Chapter 298: 298
Chapter 299 – Blackmail
February 21st, 185 A . D .
Shangdang City .
Last month, the [Ghost Legion] had moved back to Shangdang to watch over the south and the western front, and they were preparing for the possible war with Xiongnu .
However, they did not have the leisure as spies from Henei sent an urgent report to Ju Shou .
Dong Zhuo withdrew his forces from Henei, Luo Yang, and Hongnong .
It was a golden opportunity to set a foot onto several strategic cities at once!
Ju Shou did not hesitate . He messaged into the clan chat .
Ju Shou: "Dong Zhuo forces left Henei, Luo Yang, and Hongnong! They moved to Chang"An to battle with the Xiongnu!"
Ju Shou: "Requesting the permission to occupy the three cities!"
The geography and the location of the three cities were the key points of Tong"s future military expansion . Each of the cities connected with the roads to the central plain, the south, and the west .
Roads from Henei connected to Liyang Port, which led to Puyang City, Chenliu City, and Xuchang of Cao Cao .
Luo Yang located on the opposite side of the Yellow River, and the famous pa.s.s, the Hulao Gate, blocked to the path between Luo Yang and Xuchang . It was the most important strategic point if Tong wanted to seize the central plain .
Hongnong opened to the path to the west and the south, which was also a choke point to defend Luo Yang from Chang"An from the west and Wan City from the south .
However, taking all three cities could also be a problem .
Xun Yu: "No . Take Henei and Luo Yang . Leave Hongnong as a buffer . We can"t protect three cities at once . "
Jia Xu: "No! Take Henei, but don"t take Luo Yang and Hongnong . Let Cao Cao take Luo Yang and Hongnong so he can waste his resources and time!"
Xun Yu: "If we take Luo Yang, we"ll get Hulao Gate as a plus! Our path to Xuchang will be cleared, and Cao Cao won"t be able to sleep for a night!"
Jia Xu: "We are not ready for the rapid expansion! We are short on manpower, and we don"t have to luxurious to expand the military yet . "
Ju Shou: "Manpower and military can be acquired once our young master gets his hands on these territories! Chances like this aren"t something that happens all the time! We have to take all three!"
Xun Yu: "That"s true, but we"re not ready to open another frontline in Hongnong . If we take it, Dong Zhuo will glare at us . Yuan Shu and Liu Biao from the south will also eye at us . We can"t make more enemies with our current military power!"
Jia Xu: "Your words contradicted with your suggestion . We only have the Ghost Legion on that area so we can only handle one front! Henei is a choke point that connects Luo Yang and Liyang Port . If we take Luo Yang as well, we need at least two legions to protect both Henei and Hulao Gate!"
Xun Yu: "Protecting Henei with a legion is unnecessary . We can leave it to the Justice Department to transfer police officers to the city as garrisons instead . A ma.s.sive troop at Hulao will put Cao Cao on his toes, and he won"t be able to make a move at Henei . "
Jia Xu: "You underestimate Cao Cao and his strategists! One of your cousins is still under him, and I heard he hired several talented guys from all over the central plain . The Battle at Runan was the work of those guys! If I were Cao Cao, I"d maim Henei if Tong occupies both Henei and Luo Yang at the moment . If that happens, Luo Yang will be isolated!"
Ju Shou: "The matter about possible warfare can be handled in the future . You"re arguing about the distant future but you skipped the crucial process! Instead of looking too far ahead, please pay attention to the immediate opportunity! We can take three cities without losing a single soldier, and we can use diplomacy to establish peace treaties with our neighbors later!"
The debate between the three strategists in the clan chat continued .
…
Tong read the opinion of his strategists as he ma.s.saged his temples . All three of them had a different suggestion, yet sounded, which gave Tong a headache .
Taking Henei was a given since it could fortify the southern front and open the path to the central plain, such as Luo Yang, Xuchang, or Hongnong .
However, taking an additional city posed a high risk as the foundation of his kingdom was still in the infancy period .
The right economic system had not been implemented as Tong still used his bogus state corporation system, which was inefficient in the long run . Te Langpu had his hands full trying to teach his finance officers and accountants . Thus, he could not spare his times to correct the micro-economy system .
The agriculture development was half done . But all of his cities were still relying on Tong"s [Create Food] . It would take another year before the city farms could produce food to self-sustain .
Legions still lacked elite soldiers . The training processing took times, and not many civilians wanted to join the military with the current inflated money and gold in their hands .
Cannon research was almost done, but they still require to increase its efficiency and accuracy of the cannons .
Steel weapons and armors were still lacking . Not every soldier could wear it .
A few subordinates, such as Sima Fang and Zhen Yi, were plotting something behind his back .
Back home, Friday still sent murderous intent toward He Xing and Liu Xie .
"Argh! s.h.i.+t! Why did I sign up for this!?"
Tong sighed and gazed at the map in his room . Dolls of his generals and officers were there, grouping together into a legion .
"If it weren"t because of the Xiongnu, I would have sent the Mountaineer Legion to the south . "
Feeling helpless and unable to find an answer he was looking for, Tong replied to the clan chat .
