Chapter 66 – Starting Line of the Hegemony.
January 1st. 182 A.D.
A nightmarish quest appeared as Tong accepted his soulmate mission.
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**Soulmate Mission No.2**
The chaos is about to begin! You know what will happen in the future, right?
It's about time that you develop a good base to prepare for the upcoming disasters.
Clear Condition:
- Occupied Ye City and Julu City. Other cities are optional.
- Protect the cities from the invaders until the time limit runs out.
- Make at least 50% of your citizens happy.
- Zhang Tong and Hua Shi must participate in this mission together.
Failure Condition:
- One or more of the cities is not under your control when the time limit exceeded.
- Zhang Tong or Hua Shi did not participate in this mission.
Clearing Reward:
- 100,000 Lifespans for completing the main objective.
- 20,000 Lifespans for killing an enemy general.
- 20 Lifespan for killing each enemy soldier.
- 10,000 Lifespans for each city controlled. The reward is given annually.
- One shopping ticket for each city controlled. The reward is given annually.
- One Lifespan for each happy population each year. The reward is given annually.
- One shopping ticket if more than half of your population is happy. The reward is given annually.
Time Limit: Midnight, December 31st, 190 A.D.
Mission Failure: Soulmate Contract will be nullified and one of you will die.
System Note: As usual, you have to kill the soldiers or the generals yourself to get the reward.
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"A city defense mission? I have to conquer 2 cities and defend them?"
The mission this time was unique and new to Tong. He had always been given random perverted quests or killing missions. But this time, he had to defend his bases.
However, judging from his last Soulmate Mission, this mission would definitely involve in conflicts or war. If not, why would there be the rewards for killing enemy soldiers or generals?
It appeared that he had to go through another hell again.
Although the mission seemed difficult because the time limit setting was long, the system was kind enough to offer annual rewards if Tong and Hua Shi completed certain conditions.
…
…
The afternoon of the same day.
Zhang Jiao and Tong's two uncles finished preparing everything. They, 12,000 newly recruited soldiers and a thousand veterans would march to Julu to claim the county as their new foothold.
Tong stopped recruiting new soldiers once the total troop's number hit 13,000. Although he had plenty of food, weapons, and armors to supply his men, they could not supervise all of them.
Zhou Cang, Zhang Bao, Zhang Liang, and Bo Cai could barely oversee 2,000 men each. Tong supervised 5,000 soldiers himself with Hua Shi as his aide. Zhang Jiao did not have private troops of his own because he was now a governor. He would be too busy to take care of the army in the future.
Secondly, Tong still did not have a clear understanding of Julu geography and its nature yet. He could not blindly raise troops as his saving might end up in the red for trying to upkeep his soldiers.
Lastly, soldiers could always be drafted later after he took Julu. There was no need to rush.
"We're ready. It's time to go."
Zhang Jiao looked at his resident one more time before he ordered the troops to march. He had lived here for over 30 years, and his wife was buried in the backyard. Therefore, it was not easy for him to move his home.
"Don't worry, dad. It's just a few days of horse travel. We can leave servants here to take care of the manor, so we can come back at any time if we miss it." Tong consoled his father.
Zhang Jiao nodded, after which he looked forward. For the sake of their ideal kingdom, they had to sacrifice some of their happiness in life.
They had finally stepped their feet on the starting line of the hegemony. It was a small step instead of an explosive expansion, which was different from what Zhang Jiao had initially planned. The road was bumpy and perilous as they experienced the tough battle last year, yet each step they took was firm and solid.
…
The troops marched in a standard 10-men column line. From the onlooker's perspective, it looked like a long endless dragon line.
In front of the marching troops, Tong and Hua Shi were riding on the same horse with Hua Shi sitting on the front and Tong held the horse rein from behind. She leaned on Tong's chest as she enjoyed his semi-hug. Tong's 5,000 men were behind him as their troops were in charge of the frontline if any incident were to happen.
The men smiled as they admired the relationship between the two. The young masters who used to pursue Hua Shi were part of the admirers as well.
