Becoming a god by following the natural order and seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune.

Chapter 14 Taking Office in Changshan!

"Greetings, Captain."

"Lord Captain."

Chen Sheng and Wu Kuang hurriedly stepped forward and bowed in greeting.

Nie Yuanliu nodded slightly, casually tossed a still-bleeding cloth bundle onto the ground, and calmly ordered:

"Cut off the left ear of the rebel's corpse as proof of merit. Bury the rest on the spot without leaving any trace. After returning to camp, I, the captain, will reward you for your merits."

With things having come to this point, the ambush had been successfully completed, and Nie Yuanliu naturally could no longer escort them to their new post.

"Thank you, Captain!" the two replied in unison.

After Captain Nie's figure disappeared into the woods, Chen Sheng's face showed a timely expression of realization and lingering fear. He whispered to Wu Kuang, "..."
"My lord, could it be that Captain Nie had already anticipated today's ambush?"

Wu Kuang patted him on the shoulder, his tone tinged with a mixture of complex emotions and感慨:
"You guessed correctly. Captain Nie already knew the intelligence, but he kept it hidden for the sake of secrecy. I originally intended to give you the opportunity to make a name for yourself as the vanguard, but unexpectedly..."

He originally intended to attribute the credit for this battle to Chen Sheng, paving the way for his future promotion. However, Chen Sheng did not volunteer, and Huang Ren, who was eager to show off, took the lead and ultimately lost his life.

Thinking of this, he could only let out a sigh.

"Wasn't the main force of the rebels wiped out long ago?" Chen Sheng pressed on, trying to learn more.

"Easier said than done?"

Wu Kuang shook his head, his expression becoming more serious:

"This rebellion has affected most of Yunzhou and half of Qingzhou. How can it be quelled overnight? The imperial army has only wiped out the bandits who are openly causing trouble. In fact, there are still a large number of Taiping Dao remnants lurking in the waterways, mountains, forests, towns and villages of various prefectures and counties, waiting for an opportunity to strike."

He paused, then lowered his voice even further:
"That's why the higher-ups are drawing elite troops from our war-torn army to serve in local prefectures and counties. They want to use us to strengthen the local areas, suppress and eliminate these hidden dangers, and prevent the sparks from reigniting."

"Peace Road?"

This was the first time Chen Sheng had heard the specific name behind the rebels.

"Exactly."

Wu Kuang nodded, a hint of apprehension flashing in his eyes. "This sect is bewitching and uses treacherous methods. It has been behind almost all the rebellions in recent years. Its ambitions are not small; it intends to stir up trouble throughout the world... Well, it's best not to say more about this matter."

He waved his hand to stop the conversation, and then ordered Chen Sheng to be in charge of cleaning up the battlefield, counting the casualties, and disposing of the corpses and spoils of war.

Chen Sheng was already very familiar with this.

Months of battlefield experience had made him extremely skilled in such matters. Even without the "Good Fortune" prompt, he could instinctively scavenge hidden valuables and money from corpses and remains.

Although most of it had to be handed over, secretly keeping a portion after handling it was enough to replenish his purse, which had shrunk due to buying official positions and bribing officials.

Chen Sheng also personally buried Huang Ren's body.

Chen Sheng felt little remorse for his death. It was within his expectations. Wu Kuang only had two deputy commanders under his command. If it was either him or Huang Ren who would die, then it was better to die than to die himself. In chaotic times, survival is the only way.

However, it was only because Huang Ren died in his place that Chen Sheng escaped this calamity. Chen Sheng stood silently in front of Huang Ren's grave for a moment, and finally poured a jar of turbid wine to express his condolences.

Wu Kuang felt even more sorry for Huang Ren's death. After all, his brother had entrusted him with a serious mission, but in the blink of an eye, they were separated by death. If they met again in the future, it would inevitably be awkward and shameful. But that was all. In chaotic times, life and death were commonplace.

Soon after, Captain Nie quietly left, and before leaving, he seemed to whisper a few words to Wu Kuang.

After taking stock, it was found that the officers and soldiers suffered considerable casualties in this battle.

Including Huang Ren, a total of twelve people died in battle, most of them perished in the first round of sudden arrow rain, and more than ten others were wounded.

Before even reaching his post, his forces had already suffered nearly half their losses, which was undoubtedly a terrible start and greatly delayed the rest of the journey.

Chen Sheng naturally wouldn't waste time. After assigning the miscellaneous tasks of the army, he once again devoted himself to cultivation.

Although he won this battle, it made him realize more deeply the inadequacy of his own strength and the treacherous nature of the world. As chaos gradually rises in the world, only the military power he possesses is his greatest reliance.

