Chapter 259: Closed-door Meeting

He was still unaware of the murder in town, but he recognized Hong Chenglüe, whose face registered surprise. "Hong Chenglüe," he asked, "what are you doing here?"

Hong Chenglüe smiled. "Someone asked me to find you."

"Who?"

"Liu Yalin."

The young man who had been beheaded first was Liu Yalin. Chen Youjiao was taken aback, then angrily retorted, "What nonsense are you talking about!"

"He said to slow down and wait for you to join him on the journey."

One of Chen Youjiao's subordinates angrily interjected, "Clean up your language!" He raised his scabbard, poised to strike the tall man.

Then he was sent flying backward.

A tree trunk, a *zhang* away and as thick as a bowl, snapped from the impact.

The officer vomited several liters of blood while still in the air. When he landed, he was breathless, his chest caved in with a hole large enough to fit a fist.

Another of Chen Youjiao's subordinates, far from being fiercely loyal, backed away two steps before yelling, "Boss, be careful..."

He had just opened his mouth when an object suddenly flew into view, rapidly expanding, and then struck him in the face.

What had knocked him down was the first victim's sheathed saber.

Only then did Chen Youjiao feel fear. He drew his waist saber and shouted, "What are you doing?! I'm acting impartially! Those three are, by law, to be executed!"

Hong Chenglüe said grimly, "In June this year, during the bandit suppression, you accomplished nothing. Yet, you arrested innocent civilians from Jiuling Gully to claim credit. Was that 'by law'?"

"What are you talking about? You mustn't slander..."

With a soft swish, Chen Youjiao's words were cut short. He stared wide-eyed at Hong Chenglüe, who ignored him and turned to walk toward the carriage.

After Hong Chenglüe had taken three steps, Chen Youjiao's upper body suddenly slid downward.

He had been severed perfectly in half, from his left chest to his right ribs, the cut remarkably clean.

Seeing his legs still standing on the ground, Chen Youjiao let out a gut-wrenching scream. Blood surged out, saturating the sandy soil beneath him.

Being cut in half at the waist did not guarantee instant death; those with more resilience might linger for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, enduring immense suffering before finally expiring.

Hong Chenglüe boarded the carriage, glanced out the window, and said, "Let's go."

Killing someone so casually, as if merely sharpening a blade, felt like a fitting end to that chapter of his past.

Wu Qing clapped his hands in admiration. "General Hong's treasured blade is still sharp!" He had watched intently but hadn't even seen how Hong Chenglüe drew his saber.

Hong Chenglüe smiled. "Am I very old?"

Unbound by his oath, he felt a profound sense of ease.

This was what it meant to truly live.

The past few years had been nothing more than a hollow existence.

An hour later, the carriage reached Wujia Village.

This village was hidden near a logging camp, far from the main road. Aside from lost travelers, few scholars would ever approach it.

Although called a "village," it was actually a stronghold, fortified with a complete perimeter of sharpened stakes designed to keep out bandits and outlaws.

Wu Qing appeared and called out, and someone from inside the stronghold emerged to move the anti-cavalry obstacles, allowing the carriage to enter.

Hong Chenglüe disembarked and, guided by Wu Qing, first settled his wife in a nearby small wooden cabin.

Though small, the cabin was fully equipped, far superior to his dilapidated house in Bailu Town. Even the charcoal brazier burning brightly at the foot of the bed was a floor-level furnace, surrounded by a low stone barrier.

Although the dozen or so wooden cabins, both large and small, were quiet, Hong Chenglüe could sense that each one was occupied.

Once he had settled his wife, Wu Qing led him to the central wooden cabin.

As the door opened, over ten people inside stood up simultaneously.

Wu Qing introduced them. "Everyone, this is General Hong, whom our master has spoken so highly of." Then, turning to Hong Chenglüe, he added, "We infiltrated Xiazhou, and these are the leaders of our various teams."

The two parties exchanged greetings.

Hong Chenglüe also noticed a blue-robed scholar sitting in a corner, wearing a mask. He neither spoke nor rose to greet them. A brown-furred monkey squatted beside his knee.

He didn't know the monkey's species, but it was noticeably larger and sturdier than an ordinary monkey. It rubbed its hands by the fire, even nudging a few chestnuts closer to the flames, demonstrating remarkable intelligence.

Wu Qing gestured for everyone to sit, then continued, "Three of our teams were ambushed by the Xiazhou army. They exaggerated their victory tenfold, boasting widely. The people of Xiazhou have been thoroughly misled, believing the new governor has brought about a new era. Speaking of which, Xiazhou's new provincial governor, He Chunhua, has taken office. Marshal Nian harbors a deep vendetta against him for the murder of his son. This intelligence has reached Marshal Nian, who has ordered us to find a way to cut off the supply routes."

"Spring is approaching. If Zhao Pan's army endures through this spring and makes it to the summer harvest, it will be even more difficult to push the front line south."

Even without Wu Qing explicitly stating it, everyone present was well aware that the battle results in Yuanbei were far below expectations. Wu Qing looked at Hong Chenglüe. "General Hong, my master has recommended you to Marshal Nian. Marshal Nian wishes for you to lead the upcoming operations."

*Wishes*? Nian Zanli simply wanted to test his mettle. Hong Chenglüe nodded. "All right. Do you have a sand table?"

Someone immediately produced a square box, unfolded it, and laid it on the table.

It was clearly a magical artifact: when folded, it resembled a tea tray, but unfolded, it could cover the entire tabletop. The sand within rapidly shifted and formed the complete terrain of Xiazhou.

"Where did we lose those three battles last time?"

