Chapter 1663 – Subduing Nan Sheng, Killing An Huan (71)
Kang Xintong timidly lowered her head.
“This matter is non-negotiable. You’re too young and don’t understand the complexities. It’s late, go rest,” Lü Zheng ordered as he dismissed her. Realizing she had misspoken, Kang Xintong appeared flustered and frightened, biting her lower lip until it left an imprint.
“Yes, adoptive father, you should also go to bed early. Don’t tire yourself out.”
As Kang Xintong withdrew, Lü Zheng stared at the flickering candlelight for a moment.
“This child is still too young…”
Lü Zheng sighed lightly, as if lamenting.
If Kang Xintong could be a bit more composed, she would notice that despite her saying such rebellious words, Lü Zheng did not harbor any disdain for her; in fact, he hadn’t even scolded her. This indicated that Lü Zheng still had some lingering attachment to An and surely had many grievances as well.
As Lü Zheng reflected, Kang Xintong’s youth led her to think everything was straightforward, unaware of the twists and turns involved.
Lü Zheng’s character guaranteed that he wasn’t one to yield without a fight.
Better to die than to live in flattery!
Even if Lü Zheng was an enormous boor, it would still be the same.
Following this conversation, Lü Zheng behaved normally, but Kang Xintong felt somewhat guilty and regretful.
She had been too impulsive. Although her intentions were for her adoptive father’s good, he had supported An for so long, it was impossible for him to just abandon that support.
While Kang Xintong stewed in regret, a clarion call of battle echoed from outside the tent, sounding like thunder and shaking the very ground beneath her feet.
Her heart tightened, and she discreetly lifted the tent flap to peek outside.
Though she could see nothing specific, the vast military camp and the distant sound of war drums made her feel as if a chilling atmosphere was gripping her throat, choking her breath. Watching the hurried figures, Kang Xintong murmured.
“Is it another battle? Is my adoptive father alright?”
The fight continued from dawn until dusk, during which many injured soldiers were carried back.
Some were drenched in blood, appearing almost like blood-smeared ghosts, no longer resembling their former selves, while others were limbless, unrecognizable as humans.
Each one writhed in pain, lips quivering out desperate moans; hardly any were whole, each adorned with wounds. If she weren’t still alive, Kang Xintong would almost suspect she had entered the netherworld…
Following Lü Zheng’s advice, Kang Xintong restrained herself from wandering around the camp. Each battle, she would hide within the tent, her heart racing as she listened to the tumult outside. Even though Jiang Ji was her idol, she knew that if An were to lose, the camp would be in jeopardy, endangering not only herself but also her adoptive father. Thus, she harbored worries during each battle, from the moment the drums sounded until the call to retreat.
Worrying that Jiang Ji might lose, fearing for her adoptive father’s safety…
She ensured a meal was left warm for Lü Zheng, ready for him to enjoy upon his return. Perhaps the enemy was pressing fiercely, for Lü Zheng hadn’t attended to any matters the past two days, being summoned to meetings before dawn and not returning until the moon was high in the sky. Uncertain how the battle was faring, Kang Xintong sat by the little stove yawning; even after napping, she hadn’t seen Lü Zheng return.
“Could it be that they were defeated today…?”
Kang Xintong recalled the number of injured soldiers she had seen during the day—indeed, there were more than in previous encounters, and they looked even more tragic.
After waiting a moment longer while hugging her knees, she finally heard familiar footsteps outside the tent.
Kang Xintong’s spirit perked up, sleepiness vanishing.
“Adoptive father!”
She called out, and the tent was lifted, illuminated only by a few flickering candles inside, allowing her to barely see the visitor’s face.
“Why aren’t you asleep yet?”
Lü Zheng seemed momentarily surprised as Kang Xintong hurried forward.
He instinctively stepped back, but it was too late; Kang Xintong caught the smell of blood on him, her face changing dramatically.
Kang Xintong quickly asked, “Adoptive father, are you injured?”
Lü Zheng raised his hand to cover his left arm, shaking his head. “In the chaos of battle, injuries are unavoidable.”
Kang Xintong asserted, “But adoptive father supervises the troops in the main camp. How could you be easily injured?”
Unless the enemy broke through the army’s formation and charged into their ranks, it was unlikely for someone so heavily protected as Lü Zheng to be wounded.
Lü Zheng’s brow furrowed with fatigue. “Today’s battle doesn’t look good. The enemy’s strength is formidable, while our forces…”
He hesitated.
In terms of numbers, An certainly had a significant advantage, almost outnumbering the enemy by twice.
But… when it came to overall combat quality, the elite troops under Jiang Ji were well-disciplined, incredibly effective, and their combat strength was formidable. Even without Jiang Ji charging at the front, they gradually suppressed An’s morale.
Lü Zheng had faced countless storms, but never had he felt such a desire to curse like today.
Looking at the enemy’s combat quality and their own soldiers’ execution…
The forces under Jiang Ji made it painfully clear to An that numbers alone do not guarantee victory.
Given the inferior quality, and with An recruiting a multitude of ordinary young men merely waving flags and offering their heads, the overall strength plummeted. Over these past few days, Lü Zheng experienced firsthand what “powerlessness” meant, negative emotions almost overwhelming him.
He had various formations in mind to counter the enemy but issuing commands alongside the commander yielded results far below expectations.
It was as if his brain was active, trying to control his body to counter and defend against the enemy’s moves, but his limbs weren’t responding—either stiff or flailing—helplessly watching the enemy’s blades pierce his flesh.
Lü Zheng returned late today not only because of his wound but also due to being berated by An.
Everyone knew the problem lay there, yet no one spoke up for Lü Zheng.
Who dared to say anything?
What could they say? That the army’s overall combat power was weak because of the poor quality of troops Lü Zheng had forcibly recruited? This wouldn’t only challenge An’s decisions and abilities but would also guarantee severe repercussions when An was furious. Lü Zheng could easily become the scapegoat. Of course, An had some restraint; while it was called scolding, he hadn’t actually said anything too harsh…
After all, his confidant and right-hand man, Hua Yuan, wasn’t present.
Right now, they still needed to rely on Lü Zheng and couldn’t afford to alienate him, lest they offend his loyalty.
Kang Xintong remained silent, simply bringing warm food to Lü Zheng’s side, hoping he would eat a little.
“This battle likely… I will do my best to ensure your safety.”
Jiang Ji had yet to engage in combat, but with Fu Wang leading armies supported by several renowned strategists, and Lü Zheng surrounded by incompetent allies, he struggled to manage. While the situation hadn’t yet deteriorated, he planned to establish a way out for Kang Xintong to guarantee her safety.
“Wherever I go, I won’t leave!”
Kang Xintong resolutely refused, while Lü Zheng silently ate, neither confirming nor denying.
Before Lü Zheng could devise a plan or two, news of misfortune arrived two days later, igniting panic throughout the army.
Two hundred thousand stones of supplies were robbed!
An trembled with rage, executing the supply leader and cursing Jiang Ji’s ancestors to oblivion.
Lü Zheng’s brow furrowed lightly.
The mysterious Jiang Ji had finally reemerged after two months.
Her first action? To intercept two hundred thousand stones of supplies.
Lü Zheng sighed, “Truly her style…”
When she doesn’t act, she’s quiet; but once she does, she claims lives.
To this, Jiang Ji simply retorted, excuse me?
Who threw this black hat on her?
