Wangwu Mountain.
"We have come expressly to join Grand Tutor Guo and Grand General Wang!!"
Inside the crude house, Guo Ze sat in the seat of honor, looking at the burly men kneeling before him. He wanted to speak but hesitated, then looked blankly toward Wang Yuan beside him.
Wang Yuan felt the same way. He was deeply conflicted.
Looking at the kneeling men, Wang Yuan nevertheless hurried forward to help them up.
"Hahaha, good, good! So many brave men have come to join us!"
"We are most gratified!"
"Once we have purged the villains from the sovereign's side and saved the Altars of Soil and Grain, every one of you will surely be a pillar supporting the state!"
The burly men rose with his help, their faces filled with anger.
"That Sima Shi is no human being! He collected taxes at the rate for five people but left us only enough grain for three. This time, he wouldn't even distribute seed or let us farm... In our anger, we rose against him. Government troops hunted us down, and when we learned you were here upholding the realm, we came expressly to join you!"
The man spoke with a thick Hebei accent, which sounded very familiar to Guo Ze.
Wang Yuan looked at Guo Ze, prompting him to offer some words of reassurance.
"Good," Guo Ze said. "I have heard that loyal and righteous men abound in Yan and Zhao. It is indeed true!"
"That Sima Shi deceives his sovereign and preys on the common people. Sooner or later, we must lead our men to kill him and rescue His Majesty from fire and water!"
"How many men have you brought this time?!"
"Not many! Just over two thousand!"
"Two..."
Guo Ze's smile froze for a moment, but he quickly