Chapter 781: Wu Xian Seeks Help (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
Silence, deathly silence!
If it weren't for the inappropriate setting, Wu Xian would have wanted to pick his ears right now—had he just misheard and misunderstood a word? Was it not "Dawei is General Zhao's daughter" but "Dawei is General Zhao's son"?
The people in Qin Li's faction are a bit confused.
The envoy from Shen Youli's side looks exactly like that scoundrel Cui Shanxiao. Hey, even the broken sword-fan he always carries at his waist is the same. The young man who intervened to stop the caning looks somewhat familiar; he resembles Old Zhao's wife a bit.
And then—
Oh, so she's Old Zhao's daughter.
etc--
When did Old Zhao get such a tall and spirited daughter?
Then I thought about it again. Old Zhao only had one daughter, and she was raised by his uncles and aunts. How could they not recognize what Zhao's wife looked like? Could it be that she had another child behind their backs? This daughter... she looks a bit older than her age.
Wu Xian had also sorted out his thoughts. Although his expression was not gentle, his tone softened a bit: "Although Zhao Xiaolang's trip was a filial act, harming his colleagues and delaying military affairs is a violation of military law and cannot be pardoned. Considering that Xiaolang is still young and is under the command of Brother Shen, we will not pursue the matter. Zhao Xiaolang, please step aside."
This is an internal conflict within Wu Xian's camp, and outsiders cannot interfere, even if that outsider is Zhao Feng's son.
Zhao Wei hesitated to speak, but was interrupted by Cui Xiao.
He corrected, "Lord Wu, this is General Zhao's daughter."
Wu Xian: "..."
It's impossible for him to hallucinate twice.
Wu Xian's men fell silent for the second time.
He said, "Although the young man does not wear the Martial Tiger Talisman, he is surrounded by surging martial energy. How could he be a righteous woman?"
Wu Xian's gaze fell on Zhao Dayi, the person involved.
Although Zhao Feng's heart was ice-cold, he could still speak. He explained in a stiff voice, "Dawei is indeed my daughter. Several years ago, she eloped to Longwu and has never returned home. My lord is aware of this."
Wu Xian certainly knew that Zhao Feng had a daughter who had run away from her arranged marriage.
He still remembered how Zhao Wei had run away from her arranged marriage. Zhao Feng and his brothers were furious and sent out their retainers to search everywhere. Wu Xian even did them a favor by sealing off all the major roads in Tianhai, but they still couldn't find Zhao Wei. It wasn't until several months later that they learned she was in Longwu.
If Zhao Feng, the father, wasn't worried, Wu Xian was even less so. Besides, Shen Tang was quite capable in governing, and Zhao Wei was safe in Longwu County. So, this tall young general before them was actually Zhao Feng's eldest daughter, who had run away from her arranged marriage long ago?
Wu Xian stared intently at Zhao Wei.
He asked, "Are you truly a woman of great righteousness...?"
Zhao Wei clasped his hands in a fist and said, "That's right."
The people under Wu Xian's command whispered among themselves, and no one believed it.
Qin Li's faction, however, was skeptical—upon closer inspection, Zhao Wei's features did indeed resemble their familiar niece.
At that moment, one person's voice was particularly piercing.
A tall, burly general with a livid face sneered, "Whether this person is Zhao Feng's son or daughter, or even neither male nor female, when did it become the business of someone who has defected to another side to overstep their bounds in matters of Tianhai? Ha!"
Zhao Wei looked at the person who spoke.
She had seen this person before.
Wu Xian had six capable generals under his command.
The man who spoke was one of them. He was older, more experienced, and more capable than Zhao Feng. Because of his strength and good family background, he rarely bothered to associate with generals of low birth. When they occasionally met, his response was either "humph" or "heh".
