Dugu Jiali walked into the back office, preparing to report to Long Chen the status of the recruit training.
As soon as I entered the door, I heard a woman's scream, followed by the sounds of fighting.
Dugu Jiali thought something had happened and hurriedly rushed into the room, only to see Bai Tingting sitting on the bed disheveled, pointing at Long Chen and yelling: "You promised me, and you swore an oath!"
Long Chen had already put on his clothes and said with a smile: "Miss Bai, you were sleepwalking last night. You took off your clothes to sleep. What does it have to do with me?"
Bai Tingting was so angry that she started to cry. She picked up her clothes and covered her chest: "Damn eunuch, your words don't count."
Long Chen was also helpless and said: "I swear to God, it was really you who was sleepwalking last night. You practiced a set of sword skills in your room, using my sword. You can see for yourself."
Long Chen pointed at the cabinets, tables and chairs that had been chopped into pieces, and the sword marks on them were still there.
Dugu Jiali closed the door, carefully looked at the chopped tables, chairs and cabinets, and then picked up the sword on the ground. The gap on it was obvious.
"Miss Bai, it seems...it really is."
Dugu Jiali showed the sword to Bai Tingting.
Bai Tingting knew that she would sleepwalk. When she slept at home, the door would be locked.
"But... I was sleepwalking and taking off my clothes. Why didn't you stop me? Did you still watch it?"
The more Bai Tingting thought about it, the more ashamed she became...
Long Chen said helplessly: "Miss Bai, you have a sword in your hand, how can I stop you?"
The door was pushed open, and Zhang Qian walked in from the outside. Seeing Bai Tingting, disheveled, holding her chest and crying, she immediately guessed the whole story.
"Sir, aren't you? Are you using force?"
Long Chen looked at Zhang Qian speechlessly, feeling that he really couldn't clean himself up by jumping into the Yellow River this time.
"I really didn't. She was sleepwalking by herself, practicing swordplay and stripping off her clothes. What can I do?"
Dugu Jiali said: "There seemed to be a sound last night, and there were sword marks on the tables, chairs and cabinets."
Zhang Qian remembered that when she was in the capital, there were rumors that Bai Tingting killed her servant while sleepwalking.
"Miss Bai, that's your problem."
Zhang Qian said helplessly.
Bai Tingting already understood what was going on. She just felt so angry that she actually tore off all her clothes in front of Long Chen. This was too embarrassing.
"Don't think too hard about it. I was bathing and dressing with the princess in the palace. I haven't seen anything before. Why are you aggrieved?"
"Don't be embarrassed, Zhang Qian sleeps with me without any clothes on."
Long Chen told the truth, but Zhang Qian felt embarrassed and complained: "Who doesn't wear clothes? You didn't take them off at night."
Dugu Jiali felt that she was not suitable to stand here.
Long Chen quickly changed the subject and asked: "Is Wu Chuchu here?"
Zhang Qian said: "Here he is, he's outside."
Long Chen took Dugu Jiali out of the Governor's Mansion. Zhang Qian comforted her in the room: "It's okay, so what if I saw him? He's just a eunuch. What he said is right, the princess and we often bathe and sleep with him."
Bai Tingting put on her clothes with tears in her eyes and said, "He promised me to join the army and perform meritorious service. I am not allowed to deny it."
Zhang Qian agreed: "Okay, I won't deny it. What you say will always count."
Long Chen walked outside and saw Wu Chuchu.
He is not wearing a helmet, his long hair is tied behind his head, he is wearing armor, red clothes, combat boots at his feet, and a simple sword at his waist. He has an oval face, distant eyebrows, and eyes as bright as stars, giving him the feeling of Hua Mulan.
Wu Xiangyun cried in Wu Chuchu's arms, talking about things at home and the fact that she was caught by pirates and Long Chen spent money to buy her.
Long Chen walked over and Wu Xiangyun wiped his tears, got up from his arms and said, "Sister, this is Lord Long Chengen."
Wu Chuchu quickly bowed and said: "Wu Chuchu, a civilian girl, thank you so much for saving my sister-in-law."
Long Chen returned the greeting: "Miss Wu, you're welcome. Your Wu family resisted the pirates for their loyalty and bravery. Long admires you."
Wu Chuchu smiled miserably: "We are the only two sisters left in the Wu family."
The two sisters surviving the disaster in front of him suddenly reminded Long Chen of his past.
One hundred thousand Long family troops and more than ninety members of the Long family were all dead, leaving only me alone.
"I understand, our loved ones have passed away irretrievably. There is only one thing we have to do, to avenge our loved ones, cut our enemies into pieces and crush their bones into ashes!"
Long Chen thought of Li Chengdao, thought of Xixia, thought of the barbarians, and thought of the Long family army that was completely wiped out.
Wu Chuchu's eyes became sharp and she said: "Master Long is right, take revenge!"
Wu Xiangyun gritted his teeth and said, "I want to kill Xiangtian with my own hands!"
Wu Chuchu said: "General Zhang has conveyed your wishes. I am willing to serve under your command. I have brought 10,000 soldiers and 4,000 veterans. I have recruited the remaining recruits."
