Abandoning literature for martial arts, starting by unleashing the beauty's bow.

Lu Fengnian did not return to the military camp, but went to a restaurant diagonally opposite the Blue Light Inn and went straight to a private room.

There were two people sitting in the private room.

One of them was short and stocky, with a dark face and bulging muscles all over his body. His eyes gleamed with a sharp light as he opened and closed. He was none other than Diao Zilin, the centurion of the First Battalion of the Zhenxi Army.

The other person was a middle-aged man with a slightly yellowish complexion, who was none other than Long Shan, who had just captured Tian Yunhe at the Blue Light Inn.

Lu Fengnian pushed open the door and entered the private room, bowing to Long Shan and Diao Zilin respectively.

Diao Zilin waved his hand, gesturing for Lu Fengnian to take a seat.

As soon as Lu Fengnian sat down, Diao Zilin raised his glass, "Commander Lu, we owe a great debt to Chief Patrolman Long for his help today. Let's toast him."

Lu Fengnian quickly raised his glass and toasted Long Shan, "Chief Long, thank you for tonight's events."

Long Shan waved his hand, "This is my duty. I should thank Commander Lu for providing me with the clues about the Black Wind Army oppressing the people."

After saying that, he picked up his wine glass and drank the wine in one gulp.

Then, he stood up and turned his gaze to Diao Zilin, "Commander Diao, go back and tell your elder brother that I'll go have a drink with him when I have some free time."

Diao Zilin quickly stood up. "Okay, I will definitely pass on this message to my elder brother."

Long Shan nodded, then bowed slightly to Lu Fengnian before leaving the private room.

Diao Zilin personally escorted Longshan out of the restaurant and back to the private room.

"Commander Lu, please don't take offense. Chief Long is just like that; he doesn't have any problem with you." Diao Zilin offered a toast.

Lu Fengnian smiled slightly, "I am already extremely grateful that Chief Long could personally come forward today, how could I mind?"

After finishing his drink, Diao Zilin picked up a piece of braised beef and stuffed it into his mouth. He swallowed it in a few bites and said in a deep voice, "Let me tell you the truth. If it weren't for my elder brother's sake, Longshan definitely wouldn't have come out in person."

Within Shiyang Pass, there are no more than five people who could command Longshan's personal attention, and my elder brother is one of them.

Lu Fengnian gave a slight bow, "Thank you for tonight's events, Commander Diao."

Diao Zilin waved his hand and said, "I never expected that you would come to me for help."

We fought in the ring, and you made me lose face.

You come to me asking for a favor, aren't you afraid I'll knock you out the door with a stick?

Lu Fengnian smiled slightly, "Although I have only met Diao Baihu a few times, and we even had some unpleasantness."

However, I am certain that Commander Diao is an upright and honorable man, a good man worth befriending.

Diao Zilin laughed heartily, "With you saying that, I'm definitely going to be your friend."

After saying that, he picked up his wine glass again.

After finishing his drink, Diao Zilin stared directly at Lu Fengnian's face and said in a deep voice, "Commander Lu, there's something I'm not sure if I should say."

Lu Fengnian smiled slightly, "Since Commander Diao has made me his friend, friends should naturally say what needs to be said between them."

Diao Zilin cleared his throat. "Wan Song is mediocre, incompetent, and narrow-minded."

He was able to become a centurion entirely because he flattered and won the favor of General Liu.

There's absolutely no future for you following him.

Lu Fengnian fell silent and did not respond.

Diao Zilin continued, "You are willing to make such a sacrifice for a couple you don't even know, which proves that you have a sense of justice. That's why I'm saying these words to you today."

Wan Song rose to power through flattery, but you are different. Your achievements and status today are all earned through your own abilities and military merits.

Wan Song is now your direct superior. He is mediocre, which is fine, but he is extremely jealous of talent and ability.

Now that you're starting to stand out, he might already see you as a threat and be plotting how to get rid of you.

Lu Fengnian was slightly surprised.

Despite his rugged appearance, Diao Zilin has an extremely accurate eye for people.

He had already sensed that Wan Song had become wary, hostile, and even murderous towards him.

At the same time, he also guessed that Diao Zilin's words to him at this moment must have a deeper meaning.

He cleared his throat and said in a low voice, "I wholeheartedly agree with what Commander Diao said."

Since I became a centurion, the attitude of the commanders towards me has changed significantly.

I sensed that he had become hostile towards me.

Diao Zilin snorted, "Wan Song is a scoundrel and a good-for-nothing."

He rose to power through flattery and sycophancy, and what he feared most was others vying for his favor and taking away General Liu's trust and attention.

You are now shining brightly in the Zhenxi Army, having risen from a recruit to a centurion in a short period of time.

He'll naturally be wary of you.

Lu Fengnian sighed deeply, downed the wine in his cup in one gulp, and said in a deep voice, "I am now under his command, and there is nothing I can do about it."

Diao Zilin cleared his throat. "If Commander Lu wants to change his current situation, I can give you two ideas."

Lu Fengnian responded with an "Oh," and said, "Please, Commander Diao, speak frankly."

Diao Zilin ate another piece of beef. "The first way is for you to make another great contribution and be promoted to centurion. Then you will be able to break away from his command."

Lu Fengnian shook his head and smiled bitterly, "You overestimate me. I have no status, no background. It's already a stroke of luck that I was promoted to centurion."

Becoming a centurion is easier said than done.

Diao Zilin smiled slightly, "Since I've proposed this method, it must be feasible."

At this point, he lowered his voice, "According to the information I received, the Great Zhou army is assembling on a large scale, and it is estimated that it will not be long before they launch a large-scale attack on Shiyang Pass."

Lu Fengnian's expression turned serious. "Is this news confirmed?"

Diao Zilin nodded. "Such an important matter, how could I treat it lightly?"

The Great Zhou army is currently building a large granary in Echo Valley, about forty miles west of Wangyue Mountain, to move supplies forward.

This move is quite clear; it's preparation for a large-scale attack.

Lu Fengnian looked shocked. "I didn't hear a single word about it."

Diao Zilin replied, "Because it is not yet fully confirmed that the Great Zhou people are going to launch a large-scale attack, this news is currently being kept under wraps."

Once confirmed, the high-ranking officials in Guanzhong will definitely announce the news immediately and begin preparations for war.

Lu Fengnian pondered for a moment, "Does Commander Diao mean that once the war begins, I will have the opportunity to earn military merit and be promoted to centurion?"

Diao Zilin nodded. "If we don't fight, and just stay cooped up in Shiyang Pass every day, we definitely won't have the opportunity to make great contributions."

Lu Fengnian's eyes flickered. "Now that I am under the command of Wan Qianhu, all the credit I have earned should definitely be attributed to him."

"I've been promoted to centurion, and he'll probably be promoted too."

Diao Zilin's face showed disdain. "For someone like Wan Song, a centurion is already his limit."

Our Zhenxi Army only has four guerrilla generals. Do you think Wan Song is qualified to be a guerrilla general?

Even if General Liu valued him highly, he wouldn't appoint him as a guerrilla general.