Chapter 116

Chapter 116

The rebel king had been defeated, but the Xiao family still had much to do.

Xiao Zhen gathered all the able-bodied mules and horses in one place, totaling over three thousand.

From the surrendered cavalry, he selected three hundred men. He then instructed Xiao Yan, Xiao Ye, and Sun Dian to take their own thousand cavalrymen along with the six hundred cavalrymen borrowed from He Lianqing, making a total of two thousand cavalrymen, to take Li Gang and Li Zhong's heads and proceed to Huai County, two hundred miles away.

The remaining surrendered soldiers were divided and stationed outside the city according to their physical condition—able-bodied, elderly, and wounded. Xiao Zhen led Xiao She, Tong Gui, Pan Dai, and several dozen brave soldiers from Wei County to guard them with the three thousand troops arranged by He Lianqing.

By the time these two tasks were completed, it was nearly dark.

He Lianqing invited Xiao Zhen to stay in the city for the night once again.

Facing the rows of tents, Xiao Zhen said, "The rebel king has just been defeated; there might be unrest among the surrendered soldiers tonight. I must personally oversee them to feel at ease. It's getting late, and you've been busy all day, so please go into the city to rest."

Just as He Lianqing was about to speak, a city soldier rode up on a horse from the east, waiting to report to Xiao Zhen.

Indeed, it was more convenient for Master Xiao Er to stay outside the city.

He Lianqing tactfully took his leave.

Inside Ding City, the citizens had returned home to rest, while over two thousand soldiers stood at the city gate, awaiting He Lianqing's orders.

The city gates were slowly closing. He Lianqing turned back and saw the rows of tents under the night sky and Xiao Zhen standing before them.

With a loud thud, the heavy city gates closed shut.

He Lianqing's heart trembled.

Seeing his expression, a guard asked, "Is something troubling you, sir?"

He Lianqing waved his hand and instructed the two thousand soldiers, "Fifty men will guard the city, and the rest will camp nearby in the southern encampment to prevent any unrest among the surrendered soldiers during the night."

After the soldiers dispersed, He Lianqing returned to the county office.

His steward and eldest son He Xuan were waiting for him in the front office.

He Lianqing told the steward to go to sleep and walked to the back with his son.

Holding a lantern, He Xuan shone it on his father and asked, "Father, we won the battle, so why do you look so troubled?"

He Lianqing sighed deeply and stopped at a moon gate, looking south. "Now that Master Xiao Er is camping outside the city, isn't it the same as when the rebel king was guarding outside?"

He Xuan exclaimed, "Father, do you suspect Master Xiao Er wants to attack us? That can't be true. First, based on how the Xiao family handled Wei County, they are not the type to break alliances. Second, their infantry is escorting Li Gang's surrendered soldiers back to Ding City, and their cavalry is heading to Huai County. Master Xiao Er only has a few dozen personal guards left, and our Ding City troops are watching the surrendered soldiers. Even if he wanted to attack, he wouldn't have the manpower."

He Lianqing shook his head. "Apart from the five hundred civilians I recruited last month, most of our eight thousand Ding City troops were recruited just last month. Do you remember when the rebel king first rose, no one wanted to join my army until the Xiao family defeated the rebels for the first time and formed an alliance with us? Only then did people start joining willingly."

He Xuan was speechless.

Sitting down, He Lianqing sighed, "Even though they're called Ding City troops, the Xiao family trained them. They've always listened more to the Xiao family. Now that the Xiao family's reputation is even greater, when Master Xiao Er sent our six hundred cavalrymen to Huai County, they went happily without asking my opinion. The same goes for the three thousand infantrymen outside the city—they follow Master Xiao Er's orders without question."

He Xuan nervously asked, "Does Master Xiao Er really want to attack us?"

He Lianqing lowered his eyes.

Given the state of the government, he could only maintain his position by currying favor with superiors. Though not as corrupt as Liu Ying next door, he was far from a clean official, and every year, new citizens would curse him.

If the Xiao family truly wanted to occupy Ding County, they had many methods. He Lianqing himself could think of several ways, the simplest being to arrange a group of "civilians" to raid the county office at night, claiming to kill corrupt officials and taking his family's lives. Then, with Ding County leaderless, the prominent families would request the Xiao family to take over and protect the local citizens from other rebels.

Unless he was willing to serve the Xiao family.

---

Outside the city, Xiao Zhen instructed Xiao She and others to stand guard while he entered the main tent with the scouts he had previously sent to Wei City to relay messages.

Inside, candles lit the tent, and a tray sat on a low table. The flatbread had cooled, and the soup beside it was cold.

Seeing this, the scout said, "I'll have someone reheat it."

Bending over to wash his hands at the basin, Xiao Zhen said, "No need. Tell me about the news from home."

There was much to report, and the scout paused before continuing, "Commander Xiao and Second Madam are both safe. Commander Xiao told you not to worry and praised Second Madam for shooting two hundred arrows accurately within half a day, providing early warnings multiple times and maintaining order during the defense, earning her top honors for defending the city."

Xiao Zhen silently looked at the water in the basin.

Two hundred arrows—would her arms still be able to lift tomorrow?

She cried on his shoulder after killing twenty-one bandits; how could she sleep after killing two hundred enemy soldiers?

The scout continued, "In the city defense and ambush battles, we lost three hundred eighty-seven men and had eighty-four severely injured. Li Gang's thirty-thousand-strong army suffered four thousand nine hundred deaths and over three hundred severe injuries."

Wiping his hands, Xiao Zhen sat at the low table, drank the cold soup, and started eating the bread.

