Chapter 137: Section 21: Self-Esteem

Kong Youde seemed somewhat agitated, but it passed in the blink of an eye. He gave a cold laugh and said, "General Huang flatters me. Given my humble station, I dare not presume, I dare not presume."

Though Kong Youde spoke thus, Huang Shi sensed he was a little tempted, and Huang Shi was even less willing to let slip this famed general from history. "Elder Brother, the bond between brothers lies in the heart. Does Elder Brother still not know what this younger brother is made of?"

Huang Shi saw nothing wrong with these words, but Kong Youde seemed to find them laughable and actually let out a chuckle. "General Huang, let us hurry. We must not keep Marshal Mao waiting."

Huang Shi deliberately slowed his horse to ride shoulder to shoulder with Kong Youde. The cheers from both sides of Dongjiang Island still rang out ceaselessly, surging toward them in wave after wave.

With a complicated expression, Kong Youde said, "When General Huang came last time, I said then that you were a great hero, and you were exceedingly modest about it. General Huang's heroic spirit — I truly did not grasp it then. This time, routing six thousand with eight hundred, I freely admit I could not have done it."

"Elder Brother, what exactly are you trying to say?"

Kong Youde seemed to find the words "Elder Brother" grating; every time he heard them, his body gave a faint shudder.

Seeing how this once bold and spirited general had become so today, Huang Shi could not help but say indignantly, "Marshal Mao thinks far too little of Elder Brother. How about this — this time I shall ask the Marshal to transfer Elder Brother to Changsheng. From now on, you and I, as brothers, will be of one heart."

Kong Youde narrowed his eyes and swept his gaze over. Huang Shi saw a sharp glint flash within them — precisely the keen edge he had so often seen before. His heart surged with joy, and he quickly added, "Elder Brother agrees, then? I shall speak to Marshal Mao today."

"Not so," Kong Youde shook his head and replied in a tone of unshakable resolve. "Even if my adoptive father agreed, I would absolutely not go to Changsheng."

Paying no heed to Huang Shi, who stood stunned and visibly taken aback, Kong Youde stared ahead and asked in a deep voice, "Would General Huang be willing to recount for me the course of the battle at Jinzhou?"

Huang Shi coldly retorted, "Is it Marshal Mao's adopted son asking me this, or is it my Elder Brother Kong Youde asking his younger brother?"

"If my adoptive father wished to ask, he would ask himself." Kong Youde's tone was calm, but the sharpness in his eyes grew keener still.

"Very well. What follows are words spoken by a younger brother to his elder brother…" Huang Shi gave a plain account of the battle — his strategy of first routing the enemy with infantry, then pursuing with elite cavalry. Naturally, he omitted most of the strategic judgments and the intelligence-gathering in between.

By the end, Kong Youde's expression had grown dazed, and the hand gripping the reins could not stop trembling. Only long after Huang Shi had finished did he ask, "One dead, four wounded — is that truly so?"

"Truly so."

"Ha ha ha ha!" Kong Youde threw his head back and laughed to the sky, then pointed at Huang Shi with a grin. "Brother, you are a true hero, a true champion. To befriend a brother like you — this life has not been lived in vain."

Hearing the form of address shift, Huang Shi felt his heart ease. Delighted, he smiled and inclined his body slightly. "Then Elder Brother acknowledges this younger brother once more?"

Kong Youde smiled faintly. "Brother's sincerity — I feel it deeply in my very core. But before others, it is best we do not call each other elder and younger brother."

"And why is that?" Huang Shi's tone was already quite relaxed. "Elder Brother and I can simply swear brotherhood once more."

"Not so." Kong Youde's expression darkened again. He spoke slowly, weighing each word. "When I swore brotherhood with you last time, I did not feel I was presuming. I believed then that I was worthy to be your elder brother…"

Huang Shi cut in, "Elder Brother is still worthy now."

Kong Youde gave two dry laughs. "Mao Yongshi is absolutely unworthy to be called Elder Brother by General Huang. Brother must also consider my position. If I were to swear brotherhood with General Huang again, I dare not imagine how viciously people would speak behind my back."

As he rode on, a prideful air gradually emanated from Kong Youde. "Brother fought this battle brilliantly — I bow in sincere admiration. But next year, the Marshal will again send troops from Kuan Dian. I do not believe I cannot catch up to Brother…"

Huang Shi listened quietly to Kong Youde's confident words and thought to himself that this was not so bad. Kong Youde's pride had originally created a rift between them; now that it was resolved, all was well. Having such a capable ally remain at Dongjiang headquarters would benefit him without doing any harm.

When they reached the Left Chief Military Commissioner's residence, Huang Shi dropped his hands to his sides and stood outside the gate. Before Kong Youde hurried in to announce him, he secretly warned in a whisper, "When the Marshal questions you, do not speak carelessly. Stick to the official memorial. This matter can be handled as minor or major — Brother, be careful."

In the blink of an eye, a messenger soldier ran out and summoned Huang Shi to audience.

Huang Shi had already fastened his helmet securely. At once, he placed one hand on his saber and strode in behind the messenger through the outer gate. On both sides, the Dongjiang soldiers stood bolt upright, heads high and spears held at attention, planted as straight as nails. From every soldier's bamboo hat fluttered a spotlessly clean red tassel, and their spear tips, polished to a snowy gleam, glittered like a sky full of stars in the sunlight.

The command tent was packed with Dongjiang officers. Huang Shi walked straight to the center without glancing sideways. Before him, Mao Wenlong, once again clad in his grand scarlet official robe, fixed a piercing gaze upon him.

Keeping his left hand on his saber hilt, Huang Shi swept his right hand back to fling aside the scarlet cloak behind him. In the instant it billowed up, he dropped to one knee, bowed his head low, and, bracing his right hand against the ground, declared in a ringing voice:

"Your subordinate, Huang Shi, kowtows before the Grand Marshal." Mao Wenlong was already Left Chief Military Commissioner, and could be considered to have bid farewell to the title of general.

"Huang Shi, rise." A very intimate form of address — it seemed he had shed the status of an outside-affiliated general.

"I thank the Grand Marshal."

Huang Shi made another bow, then straightened up and rose. The dense ranks of Dongjiang officers on both sides stared at him unblinkingly. The meaning contained in those gazes now was vastly different from his last visit to Dongjiang. Last time, it had been more curiosity, for no matter how resounding Huang Shi's name was, he was still an outside-affiliated general, and no matter how great his achievements, they had nothing to do with the Dongjiang Army. But now it was entirely different — every deed of merit Huang Shi accomplished would be credited to Dongjiangzhen.

Mao Wenlong's bright eyes shot straight at him. Huang Shi met that gaze without the slightest fear — Mao Wenlong, keeping me was not a mistake, was it? The merit I have won for Dongjiang should be enough to elevate me into the ranks of Dongjiang's inner-circle generals, should it not?

His face brimming with appreciation and pride, Mao Wenlong shouted in a low voice, "Fine Huang Shi!"

"Fine!"

"Fine!"

"Fine, fine!"

At once, the tent full of Dongjiang officers erupted in a chorus of cheers.