Collecting the corpses in the city, dispersing the defeated army, moving into the government, tallying the household registers and grain, even in our territory, guiding incense into the divine temple, counting manpower, and distributing relief are all extensive matters that require dedicated people to meticulously manage.

Fortunately, there are quite a few capable individuals at Not Eating Beef, who can barely manage. However, now, the Food Protection Army is starting to show a significant weakness. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

That is, fewer scholars and officials come to join us.

All the affairs in various places urgently need people to arrange, and only those noble families can cultivate such individuals. But the current Food Protection Army hasn't reached a level that those noble families recognize.

Simply put, we lack officials.

But being an official is also a skill; most of the Food Protection Army comes from rural farmlands, and not many possess this skill.

At the same time, in the Huzhou Prefecture City Government Office, Ming King and Food Protection Great General Yang Gong, along with Think Tank Iron Mouth, Grand Steward Xu Wensheng, and various jianghu affiliates and advisors, were also deliberating major issues:

"Once a place is taken, people need to be arranged to manage it."

"The lack of personnel under our command is indeed a major problem. Not Eating Beef has already gone to various routes to seek out virtuous people, hoping they voluntarily come under Ming King's command, so there's no need to rush now."

"But now that we've left Mingzhou, having made a name for ourselves, we should think about how to strategize for the world."

"Currently, under our Food Protection Army, we have Mingzhou, Huzhou, and the northern Official Zhou, which was once devoid of people but has since received many of our own people, who are planting, harvesting Blood Food, and restoring the city."

"And Gunzhou White Armor Army and Gua State Iron Cage Army are all our allies, establishing a firm foundation isn't hard; the most challenging part is that our geographical position isn't favorable."

"Mingzhou, located in the heart of the Central Plains, is unshielded to the east, west, and north, with only Old Yin Mountain at the back, making it secure from the rear. Yet, it's easy to snuggle into Mingzhou, but to charge out, a single Old Yin Mountain is insufficient. If there were more mountains, that would indeed be advantageous..."

"..."

Someone beside them frowned and said, "Isn't Huzhou supposed to be a good place?"

Iron Mouth shook his head with a bitter smile and said, "Huzhou is indeed a blessed land for those three Old Flood Dragons; they can advance into Gunzhou or Mingzhou or retreat into the water to save their necks, but for us in the Food Protection Army, it's not."

"If a strong enemy attacks, retreat means retreating into the water."

"So this battle only gained some fame and a good place to train naval forces."

"Yet, once the Food Protection Army leaves Mingzhou, it will immediately draw the attention of others; a strong enemy could come attacking as soon as tomorrow."

"..."

As everyone listened, they all nodded, saying, "According to you, where should we aim next?"

Think Tank Iron Mouth pointed his finger to the table, which was made up of several tables put together, covered with rice. He moved some amounts here and there, representing geographic terrains, with small flags labeled with names from various places.

This was indeed the masterpiece of Not Eating Beef, using rice yet called a sand table.

Think Tank Iron Mouth pointed to a place and said, "Go southwest to take Tengzhou, we'll then seize the entire East Mountain Road, with Old Yin Mountain at our back, having water and official roads. Then, by writing to Iron Threshold Army and White Armor Army, forming the Three Armies Alliance, we'd all have a place to move in and out."

"Moreover, when we were preparing to march out of Mingzhou, I had already sent spies over."

"It's said that Tengzhou has always been a poor place, with only small banditry plaguing it, easy to take. We just need to rest sufficiently, scout the marching routes, and then advance northward with our forces!"

"..."

Everyone, hearing this, felt relieved, having no objections, and finally, Ming King Yang Gong gave the order to immediately capture Tengzhou.

At this point, everything was smooth sailing; what's left is to train troops and decide who stays to guard Huzhou and who oversees Mingzhou. This is also why a king must be appointed before troops can be dispatched from Mingzhou.

Every conquered place must have officials stationed, caretaking each region, and without appointing a king, there is no right to appoint officials, which makes managing local governance difficult.

However, just as arrangements were made in Huzhou, when the Food Protection Army had started discussing when to proceed to Tengzhou, suddenly a scout reported back, appearing quite frightened:

"Strange! Very strange!"

"When we went to Tengzhou to scout the paths as ordered, there was a giant in our dreams at night with a snake coiled around his waist, carrying two mountains. He said he was heading to Shangjing via a long journey, arriving here tired and sore, hence wanted to rest here before moving on."

"Upon waking from the dream, looking at that place again, which was supposed to be a flat road, there suddenly emerged two large mountains overnight."

"Now, the road to Tengzhou is cut off, the army can't proceed..."

"..."

"What's this all about?"

This bizarre event, not just ordinary army heads, even the experienced disciples of Not Eating Beef were dumbfounded.

There are numerous dharma methods in this world, but two mountains appearing overnight?

This, unreasonable!

Tension rose immediately, arrangements were swiftly made by Think Tank Iron Mouth, leading several senior brothers from the Golden Character Sect within Not Eating Beef to investigate, and were truly shocked overnight.

Heading to Tengzhou, somehow, two actual mountains appeared, stretching beyond sight, towering several hundred feet, with verdant pines and cypresses, bizarre rocks and stones.

They stood starkly and precisely blocked the path for the Food Protection Army heading northwest directly into Tengzhou.