Free Web NovelChapter 552: Chapter 552: Rising Fame
As the sun set in the west, a long trade caravan appeared on the official road outside West Plain City.
This caravan came from the direction of the Western Regions, with tall double-humped camels carrying large parcels of goods, and hundreds of elite Samurai guarding them from front to back, accompanied by several four-wheeled carriages.
A few hundred steps away from the city gate, the caravan suddenly stopped moving. The leading Western Samurai shouted loudly, trying hard to control the restless, anxious mounts.
The shouts and the screeches of the horses were intertwined, disturbing the people sitting in the carriage compartments.
A robust man with a hooked beard wearing a brocade robe opened the window and stuck his head out, a puzzled look in his emerald green eyes.
He said in a deep voice, "Ah Buli, go and check out what’s going on."
A young Samurai, who had been following beside the carriage, immediately spurred his horse forward.
After a short while, the young Samurai returned and reported to the man with a hooked beard, "Master, there is a Capital View stacked at West Plain City’s gate. The air of evil qi is somewhat heavy, startled a few horses. It’s fine now."
"Capital View?"
This term was evidently somewhat unfamiliar to the man with the hooked beard, rendering him even more puzzled.
Luckily, a veiled young lady in the same compartment knew and quietly explained a few words.
The man with the hooked beard suddenly understood.
He thoughtfully stroked his large beard and said, "Having not come for a year, changes have occurred in West Plain City."
Though setbacks occurred, they did not hinder the caravan from entering the city smoothly before nightfall.
And as the carriage passed by the city gate, the man with the hooked beard intentionally opened the window again to observe.
Then he saw a mountain of human heads stacked at the roadside!
In ancient times, to flaunt martial prowess, enemy corpses were gathered, the soil sealed to form high mounds, called Capital Views.
However, centuries ago, such practices altered, no longer heaping corpses and sealing soil, but instead stacking human heads smeared with lime, likewise showcasing military strength and intimidating enemies.
The Capital View constructed at West Plain City’s gate had at least thousands of human heads. These heads, after anti-corrosion treatment and exposure, shrank, becoming frightfully hideous, the emanating evil qi truly chilling to the heart.
The horses getting startled is quite natural!
Even a man famous for valor like the one with the hooked beard involuntarily twitched his eyelids upon witnessing this scene.
After the caravan settled at the post house in the city, he immediately summoned the Posthouse Chief to inquire about the situation.
Those large caravans that frequently traveled between West Plain City and Daqian would build post houses or trade depots inside or outside the city as bases and trading points. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
Over time, there have been dozens of large and small post houses and trade depots in and outside West Plain City.
These post houses and trade depots have immensely prospered West Plain City and brought considerable taxes to Dao City.
Due to considerable interests, these caravans have intricate connections with local dignitaries, making their information quite fluent.
Thus, the Posthouse Chief revealed the major events that happened recently in West Plain City to the man with the hooked beard in verbatim.
Listening to the account, the man with the hooked beard’s expression gradually turned solemn.
About a month ago, West Plain Dao Camp appointed a new Dao General.
This Dao General, named Zhang Yuan, was exceptionally capable. Despite his youth, his tactics were formidable. Not only did he quickly retrain the half-crippled Dao Camp to completeness, he continuously led troops out to eliminate bandits.
Within the past month, West Plain Dao Camp frequently struck out, sweeping bandits and marauders within three hundred miles of West Plain City, conquering mountain strongholds large and small, numbering twelve in total, capturing countless treasures.
Moreover, this young Dao General ordered the stacking of Capital View at the city gate.
It was the very scene the man with the hooked beard saw earlier!
The Posthouse Chief nervously glanced around and whispered, "Master, it’s said that this Capital View was erected by Zhang Yuan, Dao General Zhang, to show the Daoist Official Fei Hongming!"
"Hmm?"
The man with the hooked beard immediately perked up: "Tell me more."
He actually despised the sneaky behavior of others, clearly talking on his own turf, but still acting so surreptitiously.
But this Posthouse Chief wasn’t from the Western Regions; he’s a local of West Plain City and had been promoted from the bottom level.
Though born in the marketplace, this person was adept at dealing with various individuals and had extensive connections in the city, managing the post house efficiently, to say nothing of aiding his business immensely.
Thus, the man with the hooked beard somewhat trusted him.
The Posthouse Chief then recounted the feud between Zhang Yuan and Fei Hongming in detail.
In reality, this matter was already an open secret within West Plain City. People dared not openly discuss it, but there were countless rumors privately, spawning various speculations.
The Posthouse Chief had his own informational channels and was basically accurate in his knowledge.
After listening, the man with the hooked beard vigorously tugged a few strands of his beard, exclaiming in shock, "Are you saying that to this point, the Daoist Government Office has still not allocated military funds to the Dao Camp?"
"This is absolutely true!"
The Posthouse Chief almost swore an oath on the spot, explaining, "Initially, Fei Hongming wanted to show Zhang Yuan a downbeat but Zhang Yuan ignored such tricks, acquiring assistance from the Mo Family in Upper Scenic Celestial to fill the ranks of the Dao Camp, then went out to suppress bandits, train troops, and gather wealth."
"It is said by quelling bandits and robbers, Zhang Yuan has already amassed millions of taels of silver, not needing those military funds!"
"Everyone says this Dao General has never gone to the Daoist Government Office, just waiting to see Fei Hongming make a fool of himself."
The man with the hooked beard was speechless.
After a while, he genuinely sighed, "In saying this, this Zhang Yuan, Dao General Zhang, truly is an extraordinary person!"
"Indeed."
The Posthouse Chief vigorously nodded: "Currently, West Plain Dao Camp is his solo empire, even Deputy General Feng Hui has long crossed over, severing the back road to the Daoist Government Office."
"Fei Hongming is completely helpless against Zhang Yuan and sooner or later will have to allocate military funds over."
The Daoist Government Office cannot hold the Dao Camp; the military funds cannot be continuously postponed. No matter how strong the rationale, given a few months’ delay, Zhang Yuan’s formal complaint to the Sect would be disastrous for Fei Hongming.
Know that Zhang Yuan has the Mo Family as a backing and doesn’t need to fear the latter’s connections in Upper Scenic Celestial.
Hence, anyone with a bit of sense knows that Fei Hongming delaying the allocation of military funds not only holds no substantive significance but also places himself in a troublesome position.
Moreover, it shows a lack of strategic breadth and generosity!
"Fei Hongming is not an average person; there must be a backup plan."
The man with the hooked beard pondered, "But their feud doesn’t concern us; we just need to stay neutral."
"Master."
The Posthouse Chief hesitated and said, "There’s one more thing, Zhang Yuan recently released news that he plans to publicly auction the seized loot at the start of next month. Should we participate?"
The man with the hooked beard was momentarily stunned.
