Chapter Forty-Six: A Move Higher Than the Restraint
"So, are you still running?"
A cold yet unrestrained voice rang out from behind him. At the same time, his shoulder suddenly slumped, and the tip of the saber, reflecting the sunlight and mixed with the blood of the vice general's warhorse, came into view from the neck.
With the outcome decided, the entire battlefield fell silent, as the sunlight shone on the dust that filled the sky and settled to the ground.
The next moment, all the soldiers on the field erupted in cheers and shouts. The battlefield, which had been filled with shouts of battle, suddenly burst into cheers and shouts. One after another, the ring-pommel swords were drawn and waved in the sunlight, jumping for joy.
Cen Xun finally managed to stand firm. She gently shook her slightly dizzy head, and found that her palms were covered in sweat. She steadied her unsteady steps and finally let out a relaxed breath. It wasn't until a gentle breeze brushed her cheeks that she realized her eyes were already wet.
"I have no other choice," Qin Yi, whose neck was being held, put down the broadsword in his hand, nodded to Yang Xiao and Bai Ming in front of him, and then glanced at Zhong Lishuo out of the corner of his eye. "A defeated general, there's nothing to say, just kill me."
Zhongli Shuo glanced at the harmless Qin Yi, scoffed softly, wiped the blood off his sword with Qin Yi's collar, and then sheathed it with a "whoosh." He then pulled on the reins, turned back to look at Cen Xun on the chariot behind him, and waved to her with a smile in the sunlight.
Cen Xun looked into Zhong Lishuo's bright eyes and felt relieved. She leaned on the railing and looked down at the chariot. She saw that Zhang Ping was already waiting by the side on Yang Xiao's orders, and was raising his hand for her to help him up.
"If I kill you, I won't be able to explain it to my brother." Zhongli Shuo crossed his arms in dissatisfaction and ordered his men, "Men, seize him."
A group of soldiers responded in unison and bound Qin Yi tightly with ropes. Amidst the commotion, the sound of horses' hooves filled the air. Zhong Lishuo turned around and saw Cen Xun riding a horse, looking at him with worry in his eyes.
"Tongxi?" Zhongli Shuo quickly composed himself and looked at Cen Xun with a smile, just like usual. "Why are you on the battlefield? I'll be back soon."
Cen Xun watched him smile as if nothing had happened, and for some reason, a wave of sadness welled up in her heart, and her eyes instantly reddened.
"Tongxi?" Zhong Lishuo noticed that something was wrong with her. He quickly slung the sword behind his back, wiped the blood off his body, and bent down to gently cup her face with his other hand. "What's wrong? What happened to you? Hmm?" He frowned and looked at Cen Xun, gently stroking her eyelids with his fingertips.
"You still dare to say that?" Cen Xun took his hands in hers, let out a long sigh, and then looked up at Zhong Lishuo with concern. "Are you alright? Did it hurt when you fell? Are you hurt?"
Zhong Lishuo, holding Cen Xun's hand, paused for a moment, then chuckled and shook his head. "So that's what you're worried about. Don't worry, I'm fine, don't fret."
“How could I not worry?” Cen Xun sighed, completely disregarding the blood on his hands, and gently stroked his calloused palms. “You have no idea how dangerous it was just now, that tripwire…” She paused as if unwilling to recall it, then looked up at him again, “You must not take such risks again in the future.”
Zhong Lishuo nodded in agreement without hesitation, then shook his head slightly as if he suddenly remembered something. He gestured to Yang Xiao and Bai Ming beside him, then turned back, took Cen Xun's hand, and slowly rode forward.
“Actually, I didn’t take any risks just now,” he said, squeezing Cen Xun’s hand reassuringly. “Qin Yi has already suffered a great defeat. If we don’t capture him, they might dare to do it again in the future. And tripwires are common on the battlefield, so it was inevitable that I would run into one.”
“But, Tongxi, I have the ability to handle it, so it’s not a risk.” He looked earnestly at Cen Xun, a slight smile in his eyes. “Their tripwires not only failed to trap me, but instead became a good opportunity to turn the tide, allowing my horse-slaying sword to live up to its name and truly slay a horse.”
