Chapter 148: A Brilliant Strategy

When Chu Yun saw the city guards of Hejiang Town in a state of panic, he felt a surge of satisfaction, for this was exactly the reaction he had hoped for. It confirmed his suspicions.

He had anticipated that the town’s pharmacy and clinic had recently been bombarded by Chen Ping, leaving the residents on edge, fearful that the Thunder God might return with his lightning powers. Thus, detonating explosives at the city gates would certainly strike terror deep into their hearts.

Without hesitation, Chu Yun hurried back to join the others. Upon seeing them, he quickly waved his hand and commanded, “Quickly, follow me as we charge into Hejiang Town. Listen carefully to my orders and throw the bombs one by one.”

“Lan’er throws the first, Second Uncle the second, Fourth Uncle the third, Big Niu the fourth, and I’ll throw the last. Whenever I shout ‘explode,’ throw your bomb immediately.”

As he spoke, Chu Yun mounted his horse. Ye Zelan, Chen Ping, and Yang Cheng did the same without delay. The five of them then rode straight into Hejiang Town.

Chu Yun led the way, pointing at one lavish building after another, shouting “explode” with precise timing.

Targeting these grand residences wasn’t purely out of resentment for the wealthy; rather, it was a strategic choice. Those living in mansions were either rich or noble, not poor folk. Such people tended to fear death more than the impoverished, who might resist if threatened.

By bombing the mansions, even if the residents were not killed outright, the terror would send them fleeing in panic, abandoning Hejiang Town. The poor, lacking means to escape, might rise up instead.

Boom! Boom! The deafening explosions rolled like thunder across the town.

The people of Hejiang Town scattered in chaos, clutching their heads and running wildly. Under Chu Yun’s rhythmic coordination, thirty bombs exploded in succession, starting from the southern gate to the northern gate, then from the northern gate to the western gate, and finally from the western to the eastern gate, effectively leveling the entire town.

The eastern gate’s significance lay in its border with Anning Town, creating the illusion that the Thunder God had moved on to Anning.

After the final blast, Chu Yun and his four companions departed through the southern gate. Only after traveling ten miles did Chu Yun call for a halt to rest.

Chen Ping couldn’t help but ask, “Yun’er, why did you lead us away from Hejiang Town? Weren’t you planning to take control of it?”

Chu Yun smiled faintly. “If I hadn’t summoned Chu Wencai and the others for a meeting, I might have settled in Hejiang Town after the bombing and taken over tomorrow. But after that meeting, I’ve decided otherwise.”

Chen Ping, Ye Zelan, and Yang Cheng were stunned, surprised by the change of plan. They had switched horses four times and ridden nearly three hundred miles just to seize Hejiang Town. Now Chu Yun no longer wished to govern it.

Big Niu merely chuckled softly, indifferent. He revered Chu Yun immensely, trusting every word and action without question.

Ye Zelan couldn’t help but ask, “Brother Chu Yun, are you really not going to take over Hejiang Town? I heard it holds extremely valuable mineral resources. If you don’t govern it, how will you extract those minerals?”

Chu Yun replied, “Of course we’ll mine the minerals. Otherwise, why on earth would I have come to bomb Hejiang Town?”

This only deepened everyone’s confusion.

Chu Yun smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, I have my own plans. Let’s rest a while, then we’ll head back.”

The others placed great trust in him. Seeing his confidence, they did not press further, even though Chen Ping, Ye Zelan, and Yang Cheng were all curious about his scheme.

Under cover of night, they hurried back to Nanhua Town, resting overnight at the horse station before entering the town proper.

The people of Nanhua Town were surprised to see Chu Yun’s return. Liu Fei and other officials quickly came to pay respects and inquired, “Your Excellency, has the Thunder God not cooperated with you in bombing Hejiang Town with his lightning?”

Chu Yun replied, “No, my master did bomb Hejiang Town, from south to north and then west to east.”

The officials were even more puzzled. “Your Excellency, if that’s the case, why haven’t you taken control of Hejiang Town? We were ready to send reinforcements to support you.”

Chu Yun said, “There’s no need to take control for now. I have a better plan.”

When someone asked what that plan was, Chu Yun remained silent.

Ye Zelan remarked, “He didn’t even tell me, so I doubt he’ll tell you.”

The others refrained from further questioning.

Finally, Chu Yun spoke, “Since everyone is curious, I’ll explain. Last night, when my master unleashed his lightning bombings on Hejiang Town, he told me not to take control, so we wouldn’t become the target of everyone’s ire.”

“He said he would continue to intermittently bomb Hejiang Town with lightning to plunge its people into unending terror, forcing the Witch Doctor Sect to avoid sending anyone to govern it.”

“This way, Hejiang Town becomes a no-man’s land, which won’t interfere with our mining operations.”

“Moreover, my master said he would use lightning to fracture the ore veins, making extraction much easier for us.”

The officials of Nanhua Town and Chen Ping all praised the wisdom of the Thunder God and Chu Yun. “Brilliant strategy, Your Excellency. You gain the mineral wealth without becoming a target, and Hejiang Town will gradually fall under your influence, effectively a covert takeover.”

After a meal and rest in Nanhua Town, Chu Yun led Chen Ping, Ye Zelan, and the others back to Chujia Town.

With his superior plan decided, Chu Yun immediately began using the stockpiled resources to produce bombs in earnest.

This time, he combined the previously gathered saltpeter and sulfur to make high-grade explosives.

However, he did not convert all the explosives into bombs.

Bombs were mainly meant for terrorizing Hejiang Town to deter the Witch Doctor Sect or other forces from taking over, and for opening passages in the iron ore mountain.

Packing large quantities of explosives into the mining openings and detonating with fuses was far more effective than bombing the ore mountain directly.

Once the bombs were dried and ready, every five to seven days, Chu Yun and Ye Zelan would take six bombs and thirty pounds of explosives to bomb Hejiang Town and the iron ore mine.

In Hejiang Town, they would throw only two bombs, which was enough to deepen the terror among the already frightened townsfolk.

The remaining four bombs and thirty pounds of explosives were used to blast the iron ore veins open for mining.