Chapter 13: Becoming a Saint Through Reference Points

"Captain, a fat sheep! We’ve got a fat sheep!"

Deep within the thick, tangled weeds, the scout captain rolled over, stole a quick glance at the main road, and then pulled his gaze back. He replied with a weary, disinterested air, "Didn't you see those men are armored cavalry? What kind of 'fat sheep' is that?"

"No, Captain, if they were regular soldiers, how could they be carrying women and driving a herd of pack horses?"

The captain looked again, more carefully this time, and realized something was indeed amiss. At first glance, the cavalrymen certainly appeared imposing. But a discerning eye could spot the irregularities.

First, the horses. A typical cavalry detachment would have two horses per man; yet, on the road, there were fewer than two thousand soldiers, while they were herding over six thousand horses.

Second, the people. If they were troops from the Imperial Court or a warlord’s army, women would never be present. Even if they were, they certainly wouldn't be riding in the arms of common cavalrymen!

Furthermore, the supply wagons trailed behind the main group, driven by soldiers who waved their whips casually, a sight that looked utterly ridiculous. And on that last wagon, there were bolts of silk? In the war-torn Bing Province, what kind of fool would use cavalry to transport fabric?

Most importantly, the scout captain had dealt with Imperial troops before and knew how they operated. Cavalry on the move always sent scouts ahead. Since when did a small contingent of cavalry march so openly? If they were caught in a pincer, would they even have a chance to survive?

The captain seemed to see through the ruse, his face twisting into a greedy grin.

"Go, notify the Commander. We’ve stumbled upon a huge prize. They’re either from the Wang or the Guo family. If we pull this off, the brothers will be set for half a year. And get Big Xu; that leader looks like a tough nut to crack."

"Understood!"

...

Hua Xiong felt a prickle of intuition. He swept his gaze over the wild grass by the roadside, then raised his long blade to signal the cavalry formation to a halt. He rode to the rear and approached the supply wagons, where Chen Cong was lying lazily atop a pile of grain.

Hua Xiong cupped his hands and said, "General, there appear to be bandit scouts. Given the location, they are likely the White Wave rebels."

Chen Cong spat out the piece of foxtail grass he had been chewing and said nonchalantly, "Oh, then let’s make camp. Keep it loose—don't scare away our friends who have traveled so far to see us."

Hua Xiong grinned cruelly and bowed. "Understood!"

Once Hua Xiong was out of earshot, Diaochan looked at Chen Cong with lingering fear and said softly, "General, I have heard the White Wave rebels are a mighty force, with over a hundred thousand men..."

Chen Cong sat up, surprised. "Who told you that?"

"All the sisters are saying it."

Chen Cong: "..."

*So, combining the brothels with the Hero’s Pavilion really was a stroke of genius.*

Look at those women—they hadn't even done anything to the men yet, and they’d already fished out intelligence. If they actually got to work, the men would probably offer up their hearts and lungs without a word of complaint.

Still, Chen Cong didn't take it to heart. This was a low-probability, accidental occurrence. When there was a real combat mission, women would naturally not be in the camp, and those dull-witted brutes wouldn't be able to leak anything even if they wanted to. Besides, what kind of important military secrets could common foot soldiers possibly know?

"Enough, don't worry about things that aren't your concern. Better think about how to decorate the Governor’s Mansion once we reach Jinyang."

"Understood."

"Right, make sure the maids you pick are slender."

"I know..."

While they spoke, the cavalry moved with lightning speed, brazenly setting up camp in the open spaces on both sides of the road. They dug no trenches and erected no wooden barricades, just lazily pitching a hundred or so tents.

Cheng Yu produced two boxes of chess pieces from somewhere and pulled Chen Qun to play in front of the camp. Chen Yi led Jia Xu over to watch the game, while Cao Chun seemed exceptionally excited, wiping down his long spear repeatedly.

Chen Cong walked up with his hands behind his back and teased, "Zihe, in a moment, you will lead a hundred Flying Cavalry to guard the camp."

