Chapter 10, Young Master, you are quite wild

Bai Chong jumped into the carriage and grasped Bai Dong's hand, laughing heartily: "Sir, it seems that our luck is quite good. Our army has achieved consecutive victories, and Your Majesty must be in excellent spirits at this moment"

Are you trying to drive me crazy? Is this not a form of self-torture?

Mr. Bai, are you truly confident in this matter

A dozen cavalry scouts galloped back one after another, gathering their strength to continuously relay the good news from the front lines. The three thousand Qin soldiers roared in unison, their momentum formidable. Bai Chong laughed heartily and suddenly began to sing: "Brave Old Qin, let us face the national crisis together, blood shall not run dry, nor shall we turn back in death!"

Bai Chong's meticulousness is not only reflected in the grilled fish; when there were still ten miles to go to the Hexi garrison, the scouts sent out returned one by one on horseback.

Report: The Zhao-Han Allied Forces are entangled with a faction of Pang Juan, resulting in a stalemate between both sides. Pang Juan is likely unable to support the Wei army in Hexi, presenting a great opportunity for our forces

Bai Chong, in this state of awaiting punishment, is surprisingly left unguarded, allowing him to approach the emperor and plead for mercy on his own. The valiant warriors of the Qin have never known the meaning of retreat; even in the face of death or the destruction of their clan, they confront their responsibilities head-on. If Ying Shixi truly sent someone to guard Bai Chong, it would be a grave insult to him and would dishearten the hearts of the entire army.

Bai Chong's face was somewhat flushed, and he was sweating. Everyone knew that the monarch was ruthless; if he turned against them, losing one's life was minor, but if it implicated family and clan members, how would one face their ancestors in the future? Although the news from the battlefield was all good, the monarch should be in a favorable mood towards everyone at this moment. However, there are always exceptions; one must hope that this Mr. Bai is not just playing tricks on himself.

Bai Dong sighed, saying: "I was just speaking casually, why did you take it seriously? Alas, you should just rely on the library for your own good fortune. I am also burdened with troubles; Jing Jian sent me here, does that mean the Emperor still needs to host a banquet for me? Alas, pity my eighty-year-old mother..."

You have deceived me to great suffering

Bai Dong swallowed hard, straining his neck to look at the burly man for a long time, then nodded: "Good man!"

"Young sir, what are you doing recklessly? Fortunately, Mr. Bai is a distinguished scholar and a man of martial prowess; otherwise, with that blow of yours, you would have shattered his bones!" Bai Chong glared at his brother-in-law. With flattery pouring in, it was already stated that he was a distinguished scholar; if Bai Dong were to remain angry, it would be quite undignified.

What a joke, this era is nothing like the Ming and Qing dynasties of later generations. Officials and commoners merely bow when they see the sovereign, unless it is during a grand ceremony to meet the Zhou Emperor or while worshipping heaven and earth, when they would perform the full prostration. If this head were to be knocked by Bai Chong, it would be only natural for me to bear the brunt of his troubles in the future, wouldn't that be a tremendous loss?

Where did this meathead come from? Bai Dong stared at Bai Chong and asked, "Is this your brother-in-law?"

After passing through more than ten layers of sentinel patrols, a massive military tent appeared in the distance. The number of sentries outside had doubled, indicating that this was likely the main tent of Ying Lian. Bai Chong dismounted and was about to assist Bai Dong when he saw a rider galloping from afar. Before the person arrived, the voice reached them first: "Inner brother, is this the high scholar who made that little white face, Jing Jian, suffer a great loss? Hahaha, I must witness such a hero. Good man, once we meet with the Duke, I will treat you to a drink"

As long as it ensures my survival, what need is there for an official position? I have long since lost the desire to serve in this position in Liyang. Brother, thank you very much

This is the military song of the Qin people, and thousands of Qin soldiers sang it loudly, filled with an indescribable fervor. As Bai Dong listened, he felt a surge of hot blood rising in his chest, and he began to sing along; the feelings of melancholy about the present night and this place transformed into a deep sense of patriotism. Unconsciously, he started to accept his identity as a Qin person, and for the first time, he resonated with this ancient nation.

