Chapter 200: Chapter 141: Consolidation and Merging of Power 2
Translator: 549690339
Feeling a pang of regret, the imperial court’s majesty had completely dissipated. As a legitimate high-ranking general, he proposed to take over the military affairs, yet these local military officers of a lower rank dared to refuse.
Moreover, he had brought an army of 15,000 soldiers, and he himself was a top-grade expert. However, these three military officers had at most 3-5,000 miscellaneous soldiers, and their strength was merely second or third rate.
With such an obvious gap in strength, how could they have the audacity to refuse his request?
‘It’s either the imperial court’s authority has declined too quickly, making people lose their fear, or these military officers have become so used to their local prestige that they can’t distinguish between dragons and worms. They dare to bargain with me.’
Lu Yuan was slightly surprised, not expecting these local militias to be so clueless.
Although he could understand their motives.
But understanding is one thing, whether or not he could accept it, that was another matter.
After hearing their excuses, Lu Yuan’s face darkened. He looked at the three of them and said coldly, “Are the three of you intending to disobey orders?”
“It’s not that we want to disobey, but your order, General, violates the imperial court’s regulations.”
“The so-called chaotic orders are not to be obeyed. The imperial court…”
These military officers also knew that what they were doing was offensive to Lu Yuan, so they tried to use the imperial court’s rules as a shield to block his words.
But Lu Yuan had no patience to listen to their continuous excuses.
Seeing their self-righteous, nation-loving faces, he lost interest in arguing with them.
He stood up directly, walked down from the bench, and approached Xu Li, who was speaking at the moment.
Seeing the furious General approaching, Xu Li’s heart tightened, and his unstoppable words suddenly ceased. He swallowed his saliva and tried to say, “General…”
Before he could finish speaking, Lu Yuan raised his hand and slapped him on the forehead.
Then, without waiting for the others to react, he struck two more blows, hitting Luo Shi and Yang Yuncong in their chests.
Against a sudden attack from a top-grade expert, these second or third rate local military officers stood no chance.
With a flurry of slaps, the three men fell to the ground, blood oozing from their mouths, utterly silenced.
Zhu Anguo and Duan Dongling, who were standing nearby, turned pale with fright and retreated, keeping their distance.
“General… General…” Zhu Anguo swallowed his saliva, looking at Lu Yuan with a trembling voice.
“These men defied military orders. According to military law, I have dealt with them.”
Lu Yuan turned around, his eyes fixed on Zhu Anguo, a smile playing on his lips. “Commander Zhu, you’re not going to defy orders, are you?” As for killing Xu Li and the others, he was not at all perturbed.
These chaotic warlords were all stained with blood.
Looking at the villagers’ attitudes towards the soldiers and officials along the way, as Lu Yuan’s army arrived at the battlefield, it was clear.
These military officers might have defended the region, but in comparison to their achievements, perhaps they had done more harm than good.
By killing them, he was ridding the people of evil.
At any rate, Lu Yuan was confident that having him lead the former soldiers would be much better for the locals than these troublemakers.
He at least wouldn’t exploit and plunder the common people, yet these rogue military officers would.
With this in mind, it was enough.
On the other hand, Zhu Anguo shivered upon hearing this, glanced at the three corpses on the ground, fearful of facing the same fate if he didn’t respond quickly, hastily said, “Of course not.
Since the general has arrived here, it is rightful for you to take over military affairs. These people disobeyed orders and showed no respect; they deserved to
die. ”
Seeing Zhu Anguo’s sensibility, Lu Yuan was satisfied and nodded,
“Commander Zhu, I am pleased that you think this way.”
As the atmosphere eased slightly, Duan, the county magistrate, was also slightly more at ease and less frightened.
After all, he was only the county magistrate, responsible for government affairs. As for military matters, he would be more than happy to have the competent general take over – there was no reason for him to refuse.
So there was no conflict of interest between the two sides.
But after killing Xu Li and the others, the aftermath needed to be resolved immediately.
As the county magistrate of Changning, Duan Dongling did not want the county to be lost due to internal strife among the government troops at this critical moment.
