Chapter 33: Zhang Cheng

South Asia, capital of the Niu Hou Man Kingdom.

The rich aroma of instant noodles was wafting in all directions.

"Today's siege was a great victory. His Lordship has specially distributed comfort supplies. Eat your fill, drink your fill!"

Leading a group of soldiers over, Niu Er's face was full of smiles.

"His Lordship is magnanimous!"

Hearing Niu Er's words, the surrounding soldiers immediately broke into joyful laughter.

"I really didn't expect that one day, we would be able to eat such a delicacy!"

"That's right, just last month, I was still digging ditches!"

"That's nothing. I was working like a beast of burden for the Regional Commander, and I still couldn't even feed my wife and children!"

Just as the group was eating the instant noodles with smiles on their faces, Zhang Cheng, who was patrolling the camp, couldn't help but fall silent.

If the common people of every dynasty could just have a mouthful of food, perhaps they wouldn't have rebelled!

"Cousin, Niu Hou Man has been taken. Are we going to continue fighting next?"

Looking at Zhang Cheng with curiosity, Situ Yaozu asked.

"Dali is not something we can take for the moment! Have people quickly build weapon factories in the Li Chao; we cannot rely entirely on the Great Song!"

With a flicker of light in his eyes, Zhang Cheng quickly took out a map.

As the candlelight flickered, Zhang Cheng pointed to a place and said, "There are mines here. Just send people to dig them!"

"But this place isn't our occupied territory yet!"

Looking at the geographical location in surprise, Situ Yaozu was stunned.

"The Li Chao isn't ours either? Then why is it in our hands?"

Looking at Situ Yaozu with disdain, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but roll his eyes.

Zhao Kuangyin donned the yellow robe at Chenqiao; doesn't that prove that having the biggest "fist" is the hard truth?

Even if Champa doesn't belong to them, so what? Relying on sturdy armor and sharp blades, could they refuse?

"I understand, Cousin!"

Hearing Zhang Cheng say this, Situ Yaozu immediately nodded.

Looking at Situ Yaozu's sensible appearance, Zhang Cheng patted his shoulder and said, "Don't worry, in the future, we brothers will definitely go down in history!"

Widening his eyes, Situ Yaozu looked at Zhang Cheng, and a phrase surfaced in his mind: notorious.

After all, when they attacked the Li Chao, they hadn't even looked for a reason; they just sailed their ships over and started killing.

As for Niu Hou Man, they had marched north without even giving them a chance to beg for mercy.

Thinking of the judgment of future generations, Situ Yaozu suddenly felt a bit panicked.

"Cousin, we will probably be reviled for ten thousand years, right?"

Looking at Zhang Cheng awkwardly, Situ Yaozu couldn't help but explain.

"Hey, why say such things? Isn't a notorious name still a name?"

Patting Situ Yaozu's shoulder, a smile appeared on Zhang Cheng's face.

Why do the Chinese people admire the achievements of the First Emperor of Qin and Emperor Wu of Han? It is because one established the rules, and the other forged a proud backbone.

With the Great Song as a foil, even if Zhang Cheng is called a butcher by future generations, at least he won't be cursed too badly, right?

Zhang Cheng: Sorry, this is all thanks to the setting provided by the various emperors of the Great Song!

Zhao Guangyi: With the same donkey cart, you aren't necessarily faster than me!

Zhao Kuangyin: Come, Prince of Jin, I'll teach you the Ancestral Long Fist!

Half a month later, Dali border.

Two great armies faced each other across a river.

Looking at the neat and uniform formation, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but sigh, "Fighting wars in this place against the locals is quite a loss!"

Looking at the mountains and forests, Zhang Cheng felt it was tricky for the first time.

Because Dali is not easy to fight; even if it can be pacified, one cannot stop the locals from rebelling!

And these brothers of the Southwest F4 have been a hot potato in every dynasty.

Because of the rugged mountain roads and steep terrain, once the people here rebel, you basically can't do anything about them.

Fighting is troublesome; not fighting is even more troublesome.

When Zhang Cheng left the Great Song, Shu was already in rebellion. It is estimated that by the time he returns, it still won't be pacified.

