C31.Chu Hechao, You Are Such a Loser.
Upon waking up, Jian Shaoning had already forgotten what he had said the night before.
When he found out that he had been assigned a task by Yuan Li, he was quite happy. It was a chance to prove his abilities and standing straight among others.
Full of energy, he was eager to prove that he was not just there to freeload. So, on that very day, he took Xiao Ce and set out.
Liu Jixin and Wu Kai naturally joined them.
Within just ten days, Jian Shaoning had befriended many powerful landlords in Ji County, becoming like brothers with them. He efficiently used the money provided by Yuan Li to purchase enough medicinal supplies, surpassing Yuan Li's expectations.
At the same time, every action and conversation between Jian Shaoning and Xiao Ce was reported back to Yuan Li.
As to Yuan Li's worst assumptions, although it seemed like Jian Shaoning was in charge, it was actually Xiao Ce who was pulling the strings.
Whenever Jian Shaoning made a decision, Xiao Ce would gently inquire, "Are you sure you want to do this?"
This made Jian Shaoning doubt himself and seek advice from Xiao Ce, "Uncle Xiao, what would you do if you were in my place?"
A true strategist would never treat Jian Shaoning as a mere puppet.
Further complicating matters, Zhao Ying brought news of a hefty bribe given to Jian Shaoning's troops.
Initially, these fifty or so troops belonged to the Jian family, but after surviving multiple crises with Xiao Ce's help, they became loyal to him. Xiao Ce's words carried more weight with them than Jian Shaoning's.
In their memories, during their initial flight, Xiao Ce had often questioned Jian Shaoning's decisions. This made Jian Shaoning indecisive.
After losing several men in a crisis, Jian Shaoning stopped making decisions on his own and deferred to Xiao Ce's judgment.
Upon learning of this, Yuan Li made a decisive move.
Xiao Ce was deemed too dangerous to be allowed to stay.
However, Jian Shaoning had no one else to rely on in Ji County besides Xiao Ce. To protect Jian Shaoning, even if they had to eliminate Xiao Ce, it had to wait until Jian Shaoning had fully integrated into Ji County.
Furthermore, Yuan Li was soon to leave Ji County and had no time to plan a sophisticated murder. If Xiao Ce had to be killed, it had to be done discreetly.
Therefore, Yuan Li planned to warn Xiao Ce before leaving Ji County to prevent any disruptions.
On the night before the battle, Yuan Li hosted a banquet at the Chu Mansion to thank Jian Shaoning for his assistance and for gathering medicinal materials.
During the banquet, everyone sang and danced, enjoying themselves.
Halfway through, Yuan Li raised his glass and thanked Xiao Ce for safely escorting Jian Shaoning to Youzhou and helping him by his side in Ji County.
Jian Shaoning blushed at the praise and scratched his head, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
Xiao Ce lifted his glass, stood up with dignity and said, "It is my duty to escort Jian Shaoning and avoid any misfortune. Jian Shaoning, despite being a bit impulsive at times, is brilliant and will surely become a great general in the future! I am grateful to Young Master Yuan for not abandoning Jian Shaoning and humbly ask for your guidance. I thank you, Young Master Yuan, for everything."
With that, Xiao Ce emptied his glass in one go.
After Xiao Ce's words, Jian Shaoning's face, which had just regained some color, turned slightly pale.
Yuan Li chuckled softly and remarked, "You are indeed an odd strategist. The way you speak makes it seem like Jian Shaoning is not your master but more like your nephew."
Jian Shaoning interjected, "Yuan Li, Uncle Xiao and I have always had a good relationship. I consider him as family."
"Absolutely not," Liu Jixin stood up, laughing heartily and shaking his head. "Young Master Jian, you don't understand! As strategists, we must never see ourselves as the masters or seniors of our households. Our greatest aspiration is to earn the trust and respect of being your subordinates rather than playing the role of an elder to you."
Liu Jixin turned to Xiao Ce and asked, "Li Mou, am I not right?"
Xiao Ce's eyes flashed as he replied, "Brother Zhang Yue's words resonate with me."