If that happened, he, as the county magistrate, would be in deep trouble.
So with a little hesitation, County Magistrate Duan still said: “General, Xu Li and the other two rebels deserve to be killed for defying orders. However, the soldiers under their command are controlled by their trusted subordinates.”
“Now that the three of them are dead here, if we don’t handle it properly, I’m afraid it might cause unrest when those close to the rebels find out.”
Lu Yuan heard this and looked at the county magistrate with slight surprise, then laughed: “That’s simple.”
As he spoke, he called out: “Bring Deputy General Zhou here.”
A sound of acknowledgment came from outside, followed by the sound of footsteps going away. After a while, Zhou Qing hurried over.
After he entered the tent and saw the corpses on the floor, the apprentice couldn’t help but feel a bit surprised, but he didn’t ask any questions, and only saluted Lu Yuan, saying: “General.”
“Deputy General Zhou, these three colluded with the rebels and were discovered by this general, who has already killed them on the spot. However, there are still some remnants and allies of these rebels in the county town and in the two camps outside.
You bring your troops to the town and the camps, clear out those who colluded with the rebels, then take over the city defense and camps until this general gives further orders.”
Lu Yuan spoke, then looked at Duan Dongling and Zhu Anguo, saying: “County Magistrate Duan, Commander Zhu, please assist my deputy in cleaning up the aftermath.”
“Yes.”
“Understood.”
Both immediately took their orders.
Afterward, Zhou Qing gathered three thousand soldiers, and under the guidance of Duan Dongling and Zhu Anguo, easily infiltrated the town and the other two camps.
What followed was simple.
Killing the close subordinates, dealing with military officers, and taking over the barracks were not difficult tasks for Zhou Qing, despite his lack of experience.
In just over an hour or two, after killing hundreds of people, Lu Yuan annexed more than four thousand soldiers belonging to the military officer of the three places.
In the process, the local county soldiers and militia from Changning County, as well as the remaining over one thousand elite soldiers under Zhu Anguo’s command, were also taken over by Lu Yuan.
In just half a day, by striking his own army, he gained an additional seven thousand soldiers.
However, Lu Yuan didn’t think much of these people.
Except for the one thousand elite soldiers, the rest were accustomed to oppressing the common folk and were part of the ruffian army, a ragtag group not fit for significant roles.
So he let Zhou Qing reorganize these fellows slightly, dividing the elite and county soldiers and militias into groups according to the formation of one hundred men per team and one thousand men per battalion, resulting in seven battalions.
Then military officers temporarily assigned from Lu Yuan’s army supervised and controlled the troops for the time being.
On one side, there was some unrest and instability among the soldiers due to power consolidation and annexation.
On the other side.
After yesterday’s defeat.
The rebels of the Seven Star Sect were hiding in their camps like ostriches on the second day.
They didn’t even dare to venture out of their camp, let alone continue sending troops to attack the city.
Regarding this, Lu Yuan sent someone to challenge them, but the person who went to shout got no response, even after his throat started to smoke.
Some people in the enemy camp grew so impatient that they shot arrows indiscriminately, nearly killing the person who went to provoke them.
Seeing this situation, how could Lu Yuan not know that the enemy army had been frightened and didn’t dare to fight?
However, even if they didn’t want to fight, he was not inclined to let these rebels off the hook.
After all, he was a valiant general of the court.
Now that he went out to suppress the rebels, he had to confront them in a few battles and provide an explanation to the court.
Moreover, the Seven Star Sect had now rebelled and served itself up on a platter.
Lu Yuan, who was practicing martial arts, was worried about the lack of spiritual medicine. How could he let go of the opportunity when this piece of fat meat was delivered to him?
He had already made up his mind.
To exterminate the Seven Star Sect in this rebellion, and to seize control of all the martial arts techniques and spiritual medicine within their door, as resources for his own cultivation.
So on the third day, Lu Yuan took his freshly reorganized seven battalions of soldiers to the battlefield and forced them to attack the rebel camp.
If you won’t make a move, I will.
Hiding in a turtle shell, do you really think you’re safe?