Hidden Jewel Found!

Chapter 52 – Hidden Jewel Found!

Tong managed to round up the surrendered soldiers and escorted them back into his fortress. He also reaped good profits from the assault.

Pan Feng had over 750 tons of grain storing in his grain depots which were considered average for supporting 8,000 men for three months.

But since they had splitted their troops into two, and the other army relocated their camp to the east of the fortress. Tong guessed that there had to be another granary that supported the east camp.

During the processing of sorting the loot from the camp and the prisoners, Hua Shi walked to Tong and asked him what to do with Pan Feng.

"What are we going to do with him? Ransom him to Han Fu?

"No, I sent him to you so you can get the last killing blow. I've already killed Sima Xin so I have 200,000 lifespans in the bag. You can have him."

Hua Shi eyes lit up. She stared at Tong with her puppy eyes as if she was getting proposed. Meanwhile, Tong had goosebumps from making eye contacts with her.

"Hey, stop looking me like that. It's not like I'm doing it for you. I'm boosting you lifespans so you can buy me a few things in the future, okay?"

Hua Shi chuckled but didn't say anything. She killed Pan Feng as Tong had told her to, then she left with her escorts back to the fortress.

'Ufufu, a tsundere type. Well, he is cuter this way.' Hua Shi thought.

If Tong were to hear her thought, he would fume into a rage and would force her into dual-cultivation all night again.

…

5 AM.

Tong and his men returned to the fortress after they sorted the prisoners and the army casualties. In this night raid, Tong lost two hundred bandits, but his elites came back in full number, only with a few injuries as trophies to brag with their friends.

However, he captured 2,000 men from Pan Feng's camp. After this battle with Han Fu force was over, he planned to convert these men into his army later.

Tong looked at his radar map and observed the troops placement again. Han Fu army had been crippled and left with 3,000 men in the east, while the routed soldiers deserted and retreated back home separately.

With three thousand in the east and 6,500s in the west, the situation became less stressful.

Tong breathed out a deep sighed in relief. Another load of worries was lifted off from his shoulders.

He scouted further north of his radar map, and Liu Yan force was approaching from the north. From the looks of it, they should arrive at his north gate at noon today.

Tong closed his map and approached the prisoners. He wanted to sooth them and ensured them that they would be treated fairly under his watch.

Tong called up the captains and officers of the prisoners, and let them introduced themselves. Tong planned to break the ice with them first, then he would make a good impression on the rest of the prisoners.

But one of the captains had a name that caught Tong's ears.

"You, over there. What is your name again?"

Tong pointed at a teenager who seemed to be in around 13 or 14 years of age. Despite being young, he was appointed as a captain of a hundred men.

"I'm Zhang He. My courtesy name is Junyi. My post was a 100-man commander, my lord."

Tong couldn't believe his eyes and ears. Although his surname "Zhang" was the same as Tong's because it was a common surname, Zhang He's real name and his courtesy name was not something Tong could forget.

This Zhang He would become one of the five elite generals who served Cao Cao in the history! In 190s he served Yuan Shao and fought in the battles against Gongsun Zan. Then he defected to Cao Cao after Yuan Shao lost in the battle of Guan Du. Afterward, he served the Cao family for three generations and scored many achievements in his career, including routing Ma Su at the battle at Jieting in the year 228.

However, because of Sima Yi's order, he pursued the defeated force of Zhuge Liang. But he was ambushed and died by a stray arrow to the knee during the campaign mission against Zhuge Liang in Tian Shui district in 231 A.D.

In history, Zhang He excelled in geography and was capable of making accurate predictions about war situations. It also described that Zhang He as a resourceful and proficient military leader, even Zhuge Liang was wary of him.

The pupil in the eyes of Tong expanded and sparkled as if they were the eyes of a child who had found his precious favorite toy. This teenager was a jewel blessed by heaven, and he fell into his hands.

"D-Do you have a family in Ye?" Tong swallowed his saliva and asked. His voice was trembling.

"Yes, my parents are in Ye City."

"Are they part of the official?"

"No, they are just innkeepers. None of us are nobles."

"Then why are you in the military?"

Zhang He flustered in embarrassment before he answered.

"I owed some money to a person and I can't ask my parents to pay it for me."

Tong frowned. The dignified Zhang He was owing someone money? This was the part that wasn't in the history.

"How much did you owe then?"

"Haha, not much. Just a little over 1,000 gold."

Tong almost choked blood. A thousand gold was not little, yet he said little? Why did he loan all of that for? Was he addicted to a prostitute in a brothel or gambling?

"I wanted to buy a courtyard for my parents in the city, but I got conned."

Zhang He continued his story in embarrassment while Tong sighed in relief because it wasn't gambling or brothel. This person had a good heart but was still inexperienced.

"So you become a soldier to pay back what you loaned, am I correct?"

"Yes, my lord."

Tong took a deep breath and looked at the surrounding officers and captains. They were tensed by listening to Tong's interrogation.

"Zhou Cang, escort everyone back for now. I want to have a few words with this man."

Tong told Zhou Cang to lead these men out because what Tong was about to speak might incite jealousy from the others toward Zhang He.

After all of them left, Tong gazed toward Zhang He in solemn. And he asked.

"If I give you 2,000 gold to pay back the loan and for your family's new house, will you serve me?"

Zhang He looked at Tong in shocked. Two thousand gold was not a small amount but Tong offered him who was nothing but a stranger without batting an eye.

"Erm, but I can't leave my family. I'm worried about my parents."

Tong smiled wryly as he expected his refusal. A filial son like him would have a condition like this. In order to win his heart and his loyalty, Tong had to do something absurd.

"Once the current battle is over. I'll give you 2,000 gold and send you back home. When you have paid back your debts, you and your family can come and find me later. I'll be waiting for you."

Zhang He was shocked. Was this person too naïve? Why did he put so much trust to a stranger?

"But, don't you afraid that I might run away with the gold?"

Tong smiled back at him and answered.

"If that is the case, then I will have to blame myself for misjudging you. But I don't think you want to become one of the crooks who had conned all of your gold, right?"

Zhang He was stunned as if there was lighting struck through his soul. Was he thinking about stealing this person's money like the con artist that had stolen all of his gold? Would he sink that low for paying back the loan?

He was ashamed for having such thought. He still remembered the day that he got conned, and remembered how despicable that person was. If he had done the same to Tong, would he be able to live on without regrets for the rest of his life?

Zhang He knelt down and kowtowed to Tong.

"I swear by my father's surname that I won't forget this kindness! After I pay back the loan, I'll come back and serve you for life!"

Tong was over the moon as he smiled. This person was so honest and admirable, suitable to be called one of the great generals of Wei. Tong helped Zhang He up and patted his shoulders.

"I'll be waiting for you. For now, I will need you to return and help me calm down the others. Please tell them that I meant no harm to them and their families, and I'm willing to employ all of them if they have no place to return."

Zhang He cupped his fist and bowed in 90 degrees before he returned to the prisoner camp.

Tong watched Zhang He as he left. He didn't know that behind him, Tong made a gut pose with both arms and twerked to the wall happily. Tong screamed in his heart.

'GREAT GENERAL GETTO!!!'