knife

Chapter 288 Infiltration
On the training ground, banners fluttered, warhorses galloped, and infantrymen formed square formations, advancing step by step. Various siege weapons were arranged in an orderly manner, and under the cover of infantry and cavalry, they pressed towards an earthen city in front of them.

"Master Yang, is he still to your liking?" On the distant platform, Feng Congwen respectfully addressed an elderly man in a scholar's robe beside him.

Yang Jian nodded slightly: "It's very good. Among the armies I've seen, it's only slightly inferior to Linghu Ye's personal guard. Considering that you've only been building this army for a little over a year, it's already quite remarkable. Congwen, your military abilities are not much worse than Linghu Ye's!"

"So Yang Gong went to see Linghu Ye?" A look of surprise flashed in Feng Congwen's eyes.

“Since you have decided to follow my Hongnong Yang family from now on, then we don’t need to hide this from you anymore!” Yang Jian said, “For more than a thousand years, although my Yang family has never directly stepped forward to compete for the world, those we have chosen have always had the last laugh. And this time, among the three families we have chosen, one of them is Linghu Ye.”

"You chose three?" Feng Congwen blurted out, his surprise evident in his voice.

“Of course, are we going to gamble everything?” Yang Jian laughed. “The patriarch has formulated three three-year plans. In the first three years, our investment in the three families, whether in terms of materials or manpower, will be exactly the same. After the first three years, one family will be eliminated. In the second three years, another family will be eliminated. The last family that remains will be the one we support with all our might.”

"Can I know who the other two are?" Feng Congwen asked.

Yang Jian smiled and said, "You've only just joined our Yang family, and you already want to know these most confidential matters? Feng Congwen, after the Battle of Luoyang, you left He Zudao to help Linghu Ye! So you only need to know about Linghu Ye. As for the other two families, you will be enemies for the next three years, so it's better if you don't know them!"

“Understood! I am part of the power that the Hong family Yang clan has invested in Linghu Ye!” Feng Congwen nodded.

"Therefore, you must do everything in your power to help Linghu Ye win. If one day Linghu Ye truly succeeds, you will become a founding hero. And because of our early support for you, you will naturally become one of the best allies of our Yang family. This is the reason why our Yang family has stood strong for thousands of years!"

"I will do everything in my power to help Linghu Ye succeed." Feng Congwen looked at the troops on the training ground, their battle cries deafening. "You said Linghu Ye's personal guard is even more powerful than my own troops, so my confidence in Linghu Ye is stronger than ever before!"

Yang Jian laughed: "To be honest, among the three families, I think Linghu Ye is the best. He has strength, strategy, magnanimity, and a tenacious character."

"The next battle to take Luoyang will be a tough one. He Zudao knows that I will leave after this battle, so he will use me to the death in the battle of Luoyang. Has Lord Yang given me any advice?"

"Taking Luoyang is the common wish of all of us, so don't hold back. No matter how much you lose, the Yang family will make up for it!" Yang Jian said, "Besides, what am I doing here? Just watching the show?"

"Will you take action personally?"

“Kou Zhong is the pillar of the Kou clan of Wei Commandery. If he dies, the Kou clan will be half-collapsed. When the drum is broken, everyone will rush in to divide up the Kou clan’s wealth. They have made a fortune over the past few decades!” Yang Jian chuckled. “So I want to give it a try.”

"I've heard that Kou Zhong is someone who has one foot in the realm of spiritual travel. Are you confident, Master Yang?"

Yang Jian sneered: "Outsiders may not know the truth, but do you think we don't? For the past few decades, Kou Zhong has been seriously injured and unable to recover, and he's even been wandering in a trance. It's hard to say how much skill he still has beyond the Innate Realm."

"Severe injuries that are difficult to heal?"

"In the past hundred years, the only person I know who has reached the Divine Realm is He Qingqiu. Kou Zhong and his group took advantage of her vulnerability and attacked He Qingqiu, who was pregnant and had fallen from her cultivation level. However, He Qingqiu's counterattack resulted in the deaths of three of the four Innate Realm experts and injuries to one of them. Kou Zhong was the one who was injured. Can the injuries left by the Divine Realm ever heal? The fifth level of the Black Ice Platform is Kou Zhong's prison. As long as he doesn't leave Chang'an, we can't touch him. But once he leaves Chang'an, what is there to fear?"

"With Lord Yang standing up for me, what else do I have to worry about!" Feng Congwen laughed loudly. "Lord Yang, we will set off in three days. In ten days, the army will first cut off the water and land transportation to Luoyang. Of course, such good fortune probably won't be available to me. The attack will begin in fifteen days. With you at the forefront, I am confident that I can storm the city within a day!"

Yang Jian smiled proudly and said, "I understand. I will be in your ranks on time fifteen days from now."

On the hillside, Li Dachui and Fang Xiaomao stood side by side, looking down at the endless military camps below.

The fluttering banner of the commander indicates the affiliation of this army.

