BSI Chapter 49 Eagle Dog
Chapter 49 Eagle Dog
This name doesn't sound good; it carries a somewhat derogatory connotation.
But that's exactly the effect Li Zhao wanted.
They are the eagles of Qingzhou, responsible for scouting enemy positions and monitoring the world.
They are the dogs of Qingzhou, responsible for guarding homes and protecting property, and biting to death any enemy who dares to invade.
Zang Ba was the only suitable candidate to lead this force.
A few days later.
The secret chamber of the Prime Minister's residence.
Only Li Zhao and Zang Ba were present.
"Xuan Gao, how have you been settling in with the army these past few days?"
Li Zhao asked.
Zang Ba scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly.
"Your Excellency, it's a habit, I'm very used to it."
"I have enough to eat every day, and I don't have to live in fear. It's just that the training... is a bit tiring."
You'll get used to it.
Li Zhao nodded.
"I have summoned you here today because I have an important task to entrust to you."
Zang Ba's expression turned solemn, and he clasped his hands in a fist salute, saying, "Please give your orders, Your Excellency! My life was given to me by Your Excellency; I would go through fire and water without hesitation!"
"It's not that serious."
Li Zhao waved his hand.
"I plan to establish a new army called 'Qingzhou Eagles and Hounds'."
"This army doesn't need to be large, just three thousand men."
"I want you to select the most clever, the most capable fighters, and the most familiar with the mountain terrain from among the old men of Mount Tai."
"This army will not participate in direct combat."
"Your mission is to infiltrate behind enemy lines, gather intelligence, disrupt enemy supply lines, and assassinate enemy generals."
"You are a hidden blade in my hand."
"Strike the enemy where they can't see you, and deliver the most fatal blow."
Zang Ba was thrilled by what he heard.
Isn't this exactly what they used to do when they were bandits?
Now, however, he's been ordered to become a "bandit"!
"Rest assured, my lord! This is something I'm good at!"
Zang Ba patted his chest and assured him.
"I promise to lead this 'hound' well! I will never let the magistrate down!"
"good!"
Li Zhao nodded in satisfaction.
"I personally allocated all the equipment, money, and provisions needed for this army."
"Your treatment is the highest in the entire army."
"However, the rules are also the strictest."
"First rule: absolute loyalty."
"Secondly, absolute secrecy."
"Anyone who violates this rule will be executed without mercy!"
Li Zhao's voice carried a chilling undertone.
Zang Ba's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately knelt down on one knee.
"This subordinate obeys!"
……
Although Cao Cao of Yanzhou suffered a great loss on the border, he did not give up his infiltration of Qingzhou.
He dispatched a large number of spies to infiltrate the refugee groups and sneak into Qingzhou.
Several of these spies were assigned to the recruit camp of the Taishan soldiers.
Their mission was to spread rumors, sow discord, and turn the Taishan soldiers against each other.
That evening.
In the barracks of the Taishan soldiers, everyone had eaten and drunk their fill and were chatting idly.
A spy approached an old soldier from Mount Tai and whispered:
"Brother, do you think this Magistrate Li is stupid?"
"Why are you feeding us so well?"
The old soldier glanced at him sideways but ignored him.
The spy, undeterred, continued:
"I heard that Li Zhao plans to fatten us up and then send us to the front lines as cannon fodder!"
"Think about it, we are surrendered soldiers, so we are definitely not as close as his loyal followers."
"When war breaks out, we'll definitely be the first ones sent to our deaths!"
Upon hearing this, the old soldier from Taishan frowned.
He put down the dagger he was wiping, turned around, and stared coldly at the spy.
"Which part are you from? I've never seen you before."
The spy panicked and stammered:
"I...I'm from Old Wang's gang on the back hill..."
"fart!"
The old soldier suddenly stood up and grabbed the spy by the collar.
"Old Wang's gang from the back mountain was scattered and reassigned to other camps the day before yesterday!"
"Where did you come from, you little brat?!"
This roar startled all the Taishan soldiers around them.