At first, they joined Tong Army so they could get closer to Hua Shi and kill Tong. However, after Tong gave them a strict training menu and a few good beating, the weak-willed ones left while the strong ones persisted and changed their attitudes toward the couple.
Because Tong gave them proper exercise menus, their bodies toned, their muscle took shape and looked more attractive than the usual frail silver-spoon young masters. As a consequence, they got more popular with women in their villages. Thus, they gave up on Hua Shi and became Tong and Hua Shi supporters instead.
"I wonder when they will get married."
"It should be soon. When they settled the county down, then it should be the time."
"They have become nobles, so it won't be long."
"Right, as nobles, they will start expanding their families quickly."
"Expanding? You mean reproducing."
"Of course, they will! Look at their actions! Look at their closeness! Do you think this the relationship between blue balls young master and a virgin maiden fiancé? Nope, they fu-OUCH!! Why did you hit me!?"
"Stop speaking further if you still want to live."
"MWAH HAHAHA!!"
"GAHAHAHAHA!!"
Tong shook his head and sighed.
"It's getting noisy in the back." Tong complained.
"Well, they're just jealous of us. Leave them be … husband."
"My title has been upgraded again, I see."
Tong sighed again while Hua Shi continued snuggling on him.
"Please take care of me this year, husband."
"… Yeah, please help me this year as well, Sunday."
Hearing Tong called her previous life name, she turned back and gave him a light kiss on the lips.
"OHHH!!"
"THEY KISSED!"
"NOICE!"
"Oh, hey! Someone is walking strange! Why is he bending forward?"
"N-No. I'm not feeling well."
"Kuku, damn right. You're not feeling well."
"Ha! Simple, he has an erection!"
"He gets hard from watching them? Is he a virgin!?"
"FWAHAHAHA!"
"ZEHAHAHA!"
"Don't worry buddy. I'll take you to a place. I know a few nice girls."
"T-T-Thanks."
The crowd on the back got rowdier. The culture of the people in this world was less open than the westerners. They never kissed their lovers in public.
"They're getting noisy again because of you. What was that for?"
"For calling my name."
"I see. Then I'll retract my promise and call you 'zombie' as usual then."
"NUUUU!? WHY!?"
Hua Shi threw tantrum as Tong teased her. He smiled as he thought of something ironic.
'My girlfriend's name is Friday and my affair is Sunday. If I meet other girls, will their name be Monday to Thursday or Saturday?'
Tong sighed for the third time.
'Let she be the last one. I won't take in another girl.'
…
…
…
Meanwhile.
Tian Shui City of Yong Province. Far West of China.
An obese well-dressed late-middle-age man sat on the main seat in the government hall with his granddaughter pestering him on the side. The fat man had tanned skin and messy entangled full-beard. His face was full of pimples and zit scars as he did not take care of his hygiene.
The officials in the hall kept their mouth shut and did not dare to look up and made eye contact with the fat ugly man.
The little adorable girl at the age of 5 in purple dress kept shaking her grandfather's sleeves and shouted.
"Grandpa! When will we go?"
"It's not the time yet, my dear. Please be patience."
"But he is in danger!"
"Don't worry, dear. I've heard that the emperor just gave out a decree and promoted his father. No one can harm his family at this moment."
"Muu, okay …"
The girl walked away from her fat grandfather in sullen and teary eyes.
After the girl left, one of the officials in the hall stepped forward and bowed as he waited for his lord's order. However, before the official could open his mouth, the fat governor roared.
"What's so good about this Zhang Tong!? Why has my granddaughter kept pestering me to see him!?"
"My lord, I have all the information about Zhang Tong."
"Good! Read it for me, Wenyou."
The official, who had the courtesy name "Wenyou", read the report.
...
In front of the government hall, many flag poles were planted into the ground. The flags on the pole were folded and hung down by the gravity.
Suddenly, windstorm from the nearby mountains blew toward the government hall, and the flags fluttered into the air.
Those flags were represented the family surname of the governor of this city.
The flags were written in a Chinese word.
It was written in one character.
Dong.