Chapter 68: Chapter 68 Tao Ji: Qingshi Town, We’ve arrived!_1
Before they knew it, several days had passed.
Outside Qingshi Town, chaos still prevailed.
Inside Qingshi Town, however, things had gradually become more stable.
Despite the daily influx of a large number of refugees pouring into the town.
Due to the continuous expansion of Qingshi Town in recent days.
There was still plenty of spare space within the town.
If one were to make a rough estimate, even accommodating another five to six hundred thousand people would likely not be difficult.
As for Luo Yong’s troop expansion.
It had already been completed three days before.
The thirty thousand regular army and twenty thousand reserve army had been fully recruited.
What Luo Yong needed to do next was to continually train this army, to turn it into a truly elite troop.
Not the kind that would fall apart at the first touch, a rabble.
Oftentimes, a side with greater numbers might look intimidating.
But without proper training.
Without experiencing the life and death struggles within an army.
No matter how numerous, what use are they?
…
In the blink of an eye, it was already noon.
Within both the inner and outer parts of Qingshi Town.
It was operating at a high speed and with precision.
The smiles on the faces of the passersby.
Could also verify the sense of happiness in the hearts of the common people.
Even some refugees could easily find a sense of belonging within Qingshi Town.
Having a bite of warm food, living in temporary housing.
Although they didn’t have any fancy clothes to wear.
Life was quite flavorful.
The happiness level among the people within Qingshi Town was high, whereas for the fully armored army about a hundred li from Qingshi Town.
Their lives these days were not so wonderful.
“General, our provisions have completely run out,”
“The lambs en route are also becoming scarcer.”
“If this continues…”
“We might really starve to death on the way.”
In this army of more than two thousand near-fully armored soldiers.
The deputy commander, wearing a dark red armor and belted with a Hundred-Forged Steel Knife.
After hesitating for a long time, he turned his head once more.
And spoke in a low voice to the general riding a lean black horse beside him.
At first, the deputy commander believed everything his general said without question.
General Tao Ji said they were going to Qingshi Town, so they went to Qingshi Town.
General Tao Ji said they could live the high life once they reached Qingshi Town.
So, he marched towards the direction of Qingshi Town without looking back.
But now with the passage of time…
With the gradual depletion of their food supplies…
Even to the point where people began opening their gaping maws, turning on their own kind to survive, for their lives.
But what about the so-called Qingshi Town?
All they could see ahead of them was cracked earth and wasteland.
It’s not about reaching Qingshi Town anymore, even finding lambs on the journey had become increasingly rare.
The deputy commander was truly afraid that if they continued to follow General Tao Ji’s route.
He and his two thousand troops might indeed perish from starvation on this vast, barren land engulfed by yellow sand.
…
The deputy commander’s words quickly attracted the attention of countless soldiers.
Almost all the troops focused their gaze on Tao Ji.
Something was off, the atmosphere was becoming increasingly tense…
Tao Ji could clearly sense that the look in the soldiers’ eyes when they gazed his way was gradually turning hostile.
Those eyes seemed to convey.
If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have ended up in this state.
If it weren’t for you, we might have already had food and drink by now.
“What do we do?”
“What do we do next?”
Tao Ji’s eyes couldn’t help but narrow slightly, as beads of sweat gradually covered his forehead.
If he couldn’t properly resolve this matter…
It was likely that the anger of those soldiers would consume him so completely that not a bone would be left.
“General, ahead…”
“There is a city ahead!!!”
Just as everyone’s gaze grew increasingly hostile, and some even harbored ill intentions towards Tao Ji.
A sudden sound pulled everyone back to reality.
“A city?” Tao Ji quietly looked into the distance.
Indeed, right there before them.
A tremendous city stood tall on this dusty, yellow earth.
“That city, it seems somewhat familiar, yet somewhat foreign…”
“Is that Qingshi Town?”
Tao Ji wasn’t quite sure in his heart anymore.
But none of that mattered now.
What was most important to him now was to rush to the city at once.
Then, with his absolute power.
With his iron-fisted authority that could not be refused.
He would ask for some food and supplies from the families within the city.
Of course, if possible…
He would lead his army of more than two thousand soldiers and settle in the city.
He would protect the people and the families within the city.
He would keep the townsfolk and the families from the ravages of bandits.
…
Upon sighting the city.
Tao Ji and his army of two thousand commenced a new round of forced marching.
After hurrying over an indeterminate length of time.
Finally, in the dead of night.
Before the next day had fully arrived.
Tao Ji and his company at last reached the outskirts of the city.
“General, is this the Qingshi Town you spoke of?”
Outside the city, Tao Ji’s lieutenant stared at the massive and fresh-looking city before him.
He swallowed, momentarily overwhelmed.
“It should be…”
Tao Ji silently nodded, gaze fixed on the vast city before him, even he was taken aback.
How long had it been since his last visit?
How had Qingshi Town changed so much?
If he remembered correctly, the last time he was here, this place was still a small town!
How could the development of this town be so swift?
“Could it be that after the outbreak of chaos, Yue Jun the old fellow’s abilities also erupted?”
Tao Ji couldn’t help thinking to himself.
Before long, however.
He stopped pondering these things.
Instead, he started sending people to shout at the top of their lungs, telling those on the city walls to open the gates at once.
…
Shouts echoed beneath the city gates.
Meanwhile, atop the city walls stood Luo Yong and Luo Chuan, side by side.
At that moment, they were both squinting their eyes, standing with their hands behind their backs.
They watched the approaching army with a serene expression.
“If I’m not mistaken, that guy should be called Tao Ji, right?”
After watching for a while, Luo Yong finally recalled some details.
“Nephew, how about I just send someone to slaughter them all? What do you think?” Luo Yong asked with a cold murderous intent on his face.
“What’s the point in killing them all?”
“I think it’s better to let them in and see what exactly our ‘General’ Tao Ji intends to do…”
As Luo Chuan spoke, he shifted his gaze to the puppet town mayor beside him, “Mayor Yue Jun, I’ll leave the hospitality for Tao Ji to you. There shouldn’t be any problems, right?”
“No problem, no problem at all…”
Yue Jun repeatedly shook his head.
Now, completely at the mercy of others, he had become a puppet in someone else’s hands.
How dare he openly object to his master’s orders?