Chapter 1057: They're all acquaintances! [Seeking monthly votes]
Shen Tang walked past without even looking.
The bluebird tilted its head, flapped its wings, and flew a few steps close to the ground, once again blocking Shen Tang's path. This time, Shen Tang didn't step over it, but instead rapidly enlarged its foot above its head—just as it was about to step on it, Shen Tang noticed that the sensation under its foot was different. Lifting its foot, Shen Tang looked down to check if it had stepped in dog poop, and just then saw an Angry Bird, flapping its wings and emitting a series of rapid chirping sounds from its beak.
The gray bird down covering its plump body also burst open.
Shen Tang braced himself on his knees and bent down to examine the area closely.
She smiled and asked, "...Whose bluebird are you?"
She had never seen such an ugly and unremarkable bluebird.
The Angry Bird was still angry and chirped about how Shen Tang almost crushed it. Shen Tang squatted down and poked its head with his right index finger: "Okay, okay, it was my fault. I didn't notice you. I sincerely apologize to you, okay? Be good, don't be angry. Let me see what message you delivered."
Although the creatures formed from literary or martial energy are not living beings, they still retain the aura of their masters and have a bit of a temper. This can be seen from the motorcycle. Shen Tang stroked its fur to soothe it, and the Angry Bird's ruffled feathers were smoothed out.
With a hop and a tumble, it fluttered its little wings and landed lightly on her fingertips.
Transformed into rounded literary style, it unfolds and extends into a piece of decorative stationery.
A small knife-fan is drawn in the lower right corner of the letter paper.
The fan surface is engraved with several scribbles of little figures.
Shen Tang: "..."
She didn't need to look at the signature to know who sent the bluebird.
Looking down, it was indeed Choi Sun-hyo.
"This is not the literary style of filial piety."
Otherwise, they wouldn't have failed to recognize the bluebird's affiliation.
After she quickly read through the letter, all her doubts vanished. She hadn't expected Yuan Liang and the other two to have gained so much from their trip, including firsthand information on marching routes and battle plans. She estimated that they would have had to lie on top of the battle tents to learn such details: "This is truly an unexpected stroke of luck. The news came just in time."
Judging from this intelligence, Gao Guo has the same idea as her, both wanting to push the battlefield onto each other's territory and trample on it at will.
However, Gao Guo's plans were even more ambitious, and his appetite was even greater.
On the surface, Wu Xian was reinforcing Yiru, preparing to join forces with Tianhai's troops in a two-pronged attack on Heyin County. A breakthrough in the battle would then provide an opportunity to breach Kang's defense line—Chen Tang's main force was indeed based in Heyin, constantly threatening Tianhai. However, behind the scenes, Wu Xian also dispatched an elite force to bypass Luxia County, launching a simultaneous attack from three directions. Of the three, the force from Luxia County appeared to be merely a bystander, but its true objective was Shangnan County.
The fall of Shangnan Commandery is like your hometown catching fire.
He Yin was half-wrapped in dumplings.
The ministers of Kang had naturally considered this possibility and had been on guard since early on. However, mere vigilance was not enough. Without knowing the enemy's exact troop strength, sending too few men south would result in death; sending too many would put immense pressure on the River Governor and render him unable to defend effectively. Shen Tang currently had no shortage of troops, but he was overwhelmed by the numerous places where troops were needed.
Based on the enemy's troop strength, the forces on the south side are insufficient.
Who would be willing to go?
Intelligence may not be true. In this world where words are powerful, military tactics are more sophisticated. To eliminate the risk of unwitting leaks, a nested approach of "one set of actions in public, another set of preparations in private" is often adopted. The information Shen Tang has may not be the enemy's final battle strategy. From a strategic perspective, Shangnan is not as important as Heyin.
Leading troops to reinforce Shangnan, it's possible that the enemy won't be seen.
Without enemies, military achievements are naturally greatly diminished.
Warlike military commanders are generally not keen on going.
But as soon as Shen Tang finished speaking, someone responded.
"This humble general is willing to go!"
This person's voice was loud and rapid.
He strode forward, letting everyone see his face clearly.
