Chapter 411

"General, since the decision has been made, when the Weipao Sect sends people over, we will use them as our first target!" the adjutant said.

"Wei Pao has treated me well; if we are to surrender, let us surrender, but spare his men," Ceng Hai said.

"Although Wei Pao has treated us well, we have also done much for the Weipao Sect. Just recently, during the assault on Outside Xianyanggong, my unit charged at the front and suffered heavy losses! That is enough to repay the debt to Wei Pao."

the adjutant said.

"Here is what we will do: wait until the people sent by the Weipao Sect arrive and see. If they do not make any excessive moves, letting them leave is no problem. By the time they return to report to Wei Pao, we will already be gone," Ceng Hai said.

"The General is right, but we must still be prepared for them to act like a cornered dog," the adjutant said.

Ceng Hai nodded: "That makes sense. I will leave this matter to you."

After receiving the order, the adjutant went out and immediately called a group of trusted followers before him, telling them not to go anywhere but to stay near the main tent and await orders.

As time passed bit by bit, a group of people appeared on a small path on the outskirts of the unit where Ceng Hai was stationed.

These people stopped in front of a checkpoint.

"Seeing that my lord has arrived, why do you not quickly step aside!"

a special guard shouted at the soldiers guarding the checkpoint.

A soldier ran over, glanced at the credentials after receiving them, and then handed them back.

"This says that Lord Xiao is coming with attendants, but you have several hundred people. This does not match what is written on the credentials; we cannot let you pass!"

the soldier said.

According to the Great Qin Army rules, when different units contacted each other, they had to carry credentials.

The credentials would state the identity of the arriving people and the number of personnel, among other things.

This was to prevent spies from impersonating others.

Hundreds of thousands of troops were distributed throughout Dashan, composed of different defense zones.

People between the various defense zones could not all know each other, so they could only rely on credentials stamped with the great seal for identification.

If this were not done, enemy scouts could simply put on their clothes and roam around freely.

Therefore, when this soldier saw that the number of people on the credentials did not match the actual number, he directly refused to let them pass.

"These are all attendants of Lord Xiao," the special guard said.

"The numbers don't match; where are there several hundred attendants?" the soldier retorted.

"Do you want to die?" the special guard roared, while placing his hand on his sword hilt.

At this moment, the soldiers behind the checkpoint raised their weapons one by one, and some nocked arrows on their bows.

The atmosphere instantly became tense.

"The credentials did not specify the number of people; that was an oversight, but you cannot fail to recognize me, can you?"

At this time, Xiao Rong walked over.

"I am a small soldier; I do not even know our General Ceng. Even if General Ceng came, he would have to show credentials!" the small soldier said.

"Hahaha..."

Xiao Rong burst into loud laughter.

After finishing, his face hardened: "If you delay my great matter, all of you will die!"

"If we do not follow the rules, we will die just the same; please understand, my lord!" the small soldier said, forcing himself to speak.

He also felt that the other party was on his side, but helplessly, Ceng Hai's discipline was extremely strict; if he did not act according to discipline, he would be on a path to death.

"Hmph, call your commanding officer over!" Xiao Rong said.

"My lord, if you bring only a dozen or so attendants, you can pass," the small soldier proposed a compromise.

Bringing a dozen or so people would make the number consistent with the credentials.

But letting several hundred people in was not possible.

"Go call your commanding officer, go call him, hurry!" Xiao Rong roared.

He had come this time to seize power; if Ceng Hai did not cooperate, he would have to take down Ceng Hai on the spot.

Bringing only a dozen or so people inside was not very safe.

"Please wait a moment, my lord!" After saying this, the soldier immediately ran toward the rear.

By the time he arrived at Ceng Hai's main tent, he was panting from exhaustion.

But he dared not linger; after stating to the guards that he had urgent matters to report, he entered the main tent and then reported that someone wanted to pass through the checkpoint.

"What? They have come with several hundred people?" Upon hearing this, Ceng Hai immediately felt something was wrong.

It was not that they could not bring so many people; it was that the attitude of those people was wrong.

If they truly came to assist, their attitude would be better; they would not be so aggressive.

Generally, when the guards refused to let them pass, the leader should come alone to meet the commanding general here, state his identity and explain the situation, and then bring the troops in.

Now that Xiao Rong refused to come in alone, this clearly indicated that Xiao Rong had something to hide.

"Let them come in, but they can only enter the open ground ahead, and then have their leader come to see me," Ceng Hai said.

"Only the leader alone?" the soldier asked.

"He can bring a few attendants... you go with him," Ceng Hai said to the adjutant beside him.

Soon, the adjutant arrived in front of the checkpoint.

Upon seeing Xiao Rong, he immediately stepped forward to greet him and performed a bow: "This general did not know that my lord had arrived and failed to welcome you from afar; I beg your forgiveness."

"Hmph, there is no need for you to welcome us from afar; it is good enough that you let us in!" Xiao Rong said coldly.

"Misunderstanding, this is a misunderstanding," the adjutant said with a forced smile.

Then the adjutant ordered the soldiers guarding the checkpoint to step aside.

197. Forced to Rebel (Part Two)

After bringing Xiao Rong and others to an open ground, the adjutant said to Xiao Rong: "General Ceng's main tent is not far ahead; please follow this general."

Xiao Rong glanced forward but saw nothing.

This was because many trees ahead blocked the view of what lay behind them.

"Please," the deputy general said, extending a hand in a gesture of invitation.

Xiao Rong thought for a moment, then gave a signal with his eyes to the special guard beside him.

The special guard immediately led his men forward.

"Wait..." the deputy general looked troubled: "My lord, do you intend to bring these several hundred people into General Ceng Hai's main tent?"

"Where are several hundred people?" Xiao Rong glanced at the special guard: "You take thirty men and follow me; the rest stay here!"

"Thirty is still too many; the main tent simply cannot hold so many," the deputy general protested with difficulty.

"They aren't going inside," Xiao Rong waved his hand: "Let's go." The deputy general, having no choice, walked ahead to lead the way.

After passing through the small grove, Xiao Rong saw a large tent ahead.

He thought to himself that Ceng Hai's tent was indeed here; it seemed he had been overthinking things.

Upon reaching the outside of the tent, Xiao Rong and his party were immediately stopped by the guards.

"You stay outside; the six of you follow me inside," Xiao Rong ordered.

He himself knew that bringing thirty men into the tent would be far too excessive.

That would be almost the same as confronting Ceng Hai directly.

If it truly came to that, it would be better to simply bring five hundred men and charge straight here.

Now, more than twenty men stood outside the tent, and five hundred elite soldiers waited on the open ground not far away.

In addition, six experts accompanied him into the tent.

By this calculation, he was safe.

However, he had overlooked one thing.

If Ceng Hai had not yet made up his mind, then this arrangement was indeed very safe.

But once Ceng Hai had made up his mind, no arrangement he made would be of any use!

Entering the tent, Xiao Rong saw Ceng Hai seated in a large chair.

"General Ceng, it has been a long time," Xiao Rong said with a broad smile.

"My lord Xiao, what wind has blown you here? Please, take a seat!" Ceng Hai said warmly.

Xiao Rong did not stand on ceremony and sat down immediately.

Strictly speaking, his status was much the same as Ceng Hai's; the only difference was that he was a civil official while Ceng Hai was a military general.

"My lord Xiao must have come for an important matter, then? Please speak your mind!"

Seeing Xiao Rong seated, Ceng Hai immediately asked.