allonlinenovel Chapter 249 The Jin Army Withdraws, Li Zhen Returns to Modern Times
Chapter 249 The Jin Army Withdraws, Li Zhen Returns to Modern Times
Seeing the rebel soldiers gripping their weapons and slowly closing in, the guards transporting the grain were not to be outdone. They drew their gleaming weapons from between the cart shafts, their faces tense, their eyes flashing with vigilance as they stared intently at the approaching enemy.
Seeing this, the team leader quickly spoke up to reassure everyone: "Don't be anxious, everyone. Don't move around. We're family with the righteous army brothers. Can't we sit down and talk things over?"
Having said all he needed to say, he calmly pulled the squad leader, Kratos, aside, then slowly pulled a heavy money bag from his pocket and quietly slipped it into Kratos's hand.
"Brother Kui, look at me. I'm just a poor guy who works for someone else and has to take their orders. If anything goes wrong with this shipment, my livelihood will be completely ruined, and I'll never be able to make a comeback. You're a magnanimous person, so please consider it a favor I owe you and show us some mercy?"
Kui Ye lightly weighed the money pouch in his hand, a smirk playing on his lips: "I'll accept the silver for now. But you can't take the grain with you. How about this, I'll just write you a note..."
Then, disregarding whether the other party was willing or not, he picked up a slightly rough piece of paper from the table, scribbled a few lines on it, and rudely stuffed it into the hands of the team leader. He then led the group, driving the carriages, and set off in a grand procession towards Juye City.
The guards responsible for escorting the convoy gathered around the team leader, lowering their voices and asking nervously, "Boss, what should we do now? Should we take action immediately?"
The shopkeeper's face was so dark it seemed like it could be squeezed dry, his jaw clenched, as if he were trying to solidify the surging anger and resentment in his chest into an iron will: "Today they outnumber us and are at the height of their power. If we act rashly, we're afraid we'll be at a disadvantage and suffer more losses than gains. Let's hold our tempers for now and wait until we're safely back at the manor before reporting the whole story to the head steward, so he can decide on the next course of action."
This batch of grain was an urgent supply from COFCO Oils & Fats' Shanxian branch. In the past, under the iron heel of the Jurchens, a little money and silver would have been enough to ensure its smooth passage. But now, unexpectedly, it was blocked halfway by the iron fist of Li Gang's rebel army.
Little leader Kuiye led a dozen or so wagons, laden with glistening rice and strong Erguotou liquor, into Juye City in a grand procession. Li Gang, seeing this, was overjoyed, but a hint of worry crept into his brow. His troops and Li Zhen's were both righteous forces fighting against the Jin invaders; he certainly didn't want any conflict arising from this grain.
Beside him, a clerk parted his lips and said slowly, "General, do not worry. Not to mention that the Li family army is far away from us, the mighty Yellow River that lies between us is enough to make them helpless and unable to shake our army in the slightest."
The advisor stroked his beard and continued, “General, our army is currently strong and well-equipped, with ample supplies. Why not take advantage of this high morale and march north to capture Yuncheng in one fell swoop? Within that city lies a vast expanse of water, stretching for eight hundred li. In the past, heroes like Song Jiang relied on this natural barrier to repeatedly thwart the Song army's encirclements and write legendary tales. Admittedly, Juye City is strategically located and a must-contend place for military strategists. However, it is ultimately not a place for a lasting foundation and cannot support a long-term plan for a grand undertaking.”
Li Gang remained silent for a moment, his thoughts seemingly swirling within him, before slowly raising his head and surveying the several leaders beside him, some dignified, others capable and efficient. He spoke calmly, his voice carrying an undeniable authority: "Pass down the order: immediately prepare the troops, and ensure sufficient provisions and equipment. At the first light of dawn tomorrow, we will march on Yuncheng, incorporating that rich land into our territory, making our domain even more expansive."
The dust had barely settled on Fan County by Li Jiajun's iron cavalry, and the warmth of victory had not yet dissipated, when Du Jie received news as chilling as a gust of wind—his carefully prepared provisions and supplies had been wiped out in a surprise attack by Li Gang's rebel army on the way back.
Du Jie paced back and forth in the room, each step revealing his anxiety and resentment. Light and shadow played across his resolute face, as if silently telling the story of this sudden change.
After a long silence, he finally stopped, his voice steady and powerful: "Fan County has just been pacified, and the people's hearts are not yet at ease. The most important task at present is to stabilize this newly acquired land and let the people return to peace. As for Li Gang's band of rebels, we will keep that debt in mind for now and settle it when the time is right. As for the supply route, from today onwards, we will avoid the dangerous route through Juye and find another detour to the west to ensure uninterrupted supply."
After speaking, his gaze sharpened as he looked out the window at the sky dyed red by the setting sun, his heart filled with both plans for the future and an indomitable spirit in the face of the current predicament.
As the Jin army's iron hooves thundered their retreat towards the distant land of Xijing Road, Shandong's western region seemed to be awakened overnight by a spring breeze. Uprisings sprang up everywhere like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, vibrant and unstoppable. Not to mention the vast expanse of the surrounding lands, just around the rippling waters of Liangshan Marsh, more than a dozen rebel groups of varying sizes and characteristics surged forth. Among them were many former bandits and pirates who had roamed this land with terror, and heroes who made their living by intercepting passing merchants. Now, they donned new battle robes and raised the banner of resistance.
After entrusting many affairs of the Li family army to his two trusted partners, Bu Liang and Yue Peng, Li Zhen felt an urgent urgency to return home.
He knew that his return to the modern world was not only to replenish the increasingly scarce space resources, but also to welcome back his most important family members—his father-in-law, Old Zhao, and his wife and children whom he had been longing for day and night.
Time flies, and more than a month has passed since he left this border. What will the modern world look like now? With this unknown concern in his heart, he embarked on his journey home, each step carrying a deep longing for home.
As that familiar and comforting melody gently wafted through the air, accompanied by a soft white light, Li Zhen felt as if he had traversed a crack in time and space, stepping once again into his cozy little home. He went straight to the sofa, his body involuntarily sinking into its familiar and comfortable embrace, as if all the weariness of his journey had been gently soothed in that moment.
As soon as he sat down, Li Zhen's first instinct was to look for his almost inseparable companion—his phone. It lay quietly in the corner of the coffee table, its screen dim, seemingly silently yearning for battery life. So, he gently picked up the phone, as if retrieving a long-lost connection, and slowly connected it to the charging cable.
When Li Zhen gently pressed the power button on his phone, the screen instantly lit up, as if a sleeping world had been quietly awakened. Immediately afterwards, a series of notification sounds, like a gentle drizzle, filled his ears, each carrying a story waiting to be unlocked.
He quickly scanned the messages jumping across the screen, mostly concerned greetings from Fang Zhen and Cao Hua. They were like the warm embrace of old friends, crossing invisible radio waves to offer him his first comfort upon returning home. Interspersed among them were a few numbers he had never met before, their brief messages hinting at unexpected connections or chance encounters.
However, amidst this overwhelming sea of information, Li Zhen was surprised to find that his parents' call records were completely blank, which stirred a ripple in his heart.