Chapter 84 Dust Flies and Obscures Clouds: A Lifetime of Doubts
The early autumn wind already carried a hint of coolness, gently lifting Zhong Li'an's sleeves. He looked down at the troops below the platform, and before he could take in all their ranks, his eyes met Zhong Li Shuo's burning, confident gaze.
He nodded and smiled, then picked up the token from the table and raised it into the air. "Zhong Lishuo, Bai Ming, listen to my command!"
"exist!"
Upon hearing this, the two stopped in front of the stage and clasped their hands in a fist salute to Zhong Li'an.
Zhong Li'an looked with emotion at the two energetic young generals below the stage. "You two will lead ten thousand troops to Lujiang County to join forces with He Yuan's army." He handed over the two command tokens, "Vermilion Bird" and "Black Tortoise." "Although we have a letter of challenge here, there is always the possibility that He Yuan might change his mind." He looked up at the two seriously. "When allies join forces, too many troops may break our promise, while too few troops will make it difficult to deal with any unforeseen circumstances. You must be extremely careful on your journey to Lujiang County."
"Brother, rest assured," Zhongli Shuo smiled and nodded at Zhongli An, "With Zhao Qing and me here, what variables can't we handle?"
Upon hearing this, Bai Ming couldn't help but smile and glance at Zhongli Shuo, then bowed to Zhongli An, saying, "Rest assured, my lord, if Yude makes any rash moves, I will handle the aftermath."
Before Zhongli Shuo could refute anything, Zhongli An chuckled and shook his head, "That's why I sent the two of you. One of you is active and the other is passive, so you can be sharp in battle and cover all aspects."
The two men below the stage exchanged a smile, then together received their orders, cupped their fists towards Zhong Li'an, and said, "Understood!"
Zhong Li'an looked up at Yang Xiao, who was smiling beside him, and nodded slightly to her. "Yang Xiao, listen to my command!"
"Your subordinate is here!" Yang Xiao also stepped out of the ranks, his eyes shining as he clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zhong Li'an.
“With the two of them going to Lujiang, Yuzhou cannot be left undefended,” he said, picking up the White Tiger Token from the table and looking at Yang Xiao. “You should take 30,000 elite troops to Yuzhou and garrison there. If things go well in Jiangnan, then cooperate with Zhao Qingyu to attack Bingzhou together; if there are any changes, you can quickly turn the tide and come to their aid.”
Yang Xiao nodded, stepped forward, and accepted the token with both hands. "Understood, my lord, rest assured."
Zhong Li'an nodded in relief, then turned to the others, "Grain and feed officer!"
"exist!"
"The army's provisions and fodder have been carefully checked and prepared, ready for dispatch at any time! All other units shall perform their duties and stand by at any time."
"Understood!"
Zhongli An looked down at the spirited and ready-to-fight soldiers below the platform and nodded in satisfaction. He rolled up his sleeves, bent down and twirled his Yinglong General's Token, sighed with a smile, and then waved to the crowd, "Dismiss the tent!"
The soldiers below the platform dispersed to prepare for the battle. Qi Kun stood by the command platform, smiling as he walked towards Zhong Li'an. "What, my lord, do you have any thoughts on this general?"
Zhong Li'an turned around and met Qi Kun's gaze, then chuckled and shook his head. "How could that be? After three years of silence, one moment of brilliance will astound the world. One day, the morale and cohesion it brings will be witnessed by all."
"This is just in case," Qi Kun sighed with a smile. "Our soldiers and officers have been trained for so many years, they should be able to treat this order as if they were seeing the general himself."
Zhong Li'an chuckled upon hearing this, raised his hand and patted Qi Kun's shoulder, "A general's order is issued as if the general himself is present. Soldiers and officers use this order as a sign of authority, which can be considered the finishing touch in troop deployment."
"Brother! Strategist!"
