Chapter 636

The evening meal was very simple, just clear soup with soaked flatbread.

But the entire army, from top to bottom, ate happily.

Everyone still found it surprising that this thing, which grows everywhere across the mountains and fields, turned out to be so delicious.

The next day.

When the sky was just beginning to lighten, a scout came from the south, bringing news of Wuyang City.

The Qiang people dispatched thirty thousand troops to attack Wuyang City; yesterday evening, when Lu Halberd Unit reached the outskirts of Wuyang City, the two sides clashed. As dusk fell, they hastily disengaged, each suffering some casualties, but the losses were not heavy.

Just as this batch of scouts had left, Hu Bu Gui returned.

He seemed not to have slept all night, his face full of exhaustion, his eyes filled with frightening bloodshot veins.

"Military Governor, I've basically finished scouting everything." Hu Bu Gui entered the big tent, clasped his hands, and said.

Chen Wuji poured him a cup of tea and handed it over, saying, "First have a cup of hot tea, sit down and speak slowly."

"Yes!"

Having prepared to blurt out his scouting findings in one go, Hu Bu Gui responded, took the hot tea, and sat down at the side.

After taking a few small sips, he then said, "Military Governor, the Qiang people's main camp at the foot of Wuyang Mountain still has about fifty or sixty thousand troops left to guard."

"They sent thirty thousand troops to attack Wuyang City, and another roughly ten thousand to burn, kill, and loot the surrounding villages. I led men last night to secretly follow them around; it was horrifying to behold—almost no one survived where the Qiang passed."

"The Qiang people's desire to exterminate our ethnic group has always been thus; though angry, it is not unexpected." Chen Wuji said, clenching his fists, "Wherever their warhorses go, our common folk will have no survivors."

"I will settle this debt with them, blade by blade; the world is not theirs alone to play cruel."

Hu Bu Gui's expression turned ferocious as he cursed, "These damned beasts deserve to be hacked to pieces!"

"Hacking them to pieces is too troublesome; it's easier just to bury them alive." Chen Wuji said.

Hu Bu Gui had no objection; instead he nodded firmly and said, "Military Governor, we've noticed something odd: there seem to be our own people among the Qiang."

"Our own people?"

"They're Han people!"

Chen Wuji waved his hand, "Nothing strange about it—all of Yushan Prefecture has surrendered to the Qiang, so Han people appearing in the Qiang army is quite normal."

I don't know how many prefectures in the Lingnan Six Commanderies had already raised white flags and fawned before the Qiang even arrived; no matter how many Han people appear in the Qiang army, Chen Wuji would not find it surprising, nor is there anything surprising about it.

Hu Bu Gui, however, said, "Their status seems not low; they can lead a contingent of Qiang troops in pillaging."

"Catch such a dog and execute the nine clans—no need for further talk. Any other news?" Chen Wuji asked.

"Yes!" Hu Bu Gui said, "The Qiang have discovered our scouts, yet they appear not to have halted their pillaging or any intention to fall back to defend the camp; they continue pressing farther afield."

"They're looking down on me!" Chen Wuji snorted coldly.

"However, they truly have the elite troops and ample supplies to look down on us. Order the troops: according to plan, march out and first test the mettle of this Qiang force."

"Yes!"

The specific tactics had already been worked out in detail by each unit yesterday; from now on, they need only follow the plan, march out, each find an ambush spot, and attack in succession.

After Chen Wuji's order was issued, Xie Fengxian's unit departed first from the big tent, followed closely by Tang Yu's unit, and then part of the middle army led by Chen Li.

Chen Wuji had originally wanted to personally lead a route to meet the Qiang, but Xu Zengyi and others forcibly stopped him. Today is different from before; as the commander of the three armies, Chen Wuji wanting to personally lead a charge into battle is no longer very realistic.

He himself didn't care much about that status, but those beneath him did.

Unable to personally lead troops in conquest, Chen Wuji had no choice but to guard the big tent with three thousand middle-army troops.

In past battles he always led the charge; now he is more like a lord, yet also bored—after the vast camp suddenly emptied, Chen Wuji felt restless no matter what.

He was so bored he wished he could have a god's-eye view to see what was really happening on the front battlefield.

"My lord, if you're really bored, why not write a letter to His Majesty the Emperor?" Seeing Chen Wuji sit awhile then wander outside, Xu Zengyi couldn't help but say.

Chen Wuji asked strangely, "What's the point of writing him a letter?"

"Ask His Majesty the Emperor what he thinks of the war against the Qiang, to gauge the court's attitude." Xu Zengyi said, "The Lingnan Six Commanderies originally were a profit exchange between those high officials at court and the Qiang; Yang Yu won the first battle, nearly driving the Qiang completely out of San Guan Jun."

"Now, my lord, your troops have thrust straight into Yushan Prefecture, preparing to penetrate deep into Qiang lands to exterminate their people; those bigwigs at court can't sit still any longer—they may well take action."

Chen Wuji had already stepped one foot out of the big tent; hearing this, he turned back and said, "You mean someone might possibly tamper with my status?"

"Yes, but not entirely; it could be more than that."

Chen Wuji snorted, "It doesn't matter; let them do what they will. I never cared much about this position anyway. I can use it when useful, and ignore it when not. Even if I personally hold the title of Military Governor, I think the people of Nan Jun would also recognize it."

"That said, it could also cause some trouble for you, my lord." Xu Zengyi said.

Chen Wuji frowned, "Asking the Emperor about this would be useless, wouldn't it?"

"It's better to guard against trouble before it happens; preparedness brings no worry."

Chen Wuji thought for a moment, nodded, "Then let's write one."

Because he was indeed bored stiff, Chen Wuji vividly described to His Majesty the Emperor the scenery of Yushan Prefecture and the scene after the Qiang arrived, sparing no detail and writing everything down.

Including the chicken-leg mushroom soup he had eaten last night and this morning.

When the letter was halfway done, the elusive Zhan Hong Furen returned.

She was still dressed in martial attire, maintaining her male disguise.

As soon as she entered the tent, she dropped a bombshell on Chen Wuji and Xu Zengyi: "Gu Wenjie seems to hold a not-low position in the Qiang camp, but my people haven't found the Snake Staff Elder—I don't know where he went."

Chen Wuji, pen in hand, asked, "Did Gu Wenjie take the Qiang troops out to pillage?"

"Does your husband know about this?" Qin Zhanhong asked in surprise.

Chen Wuji shook his head, "Yesterday Hu Bu Gui mentioned this when he returned, saying there was a Han person holding a high rank in the Qiang army, leading Qiang troops in pillaging, but we didn't know who it was."

"It's him!"

Chen Wuji coldly scolded, "Really, two stubborn pieces of scum that won't go away!"

He wondered, how did this old and young pair of bastards have such tenacious vitality?

These two have already escaped from his grasp three times.