After spending more than half a month, Zhai Ping finally built the Luochang National Highway from Changyi to Liangqiu area. If he worked harder, he might be able to build the road to Chenliu before the spring, connecting several important cities in Yanzhou and allowing troops to be mobilized quickly.

This was also the advice given by Guo Jia and Xun You to Wang Jing, because Cao Cao and Yuan Shu in the southern part of Yuzhou had been neither of them very peaceful recently, and the two forces seemed to be merging under Wang Jing's oppression.

In order to prevent Yuan Shu and Cao Cao from joining forces to attack Yanzhou in the north, Wang Jingcai was anxious to repair the road between Changyi and Chenliu first. In this way, the Qingzhou soldiers in the Rencheng camp could support Guan Yu stationed in Chenliu at any time to ensure that the defense line in northern Henan would not be broken by Cao Cao.

The superior just opens his mouth and the subordinates run around.

In order to realize this strategic concept, Zhai Ping became the hardest working person.

Zhai Jie, who had risen to the rank of Chief Architect, surveyed the terrain, drew geomancy maps, and formulated construction plans and acceptance standards. Most of what he did was theoretical.

The person who led the workers to do the hard work in the open air was naturally Zhai Ping, the captain of the road construction team.

The young man who once had a childish face now has stubble on his chin and his cheeks are weathered and angular.

Zhai Ping inspected the progress of the project and encouraged the workers loudly from time to time, cheering them up: "Work hard. If you finish the project one day ahead of schedule, you will be rewarded with 100 coins! How much sweat you put in today, how much reward you will get tomorrow!"

In order to ensure progress, Zhai Ping went all out and spent money lavishly. After all, he was not the one paying the money. The faster the Luochang National Highway was repaired, the greater his contribution would be. Therefore, he was not stingy with the money.

"Captain Zhai, is there really a reward?"

Seeing that the people asking were familiar faces, Zhai Ping laughed and scolded, "Why, are you afraid that I can't afford the money? Listen carefully, the sooner you finish the work, the higher the reward will be. There is no upper limit. You will be happy and I will save a lot of trouble."

"Okay, Master Zhai, just wait and see!"

When the workers heard that there would be extra bonus money, they immediately became very motivated. They didn't even complain about the cold and started working enthusiastically with their hoes and shovels.

While we were working here, suddenly there was smoke and dust in the distance, and a burst of hurried horse hooves sounded with the cold wind.

In these turbulent times, Zhai Ping couldn't help but get nervous and subconsciously gripped the hilt of the sword at his waist.

The disciples of Mohism were not weak scholars. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, each of them was a knight-errant who practiced swordsmanship and punished tyranny. They were like a group of anti-government militants.

"Who is coming!"

Zhai Ping shouted loudly, and then waited until the other party came closer, and then he saw the person's appearance clearly, and immediately asked in surprise: "My lord?"

"Zi'an, it's me."

Wang Jing laughed out loud. Today he had specially brought his entourage out to inspect the progress of the construction.

Twelve sword guards in black clothes and black armor stood around Wang Jing like stars surrounding the moon. They said nothing, but the bravery and murderous aura they exuded made people frightened.

"How's the progress? Can it be completed successfully before spring?"

The Jueying horse under his crotch raised its hooves and dug the dust on the ground out of boredom. Wang Jing sat on the horse's back and glanced at the roadbed that had just been opened by the workers.

The construction site in front of him was in perfect order, the workers were well managed, and tens of thousands of people were working together in a coordinated manner. They were obviously well-trained, and it was clear that Zhai Ping had put in a lot of effort.

Zhai Ping calculated silently in his mind, and then reported to Wang Jing: "If we want to ensure the progress, we have to see if God will bless us. If there is a heavy snow, the construction period will definitely be delayed for some time."

"Then as soon as possible..."

Wang Jing was still a little worried that Chenliu would be attacked after the spring, which would affect spring plowing.

Cao Cao was well versed in the art of war. Whether in strategy or tactics, he was a first-rate military strategist of the time. If he really had evil intentions towards Chenliu, he would certainly launch an attack at the most appropriate time.

Now Wang Jing needs to focus on the battlefield in Jizhou. Before defeating Yuan Shao, he must not leave any loopholes for Cao Cao to take advantage of.

Although Wang Jing and Cao Cao reached a secret agreement, and Cao Cao accepted Guo Jia's benefits and expressed that he would go south to attack Jingzhou, no one could be sure what he was thinking.

The Art of War by Sun Tzu says, "First make yourself invincible, then wait for the enemy to be defeated."

