Chapter 204 – The Overbearing General’s Pretty Military Counselor (XXIII)

　　With 25,000 northern troops, a three-month training team of suona, and a blank cheque for 100,000 troops, Pa Sha, who had only 10,000 troops left to defend, was scared out of Guining.

A bridge was built from the southern shore of the Cangnan River to the northern shore, chained together and interlocked by sampans, and the frontal armies of the northern army marched into Guining.

Shi Tingyun leaps lightly from the pontoon, stamping the black mud off his feet.

He asked one of his own staff officers, “How is the battle going?”

”As the young general expected!” The officer rejoiced, ” Pa Sha has abandoned the city and gone to Changling to find his main army.”

Shi Tingyun nodded his head, not forgetting to lift Yu Fengmian: “I am indebted to the military commander for his advice.”

It was indeed Yu Fengmian who devised the decent warfare strategy of covering the ship in black mud to avoid fire attacks.

As for the wangbao and the suona, including what the Northerners are doing now, it was all Chi Xiaochi’s idea.

…… After the Northerners had gained the upper hand, Shi Tingyun instructed his soldiers to light wolf dung on the south bank.

On receiving the signal, the 200 soldiers who had been waiting upstream early released their boats into the river.

As the light boats went downstream, two hundred men beat drums on the river and shouted, “Guining is defeated! Pa Sha is dead!!!”

Chi Xiaochi is very skilled at taunting his opponents on the loudspeaker.

So far, the scheme has become a chain.

Chi Xiaochi asked someone to inform Chu Ziling of the correct military information in order to draw him into the plan.

After what happened to Ai Sha and Wu Yichun, Pa Sha’s suspicion made it impossible for him to rely on Chu Ziling’s information.

Pa Sha had a good idea of the strengths and weaknesses of the three cities, so he would not have believed that the northern army would attack from the front, most likely feigning an attack on Guining, but in fact sending the main force upstream to wait for an opportunity to attack Gouka’s men after he had led them away from Changling.

Pa Sha, a wolf by nature, is cautious and greedy, and when he gets information, he refuses to share it with others, vowing to take advantage of it all, both to show off Glauca’s incompetence and to eat up the main force of the northern army, which is trying to “strike the east with the west”.

Therefore, he would have sent his main force to the vicinity of Changling to wait for the rabbits, without even realising that the two sides, strong and weak, had unknowingly fallen out.

The strongest of the three cities, Guining, has instead become a weakness.

Chi Xiaochi told the Primus Battalion to spend three months buying and training horses in order to drive them around the Changling on the night of the plan, to create the illusion of a large army pressing in.

And he took advantage of the south wind to lead his troops across the river.

The gongs and drums were loud, firecrackers were fired, red flags were unfurled and crowds of people were in attendance.

He came with his main army of 25,000 “feinting”.

The situation was just as Pa Sha had predicted, with Changling, Guining and Inaccessible forming a handful of soldiers, so if one side was attacked, the other two were bound to be deployed.

By now, Pa Sha’s separated main force would have realised that they had been caught in a ploy to attack the west from the east, and would have joined forces with Changling Glauca to counterattack and retake the city.

The Glauca army is not large in number, with 15,000 troops. If they find that Guining has fallen, they will come to the rescue with their main forces, not to say that they will be out in force, and by then there will probably be no more than 5,000 men left in the city.

However, the total number of soldiers and horses mobilised by the Northern Government Army this time was 34,000.

Twenty-five thousand men were the main force behind the foray across the river, while the rest were watching Changling from the shadows, waiting for the city to open up.

It is natural that the so-called schemes cannot be exhaustive.

If Pa Sha was determined not to abandon the city, or if he was able to hold on to his disturbed army and wait for reinforcements, then Chi Xiaochi would have had no choice but to order the main northern army to go around, avoiding them and taking Glauca’s home, which would have been a serious setback for Pa Sha.

But unfortunately, Pa Sha is a cautious and life-saving person.

He dared not bet on whether Shi Tingyun had really brought 100,000 troops, nor did he dare to pin his hopes on the low morale of the soldiers in the southern border, so he abandoned the city and went to his main army so that he could kill them back.

He therefore left a gated city of Guining directly to Shi Tingyun.

