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The two armies stood off against each other, gazing across the river.

A thin layer of mist blocked the view, and because the reports had mentioned the strange fog, even though it had become so sparse, none of Weichi Peng’s troops dared approach, preferring to set up camp as far away from the riverbank as possible.

Both sides could see the campfires lit by the other at night, and there was something quite extraordinary about this stand-off across the river.

The soldiers on Weichi Peng’s side were mostly in a relaxed mood, especially those of the bloodline families.

Although most of the veteran soldiers had been called away to the northern battlegrounds, those remaining were mostly recruits facing their first battle.

But they were not uneasy—the stories of their elders and the confidence in their bloodlines filled them with full confidence as they faced what was said to be an army made up of local civilians!

This kind of thing had happened many times in Great Jin, and they had heard many of their elders speak of it.

With a large population, there would often be gatherings and disturbances in some remote regions, sometimes leading to rebellions.

But it wouldn’t be long before the Imperial Court would show them what brutal suppression was all about!

For many of the bloodline soldiers, going to the northern front was a high-level, dangerous training opportunity, whereas suppressing these civilian revolts was a chance to earn military exploits easily—and they came at no real cost.

In the twenty years since the dynasty’s foundation, they had never heard of a suppression where a bloodline soldier had died.

So the soldiers who were drawn to suppress the rebels were all very relaxed, with many ambitious youths even feeling it was a waste of their time!

"Isn’t Jiangnan known as the land of plenty? How come there are even rebellions here?"

A soldier, wielding a small knife, cut a large chunk of beef from a thigh on the roasting spit.

He sliced off the charred parts, which he casually threw to the auxiliary soldiers with no bloodlines behind him.

The group of auxiliaries gratefully received the beef, but the soldier didn’t bother to look back at them and sat down, questioning his comrades from bloodline families beside him.

Chaos breeds disorder," laughed a soldier sitting next to him, as he too sliced off a piece of meat. His auxiliaries watched eagerly, but since he cut only the tender meat, he showed no intention of sharing his pickings with them.

"Some people are just restless by nature," said the soldier while eating, "They think they’re heroes amidst the chaos... but in reality, they’re nothing. Let me tell you, anyone who’s served in the army wouldn’t join such a disorderly militia.

The ones bold enough to rebel are just uneducated country bumpkins who only realize their folly once their entire family is put to death brutally! "

The other soldiers around him nodded and laughed. Although they had never fought before, they had all heard their elders’ experiences with suppression; most of the uprisings were by ignorant rural folk who had no idea of the vast gap between the armies of the bloodline houses and ordinary militia!

Even discounting fatigue, on the battlefield, even an army of Third Rank Warriors of bloodline descent could easily annihilate a hundred times their number of civilian militants!

As for them, the Golden Dragon Guard, who represented the elite forces, each bloodlined soldier was matched with experienced militiamen.

The militiamen were there to ensure the soldiers’ stamina, orderly covering their retreat before they were exhausted—after all.

.. each bloodline soldier was precious, whereas ordinary civilians could be recruited at any time.

The Golden Dragon Guard had established this system pairing militiamen with bloodline soldiers for over fifty years, ensuring that the latter could perform to their utmost ability.

Such an army was beyond what any civilian rebellion could contend with, particularly now in an era of dynastic unity and peace.

Even back when warlords carved up the territory and civilians struggled to survive under oppressive demands, ordinary folk standing against the regular armies of the warlords were courting death with any uprising!

"I was actually planning to follow my uncle to the north, but I wasn’t selected.

Otherwise, I wouldn’t have the time to waste here playing house with these commoners," said a young member of a bloodline family as he ate his beef, looking disdainfully at a campfire on the opposite shore, "I have no idea where they get the courage. "

Some militiamen gathered around a campfire not far away stiffened when they heard the term "commoners."

The term "commoners" was not new to some of the veteran soldiers, but those who had lingered long on the battlefield at least had the decency to avoid saying it outright. The ones they truly feared were these raw recruits—arrogant and self-important, never taking the auxiliary soldiers seriously.

On the battlefield, these new recruits were the most troublesome, the least willing to heed advice from auxiliaries and most prone to accidents.

And when things went awry, it was usually the auxiliaries who had to put their lives on the line to make up for it.

Despite this, these haughty youths had never shown them respect.

The militiamen looked at the cornbread and white porridge in their hands, then at the bloodlined youths who were feasting on large chunks of beef without so much as glancing their way, and none of them looked pleased.

In truth, having enough rice porridge and substantial cakes was considered good, but comparison breeds discontent—why should others indulge in meat and wine while they gnawed on sour cornbread, fighting just as hard?

"Eh, boss, is that the smell of alcohol?"

