Chapter 570: with translation of chapter title

Scouts came and went, continuously sending information about the two generals under Lu Ping'an killing each other to Chen Wuji's face; the information became increasingly detailed, but Chen Wuji's expression grew stranger the more he listened.

Through Lu Ping'an's words, Lü Ji had always been a skilled general in his mind.

But as the information kept being compiled, Chen Wuji suddenly developed strong doubts about Lu Ping'an's words.

A skilled great general, using superior numbers to launch a surprise attack on the enemy's Daying with calculated intent, yet ended up entangled within the enemy's Daying?

Can this even be called a skilled great general?!

"Go summon Lu Jinglve!" Chen Wuji ordered.

"Yes!"

Lu Ping'an was quickly brought to the front of the formation.

He cupped his fists toward Chen Wuji and asked directly, "General Chen, has the battle already been decided?"

"No." Chen Wuji gave Lu Ping'an a strange look, "Lu Jinglve, you need to tell me the truth—is Lü Ji truly your foremost commander?"

"Yes!"

Chen Wuji: ……

Lao Deng definitely has a problem with his judgment.

Looking at what Lü Ji has done, the things he said last night probably aren't false.

But this result is totally fucked up.

"Who is the commander of the other camp, and what is his strength?" Chen Wuji then asked.

Lu Ping'an said, "His name is Xie Fengxian; his ability is decent, but in terms of military strategy and tactics he falls far short of Lü Ji."

"Which Fengxian? Do you mean the Fengxian that means 'serving ancestors'?" Chen Wuji asked.

"Exactly."

Chen Wuji grabbed the saddle with one hand, patted the somewhat restless warhorse, "This name just sounds off. Don't hide it from you, Lu Jinglve—Xie Fengxian, whom you said is far inferior to Lü Ji, has trapped the stronger Lü Ji in the Daying; the situation is still unclear, but it seems to be turning into Xie Fengxian pressing down and beating Lü Ji violently."

"Can anyone just take the two characters 'Fengxian' as a name?"

Lu Ping'an stared in disbelief and muttered, "This... this is impossible, how could this happen? Lü Ji's forces far surpass Xie Fengxian's, and he launched a sudden revolt, using calculation against the unprepared; before the battle they were still comrades, and Xie Fengxian didn't know Lü Ji wanted to kill him..."

"In such a battle, how could Lü Ji be trapped in Xie Fengxian's Daying, even facing possible defeat? What has this bastard done? Such conduct is utterly trash!"

"Unless Lü Ji and Xie Fengxian did this intentionally, otherwise I must doubt your judgment of the two, Lu Jinglve." Chen Wuji said, "In your view, which of the two is likely the greater?"

Lu Ping'an fell into deep thought; after a while, his expression turned somewhat solemn as he said, "I lean toward the former. Although I only have a slight understanding of military strategy and formations, I am certainly not blind to this extent; I would never misjudge which of Lü Ji and Xie Fengxian is stronger."

This statement greatly surprised Chen Wuji: "Does this mean that Lü Ji is also obeying you outwardly while betraying you inwardly, Lu Jinglve?"

"Yes!" Lu Ping'an's answer was decisive and absolutely certain.

Chen Wuji scratched the warhorse's itch, his gaze through the heavy mist toward the nearby Wenkou Town, "If Lu Jinglve has no doubt in his own judgment, perhaps Lü Ji isn't obeying him outwardly while betraying him inwardly, but is coming for me…… Do these two mean to set a sack for me to walk into?"

"Not likely, they wouldn't have calculated that far." Lu Ping'an shook his head and took hold of Chen Wuji's warhorse, which, even after being scratched, remained somewhat restless.

Chen Wuji's lips twitched slightly. "How could it not be likely? Lu Jinglve slipped into my Daying at midnight and didn't return, then late at night sent out such a military order—anyone would suspect something."

"If Lü Ji had previously informed Xie Fengxian, and the two staged a performance there to confuse me, lure me into a trap, and then try to rescue Lu Jinglve, that would make sense."

"Looks like my tactic is about to be ruined!"

Lu Ping'an also found it difficult for a moment: "Saying this, it really seems possible."

He seemed to have completely abandoned his previous stance, seriously considering for Chen Wuji: "If that's truly the case, this battle would indeed be tough to fight. General Chen, how about this? You send a detachment to follow me, and I will personally go negotiate with Lü Ji and Xie Fengxian to have them both surrender."

"This plan is indeed good, but wait a moment." Chen Wuji said.

If Lü Ji and Xie Fengxian's standoff continues like this and ends in a fizzle, he seems to have no other recourse but to accept Lu Ping'an's suggestion and secure their total surrender.

However, there's no need to rush for now; Lü Ji and Xie Fengxian have only been fighting for less than an hour, so we can first see how far they can go before deciding.

Lu Ping'an said ruefully, "When I wrote the military order last night, I should have added a few more lines, stating that I have already defected to General Chen and voluntarily offered up the position of Nan Jun Jinglue Shi."

"Or perhaps we could pour more dirty water on Xie Fengxian, adding some substantive evidence; then Lü Ji might believe it more truly, and this situation wouldn't arise."

Chen Wuji suddenly asked, "What is the personal relationship between Lü Ji and Xie Fengxian?"

"Pretty good..." Lu Ping'an said, then an embarrassed expression suddenly appeared on his face, and he sheepishly said, "General Chen, I really didn't mean to do this; I truly hadn't thought of these things."

He also realized the crux of the problem.

Lü Ji and Xie Fengxian are on good terms personally, so Lü Ji must certainly know what kind of person Xie Fengxian is.

At this moment, Lu Ping'an suddenly pulled off a highly abnormal move, using the pretext that Xie Fengxian harbored divided loyalties to order Lü Ji to kill him; Lü Ji would surely suspect.

"I know, don't blame Lu Jinglve, it's no big deal!" Chen Wuji said calmly, "It's just that something originally simple has become a bit more complicated, but it's no major problem."

"This makes me... truly panic-stricken." Lu Ping'an muttered, "I hope that Lü Ji has been deceiving me all along, that he's just not capable!"

Chen Wuji gave a light laugh.

He is indeed quite composed.

He is also willing to believe Lu Ping'an; this person's acting skills probably aren't that good.

Chen Wuji waited on the spot for about another two quarters of an hour, then another wave of scouts came rushing in.

Lü Ji and Xie Fengxian have stopped fighting, and they have scattered scouts over a wide area, beginning to scout the surroundings.

Upon hearing this, Lu Ping'an's face darkened as black as a pot bottom: "These two idiots, what are they doing acting on their own initiative... In past battles, we never saw them this clever!"

He cursed resentfully, looked up at Chen Wuji, and said, "General Chen, let me go!"

"No need, let's go together!" Chen Wuji waved his whip and ordered the entire army to set out.

Infantry in front, cavalry spreading out to hide behind the infantry, they marched mightily toward Xie Fengxian's Daying.