The God of the Human Realm!

Chapter 84 Subduing the Golden Fortress Camp and the Tao Family
Linjiang Prefecture City, South Water Gate.

The Jade Belt River flows through this area.

This is the most important waterway checkpoint for the transfer of goods between the prefectural city and the outside world.

Jintang Camp, one of the three guards of Linjiang, was stationed here. Its camp was built against the city wall, resembling a water fortress, with wharves and towers inside, inspecting all passing ships.

However, this place was completely devoid of its usual hustle and bustle. The gates were tightly closed, and both cargo ships and passenger ships were blocked outside the city.

The soldiers on the city walls and towers looked tense, gripping their swords and spears.

In the center of the camp, inside a fairly spacious pavilion, a dozen generals, clad in armor, stood with their hands on their steel swords, waiting anxiously.

People would occasionally get up, step out of the building, and gaze in a certain direction from the training ground.

Some people glanced at the middle-aged man with a lean face and a composed demeanor at the head of the table.

This man was not wearing armor, but wore a wide brocade robe and had a meticulously groomed long beard. He had an air of refined elegance and did not look like a military general, but more like a learned scholar.

This refined middle-aged man was Tao Gongwang, the commander of the Jintang Camp.

Compared to the White Scale Guards and Iron Wall Guards, which were mainly occupied by the Wei and Xiang families, the two major powerful clans in the prefecture, the Golden Soup Camp fell into the hands of more than a dozen small and medium-sized powerful clans.

Among them, the three most powerful families are the Guo family (to which Guo Wei and Guo Zhen belong), the Yang family, and the Tao family.

Of the three families, the Tao family is slightly weaker.

However, because the Guo family and the Yang family were vying with each other and neither was willing to give in, the Tao family ended up getting the position of commander.

Guo and Yang were appointed as left and right commanders, respectively.

Of course, even if Tao Gongwang were in the position of commander, he wouldn't be able to command the Guo and Yang families.

Fortunately, he knows his place and has always been a cheerful peacemaker, acting as a lubricant between the Guo and Yang families.

“Lord Tao, we can’t just sit here and wait. You’re quick-witted, so please come up with a plan.” A general in his thirties with a rough face got up and paced back and forth impatiently before bowing to Tao Gongwang and speaking.

News kept coming from Mingguang Villa.

The "Surprising Spear," who rose like a comet and became famous in Linjiang Prefecture in less than a month, broke through the formation with a single spear, defeated two thousand soldiers, and killed two important figures, Guo Wei and Hua Shouren.

This alone was enough to terrify them, yet the man did not leave. He then forced the remaining soldiers to surrender, and his intentions were self-evident.

Even powerful families like the Guo and Hua clans collapsed overnight, so how could small and medium-sized families like theirs not be terrified and panicked?

"Keep calm in the face of trouble. The sky won't fall. Sit down." Tao Gongwang didn't even lift his eyelids. He slowly picked up the teacup on the table beside him, blew away the steam, and took a sip with relish.

Behind Tao Gongwang stood a young general in silver armor, Tao Gongwang's son, Tao Jingxing.

Tao Jingxing stared intently at Tao Gongwang's palm, his eyes flashing. Only he could see that his father's fingers trembled slightly, causing a little tea to spill out.

He sighed inwardly, knowing that his father was under no less pressure and urgency than anyone else in the room, but he had been cultivating his composure for many years and was barely managing to remain calm.

That's true. They might soon be facing those 'demon-like' powerful figures. How many people wouldn't feel nervous?

Thinking of the intelligence sent back by his scouts not long ago, and the impressive results achieved, Tao Jingxing felt a chill run down his spine and was deeply shocked.

He had recruited many martial arts masters in his household, and he often consulted them. He knew that the great masters in the martial arts world were capable of fighting against a hundred men, and that one man could defeat two thousand soldiers. Such martial prowess was truly beyond comprehension.

Those who reach the pinnacle of martial arts are like ghosts and gods.
Tao Jingxing muttered to himself.

"Lord Tao..." The rough and burly general could not calm down. He took a few steps forward, his expression becoming increasingly anxious.

Tao Gongwang finally glanced at him, a bitter smile on his face, and sighed, "You all want me to come up with ideas, but what can I do? There are only a little over a thousand soldiers in the camp right now, what can such a small number of people do?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a loud gong and drum sound suddenly came from the training ground.

In an instant, the expressions of the dozen or so generals in the room, including Tao Gongwang and his son, all tightened. Tao Gongwang's teacup fell to the ground and shattered with a 'crack'. Soon after, a series of rapid and loud footsteps came, mixed with the sounds of clashing swords and armor.

