Chapter 37: Untitled

In the afternoon, a column of some three hundred people approached slowly from the north. Not a regular army—aside from one rather conspicuous banner, their armor was uneven and their quality mixed, clearly a motley rabble.

This column came from Liaozhou, escorting more than twenty carts of supplies of various sizes. Ever since Liu Chengyou had stationed his forces at Siting, aside from gathering military provisions locally in Luzhou, most of the supplies still had to come from the rear. Liaozhou bore the task of transporting provisions, and Prefect Xue Qiong was most diligent, actively mobilizing prefectural troops, yamen runners, villagers, and able-bodied men—in the past few days, he had already made three deliveries to Siting.

The sentries of the Fourth Army's northern outpost, stationed to the north, had spotted them long before. They stretched out their hands to block the way and shouted loudly: "Halt!"

Among the column, a middle-aged man in a crimson official robe sat astride a horse. Seeing this, he was taken aback. This man was none other than Xue Qiong, Prefect of Liaozhou, personally escorting the military supplies this time.

A young officer of the prefectural troops beside him explained in a low voice: "Governor, they want to check our identities!"

"Since when is this a thing?" Xue Qiong's brows immediately knitted high: "We've made several deliveries already—do we still need identity verification?"

"Governor, the previous times, they only let us through after inspection..." The young officer said with an air of experience, suggesting: "Once they finish their check, someone will naturally welcome us into the camp."

"Nonsense! I stand here—would these petty soldiers dare to check me?" Xue Qiong sneered disdainfully, urging his horse forward, looking down at the leading squad leader from on high, and said arrogantly: "I am Xue Qiong, Prefect of Liaozhou! Why don't you remove the abatis and let me through at once!"

A prefect was indeed a big shot, but the squad leader behind the barrier only hesitated briefly before answering in a muffled voice: "Prefect Xue, sir! Ahead lies a major military encampment. The Commander has ordered that all people and animals entering the camp must be inspected and their identities confirmed before being allowed through. Please understand, Governor!"

"How insolent! Are you lumping me in with the livestock?" Hearing this, Xue Qiong was enraged.

"I wouldn't dare!" The squad leader seemed the type not good with words. Facing the furious Xue Qiong, he only said in a gruff voice: "It is my duty!"

"This is utterly outrageous!" Xue Qiong's anger was now fully ignited. He stared at him with a harsh voice and stern expression: "What is my status? I lead men, sparing no hardship, to escort supplies, yet I am barred at your gate—if something important is delayed, can you bear the responsibility? Talking about inspections and verifications is simply laughable. Are you deliberately humiliating me? These soldiers have made several deliveries already—do you truly not recognize them?"

The barrage of questions sounded reasonable and well-founded, leaving the squad leader somewhat at a loss, hesitation showing on his face. Seeing his flustered demeanor, Prefect Xue Qiong raised his chin a little, scrutinizing him, and a slight curve slowly crept up at the corner of his mouth.

But soon, his expression froze. The lowly squad leader still said in a deep voice: "The Commander has ordered—all persons must be inspected!"

Xue Qiong's face was full of astonishment, and then rage surged from his chest. Men like him, prefects, were absolute local tyrants in their territories—never had they suffered such indignity, especially when they were in the right.

Glaring furiously at the unyielding little squad leader before him, the prefect's temper finally exploded completely. His gaze was icy, his tone sinister: "Whatever Commander, whatever military orders—they don't work on me. If you don't make way, I'll force my way through!"

"Who dares to force their way into a military camp?" The moment his words fell, a languid voice rang out.

Looking over, a small squad of soldiers came walking from behind the abatis. At their head was a young man, his expression grave, his steps steady, his whole demeanor unhurried.

"Captain." Seeing the newcomer, the squad leader immediately sighed in relief and hurriedly stepped aside.

The newcomer was none other than Yang Ye, who was inspecting the sentry posts. The squad leader whispered to him for a moment, explaining the situation. Giving the squad leader a reassuring look, Yang Ye stepped forward and calmly met Xue Qiong's gaze: "Prefect Xue, do you truly wish to force your way into the encampment?"

