NOVEL NEXT Ch. 24
Chapter 24: The Unfathomable Clans of the Commonfolk
“Awooo!”
With that howl, all the bound giant wolves perked up their ears and turned their gazes toward the Moon-Howling Wolf.
The thick mist was swiftly reabsorbed by the Ice Crystals, and under the bright moonlight, a massive wolf suddenly appeared before everyone’s eyes.
After this Moon-Howling Wolf appeared, it saw its own kind—the one that had been wagging its claws ingratiatingly beside Jiang Zhaoming’s legs.
It looked at that Moon-Howling Wolf acting like a dog, its gaze full of disdain.
Then...
It too was suppressed.
Beside a bonfire, the first Moon-Howling Wolf stopped pawing, replaced by the new one now wagging its claws.
Yan Chen frowned and said, “Your Highness, this place is most peculiar. Could it be an Other-Dimensional Passage?”
The term “Other-Dimensional Passage” was a rather secretive one—few within the Great Zhou truly understood its meaning. At present, the Great Zhou was facing threats from the Great Jin, precisely because of the chaos caused by those foreign races through the Other-Dimensional Passages.
However, though Yan Chen did not know the origin of this wolf’s lair, Jiang Zhaoming did, and he was certain this was no such passage.
Thus, he spoke, “Let us observe for a while longer. If no danger arises, there is no need to report this to the Imperial Capital.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Yan Chen replied with a nod.
Jiang Zhaoming left part of the Prefectural Army to guard the giant wolves and led the remaining troops back to the city.
Over the following days, the rules of the wolves’ den gradually became clear, and the Prefectural Army began large-scale captures of the giant wolves.
Due to the wolves’ social structure, the Prefectural Army only needed to control a few Moon-Howling Wolves to successfully enslave an entire pack.
To raise and train these giant wolves, Jiang Zhaoming ordered the best beast tamers from Kuqa and Luntai Counties to come to the den for training.
After settling various affairs in Kuqa County, the snow over Anxi Prefecture grew heavier and heavier.
With officials from the Prefectural City handling Kuqa’s administration and Qin Wei overseeing the Kuqa Army, Jiang Zhaoming could finally return at ease.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
Before the army even reached the outer city, Fan Kang had already led the officials to wait respectfully outside the Prefectural City.
“Welcome back in triumph, Your Highness!”
As the curtain of the carriage lifted, Jiang Zhaoming agilely leapt down, his gaze sweeping over the officials standing behind Fan Kang.
He gave a faint nod. “How fares the Prefectural City? Is everything stable?”
Fan Kang respectfully replied, “Reporting to Your Highness, all is well in Yili County—indeed... far better than we had expected!”
“Oh? What do you mean by that?” Jiang Zhaoming asked with mild surprise.
“Your Highness personally took command on the frontlines and reclaimed Kuqa County for Anxi in a single stroke! Such a victory has greatly stirred the hearts of all in Yili County. The recruitment centers across the counties are now flooded with eager young men vying to enlist!”
Jiang Zhaoming raised his brows—this was truly a piece of wonderful news!
Anxi Prefecture had long been plagued by unrest, and the armies of the Great Zhou had not seen a true victory in years, leaving most young men unwilling to serve.
For years, the prefecture had sought to expand its forces but had always failed to recruit enough new soldiers.
“Good! This is a most auspicious sign! Prefectural Chief Fan, issue orders to every county—open wide the gates of recruitment! Every willing youth must be enlisted into our army!”
“As you command, Your Highness!”
Fan Kang immediately obeyed but then hesitated slightly. “However, Your Highness, if we are to recruit on such a large scale... we are short on certain things.”
“What things?”
“Your Highness, there are few weapons and armors left in the Prefectural Armory. In past years, supplies came from Luntai and Kuqa, but... that supply has long been cut off.”
Jiang Zhaoming nodded. “That is no issue. I have already ordered both Luntai and Kuqa to send all their surplus arms and armor back.”
