Chapter 29: You’re Saying This Lord Isn’t a Wise Lord?
A City Establishment Token?
Not bad.
I thought this lord’s luck wouldn’t hold out this time, but who would have guessed a token actually dropped?
Not bad at all.
Xiao Wen muttered to himself for a while as he held the City Establishment Token in his hand. Looking toward Lu Cheng, a trace of satisfaction appeared on his face.
“I’ll take it. Go arrange these refugees, then return to the territory with me,” Xiao Wen said to Lu Cheng.
“Yes, my lord.”
Lu Cheng cupped his fists and replied. He glanced at the token in Xiao Wen’s hand before turning around to settle the refugees.
Ding! Congratulations to player Half-Journey Through the Mortal World for successfully completing the Attacking Fortified Strongholds mission. Rewards obtained: City Establishment Token (distributed), one second-rank strategist (recruited), Black Fiend Stronghold treasury map and key (sent to inventory).
A series of notifications rang out beside Xiao Wen’s ears.
Just as he was about to leave, his eyes narrowed and a smile immediately appeared on his face when he heard the notifications.
He silently took out the map and key from his inventory.
Then he summoned Ma Chao, instructed him to handle some miscellaneous matters, and had him accompany him to the front mountain in search of treasure.
The two arrived together and discovered a hidden mechanism beneath the bed in the stronghold chief’s room, a place that had already been searched several times.
There were two movable stone slabs.
Once they were shifted aside, a deep passageway appeared.
The tunnel stretched downward all the way to the bottom.
Following the passage, the two eventually arrived before a massive stone gate.
Two characters were engraved on it.
Treasure.
Vault.
A large lock hung in the middle, and the keyhole matched the key in Xiao Wen’s hand perfectly.
The gate was opened.
And then...
They saw some grain, iron ore, and a small amount of treasure.
Silently, Xiao Wen stuffed everything into his inventory while listening to the notifications echoing in his ears.
Then he fell silent.
Ding! Congratulations to player Half-Journey Through the Mortal World for obtaining 5,000 units of grain.
Ding! Congratulations to player Half-Journey Through the Mortal World for obtaining 500 units of refined iron.
Ding! Congratulations to player Half-Journey Through the Mortal World for obtaining 10,000 taels of silver.
Ding! Congratulations to player Half-Journey Through the Mortal World for obtaining one Watchtower Blueprint.
...
The notifications continued to ring out.
But Xiao Wen barely paid attention to them.
In fact, he felt somewhat disgusted.
And you call this a treasury?
These bandits are way too poor!
Only the Watchtower Blueprint provided a tiny bit of consolation.
Damn it!
These bandits definitely couldn’t read. They clearly misunderstood the meaning of the word “treasury.”
Xiao Wen cursed inwardly while leaving the vault alongside Ma Chao, completely disappointed.
Soon afterward, a soldier delivered the casualty report from the battle.
Among the White Dragon Cavalry, thirty-six suffered light injuries, three suffered severe injuries, and none were killed.
Among the other soldiers, one hundred and eight were killed, four hundred and ninety-two survived, twenty-seven suffered severe injuries, and three hundred and twenty-four suffered light injuries.
After hearing the report, Xiao Wen nodded.
He did not find the losses unacceptable.
Although the casualties exceeded his expectations somewhat, they were still within a reasonable range.
After all, Lu Cheng’s final desperate resistance had caused him considerable trouble.
Fortunately, Lu Cheng had ultimately been recruited, making up for the losses to some extent.
The battle losses were acceptable.
More importantly, every White Dragon Cavalry soldier had reached Level 10 during this battle, greatly increasing their combat power.
That was what Xiao Wen truly valued.
Stretching lazily, Xiao Wen led his forces away from Black Fiend Stronghold and burned the entire place to the ground.
As the flames engulfed Black Fiend Stronghold, many of the refugees following behind Lu Cheng began to cry.
Tears silently streamed down their faces.
Yet smiles appeared on their lips.
They were tears of overwhelming joy.
Tears of finally being freed.
They had been enslaved by Black Fiend Stronghold for so long that every day had felt like a nightmare.
Now, that nightmare would disappear within the flames.
And they would welcome a new life.
After returning to the territory, Xiao Wen sent Ma Chao to arrange housing for the refugees.
Just as he was preparing to log off, rest, and plan his next move, a soldier came running over.
“My lord, while you were away, a gentleman arrived in the territory. He appears quite talented and wishes to meet you.”
A gentleman?
Xiao Wen raised an eyebrow in surprise.
He silently opened the territory construction interface and noticed a notification attached to the Altar of State.
He had been busy fighting earlier and had overlooked it.
Only now, after the soldier’s reminder, did he notice it.
Opening the notification, a crisp system prompt immediately sounded.
Ding! Special refugee refresh triggered by the Altar of State. Fourth-rank strategist Zhang Song has come to visit.
The notification rang out beside Xiao Wen’s ears.
His spirit instantly lifted, and his eyes shone brightly.
A fourth-rank strategist?
Zhang Song?
Although he was not one of history’s greatest strategists, he was still an excellent talent among strategists.
Moreover, he excelled at coordinating territorial development.
If he could be recruited, it would be an enormous profit.
At the very least, this lord would no longer need to worry about internal administration.
Thinking this, Xiao Wen immediately ordered the soldier to lead the way and hurried over to greet Zhang Song.
When Xiao Wen finally found him, Zhang Song was strolling through the territory.
Though the territory was not large, it possessed everything it needed.
Most importantly, smiles of happiness could be seen on the faces of the surrounding citizens.
It was obvious that the people here were living quite well.
As he observed, Zhang Song nodded repeatedly, seemingly very satisfied with the territory’s current state.
When Xiao Wen approached under the soldier’s guidance, the sound of his footsteps apparently alerted Zhang Song.
The latter quickly turned around.
His gaze landed on Xiao Wen, and a trace of surprise flashed through his eyes.
He immediately cupped his fists and bowed.
“This commoner, Zhang Song, greets my lord.”
Xiao Wen nodded.
His gaze fell upon Zhang Song.
The man was short in stature and appeared to be in his early twenties.
Xiao Wen opened his status panel and examined it.
Strategist: Zhang Song
Gender: Male
Rank: Strategist of an Era (Fourth Rank)
Level: 17
Specialization: Internal Affairs, Military Affairs
Talent Attributes: 116/40
Faction: None
Personality: Unrestrained, Arrogant, Ambitious
A string of information appeared before Xiao Wen.
A look of delight immediately surfaced on his face.
Zhang Song!
This was exactly the kind of talent he desperately lacked.
If he could recruit him, it would be an enormous blessing.
If he couldn’t recruit him...
Then it would be better to kill him.
“Sir, there is no need for such courtesy. May I ask why you have come?” Xiao Wen asked.
“I travel the world in search of a wise lord,” Zhang Song replied with a respectful bow.
Xiao Wen burst into laughter.
“So you came looking for me! In that case, come in quickly. I shall prepare a banquet to welcome you.”
“No, my lord, I...” Zhang Song’s expression changed as he hurriedly tried to explain.
Before he could finish, however, Xiao Wen raised his hand.
The Python-Head Moon-Sundering Spear appeared.
The spear shaft pressed directly onto Zhang Song’s shoulder.
“What do you mean by that, Mister Zhang? Are you saying you didn’t come looking for me?”
“Or are you saying that I’m not a wise lord?”
“This lord isn’t worthy of the words ‘wise lord’?”
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