Chapter 188: Chaos in Xiaocheng (Twenty-Eight) [Two Chapters Combined]

Shen Tang woke up to the smell of food.

I opened my eyes and saw a large leaf covering my head.

What is this thing?

Shen Tang paused for a moment, then raised her hand to brush the leaf aside. Without the leaf's obstruction, the dazzling golden light overhead shone down on her, so bright it was blinding. Shen Tang pushed herself up with one arm, only to belatedly realize that her arms were weak and her stomach was rumbling loudly.

Just then, a familiar male voice came from above, faintly revealing a hint of joy and relief: "Young Master Shen has finally woken up."

Zhai Le laughed and joked, "I was right, wasn't I? Cook a pot of fragrant minced meat, and Brother Chen will naturally wake up when he's starving."

Shen Tang: "..."

Hearing this address, you know who it is without even looking up.

He sat up halfway and asked, "Where are we now?"

She was still a little dazed when she woke up.

"Still outside Xiaocheng."

Shen Tang asked, "Is there any news about Wu Hui and the others?"

"Not yet." Qi Shan shook his head regretfully, then comforted him, "However, Chu Wu Hui and Uncle Gong are both veterans of the battlefield. If the two of them join forces, even that Courageous Warrior from last night couldn't hold him back. Young Master Shen, you don't need to worry about their safety."

Shen Tang had no choice but to suppress her worries for the time being.

Are you hungry?

Shen Tang's face was pale, and she looked listless. She pouted weakly and said, "I'm starving, I have no strength."

Qi Shan turned around and ladled a bowl of meat porridge into a rough wooden bowl.

He took the bowl of meat porridge, about to bring it to his lips and drink it all down, when the scene of the rebel camp from yesterday suddenly flashed into his mind. As far as the eye could see, there was utter chaos. Cattle and sheep engulfed in flames were running rampant in the rear camp, and rebel soldiers were desperately trying to put out the fire but lost their lives in the process.

A piercing scream rose into the sky amidst the flickering flames, and the air was filled with the strange smell of burning wood and fat.

The mere thought of that smell instantly killed Shen Tang's appetite. She held the perfectly warm meat porridge in her hands without saying a word.

Qi Shan asked, "Is it not to your liking?"

If it doesn't suit his taste, he can only make do. His cooking skills are just so-so. If he wants to eat what he likes, he can only wait for that bastard Chu Yao to come back.

Shen Tang replied, "I suddenly lost my appetite."

Seeing that she had put the wooden bowl aside, Qi Shan didn't force her to drink it, but couldn't help complaining inwardly—not about Shen Tang, of course, but about Chu Yao. The old young master Shen used to eat everything, but since Chu Yao came, he's become a picky eater!

so what?

It's all Chu Yao's fault!

Although Shen Tang didn't know what he was thinking, she didn't want to cause any misunderstanding: "I suddenly remembered last night, and I don't want to eat meat for the time being."

After saying that, she felt a bit pretentious. Under the current circumstances, having a bite to eat is a luxury that ordinary people can only dream of, let alone a whole bowl of meat porridge. The temperature was just right, most likely because Qi Shan had kept it warm so that she could taste it as soon as she woke up.

"That's how it is; I was overthinking it."

The meat porridge wasn't wasted either; it ended up in Zhai Le's stomach.

Only then did Shen Tang have time to observe her surroundings.

The group was in a secluded mountain hollow, surrounded by cliffs on three sides, with only a stream running through it as the exit—a good hiding place. In the distance, they could see busy soldiers, whose clothing looked very familiar…

Shen Tang suddenly remembered something.

At that moment, Yang Duwei's loud voice rang in my ears.

"The righteous man has finally awakened."

Shen Tang suppressed the twitching at the corner of her mouth.

He said somewhat awkwardly, "Hello, sir..."

She finally remembered.

Having exhausted her literary energy the previous night, coupled with the injuries sustained in battle, she was utterly worn out. She fell into a deep sleep as soon as she reached safety, sleeping soundly without a single dream until dawn. The person who came to meet them was none other than the unfortunate fellow whose tax money she had robbed—Commander Yang of the Xiaocheng garrison!

"I dare not accept the title of 'soldier,' please just call me 'Old Yang.' I have already heard about your heroic deeds from Mr. Zhai, and I admire you greatly. Truly, heroes emerge from among the young."

Commandant Yang had a square face, a thick beard, and bushy eyebrows. His dark eyes were imposing, with pupils that were positioned slightly upwards, giving him an air of aloof arrogance. He had the appearance of someone who would be perceived as stubborn and fierce by outsiders, yet at this moment he managed to force a hint of kindness into his demeanor.

Who wouldn't find it awkward after seeing it?

Shen Tang: "..."

When asked to comment, she said that smile could scare an entire class of children to tears. Scary as it may be, Chen Tang still understood the goodwill the person was trying to convey. Adopting a humble and obedient expression, she repeatedly said, "I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it."

