Chapter 209 Li Feihong, the Fire Starter (2/2)

”We were fooled, commander. Those men were not Xiangnu, but Jinyang Army! One of us recognized their grand commander Lu Bu of Jinyang. The rest of their soldiers are also the famous heavy cavalries at the border. The Imperial Army had been tricked.”

Han Hao's eyes widened in shock.

Julu and Jinyang had formed a secret alliance and targeted the Emperor in this war! With Jinyang Army at the back of the main force, then the Emperor would face Julu at Jinyang City.

Emperor Ping had been surrounded without a path to escape!

Han Hao's body could not stop shaking. He was not trembling because of the weather, it was fear. If this was true, then they had escaped death without realizing it.

'We've probably cheated death.'

He was elated that he picked the right choice for not following Zhang Yang. Han Hao was also enlightened about the truth of this war after he understood the whole picture.

'The edict was a complete bullcrap. Jinyang and Julu are friends. Zhang Tong probably went to Jinyang and had a friendly spar with Lu Bu, but the Emperor exaggerated the spar into a war between cities!'

'Damnit! The Emperor is insane! He's a tyrant!'

'But, wow. The stratagem of these forces is totally sick. Since their force took Shangdang, then the other detached armies have been probably defeated already. Julu and Jinyang Army are pretty good.'

Han Hao respected the well-crafted strategy and the strategists who came up with this plan.

'If I want to work for someone, I want my superiors to be at least this competent. I don't want to fight for someone like Zhang Yang again.'

'I wonder if Shangdang City accepts ex-soldiers like me …'

…

9 AM.

Lu Bu and his men also left the city. Li Feihong tagged along like usual with dark circles around his eyes. He did not sleep last night as he had to solve the domestic issues for the locals before their departure.

Several white hair officials stood on top of the wall to send off Li Feihong. They were gratified for his help and sincerity. A dozen of them even promised to give their granddaughters to Li Feihong as his concubines to repay for his kindness.

Gao Shun and Zhang Liao looked at Li Feihong, baffled at the official crowd. They did not wave at Lu Bu or them, but Li Feihong alone.

Lu Bu, on the other hand, did not notice this as he was leading the march.

”What did you do to them, Feihong?” Asked Zhang Liao.

Li Feihong answered while he was dozing on the back of his horse, ”I gave them a bit of food, cows, and rice seeds. I also wrote a couple of textbooks for them.”

”Textbooks?”

”Mathematics, accounting, financing, and a few products they can make with their local specialties.”

Both Gao Shun and Zhang Liao still puzzled by Li Feihong's sleep talking. They were going to continue questioning him, but they stopped after they saw a hickey and red marks on his neck and his face.

Before Li Feihong could regroup with the army, a few granddaughters of the officials came to see their potential prospect. They fell in love with this young strategist at first sight as he was also a handsome young scholar. A bold teenage girl managed to get close and stole several kisses on him, leaving a few bite marks on rouge lips on his face.

Li Feihong declined their approach and the officials' offering, but he gentlemanly patted their head and promised them that he would visit them in the future. He was not aware that he had planted several flags on these innocent maidens.

After this day, he had become the number one prospect in Nie County that all young girls wanted to get as their husband.

”Our Feihong is now an adult.” Zhang Liao laughed.

”Damn! I thought you were working hard. You went for the hoes before the bros?” Mocked Gao Shun.

”He DID work hard. I bet his girl is satisfied. Look at his face. I'm sure he didn't sleep last night.”

”Well, damn! I've never lasted the entire night. Respect Feihong. Truly respect!”

The two generals misunderstood Li Feihong, and a new rumor was born after this day in Jinyang Army.

…

…

Thirty kilometers north of Nie County, the Imperial troops were marching while they were enduring the zero degrees temperature. The weather was dry and cold, hampering their march speed.

The soldiers still managed to randomly find forest and mountain food in the wilderness as they marched. Although they could not find a wild animal anymore, they still had plenty of food in stock.

At the back of the marching army, Zhou Cang and his horse trotted beside the cage where Lu Zhi was inside. With a flick of fingers, a bundle of papyrus paper flew and hit Lu Zhi hand.

The imprisoned veteran scholar hid the paper and read it in secret.

[Ambush party is in front. Escape when it starts.]

Lu Zhi's eyes brightened. He glanced at Zhou Cang who was still riding near the cage.

”I've managed to buy a few units to our cause. We've also secured a unit of a thousand horsemen with us, but they are quite expensive. We're pretty much broke when we return home.”

Lu Zhi chuckled at Zhou Cang's complain, ”I have a bit of saving in Julu. I'll pay you back with interest.”

”Haha, that's not necessary. Just teach us how to write and read.”

”Hahaha! Of course.”