Chapter 45: Throwing a Stone to Test the Path
In the early morning, as the sun began to rise, Rong Feijun and Qi Xiao led their troops, riding at the front. Fu Yunzhi and Xiao Zijun sat in a carriage behind the procession, while Shen Linye and Mu Linglong rode around freely, not following the main group.
Qi Xiao looked at Wulanbaer beside Rong Feijun and the Shahan people behind him. “King of Shahan, this is…”
“Wulanbaer will go to the capital to help me fight the war,” Rong Feijun said.
Qi Xiao winked at him. “Hmm?”
“Hmm.”
“…” Qi Xiao was stunned. It wasn’t a “Hmm?” but a “Hmm.”!
“General Qi,” Wulanbaer said lightly, “if you wink at my person again, I will gouge out your eyes.”
Rong Feijun: “…”
Qi Xiao: “…” Holy crap! Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap!
His eyes instantly lit up. Rong Feijun didn’t need to think to know that this fellow was probably already thinking about getting the details from him to use as material for his storybooks…
“After we get back to the capital,” Qi Xiao said with a benevolent expression, “let’s have a good chat.”
Rong Feijun: “…”
They had arrived in separate groups, but after leaving Li City, with Qi Xiao’s personal guards, Rong Feijun’s original procession, and the Shahan people, they had formed a massive contingent. The horses kicked up a low cloud of dust as they passed over the sand.
When the procession reached a sand dune, Wulanbaer said to Qi Xiao, “General Qi, let’s part ways here. We should go our separate ways now. Your destination is Dingzhou, right?”
Qi Xiao nodded. He did indeed need to go to Dingzhou to gather his Southern Conquest Army, then head south to intercept Junce and prevent their army from joining forces with Sheng Luo to attack the capital. If the capital fell, the remaining vassal states and counties would be meaningless.
“Be safe,” Rong Feijun said. “I will wait for your triumphant return in the capital.”
“You be safe too, Your Majesty. If that one next to you bullies you, I’ll beat him up when I get back.”
Wulanbaer raised an eyebrow.
With that, Qi Xiao pulled on his reins and shouted to his men, “Left wing! Change course to the east!”
Besides his own men, Mu Linglong and Shen Linye also…
Rong Feijun watched him ride away into the distance and closed his eyes, silently praying to the heavens for his safety.
“You should pray to Tataliya,” Wulanbaer smiled, taking Rong Feijun’s hand from an angle where others couldn’t see. “I remember that Langxuan doesn’t worship any gods or have any faith, just simply worshiping the heavens and praying for peace and blessings. But now that you’re with me, Tataliya will listen to you.”
Rong Feijun averted his gaze and looked at the sand without a word.
Wulanbaer smiled. Whenever he teased him, Rong Feijun would be speechless and wouldn’t look at him. This reaction was so cute.
“Procession, forward!”
Qi Xiao didn’t stay in Dingzhou for long. After gathering his troops, he rushed to Xianju City.
The Junce army was currently pressing down on Lianzhou. After regrouping, they would surely head to Xianju City next. Qi Xiao wanted to get there before them and seize the advantage. If their strengths were equal, the one defending the city would have the upper hand.
Although Xianju City had a poetic name, it had become a military fortress due to its geographical location. The city was mostly filled with weapon shops and military camps, having nothing to do with poetry or picturesque scenery.
The Lord of Xianju City had been waiting for a long time. Seeing Qi Xiao arrive, he excitedly led the city’s soldiers out to greet him.
“General Qi!” The city lord, Yao Renhui, was over fifty, with a small goatee and a shifty, rat-like face. Qi Xiao inwardly cringed, then said with a serious expression, “I’m sorry to trouble you to personally welcome me, Lord Yao.”
“No trouble, no trouble!” With that, Yao Renhui let out a creepy, cackling laugh…
Qi Xiao waved for his lieutenant to settle the troops, while he himself rode over to the carriage.
“Yunzhi, Young Master Xiao, we’ve arrived.”
Fu Yunzhi lifted the curtain and saw Qi Xiao leading a horse.
He handed the reins to Xiao Zijun. “This is your horse. Come to the main camp with us to discuss our strategy. We may need your intelligence.”
Fu Yunzhi’s eyes asked Qi Xiao, Where’s my horse?
Qi Xiao held out his hand and smiled. “The general’s wife should naturally ride with the general.”
“…” So many people are watching.
“We’re going to get married in the future anyway,” Qi Xiao continued. “Are you afraid of people knowing?”
“Tsk.”
And so, the entire Southern Conquest Army watched as their general held a young man in red and entered the city, looking as pleased as punch. The general’s face was solemn and steady, while the young man in red, though exquisitely handsome, had an arrogant expression, his robes fluttering in the wind. The two of them, leaning against each other, created a dazzling sight.
Yao Renhui was surprised. They said General Qi’s nickname was Qi the Shura, that he was stern and his military discipline was extremely strict. Yet the way he held the person in his arms was so gentle.
Fu Yunzhi looked at Xiao Zijun, who was some distance away, and whispered, “Do you really trust this person of unknown origin, Xiao Zijun? Is it alright to let him discuss battle plans with us?”
“Even if he’s a spy, he can’t cause any trouble under my watch,” Qi Xiao said. “I’ll keep an eye on him. No need to worry.”
“Then it’s up to you.”
The commander of the Xianju City garrison was named Wang Zhou, also a capable young general. As a military fortress, Rong Feijun had naturally dispatched elites to govern Xianju City.
Wang Zhou had originally wanted to go with Yao Renhui to welcome Qi Xiao, but he was tied up with military affairs. By the time he was finally done, Qi Xiao had already led Fu Yunzhi and a few of his lieutenants to the main tent of the military camp.
Although Wang Zhou’s appearance was ordinary, his features were amiable and pleasing, and he had an air of righteousness about him. He has the face of a good person, Fu Yunzhi thought, the kind of look that makes people trust him.
“General Wang.” Qi Xiao nodded at him.
“This general was unable to welcome you at the city gate. I have failed in my duty!”
Qi Xiao shook his head to show he didn’t mind and walked over to a rack by the side of the tent to examine it. A large map was hanging on it, clearly marking the nearby terrain.
Seeing Fu Yunzhi walk over, he pointed to Xianju City’s location on the map.
“There are many dense forests near Xianju City,” Fu Yunzhi said after looking at it. “Perhaps we can use them to formulate a plan.”
Just as they were speaking, Shen Linye and Mu Linglong walked into the tent.
“Linglong and I have been at the back of the procession,” Shen Linye said as soon as he entered. “We were moving slower than you, so we discovered something…”
“What is it?”
“A group of living dead are heading towards Xianju City. There aren’t many, but they can’t be underestimated. After all, you know very well that the living dead can’t be killed.”
Qi Xiao frowned.
Tsk, the people of Junce are really impatient…
