Chapter 110

The prison cell at the county government office had not been repaired for a long time. It was damp and dark inside, with a rotten smell. Xie Chen took a slight sniff as he pushed Lin Shuge in. "Brother, your injury is not fully healed yet. You shouldn't come to a place like this."

Lin Shuge patted Xie Chen's hand that was holding the wheelchair in a soothing manner, "It's okay, I'll just stay for a while."

Xie Chen had no choice but to continue pushing him forward. When the officer on duty saw them, he immediately came up and said, "The cell is filthy. Sir, why are you here?"

"Take us to see the Qiang people we captured last time."

The officer let out a cry of "Ai" and cleared the way with a stick in hand. He angrily cursed the screaming prisoners in the cell, then turned back and said, "Sir, please come this way. Those Qiang people are locked up inside."

The officer pointed inside, and Lin Shuge saw several people who were obviously dressed as foreigners, slumped on the ground with disheveled hair, completely different from their heroic and proud posture that day.

Someone looked over here, smiled slightly, and spoke something in Qiang language.

Lin Shuge didn't understand and turned his head to look at Xie Chen, but Xie Chen just sneered and said a few words to him. Unexpectedly, the man who was originally slumped there suddenly changed his expression and started cursing angrily.

Although Lin Shuge didn't know what he was saying, he was definitely cursing from his angry look.

"Zhongxuan, ask him where the iron mine is? What exactly is the Shaoliang tribe planning?"

Xie Chen nodded and said a few words in Qiang language to the leader. The leader sneered and said a few words to Xie Chen in reply.

"He said that he would never betray the tribe even if he died." Xie Chen said.

"Really? Ask him if he knows how the bandits in Huya Mountain were recruited. If he doesn't tell you, go ask Hu Yuan." Lin Shuge said indifferently.

"If he intends to surrender to Dayan, let him think about the last benefit the Xiongnu people who followed Huo Piaoqi in the previous dynasty received."

"I understand, brother." Xie Chen said to the leader, "Mutuo, Yeli is brutal, I'm afraid you won't have a good time under him. Lord Lin suggests that you think about Gao Buzhi and Zhao Po Nu back then."

Mutuo said viciously, "You are trying to bribe me instead of threatening me. You were promoted by the chieftain, but you are repaying him with hatred. You don't want the man beside you to know what you did to gain the chieftain's trust, do you?"

Xie Chen smiled contemptuously: "So what? It's just an act of survival, so what if it's a little despicable?"

"Are you really not afraid that I will tell others?" Mu Tuo threatened.

"Don't worry, if you don't agree to our conditions today, you won't have the chance to tell others later. By the way, if you don't tell others, Hu Yuan will be happy to tell others, right?" Xie Chen said with a smile, "Although he is just an unpopular son of Ye Li, he can still be useful if used well. We have kept Hu Yuan here on purpose, and it depends on your decision."

Mutuo gnashed his teeth, "When I saw you were so cruel at such a young age, I advised the chief to get rid of you early. How could someone like you be under the control of what you call barbarians? But the chief said you were talented and promoted you to his side." He dragged his tortured body straight towards this side, but was held back by the shackles. He said with bloodshot eyes, "If it weren't for your anger back then, how could the Shaoliang tribe have declined to this point? It's a pity that I couldn't kill you back then..."

"Zhongxuan..."

"Don't be afraid, brother," Xie Chen said, "I just used a little trick. You often say that people in the Central Plains love to fight for power and kill each other. I will let you prove that your so-called father-son relationship and brotherly friendship are nothing more than that. Also, I am a Yan person. If I hadn't been in danger, I would have wanted to destroy you all. Don't forget the crimes you committed in Longxi."

"Longxi... who are you?" Fear flashed in Mutuo's eyes. He looked at Xie Chen's appearance carefully and suddenly thought of someone, a person who made the entire Shaoliang tribe tremble in fear.

"What is your relationship with Xie Suwen?"

Xie Chen suddenly stepped forward, and Mu Tuo stretched out his hand to grab him, but was restrained by Xie Chen. "Of course, I want to kill the people of your Shaoliang tribe. As for the rest, you don't need to know."

"Brother, he is unwilling to cooperate." Xie Chen turned around and said to Lin Shuge.

"It's okay. You weren't hurt just now, were you? Since he doesn't cooperate, there's no point in keeping him. Just leave his body intact." Seeing that he actually wanted to hurt Xie Chen just now, Lin Shuge said lightly.

"Let's go and have someone interrogate Hu Yuan."

Mu Tuo slammed the prison door behind the two men, mumbling in Qiang dialect.

"Is he cursing again?"

Xie Chen said: "He is cursing someone, so go ahead and curse him. Let him be happy before he dies." As he pushed Lin Shuge out, he looked back at the wooden tray with a cold smile on his lips.

After walking out of the cell, Lin Shuge slowly exhaled a breath of foul air, "This place is really not a place for human beings to stay. Zhongxuan, are you going to take action?"

Although Xie Chen would come back to live during this period, he would be gone when he woke up every day. He would fall asleep immediately after returning home at night. Pingxiang was carrying out intensive training and planning.

Xie Chen hummed softly, "Brother, I just..."

"Are you wondering why I didn't ask you what you said to the leader?" Lin Shuge nodded to the clerk who greeted him, then turned to Xie Chen.

Xie Chen didn't say anything. Lin Shuge smiled and sent away Su Cheng and Chu Xu who came to comfort him. He smiled and said, "If you want to say something, you will say it naturally. Besides, you will never hurt me."