Because Zhao Feng was the mainstay of the military strength among the outside forces, and had saved Wu Xian's life in a crisis, he was subsequently highly valued by Wu Xian, who allocated a large sum of money to expand his troops. His overall prestige soared above that of the generals from the Tianhai forces, so he was often treated coldly. Zhao Feng was also aware of his unpopularity and generally avoided initiating conflicts with them.
It wasn't that I was cowardly, I just didn't want to put Wu Xian in a difficult position.
But Zhao Feng was the most noble and great man in Zhao Wei's heart. Since he treated her father this way, she naturally had no good feelings towards him.
Zhao Wei's expression turned cold: "My father is a very cautious and humble man. He would never do something like 'harming colleagues and delaying military operations.' Do you have any evidence to support your claim?"
"Who do you think you are? You dare to ask this general for evidence?" With that, a wave of oppressive force, barely grazing Zhao Wei's limit, swept over him. Before it even got close, a hand grabbed Zhao Wei's shoulder and pulled him backward, his body flying uncontrollably backward.
He only stopped when Xu Quan slapped his vest.
"Xu Wenshi?"
Zhao Wei turned to look at Xu Quan behind her. His face was flushed, and his eyes were moist with excitement. He didn't even notice her, staring straight ahead. Zhao Wei followed his gaze and saw the back of a head with a lot of braids, but it wasn't Xu Quan.
Gongxi Chou!
His back view was full of impatience.
"Who do you think you are? How dare you lay a hand on someone under my master's (the clan's sacred object) command?" Gong Xi Chou stood there alone, arms crossed, the oppressive aura he had unleashed turning into a mere breeze. "Speak up if you want, don't provoke me with violence!"
The burly general's facial muscles twitched violently.
He said, "Gongxi Chou, you've overstepped your bounds!"
Gong Xichou turned to look in Cui Xiao's direction and offered a suggestion: "In that case, shall we go back the way we came? We haven't seen a single Huang Lie soldier along the way, let alone the ghostly figures of his sixteenth-rank Grand Master. We're just bored."
He had reason to suspect that he had been scammed by Mama.
The general was so speechless by these words that his face turned as black as soy sauce.
Wu Xian looked down at Zhao Feng, whose expression was blank, showing no sign of worry or explanation.
Zhao Feng definitely didn't just find out about Zhao Wei's situation now, but he never mentioned it to me. Xu Jie's cousin served under Shen Youli and worked with Zhao Wei for many years. In addition, Xu Wenzhu also helped in finding Zhao Wei, so he probably knew about it too, right?
They were worried that he knew Zhao Wei's special status and might do something to harm her.
Wu Xian dared not delve deeper into this question for the time being.
In a flash, he sighed to himself, "Fine, I've already given him eighty-seven out of a hundred strokes of the cane, I'll spare the rest."
Zhao Wei's eyes turned red when she heard the number.
"Eighty-seven strokes?"
No wonder a large patch of flesh on his back was ripped apart!
No matter where it is, military caning punishments do not allow the use of martial energy to protect the body; one must rely solely on physical strength to endure the pain. Even so, let alone eighty-seven strokes, even eight hundred and seventy strokes would not cause significant damage to Zhao Feng's back. Therefore, different punishments are administered to different individuals! The soldiers who carry out the punishments are martial arts masters, and the wooden canes used are infused with martial energy, their force capable of breaking a person's spine!
The general was clearly unwilling to end things so hastily.
He said, "My lord, this is inappropriate."
After he finished speaking, several other military officers beside him also spoke up.
Zhao Wei glanced at them briefly, then was horrified.
Of Wu Xian's six valiant generals, three were involved, and the others were their trusted followers and friends. In other words, most of Wu Xian's generals opposed canceling the remaining thirteen canes! Not only was Zhao Wei's face pale, but Wu Xian's was even paler.
Finally, Zhao Feng ended the farce with a cold laugh.
