Rumor has it that Wu Shuangren defeated the Xie Clan and the West River Gang, who numbered several hundred, with only a few dozen men in the battle West River Market Xiheji. This piqued Guo Jiwang's interest, so he sent Zhou Zhengqing to West River Market specifically to inquire about this battle.
Zhou Zhengqing nodded. "I found out. In that battle, Wu Shuangren led fifty men, all of whom were militiamen he brought from Bo County. The Xie Clan Chamber of Commerce and the West River Gang joined forces, with more than three hundred men in total. They also set up an ambush on the main street, with dozens of crossbows hidden in the buildings on both sides."
"Repeating crossbow?"
Guo Jiwang's eyes narrowed.
"Yes, I heard this from a member of the West River Gang participated in that battle. He said that the Fist Academy members formed a defensive formation with shields, blocking arrows as they advanced... From beginning to end, the militia maintained their formation; no one fled, and the formation never broke..."
Zhou Zhengqing recounted in detail the information he had gathered.
"On the battlefield, this is the difference between elite troops and rabble."
After listening, Guo Jiwang commented, his tone no longer the half-drunk, half-awake one from before, but clear and sharp. "The fact that a group of people could maintain their formation from beginning to end shows that Wu Shuangren knows how to train troops."
"Zhang He is a good-for-nothing. He has a few hundred men under his command, but these militiamen are definitely no match for Wu Shuangren's militia!"
Guo Jiwang bluntly described the militia headquarters of West River County as utterly useless!
Zhou Zhengqing was already used to this. "But the enemy's training methods are indeed strange. Can they really train elite troops just by practicing walking?"
Guo Jiwang suddenly said, "I understand now... Everyone walks in the exact same way. They're not practicing walking, they're practicing obedience! They're practicing teamwork! They're practicing turning dozens or hundreds of people into one!"
He became more and more excited as he talked, and went to pour himself some wine, only to find that the wine pot was empty, so he had to give up.
"Zhengqing, what you've seen is definitely not the whole story. Besides these walking styles, Wu Shuangren's training methods must have other unique aspects!"
Zhou Zhengqing nodded. "I asked the West River Gang members why they thought they lost that battle. They said it was because Wu Shuangren was too powerful. He charged into the enemy lines and personally killed the leader of the Xie Clan family, and later killed several other leaders of the West River Gang. When everyone saw their leader die, they lost their will to fight."
Guo Jiwang smiled.
Leading by example.
He spoke each word clearly, slamming his hand on the wooden table, "Break through the enemy lines and slay their generals!"
"Zhengqing, do you remember what I told you about the different types of famous generals throughout history?"
Zhou Zhengqing: "I remember, the elders said there are two kinds of famous generals."
"Right."
Guo Jiwang held up two fingers. "The first type is strategic deployment and planning. Sitting in the central command, they can win battles from afar, relying on their brains, not their swords and spears. The second type is charging into battle with unparalleled bravery. They personally brave arrows and stones, leading the charge, inspiring morale and striking with courage!"
He lowered his finger and changed the subject:
"When I was young, I looked down on the second type of person. Because no matter how good a person is at fighting, how many people can they kill on the battlefield? Even if you are Great Grandmaster, you can't be a match for ten thousand men!"
"A true general can defeat ten thousand men! A million men! That is the talent to conquer the world and be remembered for eternity!"
Zhou Zhengqing listened silently; he knew about Guo Jiwang's past when he was young.
The other party passed the imperial examination at the age of twenty-two, making him the youngest scholar in that examination, and even the youngest scholar in decades of the Wu Dynasty!
The high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital were all talking about this prodigy, but Guo Jiwang too arrogant. In his essay for the palace examination, he criticized the policies of the current prime minister as worthless!
After that, Guo Jiwang wasted eight years in the capital before finally managing to get a substantive post and become the magistrate of West River County.
That stay lasted five years.
The once-renowned young genius of the capital is now a drunken county magistrate.
Later, I had nothing to do in the capital...
Guo Jiwang chuckled self-deprecatingly, "After carefully studying that [Hegemon-King's ] battle record, I changed my mind from when I was young."