Wu Qing broke off a twig and tapped the map three times. "Our three scouting parties were ambushed at these locations. Xiazhou Prefecture has issued a public notice stating that the two commanding generals were both subordinates of He Chunhua: Zhao Qinghe and Wu Shaoyi. To my knowledge, Wu Shaoyi was originally a former subordinate of Hong Xiangqian, later recruited by He Chunhua. There's no specific information on Zhao Qinghe."

"The Xiazhou forces are militarily inept; to be defeated by them is truly unacceptable." Hong Chenglüe had lived in Xiazhou for several years and knew exactly what kind of soldiers the local garrison comprised. They were adept at faking casualties, claiming phantom payrolls, and slacking off, but utterly useless on the battlefield.

At these words, several generals looked uncomfortable.

"Our last defeat was mainly due to being caught off guard," Hong Chenglüe mused, having already formulated a plan. "Since we're deploying scouts, three hundred men per unit is simply too many. We need to be more streamlined, otherwise, our movements will be easily observed and reported to local officials. Xiazhou isn't a vast grassland; three hundred men require provisions and shelter, making their comings and goings too conspicuous."

"How do you propose to organize this?"

"We have more than one base in Xiazhou, correct?" Hong Chenglüe asked. "We'll break down into smaller units, no more than ten people per team, disguised as merchants entering and leaving towns to gather intelligence. The rest will remain at the bases and avoid unnecessary outings."

Someone remarked, "I've heard the new provincial governor has some shrewd tactics; he's managed to acquire a good deal of military supplies and is continuously shipping them to the front lines. That's why Marshal Nian is so vexed."

"A shipment was sent ten days ago, and two carts of grain were even stolen by villagers while passing through Bailu Town, which indicates lax security," Hong Chenglüe said, tapping the sand table a few times. "Transporting grain from south to north, regardless of their initial route, they cannot avoid Bailu Town, Xinhuang, and Jiazai Pass—these three crucial arteries."

Wu Qing nodded. "Yes, He Chunhua's army attacked and defeated ours at Xinhuang, thus securing that shipment of provisions."

The generals exchanged glances. "Are we to lie in wait at these three locations?" Even with a three-way choice, the odds of picking the wrong one were significant.

"Precisely," Hong Chenglüe replied. "In the absence of sufficient intelligence, the simplest method is often the best. How many men do we still have?"

Wu Qing stated a figure.

"Good. We'll divide our forces to guard Bailu Town and Xinhuang, abandoning Jiazai Pass. We'll send scouts disguised as merchants there. This time, *we* will be the ones ambushing their supplies."

A general questioned, "Abandon Jiazai Pass?"

"I've been to Jiazai Pass," Hong Chenglüe explained. "The main road there has been in disrepair for years, making it very difficult to traverse. Moreover, its defenses are weak, and bandits are rampant. If I were a supply officer, I wouldn't choose that route. In contrast, the roads through Bailu Town and Xinhuang are straight and well-maintained, and the two locations are only forty *li* apart, making it easy to call for reinforcements if needed. Furthermore, we are short on manpower, so to concentrate our strength, we should focus on defending the Bailu Town and Xinhuang routes."

The generals assented in unison.

Having long experience on the battlefield, Hong Chenglüe knew that his sudden arrival and issuing of commands might not sit well with them. Besides, was anything ever certain in war?

Win the battle, and whatever you say will be considered right.

The group then discussed and made further detailed arrangements.

Two days later, Wu Qing rushed out and returned just as quickly, reporting to Hong Chenglüe, "Our informant in Dunyu sent word: over nine hundred grain carts from the south have arrived in Qingping Village!"

This military council concluded only after nightfall.

Wu Qing, a merchant, was responsible only for intelligence and logistics, not direct combat.

He was just about to go and inventory the horses and medicine when a soldier approached. "Lord Wu," the soldier said, "General Hong's wife wishes to see you."

Wu Qing, surprised, pointed to himself. "She's looking for *me*?"

"Yes, sir."

"Is something not to her satisfaction?"

"I'm not aware, sir."

At that moment, Hong Chenglüe was presiding over the military council. After a moment's thought, Wu Qing proceeded to Hong Chenglüe's quarters.

The door was ajar. He knocked softly. "Madam?"

Ajin's voice came from within. "Please come in."

Wu Qing entered and saw Ajin propped against the headboard, covered by a cotton quilt, a pillow cushioning her back. The charcoal brazier at the foot of the bed glowed brightly, making the room feel warm like spring. Thanks to food and the charcoal warmth, her complexion was much rosier than before their escape, and a glimmer of life had returned to her eyes.

"Madam, is there any aspect of your accommodation that isn't satisfactory?"

"No, everything is fine," Ajin said softly. "I heard that Mr. Wu is in charge of planning the supplies for the entire force?"

"Indeed, I'm responsible for the provisions and daily needs of these several hundred people. Otherwise, resources wouldn't simply appear out of thin air."

"I'd like to ask Mr. Wu to find something for me," Ajin said. "I heard my husband say that scouts from the Kingdom of Beijia and spies infiltrating enemy territory always carried this with them. Mr. Wu must have one too, right?"

Then she requested an item, and Wu Qing's face blanched at her words. He frantically waved his hands. "Impossible, absolutely impossible! If I dared to give you that, General Hong would chop me to pieces!"

"It's for emergencies," Ajin sighed softly. "If I had a good life to look forward to, or hope for recovery, why would I consider anything desperate?"

Wu Qing steadfastly refused.

Ajin glanced at the sky, fearing Hong Chenglüe might return at any moment. Her face hardened. "If you refuse, I will tell my husband that you treated me with disrespect, insulted me behind my back, and threatened to throw me into a mountain gully."