Chapter 103: In Crisis, Entrusted with Command · Sword Aimed at Lin He

Inside the study of the Military Governor's mansion.

The echo of Chai Rong's words, "I will exert all my efforts to pacify Lin He and not betray the lord's heavy trust," seems not yet faded.

Chen Wen had already turned and stepped out of that door with steady steps.

Inside the door lay trust and heavy responsibility; outside, it was a tumultuous world he must fulfill his promise through action.

The appointment has been issued; there is no time to lose.

Chen Wen did not return to his residence, but went straight to the new recruits' camp outside the city.

——It is now the garrison of his directly subordinate forces.

He immediately summoned Zhang Cheng, Shi Dun, Qian Gui, Zhao Lao Nian, and other core veteran troops.

He also summoned the commandant leading the detachment of Chan Prefecture troops that Chai Rong had allocated to him.

The commandant was named Li Yan, about thirty years old, with a dark complexion, and was a former subordinate of Han Tong.

After the previous sparring match, he was convinced of Chen Wen's ability.

Yet his brows still bore a hint of the innate scrutiny and caution that subordinates in the army feel when facing a newly appointed superior.

"Everyone!"

Chen Wen's gaze swept over the people in the tent; his tone was calm yet carried an undeniable force.

"The lord has issued an order, appointing me as Border Pacification Commissioner with full authority to settle the turmoil in Lin He County."

He did not elaborate on the reasons, but directly and concisely explained the situation in Lin He County and Chai Rong's appointment.

The tent fell silent at once, and then Zhang Cheng and the others' eyes blazed with fervent light.

That was trust forged through trials and the excitement of about to display their prowess again.

Commandant Li Yan was slightly moved; holding the ceremonial baton, he exercised full authority.

Such authority is immense, showing how highly the Military Governor esteems this person.

"Commandant Li..."

Chen Wen looked toward Li Yan.

"Your unit, prepare immediately; at the mao hour tomorrow, follow me as we set out."

"All provisions, forage, and supplies shall be distributed according to wartime standards."

"Received the order!"

Li Yan clasped his fist in assent; military orders are as immovable as a mountain, and he carried them out without the slightest hesitation.

"Zhang Cheng, you will oversee logistics and personnel allocation; the personnel from Jiao Tu Zhen accompanying us should be selected for competence, especially those skilled in construction, medicine, and documentation, to be prioritized for dispatch."

"Understood."

Zhang Cheng nodded steadily, his mind already rapidly calculating the list.

"Shi Dun, select thirty able men to serve as vanguard and personal guard; they must be agile and daring in battle."

"Don't worry, Brother Wen! I guarantee they're the best fighters!" Shi Dun patted his chest, his voice like a great bell.

"Qian Gui, your Inspection Bureau must go ahead; I need the information before we reach Lin He County."

"Know the latest, most accurate situation there—bandit distribution, popular sentiments, attitudes of the remaining county officials—the more detail, the better."

"Yes! I will personally lead people to first scout the situation."

A gleam of sharpness flashed in Qian Gui's eyes; gathering intelligence is his specialty.

"Zhao Lao Nian, draft experienced workers from the artificers' camp, bring extra repair tools and construction equipment; upon arrival, they will be needed immediately."

"Leave it to me; there will be no mistake."

Zhao Lao Nian's words were brief yet reassuring.

Orders were issued one by one, clear and explicit; the people received them and departed, each busying themselves.

After a brief commotion, the entire camp swiftly shifted into a tense, orderly pre-battle preparation state.

Chen Wen presided over the central command, processing information gathered from all sides, filling gaps and checking for omissions.

In his sea of consciousness, the pale golden whirl of Fortune Momentum seemed to flow more actively, spurred by this clear mission and efficient mobilization.

The next day, at dawn, exactly at the mao hour.

Outside the east gate of Chan Prefecture city, a mixed force had assembled completely.

Chen Wen wore light armor, overlaid with a dark official robe signifying his identity as Border Pacification Commissioner, mounted on a horse, his gaze calm as he looked ahead.

Behind him stood the spirited Shi Dun and the thirty elite warriors of Jiao Tu Zhen under his command.

Further back were the Chan Prefecture troops under Commandant Li Yan's leadership; although their equipment was somewhat mismatched, their military appearance remained fairly orderly.

In the middle of the column were dozens of various artisans, clerks, and logistics personnel led by Zhang Cheng and Zhao Lao Nian.

And large wagons loaded with tools, a modest amount of grain and fodder, and emergency medicinal herbs.

There was no grand oath-taking ceremony, no stirring speech.

Chen Wen simply turned his horse's head, faced all the accompanying personnel, and his clear voice rang out across the assembly:

"The people of Lin He are in dire straits; the lord has entrusted this heavy duty to us, which is both trust and responsibility."

"On this campaign, we shall sweep away villains with thunderous means and comfort the populace with a benevolent heart. Gentlemen, follow me forth!"

"We are willing to follow the commander!"

The crowd responded in unison; though the sound did not shake the heavens, it conveyed a steady resolve.

The column set off; horse hooves shattered the morning's tranquility, wheels crushed the dust of the official road, heading north all the way.

Leaving the walls of Chan Prefecture, the farther north they went, the more desolate the scenery became.

The vitality of early spring seemed choked by some invisible pressure; fields lay barren, villages desolate.

