Chapter 738: Rising Prestige

On a new day, the clamor in the camp rose half a shichen earlier than usual.

As Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) stepped out of the barracks, the eastern horizon just began to show fish-belly white.

Yet the camp was already bustling.

Xu Da was leading a squad of veteran soldiers, guiding the over two hundred newcomers who had arrived the previous night to an open space on the east riverbank.

Most of them wore tattered clothes and had sallow faces, but their eyes still held a glint of the will to survive.

"This is the third batch."

Tang He walked over, holding a roster that had been compiled overnight.

"Starting three days ago, refugees and stray soldiers have been coming to join us every day."

"Yesterday was the peak, with over four hundred people."

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) took the roster and glanced at it quickly.

The roster roughly recorded the newcomers' native places, ages, and whether they possessed weapons.

The majority were local farmers from Huai Xi who had fled because they could no longer make a living.

There were also a few remnants of rebel armies scattered from other regions.

"Any of them usable?"

"Yes." Tang He pointed to a few names on the roster, "This one is Fu Youde; he brought over twenty cavalrymen, their horses strong, seeming to be of military background."

"This one is Zhao Pusheng; he claims to be a former subordinate of Monk Peng, commanding over eighty men, though they look sallow and thin, their formation is still fairly orderly."

"Also these few are blacksmiths who fled from Huaiyuan, saying they had worked in government workshops."

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) noted down these names.

Fu Youde, Zhao Pusheng…

These names carried weight in his memories of his previous life.

But they were supposed to rise onto the historical stage only several years later.

Now, however, they have gathered early under his banner.

Is it a coincidence?

Or has this twisted world forced everyone to act ahead of time?

"Examine them carefully."

He closed the roster.

"Those who come with sincere intent, take them in."

"Those just looking for a free meal, assign them to build fortifications and transport supplies."

"Those with divided loyalties—"

He paused.

"Deal with them directly."

"Understood."

Tang He turned and left.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) walked toward the east riverbank.

Xu Da stood on a large stone, shouting to the newcomers.

"Listen up!"

"Once you join the Knife-Plow Camp, you must obey the rules here!"

"First, obey orders!"

"Second, do not bully the populace!"

"Third, no private fights, no pillaging!"

"Violate any one, and you will be beheaded!"

His voice rang loud, drowning out the crowd's clamor.

Among the newcomers, some shrank their necks, while others straightened their backs.

"Now, those who can ride horses and wield swords, stand to the left!"

"Those with skills—blacksmiths, carpenters, leatherworkers—stand in the middle!"

"The rest, stand to the right!"

The crowd began to move.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) stood at a distance, observing.

Those who stepped out to the left numbered about fifty.

In the middle there were thirty-odd.

On the right were the most, exceeding one hundred.

"Chang Yuchun."

He called out.

Standing behind him, with his eyes still covered by a cloth, Chang Yuchun replied:

"I'm here."

"Those people on the left, I entrust to you."

"Within three days, get to know their capabilities."

"Those who are usable, incorporate them into the cavalry."

"Those who are not usable but dare to fight, place them in the infantry."

"Yes."

Chang Yuchun grinned.

I just like doing this.

He strode toward the group on the left.

Although his eyes were covered, his steps were steady.

Those artisans in the middle, hand them over to Guo Rong.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) continued giving orders.

Have them start work immediately, repair weapons, and forge arrows.

Especially those few blacksmiths, I have use for them.

Yes.

Guo Rong, who had been following behind, quickly walked toward the crowd in the middle.

Those on the right...

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) looked at the over a hundred elderly, weak, women, and children.

Hand them over to Wang Ru.

Register them, arrange housing, and distribute rations per person.

If there is an epidemic, isolate it promptly.

Yes.

Wang Ru received the order and left.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) stood in place for a moment.

Then he walked toward the west side of the camp.

There, a crude grass shed had just been erected.

Under the shed, Liu Ji sat on a stone, with several sheets of coarse paper spread before him.

The paper bore some astrological diagrams and terrain markings.

Master Liu.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) approached.

Liu Ji lifted his head, rose, and bowed.

Chief.

No need for excessive courtesy.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) sat down opposite him.

Master, did you gain anything from last night's stargazing?

Liu Ji fell silent for a moment.

Purple qi moves east, the baleful star invades the north.

Lord... military disaster will arise, demonic vapors invade from the south.

Specifically?

Within three days, there will surely be bloodshed.

Liu Ji pointed to a mark on the paper.

To the northeast, about a hundred li away.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang)'s heart sank.

A hundred li.

This distance happens to be half the way from Baizhen Town to Haozhou.

Can you calculate the exact time?

It should be around midnight.

Liu Ji paused.

Moreover, this baleful qi is extremely heavy, far surpassing before.

There seems to be... a great ominous thing approaching.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) stared at that paper.

