Chapter 304: Hall of Heroes (1) (Thanks to Solitary Cloud J for the generous reward)
Chapter 304: Hall of Heroes (1) (Thanks to Solitary Cloud J for the generous reward)
Lu HaiKong and Zhang He's first meeting concluded perfectly, and both parties were quite satisfied with the outcome, as each had obtained what they desired.
Zhang He secured the distribution rights for trading with the bandit stronghold in Dingxiang, while Lu HaiKong received a large number of orders, and most importantly, ten sets of Elite-level bows and arrows.
Zhang He was unaware that obtaining these Elite-level bows and arrows would significantly enhance the strength of the Black Gale Legion, and simultaneously render the cavalry under Li Ke's command a mere nuisance to Lu HaiKong.
Li Ke's cavalry was heavy cavalry, slower than the Black Gale Legion, and their long-range combat capabilities were far inferior. With the addition of Elite-level bows and arrows, it was easy to predict that in an open battlefield, Li Ke's cavalry would be utterly decimated by the Black Gale Legion.
After a day of discussion, Lu HaiKong returned to the bandit stronghold with a massive order and the ten sets of Elite-level bows and arrows. The journey back was smooth, with no one foolish enough to challenge him.
Initially, Li Ke had no intention of letting Lu HaiKong return to the stronghold alive. However, upon hearing the name Dian Wei, he became completely intimidated and did not dare to make a single sound as Lu HaiKong and his group left.
Li Ke's cowardice stemmed from his past experience witnessing the wrath of a certain individual. Having seen the might of the Tiger of Bingzhou, Li Ke was acutely aware of the sheer power of a warrior with a Strength value over 90. With his cavalry, he had no confidence in subduing Lu HaiKong and his group.
This situation made things much easier for Zhang He. If Li Ke had not backed down, it would have been a significant problem for Zhang He.
Upon returning to the stronghold, Lu HaiKong immediately gathered Xi ZhiCai, Li Xiong, and Wang Jun, and detailed the meeting with Zhang He, emphasizing Zhang He's attitude.
Both Li Xiong and Wang Jun were pleased with the mutually beneficial outcome, especially Wang Jun, who had been pessimistic and prepared for a long period of hardship. This result greatly lifted his spirits.
Xi ZhiCai, however, maintained a smile throughout, occasionally frowning in thought, but did not offer any specific opinions.
After summarizing the meeting with Zhang He, Lu HaiKong handed over the first phase order for 10,000 horses, 5,000 cattle, and 20,000 sheep to Wang Jun and Li Xiong to prepare.
With the meeting details concluded, only Lu HaiKong and Xi ZhiCai remained in the Assembly Hall.
"What do you think of this outcome?" Lu HaiKong asked Xi ZhiCai.
"It should have been within your expectations. After careful consideration, I believe this is the best and most efficient situation for Zhang He."
Before Xi ZhiCai could respond, Lu HaiKong answered his own question.
"He has only recently settled in Dingxiang, and the forces he can mobilize are likely already stretched thin from pressuring the aristocracy to comply and preparing for this meeting. If I had refused to cooperate, he would have been at a loss. He values the trade with the stronghold even more than I do, so he wouldn't dare to act irrationally."
Lu HaiKong was not being a Monday morning quarterback. Ever since the establishment of the Fire Word Regiment, he had developed the habit of writing post-battle summaries, and he applied this practice to his own experiences.
After each significant event, he would review it, and the drastic change in Zhang He's attitude before and after their meeting was a prime example. Though he was reluctant to admit it, Lu HaiKong had, to some extent, been led by Zhang He. This was something he could not ignore in his review.
"Although the outcome is good, I still feel a bit unsatisfied," Lu HaiKong muttered.
Xi ZhiCai remained silent for a moment before saying, "Li Feng should be able to take over my position in a few days. You can start your plan."
……………………
Returning from the grasslands, Lu HaiKong had no small matters to attend to, but significant events kept piling up.
Not long after returning from Dingxiang, it was time to conduct a transaction with Ye Junru. This was a substantial deal, and Li Xiong had spent ten days preparing for it.
This was made possible because Ye Junru's side used gold for the transaction, rather than bartering with other goods. The main reason was that Ye Junru wanted to keep her identity and movements hidden; otherwise, the transaction could have been completed much faster.
Apart from receiving a large sum of money, Lu HaiKong also had a condition in his transaction with Ye Junru: they must help him build the Hall of Heroes. This building, which allowed fallen warriors to survive in another form, was of great importance to him, and he personally welcomed the team that arrived to construct it.
To Lu HaiKong's surprise, the leader of this team was a woman, or rather, a female High Priestess.
She wore an apricot-yellow Taoist robe and held a fly whisk in her arms. Her beautiful face was calm and serene, radiating a divine and pure aura, like a goddess.
When Lu HaiKong saw this woman, a warning bell rang in his mind. This woman was not to be underestimated! She exuded a presence similar to Ye Junru's, but her aura was far more powerful.
Lu HaiKong had not yet experienced the capabilities of a High Priestess firsthand. Although Ye Junru had stayed in his stronghold for three days, he couldn't just ask her to perform a spell for entertainment.
However, one thing Lu HaiKong was certain of was that High Priestesses were formidable combatants. Otherwise, he wouldn't have felt such a strong sense of danger upon seeing this female High Priestess.
This female High Priestess was none other than Zhang Yan, the true leader of the Yellow Turban Territory. She was a High Priestess, and while there were not many High Priestesses in the Yellow Turban Territory, her interest in the Hall of Heroes and in Lu HaiKong led her to come personally.
After Zhang Yan's arrival, she oversaw the construction of the Hall of Heroes under Lu HaiKong's hospitality. She then left without lingering or engaging in much conversation, acting like any other High Priestess who had simply completed a task.
Chapter end
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