As long as the road between Changyi and Chenliu is built, the Qingzhou soldiers in the Rencheng camp can rush to the rescue at any time. By then, no matter whether Cao Cao has evil intentions or not, he can remain invincible and respond to all changes with the same attitude.

In the barracks next to the construction site, Wang Jing and Zhai Ping were chatting. Taishi Ci also came over after hearing the news: "Ci greets the lord."

"Ziyi is here. There is no need for us to be so polite."

Wang Jing helped Taishi Ci up from the ground, and then the three of them took their seats. Wang Jing took out a pot of strong liquor and filled it for Taishi Ci and Zhai Ping respectively, and did not forget to encourage them: "Come, the wine has just been warmed up. This is the Wujiapi wine that I specially asked Xuanming Zhenren to brew with Taoist magic and magical herbs. It can suppress dampness and dispel wind and cold. Come and try it."

"Thank you, my lord."

Taishi Ci raised the wine bowl, drank it all in one gulp, and then grinned and said, "Good wine!"

Zhai Ping also picked up the bowl and drank from it in small sips. The warm wine flowed into his stomach, and his whole body became warm, and the coldness disappeared: "It is indeed a good wine!"

This wujiapi wine can be regarded as the oldest tribute wine.

Different from ordinary wine, Acanthopanax acanthopanax wine is made from a variety of Chinese medicinal materials, and there are even beautiful folk legends about its preparation.

According to legend, the fifth princess Jiabi, the Dragon King's daughter, came down to earth and fell in love with a mortal named Zhizhonghe.

Due to the difficulty in making a living, Wu Gongwen proposed to brew a wine that can both keep fit and cure diseases, which made Zhi Zhonghe feel embarrassed. Wu Gongwen asked Zhi Zhonghe to brew it according to her method and add Chinese medicine in a certain proportion.

When administering the Chinese medicine, the Fifth Princess sang a song: "Danggui nourishes the heart and blood, and Qihuang removes stasis and dampness. Gansong wakes up the spleen and eliminates evil, and Guangmuxiang disperses stagnation and harmonizes the stomach. Mint cools the head and clears the eyes, and papaya relaxes the meridians and refreshes the mind. Duhuo and hawthorn suppress dampness, and can heal stubborn arthralgia caused by wind and cold. The bark of Acanthopanax has a wonderful fragrance, nourishes the liver, kidneys, tendons and bones, and liquorice is added to harmonize the various medicines, and cinnamon twigs and Polygonatum odoratum cannot be forgotten. Add the twelve earthly branches, and all additions and subtractions are wonderful prescriptions."

The lyrics contain twelve kinds of Chinese medicine, which is the recipe of Wujiapi wine. In order to avoid suspicion, the fifth princess named the wine "Zhizhonghe Wujiapi wine".

In the "Shennong Bencao Jing" of the Qin and Han Dynasties, it is recorded that "Duke Ding of Lu and his mother took only Acanthopanax elegans wine, which led to their survival."

This wine was originally a tribute from the local area to Liu Xie. Wang Jing thought it tasted good and was very suitable for health preservation, so he asked for the recipe, and then asked Shi Zimiao to try to use Taoist magic to improve the original brewing process, thereby improving the quality of the wine and the brewing efficiency.

This wine contains warm spiritual energy, which can nourish the body and soul. Long-term consumption can even improve a person's qualifications and roots. Its effect is very good. Wang Jing plans to promote it throughout the army, striving to let his civil and military officials drink one or two jars every month.

The jar of wine in Wang Jing's hand is the first batch of products.

After drinking a few bowls, Zhai Ping wanted more, but Wang Jing quickly stopped him: "Although this wine is good, it has a long aftertaste. If you drink too much, it will lose its health-preserving effect. It is better to stop drinking in moderation."

Zhai Ping immediately showed a regretful expression, thinking to himself what a pity, as he had enjoyed drinking this wine quite a lot.

Wang Jing smiled and comforted him, "When you finish repairing the road, I will reward you with ten jars. Then you can take them home and drink them slowly until you are full."

When Zhai Ping heard this, he was overjoyed. He pulled Taishi Ci and said, "Haha, Ziyi, you have to be a witness for me. The lord has promised me personally."

Wang Jing laughed and scolded, "You little bastard, they say a gentleman's word is as good as a whip for a fast horse, can I really lie to you?"

The three were talking excitedly when suddenly there was a sharp sound outside the door.

"It's the signal arrow from the Twelve Mysterious Scale Guards!"

