Chapter 96 - 95: Full Support
Hong Cheng’s gaze sharpened. "Let me see it!"
The steward dared not delay and immediately presented the note.
A smile spread across Hong Cheng’s face after just a glance. "Haha, that’s Lu Yuan for you! The kid’s got real talent. He just became Captain in Icefield City and has already unearthed a branch of the Charm Demon Sect.
He even took a good number of prisoners. According to their confessions, the Wanhua Courtyard in Yan Province and the Baihua Courtyards in the various fortress cities are all likely connected to the Charm Demon Sect.
Damn, he really makes me look good."
His boisterous laughter was filled with excitement.
Then he looked at Hong Zheng. "Take some men and raid the Wanhua Courtyard at once. Make sure you round up everyone inside. Also, notify the major fortress cities and have them clean out the Charm Demon Sect members within their jurisdictions."
"Yes, Father." Hong Zheng acknowledged the order and departed.
Hong Cheng, however, looked at the message in his hand, unable to conceal the look of satisfaction in his eyes.
He couldn’t help but mutter to himself, ’Lu Yuan is a true talent. It’s a shame he’s so young and his cultivation isn’t high enough. Otherwise, he’d be more than qualified to be a Garrison General.’
He was lost in his own thoughts.
At that moment, Lu Yuan had already returned to Icefield Fortress.
He headed straight for the General’s Mansion. ’Since the Northern Barbarians have already started contacting Wu Han, I have to resolve the Vulture Ridge situation as quickly as possible. That will give Celestial King Stronghold more leverage.’
’That will help maximize our gains in the negotiations with the Northern Barbarians.’
’As for going to Yunzhou, I’ll have to put that off for a few days. I’ll deal with it after Vulture Ridge is completely settled.’
Inside the General’s Mansion, Zhou Hongling was reviewing military reports from her subordinates.
Her brows furrowed from time to time.
Just then, she heard footsteps outside and a look of irritation crossed her face. But when she looked up and saw it was Lu Yuan, the coldness in her expression vanished. She tossed the report in her hand aside. "Is something the matter?"
Lu Yuan nodded. "General, I just took a trip outside the city and received some news."
"Tell me," Zhou Hongling said, feigning curiosity.
Lu Yuan didn’t waste words. "General, the bandit problem outside the city has been rampant lately. I’ve seen reports that mountain bandits have been plundering grain from many villages, and it’s the middle of the summer harvest.
The Garrison Soldiers Beyond the Passes have suffered heavy losses. What do you think about us heading out to clean up these bandits? It would be a good chance to train the troops as well."
As he spoke, he found a seat in the main hall and sat down.
Zhou Hongling looked at Lu Yuan and mulled it over for a moment before saying, "This is pretty normal for the summer and autumn harvests. The mountain bandits Beyond the Passes always go on a rampage, but they usually stick to the buffer zone between our Dayong and the Northern Barbarians.
That’s why we’ve never bothered with them. I hear they have gotten much more audacious in recent years, though. I suppose knocking them down a peg would be fine. Do you have a target in mind?"
Lu Yuan nodded, pulling a map from his robes. He walked over to Zhou Hongling’s side and pointed to a mountain range on the paper. "Vulture Ridge. It’s home to nearly thirty thousand mountain bandits.
They’ve reportedly even built a horse farm at the foot of the mountain. Their power is expanding rapidly. Most importantly, it’s very close to our Icefield City. If we don’t eliminate them, I’m afraid they’ll become a major threat later on."
Zhou Hongling considered this, then nodded. "The last expedition Beyond the Passes was a total disaster. We do need a major victory to prove our strength. Very well, let’s annihilate Vulture Ridge.
I will order Helian Shang and Yun Mo to each lead their men and rendezvous at Vulture Ridge.
You should prepare as well. We’ll set out in two days. How does that sound?"
"Yes, General." Lu Yuan acknowledged and withdrew.
After he left.
A handmaiden at Zhou Hongling’s side came over and spoke softly, "My Lady, didn’t you say that the Border Army in each region intentionally avoids clearing out the bandits? And that we’re waiting for the court to send an envoy Beyond the Passes to contact these strongholds? How is it that as soon as Lord Lu mentions it, you suddenly want to march out and exterminate bandits again?"
The handmaiden had grown up with Zhou Hongling and was one of her most trusted confidantes.
