Chapter 4

King Chun, Meng Yongguang, issued a special decree to reward the officers and soldiers of the Hebei garrison. He also dispatched envoys to inform the various military garrisons within the country, instructing them to send their elite cavalry and infantry southward for reinforcement

Ye Zengjian saw that he was speaking earnestly, so he nodded in agreement and walked back with him along the path to the tent.

Ye Zeng looked over and saw half a roasted leg of lamb. Although it was already somewhat cold, it remained extremely enticing

Xu Hong, upon seeing his denial, immediately softened his expression and said: "Since the general is the commander of His Highness's personal guards, if there are any military actions in the future, we are willing to accompany the general. I hope the general will not hesitate to instruct us."

Meng Shouwen rolled up the map, took a wooden tray covered with oiled paper from the side, uncovered it, and said to him: "Knowing that you haven't had food or water for a day, I specially instructed the soldiers in the camp to save this for you"

Ye Zeng took another big bite of meat, glanced at Meng Shouwen, and finally revealed a hint of a smile in his eyes, saying: "The Third Prince is at the front lines, yet he has never experienced the days of short rations."

Meng Shouwen, on the night of December 17, achieved a great victory by repelling the enemy, and all the merits were attributed to Ye Zeng. He detailed three matters in the imperial edict: setting an ambush to attack the enemy, making a vigorous effort to rescue the sovereign, and personally beheading Liang Yin. It was proposed that Ye Zeng be appointed as the commander of the imperial guards and, in accordance with the customary practices of the state, be demoted to the position of Eagle Charge General.

This was the reason. Meng Shouwen chuckled lightly after hearing this, thinking to himself that you, Ye Zeng, are indeed a loyal and righteous person. Beneath your grandiose words, it is nothing more than your concern that I, having followed the old general for many years, might take offense. He said: "When I chose you to serve under my command, I naturally intended to bring along your old subordinates and trusted aides, and this matter was also approved by Feng Hui. Now, if you are to lead the troops into battle, I have no intention of interfering with Feng Hui's forces. Not only will I not touch Feng Hui's troops, but I have also not made any plans regarding the soldiers of the other generals." If you are to lead the troops into battle, I have no intention of interfering with Feng Hui's forces. Not only will I not touch Feng Hui's troops, but I have also not made any plans regarding the soldiers of the other generals.

At the end of February in the sixth year of the Zhiyuan era, whenever the military forces of various towns discussed matters concerning the Hebei camp, they invariably mentioned the name of Ye Zeng. The voices advocating for peace within the Chun Kingdom also diminished significantly due to this victory at the Hebei camp

However, he did not expect Xu Hong to say such words to him. Perhaps he had indeed been somewhat careless in the past, and these personal guards were not as useless as he had imagined.

Ye Zeng scraped the soles of his boots harshly against the ground, brushed off a few patches of wet mud from his armor, and then slowly walked inside

However, despite being in the border army and not understanding the affairs of the royal family in the capital, he can still somewhat discern that the relationship between these two individuals is not as close and harmonious as rumored

Meng Shouwen took it, holding it in his hand without even glancing at it, and lightly said: "Brother Wang's serious illness has recovered, which is truly delightful, truly delightful"

Meng Shouwen had already risen and stepped out of the inner tent upon hearing the sound. He fixed his gaze on Ye Zeng, who was dripping with moisture, and his brows slightly relaxed, his expression momentarily losing some of its tension.

Although he spoke the words "pleasing" from his mouth, there was not a trace of joy on his face; instead, his complexion darkened a few shades.

Meng Shouwen listened, tightening his grip on the map a little more, "If an unexpected force were to attack this supply route, would there be a complete assurance of success?"

As the curtain was lifted, Xu Hong entered with a report, greeting the two individuals. Upon noticing that Ye Zeng was also present, his expression involuntarily showed some hesitation. After seeing Meng Shouwen give a slight nod, he stepped forward to report: "I have just received a message from the capital, stating that His Highness the Crown Prince has recovered from his illness. Furthermore, having heard of the Third Prince's victory on the battlefield, he has specially written a letter to congratulate His Highness on his achievements."

As he passed through the gate, Ye Zengle skillfully reined in the horse, nimbly dismounted, removed the wooden piece from the horse's mouth, patted the horse's mane, and allowed the camp soldiers to lead the horse away. He then strode towards the central army, clad in his wet armor.

In the past, when he served under Feng Hui, due to the unique attributes of the reconnaissance troops under his command, which consisted entirely of elite soldiers from various divisions, even though he held the rank of a school lieutenant, he only led a little over one hundred soldiers. Now, upon hearing that Meng Shouwen intended to mobilize three thousand troops to be under his command, he could not help but feel a moment of astonishment.

Ye Zeng, witnessing this, could not help but slightly furrow his brow

Ye Zeng raised an eyebrow, not expecting him to ask this, and at that moment did not know how to respond

Meng Shouwen fell silent for a moment, then said: "What Feng Hui and others mentioned recently, is it truly all without credibility?"

Meng Shouwen cast him a glance and said, "What is it, do you find it lacking?"