Tao Gongwang and the others exchanged glances, all of them guessing what was going on, and gave up their illusions.

"Let's go out and greet them!" Tao Gongwang straightened his clothes, stood up, and strode out.

At this moment, there was some commotion and quite a commotion throughout the camp. Tao Gongwang waved his hand and ordered, "Go and calm the soldiers down, and make sure they don't cause any trouble."

He continued walking without stopping, crossing the large training ground and arriving at the camp gate, where he shouted, "Open the camp gate!"

Kaka!

As the camp gates opened, the sound of footsteps, like muffled thunder, came swiftly. In no time, Tao Gongwang saw a dense mass of soldiers dressed in the uniforms of the Golden Soup Camp approaching.

As they approached, the first general spurred his horse forward, unfurled a large bundle in his hand, and with a series of thuds, seven or eight heads rolled to the feet of Tao Gongwang and his generals.

One of them was Guo Wei's head, its eyes wide with rage and covered in blood.

Tao Gongwang's eyelids twitched violently, and he couldn't help but swallow hard. He took two steps back in fright until he was supported by Tao Jingxing, who was equally terrified.

The dozen or so generals also turned pale.

The general who threw out the large package shouted, "The Guo family and the Hua family resisted the Lord and have been executed. Fellow officers of the Golden Soil Camp, are you willing to surrender?"

Tao Gongwang glanced at the general who was speaking, but he did not recognize him. It was clear that after the fierce god had subdued the soldiers, he had purged the old guard and promoted a new group of people.

"Father..." Tao Jingxing hurriedly tugged at his sleeve and called out in a low voice.

Tao Gongwang's gaze met Guo Wei's angry eyes, and his heart skipped a beat. It wasn't that he was afraid of the dead man's head, but rather he was terrified of the consequences of this "show of force."

Pfft!
Tao Gongwang immediately knelt down on both knees, prostrated himself on his hands, and loudly proclaimed, "Tao Gongwang of the Tao family sincerely submits."

As he knelt, Tao Jingxing and the dozen or so generals also knelt down. Even though they were in armor and their movements were a little awkward, they still stuck out their buttocks and paid their respects with great ceremony.

Rumble!
The crowd parted, and surrounded by several generals, Hong Yuan sat atop a magnificent black horse, dressed in a black, close-fitting outfit. He exuded an aura of imposing presence, like an invisible mountain pressing down upon them.

The horses' hooves clattered as they slowly approached Tao Gongwang and his men. A calm voice rang out: "Get up, Tao Gongwang. You will remain as commander for now and manage my troops. The rest of you will undergo investigation first. We'll discuss other matters after you pass the test."

Hong Yuan listened to reports from Xie Yansheng and several newly promoted captains on his way here. He knew that Tao Gongwang had a decent reputation and some ability, so he decided to keep him on for the time being.

As for the dozen or so generals, they were dispensable; after investigation, it would be decided whether to kill them or spare their lives.

In the ordinary world, even if one wanted to take action, it would be difficult to do so in a short period of time. One would need to bestow favors and win people over to stabilize their hearts.

In this world of martial arts, Hong Yuan displayed the immense power to single-handedly destroy an army; he was the most powerful force of human nature.

Nature allows one to do as one pleases and act arbitrarily.

"Yes!" The dozen or so generals trembled with fear, but dared not resist at all, letting the soldiers take them away.

Tao Gongwang and Tao Jingxing slowly stood up, their heads still bowed, not daring to meet Hong Yuan's gaze. Only when Tao Jingxing glanced at Hong Yuan out of the corner of his eye did his expression become complicated.

This strange expression was immediately noticed by Hong Yuan, who pointed at him and said, "Who are you? I feel like I've seen you somewhere before?"

As they were talking, Hong Yuan had actually remembered.

He now not only has a photographic memory, but also many trivial things that happened unintentionally in the past can quickly flash through his mind if he is willing to recall them.

"My name is Tao Jingxing. About two months ago, I met Young Master Hong at the dock in Yangquan County... His Majesty displayed great power, beheading the villains and leaving in high spirits."

Tao Jingxing had also heard the rumor that the poem "Killing one person in ten steps" was written by Hong Yuan. He had some doubts at first, but today, upon seeing the other party's figure, he immediately confronted the black-clad swordsman from the dock.

Hong Yuan nodded, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, and waved his hand: "Let's enter the camp!"

(End of this chapter)