Chapter 83: Undercurrents Surging

Just as Jiang Jiang Mingyu and his party were struggling forward through the wind and snow.

Little did they know that in the Huang Manor of the prefectural city, a burly, tall man was silently stepping into Huang Huang Chaoran's reception room.

The man wore a rough, dark brown hemp robe on his upper body, with unidentifiable stains still lingering at the corner of his mouth. He topped his head with an oily bamboo hat, completely concealing his entire face, revealing only a pair of sharp eyes staring straight at Huang Huang Chaoran.

The man bent down respectfully, bowed to Huang Huang Chaoran, and asked in a low, hoarse voice: "My lord, what are your orders?"

Huang Huang Chaoran sized him up from head to toe, then suddenly countered: "Over these years, how have I, Huang, treated you?"

Gratitude instantly flooded the man's voice: "If it were not for my lord saving me back then, I would have long since perished in the Yellow Springs. My lord's grace to me is as heavy as a mountain; I am endlessly grateful."

Huang Huang Chaoran let out a cold sneer and said in a gloomy tone: "Good. Today, I will give you a chance to repay your debt."

The man clasped his fists and said respectfully: "My lord, just give the order. Even if it means plunging into boiling water or walking through fire, I will not hesitate."

Only then did Huang Huang Chaoran fully recount the circumstances of his dismissal, embellishing the story with added details. Finally, he let out a self-mocking laugh: "Now I am just an ordinary commoner; put away the title 'my lord'." His tone was filled with deep hatred for Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

The man listened silently, and the face hidden beneath his bamboo hat gradually grew grotesque.

Finally, he spoke in a low voice: "I will set off for Shangmu immediately and chop Jiang Jiang Mingyu into minced meat to avenge you for my lord!" Every word radiated thick killing intent.

Huang Huang Chaoran sneered: "Do not forget that Liu Liu Yifei. Without her, I would not have fallen to this state. Kill her as well!"

The man answered without hesitation: "Very well. I will kill her too and cut off her roots!"

Huang Huang Chaoran shook his head: "Do not kill her. Bring her back to the prefectural city. After I am tired of playing with her, sell her to a brothel. I want her to wish for death but find life even worse!"

His tone was extremely cold, and a snake-like chill faintly glinted in his eyes.

This terrible revenge plot was unfolding step by step in the shadows.

The man replied indifferently: "This humble one will depart immediately. I will soon complete the mission and return with good news. Farewell."

Huang Huang Chaoran narrowed his eyes and pressed: "How do you plan to strike?"

The man showed no expression, merely letting out a gloomy, cold sneer, and said in a low voice: "Killing and arson are my professional secrets. Please, my lord, do not press further."

Having spoken, he bowed respectfully to Huang Huang Chaoran, turned around, and vanished into the howling wind and snow.

Huang Huang Chaoran smiled sinisterly and muttered to himself: "Jiang Jiang Mingyu, just enjoy your final days well."

Meanwhile, Jiang Jiang Mingyu had arrived in Shangmu county town. After sending Liu Liu Yifei home, Liu Ximen, upon learning the cause and effect, was filled with gratitude and wanted to kneel before Jiang Jiang Mingyu to thank him.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu hurriedly helped Liu Ximen up, already regarding him in his heart as his future father-in-law.

Watching Jiang Jiang Mingyu's departing figure, Liu Liu Yifei, equally exhausted, could not help but let a hint of tenderness flash in her eyes.

After returning to the county yamen, Jiang Jiang Mingyu, unable to rest, immediately summoned his trusted subordinate Wu Xiao'er to discuss military affairs.

Wu Xiao'er hurriedly rushed over. Upon hearing that Jiang Jiang Mingyu intended to recruit a massive army of fifty thousand immediately, he could not help but frown deeply, his worry overflowing. He stammered: "My lord, this cannot possibly be done, can it?"

"The business negotiated by the Inspector has not yet been settled. If we unilaterally recruit and purchase horses on such a large scale, how shall we solve the problem of military grain?"

"Once military pay is insufficient, morale will scatter. If a mutiny is triggered, the consequences will be unimaginable!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu narrowed his eyes slightly, pondered in silence, his face full of a look burdened with worries. After a while, he slowly opened his mouth: "What you say is reasonable. But with only the existing two or three thousand men, can we resist the iron hooves of the foreign enemies?"

"Even if I now have an army of fifty thousand at hand, it still requires several months of training before they can go to the battlefield."

"If we delay any further, when the foreign enemies invade, will Shangmu not be fraught with danger?"

Wu Xiao'er sized Jiang Jiang Mingyu up from head to toe and tentatively suggested: "How about we halve the military pay for now to make do? The common people all remember my lord's grace; we can manage temporarily."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu decisively shook his head and said firmly: "Absolutely not. Military affairs must be kept to one's word. Unilaterally reducing pay will surely damage morale!"

