Chapter 72: The Battle of the Three Borders [2]
In the past year, the border connecting three countries had undergone significant changes, surpassing any passive conflict and leading to intense battles where casualties easily exceeded thirty thousand.
But the most involved were Zhao and Wei, both believing that the other wanted to invade. For Jun, this was the greatest failure, which in the following months turned into a large circle of opportunities.
First, thanks to this, he began recruiting as many bandits or criminals as those seeking to change their luck. In the first month, when Zhao released all its prisoners into the forest connecting the three borders, Jun recruited a thousand good soldiers.
Things weren't as bad as they seemed. Thanks to this, he made a deal with Wei, who had begun suffering from criminal attacks.
This made it difficult for Jun to continue recruiting, and seeing that the government was doing nothing, Kyou Kai, feeling responsible, decided to help those villages. This was the catalyst for Jun to forcibly take control of several cities and increase his power in Wei, a place where he never imagined such things would happen.
The attacked villages were saved by Jun and his group of mercenaries, known as the Three-Headed Army. Their fame grew to such an extent that the government issued an official order for Jun to receive an official title and entrusted him with the task of exterminating all the criminals, offering great rewards in return.
Jun saw this as a great opportunity to expand his network of intelligence, influence, and power.
Only two years had passed, but he had thousands of women, formerly slaves, who made up Kyou Kai's unit. She trained these women, who also received medical knowledge to treat the wounded in case of war. There was one woman for every hundred men in Jun's army, all of whom knew how to defend themselves and had the skills to kill any man who dared lay a hand on them.
It's true there were attacks initially, but all those who committed such acts were viciously burned to serve as examples.
But with these new methods combined with his personal army, casualties were few, and survival rates were higher. Those who recovered could return to the army, and those who couldn't were placed in development projects connected to the army, such as blacksmithing, carpentry, healthcare, supply transportation, or inventory management like food.
And now, after benefiting in countless ways, Jun was about to carry out his final plans.
...
"This is the fifth day before we achieve our objective. Following our traces from the first day, we've already eliminated many bandits who were closest to Wei's villages, those dogs who have tormented our families."
"According to the orders we received, I should have already surpassed the first stage of the mission. In other words, unless we receive new orders, I have the right to decide whether to continue pursuing the bandits or not." Jun, ever the manipulator, raised his middle finger as he calmly spoke those words.
As the lord of many cities near Qin and Zhao, he played the part of a good Samaritan who cared about the people of Wei, but he was only manipulating them to direct their hatred where he wanted.
Many soldiers from Wei, who had accompanied Jun on the mission to eliminate the criminals Zhao had released at their border, felt uneasy that a stranger acted like their leader.
A man named Huang clenched his fists. He wanted control, but everyone listened to Jun and idolized him like a god. "We've eliminated the criminals. What else do you want us to do? We can't invade Zhao's borders, not while we're weakened."
"If there's nothing else to say, Captain Huang, I'd like to ask you to leave this area. I wish to rest." Jun adjusted his posture to rest comfortably on his horse's saddle.
Despite his anger, Huang couldn't say a word in those circumstances, so he walked away, fuming, with his most loyal servants.
Shen opened his mouth to speak but hesitated for a moment before closing it. He had no idea what else he could offer at that moment.
He knew better than anyone that the plan was to cross Zhao's border and kill all the criminals. Those who followed Jun wholeheartedly sought revenge on all those men who had ravaged their village.
For Jun, of course, this wasn't a pity. He had gathered good soldiers for months, but the current criminals were mostly uncontrollable, so he would kill them. It's normal to kill an uncontrollable animal so it doesn't kill others, and that's what he would do, being rewarded by Wei for it.
...
Making decisions required patience.
Jun was a very patient man, never rushing, always knowing exactly when and how to act to minimize harm to himself, which led him to always emerge victorious.
In this war that had lasted five hundred years, no one had known how to play the game correctly. Now that he was involved, he would show them how the job was done.
"Sir, the first criminal camps have been exterminated."
"Any casualties?"
"None."
"Then give the order to keep advancing. We'll kill everything that moves."
"Yes, sir."
Jun, who had rid himself of those who didn't fully follow his orders, prepared for the elimination of that village of killers—or just one, if Kyou Kai faced them with what honor remained.
On the way, as he crossed the border, Jun appeared visibly more relaxed. If he was in the mood, he might decide to eliminate a few spies along the way. Otherwise, he'd simply pass by.
The soldiers of Zhao were not his target, but this was becoming a problem since the soldiers of Wei were still thirsty for blood and hadn't fully retreated. According to informants, Huang was keeping his army close by.
It wasn't supposed to be this way, but Jun thought about it and realized a great opportunity was at hand.
"If we play our cards right, we could return faster." Jun murmured, knowing they were just one step away from the end of it all.
...
About five kilometers from where Jun's army was gathering, Xu Gan was analyzing how to handle the great problem he had at hand.
"Sir, it seems we've been discovered."
Xu Gan looked at the informant and asked, "Are you serious? Those idiots from Wei killed all my spies, so of course they know where we are."
"If they want to invade us after their defeat against Qin, they're going to taste how we fight at this point."
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