[Mastering Basic Knife Techniques (680/1000)]

[Minor Success in Golden Bell Body Forging Method (345/500)] [Introduction to the Secret Technique of Fishing for Toad Strength (84/100)]

Scanning the data that appeared before his eyes, Chen Sheng calmed his mind and continued to hone his skills.

……

In the blink of an eye, seven or eight days had passed since they broke camp and set off, arriving at the territory of Ning'an Prefecture. The journey was slow due to the wounded, but this unexpectedly provided Chen Sheng with a long period of peaceful and undisturbed cultivation time.

With the support of ample Qi and Blood Pills, and after half a month of arduous cultivation, his strength improved once again.

[Mastering Basic Knife Techniques (850/1000)]

[Golden Bell Body Tempering Method, Minor Success (425/500)]

[Introduction to the Secret Techniques of Toad Fishing (95/100)]

The progress in swordsmanship and body forging techniques was remarkably rapid, but the cultivation of the secret technique "Fishing for Toads" was frustratingly slow, with extremely slow progress.

While Chen Sheng focused his main efforts on solidifying his foundation in stance training and practical swordsmanship, the difficulty of his training was evident, which made Chen Sheng miss the feeling of unstoppable progress he had when he refined the "Pure Essence Pill".

Upon arriving in Ning'an Prefecture, Wu Kuang was required by law to first go to the prefectural government office to pay respects to the prefect and the garrison general in charge of Ning'an Prefecture's troops. He ordered Chen Sheng to lead his troops to choose a place outside the city to set up camp and await news.

Wu Kuang did not return to his post until noon the next day, his face solemn and his brows furrowed with deep worry.

Upon seeing this, Chen Sheng immediately stepped forward and asked with concern:
"My lord, have we encountered any trouble on this trip?"

Wu Kuang waved his hand, gesturing for Wu to enter the tent. After sitting down, he let out a long sigh.
"It's not exactly troublesome, but we learned some recent developments in Changshan County from the Prefect and the Garrison General... Alas, it's much more serious than we expected."

He rubbed his temples and continued:

"In Changshan County, three scourges now run rampant: First, bandits are rampant on the Qinglin Waterway, robbing merchants and harassing villages and towns along the river; second, gangs within the city are deeply entrenched and constantly fighting, treating the government offices as nothing; and third, local powerful families have grown strong, annexing land, accumulating private military forces, and almost forming their own independent entities."

The Prefect has clearly ordered me that upon assuming office, I must quickly restore order, eliminate river bandits, and subdue powerful gangs… Although I have been given the authority to act arbitrarily, this…”

He looked worried and kept sighing.

He went to great lengths to pull strings and be transferred back to the rear, not because he really wanted to be a capable minister, but simply to use this lucrative position to amass resources in preparation for breaking through to the Innate Realm. Now, with this heavy burden on his shoulders, he is truly having a headache.

"This...this is simply asking the impossible!"

Chen Sheng chimed in at the opportune moment, speaking up for his superior.

"I thought the situation in Changshan County that you described on the way here was already troublesome enough, but the reality is even worse."

Wu Kuang exhaled a breath of stale air, his gaze gradually becoming sharp and firm. "You grew up in Changshan and are familiar with the local situation. In the future, I will need your careful assistance in many matters."

Even though Changshan County was a den of dragons and tigers, it could not stop his determination to plunder resources and accumulate wealth. He had invested a lot in this position of county magistrate. If he did not make back his investment with interest, wouldn't it be a waste of time?
"Rest assured, my lord! Since I follow you, I will do my utmost to serve you, even at the cost of my life, and clear away all obstacles!" Chen Sheng immediately declared solemnly, his tone resolute.

After some discussion, the team set off again, heading straight for Changshan County, which was more than a hundred miles away.

The following evening, the team finally arrived in Changshan County.

Gazing at the familiar yet unfamiliar outline of the county town, the lingering resentment belonging to the original owner of the body stirred within Chen Sheng's mind once more, with countless fragments of memories surging up amidst complex emotions.

He took a deep breath and silently circulated his inner energy to slowly suppress the palpitation.

However, as they approached the city gate, the expected scene of officials greeting them did not occur.

Only the large number of emaciated and ragged refugees gathered near the city gate, and the few lazy guards looking around on the city wall, formed a desolate and indifferent scene.

"It seems the people in Changshan County are trying to give you a hard time first, sir," Chen Sheng said in a low voice, frowning as he looked at the scene before him.

Wu Kuang's face was ashen, as if he had expected this. He snorted coldly, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes, and gently tugged at the reins, urging his horse forward.

"Enter the city!"

(End of this chapter)