Chapter 930 - 772: Able Minister in Times of Peace

Evening.

The warm sunset shone on the official road outside Jingjiang County, turning the packed earth road into a lazy golden color.

The Anti-Japanese Army was maneuvering around the Huaixi area, leading nine hundred new recruits with bruised and swollen faces, forming a long, winding dragon on the road for several miles.

Jiang Chai and others rode their horses back and forth beside the team, occasionally whipping the disobedient ones a few more times. If not for the blood-stained clothes, they would look just like shepherds driving a flock of sheep home.

Everywhere they went, Jiang Chai and his men would execute a few ruffians to establish their authority, making heads roll and ensuring the new recruits dared not cause trouble.

At this moment, an old soldier in the Anti-Japanese Army was shouting within the ranks: "One, two, one, one, two, one, left-right-left, left-right-left... Who the hell is off step again?"

With that, the old soldier raised his whip and lashed out, causing the ruffians from each county to grimace in pain.

Chen Ji and Old Ears were positioned at the end of the troop, one riding a horse and the other a donkey, swaying leisurely as they moved along.

Old Ears, puzzled as he looked at the long line ahead, said, "I understand training the recruits, but why insist they march in perfect step? When the pirates come, marching neatly won’t do any good."

Without raising his head, Chen Ji, looking at the newspaper in his hand, replied, "The most critical thing in training infantry is not that they can each fight a hundred enemies, but that they obey orders without question. Otherwise, in battle, if you tell them to go east and they insist on going west, no matter how formidable they are, it’s useless."

Old Ears sneered, "Easier said than done, obeying orders without question is something even the most famous generals can’t always achieve. Do you think your method of drilling will accomplish that? I can’t help but laugh watching them."

Chen Ji glanced at him, "Just wait and see. I don’t dare claim much, but dealing with the pirates is a trivial matter."

"Alright, alright, I’ll wait and see," Old Ears, a bit puzzled, said: "Counting these new recruits, the Anti-Japanese Army must have over a thousand men. Are you really planning to rebel and become Emperor?"

Chen Ji turned a page of the newspaper, casually responding, "I have no intention of rebelling, and I’m not fit to be an Emperor anyway."

Old Ears, his eyes rolling, immediately suggested, "If you don’t want to, you could give it to your father-in-law or your brother-in-law. I, for one, have never had the chance to fight for a kingdom. When you rise, give me the title of Great General."

Chen Ji still didn’t raise his head, "They’re not fit for it, and neither are you."

Old Ears retorted, "Who are you looking down on?"

He changed the subject, "If you don’t intend to rebel, then why recruit troops and buy horses? Surely you don’t plan on using these village soldiers to survey each family’s land and fields? I warn you, the Jiangnan gentry may fight among themselves, but let an outsider like the county magistrate show up, and they’ll set aside old enmities to unite against him."

Chen Ji casually replied, "Surveying land and fields takes too long. I have other matters to attend to."

Now even Old Ears couldn’t guess what Chen Ji intended to do, but it intrigued him: "Then hurry up and attend to business. Why linger in Jingjiang County fighting pirates?"

Looking into the distance, Chen Ji said, "Haste makes waste. This Anti-Japanese Army can’t accomplish anything significant yet; we’ll use the pirates for practice first."

Old Ears suddenly asked, "What do you plan to do once affairs in Jiangnan are sorted out?"

Chen Ji thought for a moment, "Go home."

Old Ears chuckled, raising his pinky finger, "Your ambition is just about as big as a fingernail, always thinking of going home despite having the resources and troops. You’ve seen it, even in the wealthy region of Jiangnan, the people can only eat porridge with pickled vegetables, selling their sons and daughters to survive. With ability comes responsibility; one should do something for the people."

Chen Ji closed the newspaper, nonchalantly saying, "If we’re talking about ambition, mine isn’t the smallest. Even Lu Yang, the so-called Taide in the world, doesn’t care about the common folk; why should I trouble myself?"

Old Ears raised an eyebrow, "Who says he doesn’t care?"

Chen Ji glanced at him, "I said he doesn’t, why are you so worked up?"

Old Ears nudged his donkey away, "Why would I be worked up? I’m not."

Chen Ji tossed the newspaper to Old Ears, "As long as you’re not worked up. Once back in Jingjiang, first build the barracks, and repair the city walls, the pirates will soon return."

Old Ears took the newspaper, "What do I want this for? I’ve read this edition."

Chen Ji casually remarked, "Tear it up for fun, it can cure ailments."

Old Ears raised an eyebrow, "Cure what?"

"You wouldn’t understand," Chen Ji looked up, just in time to see Yuan Xing, Yuan Xi, Jiang Chai, Zhou Chang, and others huddled together, whispering over a newspaper, occasionally glancing back at him.

He immediately rode forward, "What are you muttering about?"

Yuan Xing hastily stuffed the newspaper into his chest, "We’re not muttering about anything, just marveling at how learned you are, worthy of the phrase ’benefiting the world and its people’..."

