Chapter 429: I'm seriously plotting a rebellion

Where are they?

Chen Wuji looked at the empty outskirts, feeling quite dazed.

Wasn't it supposed to be eight hundred elite troops?

What's going on? We were marching, then suddenly fighting didn't seem fun, and everyone went home to be with their kids.

The officer in charge of defending the city, Chen Yuan, stepped forward and said: "Family Head, no one is attacking the city, and we haven't seen any troop movements nearby. Could the intelligence be wrong?"

"You say, could it be wrong?" Chen Wuji turned to look at the female spy.

The female spy stiffened, quickly shaking her head. "Sir, it's not wrong. Perhaps something else happened; the arrow is on the bow, and Lu Changwu wouldn't need to deceive me."

"Send out scouts to check the situation. Also, send a fast rider to see if there's any movement at Chen Baojia's place and Xishan Village." Chen Wuji ordered.

Yes!

Chen Wuji also thought that at this point, the deceased Lu Changwu wouldn't need to resort to smoke screens, and the enemy commander wouldn't suddenly change targets on a whim.

But since this was the tactic of the Old Silver Coin, Snake Staff Elder, Chen Wuji still decided to stay cautious.

Who knows if that old bastard would give them different orders, making his own side play a yin-yang trick, a nested scheme.

The scout left the city and, after about an hour, brought news of the enemy troops.

They found traces of troops passing about ten li from Yunan City, but couldn't confirm if it was the enemy. Judging by the remnants, the force numbered around a thousand, circling the city and heading north.

There were no other troop movements near Yunan City.

Clearly, this was the eight-hundred-strong elite enemy force the spy had mentioned.

"North?" Chen Wuji gazed at the lush Shenxianling Mountain Range, his mind momentarily blank. Why would Gu Wenjie's elite troops head north?

Going hunting in the mountains?

"Chen Yuan, hold the city, don't act rashly." Chen Wuji ordered.

Yes!

Chen Wuji waved at Qin Feng. "Come on, Commander Qin, I'll take you into battle—this time you'll surely get a chance to fight."

It's strange—everyone around him actually wants to charge into battle.

I also don't know what magic this thing has.

Qin Feng hurried to keep up. "Deputy Commander Chen, should I leave a last will or something?"

Are you planning a last stand?

I haven't thought of that; I've just never tried it, so I'm giving it a shot. A man should have the ambition to seal the wolf and reside in Xu. You've long had the soldiers prepare their wills—it's your army's tradition, so I ought to follow it.

Chen Wuji suddenly realized he ought to examine the education the Dayu commoners receive from childhood; perhaps that explains why they all love charging into battle.

"There's no time for you to write it out—why not dictate it instead?" Chen Wuji said.

Qin Feng thought, then shook his head. "Never mind; I probably won't die so young."

"On the battlefield, swords and eyes are blind." Chen Wuji said gloomily, "And those who think they'll surely be fine will definitely meet disaster—that's 'words become law, follow the opposite'."

"I don't know about other things, but this is about eighty to ninety percent certain. Or you could just abandon this ambition, stop trying, and deal with the mess in the city."

Qin Feng felt a bit nervous saying that, he eyed Chen Wuji suspiciously and asked, "Are you deceiving me?"

"What would I gain by deceiving you? It's all from experience." Chen Wuji laughed.

It really is experience talking.

Experience gained from novels and TV dramas.

In dramas and novels, any character who starts saying this line inevitably gets killed.

Qin Feng eyed Chen Wuji doubtfully. "Can I change my mind now?"

Can spilled water be gathered back?

Qin Feng: ……

He fell silent for a while, then puffed out his chest. "Then I'll stake my fate on it."

"My last will has two lines you must remember. First, you with the surname Qin, you've taken the wrong path; in your next life I'll be your father and you my son—see if I don't whip you to death. Second, Gui Zhi, don't wait for me; find someone to marry."

Chen Wuji understood, then asked on purpose, "Who is the surnamed Qin?"

Is this hard to understand?

I need to ask more clearly, lest I pass on the wrong information.

My father.

Then Gui Zhi is……

Your sister-in-law.

Correct that—your younger sister!

I'm older than you; don't be shameless.

But you said you want to rebel with me—how can you be older than me?

Qin Feng was momentarily speechless.

Does this have to do with age?

Chen Wuji descended the city wall, smiling faintly. "Actually, you don't need to tough it out."

I haven't been putting on a front; I can't let your possibly baseless conclusion sap my courage.' Qin Feng shook his head. 'A man shouldn't bear the Wu hook and seize the fifty prefectures of Guanshan? I'm already rebelling with you—what do I have to fear? It's trivial.'

What I mean is not just that, but also your leaving home and rebelling.' Chen Wuji said.

Qin Feng's last will plainly reveals two words: father and son at odds.

Under that premise, rebelling seems somewhat spiteful, however you look at it.

Qin Feng's steps paused slightly, then he said solemnly, "I've never seriously done anything in my life—except rebelling; I want to give it a sincere try."

"Every year after the imperial exams, countless successful candidates bribe central officials to avoid being posted to the Lingnan Six Commanderies, which they all regard as barbaric backwaters and refuse to serve in."

"As for me, I voluntarily requested to be sent to Yunan."

Before I came, I had already gathered information from various sources about the human geography of the Lingnan Six Commanderies, making some preparations for rebellion. I originally planned to take a county under San Guan Jun, but coincidentally the former county magistrate of Yunan died suddenly, so I assumed office early.

Originally, I was planning to start this rebellion myself, but after learning about your Chen clan and you, the ChenClanHead, I felt that being the rebellion's leader might not suit me, so I recommended you as commandant.

Chen Wuji was shocked, and inwardly he exclaimed, 'What a good partner!'

After all this fuss, it turned out not to be a spur-of-the-moment idea, but a long-planned plot.

You won't be competing with me for power in the future, will you?" Chen Wuji asked.

Qin Feng was stunned, 'Chatting like that will easily bore people to death; I am a talent in domestic affairs.'

Chen Wuji chuckled, 'Just joking, I don't have that much power. However, speaking of which, I also think you are a talent in domestic affairs; the court sending you here is a loss for the court.'

I think so too.

The two of them, who didn't care much about face, reached an agreement in an instant.

In the course of their conversation, the two took the Personal Guard Lìng and left the city.

Along the way, Chen Wuji gave an order, letting Chen Baojia lead troops to meet up with him, after which the entire army headed north, following the traces left by the enemy army.

He still hasn't figured it out: the enemy army detoured around the city and headed toward the Shenxianling Mountain Range—what are they up to?

This purpose is too puzzling.