Some recognized him, while others were unfamiliar with him, but for the veteran officials who had followed Shen Tang for many years, this unfamiliar military general was an old acquaintance. Considering his background, it wasn't hard to understand why he was in such a hurry. This man was Chao Lian, the twelfth sworn brother of Gu Ren.
After the Battle of Beimo, Gong Shuwu strongly recommended him.
Chao Lian rose from an ordinary foot soldier to a lieutenant general, but everyone with discerning eyes knew that this was only temporary, because Gong Shuwu had already designated him as the second-in-command of the Tianxuan Guard, but the memorial was suppressed by the emperor.
Once this battle is over, Chao Lian's military achievements will be sufficient to convince the public before further discussion.
As a military general with a promising future, it is indeed somewhat risky for him to go to a place closer to the rear instead of staying on the main battlefield.
But considering he was Gu Ren's sworn brother, the choice seemed logical. Chao Lian stepped forward, and two others, a step behind, followed suit, volunteering for battle. Shen Tang watched as the three nodded in agreement, and then, citing Chao Lian's familiarity with the military defenses of Shangnan, appointed him as the leader.
In Kangguo, Chao Lian was the least senior of the three.
It's been less than a year at most.
But in terms of strength and experience, Chao Lian is undoubtedly the best.
The other two had heard about this, but they felt no resentment.
Chao Lian accepted the order: "My lord, this humble general desires someone."
Shen Tang knew who he wanted: "Then let Shao Chong go with you."
Chao Lian replied, "It's not thirteen."
If it's not Shao Chong, then it must be Fang Yan.
This was unexpected by Shen Tang.
Shaochong's military strength is more advantageous for defending Shangnan.
However, having been brothers for many years, they understood each other's abilities better. Choosing Fang Yan was clearly a well-considered decision by Chao Lian, so he didn't question it further and simply nodded in agreement. Chao Lian clasped his hands in acceptance, ignoring the complex gazes of his colleagues, some filled with envy, others with sourness.
Who is Fang Yan?
His name spread much earlier than Chao Lian's.
If Chao Lian's meteoric rise from foot soldier to lieutenant general and subsequent second-in-command of the Tianxuan Guard is somewhat logical, then Fang Yan is simply superhuman. He is currently the only known scholar-physician who excels in both literature and medicine, capable of fighting, supporting, and saving lives. Six years have passed since the founding of the Yuanhuang era, and only a handful of physicians have emerged?
We can't get anyone to help us no matter how much we beg and plead.
This person is proficient in both literature and medicine!
Extremely rare.
It's unlikely that another like him will emerge in the next few years, or even the next decade or so! Fang Yan made his debut in the Battle of the Northern Desert; he became famous during the day, while his generals climbed through windows at night. That might be an exaggeration, but Fang Yan did indeed receive quite a few offers of positions.
If you build a good relationship with Fang Yan, you can get expedited processing if you become disabled in the future.
Chao Lianke is quite something; he's tied to Fang Yan.
Such a precious physician, just asking for him, and the lord even agreed! If it were me stepping forward to volunteer for battle, could I possibly get a physician to accompany me? Haha, I wouldn't stand a chance.
Chao Lian felt extremely uncomfortable under the gazes of everyone.
He could only manage an awkward, fake smile.
The other two generals didn't expect to receive this benefit.
Congratulations!
"Congratulations, General Chao."
The constant congratulations and well wishes left Chao Lian feeling overwhelmed.
No, what's there to congratulate?
Even after he returned with the military orders to pack his things and redeploy his troops, he still couldn't figure out the problem. Unable to understand it, he quickly put it out of his mind because Shao Chong was making a scene. This grown man was sitting on the ground like a child, his legs stretched out straight and blocking the tent entrance, his arms crossed and cheeks puffed out. Fang Yan was so angry at his posture that his vision blurred.
Chao Lian: "..."
Sure enough, he saw Fang Yan go to find a feather duster.
This thing is a consumable.
The rate at which roosters are plucked cannot keep up with the rate at which they are scrapped.
It was only because Shao Chong was increasingly able to anger Sixth Brother. Whenever Sixth Brother got angry, he would roll up his sleeves, but Shao Chong had martial arts energy protecting him, and Wen Xin Wenshi's little bit of strength was as weak as tickling.