"Ah? Ah? General, I..."

Chen Cong ignored him and tilted his chin toward Jia Xu. "Poisonous Jia, give me a few words. If you satisfy me, I won't tie you up anymore."

Jia Xu smacked his lips, initially unwilling to speak. But as the Governor of the province, being dragged around like a prisoner was hardly dignified. After a moment of thought, he said, "Since this place is near Jinyang, General, why not spread the word that all those captured from the four corners shall be re-registered as tax-paying citizens?"

"Oh, how novel. It’s hard to believe such gentle words could come from your mouth."

Jia Xu shook his head. "Gentle? May I ask, General, do you own any land in Bing Province?"

"No, why?"

"In that case, how will you settle these registered citizens? If the hundred thousand White Wave rebels all flock to Jinyang..."

Chen Cong asked, bewildered, "You’re the one who suggested it, why are you asking me how to settle them? How should I know?"

Jia Xu chuckled sinisterly. "Actually, how you settle them is not important. What matters is what others think. If you truly turn bandits into citizens, where will the land come from? The Chen family of Shangdang? The Bao family of Tunliu? The Cui family of Shangdang? Or the Wang family of Taiyuan? If you wish to rule with benevolence, you cannot seize the people's land to give to thieves."

Chen Cong curled his lip. "What a dim-witted plan. If I do that, those influential clans will rise up against me, won't they?"

"Of the two evils, choose the lesser. The source of the chaos in Bing Province lies in the three Hu tribes and the Qiang. If you allow the foreigners to march south and graze their horses, the resulting fire and sword will only hurt the local clans more. Now that you possess such formidable military might and are willing to wade into this quagmire, why would they revolt?"

"You mean..."

"They will praise your benevolence while secretly arming their private soldiers to plow the earth three feet deep and slaughter the White Wave rebels. It is a pity that your heartfelt enthusiasm will be ruined by these villains, but as you come from an influential family yourself, you cannot bear to have them all killed. You will have no choice but to confiscate their private armies as a disciplinary measure."

Chen Cong blinked, unable to fathom how someone as treacherous as Jia Xu could have the audacity to call others 'villains.'

"And if refugees pose as citizens to join the ranks?"

Jia Xu said indifferently, "Those who die for greed—what is there to say? Besides, Bing Province is impoverished. You have just arrived and have no extra funds to settle refugees; it is better to let them be slaughtered by others."

*Fine, fine, fine! If you can't settle them, just kill them all, is that it?*

As expected. Expecting this old fox to have morals is like expecting a sow to climb a tree. It certainly saved effort. But one wondered how many would become ghosts under the blades of the noble families once such a decree went out.

It turns out that the evaluation of good and evil really depends on the frame of reference. Chen Cong didn't think of himself as a good man, but comparing himself to Jia Xu, he found himself to be a saint with a halo of merit.

Looking at Cheng Yu, he saw the man stroking his beard, listening with an expression of pure delight. *Fine! Since ancient times, rotten fish have always loved spoiled shrimp.*

"Changwen, what do you say?"

Chen Qun looked deeply at Jia Xu before rising and cupping his hands. "The White Wave are but a minor skin irritation. One may gradually nibble away at them, gather them all to annihilate them, or use troops to drive them. As my uncle possesses the finest cavalry in the world, you are free to act as you please."

Chen Cong nodded. "Elaborate."

"Nibbling away needs no mention; use Jinyang as your base to gradually cleanse the Taiyuan and Xihe regions. To gather and annihilate requires uniting the clans to form a net, driving the rebels toward White Wave Valley, where you can personally lead your elite forces to settle the matter in one battle.

"As for driving them... the Xitu Hu and the Southern Xiongnu have long been at odds, and the White Wave leader, Guo Tai, is secretly colluding with the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu, Yufuluo. You could send troops to White Wave Valley, strike without destroying, and drive the chaotic forces north toward Shuofang and Wuyuan. This will inevitably draw the Xitu Hu to attack. Thus, you can sit atop the mountain and watch the tigers fight."