Chapter 458: Reprimand Order

With that, he returned to the house.

The cup sitting on the ground vanished in an instant, as if dragged underground by something.

The corner of the courtyard was restored to its original state.

He Lingchuan blinked, staring at the hole in the roof. It took him a good while to realize he was in the Soul Realm.

The night sky, both in reality and in the dream-like Soul Realm, was equally brilliant.

He sat up and stretched.

The Broken Blade Squad, like the rest of the Coiling Dragon Army, had already left the capital of Xiji and reached the easternmost city of the former Xiji Kingdom, just a step away from the border.

With a permanent population of over ninety thousand, this was Xiji's fourth-largest city, barely able to accommodate the Coiling Dragon Army's garrison needs. Of course, Xiji had already fallen. At Zhong Shengguang's request, General Hong renamed the city Yuheng City.

Yuheng Star is the brightest of the Big Dipper, illuminating the path home for the soldiers of Coiling Dragon City every night.

The army had been reorganizing here for two days, ready to advance eastward at any moment.

No sooner had he stretched than Willow's call came from outside: "Hey, everyone! Come out and eat dumplings, you lazybones!"

He Lingchuan sprang up and headed out. Door Plank, who had been snoring in the corner, ran even faster than him.

A large pot had been set up in the open area outside, with plump, white dumplings rolling around in the boiling water. A few had burst, coating the broth with a glistening layer of oil.

Just looking at the pot, it was clear that Willow's cooking skills were probably on par with He Lingchuan's. Door Plank sat down and scooped out a few dumplings, hissing from the heat while praising Willow's cooking.

He had to praise his own wife.

Even with her thick skin, Willow's face flushed slightly: "Several of the ones I wrapped broke; the good ones were all wrapped by Old Man Liu."

The ones that had burst were all hers.

Old Man Liu stood nearby, in his fifties, dark, thin, and slightly hunched. A headscarf was tied around his forehead, perfectly matching He Lingchuan's impression of hardworking, humble laborers.

He brought over two more trays of raw dumplings, placing them beside the pot, his eyes crinkling into slits as he smiled: "Eat plenty, there's more than enough!"

Old Man Liu had put in a lot of effort.

No sooner had He Lingchuan sat down than Old Man Liu scooped him a bowl of dumplings. But the one he gave Willow was so full it was almost overflowing.

The Broken Blade Squad sat down and ate heartily.

Ordinarily, army rations were very simple: large, filling portions of turnip stew, dense steamed buns, a bit of dried meat, and pickles.

However, the elders and villagers of Xiluo from nearby, hearing the news, came rushing with pigs and sheep, carrying cakes and delivering meals, continuously bringing provisions to the Coiling Dragon Army.

As a result, the Coiling Dragon Army received several extra meals. Tonight, the dense steamed buns were replaced with dumplings, even offering two flavors: pork and green onion, and carrot and egg.

Willow and Alu had gone over in the afternoon to help wrap dumplings. The finished products, when served, were each half a palm in size, plump and substantial, bursting with oil when bitten into.

Old Man Liu, who had trekked over twenty *li* to deliver meat and vegetables, was from Rongshan. He took an immediate liking to Willow upon seeing her and insisted on adopting her as his goddaughter. Later, everyone learned that he had come to Xiji from the Coiling Dragon Wilderness years ago, and his wife and only daughter had died in the Rongshan riots several years prior.

No one had the heart to refuse his kindness.

For the past two days, Yuheng City had been filled with laughter and cheer.

Even though everyone was on the front lines.

To the east lay another small state, Jintao.

However, this nation had been terrified by the Coiling Dragon Army's swift conquest of Xiji. Now, heavy troops were amassed along their border, confronting the Coiling Dragon Army.

If He Lingchuan were to climb a tree now, he could even see the fires on the other side of the border.

Those were Jintao's troops.

It was said that Jintao had mobilized its entire nation, prepared to defend their homeland at all costs.

With both sides staring each other down like this, it was highly likely sparks would fly.

He Lingchuan understood that the Coiling Dragon Army's effortless conquest of Xiji was primarily due to speed. They had traversed the Xiji mountains and entered the undefended plains before the enemy could react.

In He Lingchuan's view, Jintao was now both wary and prepared, and it was a mountainous region. For the Coiling Army to achieve a swift victory with minimal casualties, as before, would be quite difficult.

It could be said that the Coiling Dragon Army's eastward return would only now encounter real resistance.

Zhong Shengguang and other high-ranking officials were surely well aware of this.

It remained to be seen how they would strategize.

He Lingchuan sat up halfway. There were still bonfires and voices nearby.

Due to their previous great victory, the morale of the entire army was high.

He overheard one soldier say: "Last year, when I was with my uncle passing through Dragon's Throat Pass, a minor official there, seeing we were from Coiling Dragon City, demanded we unload over six hundred items from our cart for a contraband inspection! There was a conflict then, and he even spat at us. Heh heh, what a coincidence, I ran into him on the street yesterday!"

"How did you deal with him?"

"I followed him home and then told him his neighbors reported him for secretly hoarding weapons!" The man laughed. "He was so scared he almost knelt down. I made him bring out every single one of his belongings for inspection. And wouldn't you know it, I really did find two long blades! Then his entire family knelt before me!"

Laughter erupted all around.

He Lingchuan knew those were other squads from the Coiling Dragon Army.