In the militiamen’s group, all congregated near the riverbank, chewing their cornbread dejectedly, they suddenly smelled the aroma of wine!

Some of the veterans furrowed their brows. The Golden Dragon Guard’s military discipline was quite strict. Despite the various privileges granted to the bloodline soldiers, they were still prohibited from drinking before a battle.

"Where’s that delicious smell of alcohol coming from?" some of the bloodline soldiers stood up, their severe gaze sweeping over the militiamen, "Carrying alcohol privately is a capital offense—are you mad?"

A group of militiamen raised their hands in unison, protesting, "It’s not us..."

Upon hearing this, the bloodline soldiers frowned and checked thoroughly.

They were joking; they didn’t even have alcohol, and these commoners dared to drink?

If caught, they would be in serious trouble.

But more importantly, that intoxicating smell of wine was too tempting. Where did these commoners get it?

After searching and finding nothing, the soldiers were about to cause trouble when suddenly someone pointed across the river and said, "General, it seems to be coming from the other side..."

"The other side?"

A group of people heard the words and looked over, some who were fond of drinking couldn’t help but crawl to the water’s edge and take a deep sniff!

"It is indeed from the other side!"

The group instantly became stupefied as they watched the bonfire on the opposite bank grow brighter and brighter.

These ignorant bumpkins, dare to indulge in alcohol before battle?

"A mob!" Some scions of noble blood sneered repeatedly, but deep in their eyes, a trace of inexplicable envy emerged.

The aroma of the wine was clearly no ordinary quality, and it was said that the expensive wines sold in the taverns of Capital City were all from Jiangnan. These rebellious clods from Jiangnan might really be wasting those fine wines!

At the thought of this, the group of noble scions was suddenly fueled with motivation—should they break through, without mentioning anything else, wouldn’t each person at least be able to seize some of this exquisite wine?

In Capital City... such fine wine was something that only Third Rank officials and the top merchants could afford. If they seized it, even if they did not drink it themselves, selling it to the taverns would surely net them a handsome profit...

With this in mind, their motivation soared dramatically, and those offspring who had initially complained about not being able to go to the north were now rubbing their hands together, eager for action!

They wished they could charge across that very moment, to slaughter those bumpkins who were ruining good things!

Perhaps many people felt the same way, for the heavens seemed to grant their wish...

The thin layer of mist, under the envy of the bloodline soldiers, was unexpectedly scattered by a stray wind!!

Suddenly, across the not-too-distant river, both sides could clearly see each other, especially the noble scions on this side.

With their superior bloodline vision, coupled with their diet of prime meats on regular days, they could see much farther than half the militiamen and instantly saw everything clearly!

On the opposite bank, on numerous bonfires, all sorts of meats were being roasted, bizarre and numerous; the fat sizzling under the flames.

Although the smell of the meat couldn’t be perceived from this distance, simply looking at those meats inexplicably made the noble scions on this side feel that their own beef had lost its aroma.

A strong physical sensation made them distinctly aware that the meat on the other side was different from theirs, and even from afar, it aroused a craving in their bodies!

And then there was the wine...

Various intense scents of alcohol came wafting over as the fog cleared, causing even the well-informed scions of great families to swallow hard.

These damned brats, they’re really extravagant!

Is Jiangnan really so wealthy?

To think that common militiamen could feast on such fine food and drink such exquisite wine?

At this thought, their desire for battle intensified even more.

But this train of thought did not last long, for soon, the people on the other side also realized the fog had dispersed, and the soldiers stood up one by one from beside the bonfires.

At that moment, an odd sensation surged through all the hearts of the Golden Dragon Guards...

Are the people from Jiangnan... so tall?

They saw the soldiers on the opposite bank stand up, each one broad-shouldered and stout-waisted, with waists as thick as barrels.

Many soldiers, due to the heat, weren’t even wearing armor.

As they stood up, their majestic stature was unveiled in all its glory, making the group of noble scions involuntarily take a few steps back.

The tall soldiers looked towards them with no sign of fear. After their initial shock, they appeared like wolves eyeing chicks, and greed glinted in their eyes!

Step by step, they walked towards the riverbank, their imposing aura, like a mountain bearing down, made them retreat repeatedly, even across the river.

In an instant, roaring laughter came from the opposite bank!

"These lowlifes, seeking death!!"

Once the group of noble scions regained their senses, their faces turned crimson with shame and then were swept by a torrent of rage. One by one, they activated their bloodlines, and in an instant, their vigorous life energy surged to the skies!

If not for the restraint of military discipline, the group of scions, dizzy with anger, would have loved to charge across right then and tear those who dared to mock them to shreds!

But as the Golden Dragon Guard’s bloodline soldiers united in their fury, some of the common old soldiers from the Regular Army were growing serious.

"Those soldiers on the other side... something’s not quite right!!"