"How could that be? Even if something really happened, I would rather die than hurt you." Xie Chen looked at him and smiled gently at Chu Xu, then said thank you for your hard work. His face, which had been sour just now, was now as black as the bottom of a pot.

Lin Shuge put his hand on the hand that was pushing his wheelchair, "Don't talk nonsense, go back first, I have something to give you."

When the two of them entered the house, Xie Chen couldn't wait to ask, "What is it?"

"This is what Achuan asked during this period of time. I drew a simple topographic map based on what he said. Although you escaped from the Shaoliang tribe, it is still useful after all." He took out a piece of paper from the bookshelf.

Xie Chen took it and had a look. Not only the Shaoliang tribe, but also the activity points of the tribes around the Shaoliang tribe, such as the Dianxi tribe and the Huotu tribe, were marked out. In addition to that, there were even some rivers and mountains in the terrain distribution. Xie Chen was shocked as he held the topographic map.

This dynasty actually already had basic mapping tools and instruments, but the Yan people had not yet set foot in the Qiang people's area, so how could they have such a detailed map?

"Brother, did you make the picture yourself?"

"Not really. I asked Xiangli Gu to make a more precise scale and proportion." Later generations had the famous "Six Principles of Cartography" which could accurately draw longitude and latitude coordinates. Lin Shuge was good at geography, but he was not very professional. He could only ask Xiangli Gu to make it more precise based on the simple drawing.

"Also, a few days ago, some people reported that they found a kind of kerosene that can't be extinguished. Try it during your training these few days. It can be used as a rocket."

The so-called inextinguishable kerosene is actually the petroleum exposed on the surface. People used it to make rockets during the Warring States Period. With the current production level and the ability of the liberal arts students in Lin Shuge, they can only use it to ignite cloth strips and shoot them out with arrows.

"In addition, there is a better weapon. Ever since I knew we were going to fight the Qiang people, I asked Xiangli Gu and several reliable craftsmen to try it, but they haven't succeeded yet. What a pity, otherwise..." Lin Shuge said with some regret.

"Brother, thank you, this is enough." Xie Chen stood behind him and hugged him.

"This journey is extremely dangerous. The Qiang people come and go freely and are very fierce. Men, women, young and old can all ride horses to fight. You must be careful. Also, remember the experience of the previous dynasty. Some can be fought, and some need to be pulled. Pay attention to divide and conquer. Some Qiang people can also be used. I told the leader today that even if he is unwilling, there will always be someone who is willing." Lin Shuge looked serious and explained everything to him one by one.

"I know, brother. I know." Xie Chen buried his head on his shoulder. "I don't know how long you'll be gone this time. You have to take care of yourself. The doctor said you have a weak constitution. It's going to get cold soon. Don't catch a cold again."

"Well, I'll have someone prepare some more clothes and dry food for you. It's a pity that cotton was not planted this year, otherwise the soldiers could wear cotton clothes. Zhongxuan, fight quickly and decisively, I'll wait for your triumphant return." Lin Shuge said softly.

"Okay." Xie Chen turned around, looked at the affection in his eyes, and kissed him on the eyes.

…

Pingxiang, Qingquan County.

Xie Chen, wearing heavy armor, stood with his hands behind his back, watching the soldiers training below from the city wall. Lao Zhang came over and said, "Captain Hou, all the baggage and rations have been prepared. The scouts reported that traces of Qiang people were found near Luoyan Mountain."

"Okay, you guys follow me first." After Xie Chen finished speaking, he walked downstairs first. When he arrived at the training ground, he picked up an arrow, tied a cloth tightly to the arrowhead, dipped it in kerosene, lit it, and shot it towards a haystack.

What is Hou Chang doing? Do I have to show him my archery skills? Old Zhang stared with wide eyes. The haystack was immediately set on fire after the arrow was shot at it. He stood lazily by the side, not understanding why Hou Chang asked him to watch this. Wasn't it just a rocket?

After a while, Lao Zhang's eyes widened, "Captain Hou, why... why can't this fire be extinguished?"

Xie Chen walked towards the haystack. The straw had long been devoured by the flames, leaving only black marks on the ground. The flames seemed to be swaying in the wind like an endless spring breeze, and there was no sign of them going out.

Xie Chen picked up a basket of soil next to him and poured it on the fire. The fire gradually died down and turned into a wisp of thick smoke and dissipated.

"This is kerosene, distributed to the frontline soldiers. You can use it when necessary." Xie Chen ordered.

"Oh my god, the felt tents of the Qiang tribe are all made of fur. Wouldn't it be a beautiful sight if they were set on fire?" Old Zhang said with a smile.

"Let's find them first." Seeing that he looked as if all military achievements were already in his hands, Xie Chen couldn't help but pour a basin of cold water on him.

"Not to mention the topographic map given by County Magistrate Lin and the captured Qiang people under my command, I don't believe that we can't find their trace." Old Zhang remembered that there was indeed a general who went to fight against foreign tribes, but returned empty-handed because he got lost and didn't find the enemy. For a moment, he cursed a few words, and then clasped his hands together, muttering that he must find the Shaoliang tribe. His hands were itching after enduring for so many days.

"Okay, notify the entire army, the vanguard troops will set off with me, and the rest of the people will stay in Pingxiang." Xie Chen gave the order.

"Yes, Lord Hou." Lao Zhang straightened his attitude and saluted with his fists clasped.

Xie Chen looked at the rising sandstorm in the distance and a few birds flying through the sky with a stern look in his eyes.