Jian Shaoning was taken aback, then appeared to be lost in thought.
Seizing the opportunity, Yuan Li asked, "Jian Shaoning, how do you plan to arrange your troops?"
Jian Shaoning subconsciously looked towards Xiao Ce, but Yuan Li quickly added, "These people have worked hard to escort you all the way. As their leader, you should take good care of them."
Upon hearing this, Jian Shaoning hesitated and nervously licked his lips before tentatively asking, "Yuan Li, I want to incorporate them into your troops and have them trained alongside your forces. What do you think?"
"Of course," Yuan Li readily agreed. "If you want them to familiarize themselves with Ji County quickly, should I disperse them for placement? Otherwise, if they stick together for too long, it might lead to trouble."
Jian Shaoning nodded repeatedly and looked at Yuan Li gratefully, "Yuan Li, you are truly kind."
Yuan Li smiled faintly, casting a glance at Xiao Ce.
Before Xiao Ce could say a word, Jian Shaoning and Yuan Li had already made a decision. Xiao Ce momentarily furrowed his brows, but then quickly concealed any emotion, making it difficult to tell whether he was happy or angry.
Throughout the rest of the banquet, Liu Jixin kept urging Xiao Ce to drink, reciting poems and stories that were hard to resist. By the end of the banquet, Xiao Ce was already quite drunk and feeling dizzy.
He bid farewell to Yuan Li and Jian Shaoning, rubbing his temples as he made his way back to his room. The intoxication made it hard for Xiao Ce to even see the way clearly.
As he stumbled along, some doubts crossed Xiao Ce's mind.
Was the wine really that strong?
Before he could ponder further, his thoughts became muddled. Xiao Ce's steps faltered, and he found himself on a desolate bridge. It felt like he stepped on something or was given a push, causing him to fall straight off the bridge.
Experiencing intense pain, Xiao Ce quickly fell into unconsciousness.
The next day,
Jian Shaoning bid farewell to Yuan Li with tears in his eyes at the mansion gate.
Yuan Li patted his shoulder, sighed, and reassured him, "Don't worry, Mr. Xiao will surely recover."
Last night, Xiao Ce had returned to his room drunk and passed by the desolate bridge, accidentally falling and breaking his leg, landing in the muddy ground below the bridge. Only in the early morning was he discovered by the servants and brought back to his room.
As Jian Shaoning thought about this incident, apart from feeling saddened, he found it somewhat ironic.
He had joked about someone breaking a leg due to drinking several times before, but he never imagined it would happen to the usually clever and agile Xiao Ce.
This amusement somehow eased Jian Shaoning's worries and left him feeling a mix of amusement and sadness.
Encouragingly, Yuan Li said, "Jian Shaoning, now that Mr. Xiao has broken his leg, you must take good care of him. With his severe injury, he needs rest. As you manage things, do not disturb Mr. Xiao as he recuperates."
Taking a deep breath, Jian Shaoning assured, "Yuan Li, you can rest assured. I will take good care of Uncle Xiao and ensure the safety of the Prince Chu Estate even without him by my side."
Yuan Li was extremely pleased and shook Jian Shaoning's hand. "It is settled!"
With that, Yuan Li mounted his horse, waved goodbye to Jian Shaoning, and led a procession of five hundred people away, gradually disappearing into the distance.
*
Several days later, Yuan Li finally arrived at Gulun County.
Scouts had already detected their movements and reported back to Chu Hechao and others. When Yuan Li arrived at the camp, he saw Yang Zhongfa and He Lang eagerly waiting in front of the camp.
Upon spotting Yuan Li and his entourage, a man's eyes lit up, and he enthusiastically ran forward, saying, "Yuanzi, you've finally returned! We all missed you so much!"
Yuan Li dismounted from his horse, his robe billowing elegantly, and joked, "Are you missing us or the things we brought back with us?"
Yang Zhongfa affirmed, "Definitely you! You have no idea, during the days you were away, General has mentioned you countless times!"
Pretending to be surprised, Yuan Li looked around and playfully asked, "How come the General hasn't come out to greet me since I returned?"
Yang Zhongfa chuckled, "The General will be here soon, he will be here soon."
