Qiang Jin Jiu (Author : Tang Jiuqing 唐酒卿)

Chapter 98 : On The Run

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The rain stopped at the crack of dawn, where heaven and earth appeared like a vast, murky expanse under the intersection of light and darkness. Qi Zhuyin trod on muddy water and withdrew from the military grounds. She secured her arm guards and looked at her own deputy general riding his horse into the camp. Her deputy general’s name was Qi Wei, a strong and sturdy man who was also cautious by nature. He could hoist an ax on the battlefield and hold a needle off the battleground. He was a man of prestigious standing among the troops in the army.

Qi Wei dismounted midway and hastily nodded in acknowledgement to the soldiers at the sides of the road who were paying their obeisances to him. He headed straight to Qi Zhuyin’s side and said, “Commander-in-chief, we’ve received news!”

“Qudu or Bianjun?” Qi Zhuyin asked.

“Both.” Qi Wei was not a tall man. He looked around and reported, “Qudu was caught in a sudden bout of rain and got completely washed out. The Second Young Master of the Xiao clan fled in a hurry with 20,000 Imperial Army soldiers and have already arrived at the border of Zhongbo. Looks like he’s going to Cizhou.” 

Qi Zhuyin was not at all alarmed. She tightened her arm guard and let out a vague smile as she bit down on the rope and said, “That lad sure runs fast.” 

“First there’s the case of the military provisions, and now there’s the encirclement of Xiao Chiye with the intent to kill. The Prince of Libei will no doubt fly into a rage this time.” Following Qi Zhuyin as she walked, Qi Wei said, “If Libei revolts, we will have to set up additional garrison troops in the Six Prefectures of Zhongbo. The Zhongbo troops will also fall under the Commander-in-chief’s command and governance….”   

Qi Zhuyin put on her outer garment and said, “Zhongbo is such a big place. Even if they transfer them all under my command, I wouldn’t dare to accept. Qudu’s matter is of no urgency. Tell me first, what exactly happened to the garrison troops of Bianjun Commandery? Lu Guangbai fought an ambush all the way into the Biansha’s home state?” 

A hesitant expression materialized on Qi Wei’s rugged face. He said, “Commander-in-chief, General Lu disregarded military orders this time and chased the Biansha Cavalry across the border. I suspect…” 

He fell silent and did not voice that word out.
Qi Zhuyin said, “The military provisions this year have been reduced by half. It’ll be tough for Bianjun to hold out based just on that. I signed a memorandum of debt with the Yan clan of Hezhou under Father’s name. The money is meant to be set aside to buy grains for the Bianjun garrison troops. So what’s with this suspicion you’re telling me about? I will not listen to a word without proof.” 

Qi Wei knew that Qi Zhuyin valued her generals and had always been fair in meting out rewards and punishments. She would never trample upon them because of a mere few words. But it was also because he noticed something odd when he went to Bianjun to scout this time that his suspicions were aroused. Not daring to hide it, he truthfully said, “Commander-in-chief, I wouldn’t dare to say a word if I had no proof. The purpose of this trip to Bianjun is to investigate military intelligence from a few days back. But not only did General Lu not return to camp, he even transferred away the garrison troops at the fire beacon towers.”   

Qi Zhuyin stopped in her tracks. She looked at Qi Wei and asked, “He transferred away the garrison troops at the fire beacon towers?” 

Qi Wei nodded. He was just about to go into details when he heard a commotion at the side. Both of them turned aside and saw a whole new bunch of people clustered around a sedan with embroidered borders pouring into the camp. They were stopped by the guards.