168: Chapter 161: The One With the Best Chance!
168: Chapter 161: The One With the Best Chance!
“General, why won’t you let go?”
Duke Qi frowned as he looked at the youngest illegitimate son from the Weichi Clan who had followed him, his brows tightly knit.
Nad Weichi Feihu, this boy had just co of age this year and was eager to prove himself on the battlefield.
Although Duke of Qin was supposed to lead the system with the army’s deploynt, he had insisted on coming along.
Initially, Duke Qi was determined not to take him, but Duke Lu owed the Weichi Clan quite a few favors and had brought him along anyway.
So be it that he had brought him, but what did it an to dump him on Duke Qi the day after deploynt?
Tian Heng was speechless for a mont.
He understood Duke Lu’s difficulties—wanting to put in an appearance for a friend’s descendant and earn so military rit.
It wouldn’t be nice not to give face.
But now that the situation here had dramatically changed, and they were at risk of losing their lives at every turn, how could he dare let soone follow him to the front lines?
If sothing were to happen to him, considering they belonged to different factions, it would create trouble that he wouldn’t be able to shake off.
Moreover, now that they had arrived, he faintly sensed that Duke of Qin had so big plan in mind.
Now there was even less of a chance to take the young man from the Weichi Clan.
And the result?
This ignorant young man had the audacity to crash his military tent without permission?
“Whatever the order from above is, that’s how it will be.
Are we supposed to do as you wish?” retorted Tian Heng, naturally not indulging the other party: “Duke Lu has his considerations for not taking you.
As his subordinate, you just have to follow the orders.
What, are you planning to defy military orders?”
Under the oppressive air, Weichi Feihu’s face turned beet red, looking like he was about to explode.
Tian Heng found it amusing.
The old man of the Weichi Clan was said to be extrely fond of this late-coming son, who supposedly had good talents and had inherited the Weichi Clan’s Celestial Roc Bloodline.
But honestly, this young man’s character fell far short of the two best lads from the Weichi Clan.
If it were Weichi Peng, he would have dared to confront him already, beating up his superior to let off steam if he could, or if not …
well, whichever commander it might be, no one would dare to kill the rightful son of the Weichi Clan.
If it was Weichi Feihong, that young man would never be impolite enough to barge into his military tent, so this youngster in front of him lacked Feihong’s steadiness and Peng’s audacity to take action; thus, Tian Heng found him rather uninteresting.
“I dare not …” Ultimately, the young man forcefully swallowed his anger.
Tian Heng shook his head, thinking that the Weichi Clan wouldn’t be producing a third prodigy.
He then coldly commanded: “For intruding on the military tent, a punishnt of twenty cane strikes.
After you’ve taken your military beating, get out!”
“You Tian…
you…”
“Add another twenty!” Tian Heng coldly stared at him: “This is a demon battlefield.
If I kill you, even your father can’t say anything about it.
You want to try?”
The arrogant eighteen-year-old suddenly lowered his proud head, let out a cold snort, and walked out of the military tent, followed by his guards.
Shortly after, muffled groans of the young man biting his teeth in pain ca from outside.
“Have the scouts returned?” Tian Heng certainly didn’t care to bother with a rebellious young man who hadn’t co of age yet and turned to his deputy to ask.
“Your Excellency, the scouts have just returned.
They followed the traces of the Golden Dragon Guard army all the way to Yunzhou.
The army should be stationed near the border of Yunzhou.
Since the Golden Dragon Guards have scouts deployed, our n did not dare to get too close.”
Upon hearing this, Tian Heng nodded.
It matched what he had thought: the Crown Prince and Duke of Qin’s direction should not be far from the main force, and the Imperial Court’s choice to station troops at Yunzhou, the only place they had not defended, also seed plausible.
Yet, he always felt sothing was amiss.
“By the way, why didn’t the scout soldiers co to report in person?” Tian Heng frowned and asked.
In his command, the standing rule had always been that military intelligence, as much as possible, should not be relayed through others.
Scouts, if given direct orders, could co outside his own tent to report.
“Yunzhou is rife with toxic hazards; both of the scout soldiers were bitten by poisonous insects.
They were indeed waiting outside the military tent when they got back, but Your Excellency, you were in a eting at the ti.
Seeing that the scouts could barely hold on, I had them sent for dical treatnt first.”
“I see …” Tian Heng stroked his chin upon hearing this, wanting to ask what the symptoms were, as the scouts he had trained were rarely so careless as to make such mistakes.
Just as he was about to inquire, soone outside suddenly reported: “Your Excellency, Minister Wang seeks an audience!”
“Oh?” Tian Heng was a bit surprised.
This was interesting; why would Minister Wang from the civilian system seek a personal audience with him, instead of accompanying the Minister of War?
Thinking it over, he nodded and said, “Let him in.”
—————————
“General, this Tian fellow really is no good …” In a small military tent, a burly man was applying dicine to Weichi Feihu while complaining on his behalf.
This person bore a slight resemblance to Wei Gongcheng and if Chen Qing were here, he would have recognized this familiar face.
It was none other than the deputy general who had replaced Wei Gongcheng to assist Weichi Peng after the forr’s injury led to his retirent: Wei Gongyan!
Speaking of Wei Gongyan, he had also faced a bumpy road.
Originally the rightful son of the Wei Family, he was supposed to be grood to be an underling to the rightful son of the Weichi Clan.
With Weichi Peng’s young age yet holding the title of a duke and his future position as head of the Imperial Guards being nearly certain, serving as Weichi Peng’s deputy would most likely land him a vice-commander position eventually, and at the very least, he could earn the title of a general.
However, the ergence of Wei Gongcheng disrupted this plan.
