Chapter 644 – Mental Breakdown (2)
“The mountain path might be tough, but overall, it’s much shorter than the official road. Plus, Jiang Pengji’s training for the soldiers is super strict, so this pace is a piece of cake for them.” As Qi Guanrang grinned, he added, “Looks like Xiaoyu really trusts our leader.”
Yang Si, with a complex expression, said, “If there wasn’t a lot of trust, these siege tools wouldn’t have arrived so swiftly.”
The gear was bulky and hard to transport, clearly slower than Jiang Pengji’s streamlined and rapid march. Timing was crucial, and varying circumstances along the way along with manpower speeds had to be calculated, all backed by unwavering confidence.
What kind of confidence?
If Jiang Pengji hadn’t captured Jinmen County according to plan, that shipment of siege equipment would just be a gift for the Red Lotus Sect.
And what happened?
Jiang Pengji captured Jinmen County and ambushed the Red Lotus Sect’s troops alongside Qi Guanrang in no time at all. It appeared as if only two days had passed, but the amount of energy expended was unfathomable.
If Xu Ke didn’t have unwavering trust in Jiang Pengji, how could the equipment have arrived right on time?
Jiang Pengji soothed the somewhat anxious Xiao Bai, ensuring it received the best feed.
“Let’s enter the city and discuss our next strategy.”
According to the plan, the next target should be Qiuyu County, but this time it wouldn’t be nearly as easy as Jinmen County. After two days of marching and combat with only half a night for rest, both people and horses were exhausted, and their combat power was far from what it had been initially.
How to attack Qiuyu County? Jiang Pengji believed it necessary to have a deep discussion with several strategists.
However, with a leader like her, who goes off script, the strategists found themselves in quite the predicament.
The burning question was—would their plans be strictly adhered to by the leader?
But then again, the battlefield is ever-changing; even the best plans can’t keep up with its dynamism, and they wouldn’t force Jiang Pengji to stick to anything.
Natural plans for Qiuyu County were in the works among Yang Si and the others as well.
Qi Guanrang proposed making Jinmen County their base to pin down the elite forces and main troops of the Red Lotus Sect while sending others to attack Qiuyu County.
Yang Si frowned, “That won’t work. Jinmen County’s situation is unstable, and several common folks have been enchanted by the cult. If these citizens team up with the Red Lotus Sect outside, it could lead to significant trouble for us. If the city falls, our lives are at risk.”
Jiang Pengji agreed with Yang Si’s assessment.
In her eyes, losing territory could be regained, but if her strategists fell in the process, who would compensate her?
Qi Guanrang quipped, “Is the leader doubting my capabilities?”
Jiang Pengji felt unfairly accused; how could she distrust Qi Guanrang?
“If the leader has faith in me, then let me try. Jinmen County is a good starting point; if we can take Qiuyu County in one swift move, the morale of the Red Lotus Sect will plummet, possibly leading to their downfall. This is an excellent opportunity for our leader to recover Chengde Prefecture.”
Qi Guanrang was usually cautious and low-key, but his fighting style, in contrast, was bold and cunning, seeking victory in the face of danger.
If Jiang Pengji was a heavy gambler by nature, so too was Qi Guanrang—equally daring.
Their connection resonated; it was no wonder they understood each other so well.
The audacity to assign three to five thousand soldiers to hold Jinmen County and stall the main forces of the Red Lotus Sect was indeed shameless.
But behind that bravery lay his confidence in his own strength.
Jiang Pengji couldn’t outright dismiss Qi Guanrang’s opinion; she merely sighed and nodded in agreement.
“Very well, give it a shot. But if you can’t hold it, prioritize your life. Retreat in time; there’s a mountain of paperwork waiting for you back home. If you lose your documents, won’t everyone be swamped?”
Jiang Pengji didn’t shy away, showing concern in a sentence or two; too much refusal would just be questioning their abilities.
She respected strength.
In her view, strength wasn’t merely about martial prowess; it could also be strong character, intelligence—any form of might deemed powerful.
Qi Guanrang’s combat skills might have been at a square dancing level, but who could label him weak?
A sharp mind is still a strength!
Initially moved to tears, Qi Guanrang’s heart sank at Jiang Pengji’s subsequent words, pondering whether it was legal to kill one’s superior.
Oh, what a heart, turning cold!
Yang Si rolled his eyes secretly, knowing full well that Jiang Pengji was no benevolent leader, but rather a black-hearted boss who mercilessly exploited her staff.
Before Qi Guanrang lost control, ready to commit treason, Jiang Pengji, with a serious face, expressed, “The responsibility of defending Jinmen County falls to Wenzheng. Given that the Red Lotus Sect has the upper hand in numbers, I’ll only take four thousand troops with me, leaving the rest at Jinmen County…”
Upon hearing this figure, Qi Guanrang appeared skeptical.
With only four thousand, how could they possibly take an abundant Qiuyu County?
Jiang Pengji replied, “Four thousand is plenty. We carry enough siege equipment; capturing a county is not a concern. Besides, we have insiders within the Red Lotus Sect who will definitely play a role at a critical moment—taking Qiuyu County together shouldn’t be difficult.”
With four thousand troops departing with her, that left Qi Guanrang with just over six thousand to face an enemy force of roughly twenty thousand.
Qi Guanrang wanted to argue further, but Jiang Pengji cut him off.
At that moment, a Messenger rushed in to deliver information.
Jiang Pengji permitted him entry, and a soldier hurried inside, kneeling, hands cradling a bamboo scroll.
“Leader, this is a message sent by a beggar.”
“A message from a beggar?” Jiang Pengji didn’t mind the filth as she took the worn, dusty scroll, opening it up and immediately laughed. She inquired, “Where is that beggar now? Hurry, bring him here! Well done, An Huan; this is quite impressive!”
The Messenger replied, “The beggar is waiting outside the residence.”
Yang Si and Qi Guanrang exchanged puzzled glances, bewildered by the events unfolding.
Meanwhile, Li Yun, Dian Yin, and Nong Qin—the three military generals—were urgently summoned to the hall.
As they arrived, they found a shabby, skinny beggar kneeling in the hall, disheveled, except for his bright, black eyes.
Nong Qin silently took her seat, Dian Yin remained muted, while Li Yun’s curiosity peaked.
“Leader, who is this person?”
“A great contributor,” Jiang Pengji smiled, prompting the beggar to recount the events in detail.
The little beggar wasn’t shy, speaking quite coherently.
As it turned out, after Jiang Pengji captured the small town, An Huan fabricated an excuse to leave Jinmen County and head to Honglian County.
“Why did he go to Honglian County?” you may ask.
Well, it was naturally to assist Jiang Pengji, creating opportunities for her.
The leader of the Red Lotus Sect fancied himself a divine being come to save the people, but in reality, he was cloaked in deception, robbing the common folk of their riches.
He lived lavishly, greedily consuming everything around him, yearning to hoard it all for himself.
Wealth distribution was unequal, which inevitably stirred discontent.
An Huan crafted several schemes for the Scholar, allowing him to shine brightly.
The Scholar intentionally marginalized An Huan, preventing him from appearing before the leader of the Red Lotus Sect. Nevertheless, some attentive individuals noticed.
And that individual? He was one of the Red Lotus Sect’s right-hand men, practically the second-in-command.
