Chapter 66
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, stormwind 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 .