Commander Yang's impression of Shen Tang improved even further!

Such capable, principled, selfless, humble, and polite young people are rare these days!

In particular, when Shen Tang asked him about the situation in Xiaocheng and the rebel army, and whether the rebel army would withdraw after its supplies were burned, Commander Yang appreciated Shen Tang even more.

He forced a friendly smile and stroked his beard: "I've already sent men to scout ahead. If there's any indication of a withdrawal, we'll immediately send a message to the garrison inside the city, and then launch a pincer attack!"

In fact, Commander Yang had planned to send troops for a night raid last night.

Considering their small numbers, the unknown situation at the rebel camp, and the high risk of a surprise attack, they abandoned the plan after being persuaded by Zhai Huan.

Shen Tang: "A pincer attack from both inside and outside? But I think the most urgent task is to evacuate the people as soon as possible. In the style of the rebels, once they have recovered, what awaits the people may be a thunderous retaliation."

Commander Yang shared this concern. Just as he was about to speak, he heard the sound of approaching hooves; it was the scouts he had sent out returning. Seeing the scouts' pale faces, he unusually softened his expression: "No rush, speak slowly."

In Yang Duwei's view, even if it wasn't good news, it wasn't bad news either, and a relaxed smile remained on his lips.

Who knew—

The scouts' intelligence came as a bolt from the blue.

It left his mind blank.

Two hours ago, the rebels reinforced their troops by 20,000!

Commandant Yang jumped up abruptly, his voice cracking with urgency.

"An additional 20,000 troops? Where did these 20,000 troops come from?"

However, the scout, fearing exposure, dared not inquire too much and knew nothing at this moment. He was so anxious that sweat poured down his forehead, fearing that Commander Yang would suddenly attack and kill him. Qi Shan, Shen Tang, Zhai Le, and Zhai Huan, who had just approached, all turned ashen-faced.

I thought that burning the rebel camp's supplies and provisions during the night raid would buy us a respite, or at least a few days to evacuate the people of Xiaocheng. But then, at this crucial moment, 20,000 reinforcements suddenly appeared. Did these 20,000 troops just fall from the sky?

Commander Yang knew better than anyone the significance of these 20,000 troops. His heart pounded with anxiety, his hands and feet turned ice-cold, and he murmured, "There's been no movement until now..."

Zhai Huan: "The situation on the battlefield changes in an instant. If we had all the information we needed, the rebels wouldn't have become what they are today."

Shen Tang was worried about the people in the city.

"What... should we do now?"

Even a blind man could see from the rebels' current formation that Xiaocheng couldn't be held. Optimistically, the city will fall tomorrow; pessimistically, it'll fall this afternoon—it's just a matter of the next couple of days.

Now we can only hope that our commander isn't some bloodthirsty bastard.

but--

Sometimes, whether or not to massacre a city isn't about the commander's wishes, but rather the wishes of his superior. If that superior wants to "make an example of someone," even the most merciful commander has to give the order. And then there's the mental illness of Zheng Qiao's family… the hope is slim.

Back then, Zheng Qiao used extremely bloody methods to conquer Sibao County. Now it's the turn of his two ruthless brothers who have been tormented by him for many years. Alas, there is a generation gap between the thought processes of normal people and mentally ill people. It is extremely difficult for the former to predict what shameless things the latter will do.

For a moment, a somber and grief-stricken atmosphere enveloped everyone.

Are ordinary people really left to fend for themselves?

Commander Yang clenched his fists and gritted his teeth: "If Xiaocheng is doomed, I swear to fight the traitors to the last drop of blood!"

He was already prepared to die.

Zhai Le's expression shifted slightly. He wanted to persuade Commandant Yang to reconsider, but Commandant Yang's relatives and family members were all in the city. It would be useless to say anything at this moment, so he simply fell silent.

Shen Tang suggested, "Why not sneak into the city and rescue them?"

Commandant Yang understood what she meant.

With his strength as a tenth-rank Left Vice Minister, whether he chose to surrender to save his family or sneak into the city to rescue people, he theoretically had a very high probability of preserving his family's bloodline. At the very least, he could rescue a few people, so that his entire family wouldn't have to wait to die...

but--

He glanced at the weary and desperate faces of the soldiers around him, his grief tinged with hesitation, but he still shook his head firmly.

Commandant Yang said, "This approach is not feasible."

Shen Tang asked, "Why?"

Commander Yang smiled bitterly: "One person's strength is limited. I can save three or five people, but not three or five thousand. The soldiers chose me, and they endured hardships along the way without choosing to desert. It's not just because they were worried about their families, but also because they trusted me. They trust me, how can I betray them?"

Shen Tang was stunned.

Both Yang Duwei's eyes and his expression clearly showed that he was prepared to give up his life.

Seeing everyone looking so downcast, Zhai Le said, "Don't be so pessimistic! Maybe, maybe there won't be a massacre? Such bloody and brutal things don't happen often..."