“Your Highness’s foresight surpasses us all!”
...
As Jiang Zhaoming’s decree to recruit spread across the three counties, Yili, Luntai, and Kuqa were instantly thrown into fervor.
All three counties opened their recruitment drives, with Yili County showing the greatest enthusiasm of all.
In merely three days, the training grounds of Yili’s counties were already packed to the brim with new recruits.
Inside the Royal Residence.
Looking at the register before him, Jiang Zhaoming couldn’t help but gasp softly. “Heavens... I didn’t expect Yili County to be hiding so many crouching tigers and hidden dragons!”
The report in his hand recorded the number of martial experts who had enlisted from Yili County: 374 cultivators at the Blood Refining Realm, and 4,967 at the Tempering Bones Realm!
The numbers were dazzling—this strength alone nearly equaled half the Prefectural Army!
Jiang Zhaoming could hardly understand it. How could the commonfolk of Anxi Prefecture conceal so many seasoned warriors?
His sharp gaze fell upon Gu Landa below. “Landa, among those who enlisted, why are there so many martial experts?”
Gu Landa bowed respectfully. “Reporting to Your Highness, most of these martial artists are scions of local clans.”
“Clans of the commonfolk?” Jiang Zhaoming mused. “It seems I have overlooked them before. Tell me—how deep is the foundation of these clans?”
Gu Landa replied reverently, “Your Highness, there are over a thousand such clans in Yili County alone. Among them, the Gu, Xiao, Lei, and Huang Clans are the strongest.”
She paused before giving her own clan as an example. “Take my Gu Clan, for instance. There are about fifty cultivators at the Blood Refining Realm and four hundred at the Tempering Bones Realm.”
Jiang Zhaoming’s brows lifted slightly—by that estimation, the collective power of these clans was indeed formidable.
“And what of the weaker ones?”
“To be called a clan, one must have at least one cultivator at the Blood Refining Realm to preside over the family. As for other realms, there are no strict requirements.”
Jiang Zhaoming nodded faintly, though his brows furrowed more and more tightly as he pondered the matter.
“Rebellions are rising across the prefecture. Aside from remnants of the western thirteen counties, I fear... these clans may also be secretly fanning the flames.”
Gu Landa responded, “Your Highness sees clearly. Most rebel bands across the lands are indeed incited and led by the western traitors or agents of Great Liao, often with the clans joining hands in secret.”
Jiang Zhaoming’s expression hardened, a faint chill creeping into his tone.
“I thought this winter might finally bring peace and rest. Yet it seems one after another is eager to court death.”
At those words, Gu Landa’s heart skipped a beat.
Thinking Jiang Zhaoming intended to slaughter the clans outright, she hurriedly pleaded.
“Your Highness, please quell your anger! The majority of clans harbor no treasonous intent! They... they mostly seek only to protect themselves. Please do not unleash a massacre upon them!”
Jiang Zhaoming merely shook his head and curved his lips into a faint, meaningful smile. “Is that what you think I mean?”
His piercing gaze fell upon the anxious Gu Landa. “Which clans are loyal, and which harbor ill intent... won’t it all become clear after this recruitment?”
Gu Landa raised her head in confusion, only to see Jiang Zhaoming’s eyes fixed on the register in his hand—his gaze sharp as if aflame.
Loyalty or betrayal—this thin list of names would serve as the finest touchstone!
Those clans truly loyal to the Great Zhou—if not offering their entire strength—should at least send their sons to the army, should they not?
And if a grand clan’s young martial warriors were few among the enlistees...
Then what were they hoarding so many fighters for?
Anxi Prefecture had no martial tournaments!
Moreover, Jiang Zhaoming had already heard whispers that in the shadowy black markets of Yili, standard weapons and armors had begun to circulate.
Cultivating martial artists was understandable—but privately hoarding standardized armor?
Wasn’t that thought... going too far?