Occasionally, scattered villagers appeared, all sallow and thin, with numb eyes.

Upon seeing this troop pass, most fled in panic, like frightened birds.

Chen Wen sat on his horse, silently observing all this. Zhang Cheng rode up close and said in a low voice:

"Sir, looking at this situation, the state of Riverside County is probably worse than the documents say."

Chen Wen gave a slight nod:

"The ills of a chaotic age are deep-rooted and hard to reverse. When a dike bursts in one place, the flood submerges not only fields but also the people's hearts."

He paused, then looked at Zhang Cheng and Li Yan riding alongside him.

"According to your opinion, what should be our primary task upon reaching Riverside County?"

Li Yan pondered for a moment, then cupped his fists and said:

"Sir Chen, I believe we should march straight into the county office, wield the envoy's staff to take charge of the overall situation, and anyone who dares to defy orders shall be executed without mercy!"

"First seize their authority, then discuss other matters."

This is standard military thinking, straightforward and to the point.

Zhang Cheng shook his head and added:

"Lixiaowei's words are absolutely correct; securing the central hub is indeed the top priority."

"But according to the sporadic reports previously sent back by Qian Gui and what we've seen along the way, the authority of the Riverside County office has already been utterly destroyed..."

"I fear the real resistance lies not inside the office, but among the bandits rising outside the city, and possibly also among local tyrants within the city who are colluding with Zhou Tao."

"We must guard against them jumping the wall in desperation, either inciting popular unrest or luring bandits into the city."

Chen Wen listened to their opinions, his gaze distant:

"What you say makes sense."

"Authority must be seized, but seizing authority is not merely to sit in that empty office."

"Bandits must be suppressed, but suppressing bandits is not merely to kill for show."

"Our fundamental purpose is to let Riverside County revive, to give its people a means of livelihood, and to restore order to this land."

He raised his whip and pointed to a distant stretch of abandoned farmland:

"So, once we arrive, the three things we need to do can actually be carried out simultaneously."

"Lixiaowei, your unit shall be responsible for controlling the four gates of the county seat, as well as the county office, armory, granary, and other key points."

"Cut off inside from outside, stabilize order within the city; anyone who takes advantage of the chaos to loot or cause trouble, regardless of identity, shall be severely punished without mercy!"

"Received!" Li Yan replied solemnly.

"Zhang Cheng, you will follow me into the county office to take charge of documents and seals, and to inventory the treasury."

"Especially, we need to find evidence of Zhou Tao's embezzlement and the true registers of grain, money, and household population within the county."

"At the same time, immediately post a placard to pacify the people, announce the Envoy's appointment, proclaim Zhou Tao's crimes, and state that only the ringleaders will be punished, while those coerced will be spared."

"And promise to open the granaries and distribute grain as soon as possible, using work-for-relief."

"Understood; I have already drafted the notice's content along the way, please review it, Sir, and then it can be copied and posted."

Zhang Cheng handles matters with such thoroughness.

"As for suppressing bandits..."

Chen Wen looked toward Shi Dun and Qian Gui, who had just rushed back to report.

"Qian Gui, get your men moving; I need to know where the biggest, most vicious bandit gangs are hiding, their strongholds, numbers, and leaders' habits—the sooner the better."

"Shi Dun, keep your men on standby; once the intelligence is solid, set out at once and destroy them with the speed of thunder before they can cover their ears."

"We've been waiting for these words!"

Shi Dun cracked his knuckles, his fighting spirit rising; Qian Gui nodded heavily.

"Rest assured, Sir, we will have definite information by no later than tomorrow evening."

Seeing Chen Wen's clear thinking and clear division of labor, everyone's last lingering anxiety in the face of the unknown chaos also dissipated considerably.

This young Border Pacification Envoy not only has martial strength and courage, but also a clear mind and practical methods.

After another day's travel, they were now less than twenty li from the borders of Riverside County.

The desolate feeling in the air grew stronger, and on the official road, small groups of fleeing refugees began to appear.

Their clothes were tattered, their eyes vacant as they trudged southward.

This formed a stark contrast with Chen Wen's northward-bound troop.

At a fork in the road, the troop temporarily stopped to rest and drink water.

Several pale-faced children hid behind the earthen slope beside the road, timidly gazing at this group of soldiers.

Chen Wen signaled his personal troops to take some dry rations over; the children initially shrank back in fright, but seeing the soldiers meant no harm, they swarmed forward and snatched them up.

Watching the children wolf down the food, Chen Wen remained silent.

Zhang Cheng let out a soft sigh: "The people's livelihood is full of hardship."

Chen Wen clenched his fist, his gaze fixed toward the northern direction of Riverside County, growing ever more resolute.

There are more "children" there, more "refugees."

In a chaotic age like a raging flood, an individual's strength may seem tiny, but since he has come, holding the envoy's staff, bearing the system, and with this group of brothers willing to follow him,

he will, in this flood, carve out for Riverside County a solid plot of land where the people can catch their breath and survive.

"Rest enough, let's move on."

Chen Wen mounted his horse, his voice not loud, yet carrying an unwavering resolve to press forward.

"Enter Riverside County before nightfall."

The setting sun stretched their shadows long, casting them upon the desolate ancient road.

This brigade, tasked with pacification and reconstruction, is like a sword about to be drawn, its blade pointing straight at the land intertwined with chaos and suffering.