Chapter 1041 – Luring the Snake Out of Its Cave (2)
“Talking about a strategy to lure the enemy just feels a bit uncertain in my heart.”
If it really was a strategy to bait the enemy, why has it been like this for a full half month?
Every morning, reports from the scout would come in, saying that Liu Xi’s and Huang Song’s armies were partying the night away again, leaving the Guard Commander feeling like a pressure cooker.
He kept telling himself that this was the enemy’s ploy, designed to draw them out of Han Chang Pass.
But on the other hand, he couldn’t help but wonder—
Maybe this isn’t a ploy at all? Perhaps the enemy is just too arrogant?
At first, he was extremely vigilant, with a resolute spirit.
However, after missing one golden opportunity after another to destroy the enemy, he became less composed.
According to the scout’s reports, aside from basic patrols, the soldiers of Huang Song and Liu Xi were partying through the night with no defenses at all. If only he had been bolder and launched a surprise attack, they might have completely wiped out the enemy by now.
So what if it was bait set by the enemy?
They were in such a drunken state that they had no fighting power left—if he led a surprise attack, Liu Xi would effectively be smashing his own foot with a rock!
Faced with this dilemma, the Guard Commander of Han Chang Pass was at a standstill, forced to watch as the enemy camp was ablaze with bonfires.
Jiang Pengji and Huang Song were certain that the Guard Commander of Han Chang Pass, suspicious as he was, wouldn’t easily mobilize his forces.
To make their ruse more convincing and to allow the soldiers to let loose and celebrate the New Year properly, those early days of revelry were genuinely wild.
“Sigh—what a carefree and blissful life, like an immortal—”
Feng Zhen, dressed in grandiose attire with a decorated crown, had an incongruent slouch as he leaned against the table, holding a cup of wine, and was quite tipsy, his cheeks flushed.
Today was New Year’s Eve, the time for the customary feast.
On such festive days, everyone naturally wore their best clothes, and even Feng Zhen, the carefree lad, had pulled out his rarely worn formal attire.
“If every day were a festival, what regrets would there be in life?”
Feng Zhen sighed, his alluring peach blossom eyes glistening as if filled with mist.
Feng Jin furrowed his brow and quietly warned Feng Zhen.
“The Guard Commander at Han Chang Pass can’t hold out much longer; I estimate they’ll be taking action soon, so you’d best tone it down a bit.”
Initially looking down on this reckless colleague who played with fire, Feng Jin had gradually begun to let it slide.
As long as he didn’t cause any trouble at the New Year’s feast, that was all that mattered.
Feng Jin also wore the same grand attire, but while Feng Zhen exuded a wild, carefree essence, Feng Jin radiated a refined, cultured demeanor.
If Feng Zhen was the uninhibited man-of-the-wild, Feng Jin was a courteous gentleman, as graceful as the moon reflecting its light.
The former couldn’t even sit still, while the latter meticulously groomed every strand of hair.
“New Year’s feast—hic!” Feng Zhen hiccuped drunkenly and slurred, “Didn’t the Lord say to relax and not worry about decorum?”
Feng Jin had to suppress the urge to roll his eyes.
Feng Zhen mischievously added, “Under the same round moon, I wonder what the situation is like over at Wen Zheng and Zai Dao’s side?”
Thinking about how he was enjoying lavish feasts while his colleagues were stuck with piles of bamboo slips and lonely celebrations felt like a delightful breeze to Feng Zhen.
Feng Jin sighed in exasperation, “You really should calm down.”
With how he loved to provoke jealousy, it was only a matter of time before he got himself in trouble.
Feng Zhen smiled and pulled over Li Yun, declaring, “Han Mei, pour us some drinks; we aren’t going home until we’re drunk!”
Under Jiang Pengji’s leadership, the scholars and generals sometimes clashed, but those conflicts weren’t out in the open.
