196: Chapter 0196 Something New

Just an hour ago, on the main road north of Yangquan City.

Yao Zhengang arrived with the Chief Clerk, Registrar, and other key officials of Fushan Commandery, along with dozens of personal guards and several carriages.

By this time, a concrete road had already been built outside Yangquan City, and from time to time, one could see commoners working on the road on both sides.

"My Lord, this concrete road is truly comfortable; even riding a horse isn't very bumpy."

"Indeed, it's no wonder Lincang Prefecture fell overnight; the speed of transport is just too fast!"

Yao Zhengang was also constantly struck with shock as he listened to the exclamations of his subordinates.

Along the way, despite the freezing weather, the atmosphere among the working commoners was heated and enthusiastic.

One must know that the main roads of the Great Gan were generally built by conscripting commoners for corvée labor.

Yao Zhengang had been an official for many years and had seen too many commoners suffering under corvée labor, filled with misery and resentment.

Many commoners would even rather hide in the mountains and fight wild beasts than come down, just to escape the corvée labor.

"Are these people fools? Why are they working so hard to build a road in the dead of winter?"

Yao Zhengang looked puzzled, then immediately had someone bring over a few workers to inquire about it.

He didn't know until he asked, and what he heard gave him quite a shock!

These people were actually not performing corvée labor, but were the legendary "Militia"!?

In less than a month, Yangquan Commandery alone had recruited over twenty thousand such Militia, and the number was increasing every day!

Each and every one of them took pride in joining the Zhenbei Army, because the military pay for one person was enough to support three or four people at home!

"My Lord, in the territory governed by the Zhenbei Army, the commoners do not have to perform corvée labor. Even if one is old and doesn't know martial arts, one can still become a Militia and receive military pay..."

The Chief Clerk said with an uneasy expression: "If this news spreads back to Fushan, I'm afraid our commoners will all flee by next spring!"

Yao Zhengang also realized how naive his previous thoughts had been.

Lin Xiao didn't need to attack Fushan at all; as soon as the news got out, the commoners of Fushan would abandon him as their Governor!

"Hurry! We must see Lin Xiao before noon!"

Yao Zhengang was extremely anxious; he wanted to surrender early so he could feel at ease.

But they hadn't traveled long before they suddenly saw a team of people in front of them.

His Chief Clerk, having sharp eyes, exclaimed: "Lord Yao! That's Chief Clerk Zhu Gennian of Yicheng ahead! That must be Governor Jin Ao's carriage!"

"What!?"

Yao Zhengang slapped his thigh in anger: "What a guy, Jin Ao! Despicable and shameless! Hurry, catch up to them!!"

The Fushan carriage convoy whipped their horses and immediately caught up.

"Eh? Old Hu? How are you guys..."

Yicheng's Chief Clerk, Zhu Gennian, was shocked to see an acquaintance.

"Hehe, didn't expect it, did you?"

Chief Clerk Hu said triumphantly: "You've been caught red-handed by our Lord!"

"What are you here for?" Zhu Gennian frowned.

"Of course, to pay respects to Lin Xiao!"

"You are here to surrender?"

"Why, can your Governor Jin Ao come, but our Lord Yao cannot?"

At this moment, the curtain of Jin Ao's carriage was lifted, and a round, plump official poked half his body out.

"Chief Clerk Zhu, don't waste time with them! Quickly! Shake them off!!"

"Jin Ao! You despicable villain, we agreed to petition for the people together, yet you actually backstabbed me!?"

Yao Zhengang also poked his head out and started cursing.

Jin Ao sneered: "Lord Yao, I was just confused for a moment and almost got led into a ditch by you. When it comes to breaking one's word, you are still a cut above!"

"Fatty Jin!! Stop slandering me! That day, it was clearly you who first mentioned writing the letter; you are the mastermind!!"

Seeing his team falling behind, Yao Zhengang shouted: "Registrar Yu! Quickly block their carriage! Don't let them go and falsely accuse me!"

"Yes!"

"This is outrageous!"

Jin Ao was shocked and furious: "Hurry! Shake them off! Don't let them pass us!!"

The two teams vied with each other, chasing, pulling, and colliding.

Other than not daring to actually kill anyone, they used almost every shameless tactic available.

By the time they reached the North Gate of Yangquan, the carriages had already fallen apart.

The two Governors, Yao Zhengang and Jin Ao, had to switch to riding horses, their noses bright red from the cold wind.

Both were panting, covered in dirt, their hats lost, and looking utterly disheveled.

When Lin Xiao arrived outside the North City Gate with his troops and saw these two fellows, he suspected they had been robbed!

The two were scrambling, tangling, and pulling at each other, leaving themselves bruised and bleeding; clearly, they were burning with rage and had lost their heads!