Meng Shouwen did not raise his eyes, still fixated on the map, and asked slowly and deliberately

What if it were you leading the troops into battle

Meng Shouwen turned to look at him, as if he had sensed his momentary hesitation, "What troubles you?"

Meng Shouwen took a few steps back, lightly uttering an "mm" with a hint of mockery in his eyes, "Eat slowly. Thanks to your efforts, we have replenished a considerable amount of provisions and equipment this time."

The news of the incident caused a stir in the court.

Meng Shouwen scrutinized his expression, fully aware of his thoughts, yet deliberately said, "According to the customs of the state, a general like Eagle Charge, who commands only three thousand troops, is indeed somewhat shabby. Once we achieve victory in this campaign, I will certainly petition my father, the king, to request additional troops for you."

In the past, the lack of food and armor in the camp had been a long-standing issue, and the soldiers had long since grown accustomed to it. Knowing that the national treasury was not abundant, they had never voiced much complaint. However, this time, with the arrival of Prince Chun's third son, Meng Shouwen, to the front lines, even though the three departments of the state were reluctant to part with their resources, no one dared to deny him a single grain of food, as the supplies in the camp had gradually been replenished over the past few months

Seeing Ye nod, he then walked to the front of the desk, "How is it?"

Ye Zengmang shook his head, "No."

Before long, a sudden sound of knocking on the tent was heard from outside, "Your Highness, the Third Prince, swift horses from the capital have come with news!"

Meng Shouwen pondered for a moment, then reached out to smooth the cowhide map spread out on the table, "In choosing the route for supplies, which place should be selected?"

Meng Shouwen's expression grew increasingly dark, and after a long pause, he finally uttered, "It is indeed a waste of his efforts to ponder over this." He turned his back and added, "But it is merely a dream."

Although he knew that the "Your Highness" mentioned by Xu Hong referred to Meng Shouzheng, the eldest son of Prince Chun and the biological brother of Meng Shouwen, he could not understand why Meng Shouwen would display such an expression when mentioning this brother.

Ye Zengwen relaxed his furrowed brow upon hearing this, quietly waiting for him to continue.

Ye Zeng adjusted his armor and was about to return to the tent when he was called to a halt by Xu Hong from behind: "General Ye." He stopped on the path in the camp and turned to ask: "What is it?"

The sound of galloping hooves is particularly jarring in the camp after nightfall

Although the blood and fire of the battlefield are ruthless, compared to the hidden currents of intrigue and scheming, this cold, damp, and blood-soaked border army camp seems much more endearing and comforting.

Ye Zeng was taken aback, never expecting that there was such a twist behind Meng Shouwen leading the southward campaign. Upon comparing this with the cold demeanor Meng Shouwen displayed after receiving the report in the tent, he suddenly had a moment of realization. It seemed that Meng Shouwen was indeed afraid of battle and feigned illness to avoid going south, yet after hearing about the great victory in the Hebei camp, he desired to share in the spoils. It was no wonder that even Xu Hong's words carried a tone of disdain.

As the account is settled, the night breeze is strong, and the stars in the sky seem to be trembling, shining exceptionally bright

Ye Zeng looked at his appearance and could only shake his head, saying: "No."

Are you back

The night wind is chilling to the bone, causing a thin layer of ice to form on the half-wet armor.

Pei Zhen, "Meng Shouwen's expression darkened as he murmured: 'Although he claims the title of emperor during the Tianqi era, he is nothing more than a mere rebel and traitor; his soldiers, though fierce in battle, are ultimately just ruthless scoundrels. How could my Chunguo possibly be defeated by him!'"

Ye Zeng raised his eyes and said, "Your Highness, if you wish to move against Pei Zhen first, I believe it is unnecessary to launch a direct assault. Wounding their troops should prioritize morale. If Your Highness can deploy surprise forces to cut off their supply lines, their morale will surely suffer greatly. At that time, we can regroup our main army to cross the river and apply pressure, which will certainly lead to their collapse without a fight."

Ye Zeng followed and reported: "Take Zhang Mao and a few others across the river, and we have encountered two enemy sentries. The military defenses are exceedingly strict, even more so than in the past. The cold on the river is gradually diminishing, and I fear they may intend to take action in the near future"

Ye Zeng seemed unprepared for such a question, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face, before he furrowed his brows and said: "If Your Highness is willing to trust me, I will certainly devise a comprehensive plan for you."

This time, due to the merits presented by Meng Shouwen regarding Ye Zengshu, and since this battle marks the first victory for the Chun Kingdom since the two armies began to engage, the Chun King, in order to boost the morale of the frontline troops, decided to exceed the usual rewards for the soldiers in the Hebei camp. Consequently, a special edict was issued to allocate a batch of rarely seen military supplies and provisions, which were transported day and night to the northern bank of the Yanhe River, to be utilized by Meng Shouwen.

After a long while, Meng Shouwen turned around, his complexion had returned to normal. "It is late tonight; the matter of deploying troops will be discussed again tomorrow in the assembly of generals. You all may withdraw and rest for now."

Meng Shouwen fixed his gaze on him and also smiled, saying, "I had no idea that you were someone who could smile as well"

Ye Zengmian felt embarrassed and could only say softly: "In that case, I must first express my gratitude to His Highness the Third Prince."