Wang Jing's face turned pale when he heard the voice. He immediately rushed out of the tent and called his personal soldiers to ask, "What happened?"

"General, a large enemy force is approaching from three miles away. They haven't raised any flags, so I'm afraid they have bad intentions."

Zhai Ping was shocked when he heard this: "The turmoil in Yanzhou has been quelled, and Liangqiu is a core hinterland. How could a large group of unknown origin suddenly appear? Didn't the outer garrison give any warning?"

Wang Jing's mind raced, and he immediately guessed that there was someone inside Yanzhou who was secretly colluding with the rebels to cover their tracks. Otherwise, how could a large group of enemy soldiers approach Liangqiu without being discovered?
When Wang Jing thought of this, his eyes turned cold: "It seems that I haven't killed many people recently, and someone can't wait to come here and seek death."

Wang Jing then asked: "Do you know the exact number of enemies?"

"There are over 10,000 soldiers, including over 1,000 cavalrymen who are well-equipped. They are definitely not ordinary bandits."

"Oh? In that case, the enemy's identity must be complicated." Wang Jing's mind raced and he began to identify the enemy. There were only a few forces in Yanzhou that were so powerful but not controlled by the government. The enemy's identity was almost obvious - Taishan bandit!

Although Chang Xi is a bandit, his strength should not be underestimated.

Therefore, Zhai Ping was a little worried. Although there were two battalions of Qingzhou soldiers in the road construction team, they needed time to assemble. Whether it was wearing armor or forming a battle formation, it would take some time to accomplish.

All I can say is that the enemy came too quickly. This was a sudden encounter and we can only respond hastily at the moment.

Taishi Ci was concerned about Wang Jing's safety, so he immediately suggested, "My Lord, please evacuate this place first. I will lead the people to resist. After we get reinforcements, we can come back and kill the bandits."

Wang Jing laughed out loud when he heard this: "They are just thieves. Why should I be afraid of them? Ziyi, today we killed the enemy together. It will be a good story in the future."

These words were full of heroic spirit, revealing Wang Jing's absolute confidence in his own strength.

As the commander-in-chief of the three armies, Wang Jing was so calm and composed, and faced the enemy fearlessly, which immediately calmed down Zhai Ping and others who were originally anxious.

Then Wang Jing began to issue battle orders. He first looked at Taishi Ci and said, "Ziyi, immediately gather two battalions of Qingzhou soldiers, with their backs to the camp and facing east."

"Yes!"

At the critical moment, Taishi Ci responded and immediately ran out to gather his subordinates and prepare for battle.

After arranging Taishi Ci's affairs, Wang Jing said to Zhai Ping: "Call the workers of the road construction team back to the camp, distribute weapons, and tell them not to take the initiative to attack, but just defend the camp."

"understand!"

Zhai Ping immediately ran out to gather the workers.

As a Mohist, Zhai Ping had systematically studied some basic military strategies and tactics, especially the defensive warfare that the Mohists were best at.

The road construction team's camp was surrounded by wooden walls, and there was enough food stored in the camp. Even if they lost the battle on the front battlefield, they could calmly retreat to the camp, light beacons, and wait for rescue.

As for why the workers of the road construction team were not mobilized to join the war, it was mainly because they had not received any military training, and their organization and discipline were very poor. It was impossible to expect them to have much combat effectiveness. If they were sent to the battlefield, they would only disrupt their own formation and hinder their own army.

After Wang Jing made the tactical arrangements, he jumped on his horse without saying a word and led the Twelve Xuanlin Guards out of the camp.

This was certainly not an escape, but an attempt to buy more time for Taishi Ci so that he could successfully gather his soldiers and complete the mobilization.

After galloping for several miles, Wang Jing saw a pavilion on the side of the road and immediately waved to signal him to stop.

Then Wang Jing dismounted and sat in the pavilion: "Come on, bring out the wine and meat. This place has beautiful mountains and rivers, and the scenery is pleasant. If we don't enjoy it, wouldn't it be a waste of good time?"

The accompanying sword guard immediately took out the food box from the horse's back and spread it on the stone table in the pavilion. There was marinated donkey meat with sauce, fried spiced soybeans, and crispy and refreshing fried broad beans. Wang Jing ate while waiting for the arrival of the enemy.

After a while, a black crowd appeared on the eastern horizon, surging like a sea wave.

Walking in the front were more than a thousand cavalrymen. They held ring-handled swords in their hands, and their colorful equipment made them look very messy, like a ragtag army.

However, they exude a bravery and bloodthirstiness that makes people stand out, and their strength is extraordinary.

