Chapter 661: Having Such Integrity

Daoist Qingsong, when fortune-telling, truly was the kind of person who had to speak his mind. However, he also knew that not every prediction could be good news; life has its ups and downs, and not everything can go as one wishes. Some pronouncements, even when Daoist Qingsong delivered them with more embellished language over the years, remained incredibly harsh. Therefore, he was always prepared to be scolded or even beaten. However, Du Changsheng ultimately maintained his composure, which made Daoist Qingsong regard him with even higher esteem.

Calculating the intricate destiny of someone like Du Changsheng, who possessed a unique identity and an unusual, somewhat indistinct facial appearance, gave Daoist Qingsong a strong sense of accomplishment.

So, while Du Changsheng was sulking alone on the drill ground to compose himself, Daoist Qingsong felt refreshed and content as he returned to his assigned tent to rest. As for the war, Great Zhen was currently on the defensive and should not make many moves; the military commanders would naturally handle the arrangements.

Qizhou in winter was quite cold. On New Year's Eve, goose feather-like snow began to fall across the entire northern region of Qizhou. By nightfall, the accumulated snow had already covered most of the ground.

On the walls of Qilin Pass, built along the mountain pass, Yin Chong was inspecting the defenses. The weather had been bitterly cold these past few days, and with the New Year approaching, both warring parties had intentionally reduced their activities.

As Yin Chong walked along the city walls, many soldiers saluted him along the way.

"General!" "General!"

Soldiers, both familiar and unfamiliar, saluted and greeted him. Yin Chong nodded to each of them. Noticing that many had hands and faces red from the cold, he couldn't help but ask the adjutant beside him:

"Are there enough winter clothes?"

"Reporting to the General, since winter arrived in Qizhou, the weather has been freezing. Winter supplies are the top priority for the army. The rear command has already overseen their completion and delivery. Every soldier has both inner and outer winter clothing, as well as their own straw cloaks. Firewood and charcoal are also fully stocked."

Yin Chong nodded, looking out beyond Qilin Pass. Whether it was the forest vegetation or the vast plains, everything was enveloped in a layer of pure white snow.

"General, even with our ample supplies, our soldiers still shiver from the cold. The enemy nation, Zuyue, is in turmoil. Even if they have forcibly integrated their rear supply lines due to the war, their material provisions must be insufficient..."

Yin Chong raised a hand, gesturing for him to stop talking, and shook his head.

"According to scout reports, the enemy army now claims a million troops. Even discounting exaggerations and auxiliary personnel, their combat-ready forces are by no means small. With so many people, especially on a day like this, they are capable of anything. The people of Qizhou, who have already suffered greatly from the plunder of these bandits, will likely suffer again..."

Although Yin Chong was now a military general, he hailed from the Yin family, giving him a perspective far superior to that of an ordinary young soldier fresh from military service. He was also well-versed in the situation of the Zuyue Kingdom and the habits of these enemy soldiers. If Great Zhen's army, even its new recruits straight out of training camp, were known for strict discipline and excellent training, then the Zuyue forces were a ferocious band, full of wolf-like aggression and banditry; perhaps seven out of ten of them fit this description.

The Zuyue army itself lacked supplies, so they would either fight amongst themselves or plunder from the people of Qizhou. Everyone knew that they would pick on the weak, and the situation was clear not only to Yin Chong but to many discerning people.

The reality was much as Yin Chong had anticipated. The Zuyue army formed camps ranging from thirty to fifty thousand men, and within Qizhou, outside Qilin Pass, their combined encampments stretched for over three hundred li. Qizhou towns and even villages closer to these Zuyue camps suffered terribly.

This was especially true for the villages and towns. Larger cities fared slightly better, as the Zuyue Kingdom was currently dreaming of expanding its territory and thus wouldn't be completely ruthless. However, places like villages and smaller towns were entirely lambs to the slaughter.

Jianqiu Prefecture, north of Qilin Pass, was the primary garrison point for one of the main Zuyue army divisions. On the day of New Year's Eve, a general in the army declared that the soldiers should have a good New Year, and in doing so, relaxed recent regulations. Many eager Zuyue soldiers then rushed towards nearby county towns and villages.

This year was unlucky for the people of Qizhou. Ordinarily, they wouldn't dare to go out and buy many things, but today was New Year's Eve. While firecrackers might be forgone, a moderately decent reunion dinner absolutely had to be prepared. Ideally, they would find a familiar scholar to write spring couplets. Some also hoped to go to temples and other places to pray, wishing that the bandit soldiers wouldn't come and that Great Zhen's royal army would soon defeat them.

The original county lieutenant of Zhuluo County and most of the town's constables and soldiers had long been killed or incapacitated when the Zuyue army first attacked. Now, the county town was undefended, with order maintained only by the county magistrate's prestige, a few surviving yamen runners, and the self-awareness of the populace.

At the city gate, several vegetable farmers were carrying baskets, about to enter the town. People had been afraid to go out during this period, but today, New Year's Eve, some still couldn't resist doing a little business, selling stored radishes and other vegetables, hoping to trade them for some meat to take home.

The farmers hadn't yet entered the town when they suddenly heard a commotion from behind. After looking back towards the distance, they were puzzled for a moment, then expressions of terror gradually appeared on their faces: it was the dust raised by an approaching army.

"Bandits! The bandit soldiers are here again!"

"Run! Run!" "Hey, don't run out there! In the open, walking like this, we'll be shot down by the bandit soldiers like targets!"

