studiobondurri Chapter 217 The Gathering of 64 Rebel Routes in Jianghuai
Chapter 217 The Gathering of 64 Rebel Routes in Jianghuai
"Old Cheng, stop fooling around!"
The rebel leaders standing nearby smiled and tried to persuade him.
After spending time together, they realized it too.
Cheng Yaojin wasn't a bad person; he just liked to boast a little and try to gain an advantage verbally.
Right now, he's probably just joking around and having fun with them.
But Cheng Yaojin put away his smile and looked at everyone with a serious expression.
"Who's messing around with you guys? I, Lao Cheng, am serious! I believe I can do it!"
Upon hearing this, the laughter inside the tent abruptly ceased.
The group looked at each other, stunned.
Is this guy actually serious?
Du Fuwei's expression changed repeatedly.
He turned to look at Xu Maogong, his eyes filled with a pleading look.
This Taoist priest also came from Wagang; perhaps he can persuade this troublemaker?
Xu Maogong felt Du Fuwei's gaze and knew he couldn't avoid it any longer.
He coughed lightly, flicked his whisk, and stepped forward.
"Fourth brother... Yaojin!"
He patted Cheng Yaojin on the shoulder and spoke earnestly, his voice carrying the affection and admonition of an elder brother:
"The position of leader is of great importance! It concerns the peace and prosperity of the people and the lives of us brothers!"
This must not be done rashly or frivolously. Only by having all the brothers jointly elect the virtuous and capable person in their hearts can we gain the respect of the people!
"Yes, yes! The Taoist priest is right!"
"The Taoist priest is truly wise and understanding!"
Immediately, some people echoed Xu Maogong's words.
In the Jianghuai region, they were unfamiliar with Cheng Yaojin.
Besides, this guy promised 180,000 troops, but we haven't even seen a trace of them yet.
With just a thousand or so people, they think they can become the leader of the alliance?
In any case, the position of leader of the alliance will not fall to Cheng Yaojin.
Cheng Yaojin remained calm and unhurried, ignoring everyone else and staring intently at Xu Maogong.
"Third Brother, I only have one question for you."
Xu Maogong felt uneasy under his gaze and subconsciously asked, "What do you want to say?"
Cheng Yaojin spoke slowly and deliberately:
"Back in Wagang, it was you, Wang Bodang, and Qin Shubao who discussed that Lü Xiao was not worthy of being king."
Ultimately, you forced him out to make room for me, didn't you?"
These words shocked everyone present.
The people around them all perked up their ears, their faces filled with the look of eager onlookers.
Some of the sordid affair between Wagangzhai and Lü Xiao had also spread.
But as the story spreads, it quickly became distorted beyond recognition.
If Cheng Yaojin brought it up in front of everyone today, it must have been confirmed by the person involved.
So, Lü Xiao was actually driven away by the Wagang people?
Those people are truly blind!
Send a war god to the imperial court, the invincible Shuo Wang of the Sui Dynasty!
If Lü Xiao were still in Wagang, why would they be worrying about how to fight against the imperial court today?
Xu Maogong's face turned pale and then red. He opened his mouth, but didn't know how to refute it.
After a long silence, he finally managed to speak with difficulty: "Yes... that's exactly what we agreed on back then..."
"That solves it!"
Cheng Yaojin shoved Xu Maogong aside, raised his hand to the crowd, and said loudly:
"Did everyone hear me clearly?"
Lü Xiao, the one-character king of the Sui Dynasty, the invincible Shuo King, a member of the imperial family! Even he in Wagang would have to give way to me, Old Cheng!
Tell me, do I have the ability? Am I worthy of being the leader of this alliance?
Cheng Yaojin got more and more excited as he spoke, his chubby face full of smugness.
"Today, I, Old Cheng, am determined to be the leader of the anti-government alliance in the Jianghuai region!"
He patted his chest, swept his gaze across the crowd, and shouted with domineering confidence:
"Who's in favor? Who's opposed?"
The audience was silent.
Xu Maogong stood there, his expression extremely complex.
Only today did he truly understand what it means to reap what you sow.
Damn it, wasn't it precisely because Cheng Yaojin was easy to control that we wanted him to be the puppet leader of Wagang?
Now, this former puppet has turned the tables on him!
Du Fuwei opened his mouth, about to say he objected, but was interrupted before he could finish speaking.
"Alright, alright! Since no one has any objections, it's settled then!"
Cheng Yaojin waved his hand dismissively, not giving anyone a chance to speak.
"I, Lao Cheng, am not without ability. If I have the chance in the future, I'll definitely show you what I've got!"
When it comes to the ability to argue and make trouble, none of the people present combined could match Cheng Yaojin.
After all this, Du Fuwei failed to become the leader of the alliance, and the others had no chance to be elected.
They could only watch helplessly as Cheng Yaojin sat arrogantly in the main seat and announced the end of the alliance meeting.
Cheng Yaojin returned to his tent with a smug grin and continued to be his traitor.
A few days later, various rebel armies arrived one after another.
Li Zitong arrived, Meng Haigong arrived, and the other well-known rebel leaders also arrived one after another.
The combined forces of the group created an overwhelming force, and they claimed to have more than 500,000 troops.
Inside a newly built, enormous main tent, everyone gathered once again.
Compared to the previous twenty-odd people, there were now more than seventy people sitting in the tent.
All those seated were leaders of uprising armies from various regions.
They were either powerful warlords who dominated their respective regions or overlords who commanded tens of thousands of troops.
But the person sitting in the main seat was still that chubby figure.
Cheng Yaojin's buttocks seemed to have become one with the chair.
"Gentlemen!" Meng Haigong stood up, cupped his hands in greeting to the crowd, and said loudly.
"With our combined forces, we have over 500,000 men; our power is truly overwhelming!"
"Brother Meng is absolutely right!"
Li Zitong also stood up and continued:
"It is said that the imperial court sent no more than 30,000 troops, and the original garrison in Jiangdu was no more than 50,000."
Their combined strength amounts to no more than 80,000; how could they possibly be a match for our army of 500,000?
As he said this, he didn't forget to glance at Cheng Yaojin, who was sitting in the main seat.
Du Fuwei had clearly stated that he would hand over the position of alliance leader to Du Fuwei upon his arrival at the alliance meeting.
The results of it?
But sitting up there was a fat man who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere!
Du Fuwei felt Li Zitong's gaze, and awkwardly lowered his head, pretending not to see it.
"Since our troops far outnumber those of Jiangdu, why don't we just besiege and attack the city?"
He changed the subject and offered suggestions.
"That makes sense!"
"Yes, besiege the city, and take Jiangdu!"
The others nodded in agreement.
If Jiangdu City can be captured, it will be a heavy blow to the imperial court, and the Sui Dynasty will be even more precarious.
"No!"
Just then, a voice rang out.
"Jiangdu City has high walls and wide ramparts, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. We have no sharp weapons, no sufficient armor, and no siege equipment. How can we possibly take it?"
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Xu Maogong stand up with a solemn expression.
They claim to have 500,000 men, which certainly sounds impressive.
But in reality, although there are so many people, the vast majority are civilians temporarily conscripted, bandits who have gathered in the mountains and forests, and have never received formal training.
Although the imperial army was small, it consisted of elite troops, well-equipped with armor and weapons.
If we were to wage a decisive battle against them, even if we committed all our forces, we still wouldn't be able to take Jiangdu City!