Chapter 374 - 365: From Fake Warlord to Real Young Marshal

Chapter 374: Chapter 365: From Fake Warlord to Real Young Marshal

Under the dim candlelight of the inn room, Fu Juemin studied his second uncle, Fu Guoping.

In his memory, his second uncle had two different appearances.

One was from his time as the director of the Luan River Civil Affairs Bureau: built like a bear with the back of a tiger, face covered in a bushy beard, laughter like thunder, able to devour several pounds of meat and wine in a single meal.

The other was him draped in a tiger-skin cloak, rail-thin and bony, with bloodshot eyes, sitting on a pile of dynamite, hoarsely threatening to take Song Lin down with him.

The Fu Guoping before him would now become the third image of his uncle in his memory.

Compared to his earliest days in Luan River, he was darker and thinner. His hair was meticulously combed back, and he sported a carefully trimmed goatee. Numerous new scars adorned his face and neck...

His eyes gleamed with a sharp light. Compared to before, he seemed calmer, more composed, more reserved... and more dangerous.

He already carried the dignified bearing of a Tiger Marshal!

While Fu Juemin was sizing up Fu Guoping, Fu Guoping was also scrutinizing him from head to toe.

The two sized each other up, then broke into smiles. Fu Guoping pushed a bowl of wine, already filled to the brim, toward Fu Juemin and spoke. "You first, or me?"

Fu Juemin picked up the wine bowl, slowly drained it, and then said, "I’ll go first."

Fu Guoping was, of course, referring to their separate experiences since they had parted ways.

Over the food and wine on the table, Fu Juemin recounted to Fu Guoping everything that had happened since his group left Luan River.

He spoke of what happened to him in Shenghai, and also mentioned that his father, Fu Guosheng, had taken the family to the Southern Ocean.

Of course, he focused on his roundabout journey to Yingjing and how he ended up in a seat at Helu’s side.

"So, you’re planning to use the Demon Fiends worshiped by the Nine Banners to complete your cultivation, and then wipe out those queue-wearing bastards all in one go?"

Fu Guoping sat sprawled on his chair, casually tossing peanuts from the plate in front of him into his mouth.

After hearing Fu Juemin’s plan, he couldn’t help but burst out laughing. "That just goes to show we’re uncle and nephew! Your second uncle here was also thinking of taking all the benefits from that Helu, then finding a chance to blow this damn place to kingdom come..."

Fu Juemin’s eyes lit up at his words. "I’ve seen the Great Demons worshiped by the Top Four Banners of the Nine Banners. They are beyond the power of mortals. If I had your army’s help, my chances would be much better..."

As Fu Juemin spoke, he shook his head again, picked up the wine jug from the table to refill Fu Guoping’s bowl, and said, "Now it’s your turn, Second Uncle."

He looked at Fu Guoping, truly curious in his heart: ’How did my dear second uncle manage to go from a small place like Luan River County all the way to the North in just one year?’

’And even transform into a Young Marshal of the Feng’an Army?!’

Fu Guoping smiled and began his story.

According to Fu Guoping, when the Fire Cloud Army broke through the city walls, he took a group of his men from the Civil Affairs Bureau and went straight to the few counties beside the Luan River.

He used Song Lin’s name, calling himself the "Commander of Nine Counties," and claimed he was ordered to form a defense force to resist the Fire Cloud Army rebels.

At the time, the news that Song Zhenyuan had appointed Song Lin as a special commissioner was known throughout Yangping Province. Coupled with the fact that Fu Guoping had a stack of blank commission letters genuinely stamped with the official seal of the Yangping Province Governor’s Mansion, not a single person in the large and small county towns he passed through questioned him. They all did their utmost to donate money and grain, and even helped him recruit soldiers.

Fu Guoping actually managed to assemble a force and put on a show of fighting a few skirmishes with the Fire Cloud Army. Along the way, he also conveniently wiped out several gangs of nearby Horse Bandits.

Later, as his troops grew larger and larger, the Governor’s Mansion learned of his existence. But because the Fire Cloud Army’s momentum was so fierce, Song Zhenyuan couldn’t handle the pressure. So, even though he knew Fu Guoping was a fraud—and possibly even the man who killed his son, Song Lin—he still bit the bullet and acknowledged him as "one of his own."

Later still, Song Zhenyuan abandoned the province and fled to the North, leaving Fu Guoping without the "target" of Song Zhenyuan to draw the Fire Cloud Army’s hatred.

Only two paths remained for him: either get crushed, or surrender directly to the Fire Cloud Army.