Feng Zhen often lured the generals into sneaking drinks, while Li Yun, the diligent angel, often sought advice from the various scholars—through more exchanges, the barriers and conflicts lessened. Moreover, with Jiang Pengji’s balanced approach, ensuring fairness and highlighting everyone’s strengths, the overall atmosphere remained harmonious, and both the civil and military ministers got along well.
Even if there were tensions, they mostly resolved them privately, without dragging them to the surface.
Observing the genial interactions between the scholars and the generals in the tent, Feng Jue, serving as a “messenger,” felt uneasy about it.
Most of Huang Song’s generals hailed from the original clan, closely tied to Huang Song, creating a subtle trend of grouping together against outsiders.
Though under Huang Song’s pressure nothing significant happened, you know how comparisons go—
Feng Jue exchanged a few cups with Meng Heng on behalf of Huang Song and Jiang Pengji, offered his New Year’s blessings, and then found an excuse to leave after “not being able to handle his liquor.”
Noticing this, Feng Jin discreetly informed Jiang Pengji and then followed after him.
“Huai Jian—”
Stepping out of the warm command tent, the icy winds and snow made Feng Jin shudder.
“Second Brother—” Feng Jue turned at the voice, respectfully calling out.
“Sigh—” Feng Jin sighed and spoke softly, “It’s been ages since we’ve seen each other; let’s find a place for a drink and catch up.”
Though brothers, after their parting years ago upon going to the capital, they had exchanged hardly a few letters, much less celebrated the New Year together.
Feng Jue’s mouth twitched at his familiar tone.
“Isn’t the Second Brother not fond of drinking?”
Someone who usually avoided alcohol was now asking to drink with him?
Had his Second Brother been possessed by wandering spirits or something?
Feng Jin shrugged, somewhat helplessly, “I used to not enjoy it, but I have to practice my drinking capacity now.”
With his Lord and an entire group of colleagues being spirits enthusiasts, Feng Jin couldn’t very well stand out by replacing wine with tea, could he?
The brothers found a spot to drink, setting up a warm pot and preparing sauces.
Outside, the chilling wind howled, while the small hot pot simmered delightfully, quickly cooking the meat and dried goods dropped into it.
Although they were alone, neither spoke of business matters; they simply reminisced about their youthful escapades.
“If you have the time, remember to write a family letter to our parents,” Feng Jin said. “Back when you left without a word, Father nearly fainted from anger.”
Feng Jue nodded, feeling warmth surge in his heart, much like the warmth of the pot before them.
Aside from the Feng brothers, Meng Heng had also been sent by Jiang Pengji as a messenger to wish Huang Song a Happy New Year.
Huang Song offered him a simple meal, and then Meng Heng headed over to Nie Xun’s side.
On this visit, Meng Heng brought along his wife, who had a noticeable baby bump.
“It’s easy to add flowers to the brocade, but difficult to send coals in the snow. Were it not for Xun and his wife’s help, my wife might not have kept this pregnancy.”
Meng Heng didn’t discuss business, instead expressing gratitude for Nie Xun and his wife’s support.
Now that it was the New Year, they had to offer generous gifts to Nie Xun and his wife, or wouldn’t that make them ungrateful wolves?
That was personal friendship, and Nie Xun had no excuse to turn down Meng Heng and his wife’s goodwill.
Once a door was opened, a second followed, paving the way for smoother relations in the future.
After a light meal, Meng Heng carefully assisted his wife onto their carriage and instructed the driver to leave.
Though Meng Heng was a gentleman, a gentleman could have his own schemes.
He intentionally had the carriage move slowly past Yuan Xin’s residence, perfectly timing it for a chance encounter with the drunk Yuan Xin coming home.
Yuan Xin was radiating heat, hiccuping as he stumbled, his eyes glazed over.
“Hmph—Nie Xun—hic—that little brat—seems pretty close with Liu Xi—hic—”
Hiccuping, he unsteadily dismounted and watched as Meng Heng’s carriage slowly faded away into the night.
