Zhutian: Starting from the Space-Time Merchant

Chapter 614 To survive in this world, you need power and connections.
"Of the regular troops, three thousand have been lost in battle! (Including vacant positions)"

"A second-rank general, killed in action!"

The local magistrate has disappeared!

These things can't be hidden.

The Guangxi provincial governor yawned and said, "We can't do it. Hurry up and submit a memorial to the emperor."

He is in charge of the judiciary.

This major defeat will certainly not implicate him, so he can relax a bit.

"Send it out by express courier, four hundred li away." The provincial governor and the provincial administration commissioner shared the same opinion: "The manpower for arranging things needs to be increased even faster."

Such a setback, if it reached the capital, would surely incur the wrath of the Emperor.

To redeem oneself through meritorious service, one needs the help of a powerful figure to speak on one's behalf.

Princes, ministers, eunuchs, and palace officials all need to be bribed.

Asking for help might only require asking a few important officials.

However, in order to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the situation, it is necessary to bribe almost everyone.

That's how the current imperial court is.

When you need something done, no one will necessarily help you, but once you're in trouble, countless big feet will trample on you.

Taking advantage of someone's misfortune is a tradition.

These words were clearly directed at the governor and the admiral.

Since they were the ones who spearheaded this battle, and now that they've suffered such a crushing defeat, they naturally have to take the blame.

As for my colleagues in Guangxi, it's already good enough that they don't try to advance their careers by taking advantage of the situation.

The media frenzy has undoubtedly put the two of them in a difficult position.

"This...this~"

Admiral Min Zhengfeng is a truly incompetent man; he even excels at feigning refinement.

Now that he's faced with this situation, it's far beyond his ability to handle. He's completely flustered and at a loss, perfectly embodying the word "useless."

It's written all over their faces.

Fortunately, there is still Zheng Zushen.

The governor hesitated for a moment, then looked at Zhang Yong kneeling below and asked, "Have you seen the bodies of Vice General Li and Magistrate Ni?"

Zhang Yong, his forehead practically glued to the floor tiles, hurriedly responded.

"Never!"

The expressions of everyone in the hall changed immediately, except for the bewildered Admiral Min.

To put it bluntly, the losses suffered by Green Camp soldiers and local gentry can be suppressed.

What truly could not be suppressed were the deaths of a high-ranking official, a deputy general, who was of the second rank, and a county magistrate, who was of the seventh rank.

If the death of an official of the imperial court can be suppressed, then the imperial court is doomed.

But now that neither the living nor the dead have been found, it is impossible to conclude that they are dead.

Since they're not dead, they have time to operate.

Instead of rushing to send the message out via express courier.

Zheng Zushen understood the situation and knew how to respond.

"Someone is coming."

He instructed his men to "send Inspector Zhang to rest."

As a key witness, Zhang Yong was the first to be detained.

Next, we discussed sending someone to the capital to find influential people to smooth things over and build rapport.

The message definitely needs to be sent, but we can legitimately delay it for a while.

"I only hope for those traitors."

With a worried expression, Zheng Zushen looked towards Wuzhou, thinking, "I hope they don't cause any more trouble!"

The sun was shining brightly, and a warm breeze was blowing.

A warm breeze blew by, causing a large flag to flutter and rustle.

Atop a wooden pole three zhang tall and thicker than a thigh, hung a strikingly large flag with the words "~" written on it.
'Follow the will of Heaven!'
"Chief Lin~"

Chen Yagui, the leader of the Heaven and Earth Society, stepped forward with a big laugh to greet Lin Dao.

"Chief Chen."

Lin Dao, on the other hand, returned the greeting with a beaming smile.

On the surface, everyone seemed to be getting along well, united in their fight against the Qing dynasty.

But those who actually knew the situation understood that the Heaven and Earth Society was on the verge of being swallowed up.

Outside Wuzhou City, a large army of the Heaven and Earth Society, mainly composed of people from the waterways, boatmen, and refugees from various places, was stationed.

In terms of numbers, it is almost the same as, or even more than, the God Worshippers.

At this moment, apart from Chief Chen's confidants, everyone else, especially the wounded, had already their hearts set on Leader Lin.

The news that Lin Dao was providing free medical treatment to the wounded and feeding the members chicken and jarred meat every day had already spread like wildfire within the Heaven and Earth Society.

These days, people naturally go wherever there are benefits.

"Chairman Lin, please~"

With a beaming smile, Chen Yagui, showing no sign of any awkwardness, stepped aside to invite Lin Dao into the main tent.

Wine and dishes have already been prepared inside the tent.

Scrambled eggs, canned meat, roasted lamb leg, braised beef, etc.

The jars of wine were piled up one after another.

Yang Xiuqing, Shi Dakai, Xiao Chaogui, Wei Changhui and others who followed them into the tent chatted and reminisced with Luo Dagang, Ren Wenbing and other leaders of the Heaven and Earth Society.

But the next moment, things suddenly changed.

Without hesitation, Lin Dao stepped forward, bypassing the puzzled Chief Chen Yagui, and went straight to sit down in the main seat.

This scene instantly changed the atmosphere inside the tent.

No one spoke, but they all involuntarily retreated and huddled together, their hands resting on their weapons.

Master Chen, barely suppressing his anger, demanded in a deep voice, "Chief Lin, what do you mean by this?!"

"don't know?"

After sitting down, Lin Dao laughed and said, "You really don't understand?"

Chief Chen certainly understood.

But it's precisely because I understand that I get angry.

He wanted to lash out, but he was wary of the power of the God Worshippers, so he stood there, unable to make a decision.

