knife

Chapter 147 Do They Really Understand Me?
On the training ground, Chen Liang was sweating profusely.

A stone roller weighing several hundred kilograms was like a large stone toy in his hands, moving up and down and flipping left and right.

Shoulders, back, abdomen, legs, feet—no matter where the millstone lands, it's like a well-behaved kitten; you can pose it however you want.

Sweat dripped from his dark skin, and his well-defined muscles gleamed in the sunlight.

Chen Liang is currently the General Commander of the Andong Protectorate stationed in Yuntaihuang, holding the rank of Deputy General.

After General Wei Wanfeng and his entire clan were executed by Linghu Ye, Chen Liang became a lone figure in the border army. Those who had been on good terms with him kept their distance from him.

Although, in truth, Wan Feng's execution was not his fault.

Even after Wan Feng's son was exposed for killing innocent people and seizing their money, Chen Liang did not betray his benefactor Wan Feng during the joint trial in the courtroom.

It wasn't until Wanfeng's son foolishly tried to kill Chen Liang to silence him that Chen Liang lost all hope.

Even so, Chen Liang was branded as someone who betrayed his superior and benefactor.

After being released without charge by Linghu Ye, Chen Liang's former enemies immediately came knocking. Without his military post or friends, and with only his martial arts skills remaining, Chen Liang fought several battles with his enemies, losing more than ten family members in the process.

When he was desperate, Linghu Zhishu offered him a helping hand, and he jumped on Linghu Ye's big ship.

From then on, he became even more taciturn.

Perhaps when people are feeling depressed, desperate, and helpless, other good things will happen. Chen Liang's martial arts cultivation has made rapid progress during this period, and he has actually reached the peak of the eighth grade of Xuan Yuan, just a little bit away from stepping into the ninth grade of Xuan Yuan.

If he can truly break through this threshold, coupled with his military capabilities, the Qin army outside the pass will undoubtedly gain another fierce general.

After settling in Yuntai Wilderness, he devoted more of his energy to martial arts cultivation.

The two commanders-in-chief will not wage war against the Yuan Dynasty. As for a few bandits or those Hu people who have infiltrated, there is no need for Chen Liang to personally lead the troops to wipe them out.

Martial arts cultivation is the foundation of oneself.

Having gone through this experience, Chen Liang realized that relying on himself was better than relying on anyone else.

Among the army outside the pass, only a handful of people have broken through to the ninth rank. Commander Linghu and Chang Jian are both at the peak of the ninth rank, and the other is General Xiao Changche.

Just by looking at how arrogant and domineering Xiao Changche, a ninth-rank official, was in front of Commander Linghu, one can see the prestige of a ninth-rank Xuan Yuan official.

A guard rushed in and stood by the drill ground, talking to his personal guard. Chen Liang chuckled and tossed the stone roller high into the air. Just as it was about to hit the ground, he slammed his hand down on it with a shout. With a loud bang, dust billowed up, and half of the stone roller was pressed into the ground by Chen Liang.

"What is it?" Chen Liang asked.

A bodyguard jogged over, wiping Chen Liang's sweat with a handkerchief as he whispered, "Scholar Zhang has arrived and wishes to see you!"

Chen Liang was taken aback.

When Zhang Ruo first arrived in the area beyond the Great Wall, he was just a prisoner. However, he was a capable person with connections, and in the blink of an eye, he went from being a prisoner to becoming the Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Imperial Court, in charge of supervising the two Protectorates of Andong and Andi beyond the Great Wall.

If the current Chang'an court were still the central government of the Qin Dynasty decades ago, then this position would be like a sword hanging over the head of the Protectorate, and everyone would have to curry favor with it.

Of course, times have changed, and the current censor is of little use to the two protectorates outside the Great Wall.

However, their status is still there, and one shouldn't overstep one's bounds.

Moreover, this person's relationship with Xiao Changche is extraordinary, and he also has some unclear relationship with Li Dachui, a bandit from beyond the Great Wall. He is a shrewd and resourceful person, and there is no need for me to offend him.

Moreover, Chen Liang himself didn't know why, but he still admired this kind of person.

For a scholar to dare to challenge Commander Linghu, to travel thousands of miles beyond the Great Wall without fear of death, and to be able to turn the tide and stage a dramatic comeback, is truly admirable.

Thinking back on his own experiences, Chen Liang couldn't help but sigh.

"Please!" Chen Liang tossed the handkerchief to his personal guard.

Zhang Ruo sat in a chair, slowly sipping his tea, with Yuan Rong and Yuan Tong standing behind him. The two brothers had served as Zhang Ruo's bodyguards since joining the army.

Having two seventh-rank experts as bodyguards is quite unique in the area outside the Great Wall.

Footsteps sounded outside the door, followed by a burly man who strode in, bowing respectfully to Zhang Ruo with his hands clasped: "Chen Liang greets the Vice Censor-in-Chief!"

Zhang Ruo smiled and returned the greeting, saying, "General Chen, there's no need for such formalities. Please forgive my unauthorized visit."

Chen Liang smiled and said, "This humble general is indeed a little puzzled. However, the Vice Censor-in-Chief is ordered by the Emperor to supervise the area outside the pass. As a general outside the pass, I am naturally included in the supervision. I just feel that the Censor-in-Chief is giving me too much credit. To be honest, this humble general is not qualified for the Vice Censor-in-Chief to supervise me personally."

