As the new Chu army grows stronger, its daily expenses also increase.
Fortunately, most of the resources could be replenished by raiding the Yan army, but He Yunxiao still had to pay a small portion of the silver out of his own pocket. The vast majority of this silver, paid by He Yunxiao himself, came from Tingfeng Tower.
He Yunxiao felt that he couldn't take advantage of Nangong Jin so badly; he had to let him rest. Now that he had come all the way to Qingmu City, he couldn't let it be for nothing.
The first thing He Yunxiao did upon entering Tingfeng Tower wasn't to find the tower master, but rather to go to the pharmacy and pack some medicinal herbs for his beautiful master. Medicinal herbs were already scarce during the war, and Tingfeng Tower in Yanyang City didn't have much left to extract from. (M.cascoo.net)
On the eaves outside Tingfeng Tower, Qingyuzi silently watched He Yunxiao buy medicine for her, a strange feeling stirring within her.
Whether it was her secular life before entering the Taixu Sect, or her daily interactions with her fellow disciples after joining, Qing Yuzi didn't enjoy being with men. Sometimes she wondered if her poor relationships with men were due to a problem with her constitution. But it was something she was born with, something she couldn't change, so she could only accept the status quo.
The first person to change her view of men was Chu Fan. Chu Fan seemed unaffected by her constitution and was an upright person, though his dull personality made him unlikable.
The second person who changed her view of men was He Yunxiao from the Tingfeng Tower across the street. He Yunxiao was a much more complex person. Sometimes he was irresponsible, sometimes very serious, sometimes he could make you grit your teeth in hatred, and sometimes you would think he was not bad.
For example, right now.
...
He Yunxiao was unaware that his every move was being monitored by his beautiful master. If he did find out, he would definitely have to explain to Qing Yuzi what "the right to privacy" meant.
On the top floor of Tingfeng Tower, He Yunxiao successfully met the tower master of Qingmu City. He was a middle-aged man with a plump figure.
The Tingfeng Tower is well-informed. The Tower Master Wang has long admired He Yunxiao's name and has ridiculed Nangong Jin many times. He never expected that this King of Hell would come so suddenly.
While Tingfeng Tower did tacitly approve of He Yunxiao borrowing money, unlike Nangong Jin, Lord Wang was an outsider, considered an outsider compared to the Nangong family. If He Yunxiao couldn't repay the money, the main tower would have to take the blame, Nangong Jin would at most suffer a career setback, but Lord Wang might lose his life.
"Sir, there's really no money in this building," said the landlord, Wang, with a bitter expression.
He Yunxiao didn't care about any of that.
"No money? Goods will do. IOUs are fine too. My He family is a large and wealthy family, we won't default on our debts. You can ask Nangong Jin if you don't believe me."
Wang Louzhu continued to express his bitterness.
"Sir, there's no goods either."
Where's the goods?
"This is not the place where the King of the Southwest is located..."
"Oh~ I'll go ask him if he took anything from you. You can't joke about matters concerning royalty and nobility; talking nonsense can get you beheaded." He Yunxiao got up and left.
"Hey, hey, wait a moment, sir!" Lord Wang quickly pulled He Yunxiao back. "Let's talk this out, let's talk this out."
After sitting down again, He Yunxiao looked quite relaxed. "Tingfeng Tower is well-informed; there are some things you already know without me saying them. Recently, the Qi army held an alliance meeting and redefined the garrisons for each army. Unfortunately, the King of the Southwest will be sending troops forward soon, and Qingmu City will henceforth be under the jurisdiction of my rear army. I, He Yunxiao, am always easy to talk to and won't make things difficult for you. Can you lend me five thousand sets of equipment? Is that alright?"
Looking at the arrogant and domineering He Yunxiao, Qing Yuzi recalled his polite demeanor when she bought the medicine earlier and sighed softly.
...
He Yunxiao is right. After the layout of the four routes of the Qi army was finalized, many troops needed to adjust their garrisons.
The garrison of the new Chu army, or rather the rear army, would be taken over by the right wing army. The rear army would then be ranked after the three armies. But neither He Yunxiao nor Ruobao would do something like following in someone else's footsteps.
The new Chu army was originally based on guerrilla warfare tactics, and now it has become even more guerrilla-like.
Tens of thousands of troops were scattered like beans in the mountains and among the three routes of the Qi army. The western troops pretended to be the left wing to fight the western army of Yan, the eastern troops pretended to be the right wing to fight the eastern army of Yan, and the central troops pretended to be the central army to fight the southern army of Yan.
This tactic not only annoyed the Yan army but also bewildered the various Qi armies. The Yan army was frequently ambushed, while the Qi army was constantly facing retaliation from the Yan army.
When the Southwest King asked about the situation of the rear army, Ruobao used Lingwang as a scapegoat. Lingwang couldn't withstand the pressure, and the pressure fell on He Yunxiao. He Yunxiao knew nothing about it.
"I'm not there. What's going on? What does it have to do with me?"
The frequent attacks had depleted the New Chu Army's supplies considerably. Fortunately, thanks to the expansion of their territory, the rear guard had access to more Tingfeng Towers. This led to an increase in the number of kind-hearted people willing to lend He Yunxiao money.
The various Tingfeng Towers were all suffering terribly from He Yunxiao's extortion of local tyrants.
...
With the addition of the King of the Southwest, the Qi army's combat strength has greatly increased. Even the Qi army in Yinjing City has recently begun to take the initiative to attack, no longer staying within the city walls.
Based on these signs, Ruobao concluded that a great battle was imminent.
The rear army held a meeting, with all the high-ranking officials in attendance. As the apparent leader of the rear army, King Ling naturally took the seat of honor.
King Ling: "Recently, the King of the Southwest has been coming to see me. I told him that what happened in the front has nothing to do with our rear army, but he doesn't believe me. Fine, let him not believe me. We'll just have to be careful and stay safe. Let's not cause trouble and add to the burden of our allies. What do you think, strategist?"
Ruobao stood up and walked to the map, saying, "His Highness the Spirit King is right, we should take the initiative."
King Ling: ?
All the generals nodded in agreement.
Ruobao added, “The decisive battle between Qi and Yan is not far off, and our rear army must prepare early. The Yan army may not fight the Qi army around Yinjing. If they fight here, they will be caught in a pincer movement, with the Qi army in Yinjing to their left and the army of the Southwest King to their right. His Highness Prince Ling believes that the Yan army will retreat to the large flat area between Yinjing and Luoyue Pass to seek an opportunity to fight the Qi army.”
"King Ling is wise!" the generals exclaimed again.
King Ling, being lifted up by Ruobao, was caught in a dilemma, unsure whether to agree or disagree. He could only say, "Strategist, don't just share my thoughts. What do you think we should do with our rear army?"
Ruobao bowed slightly. "Ziruo also thinks that His Highness the King of Ling's idea is correct. We should indeed take the initiative and make preparations in advance on the plains and Gobi Desert west of Yinjing and south of Luoyue Pass in order to gain the upper hand."
King Ling was taken aback.
Have I ever thought of that?
He Yunxiao seized the opportunity to create a lively atmosphere, exclaiming, "The Spirit King is wise!"
The crowd shouted in unison again: "The Spirit King is wise!"
Of everyone present, only King Ling couldn't laugh. "Strategist, if the Southwest King asks me about this proactive attack by our rear army, what am I supposed to say?"
Ruobao calmly said, "An army marches on its stomach. Some people are going ahead to transport supplies."
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