Zhutian: Starting from the Space-Time Merchant

Chapter 403 Zhou Ehuang's Shift in Mindset

"Lift your legs higher~"

"Do you understand what 'neatness' means? The core of group dance is neatness!"

"Anyone who jumps in the wrong direction will be dragged out and beaten!"

Even though they were exhausted, the bald men still dared not stop, gritting their teeth and continuing to jump and bounce.

Those who didn't want to jump were all left lying on the sidelines getting beaten up.

For these pampered monks, being beaten was extremely painful, the kind of pain that pierced their hearts and was unbearable.

Lin Dao watched with great interest. "Not bad, not bad. You guys aren't all good-for-nothings."

"As a parasite, it does have a tiny bit of use."

"I have a Japanese dance song here called Gokuraku Jodo (Paradise Paradise)."

"Wash away your sins and be reborn."

Lin Dao nodded in satisfaction, "From now on, you can specialize in this dance and use it to entertain the troops."

"This can be considered as you good-for-nothings giving back to the world in some way."

After saying that, he stood up and said, "Perform well, only then will you have a way out."

"Otherwise, I will send you to see Buddha."

Those who truly dedicate themselves to spiritual practice and wholeheartedly seek the Buddha's teachings.

Upon hearing this, they would surely be moved to tears, sincerely thanking Lin Dao for his help. To be able to cross the endless path of seeking the Way and see the Buddha is a wonderful thing that one could not obtain in countless lifetimes.

However, if one uses the guise of seeking Buddha's guidance, one is merely indulging in worldly pleasures.

Even if such people shaved their heads, received ordination scars, put on monk's robes, and picked up scriptures, they would absolutely not dare to go to see the Buddha.

"Interrogate them thoroughly."

Before leaving, Lin Daohao instructed Cao Bin, "Make them expose all those local powerful figures."

"You've got it."

Lin Dao patted him on the shoulder and continued to instruct, "The Palace Guard's army is not the constables."

"We don't need any damn evidence, we just need to believe he is him!"

"Besides, which of these local tyrants hasn't committed a whole host of terrible deeds?"

“Ran their homes, seize their land, and arrest their people to build large-scale projects and mines.”

"At the end of this year, I plan to distribute a large bonus."

"Get more money and grain."

Cao Bin bowed respectfully.

"Leader!"

Lin Dao finally sent out his troops.

Tens of thousands of elite troops marched up the Yangtze River.

When Lin Dao went on expeditions, he never conscripted civilians to provide logistical support; he himself was the largest logistical base.

Having witnessed Lin Daoneng's miraculous ability to conjure objects out of thin air, the soldiers all bowed in worship.

Zhou Ehuang was equally shocked.

She was abducted, and Lin Dao didn't say how to settle her, so she had no choice but to go with him.

Normally, women like her who accompany the army are assigned to women's camps.

What kind of place was the women's camp? It was a place that defies description.

The forced conscription of women is prohibited in the forest area.

However, among the merchants accompanying the army, there were quite a few who took the initiative to do business.

Lin Dao didn't have much to say about this; it was better than harming the people.

Inside the large tent, Zhou Ehuang carefully brought Lin Dao his meal and stood by to serve him.

Lin Dao didn't talk to her, treating her like a tool.

As for serving someone in bed at night, don't even think about it.

Throughout the myriad worlds, countless beautiful women, whose names are etched in history, are all eagerly awaiting Lin Dao's cultivation.

Since you, Zhou Ehuang, are unwilling, then so be it!
At first, Zhou Ehuang was also acting out of spite.

If you ignore me, then I'll ignore you too.

Besides serving Lin Dao, he spent his days reading and learning to read with his younger sister.

But tonight is different.

While Lin Dao was having dinner, Zhou Ehuang hesitated several times, as if she wanted to ask something but was too embarrassed to speak.

Given her looks and age, in the modern world, countless kind-hearted men would have stepped forward to offer their concern and assured her that they would take care of anything she needed.

Unfortunately, Lin Dao didn't care.

After dinner, Lin Dao began to handle official documents and military affairs.

Zhou Ehuang first cleared away the dishes and then went to comfort her younger sister, who was so sleepy she was yawning, and put her to bed.

After coaxing her younger sister to sleep, she had to make up Lin Dao's bed and prepare it for him to sleep.

Halfway through her work, Zhou Ehuang sat on a stool by the bed, lost in thought.

For the first few nights, she was very worried.

She was afraid that Lin Dao would drag her to bed.

But later Lin Dao completely ignored her, which made her gradually angry.

Am I not pretty?

Actually, she was somewhat happy inside.

After all, Lin Dao was strong, handsome, and well-proportioned, which met the aesthetic standards of the era.

If it were a typical military general of this era...

Zhou Ehuang would be disgusted to death by the kind of burly man with a face full of scars, a big head and a thick neck, a waist like a water barrel and legs like an elephant.

The thought of that enormous creature grinning menacingly as it pressed down on her sent chills down her spine.

Fortunately, Lin Dao's image is much more outstanding.

This is actually a result of lack of experience.

If she had experienced the crushing weight of Mount Tai, she would never think this way.

After all, despite Lin Dao's well-proportioned physique, the density of his entire body, including his bones, muscles, blood vessels, and nerves, has been greatly enhanced under the continuous strengthening of the unknown power.

His appearance wasn't particularly striking, but his weight was actually not much different from that of a traditional martial artist.

Xie Daoyun and the others complained endlessly about this, feeling immense pressure.