The Coiling Dragon Army was stationed in Yuheng West City. This area was filled with mansions and estates, home to the wealthy, but had been temporarily requisitioned by the Coiling Dragon Army as a camp to avoid disturbing the lives of the city's common people.

General Hong had also specifically issued a proclamation stating that as long as one was a law-abiding citizen, their life in Yuheng City would be protected.

Of course, the unspoken implication was that the Coiling Dragon Army held the final right of interpretation for the term 'law-abiding citizen.'

Over the past several days, the main cities, under the watchful eye of the Coiling Dragon Army, had returned to normal life and operation. Shops on the streets opened for business, and the flow of people in the markets gradually increased.

The cities began to get back on track, as if the month-long war of conquest had never happened.

In fact, due to the Coiling Dragon Army's rapid assault, only the royal palace had put up a desperate resistance. Even the capital's infrastructure and environment suffered minimal damage, making restoration relatively easy.

After resting and resupplying in Yuheng City, the Coiling Dragon Army was set to depart and continue its eastward return. General Hong had already dispatched several scout teams to gather intelligence on Jintao's military situation.

This was also the focus of heated discussion throughout the army in recent days. A great victory with minimal cost had filled everyone with anticipation for their journey back to their homeland.

War was never simple, but He Lingchuan understood that the truth was far more complex than that.

After finishing his dumplings and soup, He Lingchuan climbed back onto the roof and began playing the *xun*.

A mouse passing by on the roof beam stumbled at the sound.

As a beginner, he was still prone to missed notes and poor rhythm.

Hu Min rolled his eyes and said to Door Plank: "Here we go again. The boss hasn't given us a break these past few nights."

Door Plank also whispered: "He's still better at playing the flute."

A poorly played *xun* sounded like a ghost's wail, which was rather fitting for a battlefield where people died every day.

After fighting battles, killing enemies, and treating wounds, whenever He Lingchuan had nothing to do, he would practice his musical instruments, under the guise that military life needed musical diversion.

There was no other way; Master Sun would be giving an exam when they returned.

Other squads wanted to protest, but when they got closer and realized it was Broken Blade making ghostly wails—no, playing the *xun*—they turned on their heels and went back.

Battle heroes always enjoyed special privileges.

Fortunately, Broken Blade didn't torment them for too long tonight, as a series of military whistles suddenly rang out from the front:

"Assemble! Assemble! Important military news to be announced!"

"Important military news?" Everyone dropped what they were holding and quickly rushed to assemble in the West City Plaza.

This area originally had many buildings, but most were destroyed during the street fighting to breach the city. The Coiling Dragon Army simply ordered them razed to the ground, creating a plaza capable of holding several thousand people.

Soon, thousands of people were in position, torches lit the sky, everyone stood ramrod straight, and yet the entire plaza was silent.

General Hong, in full military uniform, emerged with another person.

This person's attire was different from that of Coiling Dragon City or the former Xiji.

Illuminated by the torchlight, his expression was quite uneasy.

"This is an envoy sent from the capital. He arrived here first and will then carry a message to Coiling Dragon City!" General Hong announced in a raised voice, then turned to the envoy and said, "Come, please read the King's decree aloud!"

"Ah?" The envoy's face filled with astonishment at her latter remark: "General, this order is only for you and Commander Zhong."

"Oh?" General Hong reached out to him. "Then give it to me."

The envoy was greatly displeased: "It should be received kneeling!"

General Hong snatched the decree with a swift hand, so quickly that the envoy didn't even react. She then unfolded it and began to read aloud.

It turned out that the King had ordered the envoy to rush day and night to deliver a reprimand: accusing Zhong Shengguang of unilaterally raising an army, damaging diplomatic relations, and using Xiji not to enhance Xiluo's prestige but to infringe upon friendly neighbors and create powerful enemies on all sides, thereby failing to understand the King's intentions and further plunging the motherland into war and conflict.

It also stated that Xiluo had never issued a relocation order to Coiling Dragon City, and therefore;

"'The Coiling Dragon Army is hereby ordered to immediately return west, to guard our own territory, and not to trespass upon friendly nations!'" General Hong spread her hands, indicating she was done reading the last sentence.

A commotion rippled through the audience below. Everyone's eyes widened, and even the most disciplined Great Wind Army soldiers couldn't help but exchange glances.

"This actually happened!" they thought. "They actively returned to the country, and the King actually issued a reprimand!"

"Their army advanced swiftly, conquering all in its path, yet their motherland isn't proud but ashamed!"

"The King actually wants them to go back!"

"Back to an environment surrounded by enemies and isolated."

Willow whispered: "No way, really?"

Door Plank's voice was muffled: "Son of a bitch, they won't let us go back!"

Such grumbling quickly spread through the ranks, regardless of the occasion.

The Xiluo envoy in front, unable to bear their angry stares, kept wiping sweat from his brow. "This is improper protocol, General, you have overstepped!"

Seeing is believing; General Hong's arrogance was even greater than rumored. She actually read the King's decree directly to the common soldiers!

This was a grave military secret, a matter of national importance. The King had specifically ordered him to deliver the decree to Zhong Shengguang privately, with no third person present.

Well, now! Thousands of ears had heard it!

These common soldiers were all simple-minded. What did they understand of national strategy?

He would definitely report this truthfully when he returned! General Hong ignored him and simply asked the soldiers below the platform: "Have you all heard clearly?"