Three Kingdoms: Intercepting Liu Bei's forces and marrying Lady Mi.

"This time, thanks to Young Master Chen's help, your mother has already told me."

"Young Master Chen is a man of good character, and comes from a scholarly family in Yingchuan. He is sure to have a bright future."

Zhen Jiang was delighted when her father praised her beloved.

"But Jiang'er, have you thought about it? If you marry Young Master Chen, you can only be a concubine. Are you willing to do that?" Zhen Yi asked, frowning.

Zhen Jiang immediately looked up and said, "Father, I am willing. Even if I am a concubine, I am willing."

In desperation, Zhen Jiang spoke her mind.

As soon as she finished speaking, she felt embarrassed that the woman had said such a thing, so she blushed and lowered her head.

"Okay, since that's what you think, I'll definitely agree."

"Even if she's not the legal wife, it doesn't matter. I will never let anyone look down on the Zhen family of Zhongshan."

The Zhen family of Zhongshan was once a prominent family of officials, but starting from the Western Han Dynasty, the family gradually declined.

The Zhen family possessed only a large amount of wealth and ample grain reserves.

On the sixth day after Chen Ming arrived at the Zhen family home, Zhen Yi had recovered from his illness and was able to move normally.

Things unfolded exactly as Chen Ming had expected.

The only problem arose with recruiting Zhao Yun.

During his time at the Zhen family home, Chen Ming discovered that Zhen Yi's wife, Zhang, was from Changshan, a place very close to Zhao Yun's hometown.

To save time, Chen Ming sent someone to invite Zhao Yun.

The envoy searched in Zhen Ding for two days and found Zhao Yun's house, but Zhao Yun himself was not there.

It is said that Zhao Yun went out to learn martial arts and has not yet returned.

It's perfectly normal that Zhao Yun's martial arts skills were so high that he couldn't have learned them out of thin air.

Chen Ming was somewhat disappointed that he hadn't been able to recruit Zhao Yun in advance.

But since things have come to this, we can only accept it.

With the Yellow Turban Rebellion drawing ever closer, he had to return to Zhuoxian immediately to make preparations.

……

At the entrance of the Zhen Family Manor.

A long line of cars is slowly making its way to Zhuoxian County.

The team was transporting provisions and supplies, all of which were part of Zhen Jiang's dowry.

Zhen Mi was young, and Chen Ming liked Zhen Jiang, so the marriage certificate was in Zhen Jiang's name.

Chen Ming cannot take Zhen Jiang away now.

The world will be in chaos in the coming year, and he will have to fight a war. He cannot leave Zhen Jiang alone at home.

Perhaps it would be better to let Zhen Jiang stay in the Zhen family for the time being.

The marriage certificate has been signed, and nothing will change.

Therefore, the Zhen family transported all the dowry to Zhuoxian County.

They had 100 million coins, 100,000 bushels of grain, and also hid armor and weapons.

Zhen Yi and Zhang Shi stood at the gate of the manor to see their daughter off.

Chen Ming said, "Father-in-law and mother-in-law, you have been storing grain and recruiting soldiers in the castle recently."

"If there is any danger, send someone to Zhuoxian to let me know, and I will definitely help."

Chen Ming didn't tell everything.

But Zhen Yi and his group were very clever, and Chen Ming, being from a prominent family in Yingchuan, knew more than they did.

Since it is so abundant, it must have a purpose.

"We must be wary of the Taoist priest; we can't let him into the manor," Chen Ming said in a low voice.

"Okay, we understand the stakes," Zhen Jiang replied.

The walls of the Zhen family manor are higher than those of Wuji County, and the guards are numerous and well-equipped, so Chen Ming has nothing to worry about.

There is no record in historical books of the Yellow Turban Army attacking the Zhen family; otherwise, the Zhen family would not have survived.

Now that he has reminded them, the Zhen family's defenses will be even stronger.

"You all go back to the manor first. I'll just say a few words to Jiang'er and then leave."

Zhen Yi and Zhang nodded in agreement.

……

On a carriage outside the manor.

Zhen Jiang sat in the car.

The carriage followed Chen Ming's procession slowly.

Zhen Jiang cried very sadly in the car.

Chen Ming gently wiped away her tears.

"Stop crying, it'll hurt your face if you keep crying."

Chen Ming said firmly to Zhen Jiang, "I will come back to marry you in a year, and I will take you to see the prosperity of Luoyang."