After an unknown amount of time, Lin Dao, having finished his business, finally arrived at the back tent. Upon seeing him enter, Zhou Ehuang, who was deep in thought, hurriedly got up and spread out the quilt.

When the forest path is turned away from us, the two full moons are very conspicuous.

'Cough~'

Lin Dao coughed and, unusually, took the initiative to ask, "What do you want to say during dinner?"

Zhou Ehuang rose, lowered her head, and gently closed her long eyelashes.

"I have heard a poem."

"To live, be a hero; to die, a ghost of valor. Even now, I think of Xiang Yu, who refused to cross the Yangtze River."

"They say it was His Majesty who did it."

Normally speaking, no girl from a wealthy family would be interested in boar-like brutes.

They preferred handsome young men like Li Yu, who were talented and could compose poems.

Now, Lin Dao not only has a better appearance, but he can also write poetry, which has clearly made Zhou Ehuang have different feelings for him.

In the past, Lin Dao would have ignored her and gone straight to sleep.

But the full moon earlier had stirred up his inner fire. "Yes, it was a poem I wrote."

Zhou Ehuang's face clearly showed more color.

She lowered her eyebrows and said softly, "Your Majesty, could you compose another poem?"

Clearly, this is an attempt to put someone to the test.

Before Lin Dao could speak, the sound of Zhou Ehuang calling out from outside after waking up and not seeing her older sister could be heard.

Zhou Ehuang hurriedly left, while Lin Dao went straight to bed.

'I don't win over beauties by copying poems!'

The army arrived in Nanping Kingdom, which was the Jingnan Jiedushi (military governor) at the end of the Tang Dynasty.

This place is very peculiar. It is small and weak, but it has existed since the late Tang Dynasty and has not been eliminated.

Its main reason for survival is that it calls everyone "big brother" and submits to everyone.

The various powerful figures didn't want to waste their energy here, which is why they've survived to this day.

But today, their end has come.

"This doesn't count as surrendering."

As expected, the envoy from Nanping Kingdom came to see Lin Dao and requested to surrender.

"If it's like before, it's just acknowledging submission, not surrendering."

Lin Dao was determined to end the chaos of the world, and naturally he could no longer allow these malignant tumors left over from the end of the Tang Dynasty to exist.

"If you really want to surrender, then open the city gates and hand over your troops, supplies, and household registration."

"Only in this way can I save my life and gain the opportunity to live as a recluse in Bianjing City."

Normally, with such a disparity in strength, even the various prefectures and counties along the route of Nanping Kingdom would have surrendered without a fight.

With only one city left, the Nanping Kingdom should naturally surrender.

Having been a local tyrant for so long, how could he bear to lose his power and become a mere exile whom everyone could bully?

They were determined to defend the city, while sending envoys to the Liao Kingdom to seek foreign aid.

The Nanping Kingdom concentrated tens of thousands of troops in the city and stockpiled half a year's worth of grain.

Of course, there are still many people in the city, and these are all reserve grains.

When the people in the city are alive, they can work; when needed, they can set up a chopping board.

It can be said that it was used to its fullest potential.

With the city surrounded by a moat that draws water from the Han River, they were confident that they could hold out until the Liao Kingdom intervened.

As for national sentiment, people in this era rarely pay attention to that.

Then~
Lin Dao breached the city in just one day.

In an era without firearms and cannons, Lin Dao simply brought an excavator.

He drove an excavator and filled in a section of the moat.

Then the suicide soldiers pushed forward with large shield carts and placed the coffins filled with explosives under the city wall.

No matter how sturdy the earthen and stone walls are, they cannot withstand the power of explosives.

When the city wall collapsed with a deafening roar, a large number of armored soldiers from the Palace Guard took advantage of the fact that the nearby garrison was still in a state of shock and disorientation after the explosion and rushed into the city.

For the defending troops, their greatest psychological advantage in holding the line and fighting was the towering city walls.

Now, not only have steel behemoths appeared, but even the city walls have been shattered by lightning.

As the armored soldiers entered the city, the already battered morale of the defending troops crumbled.

The fiercest resistance came from the royal palace, which was also the residence of the military governor of Jingnan.

The entire siege and defense of the city ended with a great fire that broke out at the Jiedushi's government office.

Putting everything else aside, the local tyrant certainly had some courage.

Or perhaps they knew it wouldn't end well, so they figured they might as well just end it all with a fire.

Lin Dao was somewhat disappointed by this.

It wasn't directed at people, but at the lost wealth and food.

Soldiers need rewards of money to fight.

To appease the people in the newly acquired lands, food is also needed.

If it's all burned to the ground, Lin Dao will have to pay for it himself.

Otherwise, the city would have to be massacred, or at least plundered extensively, to satisfy the soldiers.

Compared to those warlords and military commanders, the Palace Guard troops that Lin Dao built were already quite good.

As long as their salary and rewards are adequate, they usually won't make too many demands.

Unlike the troops of regional military governors, they were not greedy and insatiable.

He would turn on you if he was dissatisfied, killing a military governor as easily as killing a chick.

Without a doubt, Lin Dao personally paid for the rewards for the soldiers.

Actually, there wasn't anything of value; it was just some silver ingots, copper coins, silk, and the like.

As for food, he purchased large quantities of cheap sweet potatoes, potatoes, corn, and animal feed from the modern world to appease the people.

With enough supplies, there's naturally nothing that can't be resolved.

The civil and military officials who came with the army, as well as some retired soldiers, stayed behind to establish government offices at various levels.

As for Lin Dao, he led his troops south, heading straight for Wuping Army.

(End of this chapter)