A resounding victory

"General Jiang, you've changed allegiances remarkably fast. You were the first to kick the Gao Family while they were down, and now that the situation has turned, you're ready to pledge loyalty to me?"

Listening to Gao Yuan's sarcasm, Jiang Huaizhen couldn't help but blush. He sighed and bowed to Gao Yuan.

"I know Third Young Master holds a grudge, and indeed, the circumstances at the time forced my hand. I beg Third Young Master not to hold it against me anymore. This humble general is here today with a request."

Gao Yuan had already decided to take Jiang Huaizhen down a peg today.

"Oh, to make the esteemed Great General of the Left Martial Guard humble himself to ask me for something, it must not be a small matter."

"Third Young Master is exceptionally clever; you must have already guessed why This humble general has come. Please, no more humiliation."

Gao Yuan sneered and stated his conditions.

"I have plenty of grain here, but I wonder what General Jiang intends to trade for it?"

"This humble general will return..."

"Alright, stop with the nonsense. Whether you can even return is still unknown. Perhaps my brother-in-law will sell you to me as laborers to mine."

Before Jiang Huaizhen could speak further, Gao Yuan laid out his conditions.

"How about this: to prevent you from attacking me after you're full, I'll have my subordinates set up a few porridge stalls. Your soldiers can bring their bowls daily to drink porridge. However, it's not free. It'll cost a thousand sets of armor and a thousand broadswords every day."

"Third Young Master, this..."

"If you're unwilling, then so be it. Guards, show them out!"

"Cough, This humble general agrees!"

Having settled the matter of exchanging weapons and armor for food, Jiang Huaizhen left Gao Yuan's main camp dejectedly, looking up at the sky.

"Great General, if you knew Third Young Master was so capable, you would surely be very pleased."

According to their agreement, the next day, Gao Yuan set up ten porridge stalls outside the main camp. However, the porridge... was so thin you could see your reflection in it.

In short, it was just enough to keep them alive, to prevent them from starving to death, but not enough to give them the strength to fight back.

These were fifty thousand elite soldiers; with swords in hand, they were a force of tigers and wolves, absolutely not to be underestimated.

Of course, while distributing the porridge, Gao Yuan couldn't resist sending people to spread propaganda and incite among the soldiers:

Join us and you'll get land, and in the future, even foreign concubines, with meat to eat every few days.

Indeed, some individuals, unburdened by family, couldn't resist the temptation and chose to 'abandon the darkness for the light,' immediately receiving a reward of meat broth and dry rice.

Jiang Huaizhen and General Ma Zhiyuan watched all this unfold, helpless, and could only sigh, taking their slightly thicker portion of porridge to find a place to fill their stomachs.

This state of affairs continued for about seven or eight days until Governor Wang Fu of Region, having received an imperial decree, arrived at Gao Yuan's main camp.

Gao Yuan maintained a very good attitude towards this long-term strategic partner, personally coming to the camp entrance to welcome him.

"Ah, what brings Envoy Wang here? A distinguished guest, indeed!"

Wang Fu smiled helplessly, pointing to the Left Martial Guard soldiers squatting around, drinking porridge.

"I'm also not my own master; I've come by imperial decree to take them back."

"No problem, no problem, we're all compatriots. I won't make things difficult for them. Come, come, let's go to the commander's tent to talk."

The two entered the commander's tent and sat down. Mu Qing served them tea, then nestled beside Gao Yuan like a young wife, quietly watching them haggle.

"Since we've always been pleasant partners, I won't beat around the bush. Commandery Duke Gao, name a fair price."

Since he put it that way, Gao Yuan didn't waste any more time.

"There are fifty to sixty thousand able-bodied men here, the hope of fifty to sixty thousand families. How about this: you relocate twenty thousand households from Region or Jiannan Circuit to me, plus five thousand head of cattle, two hundred thousand piculs of grain, and one hundred catties of gold."

