269: Chapter 269 The Imperial Preceptor Observes the Stars

Meanwhile.

In the imperial palace, within the cold and desolate National Preceptors Manor.

A figure stood atop the Star Observation Platform.

This figure was none other than the Revered Master of the National Preceptors Manor, the current National Preceptor.

The National Preceptor slowly withdrew her gaze from the sky.

Her hands moved continuously in calculation, and then she softly uttered two words: "Linjiang!"

She was well-versed in the art of star observation.

During her last observation, she discovered that the Great Yong Kingdom had only a little over ten years of national destiny remaining.

However, the new ruler remained obscure.

But in just over ten days.

She observed the stars again and found that the Great Yong Kingdom's already meager national destiny was now teetering on the brink of collapse.

At the same time, the new ruler had become clear.

And the location she calculated was none other than Linjiang Prefecture.

"Come and see your Revered Master!"

The next moment, she used her Divine Soul to transmit her voice, summoning her two young Disciples, Shangguan Lingnan and Shangguan Jingyu, to see her.

Soon.

The two Disciples arrived.

"Greetings, Revered Master!"

Shangguan Lingnan bowed respectfully.

"Revered Master, why are you summoning us in the middle of the night?"

Shangguan Jingyu appeared rather lively, stepping forward to hug the National Preceptor's arm.

"Revered Master wants to ask you, when you went to Linjiang Prefecture last time, did you encounter anyone particularly special?"

The National Preceptor spoke. Although she had calculated that the new ruler came from Linjiang Prefecture.

But when she tried to calculate exactly who it was, she found a layer of mist blocking her.

Shangguan Lingnan shook her head: "Replying to Revered Master, we did not."

Shangguan Jingyu thought for a moment and also shook her head.

"During this period, has anything special happened in Linjiang Prefecture?" The National Preceptor asked again, unwilling to give up.

Shangguan Lingnan said: "Revered Master, this Disciple heard a rumor that Chen Hu, the leader of the Fierce Tiger Gang in Linjiang Prefecture, has declared himself the Commander-in-Chief of the Fierce Tiger Army, occupied Linjiang Prefecture, and become a rebel army!"

"Chen Hu, I know him. He even invited me to drink spirit tea!" Shangguan Jingyu answered eagerly.

Shangguan Lingnan continued reporting: "This Chen Hu is ranked twenty-second on the hidden dragon ranking, and his combat power has reached the Mid-stage Marrow Refining Realm. However, his decision to raise an army and occupy Linjiang Prefecture is quite unwise. I fear it won't be long before he is wiped out by the imperial court's army!"

"Is it him?" The National Preceptor looked towards the direction of Linjiang Prefecture, secretly guessing whether this new ruler could be Chen Hu.

"Perhaps I should go and meet him!" The National Preceptor suddenly had an idea.

"Lingnan!"

The National Preceptor called out.

"Revered Master, this Disciple is here." Shangguan Lingnan immediately bowed.

"Pay more attention to Linjiang Prefecture and Chen Hu. If there is any news, report it to me immediately."

"Yes, this Disciple obeys!"

"Alright, you may go back and rest!" The National Preceptor said indifferently.

"Yes, this Disciple takes her leave!"

On the other side.

Chen Hu had already finished opening today's cards.

He had obtained quite a few more prizes.

With a flicker of his figure, he appeared in Liu Xiangyue's room.

He took off his clothes, went to the bed, pulled Liu Xiangyue's fragrant body into his arms, and began to sleep.

The next morning.

Chen Hu had just picked up his rice bowl.

Luo Ningshuang, wearing the exquisite uniform of the Brocade Guard, hurried over.

"Have you eaten? If not, let's eat together!" Chen Hu said.

"Okay!"

Ruyi and Zhizhi, who were serving nearby, immediately brought chopsticks and served rice for Luo Ningshuang.

Since moving into Zhenlong City.

Liu Xiangyue and Nangong Hongyan had approached Chen Hu together and offered him some suggestions.

The first suggestion was that he should establish rules for the people in the manor.

They could no longer sit together to eat regardless of status, as they had in the past.

After all, his status was different now; he was the Commander-in-Chief of the Fierce Tiger Army.

As the saying goes, nothing can be accomplished without rules and standards.

