Discuss with you

Chapter 382 Unable to Suppress the Fire
Rune led those people to the kitchen and then returned.

"Where is His Highness Prince Yi?" Lu Qing looked outside, but didn't seem to see anyone else coming.

Fu Wen said awkwardly, "My lord, His Highness Prince Yi said... we don't need that many people in this fortress, and it's not convenient to deploy his people since they're mixed up with the Third Prince's people. So it's better to leave his people outside and have them lie in ambush in the secret places that the True Fortress Lord Jiang Hong mentioned before. When the fortress needs support, it will be easier to form an encirclement."

So... he returned after settling his men in.

Lu Qing remained silent, seemingly unsurprised by Lu Zhang's actions. He paused briefly, nodded, and waved for the weary rune to go and rest.

He was able to keep his composure, but Lu Yan did not have such composure. When Fu Wen was around, he still maintained a bit of the airs of the Third Prince, trying to keep appearances. But once Fu Wen left, and the courtyard was mostly filled with his own soldiers, he could no longer suppress his anger.

"I think he hasn't learned anything else from his maternal grandfather all these years, except how to talk nicely!" Lu Yan grumbled as he approached Lu Qing, pointing outside the courtyard as if Lu Zhang were standing right outside that high wall. "What do you mean by being afraid of mixing them up and making it inconvenient to coordinate! What do you mean by easily forming an encirclement!"
He's just afraid of bringing everyone in, and then the three of us just sitting here, making it difficult for everyone to give orders!
I would definitely be unhappy if he made the decision, and he wouldn't be happy if it were handed over to me, so in the end, it might be up to you, brother, to make the decision.

So that's why he thought of this and put on this whole show!
Even after all these years, he still has the same old problem: he always thinks everyone else has a head just to show off their height, and only his head has something inside!

Lu Qing looked at Lu Yan with a hint of helplessness, finding his crude way of expressing himself rather amusing.

“But you have to admit that your second brother’s considerations are indeed reasonable.” He said to Lu Yan in an unusually calm tone, “From his perspective, this would indeed put him in a difficult position. Leaving people outside to provide support is not a bad thing.”

"Hmph, he wants to have both substance and face, but I'm not going to grant him that wish!" Lu Yan snorted coldly and said to Lu Qing, "Brother, as you know, I've never liked reading things like military strategy since I was a child."

I could train in the martial arts field all day without feeling tired, only exhilarated, but the moment I saw the densely packed small characters on the military manual, my head would throb with pain.

So I'm brave but reckless, I know that in my heart, I don't need anyone else to tell me, I admit it myself!
So regardless of what Prince Yi's intentions are, my men will be under my elder brother's command during this period.

As he spoke, he handed the waist token that the rune had just returned to Lu Qing.

Lu Qing did not reach out to take it, but solemnly shook his head: "This is not appropriate."

“There’s nothing wrong with it.” Lu Yan insisted, “While I’m not exactly smart, I’m not stupid either. If my brother had any schemes or ulterior motives towards me, I wouldn’t have been completely unaware of them these past few days.”

During this time, Lu Yan heard and remembered his elder brother's heartfelt words and honest treatment of him.

If I were still wary of my brother today, how would I be any different from Lu Zhang?
We're brothers, so let's not be coy or put on that fake act. I can't stand it!

"Take this token, and once things are settled here, I'll get it back from you!"

After saying that, he stuffed the waist token into Lu Qing's arms without saying a word, not giving him any chance to refuse. Then he shouted to the soldiers in front of him: "During this period, the orders of the Prince of Xiaoyao are the orders of this general, and the orders of the Prince of Xiaoyao are the orders of this general!"

If any of you disobey the Prince of Xiaoyao's will, then you are disobeying this general's will!
Did everyone understand?

The soldiers immediately strained their necks and shouted in unison, "Understood!"

For a moment, the response sounded particularly loud within the surrounding high walls, echoing with a deep, resonant quality. Zhu Yu observed all of this silently, finding Lu Yan quite interesting, quite different from the rumored temper of someone who was like a powder keg, ready to fight at the slightest provocation.

Although he was also granted the title of "Prince of Xuan," he rarely referred to himself by his title "Prince Xuan," and preferred the title of "Grand General" given to him by Emperor Jin when he was granted military power.

At his age, to become a Grand General, ranking among the military officers in the court second only to the veteran generals and ministers with outstanding military achievements like General Cao and Grand Minister Situ, is indeed very commendable.

However, these honors are actually not enough compared to the prince's noble bloodline and the title of prince.

It's not hard to see from Lu Yan's preferences that he's not someone who's obsessed with interpretation; instead, he prefers to let his abilities speak for themselves.

To get someone like that to cooperate, you really have to convince them first.

Judging from Lu Yan's actions, Lu Qing should have succeeded.

Lu Zhang walked in from outside amidst the loud cheers of the soldiers.

Given the volume of those people, it would be difficult for Lu Zhang not to hear them, let alone not hear them.

But when he walked in from outside, his expression was as if there was no sound in the courtyard at all, and he hadn't heard anything.

"Have the Second Prince's men been settled?" Lu Qing asked as he entered, still clutching the waist token that Lu Yan had just given him.

Despite his best efforts to restrain himself, Lu Zhang's gaze kept drifting towards the waist token in Lu Qing's hand several times, as if trying to see clearly whether it was Lu Yan's token or not.

After confirming that it was indeed what he thought it was, he quickly looked away, as if his gaze had been burned by the token. He smiled somewhat awkwardly and nodded: "Thank you for your concern, brother. We've hidden everything according to the location provided by Jiang Hong."

I didn't bring many people with me this time. My third brother has a large force here, which is enough to handle. Bringing in more of my people would only cause trouble.

Rather than that, it's better to let them play a role outside, so we can respond flexibly if needed.

"Your Highness's considerations are indeed thorough." Lu Qing nodded with a smile, then called over the talisman and instructed, "Find some dark-colored outer robes from the fortress and send them to Your Highness's men."

Being out in hiding is even more important, and with the heavy night dew, wearing an extra layer of clothing is always a good idea.

As he spoke, he subtly touched his cuff.

Fu Lu saw this and understood immediately. He responded and strode out.

(End of this chapter)