Tong: "Sent the Ghost Legion to Henei and reinforce it first . Father, senior Ding, I need 5,000 police officers from each of your city . Transfer them to Henei, please . "
Tong: "As for the supplies and weapons, take everything from Shangdang to Henei . We"ll replenish our armory in Shangdang later . As for the new governor of Shangdang …"
He paused .
Tong slapped his forehead .
He did not have a trustworthy officer who could run a city alone .
For 10 minutes, Tong did not continue his message even though everyone waited for his order in patience .
Friday, who was beside Tong, stared at his pale sweating face . She sat on his lap and hugged him .
"I"ll go . I"ll take care of Shangdang . "
"You?"
"Yeah, I"ve been useless to you lately . All I did so far was creating more troubles . "
"Besides, I can establish another legion . Zhang Ji and Zhang Xiu are still free in Julu, remember? I think I"ll take those two and move their family to Shangdang with me . Zou s.h.i.+ and her son will be there to help me, so we will be fine . "
"This is not like you . Why are you suddenly being proactive?"
"Can"t a lovable wife want to help her husband?"
"You don"t want to keep my company at night anymore?"
"I can"t get pregnant . What"s the point anyway? Besides, you have already regained your endless sperm skill . It"s tiring to sleep with you at night . "
"That"s… very odd of you . I thought you always want to keep me for yourself . "
"I can get bored with you sometimes . Besides, your technique sucks . "
"Ahaha . "
The two got quiet as they were staring each other in the eyes .
Five minutes later, Friday smiled and kissed him, "Answer the clan chat and appoint me . They are waiting . "
"I"ll ask you one more time . Are you sure?"
"I"ll be fine . "
"… Okay . "
…
Tong: "Sorry for the delay . "
Tong: "We"re going to form a new legion to protect Shangdang and stand by for future order . The grand commander will be Xiao Wu . Zhang Xiu and Zhang Ji will be her adjutants . As for the troops, we will allocate from the other legions . "
Tong: "As for the governor position, Xiao Wu will take on that role . Is there any objection?"
…
…
…
Friday departed from Ye the next day .
Tong stood in front of the gate to send her off . Even though he knew that Friday was a strong girl, he felt that something was wrong with her lately .
Surprisingly, He Xing came to send her off as well, which created a more awkward atmosphere .
Friday, however, did not show her hostile intent toward He Xing as usual . Instead, she smiled at her .
"It"s not like I"m giving up on my husband . Remember that I"m always number one between the three . "
The face of He Xing twitched, yet she bowed, "May you have a safe journey . As for Lord Zhang Tong, I have never dreamt about taking him from you . "
"Don"t make a fool out of yourself . As a woman, I can see it through your eyes . "
"Please don"t jest . Getting a.s.saulted by you once is enough . I don"t want to risk my life again . "
"I don"t believe you . "
"I"m but an honest single mother . "
"Hmm . "
Friday turned around and walked to Hua s.h.i.+, who was carrying her two-year-old daughter .
"s.l.u.t zombie, take care of Tong for me . "
"Don"t raise a stupid death flag . It"s not like you"re going forever . Besides, who are you calling a s.l.u.t, you wh.o.r.e!"
"Swear at me in front of your girl?"
"She has to learn about the bad side of society ASAP . I"m teaching her politics before someone tries to pull a political marriage trick on her . Those geezers in our city hall will definitely introduce us to their sons or grandsons in the future to pair with my daughter . I"ll give her the immunity . "
"That"s not how you teach your daughter, you idiot . "
"My daughter, not yours . "
Friday sighed . For some reasons, she did not feel any anger or frustration from bickering with Hua s.h.i.+ or He Xing anymore .
Hua s.h.i.+ noticed Friday"s oddness . She frowned and scanned Friday form the head to toes .
"You look kinda pale . Are you sure you are okay?"
"I"m… fine . "
"Nope, you"re not . "
"I said, I"m fine . "
"Alright, alright . Suit yourself . "
Friday smiled . Her smile seemed to be brighter than her past smile when she was with Tong .
"A death flag . This is a f.o.o.king death flag . "
"Don"t jinx, s.l.u.t!"
Friday left them . She turned to Tong and winked, "Next time, Tong . "
…
…
…
During Friday"s journey, her smile never appeared again . Instead, her face revealed blood veins under her skins .
In her hands, a scroll of letter was addressed to Xiao Wu . The content was as followed;
[Miss Dong Bai, this is not a request but an order . Betray Zhang Tong and come to Tianshui alone . If you don"t arrive here within the end of this year, Diao Chan might face an unfortunate accident . My men have infiltrated Xuchang Imperial Court, and I can kill her any time I want to . If you don"t want her to return to h.e.l.l as an idiot, come here alone .
Signed: Liu Yang, your favorite G.o.ddess . ]
"Motherf.o.o.king c.o.c.k sucking wh.o.r.e! You are seeking death!"
Friday bit her lower lips, and her teeth dug into the flesh . Blood seeped out from her wounds, yet she did not care about the pain .
She wanted to ask Tong for help, but she remembered that he had enough problems on his hands . Therefore, she decided to solve this by herself .
"Following her order is stupid . I"ll just save Meddy and get her out of Xuchang!"