A few days later.
Ying Zheng came to general Qing Huan's tent and called in an out of breath tone "general it is commander Ying Zheng I hope I can meet you."
After a few breaths of time, general Qing Huan answered "Come in commander Ying."
Ying Zheng went in in a hurry and immediately started talking "general I am very sorry for not performing etiquette and coming here without prior notice but I have very important news." Ying Zheng stopped there while taking a moment to get himself together and bowed slightly.
Hearing this general Qing Huan frowned feeling a bad premonition and said: "Please continue commander Ying you are always welcome in my home."
Hearing this Ying Zheng pretended to be touched then remembering what happened he came back to a serious expression and said "general I am sorry for the bad news but many commanders were murdered from our side and the other sides."
Hearing this general Qing Huan's heart shook and his pupils tightened he sat back on his chair and poured himself a cup of wine and drank it all in one gulp before breathing out all in one breath.
General Qing Huan's tent was not simplistic at all he had a luxurious bed in the middle of the tent while the sides were filled with big gourds of wine and other foods which do not spoil easily. and near the opening was a large luxurious table filled with maps food wine and ink.
General Qing Huan tried to calmed and sighed "Sigh tell me do you know who might have done this?" general Qing Huan questioned while holding his head.
Ying Zheng sighed and said "general I do not know who might have done this but we have to find the culprit and if we can not do that there might be some men who will question you especially the lower ranked soldiers and some might desert and run away. As for the great nobles, I dare not question them or suspect them. Please excuse me general."
"Alright tell me how many commanders died?"
Ying Zheng answered "In total about thirty six men were killed. Amongst them are three 4000 men commanders two 3000 men commanders nine 2000 men commanders and thirteen 1000 men commanders. The rest are lower ranked commanders."
General Qing Huan frowned and questioned Ying Zheng "How many of the killed are our men?"
Ying Zheng sighed and answered, "General about two third of the killed are men from our side."
Hearing this black lines formed on general Qing Huan's face but he forced himself to calm down and asked Ying Zheng "Who do you think was responsible for this? And please speak your mind."
Hearing this Ying Zheng nodded and answered: "General I do not dare but since you asked I have a few theories but three of them are the most likely..."
Ying Zheng paused for a moment to get his breath and calm himself and continued "The first and least likely is barbarian assassins. the second one and I believe I am going overboard with this the opposing camps. I hope you do not blame me general because I was out of line."
General Qing Huan sighed and said "Continue I do not blame you. Since you said you started with the least likely then the last one is the most likely"
Ying Zheng nodded and bowed slightly and answered "general you are truly insightful but yes I believe the most likely person is Lin Feng since he has motive against our side and the great nobles and he is strong enough to do this since he has proved it time and time again in battle by defeating several men by himself."
General Qing Huan frowned and said "hmm you are right he does have the motive and ability but why would he do that?" general Qing Huan questioned
Hearing this Ying Zheng sneered inside 'how stupid can you be? I just told you so what do you mean why? hmph, you have no true ability of yours. you are not talented or experienced. If you had half a brain you would have known I was just using you and you are doing better than I had ever expected.'
But Ying Zheng did not say what he was thinking out loud he just bowed and waited for general Qing Huan to figure it out himself but he pretended to be thinking about it.
Humans are a very weird species. We do not like to be told what to do. If for example a person with good intentions told you what you are doing is wrong and you do not do it that way but you should do it this way and this way we would think that they are trying to manipulate us for their own plans and even if we do not think that our subconscious would still think and believe that.
The first thing that the person in our example did was tell us that we were wrong. Nobody wants to be told that they are wrong instead he should have complemented what they were doing and just have left. if they have nothing better to do or were really trying to manipulate that person they should have complemented what they were doing as amazing and then slowly let that person figure it out themselves but if you are. superior to that person point it out directly and punish them if you are alone but talk to that person as a friend and kindly if you are with other people.
Although most of that is common sense most people can not change their old habits but Ying Zheng had forced himself to adapt and could do this very naturally.
Thinking about it for a while general Qing Huan finally figured it out and said to Ying Zheng "He must be out for me since I had him mocked and embarrassed. Call Lin Feng and kill him."
Ying Zheng frowned and immediately answered "general is truly wise and I do not think that I would be that wise but what if he runs away."
Ying Zheng was practically spelling it out for him 'Just send Lin Feng to a danger zone with only 500 men or less. I truly underestimated your stupidity.'
Thinking about it general Qing Huan's face suddenly brightened and said "Hahaha I have a better idea what if we send him into the danger with only his men then he would die without a doubt and I would have clean hands and if he refuses I can punish him justly.
***
End of chapter
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