Chapter 465

Chen Wuji, regarding skill/profession, has a specialized focus on this term; now he has a very deep understanding of it.

Previously, watching Qin Feng and Li Run handle government affairs, he actually had quite a few doubts.

These two people: one is like a street loafer every day, carrying a Wine Jar and wandering around, not seeing how he handles government affairs, yet he manages Yunan County very well.

One is always so busy that his feet never touch the ground, sometimes not even having time to eat, yet he likewise quickly sorted out all affairs of Xishan Village, making Chen Wuji's rear base run very smoothly.

Now it's his turn to handle these headache-inducing government affairs, Chen Wuji suddenly realized he seemed to do nothing but make sweeping gestures.

If we don't ferret out these officials of the Hezhou Prefecture Office, for stabilizing the people's hearts and quickly restoring Hezhou City's economy and livelihood, he truly feels like a toad trying to eat the sky—nowhere to bite.

Fortunately, these matters are temporarily under control, and we have a certain direction.

Exactly what shape it will take still depends on the abilities of these Hezhou officials.

As evening approached, Chen Wuji was about to go to the rear courtyard to find Qin Zhanhong to ease his headache when Chen Wu Yin, leading troops out to pursue the suspected defeated army of Gu Wenjie, returned.

Chen Wuji had no choice but to meet Chen Wu Yin first; he had the cooks of the public kitchen prepare some simple food, and in a side hall of the Government Office, he accompanied Chen Wu Yin while eating, and the two discussed matters.

"Family Head, that defeated troop must be Gu Wenjie's without a doubt!" Chen Wu Yin stuffed a piece of meat cake into his mouth in a couple of bites, washed it down with tea, and urgently said to Chen Wuji,

Chen Wuji waved his hand, "Just wait a bit, wait a bit, no rush to speak."

"I didn't catch them; I hurried back to ask the Family Head for reinforcements." Chen Wu Yin picked up another cake, bit hard, and while chewing said, "That scoundrel fled into the mountains; I led men with Warhorses in pursuit for a stretch, lost track, but judging by their escape route, they intend to go to Guangyuan Prefecture."

"I have left some eyes on the side, covertly watching the main route to Guangyuan Prefecture. Family Head, give me more men, and I'll lead them to sweep the mountains and flush that kid out."

Chen Wuji shook his head, "Your method definitely won't work."

"Gu Wenjie is no fool; on the contrary, that kid is wickedly crafty. Do you think he'd consider the mountains a good place to hide people or the outside better? Faced with the vast mountains, I'm handing over all the city's troops to you to scatter into the mountains, but you still couldn't lay out an encirclement."

Chen Wu Yin stared, grabbed his neck hard, "Seems so, Family Head, what should we do?"

"Setting an ambush on the main route is a good idea; just hide on the route to Guangyuan Prefecture and wait for him to come out." Chen Wuji said, "Pay attention to concealment; don't scare the snake."

"I worry that kid will take a side path; they're not a large force, only a few dozen altogether!" Chen Wu Yin said, "Our commotion is too big; if he noticed, we should have been able to catch him."

"There's no other way; our control over Hezhou isn't enough yet to set up checkpoints everywhere." Chen Wuji said, "This is the only feasible plan for now; let's do it this way. If we can't catch him, we'll return—no need to die trying in the vast mountains, causing unnecessary casualties."

Chen Wu Yin nodded regretfully, slowed his eating of the cake, "Since there's no other way, I'll eat slowly—I almost choked to death; three cakes have gone down, and I still can't tell what they taste like."

Chen Wuji rose and ladled a bowl of meat broth for Chen Wu Yin, "Eat something soft to go down easily."

"Family Head, you're now a Commandant; you must mind your status—how can you personally serve me food? We're not back in the village a few months ago." Chen Wu Yin grinned.

Chen Wuji laughed and scolded, "Get lost, you old man—hurry up and eat your food. Even if I became Emperor, our relationship wouldn't change in the slightest. Just put on a show for outsiders; among ourselves, don't give me any hierarchy."

"That won't do!" Chen Wu Yin immediately shook his head, "Family Head, you don't know—those three uncles keep catching us and saying that, our ears are about to develop calluses; lately it's been better, our ears feel a bit clearer."

"Although I'm annoyed by them constantly saying this, I also think they make perfect sense—regardless of outsiders, rules are rules, can't be lax; with the Chen clan exerting the whole family's strength, we've finally seen a chance to turn things around, and these rules must be established from the ground up."

Chen Wuji slumped into the chair, "I think you're not that hungry, yet you still have time to lecture me—got it, blah blah, hurry up and eat your food."

He knew that to establish his absolute authority, Chen Bushi and the others had put in a lot of work behind the scenes.

Chen Wuji didn't object to this either.

"Without rules, nothing can be properly formed; having rules is a good thing."

But he indeed doesn't like being so rigid, drawing identity lines so clearly.

Looking at Chen Wuyi and his group—now wherever he goes, these twenty-eight people follow; all day long they wear a straight face; if he doesn't speak, they say nothing, not even an extra expression.

Chen Wu Yin gave a hehe laugh twice, lifted the big bowl, turning it around and slurping the meat broth inside.

Such a big bowl of meat broth—his hand turned it left and right a few times and it was empty.

Having wiped his mouth satisfied, he got up and fixed himself another bowl, "I'll eat some more—I haven't had a drop all day, I'm truly starving. Family Head, aren't you eating?"

"Eat, when it's mealtime, I won't let myself starve to death." Chen Wuji sat up, "Give me a bowl too."

"Yes."

Chen Wuji took the meat broth Chen Wu Yin handed over and casually asked, "How's the Cavalry training? Are you confident about charging the enemy Infantry formation?"

"A little, but not much—how to put it..." Chen Wu Yin scratched his head, thought seriously, then said, "The soldiers' horsemanship is actually quite good now; they're just lacking... momentum, that kind of unstoppable drive."

"If the cavalry lacks that momentum, their hooves can't even kick up; if the hooves can't kick up, running naturally lacks that charging ferocity."

Chen Wuji nodded, "Keep training; reaching this level in such a short time is already quite good. Fight a few more real battles, and the momentum will gradually arise—we didn't get here any other way, did we?"

"Hmm."

"I'll give you five days; if you can't stake out Gu Wenjie, come back." Chen Wuji said after a moment's thought, "After returning to rest a few days, take provisions and go on a Wild Assault in Guangyuan Prefecture."

Chen Wu Yin stared, astonished, "Our Eight Hundred Cavalry going to assault Guangyuan Prefecture?"

"Wild Assault!" Chen Wuji emphasized, "Eight Hundred Cavalry attacking Guangyuan Prefecture—you dare imagine it, I wouldn't dare either, unless one day I lose my mind."