“This Feng Congwen is quite capable of leading troops!” Li Dachui said. “Look at the camp he set up, it’s very well done. He’s a good general.”

Fang Xiaomao glanced at the dozen or so elite cavalrymen galloping towards them from not far away, nodded, and said, "Young master, they're quite impressive. We just arrived, and they've already spotted us." "Don't call me young master anymore. Now I'm Yuan Rong, and you're Yuan Tong. We're brothers!" Li Dachui laughed.

Fang Xiaomao touched his face, then looked at Li Dachui in front of him and chuckled, "Young Master's disguise skills are truly unparalleled. Even the acquaintances of the Yuan brothers, Yuan Rong and Yuan Tong, would probably have a hard time distinguishing the real from the fake. Moreover, this identity can withstand scrutiny. The Yuan brothers used to have some reputation in the martial arts world; many people have heard of them. They both wield knives, and they did indeed emerge from seclusion several years ago. Now, as Linghu Ye's subordinates, their presence here is perfectly reasonable and won't arouse suspicion! But Young Master, you are a Xiantian master. Now, impersonating a Xuan Yuan Eighth Rank peak expert, won't anyone notice the flaws? Didn't Linghu Ye say that Feng Congwen has a Xiantian master here? Will he be able to see through it?"

"This is the wonder of the unity of heaven and earth," Li Dachui said smugly. "As long as we don't directly clash with this person, he won't be able to tell. Of course, once we make a move, it won't be able to be hidden anymore. But since we are allies, why would we clash?"

"So we can hide near this master of innate realm, and once he and Kou Zhong start fighting, we'll have a chance, right?"

"This is exactly what I want!" Li Dachui clenched his fist: "I'll find the right opportunity, kill Kou Zhong in one blow, and avenge my parents' blood feud. Haha, then I'll have lived up to my duty as a son."

Fang Xiaomao nodded: "Young Master, they have arrived!"

A dozen or so riders spread out in a semi-circle, swords drawn and bows strung, standing several dozen paces away. An officer shouted sternly, "Who dares to spy on our camp? Dismount and surrender immediately, or you will only bring trouble upon yourselves and lose your lives!"

Li Dachui, beaming, dismounted and raised his hands, slowly walking over: "Sir, please wait a moment. We come from Taiyuan with letters of recommendation. Someone recommended us to serve under General Feng Congwen and contribute our modest efforts to the general's grand plan."

"From Taiyuan?" the leading officer asked in surprise.

"Yes!" Li Dachui took out the token from his pocket and handed it to the officer.

After a short while, Li Dachui and Fang Xiaomao stood before Feng Congwen.

“Yuan Rong and Yuan Tong!” Feng Congwen smiled at the two men. “I have heard of your reputations before. It is truly my good fortune to have your assistance!”

"I am ashamed, I was a nobody in the past. By chance, I came out of seclusion and met Commander Linghu. With the Commander's appreciation, I have finally achieved a little success!" Li Dachui said with a smile. "The Commander values ​​General Feng very much. He said that with General Feng's help, it would be like adding wings to a tiger. So he sent the two of us brothers here. He said that no matter what, we must ensure that General Feng is not harmed by even a single hair. If he is harmed by even a single hair, the two of us brothers will not need to go back!"

Feng Congwen burst into laughter. This feeling of being valued was truly delightful.

"General, you are too kind. I am a soldier with countless scars on my body. How could I possibly be so invincible? However, you two are both experts at the eighth rank of Xuan Yuan, much stronger than me. With your assistance, the upcoming military operations will have two more sharp blades. Now that you have come to the army, you must fight with your lives on the line!"

"Brother Yuan has fought quite a few battles outside the Great Wall these past few years. Compared to these weaklings in Guanzhong, those barbarians outside the Great Wall are much more formidable!" Li Dachui said proudly, "I am willing to serve as the general's vanguard and let the general see the brilliance of the commander-in-chief's troops!"

"Excellent!" Feng Congwen laughed loudly. "Someone, prepare a banquet. I want to welcome Generals Yuan and wash away the dust of their journey."

A thoroughly enjoyable banquet was held, with both hosts and guests having a great time.

Feng Congwen asked Li Dachui many questions about Linghu Ye, from anecdotes to the real-life warlord of the Northeast. Although it was an inquiry, it was also a test.

If you asked other people, they might not be able to explain these things clearly, but Li Dachui knew Linghu Ye better than anyone else. Taking advantage of his drunkenness, he told Feng Congwen everything in detail, which made Feng Congwen's last remaining doubts disappear completely.

If he were not a subordinate whom Linghu Ye trusted implicitly, he would not have known so clearly about many things. When compared with some of the things that Feng Congwen knew, the truth becomes clear.

These two were indeed sent by Linghu Ye to help him.

Before he had even truly pledged allegiance to them, this person had already sent a master to assist him. There was a reason why this person was favored by the Yang family of Hongnong and became their most valued individual.

(End of this chapter)