Sixth Brother then switched to using a feather duster, specifically to clean up Shaoxing.
"Sixth Brother—Sixth Brother—Sixth Brother—"
Shao Chong, who was sitting there defiantly, was beaten and forced to run away with his head in his hands. The tent wasn't big, and even with Shao Chong's skills, he still took several hits. Amidst the chaos, Sixth Brother's furious roar could be heard. Chao Lian could even see the spittle that Sixth Brother was spitting out uncontrollably: "Sit! Sit! Who are you trying to impress with your sitting posture? Do you believe I'll twist that thing off and tie a knot in it! Try sitting like that again next time!"
Chao Lian cautiously crept in, afraid of being caught in the crossfire.
Shao Chong deserved it.
Although he was wearing trousers with the crotch closed, sitting so low was still too much for Sixth Brother, who came from a scholarly background, and he deserved to be beaten. Shao Chong's tantrum resulted in a severe beating.
Seeing the red marks on Shao Chong's arm, Chao Lian subconsciously bared his teeth: "Thirteen, why did you make Sixth Brother angry again?"
Shao Chong said, "None of you are taking me to Shangnan."
Chao Lian knew immediately that it was about this matter.
"Not taking you is for your own good."
"But didn't you say we used to live in Shangnan?"
Shao Chong's memories of the past are hazy, especially after waking up from his severe injuries. He doesn't even remember why he was so badly injured; he only knows that the two people beside him felt very comfortable, and he instinctively wanted to be close to them. As his injuries heal, he slowly begins to remember and understand some things. His sixth and twelfth brothers tell him that he used to have ten older brothers, each of whom treated him very, very well.
Where are the brothers?
Shao Chong's tears fell uncontrollably.
I wiped it off, wiped it off, as if my eyes were damaged.
Sixth Brother remained silent, while Twelfth Brother forced a smile.
They've moved to live in the fields.
Are they all going to live in the fields?
Yes, they all went.
Sixth Brother told him that their hometown was a place called Shangnan. Although only two of the thirteen sworn brothers were from Shangnan, in the hearts of the others, Shangnan was their only hometown.
That place holds everyone's most cherished memories.
If that's the case, why can't I go back?
Chao Lian was speechless at Shao Chong's question, and his mood also dropped: "That's why Thirteen can't go back now. We are now military officers of Kang State, and we must obey military orders and prioritize the overall situation. With your strength, going to Shangnan would be a waste."
The main force is still He Yin.
If Gao Guo wants to take over Shangnan, his only option is a sneak attack.
There's only one chance to launch a sneak attack.
With prior preparation and sufficient troops, a defense can be achieved.
Of course, this is only one of the reasons.
Another reason is that the enemy may have 20th-rank Marquis among them, and the leader of the Eternal Life Sect is a potential threat, with a very high chance of appearing on the front lines. If the roles of civil and military officials are reversed, Shao Chong is very likely to be the one who shines the brightest. He also hopes that Shao Chong's mental abilities can be improved through this opportunity.
These plans are too complicated for Shaochong.
Shao Chong, as expected, didn't understand: "I don't understand."
Fang Yan said, "Because you are needed here more."
Shao Chong snorted: "I don't understand."
Fang Yan then asked, "You don't care about Shao Bai's safety anymore?"
Shao Chong was about to answer when he remembered Shao Bai's previous "betrayals," and in a fit of pique, he snorted, "I don't understand!"
Fang Yan deliberately sighed heavily, glancing at Shao Chong's reaction out of the corner of his eye, and raised his voice: "Then forget it, let Shao Bai wait to die."
Shao Chong couldn't sit still: "Die?"
He understands this word.
Those he had previously torn apart with his bare hands, snapped their heads, or smashed into bloody foam with a single palm strike... all of these people were called "dead." When people die, they go to live underground and are bullied by a wicked thing called the King of Hell. He imagined a hundred ways Shao Bai could die, and though he felt a pang of pity, he reluctantly said, "Hmm, alright."
Shao Bai is a heartless and ungrateful man, but I value loyalty and can't bear to see him have his head twisted off, his body torn apart, and smashed into blood and gore.