Upon hearing this, Cen Xun couldn't help but chuckle. But then, remembering that he was still angry, he quickly composed himself. "The battlefield is so dangerous; how can one gamble with one's life..."
“Then we can’t be afraid to go to the battlefield just because it’s dangerous, right?” Zhong Lishuo coaxed with a smile. “If I have the ability, then danger will become an opportunity. The reason I say I’m not taking any risks and don’t feel any danger is because I believe I can win in one strike, and I have enough confidence.”
For an unknown general, going to war is undoubtedly a gamble; while for a skilled general, every battle is a game of strategy. He must not only understand the battlefield but also see beyond it.
If we win, we will truly deserve the honor; if we lose, it will be more than just losing our lives.
What a general fears most are twofold: first, those whose chess skills far surpass his own; and second, those incompetent chess players who only know how to throw tantrums and cheat.
But how can you worry about losing when facing an unknown opponent? Every move is under your control, and you're confident of victory. How can luring the enemy in deep into your territory be considered risky?
Zhong Lishuo glanced at Cen Xun's eyes, then smiled and tugged at her hand. "I'm an 'ever-victorious general.' My goal is to never lose a battle in my life, not even when sparring with my own people." He looked at Cen Xun with sincere eyes. "So, don't worry. I'll be fine, absolutely fine."
Upon hearing this, Cen Xun smiled and sighed as if relieved, then turned to meet Zhong Lishuo's sincere gaze. "Okay, I believe you. You're so strong, how could anything happen to you?" As she spoke, she couldn't help but reach out her hand towards Zhong Lishuo's face.
Seeing this, Zhong Lishuo chuckled softly, leaned down and placed his head in her hand, rubbing his temple against Cen Xun's palm. "Look," he gently took Cen Xun's hand and touched his face, "I'm perfectly fine, aren't I?"
Cen Xun looked into his smiling eyes and nodded gently. "Talk is cheap. In every battle from now on, you must bring your spirit and come back to see me in good spirits."
“Alright,” Zhong Lishuo said with a smile, “Understood.”
-
The three generals returned victorious, and Qin Yi was also bound hand and foot and escorted back to Jizhou.
Perhaps due to their victory, the Jizhou army returned to the capital with unusual speed. The snow on the ground had already melted, and the soldiers ran lightly in the cold but not biting north wind, laughing and joking all the way. They returned to Anping in less than two days.
As soon as they stepped through the city gate, they saw Qi Kun already waiting on horseback at the entrance. The people of the city also looked on with curiosity and joy from both sides of the city gate.
Upon seeing the four return on the wind, Qi Kun immediately spurred his horse forward to greet them, cupped his hands in greeting, and said with a smile, "Congratulations on your victorious return. I have been waiting here for a long time on the orders of my lord."
"You've had a long journey, sir," Zhongli Shuo said with a smile, cupping his hands in greeting to Qi Kun. He glanced around for a moment, then looked at Qi Kun inquiringly, "Why haven't I seen my elder brother?"
Upon hearing this, Qi Kun chuckled and shook his head. "Our lord is currently preoccupied with important matters; otherwise, given his personality, he would definitely come to pick you up personally."
Zhongli Shuo and Bai Ming exchanged a glance, then frowned and looked at Qi Kun, "What important matter does my brother have to discuss?"
Qi Kun chuckled and sighed, "Come with me, and you'll see."
He led the four of them into the city, then turned back to look at Cen Xun, "Tongxi, how are you doing? Are you adjusting well to your first time on the battlefield?"
"Don't worry, strategist, I'm fine," Cen Xun nodded with a smile. "I've benefited greatly from this formation."
Qi Kun tilted his head slightly, waiting for her to continue.
“It wasn’t until the day we went into battle that I truly witnessed the soldiers’ bravery and courage,” Cen Xun said with a smile, looking at Yang Xiao and the other two. “The three generals were also exceptionally skilled, especially Yu De,” she said, gazing into Zhong Lishuo’s eyes, “crossing perilous terrain with his unparalleled skill, truly remarkable…”
"Hey, hey, that's enough," before Cen Xun could finish speaking, Yang Xiao put her hand on Cen Xun's shoulder, "You kept praising Yu De before you came back, why didn't you praise me?"