"Then get into the city! Hurry!"

Several farmers, carrying their shoulder poles, quickly ran towards the city. Some even abandoned their baskets and cabbages, simply grabbing a pole and running for their lives. Once inside the city, they started shouting.

"The bandit soldiers are here! The bandit soldiers are here again!"

"Huh?" "Father!"

"The bandit soldiers are coming?" "Quick, hurry home!"

"Run! The bandit soldiers are here again!"

"Ah..." "Waaah... Mother, Mother, where are you?"

The town's inhabitants were in a state of panic, their terrified shouts mingling with the cries of children. Crowds scattered like headless flies. Some ran directly home, while others, disoriented, rushed towards what looked like hidden and secluded spots. Children separated from their parents simply stood crying in place.

With a crash, a child was knocked down by someone fleeing in panic, falling directly in front of a shop on the side of the street. The shop owner there was locking the door, while the man who had knocked the child down merely glanced back before continuing to run off into the distance.

"Waaah... waaaah... Mother, Mother..."

A white-bearded farmer saw the child, rushed over, and helped him up.

"Oh dear, whose child is this? Where are your parents? Where are your parents? Child, where are your mother and father? Don't keep crying, stop crying! Oh dear!"

The old farmer couldn't worry about anything else. He grabbed the child's hand and hurried towards the deeper parts of the city. A dozen breaths after they left, a woman, her face pale, ran onto the chaotic street, shouting for her child, only to be pulled away by those around her, fleeing to another location.

Such situations were not uncommon, merely a microcosm of the chaotic scene in the county town. People instinctively realized that disaster was imminent.

"Clatter, clatter, clatter..." "Thud, thud, thud..."

The sound of horse hooves and disorganized footsteps finally reached the county town gate. The gate was half-closed; it was unclear who had started to close it only to abandon the effort and flee halfway through. The street at the entrance now appeared deserted, with only the cold wind blowing a few bamboo baskets to roll along. The town itself was eerily silent. Had the Zuyue soldiers not heard the chaotic and panicked shouts from afar moments earlier, they might have truly believed it was a ghost town.

A middle-aged man, clad in official robes, wearing a square-topped black gauze hat, and with a sword at his waist, walked steadily from the end of the street. His expression was calm, yet tinged with anger.

The Zuyue soldiers, led by a military officer on horseback, charged into the town. Seeing the man approaching from a distance, the officer squinted and then raised a hand. Even though the soldiers behind him were growing restless, they had no choice but to gradually halt. Since the looting hadn't officially begun, they could still control themselves and would not openly defy their superior's orders.

The man in official robes walked step by step against the cold wind until he reached the officer's horse. He raised both hands and bowed slightly.

"I am the county magistrate of Zhuluo County. Your army previously stated that it would ensure the safety of Zhuluo County. General, have you brought such a large force here today to break that agreement?"

The man on horseback was merely a cavalry captain, but he enjoyed being called "General" by others. He now responded with a smirk, his smile not reaching his eyes.

"Oh? Magistrate," he said, "since there was an agreement, we naturally abide by it... However, wasn't it stated that no one was permitted to carry weapons? What is that at your waist, Magistrate?"

Hearing the cavalry captain say he would uphold the agreement and not transgress, a commotion arose among the soldiers behind him. The captain turned his head and swept his gaze across them, and the disturbance subsided.

The magistrate's gaze was stern.

"A scholar's sword is merely an accessory. Since the General says he will uphold the agreement, I ask that you lead your troops away. If you encounter difficulties, please seek my counsel in another manner, and I will do my best to assist."

"Hmm, that's fine too," the captain said. "Oh, by the way, Magistrate, may I ask who told you that Zhuluo County would be kept safe?"

"General Wang Chenghu from your esteemed army."

The cavalry captain nodded, smiled again, and looked back at the soldiers behind him.

"Brothers, who is General Wang Chenghu? I've never heard of him. Have any of you?"

"No." "Nope, hahahaha..."

"Hahahahaha..."

The cavalry captain turned back and laughed.

"Since no such person exists, the agreement naturally doesn't count either. Hahahahaha..."

The magistrate's face contorted with uncontrollable fury. Pointing at the cavalry captain on horseback, he roared:

"You rats will all die a terrible death! When Great Zhen's royal army arrives, you will surely be slowly sliced to death—"

"Clang!"

Before he could finish speaking, the magistrate had already drawn his sword and lunged directly at the cavalry captain. He had come here with no intention of leaving alive.

"Swish!" "Clang!"

The cavalry captain effortlessly blocked the magistrate's swinging sword with a raise of his spear, then thrust the spear forward.

With a 'thud', it pierced the magistrate's chest and hoisted him into the air.

"Great Zhen's royal army? They're as soft and powerless as you are."

"Brothers, take whatever you can carry or move! Go!"

As the captain spoke, he flicked his spear, tossing the magistrate aside to the street. He then spurred his horse into the town, while the surrounding soldiers, screaming excitedly, rushed into various parts of the city.

"Cough... cough... You bandits... thugs..."

The magistrate clutched his sword hilt tightly, and amidst his furious curses, he died with his eyes wide open.

An officer in armor, accompanied by two soldiers, approached the deceased magistrate. He gazed sternly at the magistrate's bulging eyes, then looked at the sword still clutched tightly in his hand.

The officer bent down, reached out, and closed the magistrate's eyes, muttering in a low voice.

"A mere scholar and county magistrate, yet he possessed such integrity..."