Back to the Beginning of Ming to do Charity

TN: bonus chapter!?

"General, that Ni Wenjun wants to go pee again."

Zhu Yuanzhang and Li Congrong had their troops set up camp in an open space; they were currently on their way towards Hanyang.

Ni Wenjun's military ability was average, but his ability to escape was not small.

After Zhu Yuanzhang and the others caught up, they began a cat and mouse game, which took up a lot of their time.

After the battle, they also must integrate Ni Wenjun's soldiers. These soldiers must be brought back as when fighting, the strength of the troops was one's capital.

It was no longer like back then when they did not have enough manpower to supervise these soldiers.

"Is his bladder broken?" Li Congrong sat on the ground, holding a steamed bun in his hand with dried meat wedged in it. They love to eat this when they march outside. The steamed bun could be kept for a long time and it was not easy to spoil. Other than a bit of dryness, it was practically a rare delicacy when on the march and fighting battles. With a water flask in his other hand, he drank a few sips after eating two mouthfuls of pork buns, and said to the soldier: "Leave him alone, just let him pee in his pants, this fellow always has so many problems."

Zhu Yuanzhang's appearance was similar to Li Congrong, and he also said to the soldier: "Let him pee on his pants, and don't give him water to drink, so as not to make more trouble."

As for the smell after peeing in his pants, that was Ni Wenjun's business.

Besides, defecation was also one of the methods used on prisoners.

The soldier retreated with an affirmative.

After Li Congrong ate the buns, he lay directly on the grass, looking at the endless blue sky and white clouds above his head. Don't know what he thought of, but suddenly he said, "I never thought I would have today."

He used to be a small gang leader in Wu City. While he might be called a gang leader, in fact he was just leading a group of brothers to find ways to fill their stomachs, always worried about his livelihood. Now thinking about it, his days in Wu City felt like it happened in his last life. He almost couldn't remember all that clearly anymore.

Those brothers who followed him back then were now serving as soldiers under his command; some had also been promoted to battalion commanders and platoon captains. There were also some who had no longer served as soldiers, retiring after injury, and stayed behind in Gaoyou, starting a family and living not a bad life.

Zhu Yuanzhang also lay down, chewing on a piece of grass, and said vaguely: "Same."

The two of them had fought side by side for a while now, and they also understood each other, developing a brotherly friendship.

Li Congrong said regretfully: "If I knew you earlier, I would definitely swear brotherhood with you!"

Zhu Yuanzhang knew about Li Congrong's peculiar habit and smiled: "It's a pity that I came late."

Li Congrong: "Ai! Who says it ain't so!"

"General, Ni Wenjun said he wants to see you." The soldier came again.

Li Congrong said exasperatedly: "Why does he have so many problems?"

Even so, he still stood up and patted the grass clippings from his pants. Li Congrong and Zhu Yuanzhang both went over to see Ni Wenjun.

Ni Wenjun was locked in a cage. His hair was messy like weeds, his whole body was dirty, and there was an unignorable smell lingering around his body. He was really in a sorry looking state, completely not looking like the Marshal of Tian Wan he used to be. His eyes were full of resentment as well as a little fear.

When death really was approaching, Ni Wenjun knew that he did not want to die.

"Why do you want to see us?" Li Congrong stood outside the cage and looked at the person inside. This man was the one who firmly controlled Tian Wan's regime? Li Congrong couldn't believe it. He thought that Ni Wenjun would at least be a formidable character, and not like this at all.

Ni Wenjun's mouth was dry. He didn't dare to drink water so as not to urinate in his pants. Now, the soldiers simply did not give him water, so his lips were chapped and blood was leaking from the corners of his lips.

"I want to see your Southern King." Ni Wenjun looked at Li Congrong, "I have nothing to say to you."

Li Congrong: "As a prisoner, what right do you have to negotiate conditions?"

Ni Wenjun looked at him with resentment in his eyes: "I am the Marshal of Tian Wan, even if I am defeated, I am different from you."

Zhu Yuanzhang sneered on the side: "Even the emperor of Tian Wan has to kowtow to my Lord. Who do you think you are? You think you can see my Lord just because you want to?"

Ni Wenjun bit his lower lip: "I have something important to say."

"What important thing?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked him, "If it's important, we will naturally report it to my Lord."

Ni Wenjun looked at him vigilantly: "If I can't see the Southern King, I have nothing to say."

Li Congrong glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang.

Looking at Ni Wenjun, it seemed he would not speak so easily.

If there was something important he had to say at this time, it must be something that could save his life. If he told them now, he would lose his only bargaining chip.

Just thinking about it a little bit and one would know that Ni Wenjun would never say.

"Then wait." Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Ni Wenjun and replied indifferently.

After walking away with Li Congrong, Zhu Yuanzhang said to him: "Send someone to ride back and report to the South Bodhisattva."

Li Congrong: "I wonder what bargaining chip he has. Now his soldiers are in our hands, and Hanyang is also in the hands of fourth brother, unless….."

The two looked at each other and said in unison: "Money."

Where did Ni Wenjun's military resources come from? Naturally, there were people supporting him from behind. The Tian Wan court had Zhao Pusheng so it was impossible for him to empty the treasury. No matter who was supporting him, he must have hid a certain amount of money in a safe place.

Naturally, the most widely circulated currency at this time would not be the currency of any regime, but real silver and gold.

Although Lin Yuan was not short of money now, he would not complain about having more. He still had so many retired and disabled soldiers to support, moreover the common people in many places under his rule had just returned to farming and still could not be self-sufficient.