Upon seeing this, Chao Lian and Fang Yan both breathed a sigh of relief.
At the same time, there was a slight sense of sadness.
Sigh, the kids are all grown up.
With a few words, he sent Shao Chong away.
After a short rest, Chao and Lian set off under the cover of night.
According to this intelligence, the enemy force will have at least one scholar-official. Combined with Luan Xin's information, this scholar-official's literary skills are fully developed; currently, only their basic ability is known to boost morale, but their final state is unknown. It's unclear whether they've further enhanced this foundation or developed another ability. Fang Yan pondered, "Is they from a prominent family? I know a little about them. Who is it?"
Fang Yan's own background wasn't bad either.
In this era of scarce educational resources, highly monopolized by a small group of people, one cannot become a scholar without some foundation and opportunity. Fang Yan's original circle frequently interacted with aristocratic families.
Chao Lian recalled the intelligence: "This man's surname is He, given name is Shu, courtesy name is Buzuo. I have a vague impression of the people in the main branch of the He clan, but I have never heard of He Shu. This He Shu is capable of fulfilling the duties of a scholar, so he cannot be a mediocre or incompetent person. He should be from a minor branch."
The He clan has many branches and numerous sub-clans.
The intermarriages among prominent families have resulted in a very complicated family genealogy.
Chao Lian didn't know which minor branch the other party belonged to.
Fang Yan murmured, "To transmit? To transmit but not to create?"
"Sixth Brother knows him?"
Fang Yan said, "I naturally recognize it."
He not only knew He Shu, but also He Shu's younger brother, He Xin.
"Why haven't I heard my brother mention this before?"
“It’s normal that you haven’t heard of them. I knew these brothers before you and my elder brother did. He Shu and He Xin, these two brothers…” Fang Yan said with a strange expression, choosing a crude and straightforward description, “…are both sick. He Xin is weak and sickly, and He Shu came to him for medical treatment several times. Over time, they became familiar with each other.”
They used to be part of the same circle.
There is a significant overlap in interpersonal relationships.
"If He Shu is behind the surprise attack on Shangnan, it's going to be troublesome." Fang Yan estimated the strength of his own forces and added, "Once we enter Shangnan, remember to clear out the enemy first."
"Qing people?"
"Get some more lightning-attracting stuff."
"Attracting lightning?"
Fang Yan was certain: "He Shu's way of the scholar may inspire people at first, but in its perfect state, it can definitely bewitch the masses! He will either turn people against him or use the tribulation of lightning. Be careful after the war starts, and kill him first if necessary, don't give him any chance to make a move."
(つД`)
Let me tell you something embarrassing. Yesterday, I accompanied someone to the Women and Children's Hospital. While we were waiting, a woman wearing a mask came in with a disability certificate for someone who is deaf or mute, or something like that. She wanted me to scan a QR code to donate 30 yuan. She also mentioned leukemia or something, and I felt so sorry for her. I was completely bewildered at the time, not realizing it was a scam, and I transferred the money. Looking back, oh my god, I was furious! That was five or six cups of Mixue Ice Cream lemonade!
PS: Regarding the conditions for Luan Xin's perfect advancement in the previous chapter, his Scholar's Way is "Approaching Different Categories with Broad Understanding," which requires him to either have a little knowledge of everything or be an expert in everything. Therefore, as long as he has copied 99 perfect Scholar's Ways or 9 fully experienced Ultimate Paths, he can advance by choosing one of the two.
Ordinary ones don't count.
In layman's terms, it's about leveling up by defeating monsters: green monsters, blue monsters, and purple monsters. Green monsters don't give experience, blue monsters give one point (1/99 of the progress), and purple monsters give one point (1/9 of the progress). Completing one of the two tasks counts as a successful advancement.
This is a classic case of "it's better to get your colleagues to work harder than to work hard yourself." ┑(￣Д￣)┍
P.S.: Sigh, my computer system crashed before the New Year, and I lost the documents. I remember writing his name on the character card I gave Fang Yan, but I forgot if it was mentioned in the main text...
PPPS: It's almost the end of the month again, does anyone still have any monthly passes?
(End of this chapter)
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