Along the way, Mrs. Shepherd's Purse and the others were talking about Chang Suining's deeds in Hezhou.
Lao Kang and others couldn't help but prick up their ears to listen, and the more they listened, the more incredible it seemed.
They were all shocked, including Xier and Azhi. Adian was the one who reacted the least and thought it was all normal.
Finally, Lao Kang slowly dismounted and looked at Chang Ren beside him.
Lao Kang still remembers that when the girl wanted to disguise herself as a soldier and sneak into the military camp, he tried his best to object and dissuade her, but the girl insisted and said, "Just let Uncle Ren teach me on the way, I learn things very quickly."
so……
Lao Kang couldn't help but ask Chang Ren: "...did you teach the girl all these?"
“……”Chang Ren almost fell off his horse.
He wanted to teach, but to teach someone a skill, he had to have the skill himself first...
Although this false reputation was tempting, Chang Ren did not dare to accept it: "I followed the girl's instructions and went to Xuanzhou early to deliver the message. When the girl was defending the city and killing the enemy, I did not follow her!"
Lao Kang frowned: "That's right, you don't have that ability..."
Where did the girl learn this from? Did she just follow the general?
“I taught you that.”
Chu Xing's voice sounded from his side.
Old Kang turned his head to look over, only to see Chu Xing's expression was somewhat complicated: "When I taught the girl martial arts in the capital in the past, the girl always asked about the battle and the enemy, and I often talked to the girl about the art of war..."
But he never imagined that those casual words would create such a girl.
This feeling of just planting a bean seed and then turning around to see a mountain of gold suddenly emerging from the soil... made Chu Xing shocked and relieved, but also had a layer of hidden worries.
He began to think whether there was anything wrong with what he had taught in the past. It would be very bad if he led the girl astray.
Chu Xing was reflecting all the way.
During the break, he came to Chang Kuo, bowed, and implicitly expressed his concerns.
He heard from the ladies that the girls were too brave on the battlefield. The danger brought by underestimating the enemy was secondary. What Chu Xing was most worried about was the mental state of his girls.
It was his first time on the battlefield, but he took people's heads without any burden. It is said that he could even chat and laugh while holding people's heads...
After hearing this, Chang Kuo looked at him with a slightly distorted expression: "You mean... my daughter is a natural killer?"
"I am just worried that the girl will go astray." Chu Xing was worried: "After all, most of the girl's skills were taught by me, so I also have the responsibility to discipline her..."
He looked as if he was concerned about the girl and the people of the world.
Chang Kuo: “…”
What gave him such self-confidence?
"General, you must have seen examples of people who are talented but bloodthirsty..." Chu Xing was really uneasy. When he heard the girl's behavior, he knew she clearly had the early symptoms.
"My Chang family is full of loyalty and righteousness. Even the ants in my family have been influenced by it and have developed a sense of righteousness." Chang Kuo said, "And with the protection of the heroic spirit of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince... How could we raise a monster that is bloodthirsty by nature?"
Chu Xing wanted to say something but stopped.
The Chang family is a righteous family, but what if the young master absorbs too much of their energy? After all, the young master is too righteous...
Soon, Vice General Jin came over and said, "General, we can reach Chuzhou before dark. However, the scouts ahead reported that a team of 100 people is coming from the direction of Chuzhou. They seem to be from the Chuzhou government."
Chuzhou government?
While Chang Kuo was thinking, Chang Suining came over with a kettle.
The father and daughter discussed the affairs of Chuzhou.
If they wanted to capture Li Yi as quickly as possible, they could not bypass Chuzhou. Taking the route from Chuzhou was the fastest way.
But Chang Suining thought that since they were already here, besides borrowing the road, they might as well borrow something else.
After the discussion was complete, they mounted their horses and continued on their journey.
On the way, Chu Xing rode his horse and followed Chang Suining without him noticing.
Chang Suining turned to look at him and asked, "Is Uncle Chu okay?"
"Thank you for your concern, my injuries are not serious." Chu Xing then also began to care about her, from her physical injuries to her mental condition.
"The girl has made such a great contribution in her first battle. It is rare to become famous in one battle." Chu Xing first sighed, and then asked tentatively: "I wonder if the girl felt scared when she killed the enemy?"
Chang Suining stopped himself when the word "I'm not afraid" was on the tip of his tongue.
"Scared." She glanced around, moved closer to Chu Xing, and lowered her voice and said, "After I killed the enemy for the first time, I hid and cried for a long time. I didn't sleep all night. I was covered in cold sweat as if I had washed it with water. My hands were shaking and my teeth were chattering."
Chu Xing was delighted, this was a good thing.
Chang Suining added: "I had nightmares all night long."
Chu Xing nodded, and was about to comfort her that this was normal, but then he felt something was wrong: "...Didn't the girl say she didn't sleep all night?"
How could the nightmare come from if I didn’t sleep?
Chang Suining remained calm: "I didn't sleep on the first night, and I had a nightmare on the second night."
It's just time management that comes easily.
Chu Xing understood clearly.
