Chapter 1171 – Confronting Xu Pei, First Kill of the Lords (41)
Li Yun said, “Well, at least we have some closure—”
However, his gaze toward the battlefield still carried a hint of regret; that was fifty thousand stones of logistics food, now reduced to ashes.
Fortunately, the military adviser calculated every possible outcome and anticipated the enemy’s march route early, allowing them to intercept the grain convoy in time.
The enemy just suffered a significant loss, barely offsetting the blunder; otherwise, he would have been too ashamed to face his lord.
Qi Guanrang furrowed his brow; he did not share Li Yun’s optimism.
“If it weren’t for the lord’s method of dividing granaries and establishing multiple storage sites, today’s losses would have been far worse.”
To save manpower and time, many lords preferred to set up centralized granaries to manage supplies conveniently.
Had Jiang Pengji chosen this method, Huang Song’s intercepting army would have struck it rich. The grain they intercepted and burned would not just be fifty thousand stones—it could have been two hundred thousand or even three hundred thousand stones! That’s enough food for a hundred thousand troops for a month!
With everything burned, what would the soldiers eat?
How could they fight without food?
“Learn from failure,” Qi Guanrang said coldly. “If we trip in the same pit twice, what use are we to our lord?”
At his words, the gravity returned to Li Yun’s face, which had momentarily relaxed.
Indeed, Qi Guanrang was right—
What good was it if they killed half the enemy’s troops?
That fifty thousand stones of grain was thoroughly incinerated; what was there to be proud about?
“Your teachings are wise,” Li Yun conceded.
Li Yun had a good nature, but if it were another egotistical general receiving Qi Guanrang’s lecturing, they might not visibly show their dissatisfaction, but they would surely harbor resentment. In terms of military standing, the two were equals; what right did Qi Guanrang have to instruct him?
Had Qi Guanrang not known Li Yun’s character well, he wouldn’t have spoken like this and created a political enemy for himself.
As Qi Guanrang and the others returned to camp, a soldier approached and reported they had captured a suspicious person lurking outside the camp. Due to uncertainties about the individual’s identity, they didn’t dare to act rashly and could only report to Qi Guanrang.
Qi Guanrang lifted his eyelids, his expression cool, and asked, “A suspicious person? Who?”
What kind of person had they captured that the soldiers didn’t know how to handle them?
The soldier replied, “The individual claims to be the lord’s bastard brother and bears several private seals to prove his identity. We don’t dare handle him without your order.”
The lord’s bastard brother?
Qi Guanrang’s mind raced, and he paused for a moment before realizing who it was.
Isn’t that Liu Zhao?
Though he was the lord’s bastard brother, Liu Zhao was quite sensible, always adopting the demeanor of a spoiled rich kid, posing no threat whatsoever. Qi Guanrang had initially been wary of him, even contemplating whether to make a move to ensure Liu Zhao met an untimely end to prevent trouble for the lord.
However, the lord disallowed it, and Liu Zhao had been surprisingly well-behaved over the years, which is why Qi Guanrang had restrained his impulses.
“Bring him in,” Qi Guanrang said, “If it’s San Lang, it’ll be clear at a glance.”
When he saw the somewhat disheveled Liu Zhao, he was momentarily speechless.
He had thought someone was impersonating Liu Zhao; who knew it was actually him.
“Why isn’t the young master staying in Chongzhou but ran to the front lines?” Qi Guanrang signaled the soldiers to release Liu Zhao. Liu Zhao’s harmless, sweet demeanor was further accentuated now, as he was bound and carried like a chick. He looked even more pitiful. “Quick, untie him!”
Liu Zhao rubbed his sore wrists and grimaced. “Qi Guanrang’s military discipline is really strict; my life nearly slipped away! If it weren’t for the clever little boy with me who quickly revealed my identity, I might be in the underworld screaming for justice right now.”
Qi Guanrang remained impassive on the surface while internally fighting the urge to raise his blade.
Before Qi Guanrang could react, Liu Zhao cheerily added, “Sir, that was just a joke! Don’t take it to heart! Lurking around the camp is a serious offense; If I had been shot full of holes, that would be my own fault and nothing to blame you for.”
Qi Guanrang furrowed his brow intensely, silently demanding to know why Liu Zhao had come to the front lines.
Seeing Qi Guanrang’s cold expression, Liu Zhao couldn’t help but shiver and pleaded, “Sir, could you spare me some troops?”
“Why does San Lang need soldiers?”
Liu Zhao replied, “Of course, to escort me to see Eldest Sister! I have something important to tell her.”
Although security in the north was good and there was an air of prosperity, the closer one got to the war zone, the more chaotic it became.
Liu Zhao was used to the finest comforts; stepping out here was like waving a sign saying “Rob Me!”
Hence, he was mustering the courage to ask Qi Guanrang for soldiers to escort him to Jiang Pengji.
“The front lines are dangerous, and there’s chaos everywhere. San Lang shouldn’t take such risks,” Qi Guanrang advised. “If you have something to tell the lord, simply write a letter and send it via a fast horse. It won’t take more than three days to receive a reply.”
That was already a compromise, but Liu Zhao refused, shaking his head adamantly to stick to his guns.
Qi Guanrang: “…”
What a frustrating young heir.
Liu Zhao said, “It’s not that I don’t trust you, it’s just that the situation is special! I must speak to Eldest Sister in person; please help me!”
Seeing the sincere expression on Liu Zhao’s face and the way he had put away his usual frivolous persona, Qi Guanrang sensed the seriousness of the matter.
“In that case, I will send a hundred guards to escort Young Master to meet the lord.”
Liu Zhao’s eyes gleamed with excitement as he cheerfully said, “Thank you for your support, sir.”
God knows how this pampered noble managed to run all the way here, enduring hardships along the way.
When Liu Zhao was delivered by Qi Guanrang, Jiang Pengji was busy reviewing military affairs.
“Why has he come?”
Liu Zhao barged into the tent, disregarding all decorum as he cried, “Eldest Sister—save me—”
Jiang Pengji asked, “Are there ghosts chasing you? Yelling like this in broad daylight.”
Liu Zhao secretly wiped his tears; this was truly a real sister!
“Do you know there’s a battle going on? If you get captured by enemy scouts, your little life won’t be safe!” Jiang Pengji sternly scolded Liu Zhao. If Liu Zhao got taken hostage, she would have no mercy. “Get up; such behavior is unbecoming.”
Liu Zhao pouted.
“Oh!”
“Now, what is it that needs my rescue? Can’t you write a letter? Why run all this way?” Jiang Pengji asked.
Liu Zhao looked around and said, “Eldest Sister, could you dismiss everyone else?”
So mysterious?
Jiang Pengji did not believe that Liu Zhao could have anything that important to discuss.
Nevertheless, she had the soldiers standing guard in the tent withdraw, also closing the livestream.
“Now, it’s just you and me inside; there are no other ears around.”
Liu Zhao sat beside Jiang Pengji, squirming awkwardly, his expression was odd, like he had been constipated for a month, with a hint of green on his face.
“Eldest Sister, Father—” Liu Zhao fidgeted with his sleeves, head hanging low, “He wants me to get married.”
Jiang Pengji: “…”
Liu Zhao continued, “The choice is not from Aunt Die but from a destitute hunter’s daughter. It’s said this destitute hunter saved our dear mother and wanted his daughter to have a good marriage before he passed; Father is pushing me into it.”