Zhou Zhengqing: "Are you referring to the Prince of the Western Capital, sir?"
"It's him, of course."
"This prince has a recorded record of fighting twenty-seven battles. In every single one, he was at the forefront. In every single one, he personally beheaded the enemy general! All twenty-seven battles were fought against overwhelming odds, and he won them all!"
Guo Jiwang's tone was filled with emotion, "He couldn't possibly kill ten thousand people by himself, but he could always charge into the enemy ranks, take the enemy chief's head, and the rest of the men would slowly crumble... That's more useful than killing ten thousand people!"
"If this [Hegemon-King] didn't have many strategies and variations in his battles, he couldn't be considered a famous general, yet he was defeated by more than one or two famous generals."
"If the other party is a talented general rather than a brilliant commander, then he has somehow transformed the Western Capital Army from a weak force into the Wu Dynasty's top elite force, with countless fierce generals, all of whom are willing to serve under him!"
"Zhengqing, do you know why this is?"
Zhou Zhengqing shook his head. "Please enlighten me, sir."
Guo Jiwang slammed his hand heavily on the table. "Because his soldiers have fought alongside him battle after battle, they have long since developed an invincible morale! As long as he is there, as long as he is at the forefront, as long as he hasn't fallen, his soldiers firmly believe that their side will not lose!"
Zhou Zhengqing was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly realized. "Your Excellency suddenly brought up the Prince of the Western Capital, is it because you think Wu Shuangren can become a famous general like him?"
Guo Jiwang laughed, "The Prince of the Western Capital could lift a tripod at seventeen, and this Wu Shuangren killed Second Rank master at seventeen. Not bad at all."
The news of Wu Shuangren killing Kongzheng has now spread throughout the martial arts world of Yi Province and Xi Province!
Zhou Zhengqing was speechless. He hadn't expected his master, who was always so arrogant, to have such a high opinion of a young man.
Zhou Zhengqing's heart skipped a beat. He looked at Guo Jiwang and said cautiously:
"My lord, you've long said the world was going to be in chaos. It's a shame that someone of your talent is wasting his time in a place like West River County. Now that you've encountered someone like Wu Shuangren, aren't you—"
Guo Jiwang raised his hand, stopping him from speaking.
"Zhengqing."
He stood up unsteadily and walked to the window.
"The world is indeed going to be in chaos! Chaos is a good thing..."
Guo Jiwang's face was full of arrogant and unrestrained smiles. "When the world is in chaos, people like me can only spend their lives drinking here. Only when the world is in chaos will people remember—"
"My hands Guo Jiwang, are not only good for holding wine glasses!"
Zhou Zhengqing stood behind him, looking radiant.
Guo Jiwang turned around, his eyes clear, showing no signs of drunkenness.
"However, not everyone is qualified to let me place bets."
"Let's take another look at Wu Shuangren."
He walked back to the table, picked up the empty wine jug, shook it, and gestured to Zhou Zhengqing: "It's rare to hear from such an interesting person, go get some wine to celebrate!"
Zhou Zhengqing's expression immediately fell, and he looked helpless. "Sir... let's get down to business first."
Guo Jiwang tilted his head slightly. "Hasn't the important business been discussed?"
Zhou Zhengqing was even more helpless. "The taxation issue hasn't been decided yet."
"Oh, what conditions did Wu Shuangren propose?"
Guo Jiwang asked.
Zhou Zhengqing: "He can help collect taxes, and even collect more commercial taxes than before, but the condition is that he becomes the head of the West River County militia."
Guo Jiwang laughed, "You do have some skills."
Zhou Zhengqing: "But sir, with the Zhang Clan involved, this is extremely difficult to accomplish, and the other officials would also be unlikely to agree to let an outsider serve as the head of the local militia."
Guo Jiwang sat down again and casually said, "It's just asking for an exorbitant price and then trying to bargain. Go tell him tomorrow that the head of the West River County militia can only be from West River County, but the West River County militia can recruit people in West River Market."
Zhou Zhengqing quickly grasped the deeper meaning. "Your Excellency is astute, but what about the Zhang Clan?"