It is quite rare for an eighty-year-old mother and a nursing child to appear simultaneously, especially in ancient times when early marriage was encouraged. Bai Chong surprisingly knew how to touch people with humor, which made Bai Dong very happy. Even the great generals of ancient armies could tell jokes, giving him a greater sense of expectation and familiarity with this era. The grilled fish is very fragrant, and even the fish bones have been meticulously removed by Bai Chong; this fellow is indeed quite attentive. He is truly a talent.

Report: Our army engaged in a great battle with the Wei forces at Shaoliang City, defeating three thousand enemies. Young Master Qian launched a surprise attack on Fanpang, achieving a great victory

Entering the heavily guarded central military camp, Bai Dong could not help but marvel at the precision of the Qin army's armor. In this era, wars are incessant; today, the Zhao state fights against the Han, and tomorrow, they could join forces with the Han to battle the Wei state. Thus, there are no weak troops in the world, and everyone is a skilled soldier. The central military camp stretches for miles, with armored soldiers on alert at every corner. Cavalry patrols occasionally gallop by, quietly departing after inquiring about the password, leaving only the crisp sound of armor clashing. Without stepping onto the battlefield, one can tell that this is an elite force among elites. The camp is as quiet as a neighbor's courtyard, yet if an enemy were to appear, thousands of soldiers would materialize in an instant, annihilating the foe in the blink of an eye. Everyone is a skilled soldier; the central military camp stretches for miles, with armored soldiers on alert at every corner. Cavalry patrols occasionally gallop by, quietly departing after inquiring about the password, leaving only the crisp sound of armor clashing. Without stepping onto the battlefield, one can tell that this is an elite force among elites. The camp is as quiet as a neighbor's courtyard, yet if an enemy were to appear, thousands of soldiers would materialize in an instant, annihilating the foe in the blink of an eye.

Bai Dong was momentarily taken aback, then suddenly laughed heartily, pointing towards the distant river and saying: "I feel like having fish."

In short, he was unwilling to discuss how to save his life. Bai Chong racked his brains but could not figure out how to resolve the issue of the shortage of 4,000 stone of military provisions without being held accountable by the monarch. From Bai Dong's expression, it was clear that Mr. Bai resented him for resorting to open schemes and intended to impose a minor punishment on him. He could only bow deeply and awkwardly withdraw. After a moment of reflection, feeling uneasy, he turned back and said: "Mr. Bai, Chong does not fear death, but what about my eighty-year-old mother and my nursing child at home..."

Turning my head in anger, I was confronted by a face resembling a dark, flat pancake, with large eyes, big ears, and a prominent nose, grinning at me with a mouth wide open. Is that even a smile? It looks worse than crying.

It is late at night, and there is no need to go to the battlefield, yet this individual is fully equipped, with a pair of bronze giant swords crossed on his back. Each sword measures over one meter in length, truly deserving of the title "Assault Formation Sword." Compared to this pair, the swords used by scholars are merely toys for children playing house.

Bai Dong is not easily deceived. Even if Bai Chong's intentions are noble, aimed at saving three thousand comrades, he has still set a trap for him, and this must be avenged. Casually mentioning something that could save this person's life, when he is filled with hope, Mr. Bai, however, stands with his hands behind his back, gazing at the sky, exclaiming, "Ah, the weather is quite nice today, the moon is so round. My lord, it is said that on the moon lives Hou Yi's wife, along with a osmanthus tree and her lover Wu Gang. This pair of adulterers even raises a little white rabbit. Have you heard this story before?" Casually mentioning something that could save this person's life, when he is filled with hope, Mr. Bai, however, stands with his hands behind his back, gazing at the sky, exclaiming, "Ah, the weather is quite nice today, the moon is so round. My lord, it is said that on the moon lives Hou Yi's wife, along with a osmanthus tree and her lover Wu Gang. This pair of adulterers even raises a little white rabbit. Have you heard this story before?" Beautiful women truly bring disaster. By the way, have you married yet?

