Chapter 981 - 246: Chen Jie: Am I the Garrison Commander Now?

The reason he is determined to eliminate the local guild is first to uproot the indigenous forces with the help of the court, and second to cleanse the forces behind these local powers, such as the many Hundred Households who are colluding with them.

Only by capturing all these Hundred Households can Chen Jie take the opportunity to replace the army entirely with his own men, then promote some usable people.

Therefore, these local guilds must be cleared, Chen Jie spoke: "Hmm, what Huo Bima said is very correct, but you overlooked one point, if we want to burn the enemy’s grain in one fell swoop, we must have enough assurance, and to have this assurance, we must first wear down the enemy, letting them think we’ve exhausted our methods and can only defend to the death, so they will lower their guard."

"Only then can we succeed in burning their grain, but to achieve this wear-down strategy, it requires time, so we must first engage them in mutual attacks, stay entwined on the front lines for ten days to half a month, to achieve the effect of wearing them down."

"Only then can we catch them off guard and achieve victory, and in this process, we will consume a lot of grain, which we clearly don’t have enough of, so we can only sacrifice the local guilds."

Chen Jie’s explanation was well-founded, leaving no flaws, everything articulated logically, so everyone pondered for a long time before Elder Turtle made the decision.

"Local guilds, wipe them out!"

Wang Baobao said: "Wipe them out!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Jie said: "Thank you Master Gui, Lord Darugachi, for your support, but I have one small request, hope all the lords can agree."

Elder Turtle frowned and said: "You have conditions?"

Chen Jie said: "Not conditions, a request."

A request, upon hearing this Elder Turtle’s expression softened, if it were conditions he would definitely not agree, but since it’s a request, he hesitated, he is quite agreeable if you go along with him.

Chen Jie said: "Jiu Si, I’m a person from Huangzhou Prefecture, so these refugees outside are considered my fellow townsmen, there’s a sense of kinship, if Jiu Si succeeds in burning the Zoroastrian Sect’s grain, I don’t seek promotion or wealth, but only ask the court to punish the principal criminals, do not implicate the innocent citizens. Actually, as long as you give them a bite to eat, they are willing to be obedient citizens, they too have suffered because of the Zoroastrian Sect!"

Everyone was taken aback hearing this, looking at Chen Jie, only to see him with an open and calm expression.

Zhao Ya at this moment looked at Chen Jie and said: "Chen Jiusi, do you know that if you really burn the grain and help win this battle, based on this merit, you could serve as the Magistrate of Huangzhou Prefecture, a fifth-rank official."

"And now you want to use this merit, this future, in exchange for a lifeline for the populace?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Jie clasped his fists and said: "Commandery Princess, I am willing."

Hearing this, Zhao Ya showed an expression of admiration, worthy of someone I value, he indeed has a grand sense of justice!

Thinking this, Zhao Ya looked towards Wang Baobao and said: "Third Brother, what do you think?"

At this moment, Wang Baobao looked at Chen Jie and said: "What if I disagree?"

Chen Jie said: "Lord Darugachi, with a heart for the world, will surely agree, otherwise killing these hundred thousand people is against heaven’s will, and it is very difficult to kill them all, what do you think?"

Wang Baobao looked at Chen Jie and said: "You certainly know how to talk, but let me tell you, speaking like this, your extraordinary merit in saving the city will be completely gone."

Chen Jie clasped his fists and said: "I am willing to accept."

Wang Baobao said: "Then let it be so, listen to you, as long as the Zoroastrian Sect collapses, we will only execute the principal criminals and not implicate others."

"Thank you, Lord."

Chen Jie clasped his fists.

"Don’t thank me, first complete what you promised me."

Chen Jie said: "Rest assured, I will certainly carry out my mission, and burn that Zoroastrian Sect’s grain."

...

The Zoroastrian Sect’s base.

At this moment Han Miaozhen sat at the main seat, beside her stood Elder Quan, with Zhong Guang standing below.

Han Miaozhen looked at Elder Quan and said: "Elder Quan, has the Saintess been sent away?"

Elder Quan said: "Reporting to Lord Dharma King, she has been sent away."

"Hmm, that’s good, this time during the Huangzhou Prefecture battle, I’ve observed, you all did well, but why was that beast frightened away by the enemy in the end."

"Forgive me, Lord Dharma King, at the time I was dueling with Wang Baobao and couldn’t break away."

Han Miaozhen said: "Don’t you have an apprentice skilled in the Beast Taming Technique?"

Upon hearing this, Elder Quan smiled bitterly and said: "Yes, Lord Dharma King, my apprentice is named Chu Tian, but this foolish disciple gave up the army and went out to challenge and hasn’t returned."

Upon hearing this, Han Miaozhen frowned and said: "Incompetent person, Elder Quan, this is your dereliction of duty."

Elder Quan said: "It is my fault, please punish me, Lord Dharma King!"

Upon hearing this, Han Miaozhen said: "Hehe... Brother Quan, what are you talking about, we have known each other for decades, how can such a little matter cause me to punish you."

"Alright, let’s not mention past matters for now, our current priority is how to capture Huangzhou Prefecture."

Upon hearing this Elder Quan looked at Han Miaozhen and said: "Willing to hear the words of Lord Dharma King."

Han Miaozhen said: "At present, we are in a stalemate with the court, no one can easily win, now it’s about who can outlast whom."

"Therefore, the most important thing now is not anything else, but the grain, in military engagement, grain comes first, so our top priority now is to guard our grain well."

"Rest assured, Lord Dharma King, we have two million bushels of grain on hand, enough to last for a year, they cannot outlast us."

"Moreover, our grain storage is very secretive, the enemy cannot even imagine, so this grain is undoubtedly secure."

Elder Quan promised with a pat on his chest!