conscripts' choices," Chen Wuji asked Xu Zengyi while finalizing the reorganization on the way back to camp.

He had been pondering this for a while, but still couldn't figure it out.

Xu Zengyi laughed upon hearing that, "My lord, do you still remember how Qingzhou City was taken?"

As soon as he said that, Chen Wuji suddenly realized, "It seems I've left a psychological scar on the Qingzhou troops; they dare not serve as my soldiers, fearing that if they serve me, they won't even leave a whole corpse, and I'll just use them as weapons to attack others."

"Such an insidious tactic—whoever it's used on would likely have a nightmare for most of their life." Xu Zengyi said with a light smile, "Today Tang Yu actually got a big advantage, gaining six thousand troops; he now has the capability to break our Daying. My lord, should we guard against it?"

"There's no need to be so suspicious!" Chen Wuji shook his head and said.

"Yang Yu currently has no reason to act against me, and he wouldn't dare easily start a war with me, so nothing will happen."

On this path, any reasonable suspicion is not excessive, but Xu Zengyi's suspicion toward Tang Yu feels somewhat unnecessary to Chen Wuji.

He and Yang Yu haven't reached that point yet.

Before the Qiang People completely withdraw from the Lingnan Six Commanderies, they will surely be allies.

A person who has schemed over half the court cannot possibly fail to see this clearly.

To turn on one's own allies before the strong enemy retreats is no different from cutting off one's own arm.

Unless Chen Wuji kills Yang Yu's Guan Yunlong, it's impossible to reach that point now.

Returning to the Daying, just as he sat down to rest, Chen Li suddenly stepped forward and said: "Family Head, just now a soldier reported that yesterday, while on patrol near the Capital Observatory, they encountered a group of traveling scholars; I find this somewhat suspicious."

Chen Wuji raised his eyebrows slightly, "In Nan Jun's chaotic situation, are there still traveling scholars?"

"It's precisely because of this that I find it suspicious, but I just sent people to search and couldn't find any trace of those scholars. Based on horse hoof prints, the subordinates guess those scholars likely went to Wuyang City." Chen Li said.

Chen Wuji waved his hand, "It doesn't matter; whether they're genuine scholars or not, let them go."

Anyway, they've already left; pursuing them now would be pointless.

Xu Zengyi was bending over in the corner looking for Chen Wuji's hidden good wine; hearing that, he said: "Definitely fake."

"Sir, why are you so certain?" Chen Wuji asked strangely.

Xu Zengyi finally felt out a jar of good wine from under the table, held it in his arms, blew off the dust on the jar, and said: "During times of great turmoil, there indeed are scholars with patriotic aspirations who voluntarily seek allegiance; that's actually normal. But they've come here, yet they don't come to see the lord, instead going to Wuyang City—what does Wuyang City have?"

"Lü Ji is there."

"But Lü Ji is still one of ours, so they must be fake." Xu Zengyi slapped open the mud seal, stepped forward, and first poured half a bowl of wine for the owner of this jar, Chen Wuji.

Chen Wuji picked up the wine bowl, moistened his throat, "There's also a possibility that they have old ties in Wuyang City, but at this moment the Qiang People's fifty- or sixty-thousand-strong army is blockading outside the city, facing off against Lü Ji; it's unlikely these scholars would go to meet friends at this critical juncture, so the chance they're fake is actually greater."

"Anyway, it doesn't matter; even if they're fake, if they want to see our Daying, let them see it."

Xu Zengyi nodded, "My lord, this matter really can't be just left alone."

"Are there still hidden schemes in this?" Chen Wuji frowned and took a sip of wine.

After transmigrating to this world, he only then realized that wine could be taken as water; when idle, he'd take a sip to moisten his throat.

But drinking wine on an empty stomach is still somewhat hard for him to accept.

"If you don't disdain it, this wine is yours; I won't drink it." Chen Wuji handed the wine bowl to Xu Zengyi, "Without doubt, bring me a pot of tea!"

Yes!

"How could one disdain the lord, such fine wine must not be lightly discarded." Xu Zengyi reached out to take it, then resumed the previous topic and said: "My lord, if those scholars are fake, who could they be?"

"Besides the Qiang People, who else could it be? They're all heading toward Wuyang City—isn't that obvious?" Chen Wuji said.

Xu Zengyi paced slowly two steps, "My lord is waiting for news from the Qiang People's leader Linglu, yet he sent people in disguise to observe our Daying; this doesn't look like seeking an alliance with the lord, but rather preparing to attack our Daying."

Chen Wuji's expression turned stern, his attitude immediately becoming serious: "You saying that indeed warrants attention."

"Feigning agreement while actually delaying time to attack our Daying—but what's the point of delaying now? Could there be reinforcements behind him?"

Xu Zengyi savored the fine wine, slowly shook his head, "Zhong Qiang is unlikely to have any more reinforcements."

"Although Zhong Qiang is one of the largest and most powerful clans among the Qiang Peoples, mustering a force of 100,000 is likely already their limit; unless they empty their coffers to gamble with the lord on Qi Flow, but the possibility of that is truly low—if Zhong Qiang's chieftain or Shi Bi hasn't lost their wits, they shouldn't make such a foolish choice."

After pondering for a moment, Chen Wuji said: "Since we can't rule out this possibility, let's send out the scouts to investigate."

"Sir, not all leaders in this world are smart; there are still plenty of fools, so take some precautions—but don't capsize in the gutter, getting knocked over by a fool's sneaky move."

Xu Zengyi nodded thoughtfully, "Indeed, sending out Scouts to take a look isn't excessive either."

Chen Wuji stretched his waist, "Looks like I won't be waiting for Langdu's message anymore; I'll start preparing to wipe him out—strike first!"