Chapter 113 It seemed that as long as Ji Chengnin was there, then…
Although Ji Chengning didn't know what grudge Cui Yao had against the emperor, his cousin's cold and disdainful attitude, even mixed with disgust, whenever she mentioned the emperor made him uneasy.
Ji Chengnin hurriedly returned to the government office. He strode into the study, and the door slammed shut behind him.
The person who was reviewing official documents looked up and gave him a very gentle smile. Before he could say "I'm back," Ji Chengnin was already behind him and wrapped his arms around his waist.
It took a lot of effort.
Cui Yao could feel that those arms were trembling.
So he gently put down his pen, placed his hand on the back of Ji Chengnin's hand, tilted his head and said softly, "What's wrong?"
The next moment, he heard Ji Chengnin's hoarse voice in his ear, "The emperor's move is to use you as a bargaining chip to control me. I've dragged you down, A-Yao."
The Adam's apple rolled rapidly, the cartilage rubbing against each other.
Ji Chengning almost tasted the blood.
This kind of life, where you're at the mercy of others, like fish on a chopping board... my fingers involuntarily tighten, making a cracking sound.
After these words were spoken, the room fell silent for a few seconds.
Cui Yao suddenly smiled, tilting his head so that his nose touched Ji Chengning's.
“I was just a minor official who was bought out of office, but the emperor promoted me to such a high-ranking position and with such generous salary, which is an offense. Besides,” he said with a hint of affectionate reproach, “couldn’t he have disregarded the young marquis’s feelings? It’s not that the emperor valued my talent and insisted on using me.”
Cui Yao flicked her fingers and wiped the cold sweat from Ji Chengning's forehead.
His veins were bulging, and he deliberately lingered on that patch of skin for a few more seconds.
The Chengning before me is so different from what I used to know.
His face was white, his lips were white, but the corners of his eyes were tinged with a faint red, and his veins were bulging. The owner was clearly extremely angry and worried, but powerless to do anything about it.
For a time, the conflict between these two diametrically opposed desires drove Cui Yao almost insane.
I want to break him, to see him break down, so he can't even cry anymore.
She wanted to cherish him and let him sleep peacefully in her arms.
Cui Yao finally whispered, "I'm here in the capital, you don't need to worry."
He could feel Ji Chengnin's arms slowly loosening as he held him.
Cui Yao pressed down on his hand, preventing him from letting go.
“These days won’t last much longer,” Ji Chengnin whispered in Cui Yao’s ear. “Wait for me.”
Cui Yao's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
He seemed to sense something and turned to look at Ji Chengnin.
Their eyes met, and they both saw the same understanding in each other's eyes. No words were needed; their hearts were connected.
Cui Yao hugged Ji Chengning and whispered, "Good, we await the Crown Prince's triumphant return."
...
This departure was quite urgent. In the past few days, in addition to confirming the other generals appointed by the emperor, Ji Chengning also checked the logistics and brought all the new cannons that Yanjun had never had before. After all, none of these were needed in the capital, and it was better to put them to use in his hands than to let them gather dust in the treasury.
They also looted all the nearly one thousand muskets in the Ministry of Works.
The imperial court had not fought a war for many years. Although the Ministry of Works was still developing new firearms, most of them were used as gifts for the emperor, such as the two exquisitely designed muskets that the young marquis possessed.
Ji Chengnin not only "took" the guns from the other party's inventory, but also sighed, "After so many years, the output of the Ministry of Works is so low, which has deeply disappointed this general."
It's fine to use it, but why be so picky?
The officials accompanying the Minister of Works glared at him angrily.
Not daring to get too angry, she quietly glared at him.
Shen Ying, the director of the Ministry of Works, said politely, "Thank you for your consideration. Each one will cost one hundred and fifty taels of silver."
Ji Chengning was speechless for a few seconds before objecting to Shen Ying's opportunistic and exorbitant demands: "You've included your retirement savings after you retire?" He then leaned closer, grinning shamelessly, and said, "I've heard that the barbarians have a very special kind of firearm. It's not big, but it has a long range. It seems to have come from some far west. Once I capture it, I'll send the first batch to the Ministry of Works so you can take it apart and see its internal structure."