Shi Tingyun commanded, “Quickly take possession of Guining, fortify the city, order out 10,000 troops, change into the clothes previously prepared, and prepare for battle!”

The seneschal said yes, and went down at a brisk pace.

Shi Tingyun takes a few steps away and looks from side to side.

A lieutenant following Shi Tingyun wiped the shiny sweat from his forehead: “Young general, when the Changling side will also be in an uproar, the tens of thousands of southern border troops sandwiched between the rightful sides of Guining and Changling will certainly be ruined, the head and tail cannot be reconciled, morale will be lost, and there will even be internal strife over which side to rescue first. But what about the 20,000 men at …… Rice City?”

Shi Tingyun looked up at the position of the moon and said, “Don’t worry. According to the time projection, my full service horn, too, should have opened to Inagaki by now.”

The School Captain: “…… your what?”

”General Suo Xiang of Inaccessible City is known to be a suspicious man.” Shi Tingyun took back his impish tone, “Do you think that if he heard that Changling and Guining had been lost, he would continue to lead his army and pounce on Guining regardless, or would he go back to his own nest and watch his eggs?”

”You mean ……?”

”I sent a thousand men to copy his back and go banging gongs and sending warmth around the city of rice.”

He looked around again, “The military opportunity is fleeting. If Suo’s ministry holds on to Inaccessible and does not send reinforcements before dawn, then I can have both Changling and Guining surnamed Yan.”

As the words fell, he finally found the person he was looking for in the weaving pile of people.

Ren Qing, a guard of the Thirteenth Prince.

Shi Tingyun stepped forward and grabbed him by the arm: “Where is the Thirteenth Prince?”

Ren Qing’s face was pale: “Back to General Shi, I don’t know …… after the war started, the Thirteenth Prince was separated from me. Just now I heard that the Thirteenth Prince had taken down one of Pa Sha’s own soldiers, asked where Pa Sha was going, and then ordered a hundred horsemen to chase after Pa Sha’s remnants.”

”…… what?!!!”

Shi Tingyun’s heart was out of order, and no matter how Chi Xiaochi tried to regulate it, his limbs trembled in uncontrollable spasms, his silver armour clashing with a soft rustling sound.

Ren Qing : “General Shi Shao ……”

Shi Tingyun didn’t wait for him to finish his sentence, but ran in front of a large horse with a high head, took the reins and was about to turn onto it when he saw Yan Yuanheng, covered in blood, leaping in from the West Gate with about fifty riders behind him.

Carrying a grapefruit-like object in his right hand, he gathers his horse in front of Shi Tingyun and, pulling the reins with one hand, keeps the horse in place, then lets go.

A human head rolled to the ground.

Pa Sha’s green eyes are still open, and the last emotion reflected in them is not clear whether it is fear or anger.

Yan Yuanheng wiped the blood off his face and said in a warm voice, “General Shi, I have brought Pa Sha’s head, can I claim the 100 gold reward?”

Shi Tingyun’s lips trembled twice, and he grabbed Yan Yuanheng, threw him off his horse, sat on him, and struck him twice on the shoulder, and before Ren Qing could react, he held Yan Yuanheng tightly in his arms, resting his head on his shoulder.

Two youths, rolling a head and a face of bloody dust.

Yan Yuanheng didn’t expect such a reaction and was a bit overwhelmed, but he didn’t want to dirty Shi Tingyun with blood on his hands, so he didn’t dare to hug him: “Su Chang. I’m fine.”

Shi Tingyun hissed hoarsely, “…… Nonsense!!! You’re just nonsense!!!”

Ren Qing was watching from the side, wondering if he should remind Young General Shi, regardless of what he did in private, to rebuke the Thirteenth Prince in front of the army like this was indeed a great disrespect.

However, Yan Yuanheng doesn’t mind half of it.

He explained, almost gently, “I set myself a limit of twenty miles, and if I couldn’t find him, I would have let him go. It’s a good thing I caught up with him. He’s only got about eighty of his own guards with him, not too hard to deal with …… I want to do something for you. This, is it enough.”

Shi Tingyun’s spirits are finally easing.

He said, “That’s enough. Quite enough.”

After another moment’s reprieve, he wiped his face fiercely, stood up and said to the dumbfounded lieutenant, “Give the order to tell the soldiers to change their slogans!”