He comforted Zhen Jiang.

Zhen Jiang shook her head and threw herself into Chen Ming's arms.

"No... Jiang'er doesn't want to go to Luoyang."

Zhen Jiang said, biting her lower lip.

Chen Ming stroked Zhen Jiang's long hair, took out a handkerchief from his sleeve, and placed it in Zhen Jiang's hand.

These are things that Zhen Jiang lost.

"Keep this handkerchief safe. I'll come back to marry you a year from now, and we'll never be apart again."

Zhen Jiang stared at the handkerchief.

The blank spaces on the handkerchief were covered with writing.

She stared at the silk handkerchief, watching the departing horse caravan.

Zhen Jiang sat in the carriage, clutching a silk handkerchief tightly; the fabric still retained Chen Ming's body heat and scent.

Chen Ming kept turning back to look at her, his face full of reluctance.

She is indeed very beautiful, but now is not the time for romance.

The world is about to descend into chaos; to survive, one must be one step ahead of others.

Only by seizing the initiative can one win; only in this way can one remain invincible.

Next year, Chen Ming will wipe out the Yellow Turbans and make a name for himself.

"Zhang Jiao, I'll take your life sooner or later, but I'll let you live a few more months for now!"

Chen Ming said in a low voice.

……

Chen Ming had just returned from Zhongshan and was stationed in the temporary military camp outside Zhuojun City.

He sent Zhang Fei and Guan Yu to recruit soldiers.

Inside the camp, Chen Ming opened his attribute panel.

The current task is the Yellow Turban Army instance.

The six million catties of grain reserves and the 100 million yuan in military pay filled Chen Ming with confidence.

Zhen Jiang's dowry included 100,000 shi of grain, which translates to 6 million jin.

They also have plenty of money, a hundred million.

These resources will allow him to persevere for a while.

"System, place the barracks!"

"Ding! Confirmed that placing a regular infantry battalion requires 50,000 coins."

"Ding! Confirmed that placing a regular cavalry battalion requires 200,000 coins."

……

Chen Ming has 100 million coins, which is more than enough to pay.

He immediately chose to place it.

"Sure!"

In the camp, after he gave the order, two barracks were immediately built.

"Ding! The host can recruit the following soldiers."

「普通步兵营：每6小时生产1名战力5的步兵，每日消耗1斤粮草，招募需100钱。」

「普通骑兵营：每12小时生产1名战力10的骑兵，每日消耗5斤粮草，招募需200钱。」

Chen Ming did not recruit soldiers directly; instead, he wanted to upgrade the barracks.

There were only 30 days left until the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

You can recruit a maximum of 60 infantrymen with a combat power of 5 and 30 cavalrymen with a combat power of 10.

Even generals like Zhang Fei and Guan Yu couldn't recruit nearly enough soldiers to fight the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

Chen Ming didn't just want to protect the peace of his region; he wanted to take the initiative to attack.

Therefore, even if the quantity is insufficient, the quality must be better.

"System, upgrade the barracks!"

"Ding! The current host has 1 ordinary infantry battalion and 1 ordinary cavalry battalion, which can be upgraded to an intermediate infantry battalion and an intermediate cavalry battalion."

Upgrading a regular infantry battalion costs 50 coins, while upgrading a regular cavalry battalion costs 200 million coins!

"What?! This is highway robbery!"

Fortunately, he went to the Zhen family; otherwise, Zhang Fei's meager funds wouldn't have been enough to accomplish anything.

"upgrade!"

Although Chen Ming was reluctant to spend the money, he still decided to upgrade.

"Ding! Host has spent 50 coins to upgrade to Intermediate Infantry Battalion!"

"Host has spent 200 million coins to upgrade the Intermediate Cavalry Camp!"

"Intermediate Infantry Battalion: Recruits one intermediate infantryman with a combat strength of 10 every six hours. Each soldier consumes 2 catties of rations per day. Recruitment costs 200 coins."

"Intermediate Cavalry Battalion: Recruits one intermediate cavalryman with a combat strength of 20 every twelve hours. Each soldier consumes 4 catties of rations per day. Recruitment costs 400 coins."

Chen Ming was very satisfied with the doubling of his combat power.

The investment of 2.5 million was worthwhile.

But he wasn't satisfied with that; he had to upgrade the barracks to a higher level so that the soldiers' basic combat strength would double again.