"Let them fight then! Do you think I'm afraid of thirteen strokes? Do you think thirteen strokes will kill me here?" Even if Zhao Feng were willing to die here, they would have to kneel down and try to save him. Losing one of his men would mean losing the support of everyone in Qin Li's faction, which would also be painful for Wu Xian. "That bastard was hacked into mincemeat, more than three hundred times!"
Zhao Wei was initially very anxious.
Such provocation! Aren't you afraid the thirteen strokes of the cane will be tampered with?
Even for a martial artist of Zhao Feng's caliber, his internal organs are not made of steel and are still more fragile than his body surface.
But when she heard the next sentence, she was dumbfounded.
Zhao Feng adopted a "what's the use" attitude: "I'm not the kind of two-faced hypocrite who lies and says he didn't do something. If I did it, I did it. I did delay the battle and caused the death of my so-called 'colleague.' Heh, if it weren't for 'an eye for an eye,' I wouldn't care to use Huang Lie's troops to chop him up myself!"
At that point, it wouldn't be a simple matter of three hundred cuts; it would be a slow, agonizing death by a thousand six hundred cuts! Not a single cut could be spared!
Upon hearing this, Wu Xian's men were filled with righteous indignation.
The military officer's face was even colder.
"Zhao Dayi, you're asking for death!"
Gong Xichou seemed oblivious to the situation and did not move.
Yes, he really can't see now.
Zhao Feng chuckled coldly, "How is this considered courting death? What did you say when your wife's brother killed my brother? What, you old bastard? Is your wife's brother's life a life, but my brother's life is shit? He didn't have the guts to admit it, didn't dare to come at me, and instead targeted my brothers. I, Zhao Dayi, will teach him what it means to be brave enough to take responsibility for his actions!"
Cui Xiao watched Zhao Feng go mad.
He left early and naturally didn't know about the death of Deputy General Zhao Feng, but he had guessed a bit. He appeared calm on the surface, but his heart was in turmoil, and his knuckles were turning white as he gripped the fan tightly.
The general trembled with rage: "Fight! Not a single blow less!"
Zhao Feng sneered, his eyes tightly closed, giving off an air of "fight if you want." Zhao Wei, naturally, couldn't bear it and tried to stop him again.
result--
She was bound by Cui Xiao's words of power.
With that little force, she could easily break free with a little effort.
Before he could act, Cui Xiao stopped him: "Dawei, don't be reckless. Your father won't die. Let him finish!"
Didn't you see that Qin Li and the others didn't say anything to stop them?
Bang—bang—bang—
As the sound of each blow striking flesh filled her ears, large tears welled up in Zhao Wei's eyes. Influenced by her father's family, she always held her father's lord, Wu Xian, in high esteem. Those her father served were undoubtedly outstanding individuals.
But this beating shattered her illusions, and a deep-seated hatred welled up within her. Based on her father's words and her understanding of him, she knew he would never resort to such extreme and brutal methods of revenge unless driven to desperation…
Bang!
As the last blow was delivered, Zhao Feng's straight back suddenly lurched forward, his hands bracing the ground as he vomited a mouthful of blood.
He shook his slightly dizzy head and got up from the ground.
He clasped his hands in a fist salute to Wu Xian and said, "I have already received all one hundred strokes of the military rod. A life for a life, this matter is settled."
After saying this, he spat out another mouthful of blood, casually wiped it away with the back of his hand, and asked for leave in a humble yet assertive manner: "Shen Jun's reinforcements have arrived, and our army's crisis can be resolved. Please forgive this humble general for being injured and wishing to rest for a few days."
"Take good care of your injury."
Wu Xian's voice lacked emotion.
After all, Zhao Feng had indeed gotten him into a huge mess.
He had originally agreed to give Zhao Feng a satisfactory explanation upon returning to Tianhai, but Zhao Feng changed his mind and, disregarding the battlefield situation, deliberately dragged his colleague to his death. He knew Zhao Feng wanted revenge, but his methods were too radical, and he hadn't even consulted Zhao Feng beforehand.
