"Really?!"
Upon hearing this, Zha Linshan looked up in surprise, asking with a hint of disbelief, "My lord, if everyone returns safely this time, will you truly let them off the hook?"
"Why not?"
Qin Feng shrugged his shoulders, surveying the group with encouraging eyes. "As long as you obey me honestly, not only will I spare your lives, but I will also help you expand your tribes!"
"This..."
As Qin Feng's words fell, Zha Linshan's expression turned blank. He suspected he was dreaming. After being defeated and captured, he wouldn't only avoid death but might even return to his tribe? How was this possible?
Perhaps sensing Zha Linshan's mistrust, Qin Feng continued with a slightly mocking tone, "Haven't you thought about it? Do I have any reason to lie to you?"
"It would be as easy as flipping my hand to annihilate you!"
"Now you have an opportunity. Whether you seize it depends on your capabilities."
With that, Qin Feng didn't linger in the hall. He turned and left directly. He believed these people would make the right choice. Or rather, at this moment, they had no other choice but to believe him.
Therefore, Qin Feng didn't concern himself with how the Wuhuan rebels would select their people. Instead, he went about his own business. He was quite busy now. Besides planning the plunder, he also needed to select the garrisons for the county towns. After all, having held Zhuo County for so long, it would be remiss not to retake Zhuo Commandery.
Of course! Retaking Zhuo Commandery was only part of it; the subsequent strategy was the most crucial. If he recalled correctly, the Wuhuan would rebel towards the end of this year. He didn't remember the exact details, but he understood the general situation.
First, the Han court requisitioned several thousand cavalry from the Wuhuan to quell the Qiang and Hu in Liang Province. The campaign was unsuccessful, with many casualties, and the Han didn't even pay them! Consequently, instigated by certain individuals, the Wuhuan rebelled in anger, with nearly a hundred thousand troops sweeping through You, Bing, Qing, and Yan provinces.
Although his unexpected intervention might have removed the trigger for the Wuhuan rebellion, they were barely holding onto You Province. Would they still be in the mood to conscript troops from the Wuhuan? This didn't mean the Wuhuan wouldn't rebel. Rebellion was not a trivial matter. The Wuhuan wouldn't suddenly rebel without preparation. Nor could they gather over a hundred thousand troops in a short period without preparation. Therefore, the Wuhuan's intention to rebel must have existed long ago, lacking only the trigger.
Even though the conscription trigger was gone, another could easily replace it. Like him, Qin Feng! While the battle with the Chakhl tribe was defensible in terms of righteousness, who knew? The aristocratic families who disliked him wouldn't help his reputation; they might even smear him. In this case, if the Wuhuan truly rebelled in his name, the repercussions for him would be enormous. The concept of "name" might seem insignificant, but it was quite valuable when used.
With this in mind, Qin Feng decided not to give them any opportunity to develop and to suppress them outright. As for the reason for suppression? What could be more suitable than the Wuhuan bandits plundering Zhuo County?
However, before all these plans could be set in motion, there was one matter that needed to be handled first.
In the Zhuo County military camp, Zuo Feng, filled with apprehension, had been waiting for a long time.
"General Qin, General Qin..."
Seeing Qin Feng enter, Zuo Feng hurried forward and pleaded in a low voice, "You see, I've been staying here for quite some time. It's about time I returned to report."
"Heh heh..."
Qin Feng chuckled, waving Zuo Feng away noncommittally. "Eunuch Zuo, don't rush. I still have something I need to trouble you with."
Saying this, Qin Feng signaled to the outside, and several guards carried in chests.
"Open them!"
"Yes, sir!"
The guards responded, and with a gesture, the chests were opened. Swish! As the chests opened, a dazzling golden light flashed. The open chests on the ground were filled with gold bars.
"Qin, General Qin..." Zuo Feng swallowed with difficulty. "What do you mean by this?"
"Just a small token of my appreciation!"
Qin Feng smiled at Zuo Feng, his tone laced with teasing. "I hear that officials in the Han are all priced openly. I wonder what rank my contribution can fetch?"
"This, this..."
Zuo Feng, who had initially thought his mission of recruitment had failed, was overjoyed at these words. He quickly replied, "General Qin, what are you saying? If you wish to become an official, His Majesty would be overjoyed!"
"As long as I report back, an imperial decree appointing you will arrive in a few days. You just need to wait patiently."
"That's not the way to put it!"
Although Qin Feng knew Zuo Feng was speaking the truth, he still shook his head. "While I may not be a scholar, I like to follow the rules in my dealings. Since you sell official positions openly, I naturally have to buy them according to the rules."
With that, Qin Feng gestured towards the chests on the ground and said calmly, "Two thousand taels of gold for the position of Governor of You Province. Can this be arranged?"
"Yes!"
"Absolutely!"
Zuo Feng, completely reassured, patted his chest and guaranteed, "If it were someone else, His Majesty might hesitate, but if General Qin only wants the position of Governor of You Province, I can assure you it's no problem."
"Very good!"
Qin Feng nodded in satisfaction, stood up, and said meaningfully, "Eunuch Zuo, I don't like the Yellow Turbans either, but sometimes I don't mind helping them out a bit."
"Do you understand what I mean?"
"Of course, of course..."
Zuo Feng's heart trembled. While wiping sweat from his brow, he secretly resolved that whoever wanted to come to this wretched place in the future could come, but he would never return. This brute truly dared to kill people! He had heard in the past two days that on the very morning they arrived, this brute had killed over four thousand Wuhuan barbarians in a single battle. It was said they were even burned alive! At that time, the entire valley was filled with the smell of roasted meat, and the soldiers couldn't eat for three days upon their return.
Thinking about it made Zuo Feng feel nauseous, a feeling of wanting to vomit but unable to.
Qin Feng, unaware of the eunuch's internal rant, didn't detain them after their business was concluded. He had them escorted away. The Han dynasty still had a few years left. Since that was the case, it was better to obtain a title and quietly develop in You Province. Survival was the key! He could emerge to clean up the mess after Emperor Ling died and after the Yuan and Cao families had finished their battles.
Of course! This was under the condition that no one provoked him. Otherwise, Qin Feng wouldn't mind beating their brains out. What he lacked now were strategists, civil officials, and managerial talent. As for soldiers for war? Heh! Not to mention he could get as many as he wanted, and they would only increase. Weren't you scared?