Shen Ying half-opened his thin eyelids and said, "Young Master, your words are more pleasing than your singing."
Ji Chengning laughed, leaned closer and whispered, "I was just kidding. Director Shen is magnanimous and will definitely not hold it against me." He put his hands together as if worshipping a god, showing a rare hint of obedience. "Right now, who else can I rely on besides Director Shen?"
Chen Ying paused for a moment.
He seemed to avoid meeting Ji Chengnin's gaze, his tone indifferent: "The situation on the frontier is unclear, young marquis, make good use of the Ministry of Works' guns."
Only by returning victorious can one avoid having wasted their life.
Ji Chengning knew exactly what he meant. He gave Shen Ying a deep look, raised his lips, and said in a drawn-out voice, "I knew it. You treat me the best, sir."
Just after Ji Chengnin sent men to "loot" the Ministry of Works, a subordinate official said, "Director, should we inform His Majesty?"
"What are you saying? Didn't you see General Ji carrying His Majesty's decree? Since His Majesty has said that General Ji may take whatever he desires in the capital, why should we abandon that matter?" Shen Ying casually straightened his sleeves. "You really want to send the memorial up and see how he reacts?"
The subordinate quickly replied, "I was mistaken."
Indeed, these days, apart from the most important memorials which are submitted to His Majesty, which one is simply glanced at and approved by the Imperial Censor? Why would they bother making themselves uncomfortable?
...
Five days later, in the outskirts of Beijing.
The sky was high and the clouds were light, with strong winds blowing in gusts.
Zhou Yu came to see him off in person. His face was a little pale, but his eyes were very bright, staring at Ji Chengnin without blinking.
Compared to the last farewell, the atmosphere this time was even more somber, but the soldiers present were far less apprehensive and nervous than before; instead, they were filled with fervor.
It seems that achieving great things and bringing glory to one's family is just around the corner.
Looking at the figure on the high platform, they realized that their trust in Ji Chengnin, the head coach, had reached its peak.
It seems that as long as Ji Chengnin is around, nothing is impossible.
Ji Chengning accepted the wine offered by Zhou Yu, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp.
The young general drew his sword, pointing it straight to the sky, and shouted, "Send the troops!"
The jet-black command flag, like a swimming dragon, drew a sharp arc in mid-air.
"send troops!!"
All the generals and soldiers spoke in unison, their voices resounding throughout the world.
The army sped toward Cangzhou.
They advanced at full speed and entered Cangzhou territory in less than half a month.
The further northwest you go, the colder the climate becomes.
It was still early autumn in Luoyang, with only a few leaves yet to fall, but in Cangzhou, the north wind was already howling and the chill was biting.
The army entered Changyang Pass, but did not enter the city. Instead, it joined up with the Cangzhou army stationed on the outskirts of the city.
now.
Cangzhou Military Camp.
The garrison commander stationed inside Changyang Pass was named Zhou Qing'an, who was Zhou Mufang's father.
"Uncle Zhou!"
Just as Zhou Qing'an was about to give a military salute, Ji Chengning grabbed him.
"General, this is against etiquette."
Ji Chengning said, “Outside, you are a veteran; inside, you are an elder. Since you are not the one who commands the troops, why bother with those formalities?” He smiled as he spoke, “If my second uncle knew that Uncle Zhou greeted me, he would definitely say that I am too ‘well-mannered’.”
He emphasized the importance of following rules.
Zhou Qingan was slightly relieved and looked at Ji Chengning, feeling endless emotions.
"Uncle, where is Mu Fang?" Ji Chengnin asked.
Zhou Qingan snapped out of his daze and hurriedly said, "Quickly call Zhou Mufang in."
In fact, there was no need for the guards to call him. Zhou Mufang had been waiting outside the council hall for a long time. When he heard his father's voice, he rushed in.
Ji Chengning looked over.
