Chapter 803

Zhong Qiang and the several Qiang tribal clans allied with him, after this battle, were completely devastated in vitality.

Facing Yang Pojun's tens of thousands of mighty troops, they had no strength to fight further; they were forced to leave the pastures where they had lived for countless generations and migrate south under duress.

Yang Pojun divided his forces into several routes, pursuing over three hundred li, only then halting the enemy's advance.

Several days later, Hu Buji's army arrived in succession, replacing Yang Tiejiang's troops and once again marching south.

The remnants of the Qiang clans and their allies had thought the Nan Jun army had given up the pursuit, just catching their breath, preparing to settle their tribe in a nearby spot, when they heard this news.

Several tribes immediately lost their souls in fright, daring not to linger the slightest, they set off again in haste, rushing south into Shendu territory in one go, seeking the protection of the Shiva people.

Several days later, Hu Buji led his troops to the Shendu border, without even a greeting, first captured two Shendu cities, and only then sent an envoy to the Shendu king in Chen Wuji's name.

Once this news spread, the world was shaken.

The scholars of Zhongyuan instantly erupted!

For a moment, whether in taverns, tea houses, or pleasure quarters, everyone was talking about this.

"Gentlemen, have you heard about the Qiang lands? It is truly most satisfying!"

"I heard it yesterday; Brother Yu, you're indeed a bit late. Moreover, gentlemen, I just this morning obtained an even more explosive piece of news—would you like to hear it?"

"Speak quickly, speak quickly, don't keep us in suspense!"

"Then what about today's tea money?"

"We'll treat you! Speak quickly, what else have you heard?"

In the tea house, the scholar holding a folding fan laughed ha-ha, clasped his hands around, and then said: "Yesterday a caravan came from Shendu; these matters were spoken directly by the caravan leader—I neither add nor omit, I will tell you exactly."

"He said, the Nan Jun envoy entered Shendu, presented three conditions to the Shendu king: first, hand over the Qiang people; second, pay triple compensation for the territories our Great Yu has occupied in recent years; third, send a hostage to the court and submit a memorial to the emperor asking for forgiveness!"

"The envoy declared before the hall that if the Shendu king dares to be vague on any of these three points, the great army will march south immediately! According to the old custom of the Qiang people, we will exterminate their lineage, root and branch!"

Upon these words, the entire hall fell silent.

"Chen Brother, is the Nan Jun envoy really this tough?" someone voiced doubt.

The fan-wielding scholar shook his head, "I don't know if this is true or false, but it is true that a ten-thousand-strong Nan Jun army is stationed at the Shendu border and has indeed captured two Shendu cities."

"The commander leading the troops is named Hu Buji, formerly the Prefect of Dingzhou in Nan Jun, now serving as a general under Chen Jieshuai, leading the righteous army!"

From the crowd came a soft exclamation, someone shouted: "Could it not be that one-punch skull-crushing Southwest Hammer King Feng Linchuan?"

"Gentlemen, your knowledge is shallow!" the fan-wielding scholar shook his head and laughed, "Let me tell you: this Southwest Chu Wang was originally just a Training Officer under General Xie Fengxian's command, with no authority to command troops; only this time did he shine brightly, becoming known to the world."

"He's actually just a lowly Training Officer? Chen Jieshuai has actually buried such talent all this time!"

"Gentlemen, you're mistaken again!" the fan-wielding scholar shook his head once more, "Under Chen Jieshuai's command, officers are promoted by military merit; aside from those few veteran generals who followed him early in his uprising, hardly anyone gains rank without merit. Warriors like Training Officer Feng, skilled in battle and fierce, are apparently not just him alone—among those I've heard of there are several, though I don't know if it's true."

The crowd again let out a soft hiss.

At this moment, someone in the seat shifted tone and sighed: "Chen Jieshuai truly is a pillar of the state; with him guarding Lingnan, Great Yu's revival is hopeful. After numerous battles the Qiang people were utterly destroyed, and now he has even invaded Qiang lands—such feats I dare not lightly imagine, yet Chen Jieshuai has actually accomplished them."

Before his words had even finished, someone poured a bucket of cold water over his head: "Sir, you are being overly presumptuous. Though everyone knows Chen Jieshuai's post as Nan Jun Regional Inspector Commander was personally appointed by the emperor, some in the court still regard him as a rebel and traitor."

"I have heard that the court is lately discussing troop levies, apparently planning to raise hundreds of thousands of troops to attack Nan Jun and crush the traitor; the emperor finds it hard to resist the clamor of wild dogs, seemingly already having agreed."

The hall suddenly fell silent, then moments later erupted in an uproar.

"This filthy lot, are they trying to destroy my Great Yu?"

"Sir, choose your words carefully, choose your words carefully!"

"How can I be careful? Chen Jieshuai's deeds in Nan Jun have just stirred a bit of heroism in my chest, yet turning my head I hear such disgusting things. I share this city of Bianjing with these dog-like scoundrels, and I even feel somewhat ashamed!"

"A bunch of living beasts, how dare they!"

"With such ancestors, Great Yu is truly finished."

"If you ask me, Chen Jieshuai should raise troops and march north to purge the court!"

"Eh eh eh, gentlemen, gentlemen, that's enough—I really dare not listen any longer. If you truly feel indignant for Chen Jieshuai, why not go south to Lingnan? Chen Jieshuai is using troops in Qiang lands, and now he has stationed forces at the Shendu border—this is precisely the time to employ talent; you will surely be able to display your ambitions."

Upon this person's words, several in the hall immediately felt moved.

Just how dark the court truly is, these people have long seen clearly.

If there were other choices, not a single person with even a little integrity would be willing to struggle in that blackened court for a future.

The fan-wielding scholar rose to his feet, "Sir, your words exactly suit my mind; I don't know if any other gentlemen wish to go to Lingnan—we could travel together."

Immediately someone stood up.

"Let's go together, let's go together—I've long been tired of staying in this wretched place!"

"Count me in as well."

"Let's go together!"

……

Chen Wuji has already been renowned in Great Yu for some time, but previously the world's view of him basically had only two labels.

The Chen clan, and the feudal lords who dominate a region.

As for these two labels, people's opinions vary widely, amounting to mixed praise and blame.

But as Yang Tiejiang's army stormed into Qiang lands like tearing through rotten stalks, Chen Wuji's fame instantly surged.

Even those aspects previously criticized now admit of very good reinterpretations.

For instance, Chen Wuji's faint hint of harboring troops to establish himself independently used to worry people greatly, fearing he might overturn the heavens and change the sun.

Now those senior scholars pound their desks with their canes, clamorously giving Chen Wuji vindication, openly telling everyone that Chen Wuji must do this; if he were like other regional commanders, how could Great Yu possibly hold its head high?

Yes.

Great Yu finally held its head high once.

This is the first time in forty or fifty years!

The Great Yu court is like an unsteady patchwork monster; within just over ten years of its founding, its fortunes plummeted, the court repudiated its longstanding hardline policy toward the four neighboring regions, switching to appeasement as the main approach, and this appeasement has no bottom line.

In barely forty or fifty years, even the nation's territory can now be put up for sale.