Don't ask why; asking means rebellion is normal. If one day Shu didn't rebel, that would be strange!

It's just like daily life: eating, sleeping, and beating beans.

If they are in a bad mood, they rebel; if a natural disaster comes, they also rebel; if an official offends someone, they still rebel.

The main point is: since they are idle anyway, why not rebel together!

"Cousin, the Dali military formation looks very hard to fight!"

Coming to Zhang Cheng's side, a hint of solemnity appeared on Situ Yaozu's face.

Having participated in the military examinations, he could still see the difference in skill levels.

Unlike Zhang Cheng, who looked through a telescope and saw only three words: "Neat and uniform"!

"This Dali general is a talent! Send someone over to ask if he will surrender!"

Signaling to Niu Er beside him, Zhang Cheng spoke with a cigarette in his mouth.

"No, Cousin, are you crazy? How much fake liquor would someone have to drink to choose to surrender!"

Looking at Zhang Cheng, Situ Yaozu widened his eyes in disbelief.

"Hey, Cousin, if a person has no dreams, what is the difference between them and a salted fish!"

Looking at Situ Yaozu, Zhang Cheng was full of smiles.

A quarter of an hour later, Niu Er returned.

"Where is my envoy?"

Asking Niu Er, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but feel puzzled.

"He was beheaded!"

Looking at Zhang Cheng awkwardly, Niu Er spread his hands helplessly.

"So stubborn!"

Hearing Niu Er's words, Zhang Cheng was also full of surprise.

Because he didn't expect the Dali general to be such a stubborn mule!

Thinking of this, Situ Yaozu turned his head and said, "Cousin, why don't we discuss it again! This Dali is not easy to fight!"

"Nonsense, do you think I don't know Dali is hard to fight?"

Looking at Situ Yaozu with disdain, Zhang Cheng turned his head and said, "Find a few slaves, send a few chests of gold and silver jewelry over. Remember, you must accidentally tip over the chests at the camp gate!"

"Cousin, are you planning to buy bones with a thousand gold?"

Looking at Zhang Cheng in astonishment, Situ Yaozu couldn't help but get excited.

"What buying horse bones with a thousand gold? I am using a dirty trick!"

Speaking with a face full of disdain, Zhang Cheng looked ahead contemptuously and said, "Although I can't fight my way through, does he think he can save his own life?"

Thinking through Zhang Cheng's operation, Niu Er and Situ Yaozu on the side were both dumbfounded.

The war hadn't even started yet, and he had already started scheming?

An hour later, when the Dali soldiers saw several chests of gold and silver jewelry being moved in, a look of astonishment immediately appeared on their faces.

Could it be that the "pirates" were starting to lose their nerve?

However, after the military supervisor looked at these chests of gold and silver jewelry, he immediately looked at the Dali general Wang Ping beside him with a face full of suspicion.

"Supervisor, you must believe me, I absolutely have no dealings with this group of people!"

Looking at the supervisor's astonished face, Wang Ping hurriedly explained.

But facing Wang Ping's explanation, the supervisor said, "General Wang, do not worry, I believe this must be a strategy of alienation!"

And just after the supervisor finished saying this, he turned around and started writing in his little notebook.

Over the next few days, the "pirates" not only didn't attack, but instead began to send out large amounts of gold and silver jewelry, and even sent quite a lot of things like instant noodles.

Seeing his cousin being so generous, Situ Yaozu was dumbfounded, because this didn't fit Zhang Cheng's persona at all!

Facing Situ Yaozu's suspicion, Zhang Cheng narrowed his eyes and said, "It's fine, the good show is about to begin!"

Five days later, the Duan clan of Dali sent a new general.

As for Wang Ping, he was arrested and taken back for colluding with the enemy.

Seeing this scene through a telescope, the corners of Zhang Cheng's mouth slowly rose as he said, "See that? Cousin, sometimes, enemies you can't beat on the battlefield don't need swords to be solved!"

"Cousin, you are truly wicked to the core!"

Watching Wang Ping being put into the prison cart just like that, Situ Yaozu's mouth twitched.

Because only they knew just how wronged Wang Ping really was.

Wang Ping: I didn't take a single tael of silver!

Supervisor: You didn't take it, but I did!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 34 =====