Continuing to eat at the same table with the maids as before would damage his dignity if word got out.

Chen Hu also knew that the two women were doing this for his own good.

He did not refuse.

However, he would not mistreat his own people.

After the meal.

Chen Hu brought Luo Ningshuang to the study.

Without waiting for Chen Hu to ask, Luo Ningshuang began to report.

First, last night's assassination was very successful.

Not only was Zhao Jianfei killed, but the military camp was also burned to the ground; of the ten thousand-strong army, only six thousand or so remained.

The ten battalion commanders, fearing they would be blamed by Governor-General Zhao Tianqing, had defected.

Now, the three battalion commanders who had come to make contact had been received at the Brocade Guard's station.

"Commander-in-Chief, should we accept the defection of these ten battalion commanders?"

Chen Hu said: "As long as they are truly defecting, then accept them!"

"Then how should we settle them?"

Luo Ningshuang asked again.

Chen Hu thought for a moment: "Have them serve as officers under Leader Gao Zhan!"

In the past few days, Leader Gao Zhan had used the members of the Fierce Tiger Gang as a Foundation and had already recruited over 2,000 new soldiers.

Previously, through a treasure hunting card, he had obtained quite a lot of armor and weapons.

He directly allocated 3,000 sets of armor and weapons to them.

After Luo Ningshuang left.

Chen Hu went directly to Tianhe Commandery.

Seeing him arrive, the lead Puppet official immediately reported the results of last night's confiscations to him.

Seeing the summary.

Chen Hu was also shocked.

Because last night, from the confiscated homes of the commandery officials, they had seized over 50 million taels of silver, over 2 million taels of gold, and not much copper coinage, only about 2 million guan.

There were also various paintings, antiques, Cultivation Techniques, Martial Skills, Medicinal Pills, etc., which added up to a value of over 30 million.

Besides that, there was grain and land.

There were a full 1.2 million shi of grain, and the land reached tens of millions of mu.

Putting down the file, Chen Hu began to issue orders.

Soon.

Constables and officials were dispatched, and they began to post notices throughout the city.

At the same time, the commandery government office also began to get busy.

As the content of the notices spread.

Many people began to gather towards the commandery government office.

When these people received the refunded grain from the poll tax, more and more people came to line up.

And Chen Hu saw the number of his subordinates constantly rising.

A smile could not help but appear at the corner of his mouth.

Not bad, the hearts of these ordinary people are just this easy to buy.

Then, he came to Fulong Prefecture.

Adopting the same methods.

Soon, the growth of his number of subordinates directly accelerated.

Then, he made a trip to the other three commanderies and adopted the same methods to win over the hearts of the people.

The population of the five commandery cities added up to almost 10 million.

As long as they all recognized the rule of the Fierce Tiger Army, the number of subordinates under his name could skyrocket by ten million.

Moreover, there were the county towns below.

As long as he won the hearts of the people in the county towns and townships.

The number of his subordinates could reach at least thirty million.

In this way, even if he lay down every day and did nothing, he could obtain 30 million subordinate points.

A mere 100 million subordinate points would only be a matter of a few days.

"Bastards, all of them are bastards, they deserve to die!"

Upon receiving the news that his son Zhao Jianfei had been assassinated and all ten battalion commanders had rebelled, Governor-General Zhao Tianqing could not help but fall into a rage.

"Steward!"

Governor-General Zhao Tianqing called out.

"This old servant is here!"

"You immediately rush back to Lingzhou City, send people to slaughter those ten traitors and their families, leaving none alive!" Governor-General Zhao Tianqing said in an incomparably cold tone.

"This old servant obeys!"

The steward said with a solemn expression.

"Remember, leave no one alive!" Governor-General Zhao Tianqing reiterated.

"This old servant understands!"

After the steward left, Governor-General Zhao Tianqing ordered again: "Pass the order, the army is to head straight for Linjiang Prefecture!"

Although there was no evidence, Governor-General Zhao Tianqing believed that his son's death must be related to the Fierce Tiger Army.

After all, his son had gone to attack the Fierce Tiger Army.

Therefore, he wanted to avenge his son and destroy the Fierce Tiger Army.

Especially that Chen Hu; once he captured him, he would have him executed by slow slicing.