Zhou Mufang had grown much taller and darker. He wasn't fair-skinned to begin with, and the harsh winds and sun in the far northwest had made him shiny with black skin. When he grinned, his two canine teeth were showing, making him look like a majestic wolf.
"You actually came!" Zhou Mufang exclaimed.
Their eyes met, and Zhou Mufang suddenly moved closer to Ji Chengning.
He smelled of a mixture of sand and gunpowder, but strangely, Ji Chengnin didn't find it repulsive; instead, he felt completely at ease.
It makes me feel more at ease than smelling those luxurious whalebone incense and ambergris.
Zhou Qingan glared at Zhou Mufang.
Ji Chengning didn't stand on ceremony and pulled Zhou Mufang in front of him.
He and Zhou Mufang had been together since childhood, as close as left and right hands, and they spoke their minds directly. He asked bluntly, "May I ask, I have brought 15,000 Zhongzhou soldiers with me this time. We have no shortage of armor and weapons, but we are short of horses, and we can't even give one musket to every ten men. Uncle, Mufang, I heard before I came that the Cangzhou army has 20,000. I wonder if that is enough?"
After all, Cangzhou borders various ethnic groups and is covered with grasslands, making it a place with no shortage of military horses.
He wondered if there were any extra warhorses that could be spared.
"Twenty thousand?" Before Zhou Qing'an could speak, Zhou Mufang sneered, "Only twelve or thirteen thousand," he shook his finger, "and that includes those who were injured some time ago, the elderly and weak, and those who are too sick to get out of bed."
Cangzhou was a battleground, and soldiers were always in short supply. Not to mention young and strong men, when there was really no one available, even children who were not tall enough to reach a spear had to go to the battlefield. Unlike other places, Cangzhou had female soldiers, which was very much in keeping with the tradition of the legendary Luan Yi.
"But the troops and provisions will still be requested from the court for 20,000 men." Ji Chengnin narrowed his eyes; he had seen the court's expenditure on provisions.
He was prepared for the possibility of corrupt underground officials before he arrived, but he never expected them to be so audacious.
"After layers of deductions, we only have less than 10,000 usable men left." Zhou Mufang sighed and patted Ji Chengning on the shoulder. "Young Marquis, what you've taken on isn't just a hot potato, but a cannonball, the kind that could explode at any moment."
As he spoke, a hint of melancholy appeared on his face.
Zhou Qing'an's face darkened. "Zhou Mufang."
Ji Chengning laughed loudly, "Being so childish before the war even starts, Zhou Mufang, where has your spirit gone?"
"Ha," Zhou Mufang scoffed, her troubled expression vanishing instantly. "Who's acting like a child? I'm just worried about you. Never mind, since you know what's going on, why should I nag? I'll just stay by your side no matter what you need to do!"
Ji Chengnin glanced at him with a smile, "Who wants you to risk your life? I want you to live and make a contribution."
His peach blossom eyes slanted sideways, seemingly both affectionate and indifferent, shimmering like water. Zhou Mufang's heart trembled at the sight. Fortunately, he was tanned and his blush was not visible, otherwise Ji Chengning would have been laughing at him until next year.
He couldn't help but curse Ji Chengnin inwardly, wondering how he could grow up to look more and more like a vixen.
Anyone who didn't know better would think that the young marquis had actually swallowed human hearts and drunk their essence.
Ji Chengnin then said, "I would like to trouble you to ask who is in charge of the supplies for the Cangzhou army. I have other questions to ask."
Zhou Mufang jumped up. "I'll go call them."
He disappeared like a gust of wind. A short while later, the sound of hurried footsteps could be heard, almost as if he was running in, accompanied by angry shouts of "Let me go! Are you crazy?" Two guards opened the tent flap and saw Zhou Mufang carrying in a bluish-gray object.
The thing was long and thin, and it kept struggling.
Ji Chengning looked closely and realized that it was a person!
Zhou Mufang deftly put the person down.
The man's face was flushed with anger, and the scar on the corner of his lip turned downwards. He suppressed his anger and faced the commander-in-chief, but he was stunned when he met Ji Chengnin's gaze.
