Chapter 755: The Qiang People

Although Chen Wuji tried to follow local customs as much as possible, deep down he remained a modern soul.

Many things of this era are actually not acceptable to him.

Take, for instance, the almost rights‑less outright purchase and disposal of maidservants and concubines.

A slight mistake either gets them beaten to death or casually discarded.

In the new policies, Chen Wuji made a very clear demand for this matter, with severe punishment.

Chen Wuji dislikes these things and has never liked keeping servants.

But as his status changed, he had to go along with the era's trends for many things.

With his current position, having Qin Zhanhong and the others personally do chores like sweeping the courtyard is clearly inappropriate; servants definitely need to be kept.

Qin Zhanhong left those girls behind, and he had no objection—at least someone would look after their daily needs.

After a few years, depending on their wishes, those who want to leave can be given a sum of silver or simply be provided a home.

But asking Chen Wuji to take all those girls as concubines, he really feels a bit timid.

It's not that he dislikes it; his waist just can't handle it.

Although his strength is extraordinary, coping now is already somewhat difficult; adding a few more people is truly beyond his capacity.

Qin Zhanhong kept it a secret, refusing to say anything, repeating only, "My lord, go see for yourself and you'll know."

Chen Wuji had no choice; after finishing his letter to the Emperor, he went back to the rear courtyard.

He pushed the door open; inside, the lights swayed, and soft silk‑and‑bamboo music echoed gently.

Behind the curtains, a soft‑bodied figure was dancing gracefully under the light, shadows flickering, waves rising and falling.

The maiden's distinctive perkiness stood out especially clearly, and was especially alluring.

"My lord, this isn't taking a concubine," Qin Zhanhong said with a shallow smile.

Chen Wuji shook his head and sighed, "My waist today seems unable to escape disaster."

With such a bewitching figure, even immortals could hardly withstand it!

……

After a brief indulgence, Chen Wuji woke to find it already high noon.

Last night's campaign wasn't very intense; it was just one against four.

The two girls named Su Yu and Xiao Ying were specially selected by Qin Zhanhong.

Although some people say they won't let Chen Wuji take another concubine, those two girls' status is now that of close attendants—meaning they can serve at his side above and warm his bed and bear children below.

If a close attendant bears offspring, her status automatically rises.

This provision isn't something Chen Wuji would surely admit; even the court's laws explicitly require it.

Close attendants and maidservants are two completely different concepts, with a great difference in status.

Feeling refreshed after washing up under Su Yu's service, Chen Wuji was having breakfast when Xu Zengyi hurried in, saying, "My lord, the Qiang people have employed their old tricks again."

Chen Wuji stared, "Have the Qiang people already attacked the city? Why hasn't anyone reported it?"

Chen Li, standing motionless like an iron tower on one side, bowed and said, "Family head, it's not that the Qiang people are attacking the city; they're merely preparing for an assault. I saw you rested late last night, so I didn't have anyone disturb you."

Chen Wuji nodded; if it weren't an urgent matter, Chen Li often does this.

"Sir, what's going on? How are they employing their old tricks again?" Chen Wuji asked.

Xu Zengyi spoke with a hint of helpless sorrow: "The Qiang people have dispatched troops to plunder the surrounding populace; just now Qian Fugui sent word that they've already captured several thousand people, presumably as preparation for an attack on the city."

"Qian Fugui scattered his forces to intercept in all directions; today he's fought the Qiang people in several engagements, rescuing many civilians, but the Qiang troops sent out are too numerous and scattered, so they still managed to succeed."

"What's worse, the Qiang people actually have the identity of the Heavenly Duke Cult. Many locals, upon hearing that the Heavenly Lord's people have arrived, need no tricks from the Qiang; they are simply led away by the cult's talisman water in their hands."

Chen Wuji rubbed his forehead in headache: "After this calamity, Zhuque City will likely become a barren wasteland. We who aren't deeply entangled with the Heavenly Duke Cult might still try to rescue a few, but those brainwashed by the cult—well, we can't bear to save them; they're beyond help."

"If we try to rescue them, we'll likely fail to save anyone and will have to sacrifice our soldiers' lives."

Chen Wuji has seen too much of this in Wu'an City, and he understands it all too clearly.

Compared to the populace brainwashed by the Heavenly Duke Cult, who can no longer discern truth from falsehood, Chen Wuji believes his own soldiers' lives are still more precious.

He now doesn't want to sacrifice hundreds or thousands of his soldiers' lives just because of a little reluctance.

Xu Zengyi sighed, "Even if the people aren't followers of the Heavenly Duke Cult, trying to rescue them is still extremely difficult."

"Isn't there still a great Linglu? This lad has become utterly infatuated with chatting and flirting with warhorses, refusing to budge; let's see if we can arrange an exchange." Chen Wuji said.

"Besides that, we can only think of a solution on the battlefield."

The Qiang people's habit of using civilians as cannon fodder and bait is really starting to disgust Chen Wuji.

But there's nothing we can do about them.

Xu Zengyi nodded, "It seems that's really the only way."

On the way here, he had considered this matter back and forth several times.

Indeed, there really is no way.

The Qiang people's style of fighting is, for them, essentially a dead knot.

"By the way, sir, you might want to talk to Xi Leng later. He at least holds the rank of a soldier, responsible for fighting the Qiang; on this matter he should offer some plans." Chen Wuji suddenly had an idea—his spear couldn't exert effective strength, so he might try a different angle.

Perhaps this soldier, who knows the Qiang inside and out, could give them some reference advice.

"I'll go right now!" Xu Zengyi said immediately, without waiting a moment.

Afterward, Chen Wuji hastily finished the food in his bowl, ordered someone to send the letter he'd written to the Emperor, and then led people up onto the city wall.

With battle approaching, he couldn't rest easy without taking a look.

Hu Bu Gui was on the wall arranging soldiers to transport the rolling‑stone logs and stockpiling the golden broth.

In the midst of battle, the city's feces once again became precious.

Although the boiled concoction works well against enemies, it also truly smokes people.

Walking over, he felt his nose completely blocked by that smell.

Old Hu! Chen Wuji shouted from afar.

Hu Bu Gui hurried over, saying, "Greetings, Marshal!"

"How are the preparations?" Chen Wuji asked.

"Golden Broth is almost ready, enough for our army to fight fiercely for five or six days, but the rolling stones are a bit lacking; there's a shortage of stones in the city." Hu Bu Gui replied, "Deputy General has sent people out of the city to transport them; they should be ready by sunset."

Chen Wuji nodded, "Have the Qiang People's scouts come?"

"They came once this morning; Deputy General had his men detain them all!" Hu Bu Gui's voice turned cold, "General Qian personally led troops outside to patrol, and these bastards actually dare to scout the city defenses—they're courting death!"