Chapter 746: Recruited

In Chen Wuji's Zhongjun Camp, these past few days have been nothing but song and dance and peace.

However, this sort of thing only happens at night.

The song and dance are also Chen Wuji's sole enjoyment.

After the big battle ended, Chen Wuji's tense nerves also relaxed, and naturally he seized the chance to really relax with Qin Zhanhong and Lu Wanwan.

Such things are wonderful, both in process and result.

It's just a bit taxing on the waist.

After three straight days of exertion, when he sat down he could clearly feel his waist sore and swollen.

"My lord, we've recruited someone."

Chen Wu Yin strode in, sat cross-legged in a carefree manner before Chen Wuji, and said, "Shi Er's uncle says there is very urgent military intelligence to report to the lord in person, concerning Yu Ren and the Qiang people's alliance."

Chen Wuji picked up the horse hoof placed before him and passed one to Chen Wu Yin.

After a major battle, the army had stockpiled a large amount of horse meat.

Because the quantity was too great, the wagons were all filled, and the Luggage and Supplies Lìng even prepared to throw away the hooves.

Chen Wuji happened to notice that some had been left behind, and he personally demonstrated to the Luggage and Supplies Lìng soldiers the proper way to eat horse hooves.

Marinated with scallion, ginger, and garlic, then various spices are added and it's slowly simmered over low heat for three hours, after which garlic paste is added.

Once this method was revealed, horse hooves instantly became a hot commodity.

The tendons and skin turn soft, tender, and flavorful—no one can resist them.

Unfortunately, this method takes too much time, so ordinary soldiers hardly ever get a chance to eat them; officers with nothing to do often wander over to the Luggage and Supplies Lìng, and almost as soon as a pot is ready, these people snatch it away to enjoy with drinks.

Chen Wuji wanted to prepare a couple yesterday to have with drinks, but he couldn't get any.

Left with no choice, he had to cook them himself on a small stove.

"It really takes the lord, this hoof—I managed to grab a few just the day before yesterday, and I even personally squatted in the Luggage and Supplies Lìng for an hour to snag them; otherwise you wouldn't see a single hair." Chen Wu Yin complained.

Chen Wuji laughed and scolded, "I didn't grab anything; this is what I made myself yesterday on a small stove."

"It's a case of too many monks and too little porridge, but there's nothing to be done—there are plenty of pots, yet making this is really a hassle. This bite is excellent meat for drinking and relieving hunger; it's far better than having nowhere to go and throwing it away to waste."

Chen Wu Yin smiled, "It's only because you personally ordered it; otherwise those Luggage and Supplies Lìng folks would be reluctant to use so much spice, both marinating and cooking. With the amount of these hooves used over these few days, they could probably make it last a month."

"It's not that exaggerated; the cooking ingredients can be reused two or three times." Chen Wuji said, "The soldiers have worked hard for so long; they deserve something good—what's there to be reluctant about?"

"Bring the person in!"

"Yes!" Chen Wu Yin responded, then shouted outside.

Moments later, Shi Er's uncle was shoved in, bound five ways.

"The criminal Xi Leng greets General Chen!"

After being cleaned up, Xi Leng's appearance finally looked somewhat normal, but his spirit remained listless, giving the impression of a malady past cure, ready to go mad at any moment.

Chen Wuji sliced at the tendon on the horse hoof with his knife and said, "It's rare that you finally dare to give your name; what position do you hold among the Qiang people?"

"Canglang Qiang Elder."

Chen Wuji raised his eyebrows in surprise, "You are from the Canglang Qiang?"

"Yes!"

"Didn't I wipe out the Canglang Qiang? Or is my intelligence wrong?"

Xi Leng's expression was somewhat torn.

Whether he speaks of these matters or not concerns whether his ethnicity can continue.

But after thinking about Chen Wuji's methods, he resigned himself with a dejected expression.

If he doesn't speak, he will surely be thrown back into that cage...

From now on, whether he lives or dies, he can accept it, but he truly does not want to return to that cage.

"Our people aren't many, but among the various Qiang we aren't the fewest either. In the earlier battle with General Chen, that band was indeed nearly wiped out, but the other branches still have a few thousand people." Xi Leng explained, drooping his eyelids.

Chen Wuji then realized, "So you mean I only wiped out one branch, and there are still others?"

"Yes!"

"Your settlements and clans are really complicated."

"……"

Xi Leng dared not agree with that; compared to Central Plains culture, theirs is so simple it seems like a relic from ancient times, merely a matter of continual branching, but he dared not say more.

"You said you had very important military intelligence to tell me—come on, let's hear it!" Chen Wuji finished gnawing the horse hoof in his hand and turned his gaze to the last one on the plate.

Horse hooves and cow hooves—if prepared well, they truly make you want to eat more and more.

After gauging his stomach, Chen Wuji picked up the last one.

Today he'll have to drink two more bowls of wine.

"The reason the various Qiang formed an alliance is because Yu Ren proposed dividing the territories and governing them separately." Xi Leng said.

"He agreed with our Qiang people that upon taking Nan Jun, they would divide north and south for governance; Yu Ren would take only a few northern prefectures, while the remainder of southern Nan Jun would belong to us Qiang."

"As long as the Qiang can establish a foothold in the south, they will achieve a flanking encirclement of San Guan Jun and Shangtang Jun, making it much easier to subsequently seize the remaining territories of the Lingnan Six Commanderies."

Chen Wuji nodded, "That tactic is indeed not bad and quite tempting, so you just agreed to it?"

Xi Leng shook his head, "Of course not; among the Qiang there are also opponents, but Yu Ren has a strategist by his side, a man of great talent, who through bribery, lobbying, and the like ultimately brought this about."

"Is it an old coot leaning on a snake staff?" Chen Wuji asked.

"Yes!"

"How much do you know about this person?" Chen Wuji had gotten an affirmative answer, but he felt little joy, only greater suspicion.

The appearances of this old coot, the Snake Staff Elder, are increasing these days.

Yet despite all that has happened, he just can't figure out what the Snake Staff Elder's purpose is.

It's not that Chen Wuji failed to think of it; it's simply that the Snake Staff Elder's actions are too erratic.

So many matters, yet there's actually no connection among them.

Xi Leng shook his head, "General Chen, I truly don't know about this matter; I only know he is Yu Ren's strategist, and Yu Ren holds him in great esteem. Once Yu Ren hosted a banquet, he even wanted to have this strategist sit in the seat of honor."

"That's all you know? Think harder!" Chen Wuji lowered his head, cutting the tendon on the horse's leg, his eyelids slightly lifting to glance at Xi Leng, "Think about those details you might have forgotten—for example, the powers of the Rivers and Lakes, the other people around Yu Ren, and so on."

Xi Leng thought seriously for a moment, still shook his head, "General Chen, what I know is indeed only this much. Although our Qiang People are allied with Yu Ren, our troops are stationed separately."

"As for that strategist, I've only seen him twice at banquets; otherwise we've had no interaction."

Chen Wuji had also wanted to ask about news of the Snake Staff Old Man, but instead encountered someone who knows nothing when asked three times.

"Any other military news? What you've said isn't even important here!" Chen Wuji said, "Think it over well; don't waste this opportunity."