Zhang Ruo laughed loudly, "General, you flatter me. But no one comes here without a reason, and I don't like beating around the bush. How about we get straight to the point and speak frankly?"

"Of course!" Chen Liang bowed and said, "The scholar is my superior. As long as I am not asked to betray Commander Linghu, I will obey everything else."

Zhang Ru pondered for a moment and then asked, "What do you think about the fact that the Beiting Protectorate has been divided into two Protectorates, Andong and Anxi?"

Chen Liang lowered his head and said, "This humble general has always admired General Xiao, oh no, now he is the General of the Cavalry. His appointment as the governor of the Anxi Protectorate is an excellent thing for resisting the Northern Yuan."

"I'm relieved to hear that!" Zhang Ruo said. "I came to you today to ask for your help."

"Vice Censor-in-Chief is too kind. How could this humble general possibly be of any help to the General of Chariots and Cavalry?"

Zhang Ruo looked directly at the other party and said, "General Chen, don't be so quick to shut me out. Let me finish speaking before you make a decision, okay?"

"Please speak, Vice Censor-in-Chief. I am all ears." Chen Liang dragged over a chair and sat down next to Zhang Ruo.

"The commander of Qingtongxia has changed. Tiele has returned to Yandu, and Shaliewen is temporarily in charge of the army. He is leading more than 10,000 infantry and cavalry to launch a surprise attack on Yuan'an!" Zhang Ruo said calmly.

"Ten thousand men is nothing to the current General of the Cavalry, is it?"

"Governor Xiao intends to leave all these enemies in Yuan'an. Now that they're here, they shouldn't be going back!" Zhang Ruo laughed. "We've already laid a trap, but to make the enemy think that Yuan'an's forces are insufficient, Governor Xiao hasn't mobilized many troops. Moreover, we originally thought that Sha Liewen could command a large army and would definitely send out his entire force. In that case, Governor Anxi's troops could avoid the enemy's strength and strike directly at Qingtongxia, forcing Sha Liewen to be stretched thin and revealing greater weaknesses in his movements, allowing our army to defeat him in one fell swoop!"

Chen Liang took a deep breath: "Protector Xiao has always been best at finding the enemy's weaknesses in motion and then peeling off the enemy's skin layer by layer, just like the battle when he defeated the Left Wise King of the Northern Yuan!"

“Unfortunately, we overestimated Shaliewen. He failed to subdue Lengge, who remained holed up in Qingtongxia with half his troops, which introduced some uncertainty into the situation. Moreover, there are still 10,000 infantry and cavalry from Yezhuling that can be mobilized,” Zhang Ruo said.

At this point, Chen Liang understood why Zhang Ruo had come here.

“Vice Censor-in-Chief, without military orders, my troops would never dare to move without permission!” Chen Liang directly rejected Zhang Ruo’s suggestion: “That would be a capital offense. Of course, if the Vice Censor-in-Chief obtains the Commander-in-Chief’s orders, Chen Liang can immediately send troops out of Yuntai Wilderness to support Protector Xiao!”

“If Linghu Ye were willing to join forces, why would I have come here?” Zhang Ru shook his head and said, “However, I believe that you, General Chen, are loyal to the court and will make the most correct decision!”

"I'm sorry!" Chen Liang shook his head and said, "My life was given to me by the Commander-in-Chief, and my current position was also given to me by the Commander-in-Chief. Without the Commander-in-Chief's order, I would never have been able to send troops!"

"Knowing gratitude and repaying kindness is a fine virtue!" Zhang Ruo said, "However, I hope General Chen can distinguish between small favors and greater righteousness. Moreover, General Chen doesn't actually need to send troops. Just making this gesture is enough. Yuntai Wilderness is very close to Wild Boar Ridge. If you make even the slightest move here, Wild Boar Ridge will know and pin down the Yuan army at Wild Boar Ridge, making them unable to move. That would be a great help! I don't think this will put you in a difficult position!"

Chen Liang lowered his head and remained silent.

Zhang Ruo stood up in disappointment, looked at Chen Liang, shook her head, and walked out.

"Did Xiao Changche send the Vice Censor-in-Chief?" Chen Liang asked.

"No, it's just that I overheard Xiao Changche and Li Dachui discussing this matter. Xiao Dongwei said that if you make a move here, it would greatly help the army's operation. However, Xiao Changche and Li Dachui both think you definitely won't move, so they don't want to do anything useless. But I want to give it a try! It seems that Xiao Changche and Li Dachui are more discerning in their judgment of people. General Chen, farewell!"

Without uttering another word, Zhang Ruo left the Yuntai Wilderness Camp and rode straight towards Zhenwu City.

Regardless of what Linghuye thinks or says, he still has to make this trip.

Linghu Ye's unwillingness to support this war is yet another piece of evidence of his ulterior motives. It may not be of much use, but when it is, it will only drag Linghu Ye deeper into hell.

Chen Liang sat alone in the hall without moving until the guards came in and lit the oil lamp.

Standing up, Chen Liang chuckled, "Do Xiao Changche and Li Dachui really understand me that well? Not necessarily. The army of Yuntai Wilderness certainly won't cooperate with your Andong Protectorate in the battle. If you win, all the credit will be yours; if you lose, it's because we in Anxi didn't provide support. You can't expect all the benefits to go to you, can you? But then again, the battlefield is so close to Yuntai Wilderness. It's worthwhile for me to organize a large-scale military exercise to test the army's combat capabilities, just in case! As for its role in this great battle, that's none of my concern."

(End of this chapter)