The lieutenant said, “To spread the news of Pa Sha’s death?”

”No. Let’s not talk about Pa Sha’s death.” As the negative effects of Shi Tingyun’s emotions recede, Chi Xiaochi’s brilliant intellect finally takes over again, “Not finding Pa Sha will keep them on edge, but if we hang Pa Sha’s head out there, who knows if they’ll be enraged enough to make a stand and come for the city?”

”The young general is thinking about it. What about the generals changing some slogans?”

Shi Tingyun doesn’t think twice: “Punish the Gelo card and send the king’s ass.”

Lieutenant: “……” Can you send something else.

But it had always been the tradition of the Northern Army that the order was given, and the slogan worked surprisingly well, as it was smooth and uplifting, so the lieutenant bowed his hand and withdrew to pass on the order.

Shi Tingyun walked quickly back to Yan Yuanheng and took him with him, heading straight for the city: “Yan Yuanheng, this is going to be a sleepless night. If it happens again, I will not recognize you as a friend.”

Yan Yuanheng took off his iron helmet, cradled it in his arms and replied succinctly, “Yes.”

…… He hugged me.

Su Chang has just hugged me.

After being held for about a tea time, Yan Yuanheng finally realised this fact and was overwhelmed with excitement.

Ren Qing, after the scare she had just had, now refused to let her eyes leave Yan Yuanheng again.

Yan Yuanheng was very tame, but he listened to Shi Tingyun and waited in the main residence of Guining City, holding his iron helmet and fiddling with the red tassels on it, not in a bad mood.

Ren Qing is helpless, but understands him.

Although the thirteenth prince is over twenty years old, he is still unmarried, so it is not surprising that he occasionally behaves in a childish manner.

The news that he had killed Pa Sha with his own hands was a great achievement, and the Emperor would be delighted to hear of his bravery.

Yet he, as the prince’s sidekick, should have advised as much.

So Ren Qing said, “I know that your son is an excellent martial artist, Ren Qing knows that. But it is too risky to go after the enemy in such a rash manner, no wonder Young General Shi is so angry. You didn’t see the young general’s face and lips turn white when he heard you were chasing Pa Sha.”

Yan Yuanheng is silent.

He did see it, up close and personal.

He did want Shi Tingyun’s hug and really felt for Shi Tingyun who was so nervous and frightened.

With this in mind, Yan Yuanheng nodded cautiously, “Yes, once in a lifetime, never again.”

Tonight, indeed, is a sleepless night.

Two months later, the banners of the Northern Government Army were flying in three cities on both sides of the Cang River.

Pa Sha, the general of Guining, was attacked by the northern army and tried to flee, but was killed by the thirteenth prince, Yan Yuanheng, who was a member of the Chinese royal family.

General Glauca Hong of Changling, who led his troops out of the city to help Gui Ning, instead left his own city empty and was outflanked by 8,000 Northern troops.

While Changling was defeated and Guining fell, Tao Cheng Soxiang tried to protect himself and delayed the battle, thus missing the opportunity to give the northern army time to recuperate.

In the later head-to-head battle, the 20,000 soldiers of Inagaki were no match for the increasing number of northern troops, and Sok Cheung had to abandon the city with his men and flee back to the main camp of the general Tie Muer, who was sentenced to death by beheading at the waist for desertion.

After this battle, the Cang River valley was returned to the Central Plains.

The only thing Chi Xiaochi didn’t like about the battle was that Chu Ziling was able to escape unscathed and was not captured and killed by one of his “own”.

But it’s enough.

From beginning to end, Chi Xiaochi’s entire life was cut short in just three letters.

It is said that when he found out about Pa Sha’s death, he returned to the primus camp and became very ill.

Chi Xiaochi, fearing that he might die of illness, even went to visit him himself, but after confirming that he was only in a hurry and would not die, he returned.

After taking over the Three Cities, he was too busy with military duties and had to check on Li Yeshu’s homework to care about Chu Ziling’s mental health.

He just needs to not suffocate himself with his breath.

One day, while he was busy in his tent, he heard the voice of the messenger: “Young General, the Emperor’s special envoy for the reward is here and will be outside the camp soon. The incense table has been set up, so dress quickly and come and meet us.”