He could not understand the astrological diagram on the paper.

But Liu Ji's tone made him dare not take it lightly.

This Master Qingtian, in history, is famed for perceiving heavenly secrets and predicting events like a god.

Although he is still young now, his talent will not change.

Master.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) suddenly asked.

If I say, in this world there is a power that can make people invulnerable to blades, can contaminate water and soil, and can transmute living things...

What do you think it is?

Liu Ji was stunned.

He pondered for a long time.

The Classic of Mountains and Seas records that overseas there is a strange qi; touching it causes living beings to mutate.

Previous dynasty notes also say that deep in mineral veins one occasionally sees blue light; miners who approach it often die suddenly.

But these are all wild histories, not to be fully believed.

He looked toward Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang).

Chief, could it be that you have... seen it?

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) did not answer directly.

He took out that lump of "strange iron" from his bosom.

He placed it on the stone table.

"Sir, take a look at this."

Liu Ji carefully picked up the lump, brought it close to his eyes, and examined it closely.

"Is this... iron?"

"Or not exactly."

"Its color is dark and dull, its texture fine, and it feels warm and smooth to the touch..."

He suddenly raised his head.

"Where did this thing come from?"

"I obtained it by chance."

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) did not say more.

"Sir, what do you think is special about this object?"

Liu Ji pondered.

"I once read the Kao Gong Ji, which says, 'Metal has six harmonies,' meaning that different proportions yield metals with different properties."

"But this object... seems not to belong among those six."

"It is more like..."

He weighed his words.

"It seems to have been mixed with some kind of... foreign substance."

"What foreign substance?"

"I don't know."

Liu Ji shook his head.

"But I believe this object may be related to the 'strange power' the leader spoke of."

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang)'s eyes flickered slightly.

"How can you tell?"

"Intuition."

Liu Ji said frankly.

"Holding this object, my mind and spirit become calm."

"But when the leader mentions that strange power, I feel uneasy, as if a gloom presses down on me."

He put the lump back on the table.

"One thing subdues another; that is the principle of heaven and earth."

"If there are evil spirits, there must be something that counters them."

"This iron might be just such a thing."

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) nodded slowly.

He gathered up the lump.

"Sir."

"Here."

"From today onward, you will be in charge of the camp's documents, deliberations, and observations."

"Whatever omens arise, big or small, report them to me immediately."

Liu Ji solemnly clasped his fists.

"I will not fail the trust placed in me."

As they were speaking, Xu Da hurried over.

"Elder brother."

His face was grim.

"The northern scouts have returned."

"Speak."

"In the direction of Gu Zhen... something has happened."

"What happened?"

"Last night at zi hour, a sudden burst of blue light erupted in Gu Zhen's city, lasting about a quarter of an hour."

"Then the city gates were flung open."

"A large number of silhouettes poured out, moving southward."

"How many?"

"At least... five hundred."

Xu Da paused.

"Moreover, the scouts said, the movements of those people..."

"How?"

"They were terrifyingly orderly."

"They did not seem like living people."

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) and Liu Ji exchanged a glance.

"Anything else?"

Yes.

Xu Da pulled a dirt‑stained piece of cloth from his bosom.

On the cloth clung a small amount of gray‑blue, moss‑like substance.

"It was found beside the official road five li south of Guzhen."

"The trees beside the road, starting from the roots, are turning this color."

"Moreover..."

His voice went dry.

"The scouts said they heard a sound there."

"What sound?"

"It sounded like... countless people whispering at once."

"But when listened closely, nothing could be made out."

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) took the cloth.

The gray‑blue moss on the cloth shimmered with an eerie luster in the sunlight.

The lump of "strange iron" in his bosom warmed slightly.

"Pass the order."

He stood up.

"The entire camp enters combat readiness."

"All new personnel, speed up reorganization."

"Fortify the works, inventory supplies, expand scout range to fifty li."

"Yes!"

Xu Da turned and hurried away.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) looked toward Liu Ji.

"Sir."

"The blood omen within three days has come true."

Liu Ji remained silent.

He gazed toward the northern sky.

There, the sky was clear and cloudless.

But he seemed to see an intangible gloom.

It was slowly pressing down.

"Chief."

He said in a low voice.

"This calamity... may be hard to overcome."

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) rested his hand on the hilt of his waist sword.

"I know."

"But precisely because it is difficult, we must go through it."

He turned and walked toward the center of the camp.

Toward the blade‑plow flag that snapped in the morning wind.

Behind him, Liu Ji watched his back.

A complex expression flickered in his eyes.

This young chief...

He seemed to know many things he shouldn't.

But he didn't say.

Liu Ji also didn't ask.

Some things, knowing too much, is not necessarily a blessing.

What matters most now is to survive.

To bring this camp, these several thousand people, to survive.

He put away his writing brush and followed.

In the camp, the bugle sounded.

The drills began.