To reinforce the surrounding prefectures and counties by mobilizing troops? But winter is almost here, and by the time they arrive, it will be the winter solstice. The freezing weather will be truly inconvenient.
Since that's the case, why not just go for it? It's only ten thousand men at most!
Chu Chen pondered for a moment, thinking of several methods that were not entirely suitable. He decided to just go for it and head directly to Xijiang to personally capture that scoundrel Cheng Guan Bo.
However, before that, he needed to get a handle on the Chi family and secure the evidence.
"Commander Zhou, have the brothers from the surrounding prefectures and counties arrived?"
Chu Chen suddenly asked.
"Reporting to Prime Minister Chu, five men from each of the three prefectures and eighteen counties have arrived, totaling ninety Embroidered Uniform Guards in Liaoyuan County. Adding the ten Embroidered Uniform Guards from Liaoyuan County, the remaining thirty intact personnel, we have a total of one hundred and thirty usable individuals."
Commander Zhou cupped his hands and reported.
The number of people to confront them was sufficient, but the manpower for subsequent matters was insufficient.
Chu Chen thought for a moment and looked at the county magistrate, asking, "What is your name?"
"Prime Minister Chu, my name is Zhong Rui."
The Liaoyuan County Magistrate respectfully cupped his hands and replied.
"Magistrate Zhong, I wish to mobilize two hundred county soldiers from your county. Are there any problems?"
Magistrate Zhong quickly shook his head and said with a smile, "No, absolutely not. Your subordinate is extremely willing. I believe those county soldiers will feel deeply honored to know they can be commanded by Prime Minister Chu."
Chu Chen nodded. This Magistrate Zhong, as a magistrate of a county under Xiazhou, could assist Zhang Chengzhu in confronting another county, and even someone with a powerful background. He seemed to be a capable talent, and could be promoted later.
Then he said to Commander Zhou, "Commander Zhou, dispatch your subordinates to notify all prefectures and counties in Xiazhou. Order the Embroidered Uniform Guards in each area to dispatch half of their official Embroidered Uniform Guards and auxiliary personnel, and all of them to rush to Lianshan County. They are to rendezvous three miles outside the East City Gate!"
"Be sure to notify them at full gallop!"
"Yes!"
"Your Highness, please trouble yourself to write a mobilization order in your name, mobilizing half the soldiers from all prefectures and counties of Xiazhou to station ten miles outside Lianshan County. Also, please notify Cheng Guan Bo to come to Lianshan County."
"Alright!"
Princess Xin Yue was a little excited. This looked like it was going to be a grand affair, so thrilling!
"Commander Zhou, let the brothers rest well today! Tomorrow, we will go to Lianshan County together!"
With that, Chu Chen waved his hand, and ten thousand taels of silver instantly appeared on the ground.
Magistrate Zhong, Mu Daocheng, and others stared with wide eyes. They had never seen such a large sum of silver at once!
Moreover, judging by the method just used, if they guessed correctly, it was likely the work of the ring on Prime Minister Chu's finger.
A storage ring was an extremely precious item, with very few people possessing one in the entire Yunyue Kingdom.
Chu Chen pointed to the silver on the ground and said, "Magistrate Zhong, please trouble yourself to have someone purchase a batch of grain and fodder locally with this money."
"Yes! Your subordinate obeys!"
Then Chu Chen looked at Zhang Chengzhu and asked, "Zhang Chengzhu, how are the farms in Liaoyuan County progressing?"
"Reporting to Prime Minister Chu, six farms have been initially surveyed and renovated," Zhang Chengzhu quickly replied.
"It's too late to plant bok choy now. Go and mobilize the young and strong from the farms. I intend to hire them for one month at one tael of silver to escort the grain and fodder to Lianshan County for me."
"Yes! I imagine the young and strong in the farms will be overjoyed."
Zhang Chengzhu smiled slightly after receiving the order.
"Haha, running a trip in the middle of winter to earn one tael, of course they'll be happy." Chu Chen also smiled.
The farms in Xiazhou were established too late. The entire prefecture currently only had these five farms in Liaoyuan County. Since winter solstice was only two or three days away, it was too late to plant bok choy. Without immediate income, those who joined the farms might not have enough confidence.
To better transform the Royal Chamber of Commerce's land into farms in Xiazhou, some tangible benefits were necessary.
One tael of silver was a thousand coins. Fifty coins could buy a dou of grain, which was enough to buy twenty dou, or two shi of rice, which was two hundred and forty catties. For the entire winter, the families of these young and strong individuals who escorted the grain and fodder would be able to eat their fill every day.
"I make this promise: anyone who works for me will not be mistreated. All soldiers and Embroidered Uniform Guards who rush to Lianshan County will receive one tael of silver upon arrival, and there will be rewards afterward!"
Chu Chen thought for a moment. Since he had money, it was fine to give it to the young and strong from the farms, and also to give more to others. He said generously.
"Your subordinate thanks Prime Minister Chu on behalf of the Embroidered Uniform Guard brothers!"
"Your subordinate also thanks Prime Minister Chu on behalf of the county soldiers!"
Both of them looked delighted. Being able to secure benefits for their subordinates brought them honor.
Afterward, Chu Chen sealed the acupoints and meridians of Mu Daocheng and others, ordered them to be thrown into the county prison, leaving only the three lucky "sandbags" that Princess Xin Yue had named.
At the training ground in Liaoyuan County.
Princess Xin Yue reprimanded with dissatisfaction, "What? Are you scared out of your wits or haven't you eaten? You don't even dare to truly attack me? I'll say this upfront: anyone who holds back and doesn't attack me seriously will be sent to prison!"
"Attack with all your might! I am protected by Chu Chen's divine art!"
"Yes, yes, yes~"
The three Body Refining realm disciples exchanged glances. One of them stepped forward. After the initial probing, he finally dared to launch a real attack.
Chu Chen sat on the side, idly watching Princess Xin Yue play with the human sandbag. He was not worried about Xin Yue getting injured at all. With the full strength of these three Body Refining realm cultivators, they couldn't even break the protective qi he had casually left on Xin Yue.
If it were Mu Daocheng and the other three Foundation Establishment realm martial artists, they might have been able to break it after a few more attacks, but these three had no chance.
Princess Xin Yue lacked practical combat experience. Facing the attacks of the first sandbag, she only defended directly. If the opponent's attack was slightly more tricky, she couldn't dodge it and was directly hit on her protective qi.
"Tsk~ Come again!"
Princess Xin Yue pondered slightly, realizing her shortcomings. In the subsequent battles, she paid attention to the opponent's angles, imitated their offensive moves, and thought about how to defend and counterattack.
In just the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, she visibly gained practical combat experience.
"It seems the Marrow Cleansing and Body Tempering Pill is quite effective. Not only did it change Xin Yue's innate talent and physique to be more suitable for martial arts, but it also sharpened her mind for the martial path."
Chu Chen watched with interest, thinking to himself.
After another stick of incense, Princess Xin Yue had gone from being solely on the defensive to occasionally launching attacks.
After another stick of incense, she was already able to exchange blows with the first sandbag.
In the final stick of incense, within the initial hour, Princess Xin Yue finally defeated the first sandbag completely.
She came to Chu Chen's side, completely disregarding her demeanor, and sat on the ground like Chu Chen, panting, and said, "How was it? Am I a martial arts prodigy? I can now fight enemies of the same realm head-on!"
"Heh heh~ That's all thanks to my Marrow Cleansing and Body Tempering Pill."
Chu Chen rolled his eyes.