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 .

  \r \r \r

  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 .