Chi Xiaochi did as he was told and waited with Yan Yuanheng, who was also in the camp, behind the incense burner, with their hands down and heads bowed, waiting for the envoy to pronounce his decree.

However, Chi Xiaochi nearly laughed at the sight of the envoy’s military boots, which were studded with luminous pearls.

When he looked up, it was Yan Yuanzhao’s dangling, smirking face.

…… but he couldn’t stop laughing.

– Yan Yuanzhao wearing a suit of armour like the one he wore at the time of his death.

Chi Xiaochi inside him sighed as he felt the twitching of Shi Tingyun’s fingertips.

…… Shi Tingyun’s mood disorder has returned.

Luckily, this time, the situation was not as serious.

Shi Tingyun, at least, did not lose control, but knelt quietly to receive the decree.

After Yan Yuanzhao had read out the decree and distributed the rewards, he gleefully dragged Shi Tingyun into the camp, pulling him along to take a look at him: “Not missing an arm or a leg, not bad.”

Yan Yuanheng looks at Yan Yuanzhao holding Shi Tingyun’s hand, not speaking.

Shi Tingyun laughs: “You don’t wish me well.”

”Is it unconscionable?”

After not seeing each other for nearly half a year, the two of them only talked for a couple of minutes before they automatically returned to the familiarity of close friends. Yan Yuanzhao peeled off his outer armor and pressed his chest, “Come, I’ll feel your conscience for you… say, Master Six has been writing to you and sending you things for the past six months, has he treated you well?”

Shi Tingyun : “That’s it.”

Yan Yuanzhao: “Yeah, I knew it. I can still listen to a woof when I feed it to the dog.”

Shi Tingyun: “May I ask which of us you are sending a woman’s handkerchief for?”

Yan Yuanzhao : “You don’t understand this. What I sent was not a hankie? It’s the incense on it. The incense is made by Jin Rou, and the scent stays on for seven days, so I thought it was interesting and sent it to you to enjoy.”

Shi Tingyun: “I don’t have time to smell this, my nose smells like blood all day long.”

Yan Yuanzhao : “Then isn’t the sixth master a snowman, just in time to tell you to press that blood gas? …… Noi.”

He lifted his arm and put it to Shi Tingyun’s nose like a treasure: “Smell it, this is the fragrance of the wild goose.”

Shi Tingyun really leans down to sniff.

Yan Yuanzhao said proudly, “It smells good, doesn’t it?”

He is dressed in armour, but he has also smeared himself with incense, as is expected of Yan Yuanzhao.

Noticing him surveying his own armour, Yan Yuanzhao stood a little further away: “Is this an elegant body for the Sixth Master?”

Shi Tingyun laughed, “Not as nice as your old black and purple robe.”

Yan Yuanheng’s heart was sour as he watched the two of them exchanging pleasantries.

He coughed lightly.

Hearing the coughing sound, Yan Yuanzhao opened his eyes wide as if he had only just noticed Yan Yuanheng at their side and said pompously, “Ah ah, if it isn’t the Thirteenth Imperial Brother. Long time no see.”

Yan Yuanheng : “…… Sixth Imperial Brother. Long farewell.”

Yan Yuanzhao : “Father was delighted to hear that you had achieved a marvellous feat. I have also read the letter from Stop Cloud and know that you are valiant and have really made a mark by riding alone.”

There was no one around, and Yan Yuanzhao was not one to be concerned about the face of the Heavenly Family, so he put his hand on Shi Tingyun’s shoulder and praised him heartily, “But Yundi is more brilliant, he can command 10,000 men in battle.

Yan Yuanheng pursed his lips and said nothing.

…… In private, Su Chang would write to the sixth royal brother.

Su Chang never wrote to him.

Lou Ying, resting on his bed in another tent, took it all in, but after holding back, he crumpled the book in his hand, sat up straight and raised his hand to his right ear.

The next second, Chi Xiaochi’s slightly reclusive voice rang in his head 061: “……Xiaochi.”

Chi Xiaochi suddenly heard Lou Ying’s voice and was slightly startled: “Sir, you can talk now.”

Lou Ying : “Come back.”

Chi Xiaochi : “Huh?”

Lou Ying’s voice softened slightly, “…… There is something that I would like to discuss with you.”