Chapter 575: The Arrogant Scholar

Wang Ce's words actually aroused a bit of curiosity in Chen Wuji: "I hope what you're saying now isn't just making excuses after the fact; I don't care how much talent a person ultimately has, measured in dou, but using flashy tricks to deceive superiors and subordinates has no place here."

Wang Ce firmly pressed his lips: "This subordinate knows his guilt! Please, General, punish me!"

"Put the punishment aside for now, continue speaking." Chen Wuji picked up a few dandelion leaves, wrapped them around a chunk of venison, and stuffed it whole into his mouth; lately he's been experimenting with the best pairing of wild greens and meat, testing it on himself.

At that moment, the tray before Chen Wuji held several kinds of wild greens—dandelion, bitter herb, shepherd's purse, etc. —and only in Lingnan winter could one see so many wild greens in the fields and mountains.

"About ten days ago, Lu Ping'an led his troops to Wenkou Town." Wang Ce began to tell his own story: "This town isn't small; it's densely populated, and merchant caravans come and go frequently each month."

"I don't know where they got their information, but their news is very well-informed; in the town's taverns, for a few copper coins you can learn many outside affairs from them."

"When Lu Ping'an suddenly led a large army here, the news was huge—so huge that the townsfolk and surrounding villagers were panic-stricken, each day worrying whether war would break out in Wenkou Town; only after the news brought by the caravans gradually spread did people's hearts gradually find some relief."

Chen Wuji lifted his head and glanced: "What does this have to do with what you want to tell me?"

If that's all his talent, Chen Wuji would suspect him of being a fame-seeker who pretends to be lofty—such a person cannot be tolerated.

As for Chang Jingxuan, he looks aloof, but that's because he actually has real skill.

Someone without real talent who writes such messy, incoherent pieces basically deserves a beating.

"Please, General, hear me out." Wang Ce said: "Lu Ping'an's appearance in Wenkou Town can have only one purpose: to attack Hongde City; otherwise, it would be pointless for him to bring his army here for no reason."

"Later, a caravan arriving from Hezhou brought back the news that General Chen had also deployed troops; this news completely put the minds of Wenkou Town's residents at ease."

"It was then that I first thought of seeking refuge with the General, but someone like me finds it extremely hard to make a living in this lifetime. Even though I've spent half my life studying, ordinary folks see me and tease me for being childish..."

"I worried that if I straightforwardly presented my name card and paid my respects to the General, he might look down on me, so I came up with this idea. The idea is indeed a bit clumsy, but my thought at the time was: as long as I got to see the General and could speak with him, I could then naturally propose my plan to attack Hongde City, lend him a hand, and perhaps he would take notice of me."

Chen Wuji let out a light laugh: "Your prelude is really long—you've laid all this groundwork, and in the end you only said this much."

"I just wanted to explain the whole matter to the General clearly!" Wang Ce said: "Actually I'm not good at lying; my original plan sounded fine, but in just a few words the flaw leaked out."

Chen Wuji waved his hand: "You're overestimating yourself; it's not that you slipped up in your speech—you gave yourself away from the start. Although you look like a young man, it's only an appearance, not proof that you actually are one, and it's still noticeable."

Wang Ce stared: "So the General has been deliberately going along with me all along?"

"No, that's not it." Chen Wuji laughed and shook his head: "I thought you meant me harm, but I had actually planned to send people to wipe out that village; however, seeing many villagers out watching the spectacle on the road, I revoked that order."

Wang Ce's face changed instantly: "Just because of me, the General was going to wipe out the village?"

Chen Wuji asked: "Do you think I'm overreacting? That my methods are too harsh?"

Wang Ce nodded.

Chen Wuji wrapped a piece of donkey meat in wild greens, stuffed it into his mouth, chewed slowly, calmly looked at Wang Ce, and asked: "Let me ask you this: if you were in my position, and on the road you saw someone who is clearly an adult but pretending to be a young man, who lied to you and invited you to have tea at his home, speaking in a strange, weird way—what would you do?"

"I..." Wang Ce hesitated.

"Give me an answer." Chen Wuji said.

Wang Ce began to think seriously: "I suppose..."

"I'm not saying there's anything wrong with the General's arrangement like that; if it were me, I would also have locked down the village and conducted a thorough search of the whole village."

"Everything else can be ignored, but I must find out what that person's true purpose is. When the army first arrived at Po Feng Ridge and encountered this, we had to guard against leaks of military secrets, as well as the possibility of local powerful clans rising in arms, among many other possibilities."

Chen Wuji nodded: "You still have a bit of sense, but to me you seem rather pedantic, taking things for granted."

Wang Ce was somewhat dissatisfied, but he didn't rebut Chen Wuji's words; he just stared at Chen Wuji with intensity.

Whether he has pride in his bones, Chen Wuji doesn't know, but his arrogance is obvious.

Chen Wuji asked: "Do you want to join my staff, or seek an office in Nan Jun?"

"Either is fine!" Wang Ce's tone carried obvious dissatisfaction.

Chen Wuji nodded: "In that case, I'll give you a chance: simulate how we should fight the battle for Hongde City."

"The General probably won't attack Hongde City." Wang Ce said: "Although I don't understand why the General sent troops, and I haven't yet thought of a reason, I feel the General shouldn't fight this battle."

"Why do you think that?" His comment actually surprised Chen Wuji a bit.

Wang Ce said: "It's precisely because of what I just said: hearing that the General raised troops, the people of Wenkou Town were reassured. The General's reputation in Hezhou is very good, and it's the same here."

Wang Ce said: "The common folk aren't ignorant of outside affairs; they also gather to discuss world affairs and talk about the nearby lords. I think the current situation in Lingnan is such that calling them lords is not an exaggeration."

Wang Ce said: "Yang Jinglve is likewise a good official with a good reputation in San Guan Jun, but his strength lies in dealing with the Qiang people, whereas General Chen surpasses him in that regard."

Chen Wuji found that quite pleasing.

He chuckled and asked: "Are you just flattering me?"

Wang Ce shook his head: "No, the General can simply ask any informed local in Wenkou Town about outside affairs, and their answer would be exactly the same as mine."

Chen Wuji asked: "Just because of that, you conclude I won't attack San Guan Jun?"

Wang Ce shook his head: "It's not just that; there's also the General's consistent approach."