dognovel Chapter 258 Li Gang's Righteous Army Invades Liyuan Township
Chapter 258 Li Gang's Righteous Army Invades Liyuan Township
As Li Zhen implemented his reforms to the Li Family Army, nearly half of the soldiers were transferred away from front-line combat units. They joined the local security forces that the local authorities were forming, which Li Zhen named "Armed Police."
The courtyard of the Neihuang County government office, though deep and secluded, was now teeming with people, filled to the brim by a group of newly arrived soldiers. Among them, some bore the marks of old wounds on their shoulders, the imprints of countless battles fought in the past; others had the etched lines of time on their faces, testifying to the passage of years and the vicissitudes of combat. These soldiers, from all corners of the front lines, had now been gathered here by a single transfer order, their hearts inevitably filled with mixed emotions.
The spring breeze of reform should have brought new hope, but instead it stirred up ripples of discontent in their hearts. Already harboring grievances, their meeting in this small place seemed like a deliberate arrangement of fate, allowing their long-suppressed resentment and discontent to spread rapidly like dry tinder meeting a spark, filling the entire county government office with an indescribable sense of oppression and gloom.
An elderly, lame veteran, leaning on a cane, trudged along, each step heavy. Sunlight dappled his weathered face, highlighting the deep lines of time. Just as he was carefully moving forward, his foot unexpectedly tripped over a long spear lying across the road, causing him to lose his balance and fall heavily to the ground.
Struggling to his feet, the veteran glared angrily and roared at his surroundings, "Which bastard left his rifle lying around like that? Couldn't he at least tidy up a bit? He caused this old man to suffer a great loss!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a rough voice came from the side, tinged with impatience and contempt: "Hey, you old codger, don't you have eyes? There's such a big spear right in front of you, can't you see it? I've left it here for ages and nobody's said a word, so why are you making such a fuss as soon as you arrive?"
Upon hearing this, the veteran's anger flared even more, his beard trembling slightly with rage: "You fucking talk so easily! Which battalion's brat are you, daring to speak to me like that?"
Before the words were even finished, the two were already exchanging blows. Seeing this, nearby soldiers who recognized them rushed forward to separate the two enraged comrades. However, in the midst of the chaotic tug-of-war, someone's unintentional push instantly escalated the duel between the two into a chaotic brawl.
Just as the number of people involved in the fight surged like a tidal wave and the situation was almost out of control, a crisp gunshot suddenly rang out from deep within the courtyard of the county government office, shattering the surrounding clamor.
Du Jie, holding a pistol still emitting wisps of smoke, stood before the crowd, his face ashen, and roared furiously at the chaotic group of soldiers: "What are you doing? Do you have any semblance of military bearing?"
The previously noisy and chaotic group of soldiers miraculously fell silent at Du Jie's command. With perfect control, he led the soldiers to quickly divide into two lines and gather in an orderly fashion before the clerk, ready to register and categorize the personnel.
As the clerk meticulously recorded each soldier's information with a light, deft stroke of his pen, the atmosphere grew increasingly solemn and focused. Once the last stroke was finished and the information was complete, Du Jie whispered to the guard, carefully planning the assignment of duties to each soldier based on their individual circumstances.
Those warriors who were physically strong and quick-witted were directly selected into the security force, where they would become the impregnable wall protecting the city; while those soldiers who were slightly injured or a little older were carefully assigned to positions such as warehouse guards or checkpoint guards, playing an indispensable role in ensuring that every detail was impregnable.
This arrangement not only demonstrated Du Jie's wisdom and fairness, but also reflected respect for and effective use of each soldier's abilities, allowing the entire team to radiate new vitality and order in a well-organized manner.
Just as Li Gang's army was vigorously pushing forward with its military reforms, Liyuan Township in the southeastern corner of Puyang quietly fell victim to the iron heel of Li Gang's rebel army. This once peaceful town was now dragged into a battlefield of carnage. Figures dressed in rebel uniforms moved about on both sides of the streets, flames and screams intertwined, and horrific scenes, accompanied by billowing black smoke, spread for miles around in an instant.
Qian Dazhuang, who was in the heart of Puyang City, strictly supervising the training of his soldiers, suddenly heard an urgent report and his expression turned serious.
"Where is the reconnaissance battalion? How many rebels are there?" he asked in a deep voice, his eyes piercing.
The soldiers from the reconnaissance battalion hurried forward, not daring to slacken their efforts in the slightest: "Reporting to the commander, according to our intelligence gathering, the number of rebels is approximately over a thousand." After they finished speaking, the air seemed to tighten as they awaited the next instructions.
As Qian Dazhuang listened to the reconnaissance battalion's detailed report, his brows furrowed. After a moment of contemplation, his voice was steady and powerful, piercing through the commotion inside the tent.
"Issue my order: the cavalry battalion must immediately prepare for battle and, with overwhelming force, completely crush these rebel armies harassing the countryside, and rescue the innocent people of Liyuan Township from their suffering."
The order was given like a landslide. In an instant, dust billowed outside the south gate of Puyang. A well-equipped cavalry battalion, like wild horses, charged out of the city gate with unstoppable force. The sound of their hooves and their fighting spirit mingled as they galloped toward Liyuan Township, determined to write a chapter of victory on this land.
Meanwhile, the west gate of Puyang quietly opened, and a communications soldier mounted his horse with agile movements. He carried a battle report handwritten by Qian Dazhuang, detailing the urgency and importance of the operation. The soldier knew that such a large-scale military mobilization needed to be communicated to General Yue Peng, far away, immediately to ensure flawless coordination and deployment. So, he spurred his horse, transforming into a swift gust of wind, galloping westward, carrying the urgency of the battle and the general's decisive actions to the distance.
In less than a quarter of an hour, Li Gang's iron cavalry had already trampled into the dust of Liyuan Township. The sabers at their waists gleamed coldly in the sunlight as they reaped the lives of the villains in Li Gang's rebel army one by one.
A militia soldier, his face filled with terror, stumbled into the courtyard where their leader was hiding, his voice trembling with fear: "Brother, something terrible has happened! The Li family army, they're attacking!"
The leader was on top of a young woman's body, indulging in primal desires. Upon hearing this, his movements froze instantly, his fervor replaced by terror. Unwilling to give up, he groped aimlessly at the woman's voluptuous curves, as if trying to grasp something, but could only helplessly let go.
He slowly rose, carefully put on his clothes, and looked at the naked woman with tenderness in his eyes. His voice was low and gentle: "Young lady, please wait here for a while. I have some business to attend to, and I will return to keep you company in the evening."
Having said that, he gently opened the door and stepped into the outer room, immediately hearing the hurried reports from his soldiers. Upon hearing the words "Li Family Army," a calm smile appeared on his lips, and his tone was peaceful and confident: "The Li Family Army and we are brothers, comrades-in-arms, united in our cause to resist the Jin. There must be some misunderstanding this time. I will go and talk to them face to face to clarify everything."