Before Zhong Li'an could finish speaking, Zhong Lishuo jogged up onto the command platform. "There are still ten days until the agreed date. Zhao Qing and I plan to set off tonight. We'll have plenty of time on the road and should arrive in about the right amount of time."
Bai Ming, standing to the side, nodded in agreement. "That's right. If we take the shortcut and walk slowly, we won't let the other side have the advantage of being well-rested if anything unexpected happens."
"Alright, as you wish." Zhong Li'an chuckled and put his arm around the two of them. "Yu De, you mustn't get too playful when you see the scenery of Jiangnan."
“Brother, you really are something,” Zhongli Shuo said with a playful laugh, leaning against Zhongli An. “How could I be so unreliable?”
Yang Xiao, who was standing to the side, also walked towards the group with a smile. "My lord, don't worry, I'm here for you." She leaned gently against Bai Ming. "If anything happens, be sure to send me a message immediately."
"Okay, don't worry." Bai Ming gently put his arm around Yang Xiao's shoulder and nodded with a smile.
Before he finished speaking, Cen Xun sighed softly, tossed the map onto the table, and walked toward the group.
"What's wrong, Tongxi?" Yang Xiao tilted her head at her. "With the reunion imminent, what have you figured out?"
Cen Xun chuckled and shook his head. "If He Yuan keeps his promise and joins forces with us to deal with Xiao Yan, that's fine. But if he goes back on his word, we must take this opportunity to seize Lujiang County in one fell swoop. Only in this way can we gain the upper hand."
Qi Kun nodded approvingly, then turned to look at Zhong Lishuo and Bai Ming beside him, "Tongxi is absolutely right. The success or failure of this trip depends on you two."
"Rest assured, strategist," Zhongli Shuo clasped his hands in a fist salute to Qi Kun, "Lujiang County is nothing; we will definitely take it with all our might."
“Hey, Yude,” Zhong Lishuo was interrupted by Yang Xiao before he could finish speaking, “I’ll be there to back you up. Give me a chance to make a contribution too.”
Bai Ming chuckled and patted Yang Xiao's head. "Alright, Lingyu, take care." He raised his eyes and clasped his hands in a fist salute to everyone. "Everyone, let's not delay any longer, we should get going."
Yang Xiao nodded slightly, "I should probably be going too."
"Wait, wait, wait," Zhong Lishuo said, seeing the two about to leave. He quickly ran to Cen Xun's side and gently took her hand. "Do you think Mr. Cen will approve our marriage when we return from Jiangnan?"
“You,” Cen Xun said with a smile, patting his head, “Father made it clear that once our two sides meet and fight Xiao Yan, we will start preparing for our marriage. Ling Yu has already won the battle against Xiao Yan, so I think we can get married when you come back.”
"Really?" Zhong Lishuo became excited immediately. He grasped Cen Xun's hand and leaned in, saying, "The surprise I prepared for you is ready. When I come back, I'll bring it with me to marry you."
Looking into his hopeful eyes, Cen Xun chuckled softly, "Alright, my ever-victorious general." She raised her hand to stroke Zhong Lishuo's face, "I'll wait for you to come back."
Zhong Lishuo's ears turned red instantly. He ran off happily, waving vigorously at Cen Xun and shouting with a laugh, "It's a deal!"
Seeing his startled expression, Yang Xiao and Bai Ming took a step back in unison. Yang Xiao chuckled and turned to look at Cen Xun, who was standing still.
"You may go," Cen Xun said with a light laugh, waving to the three of them. "I will stay here with the lord and the strategist, and wait for your return."
“Very well,” Yang Xiao proudly tossed her head, “Wait for our triumphant return, everyone, farewell!”
Looking at the group of enthusiastic and carefree young people in front of him, Zhong Li'an couldn't help but exchange a glance with Qi Kun, then clasped his hands in a fist salute to the three of them, saying, "We will stay here and wait for good news."
The three men laughed and waved goodbye as they rode away, each taking their own horse and chatting with their deputy about military matters, heading south.