Although Gaoyou was rich, it only just got rich, and it was not like he could tear down the east wall to build up the west wall.

Lin Yuan also thought of money as soon as he heard the news, as Ni Wenjun really had nothing else up his sleeve to save his life.

But…..

Lin Yuan asked: "Did Ni Wenjun escape to Huangzhou as I said?"

Chen Baisong nodded: "They're over there."

Lin Yuan's fingers tapped on the desktop, expressionless.

"Put aside Anfeng for now, capture Huangzhou first," Lin Yuan said.

Chen Baisong was taken aback. Although Huangzhou was also important, it could not be compared with Anfeng after all.

Lin Yuan: "Let An Laosi and the others continue to play in Anfeng first."

Chen Baisong suddenly asked keenly: "Young Master is afraid of the person in charge of Huangzhou?"

Lin Yuan did not deny it.

Chen Youliang was a thorn in his heart.

Like a bone stuck in his throat, he could not ignore it.

Moreover, Chen Youliang was different from Zhu Yuanzhang. He could not be convinced over or subdued. He was born a madman. He only believed in his own principles and only believed in his own choices. He was ambitious and cruel. Others only dared to just think, but he dared to carry out his thoughts.

Once he found an opportunity, he would try his best to disrupt the situation.

If it were in modern times, Lin Yuan might feel regret and admiration after reading his story, feeling that this person's luck was not so good, meeting Zhu Yuanzhang out of anyone, a man whose luck was even better than him.

But it was not the modern times now. At this time, Lin Yuan had to face the threat posed by Chen Youliang.

He could no longer let Chen Youliang grow stronger.

Since there was a threat and knowing where the threat came from, it was natural to eradicate the threat.

"You go." Lin Yuan looked at Chen Baisong, "Sending someone else, I'll feel a little worried."

There was a smile on Chen Baisong's face, but he soon retracted, clasping his fists: "I will not fail the prestige of the Young Master!"

Lin Yuan waved his hand: "Come on, what prestige do I have? I haven't been on the battlefield much at all."

Chen Baisong pursed his lips and smiled.

After Zhu Yuanzhang and the others escorted Ni Wenjun back, Lin Yuan left him alone for a few days before going to see Ni Wenjun.

Ni Wenjun was locked in an underground cell. It was dark here, no matter day or night, torches must be lit in order to see things. It was fine during the day when there were jailers. But at night, there was no light and no sound. He enjoyed a single prison by himself.

Ni Wenjun was the first to enjoy this treatment.

Lin Yuan once saw such an experiment.

Men and women who lacked money were invited to stay in a dark room for three days. They couldn’t bring anything. Everyday food was delivered through a small window. So long as they could last for three days, they could get a sum of reward money.

——No one succeeded.

Everyone asked to end the experiment in advance.

So when Lin Yuan saw Ni Wenjun, he was not surprised by his appearance.

Ni Wenjun's face was practically blue, and he seemed to be in a daze. When he saw Lin Yuan, his eyelids moved, and his voice was hoarse when he opened his mouth, his voice was as unpleasant as sandpaper rubbing against each other: "The Southern King, hearing about you a hundred times cannot compare to seeing you once ."

Lin Yuan replied: "Marshal Ni, I also feel the same."

Ni Wenjun looked at him. After being locked up for a few days, Ni Wenjun's eyes were red and swollen, bloodshot, and eye bags protruding. He turned his head and stopped looking at Lin Yuan.

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea passed, Ni Wenjun said: "Now the Southern King is the richest, with strong soldiers and strong horses. After capturing Hanyang, I believe that you will directly point to Anfeng, yes? After capturing Anfeng, no one in this world will have the ability to put up a resistance against you."

"Now the Yuan Dynasty is already at the end of its rope, and can't do anything against you."

Lin Yuan smiled and sat on the side: "The Marshal just wants to tell me this?"

Ni Wenjun: "I have what the Southern King wants."

Lin Yuan nodded: "Money."

Ni Wenjun was not surprised at all. He knew that someone would guess it, but he still asked: "How does the Southern King know?"

Lin Yuan: "Money, power, beauty, I don't lack the latter two."

Ni Wenjun smiled and said, "The Southern King, I have a question, please answer."

Lin Yuan said seriously: "The Marshal can just go ahead and ask, I will definitely not hold back anything I know."

Ni Wenjun asked him: "Was it you who had them chase me along the route to Huangzhou?"

Lin Yuan nodded.

Ni Wenjun: "Why do you know that I will go to Huangzhou?"

Lin Yuan: "Chen Youliang is your subordinate, so you will naturally defect to him."

Ni Wenjun's expression was strange: "The Southern King has many affairs to deal with everyday, yet you even know which subordinates I have?"

"I may not know anything else, but I know Chen Youliang." Lin Yuan looked at him, "Don't worry, since you are here, I will naturally have him reunite with you when the time comes. The both of you can also strengthen your old friendship. How does the Marshal feel about this?"

Ni Wenjun: "If I didn't think to defect to him….."

Lin Yuan: "Marshal, life and death are all according to destiny, and wealth and honor are determined by Heaven. Sometimes it is not who is the most capable when making a bet, but who is the most lucky."

Ni Wenjun closed his eyes, his face ashen, and it took a long time before he whispered, "I want to live."

He looked at Lin Yuan: "I don't want to die."

Lin Yuan: "Then I must ask the Marshal to assist me."