Chapter 115 The New Commander
After a three-day holiday, Lin Changning and Qi Rong, along with several commanders, drank for three days. On the third day, after returning to duty, around the afternoon, a soldier sent word that he should return to his tent first.
Upon receiving the letter, Lin Changning and Lao Zhou headed back to the city together. On the way, they unexpectedly ran into Lao Zhang and Lao Ma. Lao Ma winked at Lin Changning and sneered at the carriage at the gate of the garrison: "I didn't expect the new commander to arrive so early, and by carriage no less. Tsk."
Old Zhou coughed twice: "Old Ma, you can't keep your mouth shut."
Old Ma snorted and muttered, "They've all come. Do you think we'll get away with this? Humph."
After muttering to himself, he fell silent. Old Zhou knew that Old Ma was telling the truth, but it was not good to say these things in public. Old Zhang shrugged and patted Lin Changning, who was lagging behind, saying, "The words may be rough, but the reasoning is sound. Don't let them find fault with you lately."
Four men stood side by side outside the door and called out "Report!" After a long while, a slightly hoarse voice came from inside the tent and said, "Come in."
After Lin Changning followed the three people inside, he glanced at Qi Rong sitting in the hall and felt somewhat resentful. Qi Rong had taken the main seat as soon as he arrived, which clearly showed that this newcomer was not a good person.
When Qi Rong saw the group enter, his expression remained unreadable. He stood up, nodded to them, and explained, "You've arrived? This gentleman above is our new garrison commander, Zhang Bo. He was formerly the deputy commander of the Royal Guard under the capital prefecture. He traveled for half a month and just arrived at our garrison today."
The four men looked at each other, clasped their hands in a fist salute, and said, "Greetings, Commander."
The man seated at the head of the table was about thirty years old, with a square face, slightly narrowed eyes, and thick lips. He looked at the four people below with a half-smile, without telling them to rise. He just watched them maintain their bowing posture. After a while, he grinned, revealing a set of yellowed teeth, and said with his eyes darting around, "Rise."
The four men showed no emotion on their faces, but Qi Rong frowned. This new commander was probably trying to establish his authority.
Lin Changning didn't look up, his face showing composure and calmness. It's understandable that a new broom sweeps clean.
Zhang Bo, seated at the head of the table, glanced sideways at Qi Rong, his eyes gleaming with calculation: "Young Master Qi, you are no longer a commander. The court has ordered me to demote you to a chiliarch. You can no longer stay in this tent. What do you think?"
Qi Rong nodded: "Of course, I will move out today."
Zhang Bo nodded in satisfaction, a wicked smile playing on his lips. He exuded cunning and scheming. His eyes scanned the valuables in Qi Rong's tent, touching the sandalwood desk and glancing at the fine ornaments. Turning his head, he saw the fine white fox fur on the bed behind him, and greed gleamed in his eyes.
"In that case, there's no need to wait until evening; let's move it now."
Qi Rong looked at the greed on Zhang Bo's face and sneered inwardly: "Yes."
After saying that, he started packing his things. Qi Rong turned around and picked up the Four Treasures of the Study from the table. The ink was Huizhou ink, the brush was wolf hair, and the paper was also good paper from Chengxintang. The paperweight and other items were all Qi Rong's own. After packing up a few exquisite items, Zhang Bo couldn't hold back any longer and grabbed Qi Rong's hand.
He raised a rough eyebrow: "Wait a minute! I told you to go get your own things. What are you doing taking the writing implements and ornaments?"
Qi Rong pulled his hand away from Zhang Bo's and continued to pick up the valuable items on the table with a normal expression: "Commander, these things all come from my private treasury."
Zhang Bo choked and snorted coldly before falling silent. Qi Rong was taking too long to clean up by himself. Lin Changning, who disliked the new commander, cupped his hands towards Zhang Bo and said, "Commander, I'll help the commander clean up so I can make room for you sooner."
Commander Ma also offered to help pack, and upon hearing this, Lao Zhou and Lao Zhang, without saying a word, immediately began helping Qi Rong move his things.
Zhang Bo looked somewhat displeased, but seeing the men packing their things quickly, he didn't say anything in order to secure the tent as soon as possible. After Qi Rong and the others had packed half of their belongings, including clothes and odds and ends, they took the tent out. Then, Lin Changning picked up two rosewood chairs from inside the tent and carried them out.
Zhang Bo exclaimed, pointing his finger at Lin Changning: "Hey, you skinny one, what are you doing? I asked you to help Prince Qi move, why are you moving the rosewood chair?"
Lin Changning looked at Zhang Bo with feigned confusion: "Commander, didn't you say to let Prince Qi move his things away?"
Zhang Bo nodded: "Yes, I asked you to help him pack his things, why are you touching the items in the tent! These are all top-quality rosewood furniture, can you afford to pay for them if you break one piece?"
Lin Changning stood at the door with a chair in hand, looking at Zhang Bo with a complicated expression: "Commander, the furniture and items in this tent, including the teacup in front of you, are all Prince Qi's personal belongings. Our garrison is very poor and cannot afford so many precious things. These things were all purchased by Prince Qi himself. You said that the prince should move out, so these things should naturally be taken by the prince."
Zhang Bo was speechless, wanting to say something but unable to come up with anything for a long time. After Lin Changning finished moving the tables and chairs, he followed Qi Rong back to the bed. The two of them carried the bed out of the tent, when Zhang Bo shouted, "Wait, wait a minute! Why are you moving the bed too?"
Qi Rong raised an eyebrow and smiled: "This bed was a gift from my uncle, the King of Chu, so it's naturally my personal property. Commander? Can't I move it?"
Zhang Boqiang argued illogically: "Then shouldn't it be classified as a camp tent if it's kept there? It should be confiscated!"
Qi Rong sneered: "The tents have their own matching tables and chairs, which will be delivered later. I grew up in the Prince's mansion and am a bit too precious. These items all come from the Prince's mansion and are marked with the Prince's seal. If they are taken into the public treasury, I'm afraid no one will dare to use them. If the commander wants to find some precious furniture to confiscate, he can make a set himself and put it into the garrison. The ones I use were gifts from my family, so I'm afraid it won't be allowed to confiscate them."
Zhang Bo looked at the tents that were almost half empty and gritted his teeth: "Your Highness has great wealth. I am just a minor official and can hardly compare to Your Highness's wealth."
After moving the bed out, Lin Changning went back in. This time, she stared intently at the desk and chair under Zhang Bo, blinked her eyes, and said innocently, "Commander, please get up. This desk and chair also belong to Prince Qi."
Zhang Bo glared hatefully at Lin Changning, then looked at Qi Rong, who was standing in the tent by the door tidying up military books, and snorted coldly. He flicked his sleeve and stood up to make room for Lin Changning. When he saw Lin Changning effortlessly lift the table with one hand and carry the chair out with the other, his eyes widened. He seemed surprised that Lin Changning had such strength and was momentarily stunned.
"There really is such a person."
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