Empire

Zhou Ba, the leader of Erlongshan, was fighting with Zhang Bao, trying to buy time for the old, weak, women and children in the village to escape.

But who would have thought that just when he was secretly happy that his plan had succeeded, all the old, weak, women and children who escaped from the back mountain were caught by the Qinghe Army.

When Zhou Ba saw the Qinghe Army appearing with a large number of old, weak, women and children in custody, his face changed drastically.

Zhang Bao took advantage of Zhou Ba's inattention and kicked him over with a sharp blade on his neck.

Those elite bandits who were raiding for Zhou Ba saw their leader being defeated, and they all wanted to come forward with blades in their hands to rescue him.

""Your family members are in our hands, who dares to move?" Zhang Bao said coldly.

When the bandits holding sharp blades heard this, they immediately became afraid to use their weapons and stood still, unable to move forward or backward.

"I am willing to accept the loss. You can kill me or chop me up as you wish. Please don't hurt the innocent old, weak, women and children."

Zhou Ba felt the cold blade on his neck, and his face was full of dejection, like a deflated ball.

"You just said that if I defeat you, you will surrender, remember?" Zhang Bao said with a smile.

"Remember"

"In this case, I hope you won't go back on your word." Zhang Bao reminded them.

For those who have become bandits, what matters is loyalty and generosity. This is their last dignity, so they must protect it.

"I am willing to surrender!"

Although he was extremely unwilling, Zhou Ba had to lower his proud head.

Seeing that the big boss had surrendered and his family was in the hands of the Qinghe Army, the bandits under his command had to throw away their weapons and surrender.

Soon, the Qinghe Army commanded by Chen Ziang occupied Erlongshan Village and found a large amount of food and grass stored there, which solved their urgent needs.

"With these grains and grass, we can go back and report."

Zhang Bao was so happy to see the mountains of grains and grass in Erlong Mountain Stronghold.

They had been out for several days, and most of the villages and towns along the way were empty, so they couldn't collect any grain at all. They were worried about how to report back.

Now they took Erlong Mountain Stronghold without any effort and seized a large amount of grains and grass here, which can be said to be a pleasant surprise.

Chen Ziang was also happy to see the mountains of grains and grass. After all, if these grains and grass were transported back, they would be enough for the army to eat for ten days and a half.

"This Erlongshan is really not simple. Other bandits eat a lot of meat and drink a lot of wine, but they often can't save any money or food."

"But Erlongshan can store so much food and grass, and I see that they are all strong and brave. The leader of Erlongzi is also an ambitious man. If given time, he will definitely become a big threat to my Qinghe Army."

After walking around the Erlongshan stronghold, Chen Ziang sighed. This Erlongshan does not look like a bandit nest, but rather like a small and elite army.

It's just that Erlongshan is unlucky. Before it can develop, they were wiped out by the Qinghe Army.

"Sir, do you want to kill them all?"

When Zhang Bao heard that Erlongshan was a big threat to the Qinghe Army, a murderous look appeared on his face, and he made a gesture of wiping his neck.

"Don't just fight and kill. If we hadn't discovered that they were secretly growing stronger, they would be a threat to our Qinghe Army. But now they have become our prisoners. What are you afraid of?"Chen Ziang said with a smile

"Go and call their leader and that military advisor over to me. I want to talk to them in person."

""Yes!"

Soon, the dejected Zhou Ba and military advisor Li Qiye were detained in the hall of Erlong Village.

"What's going on? Why are you tied up? Quickly untie the two warriors.

Seeing the two people tied up, Chen Ziang winked at Li Changqing, one of the hundred personal soldiers.

Li Changqing didn't know what Chen Ziang was up to, so he hurried forward to untie Zhou Ba and Li Qiye.

"Changqing, go get some wine and food. I want to drink with the two warriors."

After inviting Zhou Ba and the others to sit down, Chen Ziang ordered them to make some wine and food.

Zhou Ba and Li Qiye looked at each other in bewilderment. They were prisoners now, but Chen Ziang not only did not kill them, but treated them with courtesy. This made them a little difficult to adapt.

"We are just bandits who have become bandits. It is our bad luck that we have fallen into the hands of the general today. You can kill us or chop us up as you wish. I just beg you to spare the old, weak, women and children in the village."Li Qiye stared at Chen Ziang and said lightly

"Although you two are living in a remote corner, you are both heroes. I, Chen Ziang, have always been a person who loves talents. How could I kill them all?"

"What does the general mean?"

"I think both of you care about the people, otherwise you wouldn't have repeatedly asked me to spare the elderly, the weak, women and children."

"However, the two of you have a narrow vision. You only want to save the people of Erlong Mountain from the suffering of war, but you don't see that there are countless people in the world who are struggling in dire straits."

"Although I, Chen Ziang, am not a man of great talent, I know how to cherish the common people. If I am lucky enough to get your help, I will definitely bring peace and prosperity to the common people of the world." Chen Ziang said with great pride.

Zhou Ba and Li Qiye looked at each other after hearing what Chen Ziang said, because from Chen Ziang's words, they heard the ambition to conquer the world.

"The general is just a battalion commander in the Qinghe Army. It is probably too early to say this."

Li Qiye almost led his men to join the Qinghe Army, so he had studied the Qinghe Army carefully. Seeing Chen Ziang, a small battalion commander, speak so arrogantly, he smiled.

"Indeed, I am just a small battalion commander in the Qinghe Army, weak and insignificant. However, the founding emperor of the Far East Dynasty also rose from the grassroots, but who could have expected that he could establish such a huge dynasty?"

"We have no morals or talents. We just want to live in a corner and let our family live a stable life. I am afraid that we will disappoint the general."Li Qiye said calmly.

"When the nest is overturned, all the eggs will be broken. Now the whole Far East Dynasty is in turmoil, and various rebel armies are fighting endlessly. Even if I let you go today, there is no guarantee that other rebel armies will not come to trouble you in the future."

"With only a few hundred of you, even if you have stored countless food and grass, once you are discovered, you will inevitably end up with the destruction of your camp and the death of your people."

After hearing Chen Ziang's words, Li Qiye and Zhou Ba also looked particularly solemn, because Chen Ziang's words hit the nail on the head and touched their pain points.

Li Qiye said worriedly:"But if we put them into your Qinghe Army, wouldn't we die faster if we are big trees attract winds?"

"It is true that a big tree attracts the wind, but it is also possible to enjoy the shade under a big tree."

"In these chaotic times, simply running away is not the best strategy. We can only make ourselves stronger, so strong that no one dares to provoke us, so that we can survive to the end and live a better life."

"Therefore, I, Chen Ziang, implore you two to join my Qinghe Army and work together for the great cause.

"What if we don't agree?" Zhou Ba couldn't help asking

"���Give you two one night to think about it."

Chen Ziang did not answer directly. He stood up and strode out the door.