Zhong Li'an sighed with emotion, watching the sunrise paint the three of them with its glow until they disappeared from sight.
-
As the day flew by, Zhong Lishuo, Bai Ming, and their group drew ever closer to Lujiang.
The afternoon sun streamed down the forest path. Fei Mo and Ta Yue, their warhorses, trotted lightly, heads held high, chasing the swirling dust in the trees. The hazy warmth enveloped them completely. Zhong Li Shuo stretched his arms and yawned as he looked up at the warm sun.
"Why are you getting sleepy too?" Bai Ming tugged at the reins behind him, teasingly asking with a light laugh, "Could it be that Zhang Ping is leading you astray?"
Zhong Lishuo smiled and pointed to the towering sun. "You know, the further south we go, the hotter it gets. Who wouldn't be sleepy in this weather?" He held the reins and waited for Bai Ming behind him. "Speaking of Zhang Ping, it's quite interesting. Lingyu is such a spirited general, how come the deputy he trained is so sleepy?"
Bai Ming couldn't help but laugh. "According to Zhang Ping, he was originally from Bingzhou and had a habit of taking a nap since he was a child. In addition, Mu Fei always cooks noodles every day, so it's no wonder he gets even more sleepy."
Zhong Lishuo smiled and shook his head, "I wonder if the tea that Lingyu made him drink on the day of the Qixi Festival competition was of any use."
Bai Ming closed his eyes, inhaling the damp scent of the forest, then looked up at Zhong Lishuo with a smile, "To be honest, I'm quite envious of you."
“Right?” Zhong Lishuo immediately understood the meaning of these words and perked up. “Once we unite, I will be able to formally meet with Mr. Cen. In that case, my wedding with Tongxi will be just around the corner.”
"Who says otherwise?" Bai Ming chuckled as he looked at him. "You're doing well, getting married to Tong Xi after knowing her for less than a year."
Zhong Lishuo raised his hand and pointed at Bai Ming, "The years we've known each other can't define our relationship. Let me do the math, you and Lingyu have known each other for..."
“Eight years,” Bai Ming replied without hesitation.
“Yes, eight years,” Zhong Lishuo smiled and nodded at Bai Ming. “You two are kindred spirits, from similar family backgrounds, and your fathers, General Bai Yao and General Chi Xiao, have been comrades-in-arms for many years. Such a perfect match can be considered a match made in heaven, right?” He smiled as he looked at the leaves swaying in the wind in the forest. “When that time comes, you can write a letter to General Yang Zhen, and why would you worry about him disagreeing?”
“Lingyu’s emotions have always been her own decision,” Bai Ming chuckled and shook his head. “Now that General Yang is under Xiao Yan’s command, if we want to get to the point you mentioned, we’ll have to completely pacify the world first.”
“Of course,” Zhongli Shuo laughed and tugged at the reins. “Aren’t we here to bring peace to the world?”
Bai Ming also looked up at the leaves fluttering in the forest. "Let's finish this road first," he said, smiling as he looked back at Zhong Lishuo. "The lifelines of family and country have always been intertwined."
“That’s right,” Zhong Lishuo nodded approvingly, then pointed at Bai Ming like someone who had been there before, “You’ve finally relaxed, haven’t you? You don’t want to be hesitant and indecisive like you were when you confessed to her back then?”
Before he could finish speaking, Bai Ming's gun suddenly swept over Zhong Lishuo's head. As he turned around in surprise, Bai Ming smiled and put away his gun. "Now I know why Ling Yu always teases you so much."
“You’re much more ruthless than her,” Zhong Lishuo said, pointing at Bai Ming’s gun with a hint of dissatisfaction. “At least she only used words, you’ve gone all out.” He chuckled and tossed his head at Bai Ming. “But you too, why do you keep the jade pendant that Lingyu gave you close to your chest?”