"I am also coming with the people of Zhenhai County. I cannot leave them behind. Please understand."
When Zhenhai County was captured, Wu Chuchu covered the people's retreat and took them into hiding in Wuxian Ridge.
When Wu Chuchu came here, the people came with him.
"No problem, just settle in the city and let's go see your soldiers."
Wu Chuchu took Long Chen to the square, where soldiers and people mingled.
Long Chen immediately asked Wu Jian to take the people down to settle down, and each household was given ten taels of silver first.
The bosses in the city built porridge shacks along the streets to give porridge to the newly arrived people.
These people received Long Chen's favor and shared the Third Ancestor's family property, so they had to express their gratitude.
After the people left, 10,000 soldiers remained, most of them young and middle-aged, but some were older.
"No more old people, only young people."
Long Chen said.
Wu Chuchu said: "I know what you mean, but the troops are not enough now. Let's wait until we finish this battle."
Long Chen thought about it. There are not enough manpower now, so we can deal with it temporarily.
"Let's discuss countermeasures."
When Long Chen returned to the Governor's Mansion, Zhang Qian, Wu Jian, Dugu Jiali, Wu Chuchu, Wu Xiangyun, and Bai Tingting, who was wearing men's clothing, closed the door together to discuss countermeasures.
"There are now 20,000 troops, which is about the same number. The problem lies in the training of the soldiers."
"The four thousand veterans brought by Miss Wu can be used directly. Although the others have fought against pirates, they are not familiar with large army battles."
"This is what I think about it. Miss Wu has fought with pirates a lot and is familiar with the combat characteristics of pirates. You two sisters will guide the training of soldiers."
"Especially the four thousand veterans, let them be divided and teach others how to fight."
"What do you think?"
Zhang Qian and Dugu Jiali both agreed: "Your Majesty is right, the fighting style of pirates is different from that of regular troops. Miss Wu is the most familiar with it, so she is the most suitable one."
Wu Chuchu said: "Thank you for your trust, sir. I will take your order."
Long Chen then said to Dugu Jiali: "Select one thousand more recruits and increase the number of crossbowmen to two thousand. We must train them as soon as possible."
This time the pirates are expected to attack on a large scale, numbering at least 60,000.
Long Chen only has 20,000 troops, so he must use the city's bows and crossbows to kill them first.
Dugu Jiali replied: "I understand!"
Long Chen said to Wu Jian again: "Captain Wu, prepare all the crossbow arrows in the Third Patriarch's house, and then ask the people in the city to make arrows. We will spend money to buy them. I want at least 600,000 arrows."
Wu Jian immediately got up and went to do it.
"Zhang Qian, you and Miss Wu are training together."
"Okay, let's all act according to the deployment, time is running out."
The three of them got up and went out to train the army, leaving Bai Tingting alone with nothing to do.
"Didn't you agree to my joining the army? Why am I left here again? This man refuses to accept his promise even if he wears clothes!"
Bai Tingting was furious, and Long Chen was speechless.
"What do you mean by wearing clothes and refusing to admit your fault? I didn't do anything to you."
Bai Tingting asked: "Then why don't you assign me a task?"
Long Chen said: "Your mission is quite special, I will tell you the day after tomorrow."
Bai Tingting didn't believe it and asked: "What mission? Don't lie to me."
Long Chen said: "I won't lie to you, but you have to listen to me and practice this now."
Long Chen picked up a small crossbow and threw it to Bai Tingting.
"Why do you practice this?"
Bai Tingting asked, holding the crossbow.
Long Chen said: "Don't ask, you will know when the time comes."
"Listen carefully, if you don't practice well, there will be no tasks the day after tomorrow."
Bai Tingting didn't dare to say anything and hurriedly went to practice the crossbow.
Long Chen returned to the room, and Feng He was already waiting inside.
"What's going on over there on Ghost Island?"
Feng He replied: "We have already set off. We are gathering friends along the way. We expect to arrive the day after tomorrow."
Long Chen asked: "What about the number of people? How many are there now?"
Feng He said: "It is estimated that there are more than 60,000 people here, but their advantage lies in naval battles. Your Excellency has 20,000 soldiers and horses, and they should be able to defend it with the help of the city."
"Of course, a fierce battle is inevitable."
Sixty thousand versus twenty thousand, three times the superior force, and these pirates have been plundering for so many years and have rich experience in sieges. The day after tomorrow will definitely be a fierce battle.
"Keep an eye on them and report their movements at any time."
"Also, find out for me where Mentaro and Xiangtian are."
Feng He asked: "Sir, do you want to behead someone?"
To capture the thief and capture the king, Long Chen wanted to make a surprise attack and assassinate the opponent's leader, leaving the pirates in a leaderless situation.
Long Chen nodded and said: "This is the best strategy."
Feng He shook his head and said: "No, it's too risky. Mendoro and Xiangtian are both kings, and with the help of others, it's too risky for you to break into the enemy camp alone!"
Long Chen smiled and said: "Are you worried that I will die?"
Feng He chuckled and said, "Of course, if you die, my hard work will be in vain."