After speaking, he cautiously asked, "Yuanzi, did you encounter any unpleasant events on the way? Are you feeling alright today?"
Yuan Li was puzzled by the question, "No, nothing unpleasant happened, and I'm feeling fine today. Sir Yang, what's the meaning behind your question?"
He Lang, patting Yuan Li's shoulder familiarly, interjected, "Don't worry about it, Sir Yang is just wondering why you arrived so late, concerned that you might have encountered trouble on the road. Yuan Li, how is Ji County now? Since I arrived in the Northern Plains, I haven't visited the General's fiefdom, not even set foot in the Prince Chu Estate..."
While He Lang and Yuan Li conversed, Yang Zhongfa quickly motioned to a soldier, whispering, "Tell the General that Yuanzi is in good spirits today."
The group escorted Yuan Li towards the camp. He Lang smiled and said, "I saw the silhouette of Yuanzi's convoy from afar and knew that you would be hungry after a day's journey. The army has prepared meals for you all, so please eat to your heart's content."
Yuan Li jokingly remarked, "Are you all being a bit too welcoming to me today?"
Yang Zhongfa hurriedly explained, "This is just a welcoming gesture."
Yuan Li looked at Yang Zhongfa with suspicion and then at He Lang, "What are you all..."
He Lang suddenly buried his nose in Yuan Li's shoulder, taking a deep sniff, and interrupted Yuan Li, "No wonder I've been smelling this fragrance since earlier, it must be the scent of your clothes, Yuanzi. Did you wash your clothes with that scented soap? I love this smell so much, can you please give me some scented soap too?"
After his request, He Lang sniffed again, wondering why Yuan Li still smelled so good even after traveling on the road.
Yuan Li looked helpless.
It was a hot summer, and after a long journey, their group stank terribly. Taking advantage of the water flow for rest last night, everyone roughly cleaned themselves, while Yuan Li had also changed into clean clothes.
If not for last night's cleaning, Yuan Li would have been too smelly for He Lang to bear.
"A fragrance?"
Another familiar voice coldly interjected.
He Lang was startled and immediately raised his head, releasing Yuan Li with a look of innocence, "General, I didn't say anything."
Suppressing a smile, Yuan Li turned his head to look at Chu Hechao.
Chu Hechao was not wearing armor, probably due to the heat. He wore only a dark single-layered garment, with sleeves casually rolled up to his elbows, revealing his sturdy wheat-colored forearms.
His handsome face glistened with sweat, and he looked slightly displeased as he glanced at He Lang.
Despite feeling hot himself, Yuan Li could sense that Chu Hechao was even hotter. Chu Hechao's clothes were drenched with sweat, dark patches visible on the fabric.
Chu Hechao's gaze swiftly swept over Yuan Li before Yuan Li smiled at him, his lips red and teeth white, standing out among the dusty military officers and soldiers.
Seeing Chu Hechao's silence, He Lang awkwardly said, "General, I was just joking with Yuanzi."
Chu Hechao didn't pay much attention and turned to walk away, saying, "Come here."
As he turned, Yuan Li noticed that Chu Hechao's clothes were excessively wet. From his neck to his lower back, the clothing was soaked with sweat, clinging to his body.
Beneath his lower back were his long legs and pert buttocks, the boots tightly hugging his calves, exuding a threatening sense of power - his kick could probably kill someone instantly.
Chu Hechao suddenly turned back and looked at Yuan Li intently, "What are you looking at?"
Yuan Li raised his head, hesitating to say, "I wasn't looking at anything."
Chu Hechao looked at him for a moment, then suddenly smiled. He casually walked up to Yuan Li, standing tall and imposing, his presence exuding a hint of playfulness, "If my sister-in-law likes to look, just say it. I'll stand still, and you can look as much as you want."
With his jaw tense and sweat glistening on his neck, he teased, "After all, I know my sister-in-law admires a different type of appearance like mine, and it might make you envious."
Yuan Li wanted to speak but stopped, honestly saying, "General, your boot has a hole in it."
Chu Hechao: "..."