"This official has made up his mind. Quickly post the recruitment notices, offer excellent terms, and provide superior treatment."

Wu Xiao'er was still uneasy: "What about the military grain problem?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu sighed lightly: "I currently have silver, barely enough for one month. If that fails, I will seek help from Zhu Ge Yu."

"Most importantly, I firmly believe the Inspector will be able to sell the coal."

Wu Xiao'er was utterly confused: "How can my lord be so certain?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled meaningfully: "Fine wine and delicacies move the heart; thousands of gold coins move the heart. By then, the Inspector will surely be satisfied."

Wu Xiao'er, full of doubts, could only take a belly full of questions and go to post the recruitment notices...

As soon as Jiang Jiang Mingyu posted the recruitment notices, in less than the time it takes to eat a meal, news of this major military mobilization spread rapidly to every corner of Shangmu county.

"Why does my lord suddenly want to conscript an army of fifty thousand? What is this for?" The common people looked at one another, speculating and discussing.

"Looking at this momentum, I fear we are about to go to war with the foreign tribes!" A villager who was a veteran pointed out directly.

"What a joke! With our Shangmu county's few broken weapons, how can we resist the foreign tribes' elite iron cavalry? Isn't this clearly asking for death?" A young man who had seen the foreign iron cavalry dismissed it.

In an instant, the entire county was in an uproar, with everyone both worried and expectant.

Thanks to the generous military pay, starting the next day, groups of strong young men began to flock to the county town to sign up.

At this time, the scribe Lord Murong Murong Yunhai, who was training new recruits in the county town, hurriedly came to see Jiang Jiang Mingyu and said with a nervous expression: "My lord, in just a few days, the number of new recruits responding to enlistment has already reached nearly twenty thousand. It is said that even more people are on their way. The current city defense camp cannot accommodate them."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu frowned deeply, pondered, and then said decisively: "Immediately launch the city defense facility expansion plan and relocate all nearby villagers to other places to live!"

"At the same time, summon Tu Tu Kesiluo back to the city to assist in training, and transfer Li Goudan to help organize the new recruits."

Lord Murong Murong Yunhai said with deep concern: "My lord, our existing military supplies are almost exhausted."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu also sighed deeply: "Indeed difficult, but we cannot let the soldiers spend the night in the open. You say, shouldn't the negotiations with the Inspector side yield results very soon?"

On a desolate, uninhabited small mountain a hundred li outside Shangmu county town, an extremely obese middle-aged man with an oily face was forcefully pounding the table to vent his anger. His eyes were bloodshot, and he cursed viciously: "A bunch of traitorous wastes! It has taken so long, yet you still cannot figure out the cause of death of the brothers on Little Eagle Mountain. What use are you?!"

Just then, a thin, yellow-faced little henchman suddenly ran in from outside the door. Out of breath, he cried out in shock: "Big Brother, there is major news! According to the brothers we sent to investigate, the murderer of the Little Eagle Mountain brothers is none other than the newly appointed Imperial Envoy, Jiang Jiang Mingyu, who has only been in office for two months!"

Upon hearing the name Jiang Jiang Mingyu, the middle-aged man's thick eyebrows immediately knitted tightly into a knot. His eyes turned red, and he suddenly kicked over the wooden table in front of him, roaring: "Those who kill my brothers are my eternal enemies!"

"All brothers must set off for Shangmu county town immediately. You must find a way to put Jiang Jiang Mingyu to death and avenge the brothers who have already sacrificed themselves!"

A thin henchman nearby, seeing this, hurriedly advised: "Big Brother, think thrice. This matter cannot be rushed. I heard that Jiang Jiang Mingyu already has twenty or thirty thousand soldiers under his command. If we few go, we will likely not escape death."

The man's eyes were bloodshot. He glared at the henchman and roared: "Just let it go? My brothers died for nothing? I must avenge this grudge!"

The henchman's eyes rolled, and he quickly whispered: "Big Brother, I actually have a brilliant plan. Perhaps it can avenge the dead brothers..."

After listening to the henchman's whisper, the middle-aged man's anger on his face eased slightly. He said in a deep voice: "Speak and let me hear it."

The henchman hurriedly stood up, leaned close to the man, turned his head, and whispered a few words into his ear.

After hearing this, the henchman stepped back, a cunning smile spreading across his face as he said triumphantly, "With this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu is surely doomed; our brother's revenge will be complete."

"Even if the plan fails, we will still hold the advantage and withdraw safely to devise another strategy."

The middle-aged man was greatly satisfied upon hearing this; he slapped Jiang Jiang Mingyu's shoulder heavily with his rough hand and laughed, "Good lad, this clever stratagem of yours is excellent. It seems I should listen to your opinions more often in the future!"

"Let it be so! Go and order the other brothers to make preparations; we shall depart immediately."