Upon hearing this, Cen Xun chuckled and gently flicked Yang Xiao's nose. "Why are you arguing with him? I've known you for much longer than he has, haven't I?"
“Master, look,” Yang Xiao said with a smile, looking at Qi Kun and pointing reproachfully at Cen Xun, “wouldn’t this be considered prioritizing romance over friendship?”
"What are you saying?" Before Yang Xiao could finish speaking, Cen Xun gently slapped her on the head.
Yang Xiao glanced back at Cen Xun, then looked back at Qi Kun, "If you can't reason with her, you'll resort to violence."
"You," Qi Kun glanced at the laughing Yang Xiao and couldn't help but chuckle, "Tongxi has only been in the north for a short time and she's already found a good match. What about you?"
Yang Xiao was taken aback. "What do you mean, 'me'?" She chuckled and shook her head helplessly. "I knew it. I really shouldn't use those words with you."
Zhong Lishuo had somehow circled around to Bai Ming's side. Looking at the three laughing and joking in front of him, he nudged Bai Ming with his elbow. "Well, Zhao Qing, we've gotten this far, shouldn't we take advantage of this opportunity..."
"How could I be so hasty?" Bai Ming glared at Zhong Lishuo, then sighed softly, looked up at Yang Xiao who was chatting and laughing in front of him, and his eyes unconsciously filled with a smile. "My feelings for her are not something that can be explained in a few words."
"Oh?" Zhong Lishuo sat up straight with interest and looked at Bai Ming. "Could it be that you've already made up your mind?"
Bai Ming turned to look at Zhong Lishuo, nodded solemnly, and then chuckled, "It's been so long, you should have thought it through by now, right?"
"You know it takes a long time?" Zhong Lishuo tilted his head and teased him with a smile, "Then let's not keep Lingyu waiting any longer. How about confessing to her at the celebration banquet tonight?"
Bai Ming looked up at Yang Xiaomu's back in the sunlight, his expression full of tenderness, "Seven years have passed, it's time to pour out our hearts."
"I'll be waiting for you at the victory celebration banquet tonight," Zhong Lishuo said with a smile, as if afraid that Bai Ming might change his mind. He then spurred his horse to Qi Kun's side. "Strategist, let's hurry up."
Qi Kun smiled as he watched Zhong Lishuo run towards him and couldn't help but ask, "Why are you in such a hurry all of a sudden?"
Bai Ming behind him quickened his pace, exchanged a smile with Yang Xiao, and then turned to look at Zhong Lishuo.
“A victory celebration, strategist,” Zhongli Shuo said, looking at Qi Kun. “It’s getting late, we should hurry.”
Qi Kun couldn't help but laugh when he heard this. "We're already in the city, how could we not be fast?" He looked up at the sky and saw the sun high in the sky, emitting dazzling white light. "Besides, it's only past noon, there's still plenty of time."
Cen Xun, standing to the side, glanced at Zhong Lishuo with a smile and said, "I'm afraid his real intention is not what he seems to be."
“How can a victory celebration only consist of wine?” Zhong Lishuo laughed, changing Cen Xun’s mind. “Let’s hurry up and leave, lest we miss the auspicious time.”
Yang Xiao chuckled as she looked at Zhong Lishuo's excited face, then turned to Bai Ming with a puzzled expression. "Why is this guy acting like a drunkard before he's even had a drink? What did you say to him?"
Bai Ming looked at Yang Xiao, chuckled, and shook his head. "I was just talking to him about the celebration banquet when he got like this."
"Alright, everyone, we've arrived." Qi Kun smiled and reined in his horse, looking at the governor's office in front of him, then turned to Zhongli Shuo, "Let's quickly go and ask the lord for a victory banquet."
The group dismounted amidst much chatter and followed the servant's directions into the courtyard, when they heard someone inside shouting something.
"It's my brother's voice." Zhongli Shuo frowned, exchanged a glance with Qi Kun, and before he could say anything, the soldier ran to the door to report, acting as if he didn't know any better.
Qi Kun had just raised his hand to stop him when the voice inside the room immediately returned to its usual gentle tone, "Please come in, everyone. Please forgive me, I am currently preoccupied with important matters and cannot greet you."
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