Everyone swarmed around.
"What happened?"
"Who is this kid?"
"He said that Magistrate Li wants to use us as cannon fodder!"
The old soldier from Taishan shouted.
"Bullshit!"
A hot-tempered soldier from Taishan kicked the spy in the stomach.
"Governor Li feeds us white rice and gives us new cotton-padded coats; would he possibly harm us?"
"Exactly! I've never met such a good official in my entire life!"
"That kid is definitely a spy! He's trying to ruin our good days!"
"Beat him! Beat this bastard to death!"
The sentiment is exciting.
The soldiers from Taishan beat the spy black and blue, leaving him crying and screaming for his parents.
Their loyalty to Li Zhao right now is off the charts.
Anyone who dares to speak ill of Li Zhao is tantamount to jeopardizing their livelihood and becoming their mortal enemy!
The commotion quickly alerted Zang Ba.
Zang Ba arrived with a squad of military police.
Seeing the spy who was beaten half to death, he roughly understood what had happened.
He stepped forward and stomped on the spy's face.
"Speak! Who sent you?"
The spies were so terrified that they spilled everything.
"It was...it was Commander Cao...he sent us...to turn them against us..."
"Cao Cao!"
A ruthless glint flashed in Zang Ba's eyes.
He remembered the letter from Cao Cao that had sent him to his death.
"You bastard Cao Mengde! You couldn't use me, so now you're resorting to underhanded tactics!"
"Someone come here!"
Zang Ba shouted loudly.
"Tie this kid up! Hang him on the flagpole in the drill ground!"
"Let everyone see what happens when you become a spy!"
"Also, relay my message!"
Zang Ba surveyed his surroundings, his gaze chilling.
"We are now soldiers of Qingzhou! We eat Qingzhou food and wear Qingzhou clothes!"
"Anyone who dares to betray their own lord and do anything to disrespect Magistrate Li!"
"Don't blame me, Zang Xuangao, for turning my back on you!"
"When that time comes, don't say we're no longer brothers, I'll personally skin him alive!"
That night, the unfortunate spy hung on the flagpole all night.
The soldiers of Mount Tai underwent a profound education in collectivism.
They became even more convinced that only by following Governor Li could they have a good life.
Li Zhao, however, witnessed all of this from the shadows.
……
Outside Linzi city.
A horse-drawn carriage is slowly heading west.
Sitting in the carriage was Cao Cao's envoy, Man Chong, also known as Man Boning.
His purpose in coming to Qingzhou was to probe Li Zhao's true strength and weaknesses.
As a result, they were completely stunned by those one hundred large granaries.
His mind is now filled with images of that golden corn mountain.
The visual impact was simply too great.
He felt that his return this time might bring Cao Cao some terrible news.
This Li Zhao is not human!
It's a monster with endless food supplies!
"Whoa—"
The carriage suddenly stopped.
"What's going on?" Man Chong asked, frowning.
"Sir, the horseshoe has fallen off," the coachman replied from outside.
"What bad luck!"
Man Chong cursed, lifted the curtain, and came down.
This place is more than 30 li away from Linzi City.
There's no village in sight, no shop in sight.
There was only one lone blacksmith shop not far away.
The clanging sound of blacksmithing came from the shop.
"Go to that shop and see if they can repair a horseshoe."
Man Chong gave the order.
The group, leading their horses, walked into the blacksmith's shop.
The shop was small, and could even be described as somewhat rudimentary.
A burly man with his shirt off was wielding a sledgehammer, hammering a red-hot iron blank.
Beside them, there was an old blacksmith sitting on a small stool, fiddling with a strange object in his hands.
Man Chong glanced at it casually, then his eyes suddenly sharpened.
Ok?
Not right.
What that old blacksmith is holding looks so much like a crossbow!
Although Man Chong was a civil official, he also oversaw military equipment.
He was no stranger to crossbows.
The crossbows of the Han Dynasty were all cast in bronze, and the craftsmanship was complex.
Each component requires meticulous craftsmanship to assemble.