novelSusiti Chapter 43 Someone Offers a Pillow When You're Sleepy
Chapter 43 Someone Offers a Pillow When You're Sleepy
Li Zhao was worried that things had been too peaceful lately, and he had nowhere to establish his authority.
Isn't that what happens when someone comes knocking on your door?
"Pass on the order!"
Li Zhao put down his teacup and stood up.
"I order Taishi Ci to lead three thousand Shenji Battalion soldiers to accompany me to Black Wind Pass."
"in addition……"
A sly glint flashed in Li Zhao's eyes.
"Notify logistics to prepare meat buns for 30,000 people. They should have thin skins, generous fillings, and be juicy."
"I'm going to deliver a generous gift to that Master Wu."
……
One day later, at Blackwind Pass.
Three thousand Shenji Battalion soldiers, clad in leather armor and carrying repeating crossbows, arrived below the fortified village under Li Zhao's command.
Their ranks were orderly, and they exuded a murderous aura.
Although their numbers were small, the aura of an elite force made Wu Ba and his men on the wall feel uneasy.
"Master...Master, those are regular government troops!"
One of the henchmen swallowed hard and said in a low voice.
"What are you afraid of!" Wu Baqiang tried to remain calm and slapped the henchman on the head.
"They outnumber us! We have fortified villages! What are we afraid of!"
"Besides, what's that weird thing they're carrying? A fire poker? Hahahaha!"
Wu Ba pointed at the Qingzhou repeating crossbows in the hands of the Shenji Battalion soldiers and mocked them vehemently.
He had never seen this new type of weapon before and thought it was just some fancy device that Li Zhao had come up with.
Li Zhao, mounted on his horse, looked up at Wu Ba, who was baring his teeth and brandishing his claws on the wall, as if he were looking at a clown.
He did not order an attack on the city.
He didn't even have his soldiers form an attack formation.
"Bury the pot and cook the meal."
Li Zhao gave the order in a calm tone.
"promise!"
Under the dumbfounded gazes of Wu Ba and the others, the three thousand soldiers of the Divine Machine Battalion actually began to...steam buns on the open ground below the fortified village!
Hundreds of large steamers were set up.
A roaring fire was burning below.
Soon after, white steam rose into the air.
An incredibly rich aroma of meat instantly filled the entire Blackwind Pass.
That's the smell of pure meat filling buns!
It is made with high-quality pork, along with scallions, ginger, and other seasonings, and the filling is carefully prepared!
The fragrance, carried by the wind, kept creeping up the wall.
"Gurgle..."
The henchmen on the wall all roared in unison from their stomachs.
Although they followed Wu Ba, they often went hungry.
Especially those newly hired migrant laborers hadn't had a proper meal in days.
At this moment, smelling this irresistible fragrance, everyone's eyes turned green with envy.
Saliva flowed down like a waterfall.
Wu Ba himself couldn't help but swallow.
He forced a smile and cursed, "You spineless coward! It's just a few lousy buns! When General Yuan arrives, we'll be eating and drinking the finest food every day!"
However, his words were not convincing at all at this point.
Where is General Yuan?
The meat buns in front of me are the real deal!
The steamer lid is open.
One by one, plump, steaming hot meat buns were presented to everyone.
The soldiers of the Shenji Battalion began distributing steamed buns.
They deliberately ate loudly, their mouths oozing oil with every bite.
"It smells so good!"
"This filling is really generous!"
"Following the magistrate is great; we get to eat meat buns every day!"
They ate and talked loudly, their voices carrying clearly to the top of the wall.
This is simply the cruelest punishment in the world!
The henchmen on the wall are going crazy.
They stared intently at the soldiers below, their mouths greasy with food, wishing they could jump down and snatch one.
Finally, one of the displaced laborers could no longer hold back.
He threw down his spear and rushed toward the rope ladder against the wall, crying out in pain.
"I quit! I want to eat steamed buns!"