Even the extre asures taken by Wei Gongcheng’s stepmother couldn’t stop him, and that boy, favored by the Weichi Clan’s patriarch from a young age, usurped everything that was supposed to be Wei Gongyan’s.
Over the years, because Wei Gongcheng was in use, the Wei Family did not dare to openly oppose him.
Finally, as if heaven were just, that man suffered his karma and was rendered useless, letting Wei Gongyan finally take his rightful place before the duke, Weichi Peng.
But to his chagrin, he was seen unfavorably by Weichi Peng and was soon replaced!
In his mind, it was definitely because Wei Gongcheng had spread slander about him, causing Weichi Peng to have a displeased view of him.
Now being assigned to serve the young master, he had been secretly ridiculed and gossiped about by the brothers and sisters of the Wei Family.
In the past few days, he had dared not to show his face outdoors.
While the young master was favored, he was too young, and he himself was already in his thirties.
If he wasted any more ti and missed his pri, his chances of achieving any rits would dwindle further.
He had eagerly awaited this opportunity to go on a military campaign, yet unexpectedly, the usually favored young master could still be targeted by others when abroad.
He cursed out loud in rage!
“Keep your voice down…” Wei Gongcheng muffled his head, “That Tian guy is ruthless, he may have so reservations with , but with you…
I’m afraid he will have no restraint at all!”
Wei Gongyan turned pale upon hearing this, and he carefully peeked outside to make sure his words weren’t overheard, before he let out a sigh of relief.
Lowering his voice, he said, “It’s just not fair to you, young master…
Look at this wound, that Tian is really heavy-handed.
Although your tendons and bones are not injured, it might be another two or three days before you can move, let alone seize the chance to distinguish yourself on the frontline!”
“That Tian, suppressing the younger generation with such despicable ans, it’s shaful for soone of his noble status as a duke!”
“Don’t talk nonsense!”
“Yes, yes, yes!”
Wei Gongyan replied with a smile, not the least bit offended by the scolding.
It was clear to see that, although Weichi Feihu had reprimanded him with his words, his expression had softened a great deal.
Apparently, what Wei Gongyan said had struck a chord with him!
Thus, with a glint in his eye, he continued, “Don’t be discouraged, Junior General.
Such vile thods are ultimately not the right path.
With your pure bloodline and excellent skills, we should just recuperate for a couple of days, pretend to comply, and during such a large campaign, we surely won’t lack opportunities to achieve glory!”
“Hmm…” Weichi Feihu grunted in response.
The term “Junior General” made the heart of this youth, who was on his first military campaign, tingle with excitent…
The other person from the Wei Family helping to prepare the dicine furrowed his brows when he heard this.
Could it be that his own eldest legitimate brother was suggesting that Weichi Peng take advantage of the chaos to make his own move?
At the thought, his forehead creased with worry lines.
Honestly, given his eldest legitimate brother’s character, it really wouldn’t be out of the question for him to do so!
He wished to intervene but found no chance to interject.
As a concubine-born son, he simply did not have the sa status as Wei Gongyan, and besides, his previous track record with the young Weichi hadn’t been favorable.
If he advised caution now, he might be seen as throwing cold water on their plans and risk redirecting the ire upon himself.
This was not the first ti sothing like this had happened since Wei Gongyan had co to assist him with serving the young master, and he had no wish to be put at a disadvantage again.
He would have to play it by ear.
Just as he was contemplating, he suddenly caught a scent and involuntarily looked up towards the outside, the large movent attracting Weichi Feihu’s attention: “What is it?”
“What are you doing?” Wei Gongyan also asked with a frown, “If you don’t grind the dicine properly and the young master’s wound gets worse, watch how I’ll deal with you!”
“I feel like…
there’s a certain sll.”
“Sll?” Wei Gongyan glared at him, “What nonsense are you spouting, what sll?”
“There really is…” the Wei Family boy stood up, frowning, and gazed toward the southwest, “A very strong sll, it’s…
a fishy scent!”
——————————
“What brings Minister Shaoting to my humble abode?” Tian Heng politely ushered the young Judicial Court Minister to take a seat before asking.
“It’s naturally about the matter of reinforcents; I’ve co to make one more attempt to persuade Duke Qi,” Wang Ye stated straightforwardly his purpose for coming.
He had been advocating for more troops to be sent to Nanming Prefecture for several days now, but had faced constant deferral.
Ti dragged on, and nearly ten days had slipped away with this group showing no sign of action.
Fifth Master Shen led the view that there was no trouble in Nanyang, asserting that his own Shen Family could hold their own.
Lacking the urgency from the Shen Family, those dukes naturally were not keen on sending their own troops to reinforce Nanyang.
Fully briefed on intelligence, Wang Ye understood the thoughts of these dukes perfectly well!
Duke of Qin had designs on ancient relics, and with each duke having their own agenda, they naturally wanted to preserve the strength of their private armies.
With the situation in Jiangnan unclear, everyone wanted to wait it out to reap the benefits at the end, so of course they did not wish to dispatch their own troops as reinforcents.
Thus they procrastinated, stalling for seven or eight days, as Wang Ye watched with a cold sneer.
Indeed, his master was right—most of the high families in this world were cold-hearted.
Few truly cared about the lives of the common folk.
Despite their pretense of standing as protectors of the Human Race, intertwined with Demon blood, in reality…
there was little to distinguish them from actual Demons.
One consud humans overtly, and the other just did it more covertly.
Chen Qing sure was bold, actually aiming at making use of these powerful dukes.
Based on his observations over these days, Chen Qing might be expecting too much, but…
This person in front of him…
might just be the one with the best chance!
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