Liu Ji, a modern homebody, awakens as a young refugee in a war-torn world resembling ancient China. The once-powerful Great Jin Dynasty is collapsing under famine, rebellion, banditry, and pressure from northern tribes. His fortunes change when he gains a system that can summon famous Chinese military commanders from history. Starting with little status or power, Liu Ji gathers capable allies, organizes defenses, and gradually builds influence in a fractured land. His rise from displaced youth to ruler depends on how well he can use the talents of legendary commanders without losing sight of the people living through the chaos around him.
Chapter 23: Hua Xiong, the Top-Ranked General
At a market town on the border between Yongzhou and Wanzhou, a four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage with a cargo box and a four-wheeled oxcart arrived around noon, accompanied by three cavalrymen clad in full armor, riding warhorses on either side of the carriage and oxcart. Seated in the front of the horse-drawn carriage were two coachmen, also clad in full armor; even the burly coachman of the oxcart wore a full suit of armor. This group was none other than Liu Ji and his men. Liu Ji had recruited Chen Hao; the old ox had been seized from a nearby landowner’s estate. Originally, there had been three oxen, but the other two had already been slaughtered for meat; the fresh beef in the granary was what remained. Liu Ji did not order Yue Yi and his three companions to forcibly seize the personal belongings, weapons, and armor of the more than 60 bandits, which was one reason the bandits offered no resistance whatsoever. As for the more than 60 bandits in the mountain stronghold, Liu Ji had no intention of recruiting them. After all, these murderous and plundering bandits—even if brought under his command—offered no guarantee of loyalty; they might stab him in the back at any moment. Of course, the main reason was that the highest combat skill among them was barely over thirty points, which Liu Ji found somewhat contemptible. After giving it some thought, Liu Ji announced to the more than 60 bandits that each would receive 10 jin of grain and 2 liang of silver. He then ordered them to disperse and cease their futile lives as bandits. Furthermore, to prevent them from gathering here again and returning to their old ways, Liu Ji had the mountain stronghold burned to the ground. Regardless of what the bandits thought, each of them obediently collected their 10 jin of grain and 2 liang of silver before heading down the mountain with their belongings. None expressed a willingness to voluntarily join Liu Ji’s ranks. As for whether these bandits would rejoin other bandit groups after leaving, that was none of Liu Ji’s concern; by not converting them all into soul points, Liu Ji had already shown great mercy. Once all 60-plus bandits had left the mountain stronghold, Liu Ji instructed Yue Yi and the other three to load as many useful items from the stronghold onto the ox carts as possible. Liu Ji then immediately ordered the system to activate the Reward Summoning Technique.