In a battle, if one side wins and then attacks defenseless civilians, they will be condemned and incite public outrage.

If the victor still has any sense of shame, they generally won't do this.

at the same time--

The rebel camp's main tent had a new owner.

The previously arrogant bearded man sat obediently on the lower left, while the barbarian he disliked sat directly opposite him on the lower right.

The "old thing" he referred to sat at the head of the main tent.

That is, his biological father.

However, this father of his had been wearing a long face ever since he arrived, treating him with utter contempt and disdain. In front of all the generals, he singled him out and berated him for half an hour. The reprimand included, but was not limited to, the previous night's fire raid…

Oh, and they're bringing up old grievances too.

Just as the bearded man had guessed, the blame was entirely placed on him, while the real culprit got away scot-free, still fiddling with a few round, lustrous pearls in his hand.

Seeing the resentment on his son's face, the old general tossed a string of Buddhist prayer beads at the bearded man: "Did you even understand what I said?"

The bearded man replied dismissively, "I understand."

As for what the old man cursed?

He didn't remember at all.

It's probably just the same old thing in a different guise.

He agreed, and then saw a strange and cold mocking smile on the face of the barbarian opposite him, which instantly ignited his anger.

"why are you laughing?"

"It's nothing, it's just a pity about my sworn brother's beautiful wife."

The bearded man nearly exploded upon hearing this.

He shouted, "You beast! How dare you covet your brother's wife?"

The other generals in the main tent looked at each other strangely. The old general was so angry that he grabbed something and threw it at the bearded man: "You are the beast! You unfilial and disrespectful thing, how dare you speak to your sworn brother? A-Nian has always been self-respecting and virtuous. How could he be interested in your women?"

The bearded man was immediately displeased upon hearing this.

What do you mean by "that barbarian has self-respect and self-love"?

In other words, does that mean he was dissolute and frivolous?

What happened to all those women he had?

Which man doesn't have three or five women in his backyard?

Young man: "Godfather."

His eyes held a hint of pleading.

Although the people present were either the old general's personal guards and officials or his trusted confidants, all of them were his own people, exposing his family's dirty laundry was not something to be praised for.

The old general's anger subsided considerably upon seeing the young man.

He waved his hand wearily: "Fine, out of respect for Anian's pleading, I won't argue with you, you unfilial son. Take him away!"

Seeing his father's trusted aide approaching him, the bearded man's face turned ashen: "Don't arrest me, this general can walk by himself!"

He thought he was being warned by the old man that he was being grounded.

To my surprise, they were taken to an open space.

The black marks left from last night's burning were still visible on the open ground. Soldiers had set up a pile of firewood there and placed a huge earthenware urn on it.

He didn't understand what was going on.

"What are you doing?"

He found out in no time.

His beloved concubine was dragged over by two soldiers like a chick. The concubine, who had never seen anything like this before, was terrified and cried out for help. The bearded man, both anxious and angry, yelled, "Let her go! Are you out of your minds?"

Who dares to touch his woman?

But no one paid him any attention.

He tried to step forward and kick the soldier away, but was immediately grabbed by the shoulders of the old men's henchmen on either side, rendering him unable to move.

A match was lit, and the earthenware jar was filled with water.

The bearded man was dumbfounded, his mind blank.

He vaguely realized something, abruptly turned his head towards the main tent, and shouted loudly. His voice reached the main tent without a response. After a while, he heard the woman's high-pitched and shrill cries for mercy, along with the sounds of splashing in the water.

As time went on, the sound became increasingly shrill and eerie.

After an unknown amount of time, the sound gradually faded until it disappeared.

The young man remained seated upright at the lower right.

No one noticed that his hands, which were hanging on his knees, slowly, slowly clenched into fists, the veins on the back of his hands bulging, his nails digging into the soft flesh of his palms, drawing beads of blood.

The others listened quietly as well.

Not long after, the bearded man was brought in.

His face was deathly pale, and his forehead was covered in cold sweat.

He felt as if all the bones in his body had been removed, and he slumped helplessly to the ground, head hanging low, lost in thought.

After a long pause, he murmured to his father, "Why?"

Outwardly, the old general was a kind-looking middle-aged man. Despite his advanced age, he was still robust and did not have the stooped and thin appearance that one would expect from an elderly person of his age: "Because he was a spy sent by the traitors of Xiaocheng to infiltrate your inner circle."

The bearded man instinctively retorted.

"She isn't!"

That concubine was clearly his wet nurse's eldest daughter!

His family background is impeccably clean; he is from the Geng Kingdom!

It has absolutely nothing to do with Xiaocheng!

(`)

P.S.: By the way, I'd also like to recommend my friend Thorn Song's new book, "Help! I Really Can't Eat Anymore" (please help me urge him to update!). It's not signed yet, so you can invest! Although the title is a bit lame, Thorn Song is an experienced author, and the content won't disappoint you.

(End of this chapter)