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 generous!"

Hearing Niu Er’s words, the surrounding soldiers immediately broke into joyful cheers.

"I never imagined that one day, we would be able to eat such delicacies!"

"That's right, a month ago, I was still digging irrigation ditches!"

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

Just as the group was eating the 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 have a mouthful of food, perhaps they wouldn't have rebelled!

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

Looking at Zhang Cheng with curiosity, Situ Yaozu asked.

"Dali is not something we can take for now! Have people quickly build an armory in the Li Dynasty; 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 spot and said, "There are mines here; just send people to dig them!"

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

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

"The Li Dynasty isn't ours either? Then why is it in my 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 only 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.

Watching Situ Yaozu’s sensible demeanor, Zhang Cheng patted his shoulder and said, "Don't worry, in the future, our brotherhood will surely be famous throughout history!"

With wide eyes, Situ Yaozu looked at Zhang Cheng, a thought surfacing in his mind: they would be infamous.

After all, when they attacked the Li Dynasty, they didn't even bother to find a reason; they just sailed their ships over and started killing.

As for the Niu Hou Man, they marched north and didn't even give them a chance to beg for mercy.

Thinking of how future generations would judge them, Situ Yaozu suddenly felt a bit panicked.

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

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

"Hey, saying things like that—isn't infamy still a form of fame?"

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

Why do the Chinese people admire the achievements of the Qin Emperor and Han Wu? Because one set the rules, and the other forged a proud spirit.

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 harshly, 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 might not run faster than me!

Zhao Kuangyin: Come, Prince of Jin, I’ll teach you the Ancestor’s Long Fist!

Half a month later, the Dali border,

Two great armies faced each other across a river.

Looking at the neat and uniform formations, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but sigh, "Fighting against our own kin in this place is quite a loss!"

Looking at the mountains and vast forests, Zhang Cheng felt the difficulty for the first time.

Because Dali wasn't easy to conquer; even if it could be pacified, one couldn't stop the kin from rebelling!

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

Because of the rugged mountain roads and treacherous terrain, once the people here rebelled, you basically couldn't do anything about them.

Fight, it's troublesome; don't fight, it's even more troublesome.

When Zhang Cheng left the Great Song, Sichuan was already in rebellion; he estimated that by the time he returned, it still wouldn't be pacified.

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

It’s just like the daily routine: eating, sleeping, and beating the beans.

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

The main theme is: since we're idle anyway, why not all rebel together!

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

Coming to Zhang Cheng’s side, a grave expression appeared on Situ Yaozu’s face.

Having participated in the military examinations, he could still distinguish the level of skill.

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

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

Signaling to Niu Er beside him, Zhang Cheng spoke while biting on a cigarette.

"No, Cousin, have you gone mad? 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 surprised.

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 this 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, and remember, you must accidentally tip over the boxes 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'm using a dirty trick!"

Speaking with a face full of disdain, Zhang Cheng looked at the front with contempt 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 battle hadn't even started, and he was already calculating?

An hour later, when the Dali soldiers saw several chests of gold and silver jewelry being carried in, their faces immediately showed astonishment.

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

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

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

Looking at the astonished supervisor, 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 to sow discord!"

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 started sending 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 family 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 the telescope, the corners of Zhang Cheng’s mouth slowly rose as he said, "See that? Cousin, sometimes, enemies you can't defeat 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 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!