"Never mind."
Guo Jiwang sneered, "If he can't even handle a piece of trash like Zhang He, what right does he have to make me place a bet?"
Zhou Zhengqing understood, stood up, and straightened his robes. "Sir, I shall take my leave now. I will go to West River Market again first thing tomorrow morning."
"Get me the wine first."
Guo Jiwang pointed to the wine pot.
Zhou Zhengqing shook his head and said earnestly, "Sir, since you have such lofty ambitions, you should take good care of your health and save that for the future."
"..."
Guo Jiwang remained silent and waved his hand at Zhou Zhengqing.
Zhou Zhengqing bowed and left the study, gently closing the door behind him.
Guo Jiwang remained in the study.
He sat in the chair, recalling the conversation he had just had, and couldn't help but smile.
Seventeen years old... interesting...
Zhou Zhengqing just asked him if he thought Wu Shuangren could become a famous general like [Hegemon-King] in the future?
In fact, Guo Jiwang didn't have much hope either.
Throughout history, there have been many Great Grandmaster and famous generals, but there can only be one [Hegemon-King]!
On the battlefield, looking across the entire world, even with superior forces, no general dares to claim certain victory against [Hegemon-King]!
Even if Guo Jiwang assist such a person, he had already missed his chance.
He preferred to be the head of a chicken rather than the tail of a phoenix, which is why he became a drunken magistrate in a place like West River County.
Will I ever meet my own "Hegemon-King" in this lifetime?
Guo Jiwang out the window and muttered to himself.
104 Since ancient times, love has been the most deadly word.
The thirty-eighth day since Kongzheng was killed.
Just as dawn was breaking, the sentries outside the city gate spotted the carriage again.
Zhou Zhengqing got out of the car, straightened his long gown, took two steps forward, and cupped his hands in greeting:
"Please inform Militia Commander Wu that Zhou Zhengqing from West River County has come to bother us again."
The sentry immediately went to report.
A moment later, Zhou Zhengqing entered the fortified village again.
This time, he once again took the opportunity to observe the militia's training on the drill ground, hoping to find the 'unique features' his elders had mentioned.
Unfortunately, the training on the drill ground was no different from what he had seen when he arrived yesterday.
"One two one."
"One two one."
A patrol of militiamen approached, shouting slogans that Zhou Zhengqing found somewhat strange.
Everyone walks in the exact same way. They're not training how to walk, they're training obedience, teamwork, and unifying dozens or hundreds of people into one!
Zhou Zhengqing recalled what Guo Jiwang said last night and carefully examined the patrolling militia.
Looking at these people's upright posture and synchronized steps, he vaguely understood.
Soon, Zhou Zhengqing entered the council hall and saw Wu Shuangren again.
"Militia Commander Wu, after I returned yesterday, I relayed your words to the county magistrate word for word."
Zhou Zhengqing cupped his hands and said, "After listening, the County Magistrate expressed his gratitude to Militia Commander Wu for his willingness to help with tax collection. As for the commander of the West River County militia, the County Magistrate believes that the commander should be selected from among the locals of West River County. However, the West River County militia can recruit people in West River Market."
Wu Shuangren curled up in a smile.
He understood what the West River County meant—the title of militia leader could not be given for the time being, but the Fist Academy could recruit soldiers in West River Market under the guise of militia training!
Will there be any problems with having two local militias in West River County after the recruitment?
This is what I need to solve.
"Good."
Wu Shuangren nodded, "Please thank the county magistrate on my behalf."
If the county magistrate is willing to acknowledge the debt, then many things become much simpler to handle.
Wu Shuangren turned to the guards outside the door and instructed them, "Go and inform Chief Steward Mo to withdraw seventy strings of cash from the account and give it to Adviser Zhou to take away."
The guards responded and left.
Wu Shuangren looked at Zhou Zhengqing again. "Seventy strings of cash, this is the commercial tax from West River Market last month."
Zhou Zhengqing's eyes lit up, and he bowed respectfully. "Militia Commander Wu is decisive and efficient, truly admirable. On behalf of my lord, I thank Militia Commander Wu!"