Soon, Zhao Chong ordered the silver in the chest to be distributed to the crowd below, one tael per person.
“My lord, isn’t one tael per person daily a bit much? That’s three thousand taels a day, thirty thousand in ten days, ninety thousand in a month—it’s too much… With current rates, one qian of silver daily would already be generous,” whispered an old family servant, approaching Zhao Chong as the silver was handed out.
My lord, you sold the Hangzhou mansion and ancestral fields just to cover today’s wages. How will you manage the days ahead with this one-tael-a-day promise? Sure, you’ve amassed wealth over the years as magistrate, with other properties and lands in Hangzhou and Shaoxing, but it’s not enough to squander like this. What about future expenses? And all these servants—will you still provide for them?
“Heh, no worries. It’s just for one day,” Zhao Chong said dismissively, waving his hand.
What?
What does the master mean?
What’s this about just one day?!
The old servant froze, his mind short-circuiting. Aren’t we retaking Jiaxing City? I may not know warfare, but even I know sieges aren’t quick. Especially with our three thousand—over half untrained civilians who’ve barely held a weapon. Shouldn’t we train for at least a month first? And a major city like Jiaxing, even at best, would take ten days or half a month to siege. One day—how’s that enough?
“Leave it be. I’ve got everything under control,” Zhao Chong said cryptically, patting the servant’s shoulder with an air of complete mastery.
Uh… why’s the master brimming with this mysterious confidence? Back when he held Jiaxing’s massive walls with thousands of proper soldiers, four hundred pirates took it. Now the roles are reversed—we’re attacking, with a thousand weak garrison troops and two thousand rabble. No matter how you look at it, it’s impossible. How’s he so inexplicably sure of himself?!
The servant’s mind overheated. Fifty years alive, countless experiences, and he still couldn’t fathom it…
Once the silver was distributed, Zhao Chong stood on the platform, radiating zeal, and raised his arm. “Alright, you’ve all received today’s wages. Now, hear my command: the army marches to Jiaxing City! Once there, set up camp, cook, and sleep well to build strength. At dawn tomorrow, we attack! I’ll lead you to crush the pirates, retake Jiaxing, and save its hundreds of thousands of people! I’ll make history, and you’ll make it with me—our names will echo through the ages!”
The crowd, just moments ago delighted with their silver, now dropped their jaws in shock.
What the hell!
Did my ears deceive me? What did I just hear?!
The magistrate’s leading us straight to Jiaxing, and tomorrow morning we’re attacking the pirates to retake it?!
No way! With this ragtag three thousand? A thousand frail garrison soldiers and two thousand civilians who dropped hoes yesterday and picked up weapons today?!
This isn’t retaking Jiaxing—it’s delivering our heads to the pirates!
Make history? More like infamy in some wild tale!
Suddenly, the one-tael silver in their hands felt scalding—not wages, but blood money. Some nearly flung it away.
“My lord, shouldn’t we train for ten days or half a month to learn formations before facing the pirates?”
“My lord, don’t be rash. We need a long-term plan!”
“My lord, think thrice! We’ve heard the pirates in Jiaxing not only recruited nearly ten thousand locals but brought over five thousand elite pirates from their Takubayashi base. That’s fifteen thousand men! We’re only three thousand—eggs against a rock. Please reconsider!”
The crowd pleaded. If you want to die, don’t drag us with you. We don’t want to die!
“No more talk. My mind’s made up. The army moves now. Anyone who defies my orders will be executed without mercy! This is a military command—orders are like mountains, not a game. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!”
Zhao Chong drew his sword with a flourish, slashing the air and shouting at the crowd.
“What?! Now?! The army’s moving already?!”
“We were just gathered, haven’t trained a day, barely touched weapons, and we’re marching?!”
“Are we rushing to reincarnate?”
We’re trapped on this sinking ship, the crowd thought, cursing Zhao Chong ten thousand times over.
“Hmph! What’s there to fear? If I’m not afraid, why should you be? Isn’t my life worth a hundred of yours? Listen well: from now on, whether marching or attacking, I’ll lead the charge, first into battle! Follow my steps, and you’ll be fine!”
“If I don’t lead the charge, you’re free to ignore my orders, even retreat or flee!”
“But mark my words: as long as I lead, you must follow me into battle. Anyone who retreats or hesitates, no matter who, will be executed without mercy!”
Standing on the platform, Zhao Chong roared with a death-defying zeal, vowing to lead the charge and demanding all follow—or face death.
Follow your steps?!
What the hell!
You want us to die with you?!
The crowd silently cursed Zhao Chong’s entire family ten thousand times, each curse unique.
“We are the army of justice; the pirates are evil. With heaven and the emperor above, justice will prevail!”
Clad in righteousness, Zhao Chong drew his sword, shouted, dismounted the platform, and leapt onto his horse, leading the march.
“Enforcement team! Anyone who doesn’t follow my steps—execute without mercy!” he ordered from horseback.
His hundred pirate guards, appointed as his personal enforcers, were his confidence in controlling this rabble army.
“No advance, kill!”
“Kill, kill, kill!”
The pirate enforcers drew their blades, shouting murderously.
“Can’t fight them, can’t fight them. Let’s move for now. Didn’t the magistrate say he’ll lead the charge all the way? If he’s not at the front, we can retreat or even flee!”
“Yeah, we’ll go. I don’t believe he’ll be at the front during the siege. If he’s not, we slip away.”
“Fine.”
The crowd yielded.
