Lu Ming clapped his hands vigorously, his expression relaxed. Even under the gaze of five hundred soldiers, he remained calm, showing no signs of panic or stage fright.
"Good question. I am honored by His Majesty's favor and can assist him in managing some businesses. Your families can work in my textile factory. Children can deliver goods and gather firewood, women can weave cloth, and the elderly can enjoy their retirement. I provide a place where they can support themselves; they are essentially self-sufficient, so you have nothing to worry about."
Work hard to support themselves?
That was indeed a novel idea.
It was logical and convincing.
However, the details didn't hold up to scrutiny; many other things were involved.
Simply managing businesses for His Majesty was already quite prestigious.
Anything associated with imperial power, even merchants, could elevate one's status—that was the truth.
Imperial power is supreme; under heaven, the emperor is the greatest!
"How did you manage to take the enemy general's head from among ten thousand soldiers, sir?" someone asked. With their worries resolved, the question was now about combat prowess.
Lu Ming twisted his wrist and said to those below, "It's simple. One by one, I'll knock you all down, and then you'll know what I mean. Come on, whoever defeats me will be promoted to captain. Starting with you, line up from the back!"
Bang!
Before the first soldier could react, Lu Ming had sent him flying.
Then came the second, also knocked down in one move!
Purely relying on brute force in combat, if using the system template, it would be a one-hit kill!
Ah!
Ah!
Ah!
Screams rose and fell as Lu Ming, like a tiger among sheep, slaughtered his way through.
No one could withstand a single blow; those who managed to block one attack were quickly defeated in the second. The idea that military officers had infiltrated was wishful thinking; most of them were just thugs with little fighting ability.
Five hundred men, in less than an hour, were all defeated.
Lu Ming, twisting his wrist, strolled leisurely onto the arena. "If this were a battlefield battle, you would already be dead. If you want to live, train hard. Hone your skills, and follow me into battle. Whether you earn military merit, get promoted, and make a fortune depends on yourselves."
Now no one doubted Lu Ming. This elusive commander, whom they had only met twice, had already subdued these five hundred men. Everything seemed logical and convincing.
Not far away, a short, sallow-faced man stroked his beard, thoughtfully watching Lu Ming's departing figure.
He felt a sense of apprehension, mixed with relief and disappointment.
This man was none other than Cao Cao. To fight alongside such a heroic figure was a rare and precious opportunity, yet there was a touch of disappointment: he couldn't join him on this campaign.
"Wonderful talent," Cao Cao said, "how did such a man become? Defeating five hundred men single-handedly—such a feat could only be accomplished by a resurrected Xiang Yu!"
"Xiang Yu," Cao Cao was referring to, of course, the legendary Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu. His exploits—the Battle of Julu, the decisive victory against overwhelming odds at Pengcheng, and even the escape of twenty-eight knights unscathed—all showcased his prowess.
But time was of the essence; with no hope of turning the tide, he chose to commit suicide at the Wujiang River.
This demonstrates that extreme bravery can indeed be admired.
Even someone like Lü Bu, with his personality and stature, had a large following. This is the benefit of bravery.
While powerful families might look down on someone they considered a mere brute, other members of the elite would undoubtedly see him as a worthy object of loyalty.
Miao Cai was Xiahou Yuan's courtesy name.
Years ago, when Cao Cao was implicated in a case in his hometown, Xiahou Yuan took the blame for him.
Later, Cao Cao managed to rescue him, thus saving him from further trouble.
His relationship with Cao Cao was very close, and Cao Cao and the Xiahou family had intricate connections. His help stemmed not only from money but also from their fathers' connections.
Xiahou Yuan watched Lu Ming leave with steady steps, showing no sign of weakness beneath his strength.
Even if those five hundred men were putting on a show, they couldn't have acted so convincingly. Regardless, this was a capable man.
"This man is rumored to be able to take the head of a general from a million-strong army, but I don't know if it's true."
"We'll wait and see!" Cao Cao was also looking forward to what this expedition would bring.
When Lu Ming returned to his residence, he saw his old acquaintance, Jian Shuo, who was also going to battle as a Colonel of the Upper Army.
Firstly, it was for oversight; secondly, it was to establish authority, and it was also Emperor Ling's requirement.
Jian Shuo was probably one of Emperor Ling's most trusted eunuchs, and he was somewhat different from others. The Ten Attendants were not a monolithic group; Zhang Rang and Duan Gui were one faction, while Jian Shuo and Zhao Zhong were another. Although the two factions had disagreements, there wasn't any major conflict.
Besides being a favorite of Emperor Ling, Jian Shuo was also deeply trusted by Empress Dowager Dong.
This time, he came to read out Empress Dowager Dong's imperial edict.
"By the Empress Dowager's decree, Lu Ming, loyal to the Emperor and patriotic, recommended for his filial piety and integrity, has rendered meritorious service to His Majesty and the nation. Therefore, the daughter of the great Confucian scholar Cai Yong, Cai Wenji, is hereby bestowed upon Lu Ming as his secondary wife. This is the imperial decree!" After reading the decree, Jian Shuo immediately stepped forward with a beaming smile, saying, "Congratulations, Lord Lu! To be favored by the Empress Dowager is a truly great honor. I congratulate you on your marriage!"
Lu Ming felt somewhat bewildered, so he accepted the imperial decree, not forgetting to slip a jade pendant to her. "Thank you for your kindness, Lord Jian. May I ask what brings you to this wedding?"
"The wedding will take place on the day you return from Hedong, sir. She will marry you alongside Her Highness the Princess." Jian Shuo accepted the jade pendant with a smile, secretly feeling a pang of envy and jealousy. This favor was simply unparalleled! Unlike other eunuchs, although he admired Lu Ming, he wouldn't harm him. Instead, he would try to cultivate a good relationship with him. Who knew if he might need him in the future? But a good relationship was essential!
"Thank you very much, Lord Jian. Please come into my humble abode for a drink," Lu Ming invited. Eunuchs were not to be offended, especially not now. When they held immense power, they were not to be offended; playing along was the best approach.
"No need for wine, I have other important matters to attend to. However, on your wedding day, I must come and ask for a cup of celebratory wine," Jian Shuo said with a smile. He clearly saw that Lu Ming had a bright future ahead of him; as long as he didn't do anything reckless, he would be fine.
And the fact that His Majesty had turned a blind eye to his previous antics showed that his favor with the emperor had indeed reached a certain level.