If the enemy had surrendered sooner, fewer would have died. But if the Wei City troops hadn't shown sufficient strength, the enemy wouldn't have surrendered.

The scout added, "Commander Xiao said that to the north of our seven counties, we have the Datong border defense forces and Longxing Mountain, and there are no rebellions to the east or west. However, to the south, we have Prince Dai and Prince Shun, who may attack at any time. He asked you to consult Sir He on how to defend against them. He also said that with him overseeing Wei City, you should discuss strategies with Sir He before returning."

Xiao Zhen nodded, asking, "Anything else?"

The scout shook his head.

Xiao Zhen said, "Alright, go eat and rest."

Curious, the scout asked, "Master Xiao Er, what should we do with the surrendered soldiers?"

Together, they could form an army of forty thousand. If used, the old man could become a prince!

Xiao Zhen smiled, "That depends on Sir He's decision. He is the only remaining official of the seven counties, so he gets the final say."

Sentinel: ...

If the Second Master hadn't smiled, he might have really believed it!

---

The night was long and the tent drafty, so Xiao Zhen woke up just before dawn.

He didn't linger in the sparse bedding within the tent but got dressed, washed his face, and went out with a lantern in hand.

Lanterns hung at regular intervals throughout the camp, swaying in the wind, casting shadows that made the atmosphere even more solemn and bleak.

"Second Master, why did you get up so early?"

Tong Gui, who was patrolling nearby, noticed Xiao Zhen and ran over.

Xiao Zhen first felt the cotton coat on Tong Gui's body: "Are you cold? There's a cloak left by the rebel king in my tent."

Tong Gui was tempted but asked doubtfully, "If it's such a good thing, why isn't the Second Master wearing it?"

Xiao Zhen: "We aren't the rebel king; you can only wear it for half an hour and must return it at daybreak."

Tong Gui, with his hands in his sleeves, said, "Then let's not bother."

Xiao Zhen led him towards where the wounded soldiers were staying and asked Tong Gui, "Did you wake up from the cold?"

Tong Gui laughed, "No, it was my first victory, I was too excited to sleep."

Xiao Zhen looked at him, his narrow phoenix eyes reflecting the flickering light beside them, alternating between light and shadow. "Too excited, or still shaken?"

Tong Gui's smile froze.

Xiao Zhen patted his shoulder: "I was twenty when I first went to battle. What you've experienced these past few days, I've been through as well."

The first time being chased by enemy soldiers, the first time killing an enemy—day or night, whenever there was a moment of quiet, those scenes would rush into his mind. The people he had killed seemed to turn into ghosts, coming to haunt him for their lives.

Tong Gui should be feeling worse because he knew the enemy soldiers he faced were likely forced onto the battlefield by the rebel king.

Everyone didn't want to die, yet they had no choice but to fight to the death.

With his thoughts exposed, Tong Gui lowered his head.

At this moment, a muffled sob came from one of the tents ahead. Seeing Xiao Zhen stop and stare at the tent, Tong Gui walked over, lifted the curtain, and shone the lantern inside, meeting the frightened, tear-streaked face of a wounded soldier. Tong Gui glanced at his body and saw that the soldier had lost half an arm.

The wounded soldier was too scared to cry, and Tong Gui stood there for a long time before softly saying, "At least you're alive to go home. Think about the good things."

After saying this, he let the curtain fall.

Xiao Zhen told him to check each tent, and if anything was wrong, to immediately call for a military doctor.

Even so, Tong Gui still dragged out sixteen dead soldiers from several tents, either due to severe injuries or not surviving the cold winter night.

From heavy-heartedness to numbness, Tong Gui watched as the soldiers carried away the bodies. Suddenly, he howled into the night sky.

Xiao Zhen also raised his head, seeing countless stars hanging far beyond reach, indifferently watching the life and death of mortals below.

---

Day broke.

After breakfast, He Lianqing hurriedly came to see Xiao Zhen outside the city.

Xiao Zhen invited him into the main tent, and they briefly humbly offered each other the guest seat, but eventually, He Lianqing insisted on having Xiao Zhen sit in the host's position.

Xiao Zhen: "Very well, let's focus on business. Please take your seat, sir."

He Lianqing sat down on one side.

Xiao Zhen: "Last night, the old man gave me orders to ask you how to deal with these surrendered soldiers."

He Lianqing smiled, "Coincidentally, I came here to discuss this matter with the Second Master. May I ask what the Second Master thinks?"

Xiao Zhen modestly replied, "Sir, you are an elder and a high-ranking official of the court. Please give your guidance; I am all ears."

If not for his robust physique, which clearly marked him as a fierce general, He Lianqing might have thought a scholar from a literary family had come.

Both were smart men, so He Lianqing got straight to the point, explaining the situation of the seven counties, then said to Xiao Zhen, "Previously, the southern Dài and Shùn Princes refrained from attacking our seven counties out of fear of the Li brothers. Now that the Li brothers have brought about their own downfall, we should immediately appoint a commander to continue training our troops for self-defense."

Xiao Zhen nodded and bowed to He Lianqing, "The magistrates of the seven counties have either fled or died at the hands of the rebel king, leaving only you to hold the fort. The choice of commander should be none other than you..."

He Lianqing hastily interrupted him, rising from his seat, "This humble servant has the heart to protect the people but lacks the ability to lead troops. Commander Xiao is highly respected and a master of strategy; he is the one the people of the seven counties look up to as their commander. Enough talk, I will go to the city and personally invite Commander Xiao to accept this responsibility!"

With that, He Lianqing quickly left the tent.

Sitting in the host's position, Xiao Zhen listened to the noise outside and the distinct sound of hooves, and smiled faintly.