Xu Hong was walking when he suddenly seemed to recall something and lowered his voice to say: "At that time, when the capital heard of the disastrous defeat of the Henan camp, the Emperor inquired about the opinions of his sons, intending to send the Crown Prince to the front lines. However, due to the Crown Prince suddenly contracting a severe illness, the Third Prince volunteered to take his place, which led to the change in command at the last moment."

Although he denied it verbally, he could not help but admit in his heart that Xu Hong's words indeed reflected some of his own thoughts. Even though he was appointed by Meng Shouwen as the commander of the personal guards, he believed that it was merely Meng Shouwen's intention to establish his reputation in the army, and he did not truly think that he could lead this group of noble youths who had grown up together in the same environment. In comparison to Meng Shouwen's personal guards, he indeed trusted much more those old subordinates with whom he had shared blood and sweat over the years.

Xu Hong approached and after a long pause finally said: "General, have you taken Zhang Mao and others across the river to scout the enemy camp today?"

Meng Shouwen said: "The troops I have prepared for you have long been planned out." Seeing that Ye Zeng's expression grew increasingly perplexed, he revealed the details: "At the beginning of the year, the king issued an edict for the various garrisons to send their elite cavalry and infantry southward for reinforcement. In recent days, I have been receiving reports that the reinforcements from the Xichuan and Jiange camps will soon arrive at the main camp in Hebei. I intend to allocate three thousand troops for you to command."

Ye Zeng fell silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: "As a junior general, my qualifications are still limited. The promotion I received due to the Liang Yin campaign was already an exception to the usual practice. If Your Highness were to personally command the troops in battle this time, it might not be accepted by the other generals. Furthermore, when I was promoted, I had already transferred a hundred scouts and subordinate officers from General Feng's unit to Your Highness's command. If I were to lead the elite troops into battle again, it could potentially harm Your Highness's reputation."

The fragrance that was so close suddenly ignited a fire in his belly. He did not bother to wipe his hands and grabbed it with one hand, biting into it without a second thought. After swallowing it forcefully, he raised his eyes to Meng Shouwen and asked: "Has everyone in the camp eaten already?"

This statement is indeed the truth

Xu Hong, seeing that he did not respond, then spoke bluntly: "Perhaps the general thinks that we, having always accompanied His Highness, are indeed a group of arrogant and extravagant individuals, and thus holds us in low regard, believing that we are certainly incapable of bearing significant responsibilities"

He understood that Xu Hong's words were intended to clarify his doubts, so he smiled slightly and nodded in response.

Meng Shouwen suppressed his smile and said: "Come in!"

He turned around and asked Ye Zengdao: "Rather than waiting for them to advance, it would be better for our army to take the initiative. In your opinion, if our army were to launch a strong attack across the river this time, what are our chances of success?"

Having said that, he respectfully presented a sealed letter.

Ye Zengshun pointed and said: "At present, the key area of the Jun army lies in the thirteen towns of Henan, which they occupy in the Chun state. As for the supply route from Mingluo Mountain, through Qishui, to the frontline of the army, it is not heavily guarded by the main forces. Pei Zhen is obstinate and does not fear that someone could evade his attention and attack his rear support. Our army has previously feared the might of the Jun army and did not dare to entertain such thoughts; however, after a victory, the morale of our soldiers has greatly increased, and it may be worth a try."

A faint aroma of grilled meat wafted through the air, and from a distance, a sentry raised the tent flap and respectfully announced: "General Ye."

Three thousand?" Ye Zeng was taken aback upon hearing this

On the sixth day of the first month in the sixth year of the Yuan Guang era, a triumphant report from the Red Banner of the Great Camp in Hebei was delivered to Bi Zhi by a swift horse.

Not at all. Ye Zeng furrowed his brows, "After the defeat of Jun Army at the hands of Liang Yin, their morale has significantly declined. General Feng and others have deployed empty ships and spread false troops along the Yan River, which can indeed intimidate the Jun Army, preventing them from advancing lightly. However, with Liang Yin dead, how can Pei Zhen be content? Given his greedy and violent nature, he will surely seek an opportunity to avenge his beloved general. Furthermore, the Jun Army has been advancing north since the Tianqi period for quite some time, and their supplies are running low, entirely relying on the thirteen garrisons in Henan to replenish their resources. If they do not advance northward for a major raid soon, I fear that Pei Zhen's army will not be able to hold out much longer."

Ye Zeng nodded slightly

Ye Zeng paused for a moment and said, "If we were to choose one general from Feng, Wu, or Yang to lead the troops into battle, given their experience in warfare, there should be a seventy percent chance of victory."

Xu Hong further stated: "His Highness intends to personally travel south to reward the troops at the front, and has specially dispatched envoys to inquire about the Third Prince's intentions."

The warmth inside the room is suffocating, while the tongues of fire in the charcoal brazier dance menacingly.

Xu Hong stood for a while, then asked: "May I inquire why the general does not take us along? Is it because Zhang Mao and others are the general's former subordinates, whom the general trusts greatly?"