He was only in such a passive position after the incident.
Is he really so unworthy of trust and righteousness?
Zhao Fengdao said, "Thank you, my lord."
He turned to leave, but after only a few steps, his injuries caused him to lose his balance, and he needed the support of his personal guards to avoid falling. Even after he had gone some distance, he could still hear complaints from some of Wu Xian's men: "How can someone who disregards the greater good of the lord for personal revenge, plotting to harm his colleagues, still be trusted? Who knows who he'll harm next?"
Wu Xian felt his cheeks burning when he heard these words.
He hissed in a low voice, "Enough! Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough?"
Good news doesn't travel far, but bad news travels fast!
Shen Youli's messengers are still here.
At this moment, Cui Xiaocai released Zhao Wei from her restraints. This usually proud and spirited niece was now like a wilted flower, listless, as if she were the one being flogged.
Wu Xian and Cui Xiao tacitly agreed not to mention Zhao Feng again. He expressed his delight at Shen Tang's prompt dispatch of troops, but looking at Cui Xiao, he vaguely felt that the man's appearance was somewhat familiar, and asked very naturally, "Sir, what is your honorable name? You look very familiar."
Qin Li's faction: "..."
This time, it was Cui Xiao's turn to not be able to laugh.
Cui Xiaodao: "I once served Lord Wu."
Wu Xian: "???"
He stared at Cui Xiao's face for a long time.
Cui Xiao's appearance and demeanor were clearly not ordinary; he even stood out somewhat in his scholar's robes. His looks were above average among scholars, so why didn't I recognize him?
He said, "My surname is Cui, my given name is Xiao, and my courtesy name is Shanxiao."
Wu Xian was stunned for a moment: "You are... Shan Xiao?"
He had a good memory and remembered that there was a scholar named Cui Shanxiao under his command who had come with Qin Li.
Qin Li recommended him to him repeatedly, and Wu Xian also gave him face by meeting him a few times, but this Cui Shanxiao was really just an ordinary guy.
Lacking in talent, with mediocre abilities.
Completely different from a great talent like Qin Li!
After Qin Li recommended him so many times, Wu Xian finally understood!
Qin Li wanted to recommend one of his own people to have more say, but he didn't have many people around him, so he could only recommend this mediocre person.
Wu Xian naturally disliked Cui Xiao and also harbored some resentment towards Qin Li. However, for Qin Li's sake, he reluctantly gave Cui Xiao a sinecure. After that, whenever Qin Li recommended someone again, Wu Xian would only verbally agree but never actually show any interest.
so--
Is this Choi Sun-hyo?
Silence, an awkward silence so profound it made you want to scratch your toes!
Facing Cui Xiao's frank eyes, Wu Xian felt he had never been so embarrassed in his life. Fortunately, he had a thick skin and appeared to be indifferent: "Very good, very good. Brother Chen is kind and gentle, and he is a good place for Shanxiao."
Wu Xian displayed a magnanimous attitude, seemingly genuinely happy for his former subordinate who had found a new job.
He was internally wondering: [Why don't I remember this?]
He remembered that Choi Sun-hyo was really ordinary!
This person is completely different from the one in front of me!
Wu Xian maintained a perfect facade until Cui Xiao uttered a single sentence, at which point his expression cracked completely like a spiderweb: "Lord Wu, there is one thing you do not know—my lord is not 'Brother Shen'."
"You're not Shen Di's troops?" He was bewildered.
Cui Xiaodao: "My lord is actually a woman. If Lord Wu were to address her, she would be called 'Sister Shen.' This is what my lord asked me to convey before he left. It has been kept secret for many years, and I had no other choice."
Wu Xian: "..."
Qin Li's faction: "..."
The others under Wu Xian's command: "..."
|ω`)
Happy Children's Day to all the big kids who are two or three hundred months old!
(End of this chapter)
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