Chapter 396: Entering Autumn (2)

The remaining four stronghold leaders were stunned senseless.

Even Song Gong, who was just an onlooker, felt his pupils contract. He was terrified by Fang Rui’s volatile temper.

“Have I gone too easy on you? Have you all forgotten your place?!”

Fang Rui stared imperiously at the four remaining stronghold leaders. “This is not a negotiation. It’s a command. I’ll ask again: who is in favor, and who is opposed?”

‘Training dogs requires both a carrot and a stick. I’ve already handed out the benefits. Now it’s time for the stick, to make these wolf cubs wake up and see reality.’

“I… I’m in favor!”

“Brother Jiao was arrogant and didn’t know what was good for him. Good riddance!”

“Exactly!”

…

The sight of Jiao Meng’s blood brought the four remaining stronghold masters to their senses.

They realized that now that Guanghua County Town had fallen, they weren’t nearly as important as they had imagined. They could all be slaughtered and replaced with new recruits.

Having recognized the reality of their situation, all four of them secretly regretted being a step behind Heifeng Stronghold.

“Song Gong?”

“Present, my lord! Your orders?”

“What is there to gain from robbing the poor? It would be beneath me. If you’re going to loot, loot the wealthy households. You can keep the gold, silver, and Great Medicine for yourselves, but I want a copy of any martial arts manuals you find…”

“As you command.”

Song Gong cupped his fist, secretly overjoyed.

He was a man of great ambition and naturally understood that to achieve great things, one needed a good reputation. But his men were not all saints. With Fang Rui’s command to restrain them, things would be much more manageable.

Besides, he thought, ‘even if the men get resentful, I can subtly redirect their anger… and play the good guy myself.’ A glint flashed in Song Gong’s eyes.

…

Overnight, the people of Guanghua County Town discovered their world had been turned upside down. The city had a new master.

“How could things change overnight without any commotion?”

“That’s right, I didn’t hear any sounds of battle from the city gates. Did these people fly in or something?”

“I heard it was bandits who took the city. This is a disaster!”

“No, this band of brigands seems… different. They haven’t harmed us common folk at all, and they’ve even abolished the exorbitant taxes…”

“Well, you know what they say, a leopard can’t change its spots. For a band of brigands to be so well-behaved is a rare sight indeed.”

…

Arriving at the entrance to the small courtyard Fang Rui was renting, Song Gong still felt as if he were in a dream. Yesterday, he had been a mere bandit chief; today, he was the master of an entire county.

The glory, the prestige…

WHOOSH!

Song Gong took a deep breath, reining in the arrogance he displayed before others and subconsciously lightening his steps.

“Brother Song…”

“You oaf, just wait out here. I’ll go in alone.”

Song Gong walked in slowly and saw Fang Rui holding a large pair of garden shears, trimming the plants in the courtyard.

Though he was a big, burly man, there was an inexplicable, natural harmony to his actions. He exuded a tyrannical aura, as if the entire Mortal World would bow its head before him.

‘Just what kind of mysterious man is he?!’

Song Gong knew full well that the rumors spreading through the city, hailing him as a military genius, were all false.

The true hero behind last night’s victory was the man before him—Chu the Madman, who struck with the fleeting grace of a dragon emerging from the clouds. His Heifeng Stronghold was merely the public face of Guanghua County Town’s new masters; this man was the true mastermind pulling the strings from behind the scenes.

“My lord!”

Song Gong reported in a humble, fawning tone, “We have already raided many of the ordinary wealthy families in the city. The confiscated martial arts manuals are being sorted and will be delivered to you shortly…”

“However, the two most powerful families in the city have joined forces with a local gang, making it difficult to act against them… The city is also facing a food shortage… and my men are growing resentful of the order not to disturb the common folk…”

“If you can’t solve a problem, then eliminate the people who are creating it. What two families? Just raid their estates. All your problems will solve themselves.”

Fang Rui’s tone was dismissive. “You now have a thousand men and three hundred Tribulation Demon Black Eagles. Empowered by a battle formation, they are a match for an Upper Grade Martial Artist. Don’t tell me you can’t do it.”

“So, is it that you’re unwilling? Or do you have something else in mind?” he asked, his sharp gaze falling upon Song Gong.

“That… Please, my lord, allow me to explain!”

Song Gong instinctively recalled the sight of Jiao Meng’s body exploding the night before. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead as he hurriedly explained, “The Officials in the city, from top to bottom, are deeply entangled with those two families. Their connections are a complex web; pulling on one thread could unravel everything. If we raid them rashly, I’m afraid the entire city will be paralyzed… We’re just bandits, after all. A bunch of crude men…”

“Holding the bureaucracy hostage, are they? Heh!”

Fang Rui sneered. “The low-level functionaries are merely dependent on those two families. If they know what’s good for them, great. If not, just replace them.”

“As for the mid- and high-level officials, I’ll give you a list of names later.”

With just a few casual words, he had solved the problem that had been giving Song Gong an immense headache.

“Yes! With your assurance, my lord, I am relieved. I’ll move against the two families as soon as I get back,” Song Gong said, his voice brimming with killing intent.

“One more thing. There are Court troops in the area, slaughtering villagers and wiping out strongholds. Get rid of them.”

“But… won’t that provoke the Great Yu?”

“Hm?!”

“Yes, I will keep that in mind.” A shiver ran down Song Gong’s spine.

Fang Rui watched Song Gong’s retreating figure. ‘This man’s heart still seems to lean toward the Great Yu. He’d better not be entertaining any thoughts of accepting a government amnesty, or else…’

“Uncle, the food’s ready!” Just then, Xin Xue’Er poked her little head out of the kitchen, interrupting his thoughts.

“Coming.”

…

「That same day.」

Fang Rui used his Divine Technique, Emperor’s Gaze, to observe the Qi Fortune of the populace. He selected talented individuals to serve as replacement officials and gave the list to Song Gong.

This move was a way of planting his own loyalists within the new administration. Combined with the Tribulation Demon Black Eagles, it was more than enough to maintain his influence over Heifeng Stronghold.

With Fang Rui’s help, Song Gong quickly consolidated his control over Guanghua County Town and began to expand his territory.

Thanks to the Tribulation Demon Black Eagles, and because the man did possess some ability of his own, his forces advanced like an unstoppable tide. Within a month, they had conquered several more counties.

…

“Brother Song, your benevolent and righteous name has spread throughout three counties. The world knows only of Mr. Song, not of our lord!” Su Bo lamented during a secret visit.