Top-notch Little Horseman

The smoker took a deep drag, exhaled a smoke ring, and looked at Ye Chen.

"Captain, although the area is strictly controlled, there's no guarantee that nothing unexpected might happen. We need to get onto the main road as soon as possible. If anything happens to these cartloads of hay, we'll all be beheaded!"

"There won't be any surprises." Ye Chen chuckled softly. "Listen to me, let's get started."

"If you want to earn three taels of silver a month, you have to start here."

"For our bright future, let's all get moving and be quick!"

"Grab your weapons and come chop down trees with me!"

Ye Chen didn't explain much, and led the way into the woods to start cutting tree branches.

Although they didn't know what Ye Chen was going to do, they still understood to obey.

Seeing that there was almost enough, Ye Chen waved for everyone to stop, then pushed the cart full of hay over and unloaded the excess hay.

This time, a lot of hay was harvested; the unloaded hay filled about two cartloads.

Ye Chen used tree branches to completely cover the pasture, just like hiding a tank in battle. Unless you get close and search it, you will never find the pasture here.

"Captain Ye, what are you trying to do?" Smoker sensed something was wrong and hurriedly looked at Ye Chen to ask.

"Isn't it obvious? Of course, we should hide the hay and sell it when we have the chance." Ye Chen clapped his hands, straightened his clothes, and looked at Smoker.

"My goodness! This is military supplies! Selling hay is a serious crime, punishable by death!"

The monkey immediately trembled with fear. Selling hay was a serious crime; if caught, it would be court-martialed and would surely die.

"What kind of world is this? You're still talking to me about military law?" Ye Chen chuckled and looked at the monkey.

"Although we're supposed to get three hundred coins a month, it's paid only sporadically! I'm not afraid of losing my head, I'm afraid of being poor!"

"What you see before you isn't pasture, it's piles of silver, and the young women you want to sleep with!"

Looking at the covered pasture, Ye Chen spoke with great enthusiasm.

"Now, I'm asking you, are you going to do it or not?"

The group looked at each other, then clenched their fists and said in unison.

"Fuck him!"

Without further ado, under Ye Chen's arrangement, a team of people pushed a cart that had just met the hay quota back to Maying.

As darkness fell, Ye Chen had the monkey lead a group of people to deliver the hay to complete the mission, while he and the Tobacco Ghost headed to Beiping City.

With the people and goods secured, the next step is to discuss how to find a way out.

The person in charge of inspecting the pasture was Bian Jun, a centurion with real power, who was Gou Qianhu's confidant.

Ye Chen knew that if he went to deliver the hay himself, he would definitely be given a hard time, so he couldn't waste his time here.

Time is not just money, it's life itself!

This Commander Jiang has always enjoyed playing tricks on the original owner of the body, and now that Commander Gou has given him orders, he's even less likely to let him off the hook.

We must develop the ability to protect ourselves as soon as possible, or we will become fish on their chopping board.

Although Jiang Baihu was a centurion, it was a nominal position that he bought with money. It was neither hereditary nor officially registered. At most, he was just a general with a hollow title.

……

Ye Chen and the Smoker head to Beiping City. If they can reach a cooperation agreement with Qian Wansan, then they will have taken the first step towards success.

"Hey, you smoker, I heard you used to be the commander-in-chief of Qi Jiguang's army, is that true?"

Along the way, Ye Chen and Smoker chatted casually.

"A hero doesn't dwell on past glories; it's all in the past." The smoker took a drag of his opium and exhaled a long smoke ring.

"With the people united in their hatred, even the mighty waves can be calmed; holding fast to our principles and defending our land, our will shines as bright as the stars."

"Comrades support each other, as close as blood relatives; military orders are strict, and rewards and punishments must be carried out."

"Sweep away the barbarian invaders, bring glory to our family; support our nation and bring peace and prosperity to our people."

Ye Chen smiled slightly and began to sing a strange ballad.

Upon hearing this folk song, Smoker's heart tightened, and he suddenly raised his eyes to look at Ye Chen: "Captain, how do you know the military song of my Qi Family Army?"

"The Qi Family Army has grown to 300,000 men. They fought against the sea pirates and defeated the elite cavalry of the Northern Barbarians. They have achieved numerous military exploits and are known as the Ever-Victorious Army," Ye Chen said with a light smile, unconcerned.

"What's so strange about knowing the military songs of Qi Jiguang's army?"

"The captain is truly knowledgeable. The Qi Family Army was indeed a formidable force, but it's a pity... the last remaining members of the Qi Family Army perished in the island battles."

"Now... none of the generals of Qi Family Army have escaped. The soldiers who are still alive have either retired to their hometowns or gone into seclusion in the mountains. No one will sing the military songs of my Qi Family Army anymore."

The smoker talked at length, then put away his pipe with some worry.

Ye Chen glanced at him. This smoker was quite capable. To win him over completely, he needed to gain his complete trust.

"Interested in joining me to create another invincible army?" Zhang Xian extended a team invitation.

"Captain...you're just a small captain. Even if we follow you, there are only ten of us...how can we form an army?" Upon hearing this, Smoker smiled slightly at Ye Chen, a smile that carried a hint of mockery.

"Born in a chaotic era, the situation changes in an instant. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?" Ye Chen smiled nonchalantly.

"In chaotic times... it's hard enough to just survive, let alone... carry an empty bag." The Smoker smiled and shook his head.

Ye Chen paused, unable to look directly at the Smoker, and said, "I just want to know, if one day I were to be able to raise an elite army, would you be willing to help me?"

"It's not for the money, but for that phrase: 'Sweep away the barbarians, bring glory to our family; uphold the nation, and bring peace and prosperity to the people!'"

Upon hearing this, Smoker paused, then looked at Ye Chen with utmost seriousness and said, "If that day really comes... I'd really like to see what the ever-victorious army that the captain has built will look like!"

He saw a different aura in Ye Chen; this captain who had come back from the dead was like a completely different person.

A golden carp is no ordinary fish; it transforms into a dragon when it encounters wind and clouds.

The military spirit that had been extinguished in his heart was touched by Ye Chen at this moment.

Ye Chen led the Smoker toward the Qian family mansion.

Looking ahead at the magnificent Qian Mansion, the smoker immediately panicked.

"This... Captain, are you serious? The buyer you're looking for is... the Qian family?" Smoker gasped and looked at Ye Chen.

"Yes. Hay is a strategic material, and the wealthy people in Beiping who dare to take it on can be counted on one hand," Ye Chen nodded affirmatively.

"I don't intend to sell it cheaply; selling it for 13,000 yuan would be the most suitable price."

Upon hearing this, the smoker's lips twitched. Selling it to Qian Wansan would be a good deal, but selling it to him wouldn't be that easy, and the deal might fall through, costing him his life.

"My lord, do you know who this Qian Wansan is? He's the kind of guy who sits and drinks alongside the General. You want to sell hay to him?" Smoker felt his head buzzing.

"Yes, selling to him is the most suitable option, precisely because his connections are strong enough. If something really happens, selling him can still protect the brothers."

Ye Chen smiled, not joking at all. Before the smoker could say anything more, he stepped forward and knocked on the copper ring on the gate of the Qian family mansion.