Bai Ming chuckled and shook his head. "This is called a talisman. What do you know?"
“Alright, alright, a talisman.” Zhong Lishuo nodded with a smile. “Your jade pendant was picked out by Lingyu in Nanyang, but mine is different.” He raised his head with confidence. “The jade bracelet I prepared for Tongxi was carved bit by bit by me with the help of the master craftsman in Nanyang.”
"You're good at keeping things quiet, Yude." Bai Ming looked at him in surprise. "You actually have this ability. Could it be that the sword you gave Tongxi before was also forged by your own hand?"
Zhong Lishuo smiled and nodded vigorously, "I've said it before, 'Success or failure both depend on one sword.'"
He had just turned around arrogantly when he heard the sound of hooves ahead.
Zhongli Shuo looked closely and saw the vanguard officer riding up from the front. He pulled on the reins and went to meet him. "What military situation do you have?"
The vanguard officer reined in his horse, panting slightly, and clasped his hands in a fist salute to the two generals. "Reporting to the two generals, there is a fork in the road two miles ahead. The main road has little vegetation and leads directly to the main gate; the smaller path is overgrown with trees, winds around the mountain, and leads to the side gate of the main city. Please decide, generals."
Zhong Lishuo frowned slightly. "Have you surveyed the terrain around the main gate?"
"Reporting to the general, at the end of the main road there are hills on both sides, with many trees on the slopes; the small path is behind the eastern hillside, which can be bypassed by a grove of trees and go around to the side gate from behind the slope."
Zhong Lishuo glanced back at Bai Ming, nodded in thought, "Although the road is wide open, being exposed to the scorching sun will inevitably wear you down. By the time we reach Lujiang County, we'll have lost our fighting spirit, let alone be able to handle things with ease."
"Wait a minute," Bai Ming raised his hand to stop Zhong Lishuo, "The agreed day is today, and it's already past noon. Can Lujiang County send someone to meet us at the city gate?"
Upon hearing this, Zhongli Shuo sat up as if suddenly realizing something. He nodded in agreement, "Have you been near the city gate? Did you have any reinforcements?"
The scout was taken aback upon hearing this, then shook his head. "Just now, I looked down from the side road and saw only a few patrolling soldiers, who seemed no different from usual... As for the main road..." He hesitated, lowered his head, and then clasped his hands in a fist salute to the two men. "The hillsides on both sides of the main road are covered with sand and dust, making it impossible to see clearly."
Upon hearing this, both of them fell silent for a long while.
“Where would dust come from at midday in late summer?” Bai Ming sneered, crossing his arms. “According to etiquette, they should have sent a team to wait at the city gate, but they are behaving no differently than usual.”
Zhong Lishuo chuckled and put his hand on Bai Ming's shoulder. "Who said no one was there to greet us? They're all squatting on the mountain." He looked up and waved to the vanguard officer. "Let's take the shortcut and let the brothers cool off."
"Yes." The vanguard officer clasped his hands in a fist salute and spurred his horse forward.
Bai Ming took a deep breath, and unconsciously tightened his grip on the reins. "It seems they're not going to show us any mercy."
Zhongli Shuo also led his horse forward to survey the area. "Who says otherwise? We were hoping for a proper meeting and then a battle with Xiao Yan. Now it seems they're forcing us to take Lujiang County instead."
Bai Ming snorted and spurred his horse, Ta Yue, to jog. "Speed up the process and try to reach Lujiang County before dark," he said, looking up at the road ahead with resentment. "Such treacherous behavior will surely lead to disastrous consequences."
Seeing Bai Ming running forward aggressively, Zhongli Shuo couldn't help but laugh. He turned around, waved his hand wildly, and shouted to the soldiers behind him, "Brothers, follow me! Tonight we will definitely take Lujiang County!"
A surge of morale suddenly welled up in the shade of the trees. Everyone responded enthusiastically, grabbed their weapons, and jogged along the path.
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