"So what if I do? Who are you?" Xue Qiong glanced contemptuously at the beardless Yang Ye.

"Yang Ye, Captain of the First Company of the First Division, Fourth Army of the Longqi Army!" Yang Ye replied flatly.

"So you're just some petty centurion!"

"What happens to those who force their way into a military camp?" Yang Ye showed no fear on his face. He slowly turned his head and asked the squad leader in a loud voice.

With Yang Ye beside him, the squad leader seemed to have found his backbone. Upon the question, he answered with great vigor: "Death!"

The corner of his mouth curled up in satisfaction. Yang Ye turned back to face Xue Qiong.

The Governor Xue on horseback had a face that had already turned ugly beyond measure. He was somewhat embarrassed now—the escort column behind him was watching, and the soldiers before him showed not the slightest respect for his status as a proper prefect. His hand slowly moved to the sword hilt at his waist, staring coldly at Yang Ye: "Such arrogant soldiers—I've rarely seen the like!"

Noting his movement, Yang Ye raised a hand. Understanding the signal, the dozens of soldiers behind the abatis immediately drew their blades and nocked their arrows. At the same time, Yang Ye loudly ordered his men: "Sound the horn as a warning—enemies are breaking into the camp! Alert the entire army to prepare for battle!"

Upon the order, a soldier produced a horn, puffed out his cheeks, and was about to blow it. Seeing this, Xue Qiong felt a chill in his heart and instinctively raised a hand to stop him: "Wait!"

Xue Qiong had personally come to escort the supplies this time precisely because he wanted to curry favor with Liu Chengyou. Naturally, he did not want this minor clash to escalate into an "attack on the camp." He also had not expected the low-ranking officers and men of the Longqi Army to be so overbearing, showing not the slightest face. Especially Yang Ye—his "single-minded" behavior made him extremely uncomfortable.

Yang Ye stopped the soldier about to blow the horn, narrowed his eyes slightly, looked at Xue Qiong, and waited for him to speak.

Suppressing the anger in his heart, constantly reminding himself that "a small impatience ruins great plans," Xue Qiong took a deep breath, dismounted from his horse, and shouted irritably at the people behind him: "What are you all standing around for? Let them inspect!"

Seeing this, Yang Ye's expression softened, and he even flashed a smile at Prefect Xue. He waved his hand again, and his men sheathed their weapons.

As for the inspection, it was merely routine—verify identity, check the carts, and they were let through. After all, the sentry soldiers weren't actually blind; they were just following orders. The Longqi Army emphasized military discipline, and that Commander Murong was even stricter. Add to that Patrol Inspector Guo, who made irregular inspections of the various camps, and the soldiers below dared not cut even the slightest corner when it came to orders from above—if an inspection was required, they inspected!

The abatis was quickly moved aside, clearing a passage for the supply column to head south. Remounting his horse, Xue Qiong stopped before Yang Ye, staring at him coldly, his right hand gripping his horsewhip tightly, as if he wanted to lash it across that face a few times.

"Does Prefect Xue have any further instruction?" Yang Ye clasped his fists.

"Hmph! This matter is far from over!" Xue Qiong snorted coldly, his tone hostile.

"Prefect Xue!" Yang Ye remained neither humble nor overbearing, meeting his gaze and saying calmly: "We are here to fight. A military encampment is no place for carelessness. In the Longqi Army, you follow the Longqi Army's rules!"

"Fine rules indeed!" Xue Qiong's face twitched. He spurred his horse away, feeling stifled.

"Captain, after all, he is a prefect of a whole prefecture. Having offended him this time, if the higher-ups take issue with it, it won't be easy to explain..." At this moment, the squad leader who had been so dutiful earlier sidled up to Yang Ye, speaking hesitantly.

"It's our duty—why would the higher-ups take issue?" Yang Ye said dismissively: "Besides, we are the Second Prince's soldiers!"