Instinctively, he looked down and indeed saw a hole in his boot. Chu Hechao's face darkened, but when he looked up, he saw Yuan Li's smirk.
Chu Hechao: "...Sister-in-law, find it amusing?"
"How could I?" Yuan Li cleared his throat, trying to suppress his laughter, "General, your modesty and dedication to the country and the people are truly admirable. I could never find that amusing."
Chu Hechao's expression fluctuated. Perhaps feeling a bit embarrassed, his changing face was watched with interest by Yuan Li. Suddenly, Chu Hechao's expression softened, his tone becoming gentler, "It's nothing, if it brings a smile to my sister-in-law's face, it's worth it even if I embarrass myself."
After this statement, Yuan Li's smile froze, feeling a bit uncomfortable and unable to laugh anymore.
The group entered the tent, shielding themselves from the sun outside. It wasn't much cooler inside, but at least it was less scorching and restless.
The food had been prepared in the tent. The army's meals were simple, lacking sophistication, but everyone present was accustomed to them. They sat down and began eating with their utensils.
Yuan Li had little appetite, pausing after a few bites.
When he stopped eating, Chu Hechao also stopped. Subsequently, the other people also put down their utensils.
Yuan Li sensed something was off as everyone stopped eating simultaneously.
"General, I am feeling weary and would like to rest..." Yuan Li began to push the table, preparing to stand up.
"Sister-in-law," Chu He Chao spoke in a low voice, stopping him just in time, "There is something I would like to discuss with you."
Taking a deep breath, Yuan Li sat back down and turned to him, asking, "What is it?"
Chu Hechao's expression was subtle, as if he had difficulty expressing himself. He glanced at Yang Zhongfa and He Lang.
While Yang Zhongfa pondered how to speak, He Lang interjected, "Yuanzi, we are running out of supplies in the army."
Yuan Li was shocked, "How could this be? The food that was brought in earlier was enough for twenty thousand troops for a month!"
Taken aback by his stern gaze, He Lang couldn't help but spill the details, "Due to the increasingly hot weather, the soldiers are at high risk of injury. General noticed that the provisions in Zhuolu County were running out, so he used the shortage as a reason to persuade Zhuolu's people to surrender. Some of them couldn't bear it and eventually opened the city gates for us. However, the situation in Zhuolu County is dire. In addition to the depleted provisions, many ordinary citizens have already starved to death. The General took the army's provisions to help these people, and right now, the county is distributing porridge."
Having served under Chu Hechao for two years, He Lang had witnessed tragedies where entire cities were massacred. However, they had never distributed provisions before. Simply because they never had enough food for themselves.
Chu Hechao's army had strict rules, unlike other armies. While other armies would loot to sustain themselves during war, Chu Hechao's army never resorted to plundering cities and people. They relied on imperial funds to sustain their army in battle, let alone provide relief to others.
But this time, He Lang was amazed to see Chu Hechao confidently offer a large amount of provisions to convince the enemy to surrender and aid the starving citizens. The sight of wagonloads of supplies being sent to Zhuolu County shook He Lang to the core.
Good Lord, what made the General act in such an irrational manner?
Only when Yuan Li returned did He Lang begin to understand.
Ah, it must be because the General had the support of his ever-generous brother's wife.
While Yuan Li's expression remained unchanged, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhuolu County was in Youzhou, and its people were also from Youzhou. For the sake of pacifying Youzhou, even if Chu Hechao hadn't taken such actions, Yuan Li would have still ensured the well-being of those who suffered under Zhuolu's oppression.
He had feared the worst, but it turned out to be something far more affirming. The fact that such actions could avoid casualties and alleviate the suffering of the people brought him comfort, although their reactions initially startled him.
"So, how much food did the General give out? How much is left?" Yuan Li relaxed, took a sip of water, and casually inquired.
Chu Hechao's expression remained unchanged, but his eyes momentarily flickered. He replied succinctly, "Half a month's worth of provisions remains."
Yuan Li sprayed out water in astonishment, "..."
Half a month?!
He couldn't believe it as he looked at Chu Hechao.
Chu Hechao, you truly are a spendthrift!