Chapter 190 - 103: Subduing the Troops of the Three Counties

Chapter 190: Chapter 103: Subduing the Troops of the Three Counties

Hearing Zheng Jun’s sudden words, Qingdai instantly snapped out of her daze. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she answered in a fluster, "Ah? Oh, right, yes, Young Master! Leave everything to me."

"I am always at ease when you handle things," Zheng Jun said with a laugh. "By the way, have the Tongzhou Association find me a few manuals on Basic Saber Technique. They don’t need to be overly powerful; just basic ones will do. Use Cloak and Dagger as a reference; anything on that level is fine."

"Understood!"

Although she didn’t know why Zheng Jun was looking for Basic Saber Technique manuals, Qingdai earnestly memorized his instructions. She decided to seek out Protector Yuan later to get it done.

With her response, Zheng Jun’s mind was completely put at ease. Wearing his Cloud-Stepping Boots, he walked out of the Zheng Mansion.

"Assemble the troops! Move out!"

Rongyuan County, the Military Department drill grounds.

Inside the Captain’s tent, Song Ran wore a gloomy expression. Before him sat several gorgeously dressed landlords and local Gentry, gathered to discuss the current situation.

"According to reliable sources, Zheng Jun passed through Pingyun County yesterday and killed the Lv Family Four Tigers there. Based on the time, he should have returned to Black Mountain County by now. It won’t be more than a few days before he makes a move on us. What do you all plan to do?"

Song Ran, whose hands were covered in thick calluses, looked at the surrounding Gentry. "Do you plan to follow the example of those spineless cowards remaining in Black Mountain County? Will you surrender your weapons, yield, and divide the wealth and land your ancestors painstakingly accumulated among those damn mud-legs? Or will you rise up in resistance and fight that man surnamed Zheng to the death?" he asked sternly.

"If we can fight, then naturally, we must fight. None of us here want to throw away the fortunes amassed by our ancestors."

The Landlord with Eight-character Moustache frowned as he spoke to Song Ran. "But... this Zheng Jun is simply too ruthless. I sent someone to the commandery city to gather information, and they’ve returned. He beat General Han Hu five or six times in the commandery city, turning the originally violent and perverse General into an incredibly humble man. He doesn’t even dare to embezzle military funds anymore, terrified of encountering someone like Zheng Jun again.

"Afterward, the household servant and Guardian I sent passed through Langkang County and learned that Zheng Jun drew his blade and slaughtered Chief Clerk Jin there. Magistrate Su of Langkang County didn’t even dare to fight Zheng Jun; he was directly scared off by the man’s imposing aura. Captain Song, what can we possibly do when burdened with such a ruthless character? We might as well spend our money to buy our lives. Keeping our bloodlines alive won’t be considered failing our ancestors’ grace."

Having said that, the Landlord with Eight-character Moustache sighed again. "Brother Hu was the smart one. When that Zheng fellow first targeted our brethren in Black Mountain County, he immediately sold his land at a low price and moved away to Changyang Commandery. Word has it he heavily bribed the stewards of the Prince’s Mansion, and has now essentially settled down in Changyang Commandery."

"They can rest easy now, but we were too slow to leave. It’s too late to complain!"

An old, white-haired woman, adorned in gold and silver, snorted coldly. "Since that’s the case, stop boosting the enemy’s morale while dampening our own spirits! Captain Song called us all here because he naturally has his own ideas. That being so, let’s hear what Captain Song has to say! If Captain Song is confident, we’ll risk everything to fight it out!

"My children and grandchildren have been pampered since childhood, never having done a single day of hard labor. If they were forced to be like those cowards in Black Mountain County, plowing the fields alongside the mud-legs, they’d be better off dead!"

Hearing the old woman’s words, the crowd unanimously turned their gazes toward Captain Song.

Meeting everyone’s stares, Song Ran let out a breath and revealed his plan. "To be honest with you all, during my years as the Captain of Rongyuan County, I’ve gathered over fifty trusted subordinates. These men are all descendants of the Song Family from the Song Family Manor, and we share in each other’s honor and disgrace.

"Zheng Jun putting on such a front clearly indicates he has grand designs, and a family like mine will inevitably not be spared. Therefore, I risked my life to procure some weapons and rigorously train my men day and night, just waiting for an opportunity to strike!

"When the time comes, I will host a banquet under the guise of surrender and invite Zheng Jun. Once he arrives alone, I will form an Array Formation and use the power of the Array to kill him! After his death, I hope everyone can unite, mobilize our silver coins, and petition the higher-ups to smooth things over. We can then frame the Black Mountain Bandits for Zheng Jun’s death. What do you say?"

A slight commotion came from outside the tent, but since the meeting was at a critical juncture, Song Ran ignored it, instead looking at the people present.

The Landlord with Eight-character Moustache hesitated. "Although Zheng Jun is only at the Qi Storage realm, his methods are comparable to the Outer Gang realm. Captain Song, can you really pull this off? If you fail, we’ll die without a burial place."

"You can pretend to know nothing beforehand; you only need to take action afterward. If the plan fails, my family will naturally bear the responsibility. What does it have to do with you?"

Song Ran said coldly, "After I form the Array Formation, the first three Slashes I unleash will hold power comparable to the Outer Gang! This is the bond shared by the children of my Song Family. Catching Zheng Jun off guard, three Outer Gang strikes will be enough to kill him!" His words were filled with an indomitable confidence.

Seeing Song Ran speak with such conviction, the Landlord with Eight-character Moustache still hesitated, but the white-haired old woman had already spoken up. "Good! If Captain Song can kill Zheng Jun, I will definitely plead your case! My family has a deep connection with the Commandery Magistrate. My late husband saved his life!"

Seeing the old woman become the first to declare her stance, a smile spread across Song Ran’s face.

Seeing this, the Landlord with Eight-character Moustache gritted his teeth as well. "Fine, my family has old ties with the Duyou. Let’s do it!"

"Rest assured, Captain Song. Although my family doesn’t know any Officials in the commandery, we are well-acquainted with the Langkang County Magistrate. When the time comes, we will certainly put in a good word or two."

"That’s right. The Chief Clerk of Jiuyang County is my uncle. Such a trivial matter will naturally be handled without a hitch!"