At this moment, Chang Xi was leading a thousand cavalrymen across the plain, feeling very proud and triumphant.

After obtaining a large number of weapons and armor from Xu Si, the horse bandits under his command are now armed to the teeth and their strength has become unprecedentedly strong.

This made his ambition swell. He planned to go to Xuzhou and seize Tao Qian's territory after completing this ruthless act. In the future, he might even be able to sit on the throne of the emperor.

Just as his mind was racing, his scout suddenly came back to report: "Master, there is a group of cavalrymen drinking and eating meat at the Shili Pavilion ahead. What should we do?"

"cavalry?"

Chang Xi looked suspicious: "Who is the other party?"

"The enemy didn't show their flags, but the dozen or so riders were all wearing armor and carrying swords. They were all top-quality Bingzhou goods, and they looked like they were worth a lot of money. The war horses were also excellent, and they were worth a fortune, and they were extremely majestic."

"Hmm? The enemy didn't run away after seeing our army?"

"No."

"Haha, he's really arrogant. Well, let me go meet him and see who is so brave."

Chang Xi then led a thousand horse thieves and came with thunderous footsteps, surrounding the entire pavilion. A violent storm was about to descend upon this place.

Seeing Wang Jing still calmly eating meat and drinking in the pavilion, Chang Xi laughed angrily: "How dare you, so arrogant, you don't even take me seriously."

The small pavilion was surrounded by thousands of troops on all sides, as if it was a small boat in the raging waves, in danger of capsizing at any time.

However, Wang Jing sat in the pavilion with a normal expression on his face. He poured the wine slowly, took a sip of wine, ate a bite of snacks, chewed slowly, neither hurried nor slow, and his eyes lingered freely among the mountains, not at all moved by the crisis in front of him.

Even though the sound of horse hooves was very close, Wang Jing still sat on the stone chair, motionless, like a towering green mountain. No matter which direction the wind blew, he would remain unmoved.

"What courage and spirit! Who are you?"

Next to the pavilion, Chang Xi reined in his horse and stopped. His ferocious gaze passed over the Twelve Xuanlin Guards one by one and finally fell on Wang Jing.

The Twelve Xuanlin Guards are already masters. Even Chang Xi, who has entered the fourth realm of martial arts, was frightened when he saw them. But in terms of momentum, Wang Jing is still above the Twelve Xuanlin Guards!
Even if he was sitting still, Wang Jing was the focus of everyone's attention and had a unique charm that no one could ignore.

"You bring your troops to trouble me, and you ask who I am?"

"Qi Hou Wang Jing? Hahaha, it's true that after searching everywhere for something, I finally found it without any effort!"

Chang Xi laughed up to the sky: "I never thought that as soon as I left Mount Tai, I would catch a big fish like you. This is God's help. I will achieve great success!"

"Chang Xi, it is you..."

Wang Jing had obviously expected this. Who else in Yanzhou could have the force of more than a thousand cavalrymen except the four powerful bandits of Mount Tai?

However, Wang Jing did not take Chang Xi seriously, and his eyes were filled with contempt: "Why don't you stay in your old nest like a turtle and come out to tease me? Are you tired of living?"

"presumptuous!"

"Be bold!"

"you wanna die!"

The bandits under Chang Xi drew their swords in anger. They were fearless bandits and at this moment they wished they could rush forward and hack Wang Jing to death with their swords.

Chang Xi narrowed his eyes, looking suspiciously at the whole place, and wondered in his heart, "Is this man Wang Jing? He is indeed as arrogant as the rumors say, but he only has twelve guards around him at the moment, and no army. This might be an opportunity!"

"Boss, I've checked everything. There's no ambush around!"

After the scouts came back to report, Chang Xi had a ferocious look on his face, and looked at Wang Jing with greedy eyes: "Leave me the Hongming Knife and Chunjun Sword, and I will spare your life!"

Chang Xi had longed for these two peerless magical weapons. Now that this was a rare opportunity, he naturally would not miss it.

Wang Jing smiled contemptuously: "Hongming is the sword that beheaded the emperor, Chunjun is the sword of etiquette, and you are just a bandit. You have neither the ambition to overthrow the world nor the aspiration to save the world and bring peace to the people. How can you be worthy of controlling such a peerless divine weapon?"

"It's ridiculous. The world is full of people with virtue. The knife in my hand is virtue!"

Chang Xi laughed wildly, roared, and ordered Wang Jing to kill: "Go, kill this guy, let him see how we Taishan bandits win people over with virtue!" (End of this chapter)