Chen Ji remained expressionless, "Hand over the newspaper."

Yuan Xing continued to stall, "And there’s the front page, praising Zheng Jiye right on time, your contact in Jinling certainly..."

Chen Ji interrupted, "I say, take out the newspaper you have there."

Jiang Chai suddenly stepped back away from Yuan Xing, speaking righteously, "Godfather, yesterday you instructed Ah Xing to buy the Wuxiang Morning News from Guangling County. This scoundrel got hold of the first day’s newspaper and insisted we read it together. I said I won’t read it, but he insisted and even said you’re a man afraid of your wife..."

Chen Ji slowly drew the Wild Great Sword from the saddle.

"Jiang Chai, you damn wait there, I’m not done with you," Yuan Xing cursed angrily, then turned and fled into Jingjiang County.

The sun set, and the Anti-Japanese Army entered through the city gate, their steps sometimes chaotic, sometimes orderly, drawing crowds of civilians who shouted, "The Anti-Japanese Army is back!"

In front of the city gate, the sun rose and the moon set, and as the first ray of sunlight shone on the "Sea Control Gate" plaque on the tower, two riders came.

Under the plaque, Chen Yu tightened the reins, chuckling to himself, "Sea Control Gate... Uncle Xu, Jingjiang County is a mess right now, it’ll be hard to find even a place to settle down. Sorry to drag you into hardship with me."

Chen Xu replied warmly, "Master, you’re too formal. Watching you these days running around for salt taxes and land taxes, there’s not a hint of the usual idle air of a family scion—it’s a blessing for the Chen family."

Both Chen Yu and Chen Xu changed into plain gray clothes, with no sign of being supervisors.

Chen Yu took a piece of bread from his luggage, tore off a bit with his teeth, and suddenly mumbled, "Uncle Xu, you’ve dealt with Chen Ji before. Compared to him, how am I?"

Chen Xu paused silently: "Master is a capable minister in peaceful times."

Chen Yu laughed heartily: "Uncle Xu, why won’t you evaluate Chen Ji, afraid I’ll get upset hearing it?"

Chen Xu paused again, "The old master said Chen Ji is a hero in chaotic times."

Chen Yu mused, "If you had to choose, would you choose him or me, Uncle Xu?"

Chen Xu thought seriously, "I’d choose him."

Chen Yu asked back, "Why?"

Chen Xu sighed, "Chaos is coming."

Chen Yu looked at the gate tower and sighed, "Indeed, chaos is coming... It’s a pity, on his wedding day I couldn’t even have a drink. I drank three bowls from a distance in Suzhou when I heard the news, never expecting such a talent to be heaven-cursed. Let’s go, into the city."

He rode forward but stopped in the gate, "Uncle Xu, let’s not reveal our identities immediately once we’re inside. I want to see what kind of characters these Anti-Japanese Army ’Five Tigers’ are and where they come from, then decide whether to join forces with the Zhang Family. The Jiangnan situation is full of hidden currents; it’s not something a few executive officers and martial artists can settle."

Chen Xu agreed, "Master should decide."

The two entered Jingjiang County one after the other. Chen Yu originally thought he’d see a post-war county full of ruins and displaced people, but on both sides of the road were brand-new houses, not a piece of broken tile or crumbling wall in sight.

Chen Yu murmured in surprise, "Wasn’t it said that Jingjiang County was set ablaze by pirates, why does it seem untouched?"

Chen Xu considered, "We entered from Ximen, perhaps the pirates didn’t make it here?"

"Makes sense," Chen Yu nudged his horse towards the city east.

Upon reaching the south of the city, Chen Yu was even more amazed, "The houses in the southern area are intact too... Could it be that Jingjiang’s people have such resilience, rebuilding the county within days? Or did Jingjiang County not suffer pirate attacks, and the Anti-Japanese Army concealed their merits?"

Chen Xu was also puzzled.

Chen Yu dismounted and approached a citizen to ask curiously, "Old man, did you recently suffer any military disaster?"

The old man looked him over, "Pirates came, so what?"

Chen Yu pointed at the houses, "Wasn’t it said Jingjiang County experienced a big fire, why can’t I tell?"

The old man replied, "The fire hit the south side hard, less so here."

Chen Yu stepped back a few paces and looked farther south, "The houses on south side look fine too."

The old man laughed, "That was Ah Xi from the Anti-Japanese Army leading people to repair it. From afar you can’t see, but if you go closer you can see the smoke-scorched marks."

Chen Yu was stunned and raised his voice, "The Anti-Japanese Army helped you repair houses? Do they really have such kindness?"

The old man glanced at him and turned away, "So skittish."

Chen Yu could only smile wryly, "How come I seem inexperienced and shocked?"

Just then, from a distance, a citizen shouted, "Court is in session, court is in session; the blue sky magistrate is presiding a case, those with disputes come quickly!"

Chen Yu’s eyes lit up, and he followed the crowd, leading his horse to the county government.