"Lord Ji?" His voice trembled, filled with disbelief, and he couldn't help but take a few steps forward.
The severe torture he endured damaged his legs, and he still has great difficulty walking.
No wonder Zhou Mufang carried it here.
Ji Chengning was also stunned for a few moments.
Zhang Yuhuai?
Isn't this Zhang Yuhuai, the one who led the blockade of the examination hall in the cheating case?
Zhang Yuhuai had previously said he wanted to come to Cangzhou, which was indeed arranged by Ji Chengning, but no one expected that the Zhou father and son would keep him in the army.
Zhou Mufang patted Zhang Yuhuai on the shoulder with a grin and said to Ji Chengnin, "When have I ever not taken your arrangements to heart?"
Zhou Qingan explained, "Mr. Zhang is very disciplined and has a sharp mind, so I kept him in the army to serve."
Zhang Yuhuai seemed to wake from a dream; his face and ears were red just now, but now even his eyes were red. He immediately bowed his head to pay his respects.
Zhou Mufang grabbed him by the back of the neck.
Ji Chengnin gave him an approving look.
Ji Chengnin waved his hand, "Mr. Zhang, time is of the essence. We can talk about catching up later. Just tell me everything about the current situation of the Cangzhou Army."
Zhang Yuhuai replied, "Yes!"
Having handled the logistics affairs of the Cangzhou army for many years, and possessing an exceptional memory, he reported matters concisely, clearly, and simply.
In short, the Cangzhou army inside Changyang Pass was far fewer than 20,000 men. After deducting the wounded and the old, there were no more than 10,000 men capable of fighting. They were not lacking in weapons, though. The people of Cangzhou were fierce and every household carried knives and armor. If this had happened ten years ago, they might have been able to go to the battlefield. However, after years of harassment and struggle, there were almost no civilians in the city who could join the army.
The Cangzhou army had few horses and only the firearms they had previously captured.
Ji Chengning originally thought that the Zhongzhou Army was poor enough, but in comparison, the Zhongzhou Army was incredibly wealthy. After all, it was a military force that was nominally directly under the emperor, so it was still respectable in appearance.
"besides……"
Ji Chengnin looked up and asked dryly, "Anything else?"
Zhou Qingan sighed.
Zhou Mufang then gave him a look that said, "Look what I just said."
Zhang Yuhuai was speechless for a moment.
Ji Chengnin hurriedly said, "Go on, go on."
"Also, the Cangzhou army is short of food supplies." He sighed.
Firstly, Cangzhou had been at war for years, and the imperial court already considered Cangzhou a burden. The amount of grain and fodder distributed was insufficient, and after being embezzled by officials at all levels, it was considered good if only two or three out of ten reached the Cangzhou army. Secondly, batches of young and strong men from Cangzhou were sent to the battlefield, and even young and strong women were fighting. Apart from the elderly and young children, the land was abandoned, and the possibility of obtaining grain and fodder from the nearby people was too small.
Even if the people were willing to give it to them, they could not accept it.
Winter comes early to Cangzhou and is extremely cold. Once it snows, nothing grows. This is the food we use to save our lives.
Ji Chengnin seemed to be deep in thought.
He stared at the sand table.
On the sand table, the location of Broken Gold City has been covered with a handful of red sand.
The Yi tribe occupied Suijin, but according to Zhou Qing'an's military report, the city's food supplies had been exhausted, and the barbarian army had not yet withdrawn. It seemed that they intended to occupy the place, but the soldiers and civilians had no food. If they wanted to maintain peace in the long term, they had to transport food from outside.
Ji Chengnin suddenly looked up. "Gentlemen, have any of your scouts seen anything?" He pointed to the location of Suijin City. "Is anyone transporting grain to Suijin City?"
Zhou Mufang and Zhou Qingan exchanged glances. "No."
It's been a month.
A large army cannot carry too much food on a march because transportation capacity is insufficient.
"Then, it will be in the next few days." Ji Chengnin suddenly revealed a smile.
There's no food, is there?
There are some on the other side!
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