"I want to eat steamed buns too!"
"Waaaaah, I'm starving!"
With someone taking the lead, the remaining refugees and able-bodied men instantly erupted in chaos.
More than a thousand people rushed toward the rope ladder like madmen, scrambling to climb down the fortified village.
Wu Ba panicked.
"Come back! All of you, come back here! Anyone who dares to run, I'll chop him up!"
He brandished his broadsword and cut down two strong men in succession.
But this was of no use.
Faced with hunger, the threat of death becomes insignificant.
Even his five hundred core henchmen were now wavering.
They watched as Wu Ba slaughtered his comrades, a ruthless glint in their eyes.
Since we're going to die anyway, we might as well take a gamble and go down there for a good meal!
Suddenly, someone shouted, "Brothers! That scoundrel Wu Ba won't let us live! Let's rebel!"
"That's outrageous!"
"Tie down Wu Ba! Offer him to Magistrate Li in exchange for steamed buns!"
In an instant, chaos erupted on the wall.
The henchmen turned their blades and pounced on Wu Ba.
Although Wu Ba was skilled in martial arts, he was no match for the sheer number of people.
In no time, he was knocked to the ground and tied up.
"Stop fighting! Stop fighting! I surrender! I surrender!"
Wu Ba was bruised and swollen, crying and begging for mercy.
But nobody paid him any attention.
The gates of the fortified village were opened.
More than 1,500 guards, escorting Wu Ba, charged out like hungry wolves.
Instead of rushing towards Li Zhao, they headed straight for the hundreds of large steamers.
Li Zhao sat on his horse, quietly watching this scene.
He didn't even move a finger.
A seemingly difficult battle was resolved with just 30,000 meat buns.
"Your Excellency's calculations are divine! I am utterly impressed and bow down in admiration!"
Taishi Ci praised sincerely from the side.
This is the true meaning of subduing the enemy without fighting!
Li Zhao smiled.
"Ziyi, you must remember this."
"There's nothing in this world that a good meal can't solve."
"If so, then two meals."
He waved.
"Let someone give them steamed buns. Once they've eaten, we still need to continue repairing the road."
"As for that Wu Ba..."
Li Zhao glanced at Wu Ba, who was thrown to the ground like a dead dog, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
"Hang him up at Black Wind Pass for three days as a public display."
"Let everyone see what happens to those who block my Qingzhou Road."
The Qingzhou Straight Road continues to extend forward.
No one dared to stop them anymore.
Ye City, the General's Mansion.
"Snapped!"
Yuan Shao smashed another precious jade cup.
He's been throwing things more and more often lately.
There was nothing he could do; the news coming from Qingzhou was more and more upsetting than the last.
"What? Xinpi has been sent back?"
"What? That good-for-nothing Wu Ba was taken care of by Li Zhao with just tens of thousands of meat buns?"
"What? Li Zhao is building a highway straight to Linzi? And he's stockpiling large quantities of weapons?"
Every piece of news was stimulating Yuan Shao's sensitive nerves.
He felt his authority being trampled on by Li Zhao.
Especially the news that Xinpi brought back—Qingzhou had a bumper harvest, with five million shi of grain stored up!
This number was like a mountain, pressing down on Yuan Shao and making it hard for him to breathe.
Although Jizhou was a large province, its treasury was already empty due to years of war and last year's drought.
In order to maintain his massive army, he has now had to increase taxes, which has caused widespread public resentment.
And what about Li Zhao?
Not only are they rolling in money, but they also use grain to feed horses and distribute meat buns!
This is simply the biggest mockery of him, a great general!
"We can't wait any longer!"
Yuan Shao, his eyes bloodshot, roared as he opened his mouth:
"If Li Zhao continues to expand his influence, who will be in charge of this land of Hebei—him or me?!"
"But my lord, the Black Mountain bandits have not yet been quelled, and our main force is tied down, so we are truly unable to march south."
Guo Tu cautiously offered his advice.