Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

He felt a power called hope here, a power that made him take notice and made him want to stay.

It was then that he saw a gaunt middle-aged scholar looking around with a smile on his face while the surrounding villagers greeted him happily.

He was somewhat puzzled, not knowing who this man was to command such respect in this place.

The person who had led them here pointed to the scholar approaching from a distance and introduced him, "That's our Leader Han. He handles all sorts of affairs around here."

Wang Qiang curiously asked, "So he's the leader here?"

"No, Leader Han isn't our leader. Our leader is Lu Xun, a very kind young man who doesn't often appear. By the way, if you encounter supernatural matters here, you can go to the east to find Mr. Wu, who is a mage with profound mana."

Upon hearing this, Wang Qiang's eyes immediately brightened. He had been wanting to find a mage to conduct rites for his deceased family members and tell their spirits in heaven that he had finally found a place where he could settle down and live his life.

"Actually, as long as you follow the laws here, you can live quite comfortably. In a moment, I'll take you to a place we've prepared for you to stay temporarily. There's a market in the west of the city where people often hire laborers. You can earn some money to help you survive better here."

After hearing these words, the refugees, represented by Wang Qiang, were reassured. Although still somewhat confused, their faces were now adorned with smiles that had been absent for quite some time.

"Li Wei, are you out on a mission this time?" Lao Han had already approached the group and asked with a smile.

"Leader Han, it's my turn to go out this time," Li Wei replied.

"What's the situation like out there?" Lao Han asked.

Li Wei shook his head seriously and said, "It's chaotic, with signal fires and bandits everywhere. The whole world is now in such disarray that more and more people are displaced, a truly tragic sight."

The sights and sounds from the journey flashed through Li Wei's mind, filling him with a mix of emotions. Compared to where he was now, it felt like a different world.

Lao Han couldn't help but shake his head. Even though such a chaotic situation was most advantageous for people like him, his conscience still made him uncomfortable.

"These people have suffered enough. You must settle them properly according to our regulations, understood?" Lao Han earnestly instructed.

"Of course, we'll complete the task!"

Afterward, Lao Han introduced himself to the refugees with a smile and promoted the camp's policies, giving the newcomers a better understanding of the place and fostering a faint sense of identification with it.

When Lao Han finished these tasks, he didn't go back to his residence to deal with miscellaneous affairs but instead walked northwards until he saw towering green trees.

A large wooden house stood behind the trees. From inside the house came the tender voices of children; someone was teaching them.

Lao Han paused at the classroom door and looked inside, where a young man of impressive presence was meticulously imparting knowledge to the children. He spoke with a measured pace, his speech laced with wit and humor, greatly endearing him to the kids.

After a while, when it was time for a break, the young man put down his teaching ruler and turned his head to see Lao Han at the doorway, wearing a delighted smile, "So it's you, Lao Han."

Lao Han bowed and said, "Greetings, young master."

The young man excitedly said, "The teaching model my ancestor once mentioned is indeed remarkable. We should consider spreading it further when we have the chance."

Lao Han also smiled and nodded, "It's indeed more suitable for enlightenment than the traditional private schools."

"By the way, what brings you to me at this time?" the young man asked as he walked towards the door.

Walking alongside him, Lao Han shared, "Today another large group of refugees arrived, and the camp is already overcrowded. Although we're managing with the food you provided, this is not a sustainable solution."

The young man frowned and said, "Yes, the camp is indeed at capacity. Well, we've been preparing for so long, it's about time to show our fangs."

Excitement flashed across Lao Han's face as he asked, "Are we taking action?"

"Yes, we'll start by taking a few cities to see which way the wind blows, but I reckon no one will care," the young man said confidently.

This judgment was based on his analysis of the current chaos; no strong force had yet emerged to dominate, with numerous wars being unable to decisively win against each other. The world was fragmented and fraught with contradictions. Everyone focused on their own territory, not caring about the so-called greater world.

Their camp was in the northeast, among the complicated terrain with sparse population, almost invisible in the eyes of other forces – until they took over the entire northeast.

"That's great, I'll go gather our troops. The men have been waiting for your order for many days," Lao Han said with a smile.

"Go, assemble them in the tents to discuss the matter. This is our first battle to establish our reputation, and we must win it gloriously."

Thus, the camp was abuzz that day. As Lu Xun's order was issued, the scent of war pervaded the entire camp. Yet there was no fear or anxiety here; instead, everyone's fighting spirit was high.

A long-term policy of recuperation had stirred up a desperate desire for more territory among the camp's residents, as the land was no longer sufficient for the influx of refugees.

For soldiers eager to earn military achievements, warfare was their stage. Once a powerful army that roamed the world, how could they be content to live out their lives anonymously within these great mountains?

For the common people, more territory meant they would have their own land, something promised by the camp leader.

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Because of this, the secluded camp in the mountains erupted with an unimaginable passion for war. Even Lao Han, who was prepared for it, was taken aback by this display of eagerness. He had never seen such a fervent army in all these years, and at that moment, he was filled with hope for the future. How could such a force possibly fail?

The army that emerged from Mountain Luoxia was unbelievably formidable, a match for any elite force of the Noble Families. The northeastern cities could not withstand such a mighty army and were taken one after another, like leaves swept away in a storm. In just a few days, five cities fell into Lu Xun's hands, and the former Crown Prince of Great Chu finally stepped onto the stage to contest for the realm, beginning his journey to revive Great Chu.