Bai Chong sighed softly: "How pitiful it is that I still have a beloved wife and children at home. If I were to die, how would they survive..." This time, he did not mention his eighty-year-old mother; what he truly cared about were still his wife and children.

Bai Chongtai was deeply moved, feeling that a bow was far from sufficient; he bent his knees as if to kneel. His husband, having faced life and death, intended to perform this kneeling gesture for his family, but was abruptly stopped by Bai Dong, who said, "Enough of that, stand up straight. I do not like people who bow to others."

No one wishes to die; those who readily sacrifice themselves are mostly fools. Bai Chong is not one of them. Though he appears rough and coarse, he is actually more astute than a monkey, as evidenced by how he handled the issue of food shortages. Upon learning that Bai Dong was a scholar from the Qin state, involved in matters of great importance to the ruler, he immediately took the baked fish and flatbreads from his pack, waiting for Bai Dong to be on the verge of starvation before providing military rations, thus allowing three thousand soldiers to benefit from it together. The plan was truly exquisite.

It's hard to say...

Those who can seize opportunities are called talents, and Bai Chong is undoubtedly one of the best among them. With the good news brought by the scouts, he immediately took Bai Dong to the central army camp after completing the logistics handover procedures; the most enlightened monarch of the Qin state in nearly a century, Ying Lian, was stationed here. Their fates would depend on tonight. As Bai Chong walked, he stole glances at Bai Dong, his mouth opened several times but he hesitated to speak, which made Bai Dong secretly laugh, deliberately ignoring him, thinking to himself how frustrating it must be for this guy pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger.

In this era, fishing is considered a fundamental survival skill for humanity. To demonstrate his sincerity, Bai Chong personally caught more than ten fish. It is an unwritten rule in the military that hunting and fishing are prohibited during the transportation of supplies, as it can easily lead to lax military discipline and provide an opportunity for the enemy to exploit. At this point, they were approaching the Hexi camp, and even the boldest of the Wei would not dare to attack the supply convoy, which is why Bai Chong felt emboldened to act in this manner. It is an unwritten rule in the military that hunting and fishing are prohibited during the transportation of supplies, as it can easily lead to lax military discipline and provide an opportunity for the enemy to exploit. At this point, they were approaching the Hexi camp, and even the boldest of the Wei would not dare to attack the supply convoy, which is why Bai Chong felt emboldened to act in this manner.

Ying Lian, also known as Qin Xian Gong Ying Shi Xi, is not someone easily deceived. After years of wandering in hardship as a young noble, he ascended to the throne and was able to appoint wise ministers, restore the prosperous era of Duke Mu, and abolish the practice of human sacrifice. Within a few years, he gathered and educated his people, leading an army of 200,000 to challenge the currently most powerful state of Wei. He is indeed a remarkable figure! His experiences closely resemble those of Chong Er, the nobleman of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period, marked by twists and turns, great ambitions, and a suspicious nature. However, Bai Dong is relatively confident; the trump card in his hand is sufficient to offset the mistake of letting the woman in black go. Even Bai Chong would face no real danger. Although the deficit of 4,000 shi of military provisions is not insignificant, it is not a major issue.

You! Bai Chong's eyes widened, and his already unattractive face became distorted. Bai Dong took half a step back, truly afraid of being bitten by him: "What, are you going to bite me?"

It is settled; you will not die. However, saving your life is not difficult, but preserving your position as the Ling of Liyang will be challenging. It is likely that you will be stripped of your title and have to start from being a common soldier. Can you accept that? I have seen many who value their titles even more than their lives; losing their position is more painful than death itself. If you are such a person, I cannot help you; it would be better for you to end it all immediately.

Bai Dong was riding a saddle-less horse for the first time. With Bai Chong's assistance, he managed to dismount with great difficulty. Before he could steady his feet, he received a heavy blow to his shoulder, causing him to grimace in pain. If it weren't for Bai Chong's support, he would have fallen flat on the ground.

Very good, very good