"Don't be afraid, girl. Life and death are inevitable on the battlefield. Everyone has their own standpoints. Casualties are unavoidable..." He comforted her before saying, "But all living things have spirits, and humans are the most spiritual. You can kill but not abuse human life. You can kill enemies at will but you can't kill them indiscriminately... You also need to have a reverent heart, which is the long-term way."
Chang Suining nodded, looking very pleased: "I'll make a note of it."
Chu Xing felt relieved but he did not let down his guard. He felt that he had a heavy responsibility on his shoulders and he had to guide the girl onto the right path.
Chang Suining noticed Chu Xing's thoughts and was worried that he would tell her a bedtime story every day to promote the truth, kindness and beauty of human nature.
After walking for another twenty miles, they met the group of one hundred people coming from Chuzhou mentioned by Deputy General Jin.
The carriages stopped and a middle-aged man in official uniform walked out of the carriage. He was about forty years old and had a handsome face.
The man stepped forward and saluted: "I am Wei Jun, the governor of Chuzhou. I have long heard of the great reputation of General Chang! Today, I heard from the officials of the lower county that General Chang was passing through Chuzhou, so I came out of the city to greet him!"
Chang Kuo raised his eyebrows unexpectedly and smiled: "Why did Governor Wei come here in person?"
"When I heard that General Chang had saved Hezhou and repelled Xu's army, I felt relieved. I also admired General Chang's bravery and righteousness—"
A few more people came forward to pay their respects. After some pleasantries, Wei Jun bowed again and raised his hand to invite them sincerely: "If the general and the other generals do not mind the humble people of Chuzhou, you can rest in Chuzhou. I have already asked someone to prepare a welcoming banquet."
It was not uncommon for troops to be entertained by local officials along the way during a march, especially for those like Chang Kuo who had just won a battle, and there was no shortage of people who could take advantage of the situation.
Chang Kuo thought for a moment, then raised his hands and clasped his fists: "It is better to obey than to be respectful. I will bother Governor Wei!"
He added: "It just so happens that Chang has something else he wants to discuss with Governor Wei."
Wei Jun's face turned serious, and he suggested that Chang Kuo could ride in the same carriage with him so that it would be more convenient to talk on the way.
Chang Kuo did not refuse.
The group headed for Chuzhou City. On the way, a Chuzhou military officer who was riding a horse, asked the leader Chu Xing about Hezhou.
Chu Xing explained: "I have never been to Hezhou with my general before, so I don't know much about Hezhou."
As he spoke, he looked to his side and said, "When it comes to Hezhou affairs, my girl knows it best."
Girl?
Hearing these two words, the military officer looked at the young man on the horse, and suddenly realized: "Could this be the girl from the Chang family?"
"That's right." Chang Suining smiled at him in a friendly manner: "I wonder what Li Canjun wants to ask?"
When they were greeting each other just now, the Chuzhou governor had already pointed out the identity of this man. He was a military officer in Chuzhou, and his surname was Li.
Although the governor was the head of a state, local military affairs were mostly handled by the military officers, so Chang Suining fell into his old habit of making friends with others.
This Li Canjun had obviously heard about her experiences in Hezhou, and although there was surprise in his eyes when he looked at her, there was no contempt at all.
After a while, he finally spoke, but he first asked about the Yun family.
Chang Suining was not surprised.
She had heard from Yun Hui that Governor Yun had an old friendship with a military officer from Chuzhou. When Hezhou was in trouble at first, Governor Yun sent people to Chuzhou for help, but received no reply.
After hearing Chang Suining talk about the Yun family's mother and son's act of defending the city, Li Canjun was silent for a long time, with a look of guilt in his eyes.
Not going to support Hezhou was a knot in his heart. With the death of his good friend, this knot could never be untied.
He didn't know what the point of asking these questions was at this time.
"It's good that Hezhou City is saved." After a while, he just said: "It is a great blessing for Hezhou to have General Chang and Madam Chang guarding with their lives."
Seeing that he didn't want to say anything more, and didn't explicitly mention his personal relationship with Governor Yun, Chang Suining took the initiative to continue the topic that should have ended: "I once heard Yun Erlang mention Li Canjun."
She needed to give this person a rough test. At this juncture, it wouldn't be a bad thing to get to know each other better.
"Ah Hui has mentioned me?" Li Canjun looked at her, calling her "Ah Hui" subconsciously: "What did he say?"
What he wanted to ask more was, did Ah Hui… resent him? Chang Suining: "Yun Erlang only said that Li Canjun was a man of great character, had known Yun Zhishi for many years, and was the elder he trusted most besides his father."
General Li was stunned when he heard this, and his mind was filled with mixed feelings.
Especially the last sentence, which was like a soft knife stabbing his heart.
What a coincidence, the last sentence was added by Chang Suining himself.
The girl looked kind and harmless, but Li Canjun had no idea that she was "a sinister person". Under such a psychological attack, he finally revealed the reason why he did not rescue Hezhou.
"I should have gone to support Hezhou, but at that time Xu's army was also causing chaos near Chuzhou... The governor was worried about the safety of Chuzhou, so he did not dare to allow me to lead the army to leave Chuzhou."