"You dead fatty! I'll strangle you!!"

"You old scoundrel... get away from me..."

The two rolled on the ground, strangling each other like mortal enemies.

A large crowd of commoners near the city gate watched the spectacle, pointing and whispering.

In the three hundred years of the Great Gan, this was probably the first time two Governors had brawled at the city gate like street thugs!

"Stop fighting! Lin Xiao is here!!"

Chief Clerk Xu Zheng gave a reminder, which finally made the two red-eyed fellows stop.

"Fushan Governor Yao Zhengang (Yicheng Governor Jin Ao), pays respects to Lin Xiao!"

The two of them threw themselves in front of Lin Xiao at almost the same time!

Although they both wore fawning smiles, they looked quite ridiculous with their bruised and swollen faces.

"You two, why have you fought like this?"

Lin Xiao looked puzzled.

"Lin Xiao! Your subordinate wished to bring all the officials and commoners of Fushan Commandery to obey your orders! But this dead fatty, Jin Ao, obstructed me from the middle, and I was so angry that I had to fight him to the death!"

"I've been wronged! Your subordinate, Jin Ao, has long wanted to bring Yicheng to surrender under the General's command, but this old thief Yao deliberately sowed discord between me and the General, nearly causing a misunderstanding... General, do not believe his nonsense!"

The two of them cried their eyes out, wishing they could rip their hearts out on the spot!

Lin Xiao waved his hand and soothed them: "I have already felt your sincerity; there is no need to say more."

"It is cold outside, and you are both injured. You should return to the post house to rest and find a doctor for treatment."

Upon hearing this, Yao Zhengang and Jin Ao lowered their heads, a flicker of joy flashing in their eyes!

The two respectfully agreed and followed the reception staff to the post house.

Chief Clerk Xu Zheng let out a long sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"At least no one died. These two are not young anymore, why are they still so hot-tempered?"

Lin Xiao sneered: "I think the fighting was fake, but their tacit cooperation was real. They put on a show just to bolster my reputation. Two foxes, they really go all out to save their lives."

Chief Clerk Xu Zheng was stunned: "General, are you saying... they wanted to make a big scene out of their surrender to expand the momentum, all to protect themselves?"

Today's brawl will surely spread far and wide.

By then, not just the Northern Territory, but the whole world will know that two Governors were willing to brawl to defect to Lin Xiao.

If Lin Xiao were to turn around and investigate them, or kill them, it would naturally not be very appropriate.

"If they truly had a grudge, they would have drawn their blades and hacked at each other's horses on the road; why ride together to the gate just to pull and fight like street thugs?"

"Hiss... that makes sense!"

Chief Clerk Xu Zheng suddenly realized; no wonder they were Governors and he could only be a Chief Clerk!

Lin Xiao didn't really care; they were just being clever because they wanted to live.

But in reality, if they were truly heinous, they could be dealt with sooner or later, once the situation calmed down.

Sure enough, the news that the Governors of Fushan and Yicheng had fought until they were bruised and bleeding just to defect to Lin Xiao outside the Yangquan city gate quickly spread throughout the entire Northern Territory!

While everyone marveled at the high prestige of Lin Xiao and the fact that the Zhenbei Army had taken two more commanderies without bloodshed, they also suddenly realized...

Cang Province had already fallen entirely into the hands of Lin Xiao!

Prince Bai's land of six provinces was now missing its largest piece!

As one grows, the other wanes.

The morale of the Zhenbei Army was soaring, while the White Kings Army was clouded with gloom.

The news that Prince Bai had been so enraged by a single manifesto that he coughed up blood and was critically ill spread to every corner of the Great Gan.

The Capital.

The Imperial Palace.

Crown Prince Li Chenghao came to the Imperial Garden and saw Emperor Hong practicing swordplay.

Emperor Hong had been in a good mood these past few days; even his physique had become much stronger, and he could practice swordplay!

Crown Prince Li Chenghao felt somewhat depressed, but his face showed only appreciation and admiration.

"Good! Truly good! Father's swordplay is like a dragon soaring in the sky, completely natural!"

Emperor Hong put away his sword and took a sip of the ginseng tea handed to him by Eunuch Zheng.

"When I was young, I was only a second-rate swordsman; there's nothing to brag about, just loosening up the body."

Emperor Hong smiled and said: "Is there movement in the north again?"

Since the rise of the Zhenbei Army, what Emperor Hong looked forward to most every day was hearing news from that side.

A few days ago, hearing that two Governors had publicly brawled at the city gate just to defect to the Zhenbei Army, Emperor Hong had laughed for a long time.

It felt like as long as Lin Xiao was there, he could always come up with something new.