Hearing the price Gao Yuan quoted, the muscles in Wang Fu's face twitched, and he almost stood up and walked away.

Unexpectedly, before he could speak, Gao Yuan continued.

"Also, these tens of thousands of troops passing through my city make me uneasy. I hope they lay down their weapons and armor before proceeding."

Wang Fu finally couldn't hold back.

"Commandery Duke Gao, these conditions are simply too harsh. Not to mention His Majesty, I can't agree to them."

"Then what do you suggest?"

Gao Yuan simply shrugged, tossing the problem back to Wang Fu.

Wang Fu calculated in his mind before tentatively speaking.

"One hundred catties of gold is fine, but can the population be changed to ten thousand households, and the cattle reduced to two thousand head? I can authorize twenty-five thousand piculs of grain for you. As for the weapons and armor, at least half must be left."

What Wang Fu didn't expect was that Gao Yuan actually flashed a wide, toothy grin.

"For Envoy Wang's sake, we'll go with that. However, for those who voluntarily stay, you must relocate their families to me. As for the weapons and armor, I'll return them to you after you've passed through the city."

Wang Fu was already overjoyed and no longer cared about such details, nodding repeatedly.

"Understood, understood. Thank you, Commandery Duke."

"Alright, alright, then let's sign the document as soon as possible. We need to hurry. With tens of thousands of you here, I have to keep making porridge to feed you every day. It's exhausting."

"Absolutely, absolutely!"

Soon, the Left and Right Martial Guards armies were forced to disarm and passed through Shiniu County under the supervision of the Nanzhou Army. However, all their weapons and equipment, along with Jiang Huaizhen, General Ma Zhiyuan, and Wang Fu, remained as collateral.

Only after the imperial court's approval did the relocation of the populace officially begin.

Counting those who voluntarily joined and their families, Gao Yuan gained over seventy thousand people, two thousand head of cattle, plus a large quantity of grain, truly making a fortune.

As for Wang Fu, the 'money-giving child,' Gao Yuan didn't treat him shabbily, giving him and Governor Wang Chuan two catties of gold each, which they gladly accepted.

Of course, Gao Yuan's money wasn't spent in vain. With a little 'leakage' from the two, Gao Yuan smoothly exchanged all this gold for grain in Region and other places, and bought thousands of people from Jiannan Circuit.

The handover work continued until mid-May, and only then was the battle truly concluded.

Five thousand sets of iron armor, twenty thousand sets of leather armor, ten thousand broadswords, two thousand rattan shields, over ten thousand strong bows and crossbows, and over five hundred thousand arrows—such a harvest made Gao Yuan beam with joy.

This time, not only were the First Division and Second Division fully staffed, but they were also entirely re-equipped with iron armor. Gao Yuan also took the opportunity to establish the Third Division.

Seven thousand five hundred elites and fifteen thousand City Defense Forces—in this Battle of Bo Prefecture, Gao Yuan wildly expanded his strength, becoming the biggest winner.

Of course, Gao Yuan was completely indifferent to becoming an eyesore and a thorn in the side of the Great Qian Imperial Court and Emperor The Emperor.

He planned to support his wife to reach the pinnacle, and sooner or later, they would have to confront them head-on. Moreover, according to the original plot, the Great Qian would fall into chaos in at most two or three years.

At that time, The Emperor would be too preoccupied to bother with him!

Now that everything had settled, it was time to go back and welcome his wife to Guchang County, a place with spring-like weather all year round and beautiful scenery.

On the way back to Dehong, Gao Yuan looked at the unhappy girl in his arms, naturally understanding her thoughts.

"Actually, Zhao Xiyaos informal address told me before we set out to take you as a concubine when I returned."

The girl's eyes immediately lit up with joy.

"Really?"

"What good would it do me to lie to you? But the premise is that you and your Father are willing."

"Of course I'm willing! He definitely won't object."

"Good. When we move to Guchang County, we'll get married."

"Mm!"

At this moment, the girl felt that even the wind was sweet.