Chang Suining's eyes moved slightly when he heard this: "Has Chuzhou also been attacked by the rebel army?"
"No." Li Canjun shook his head: "They didn't really attack Chuzhou."
That's why he felt even more regretful.
Originally, he had to follow the arrangement of the governor and stay in Chuzhou in order to prevent the rebel troops from taking advantage of the opportunity to invade. However, the activities of the rebel troops in the end proved that they were not interested in Chuzhou.
Chang Suining raised his eyes and looked towards the carriage in front of him.
Inside the car, Chang Kuo and the governor of Chuzhou explained to the governor that Li Yi had assassinated He Wei, who was rebelling. The news had been reported back to the capital, and the imperial envoy was on the way. He also stated that he was going to stop Li Yi.
But he only had more than 10,000 soldiers and horses under his command, and hoped that Chuzhou could send troops to help.
Upon hearing that Li Yi had rebelled, Wei Jun was very shocked.
After listening to Chang Kuo's explanation of the pros and cons, he finally said: "...Chuzhou is willing to lend a helping hand to General Chang!"
There were a total of 30,000 garrison troops that could be mobilized in Chuzhou, and Wei Jun agreed to lend 20,000 troops to Chang Kuo.
In the evening, a banquet was held at the Chuzhou Governor's Mansion.
Chang Suining and Chang Kuo sat cross-legged at the same table. They glanced around the hall and asked curiously, "Why don't you see Li Canjun?"
Wei Jun replied, "Li Canjun has gone to prepare for the troop count, and will set out with you tomorrow morning."
Chang Suining nodded and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Governor Lao Wei."
Wei Jun smiled and praised Chang Kuo: "General Chang has such a daughter. It is really amazing and enviable."
After some small talk, maids began to file in and serve the food.
A maid knelt in front of the dining table and poured two glasses of wine for Chang Kuo and Chang Suining.
There was music playing during the banquet. When Wei Jun was about to raise his glass to toast Chang Kuo and the others, he suddenly heard the girl speak again: "Since Governor Wei agreed to lend me troops so easily, aren't you afraid that my father is the one who has ulterior motives and deliberately fabricated an excuse to kill Li Yi in order to gain military power?"
The girl's voice was clear and pleasant to the ear, but her words were too bold, and Wei Jun's smile faltered slightly.
"Madam Chang, you are joking. Just based on the fact that General Chang risked his life to rescue Hezhou, I would never doubt him." Wei Jun said, "Although I am not talented, I still have the ability to judge people and distinguish right from wrong."
The girl's voice became even more curious: "If that's the case, then why did Governor Wei poison the wine?"
The hall suddenly became quiet and the music suddenly stopped.
Wei Jun was stunned for a moment, then looked at the girl who was still sitting cross-legged in disbelief: "Ms. Chang, why do you say that? How could I, Wei, do such a mean thing?"
"Did I misunderstand?" Chang Suining drew the long sword at his side with his left hand. The sword light was so bright that the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense.
Everyone saw the girl with a ponytail and wearing a dark blue round-necked robe, holding the wine cup in front of her with a long sword in her hand, and resting it on the blade, and suddenly turned to Wei Jun.
Chang Kuo was sitting in the seat of honor, next to the main seat, and she pointed her sword in front of Wei Jun.
Wei Jun's sitting figure subconsciously moved back slightly.
The wine in the cup swayed slightly on the sharp sword blade, but not a drop was spilled. The girl held the sword with one hand in a relaxed manner, with a smile on her face, and no hostility in her tone: "Since it was my misunderstanding, then please let Governor Wei drink first."
Seeing that Chang Kuo had no intention of stopping her, he obviously condoned the girl's arrogance and disrespect. The staff of the governor's mansion said with a gloomy face: "Our governor warmly entertained us and kindly promised to lend us troops...but Madam Chang is so rude. Does she think that our small Chuzhou is weak and can be bullied?"
"Sorry." Chang Suining apologized first, but he had no intention of taking back the sword: "The Jiangnan area is in chaos now, and it is hard to tell who is friend or foe. You cannot afford to make any mistakes when you go out, and you have to be cautious. If I misunderstood, after the governor drinks this glass of wine, I am willing to drink three glasses of wine as punishment to apologize to the governor."
"You..." The aide wanted to say more, but was stopped by Wei Jun who raised his hand.
His gaze shifted from the wine cup held on the tip of the sword to the girl, Chang Kuo, Chu Xing and others.
As everyone's eyes met, Wei Jun smiled and reached out to take the wine cup: "In that case, let's do as Madam Chang said."
After Chang Suining put away his sword, he held the wine glass in one hand and put his other hand in front of his eyes with his sleeve, pretending to drink.
However, the next moment, the smile in his half-closed eyes suddenly disappeared, and he threw the wine cup to the side and dropped it on the ground. At the same time, he stepped back and shouted, "Capture them!"
Today is an early update. Another month has come to an end. Thank you all for your company and support! I wish you all the best in July!
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