Chapter 872: A Little Trouble

Xinglin Zhen.

The vast army set up camp around the town.

This small town, with the influx of 160,000 fresh blood, instantly expanded several times over.

Chen Wuji brought Xu Zengyi and several officers into the town, preparing to deeply experience the differences of this remote small town.

Hearing Chen Wu Yin say that, Chen Wuji really became curious, wanting to see what special features this small town had, and how those two lords had seized all the surrounding land into their own hands.

The stern black-armored soldiers had imposed martial law on the whole town, a post every ten steps, a sentinel every five steps; the townspeople and merchants who had come here all trembled and huddled to the side, none daring to speak.

In this obviously chaotic era, everyone feared the sudden appearance of troops.

Just a few thousand troops could destroy this town completely, let alone Chen Wuji's massive scale; even the most influential person in town couldn't quickly figure out how many soldiers there were, in short, there were many, many.

Faced with such a massive army, their former status and position were instantly knocked into the dust; they couldn't straighten their backs at all, having no choice but to lower their heads and obey.

Chen Wuji led the officers into a tavern called Guest Delight.

The tavern's Shopkeeper, including the waitstaff, stood stiffly at the door, faces plastered with rigid smiles, nodding nonstop from afar.

"Generals... General... General... Sir, would you like a meal?"

The Shopkeeper, over fifty, teeth chattering, stepped forward tremblingly to inquire.

"Prepare a few tables of your specialty dishes." Chen Li said in a low voice.

"Yes, yes... I'll arrange it right away."

Chen Wuji sat down in the hall in the Great Horse Golden Blade pose, waving at the Shopkeeper drenched in sweat: "Let the servants handle the food; why are you bustling about? Come over and chat."

"Ah? Yes!"

The Shopkeeper was about to slip away to the back kitchen, but hearing Chen Wuji's words, he forced a stiff smile and hurried over: "Sir, Sir, what are your orders?"

"Don't be so nervous, just chat." Chen Wuji said, "Although your town is small, you have plenty of supplies and many places to eat, drink, and enjoy; tell me why."

The Shopkeeper wiped the fine sweat from his forehead and quickly said: "Sir, our town sees many merchant caravans; over time, these industries have grown."

"One more lie and you die!" Chen Wuji said coldly.

The Shopkeeper was startled, thudding to his knees: "Sir, I... I said it's all... not, it's... these are all done by the Xu and Lin lords; there is indeed a reason from the merchant caravans, but more so to win over people's hearts."

"The Xu and Lin lords used methods like renting out land to turn all the surrounding populace into their own servants, then directed them to raid outside, especially women, as well as merchant caravans and wealthy people from elsewhere."

"These places are actually for the entertainment of the two lords' servants; the Xu and Lin lords give their subordinates high rewards, so when the servants have money, they come here to enjoy themselves."

Xu Zengyi snorted, "I thought they were just seizing land by force, but I didn't expect these two lords also to have bandit tactics; quite clever."

"Not just clever, this art of manipulating hearts leaves me ashamed!" Qian Fugui sighed, "First seize the land, then use heavy rewards to corrupt the populace, making them serve them, then use brothels and gambling halls to recover all the Silver back into their own pockets—brutal!"

"Indeed impressive, I also feel inadequate; truly we cannot underestimate anyone in this world." Lü Ji nodded, "I never thought such a small town would hide two great Buddhas."

Hu Bu Gui glared, let out a heavy hum: "A bunch deserving of death by a thousand cuts!"

"General Hu, why get so angry? They're surely doomed; we're just talking about their methods—this is quite a story." Chen Wu Yin laughed, "Maybe it'll really broaden our horizons; Nan Jun has many local tyrants, but none can reach this level."

"They exploit human nature!" Chen Ruoshui, who barely has any presence in the army, suddenly said.

Such methods, she is very familiar with; she has seen them countless times on the Snake Staff Elder.

Chen Wuji did not join the officers' discussion, calmly drinking tea.

The Shopkeeper knelt on the ground, his face turning deathly pale.

In their conversation, he heard one word—death!

He is doomed to die!

"Which family are you from?" Chen Wuji suddenly turned and asked.

The Shopkeeper's eyes twitched, his mouth opening and closing but never finding the courage to say the identity he once took pride in; he knew that once those words were spoken, he would have no chance of survival.

"Sir, spare my life, sir, spare my life... I'm just a menial worker; those things were ordered by the lords, I have no choice but to do them, I also have my difficulties."

The Shopkeeper kowtowed like pounding garlic; after just a few knocks his forehead became swollen and red, blood seeping out.

"Shut up!" Chen Wuji said coldly, "If you keep wailing, you'll die right now."

The Shopkeeper's body shuddered, teeth chattering, he barely managed to report his identity: "Yes... yes yes, I am the Lin family... third branch."

He dared not conceal anything further.

In this town, he too counts as someone who has seen and eaten a lot.

He knew well that everyone seated at this table were masters of killing; do not doubt any of their words—if they miss the point, his head could fly off at any moment.

Chen Wuji looked at the officers present: "This delivered Military Merit—who wants it?"

The officers all hesitated, glancing left and right at each other.

Chen Wuji saw this and laughed, scolding: "You lot, are you still refusing to take it?"

"Family Head, how dare I—I'm just thinking of giving others a chance; earning Military Merit is easy for me." Chen Wu Yin said with a chuckle.

His Cavalry is indeed strong now; this brat has a bit of capital to be proud of.

"My lord, I actually think the same."

Deputy General agrees; letting the troops below practice with this battle is actually best—we old fogies don't need to fight them for Military Merit.

"Exactly, but it's only a few hundred men anyway—letting the Brigade Commander get some practice is best."

Xu Zengyi laughed: "You all have misunderstood the lord's meaning."

"This battle is indeed not hard to fight, but the aftermath can be very troublesome; finding any Brigade Commander to handle it is easy, but you need to oversee the overall situation. The servants of the Xu and Lin families are all local townspeople; whether to kill or release them must be clarified, the calamities of this place must be eliminated, and livelihoods must be restored as well."

"Before the troops were sent out, the lord's orders seem to have been mostly forgotten by everyone."