"Chief Lin."

At this moment, Luo Dagang stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "My brothers from the Heaven and Earth Society and the God Worshipping Society are both anti-Qing, so why have we come to this?"

"Because it is absolutely necessary."

Lin Dao responded solemnly, "Opposing the Qing is a major event, a very, very major event."

"Brothers, risking your lives, your families, and your entire clans, we will fight against the Qing Dynasty. We cannot let them fail!"

"If we don't want to fail, we must concentrate all the forces we can gather and unite them to fight against the Qing." "Whether it's this association or that association, we must unite and fight against the Qing together."

Everyone inside the tent was deeply moved.

Theoretically speaking, this statement is not wrong.

With their forces scattered, they can only be defeated one by one by the Qing demons.

The question, however, is: to whom does this pooled power belong?
Or to put it more directly, who's the boss!

"Chief Lin." Instead of being angry, Chief Chen smiled and said, "You're absolutely right. I also agree that we should all gather together to kill the Qing demons."

"Yes~"

"Why should you be the boss?!"

That's the crux of the problem.

We're all heroes, why should I listen to you?
If the rebellion succeeds, wouldn't that create a clear distinction between ruler and subject?
"Because I have the ability."

Lin Dao raised his hand, gesturing for everyone to sit down.

The members of the God Worshipping Society took their seats.

The hall masters and incense masters of the Heaven and Earth Society stood behind Chief Chen.

Regardless of what these people were thinking, or whether they had secretly made an agreement with the God Worshippers.

At this juncture, it is imperative to stand behind Chief Chen.

We can talk about other things after we've finished discussing them.

"To get by in this world, you need power and connections."

"What is power? Only man."

"What is a background? Lots of money and lots of stuff!"

“My Heaven and Earth Society has more men than you,” Chief Chen said solemnly.

"Believe it or not," Lin Dao pointed outside the tent, "all I have to do is announce that I've joined the God Worshipping Society and will receive a chicken egg every day, and all your men will immediately have to defect to me!"

Upon hearing this, Chief Chen fell silent.

Because this is the truth.

He came here to serve, and his daily diet consisted of sweet potatoes and wild vegetables.

Only during times of war could we have the opportunity to eat mixed grain rice.

Want to eat chicken?

Dream on!
"Besides chicken, I also have jarred meat, an endless supply of fine salt, and all kinds of food and supplies."

Lin Dao stood up and said, "I can equip my soldiers with the finest steel swords, firearms, and cannons."

"To ensure that everyone has enough to eat, that wounded brothers receive medical treatment, and that the families of fallen brothers are cared for."

"I can lead my soldiers to victory after victory." He strode over to Chief Chen, looking down at him, "From one victory to another."

"What about you?"

After catching his breath, Chief Chen was about to retort when Lin Dao interrupted him mercilessly.

"There's nothing you can do."

"What do they eat here at the Heaven and Earth Society? Sweet potatoes and wild vegetables!"

"The chicken and meat jars that were meant to support you all ended up in your bellies."

These words made Chief Chen and the other hall masters and incense leaders, including Luo Dagang, look ashamed.

There's nothing we can do; that's just how a mob is.

If there are good things, the leaders will definitely enjoy them first.

"How long have you been besieging this small city of Wuzhou?"

"It's been three months, and they still haven't gotten it!"

"You're incompetent," Lin Dao replied seriously. "No power, no background, just a nobody."

"You can't compare to me in any way, so what do you have to compete with me on!"

"I'm reasoning with you today because of your anti-Qing stance."

Otherwise~

Otherwise, we would have killed you in a shootout long ago.

As for your men, once you send out crates of chickens and canned meat, they'll all flock to you immediately.

Without a doubt, Chief Chen's expression was extremely unpleasant after being rebuked.

But Lin Dao is telling the truth.

Although I don't know where such a small county as Guiping gets so many chickens and braised pork, they really do have them.

After a moment of silence, he suddenly looked up.

"You say I can't take Wuzhou, but you can?"

"If you can take Wuzhou City within three days, our Heaven and Earth Society will honor you as our master, which is not impossible."

"Hahahaha~" Lin Dao laughed heartily, his laughter full of confidence.

"A promise is a promise!"

"You are all witnesses." He called out to the people in the tent, "If Chief Chen tries to renege on his debts, don't blame me for turning my back on you."

"We are our witnesses!" Luo Dagang, who had been suffering greatly during this period, was the first to step forward and respond, "If Chairman Lin can do this, we are willing to serve you as our Lord!"

"very good."

Lin Dao nodded in satisfaction. "Let's save this meal for now and eat it after we capture Wuzhou City and enter the city."

He instructed Shi Dakai, "Go and transport all the coffins you've collected outside the city."

"Those Green Standard Army soldiers who surrendered, it's their turn to be suicide soldiers!"

"Let them draw lots to determine whether they will live or die, and then send these coffins to the city wall."

"Xiao Chaogui".

"exist."

"Put all the C4 I brought into the coffin."

"Leader!"

"Yang Xiuqing".

"exist."

"Notify all departments that a large reward will be given after the city is captured!"

"Leader!"

This statement was extremely arrogant, which greatly surprised Luo Dagang and the others. It was too presumptuous.

The Heaven and Earth Society had tens of thousands of troops, and after besieging the city for months, they were unable to take it down.

You've just arrived and you're already planning to take it all in one fell swoop?

Lin Dao looked at the members of the Heaven and Earth Society.

"I'm not arrogant; I have the belief and the ability to win!"

(End of this chapter)