—Funnily enough, the Xin Republic’s Government had even secretly sent Fu Guoping a "commission letter" back then, promising him numerous benefits if he would temporarily take over Song Zhenyuan’s position as Governor, rally the remaining forces in the province, and hold off the Fire Cloud Army for a while.

Unfortunately, Fu Guoping was unwilling to choose either path. So, he simply followed Song Zhenyuan’s example, took a contingent of men, and headed north as well.

When he first arrived in the Northern Lands, Fu Guoping was a stranger in a strange land. He fought several battles against local Warlord factions and nearly lost all his men.

Just when he was at the end of his rope, Fu Guoping met the greatest "benefactor" of his life.

"Zhang Wanqiao of the Feng’an Army?"

Fu Juemin couldn’t help but ask.

"No."

Fu Guoping shook his head with a smile. "His daughter."

On a chance occasion, Fu Guoping had saved Zhang Wanqiao’s daughter, Zhang Ruolan, who was returning home to visit her family. Grateful for his rescue, Zhang Ruolan introduced him to Zhang Wanqiao.

Originally, Fu Guoping only wanted to borrow some money, provisions, and equipment from Zhang Wanqiao to go back and continue his fight against the rival minor Warlords.

He never expected that Zhang Wanqiao would not only give him money and provisions but also a contingent of men. After he dealt with his rivals, it was only natural for him to join Zhang Wanqiao’s command.

After that, he helped Zhang Wanqiao win several hard-fought battles and was held in high regard. Adding to that, because he had saved Zhang Ruolan and they had compatible personalities, their private relationship was excellent—they even addressed each other as brother and sister. So, Zhang Wanqiao simply took him in as an "adopted son."

From then on, Fu Guoping officially changed his name to "Zhang Guoping" and became the Fourth Young Marshal of the Feng’an Army!

Fu Guoping finished recounting his experiences over the past year and reached for the wine on the table to wet his throat.

As for Fu Juemin, his face was now a mask of pure disbelief and amazement.

"A toast to you, Second Uncle."

With a complex expression, Fu Juemin raised his wine bowl to toast Fu Guoping.

Fu Guoping had recounted his tale in a calm tone from beginning to end, but seeing all the scars, big and small, on his body, the twists and turns of his journey must have been many times more arduous than he let on.

Fu Guoping clinked his bowl with Fu Juemin’s and drained it in one go. Then he laughed heartily. "I was originally planning to wait until things settled down here before sending people to Shenghai to find you all. I never thought that fate would have us, uncle and nephew, meet ahead of schedule in Yingjing...

"Wonderful, truly wonderful!"

Fu Juemin thought for a moment and asked, "Second Uncle, did you come to Yingjing this time to seek help from Helu?"

Fu Guoping nodded and said casually, "More or less.

Zhang Wanqiao is on his deathbed. A few of his adopted sons are all scheming how to take power from him.

I haven’t been in the North for long, and my foundation is unstable. My only option was to cooperate with this bunch of queue-wearers..."

"What do you lack right now, Second Uncle?"

"Everything."

Fu Guoping said with a sigh of resignation, "Men, guns, money. Of course, what I lack most are experts.

Zhang Wanqiao isn’t dead yet. With my connection to Zhang Ruolan, those other guys don’t dare move against me openly, but the secret assassination attempts are endless.

This month alone, I’ve lost two body doubles and a Personal Guard Captain. I was forced to come out here and lie low for a while.

If I just had a few experts by my side..."

A murderous glint flashed in Fu Guoping’s eyes as he sneered, "I wouldn’t have to be so passive.

It’s just assassination, isn’t it? Who doesn’t know how to play that game? Heh..."

After listening, Fu Juemin said to Fu Guoping with a calm expression, "Within the Nine Banners, there are too many eyes and ears. I can’t lend you the Nine Banners experts under my command, Second Uncle.

However, I have a group of men in Xinjing, about sixty or seventy of them. Each one is an elite soldier who can take on ten, or even dozens, on the battlefield. You can command them as you see fit, to be used as ’shock troops.’ ℴ

As for expert personal guards...."

Fu Juemin paused in thought for a moment before continuing, "Second Uncle, you can take your men to a small mountain in the Yingjing East Suburbs and look for a small temple called Panxiang Temple.

There is an old Monk in that temple named Huai Hai.

Tell him this—the Lotus Walker’s cultivation is unimpeded, the Buddha-aspect is formed. He is now commanded to take up the duty of an Arhat Guardian and descend the mountain to protect the World Bright King!.."

Fu Juemin paused.

"If he’s unwilling, come find me, Second Uncle. I’ll go... and beat him until he is."