Chapter 986: Reckless Audacity

Wang Yu was indeed somewhat shocked.

He came here reluctantly, not even having uttered the words "surrender", yet this Marquis of mixed reputation directly threw Lingzhou at him. Whether this is confidence or arrogance, Wang Yu couldn't quite tell.

"Whether you say the words 'surrender' or not makes no difference; I feel your intention, and that's enough." Chen Wuji said calmly.

""

Wang Yu really wanted to say that the intention he had been showing seemed like resistance.

But after thinking, he still let it go.

To be precise, he was indeed deeply moved now.

Everything Guo Shuhan said was factual, and this Marquis indeed bore the look of a wise ruler; staying seemed like a good choice.

However, what truly moved Wang Yu was actually Chen Wuji's sentence: "Your loyalty should be to the state and to all the people under heaven!"

"Eleventh Uncle, later tell Lord Wang the general situation of Lingzhou, assign the personnel, and follow Lord Wang's orders for subsequent matters!" Chen Wuji instructed, then turned to Wang Yu and asked, "By the way, does Lord Wang have any further instructions regarding An Sai Prefecture?"

Wang Yu hesitated, shook his head, and glanced at Guo Shuhan with a killing intent: "Some people have already arranged things very well for me; I seem to have nothing else to order, so I'll get started on handling Lingzhou affairs."

Guo Shuhan smiled faintly, completely unbothered.

Wang Yu paused, his expression suddenly turning solemn: "Marquis, please just call me by my name; hearing 'Lord Wang' makes me rather uncomfortable."

"What's there to be uncomfortable about? You're so high-minded and upright!" Guo Shuhan teased.

Seeing his friend finally relax, he also felt genuine happiness, and his tone lightened up.

"Shut up!" Wang Yu snapped, then solemnly asked Chen Wuji: "Marquis, other matters can wait; right now there is something extremely urgent that I, as subordinate, must clarify."

"Speak."

"Marquis, are you planning to move all the people of Nanyue Prefecture to Qiang Land?"

"Not all of it, just a part." Chen Wuji said, "Our army currently occupies a Qiang Land area nearly matching Nan Prefecture; such a vast, sparsely populated tract needs to be swiftly populated."

"In my impression, Qiang Land can be farmed?"

"Yes, but the grasslands must not be extensively destroyed; after the people migrate there, farming and herding must both be accommodated."

"I understand, subordinate."

Wang Yu said he had a question, and indeed he only asked this one.

After a few words, he sat aside and focused on drinking tea.

His demeanor now looked more natural, his bearing calm, as if he had fully accepted it.

Guo Shuhan glanced over and quietly asked Chen Wuji, "Marquis, what should I do?"

"Do you want to manage the army or govern the region?" Chen Wuji asked.

"I'm fine with either, as long as I'm not idle." Guo Shuhan said very casually.

Wang Yu slightly lifted his eyelid, glanced, and shook his head in disdain.

"You really are casual enough." Chen Wuji chuckled lightly.

"My idea is for you to act as Deputy Commander, cooperate with Mr. Xu to finish this battle first; your troops in Fengxian and An Sai Prefectures will remain under your command—what do you think?"

The two words "whatever" are a really headache-inducing term.

Hearing "whatever" about what to eat makes one scratch their head in frustration, let alone such a major military-government affair.

Guo Shuhan suddenly stared blankly: "Marquis, if you let me be Deputy Commander I would definitely be willing ten thousand times over, but this post... isn't it a bit too big? I don't even trust myself."

"I trust you." Chen Wuji laughed.

"I trust my judgment of people, and I believe your talent can handle this position. You just need to consider how to do it; as for the rest, no need to worry."

Guo Shuhan gave an embarrassed smile.

He really is a little nervous now; this is no joke.

Although it's only temporary, this is the Deputy Commander position.

It is an important military post that truly holds actual authority in the Great General's Camp, with no more than five people above him; such heavy authority makes him truly a little uneasy about himself.

"If this battle is completed splendidly, the 'acting' can be dropped." Chen Wuji drew a small pie.

The Deputy Commander position has been vacant for too long; since Chen Bushi left office, no one has taken it, and all major and minor matters have fallen to Xu Zengyi.

The army has always needed such a right-hand man, but Chen Wuji had no one usable, so he could only pile the pressure onto Xu Zengyi.

Now we have Guo Shuhan, who possesses ample combat experience and is an experienced hand in both military and civil affairs, plus Kong Fang, Jia Yujing, and Zhao Chen assisting; the Think Tank of the Great General's Camp is thus barely formed.

As for the trust issue, Chen Wuji feels there's no need to overthink it.

Even if Guo Shuhan has problems, he trusts his other subordinates.

Guo Shuhan was truly shocked by Chen Wuji's grand gesture; just now he thought Chen Wuji giving Wang Yu the post of Lingzhou Prefect was already a bit risky, but when it came to him, he hadn't expected it to be even more extravagant.

"Marquis, how about... let me go to the front to lead troops? Being Deputy Commander is really too big; I'm afraid I can't handle it." Guo Shuhan said with a bitter smile.

The post being too big is also a kind of pressure.

This can't be described as an extraordinary promotion; it's literally a leap to the heavens.

"Sending you to the front—don't you think that's a waste? You're in the Refugee Settlement, and by remotely directing subordinates you've already secured two prefectures; just based on that, you can fully be Deputy Commander!" Chen Wuji said in an unquestionable tone, "Alright, this matter is settled as such."

"Rest here for a few days, then go to Xinglin Town; I'll send people to escort you and explain the situation to Mr. Xu. Old Xu is my strategist; although he looks a bit sinister, he's actually very easy to get along with."

"I'll leave the affairs of Fengxian, An Sai, and Yan Zhou prefectures to you few. Also, remember: unless it's a truly major matter, don't send me documents."

Guo Shuhan: ……

He felt somewhat numb.

This, what kind of thing is this!

Suddenly, he noticed a very key piece of information: "Marquis, what are you doing?"

The Marquis threw away the battles of the three prefectures, leaving only Lingzhou Prefecture; could it be that the Marquis intends to personally lead troops to attack Lingzhou, ignoring the battles of the other three prefectures?

Guo Shuhan was frightened by his own thought.

"I have other major affairs; if the battle situation changes, I will return!" Chen Wuji said.

His current focus is Lingshouzhou, as well as the Uyghur mentioned by Jia Yujing and Zhao Chen.

It seems like it could actually be done.

Guo Shuhan's people are completely numb.

My lord, this heart is truly huge!

A great battle in which the combined forces of multiple sides exceed five hundred thousand troops, and yet this Chief Commander of his actually wants to leave his seat at this critical juncture to do something else……