The strongest devouring system in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 171 Traveling

He launched the surprise attack to see the most authentic situation, so this time Chen Er chose to operate with cavalry. He would never reveal his identity at any location. If there were any problems, he would write them down and deal with them after returning to Yuyang after meeting Liu Bei in the south.

Chen Er's first stop was Zhongshan State, located at the border of Jizhou and Youzhou. This place was named after Zhongshan Mountain in the city. Zhongshan State had a long history, just like the Zhongshan State in the history of the earth.

The important hub between Jizhou and Youzhou was the place Chen Er first needed to investigate. This was the first prefecture-level administrative unit after leaving Youzhou, following the administrative reforms of the autonomous region.

The name of Zhongshan State was established as Zhongshan Prefecture-level administrative unit, instead of being changed to a prefecture-level name like other places. This fully demonstrates Chen Er's emphasis on Zhongshan State. Hopefully, he won't be too disappointed, Chen Er thought to himself.

For Chen Er, the words of the common people were the most truthful reflection of the situation.

Hearing that they couldn't reach Zhongshan City today, Chen Er wasn't worried at all. After all, he had more than two months to travel south. His entire group consisted of cavalry, and if they went south at full speed, they could reach Pengcheng in less than half a month. Now that they had plenty of time, there was no need to rush.

“In that case, let’s camp outside the town,” Chen Er said to Zhao Yun. “Don’t disturb the normal lives of the town’s residents,” Chen Er instructed Wang Hui.

Wang Hui is Chen Er's current personal bodyguard, essentially his deputy. When they go out, Wang Hui is responsible for everything. After all, Zhao Yun is a general, and a lieutenant general at that. It's not appropriate to let Zhao Yun do those trivial things.

"Yes, my lord!" As Chen Er's deputy, Wang Hui actually held a very high position. Although he was only a lieutenant general, he was a close attendant of the emperor, and his position in the local system was very high.

With their destination set, the group slowed down and headed towards the town. A dozen minutes later, Chen Er and his group arrived outside the town.

The archway outside the town bears the three large characters "Li Family Town," suggesting that the Li family clan is the most powerful in the town, or at least once was, otherwise they wouldn't have named the town after a family's surname.

"How is it?" As they approached the town, Wang Hui and several cavalrymen were already waiting for Chen Er at the crossroads outside the town.

Wang Hui said to Chen Er, "Reporting to my lord, everything is ready. I bought five pigs and some cabbages from a wealthy family in town."

Since Chen Er and his men were cavalry, they did not carry much baggage. Each of them carried only a week's worth of dry rations and two catties of dried meat on their packhorses. They planned to replenish their supplies in the cities they passed along the way.

After all, this was their own territory, so they didn't need to worry about supplies. They brought dry rations only because it was still winter, and no one knew when a heavy snowfall might close the roads. As a general with years of combat experience, Chen Er wouldn't make such a basic mistake; necessary preparations were essential.

"Okay, go to town and buy some more wine. Tell all the brothers they can drink a little less tonight, just to warm them up," Chen Er instructed Wang Hui.

“Let’s go, Zilong, let’s go meet the local leaders,” Chen Er said to Zhao Yun.

Before entering the town, Chen Er instructed Zhao Yun not to reveal his true identity, but to say that he was just an ordinary cavalry regimental commander. Chen Er even asked Zhao Yun to change his shoulder insignia to that of a lieutenant general, while Chen Er himself wore the insignia of a colonel.

However, even a cavalry colonel is a very high-ranking official position for the leaders of Lijia Town.

"This humble one, Li Chang, the leader of Lijia Town, greets the General."

When Li Chang, the leader of Lijia Town, learned that a thousand cavalrymen were camped outside their town, he rushed over immediately. Although he was not very capable as a leader, he was quite protective of the people of the town.

Fearing that the soldiers might make things difficult for ordinary people, Li Chang only realized when he arrived outside the town that they were now under the rule of the King of Wei. The King of Wei's army was known for its discipline and never disturbed the people. Moreover, when he reached the entrance of the town, Li Chang saw the army camped outside the town. Li Chang's originally agitated heart gradually calmed down.

Upon seeing Chen Er and his group, Li Chang quickly went to greet them respectfully. After all, this world is still a society based on power, and those high-ranking figures are not people like him who can afford to offend them.

"No need for such formalities, sir!" Chen Er quickly helped Li Chang up. Although Li Chang held a high position, Chen Er still had a habit from his previous life: he always respected the elderly, except for those who were disrespectful to their elders.

"Do you know the general's name?" Li Chang asked tentatively.

Chen Er replied, "You flatter me, sir. I am but a lowly regimental commander and do not deserve such a title."

Hearing Chen Er's words, Li Chang didn't take them seriously. To him, whether they were regimental commanders or generals, they were all the same, unattainable figures.

"I wonder if it would be convenient for you, sir, to show us around your place?" Chen Er asked Li Chang politely. Upon hearing this, Li Chang dared not refuse and quickly bowed to Chen Er, saying, "It would be my honor."

Li Chang led Chen Er and his group into the town. Li Chang said to Chen Er and the others, "Li Family Town has a total of 500 households and nearly 3,000 people. It is a relatively large town within a hundred miles. Most of the people there are surnamed Li. It is said that our ancestor was Li Mu, a general of the Zhao State during the Warring States period."

“Li Mu’s descendants can be considered from a distinguished family,” Chen Er replied casually.

"Two of my three sons are currently serving in the military, one of whom is a platoon leader. I don't know what kind of officer he is, but I know he has thirty or forty men under him," Li Chang said to Chen Er with some pride. Although he knew that this might not mean much to Chen Er, he was still proud of his sons.

“A platoon leader is a junior officer in our local army. But all generals started as platoon leaders or even privates. Your son is now a platoon leader, and he will definitely become a general in the future,” Chen Er said to Li Chang. “I wonder where your son is stationed?” Chen Er asked casually.

Hearing Chen Er praise his son, Li Chang was also very happy. He said to Chen Er, "I heard it was in Yuyang, and it seems to be in the Tiger Warriors, the personal guard of the King of Wei."