She was quite pretty, with a petite and delicate figure.
She could certainly be considered a beauty.
Zhou Hongling glanced at her. "If Lu Yuan suggested it, he must have his reasons. Who knows what that boy is thinking. Since he wants to do it, we might as well help him. In any case, it’s only Vulture Ridge. The bandit strongholds out there are as common as grass.
One less won’t make a difference. It’s no harm to make a move before the court issues any orders."
The maid glanced at her mistress and muttered, "You’re really spoiling Captain Lu."
In return, however, she earned an eye-roll from Zhou Hongling.
Then, she picked up a military report. "You’re getting more and more out of line, you little brat. Now go and brew me a cup of tea."
Hearing this, the handmaiden turned and left.
By this time, Lu Yuan had returned to the Captain’s Mansion.
It was now afternoon. Upon seeing Zhou Xiong, he gave his orders, "Notify the two thousand-man squads stationed outside the city as soon as possible. By tomorrow, they must be camped ten li from Icefield Fortress, ready to await orders.
The Personal Guard Camp must also prepare for mobilization."
"As you command!" Although a flicker of confusion showed in Zhou Xiong’s eyes, he still withdrew to carry out the order.
As for Lu Yuan, he went straight to his room to cultivate.
’There’s so much to do, but I can’t let my cultivation fall behind.’
He knew that it was the foundation of all his strength.
After closing his door, he swallowed a Water Element Pill and entered a state of cultivation once more.
Waves of formidable power surged within his body.
By the time he awoke again, the sky had already grown dark.
He got up and headed next door. ’Zhou Hongling is probably still waiting for me for dinner.’
And sure enough, when he arrived at the dining hall, she was.
The table was laden with medicinal cuisine.
Zhou Hongling was already seated. She wasn’t wearing her armor, but simple, everyday clothes.
Her skin seemed to glow under the lamplight.
Seeing Lu Yuan, she pointed to the seat beside her. "Hurry up and eat."
"Mm." Lu Yuan acknowledged, sitting down and starting to eat.
Seeing how heartily he was eating, Zhou Hongling took a sip of wine and said softly, "I’ve finished gathering the intel on Vulture Ridge. With our forces, crushing them shouldn’t be a problem.
But my advice is not to annihilate them completely."
Hearing this, Lu Yuan looked up, thought for a moment, and said, "Then I’ll defer to your judgment, General."
’Actually, this is for the best,’ he thought. ’It would be perfect for Wu Han. If we killed them all, how could he absorb their forces?’
Seeing Lu Yuan agree so readily, Zhou Hongling didn’t finalize the decision, but continued, "Of course, if you have some personal grudge against Vulture Ridge, we can just as easily annihilate them.
In any case, you can handle it as you see fit."
The way she spoke wasn’t like a superior to her subordinate, but more like two family members discussing matters.
"There’s no grudge. It’s just that after going outside the city, I felt the bandits were getting too rampant. As a Captain, I felt I should do something about it."
"Good. Every new official needs to make their mark. I support you," Zhou Hongling said with a smile.
Her voice held a hint of indulgence.
Lu Yuan didn’t think too much of it. Having finished their discussion, he just focused on his food.
By the end of the meal, the plan was more or less settled.
As he was leaving, Zhou Hongling said, "Vulture Ridge isn’t far from us. Their equipment and strength are a far cry from the Qi Court’s troops. It should only take a few days to completely scatter them. When that’s done, you can take Zhou Xiong and lead a Hundred-Man Squad back to Yunzhou to bring your mother here."
Hearing her words, Lu Yuan knew the matter was settled. A sigh of relief escaped him.
Then he said, "Thank you, General."
"I’ve told you before, there’s no need to be so formal when it’s just us," Zhou Hongling said softly.
Lu Yuan nodded, then rose and departed.
Upon returning to the Captain’s Mansion, he opened Xiao Hua’s letters and began to read.
There were twelve letters in all. The general gist was that she was safe and his mother was in good health. The later letters were filled with questions, asking if Lu Yuan had gone to the battlefield, each one more urgent than the last.
She was clearly very worried about him.
She also told him that if he made it back, he must write to her. He could give the letters directly to Wu Han, and she would have someone pick them up periodically.
Staring at the elegant script...
...Lu Yuan’s heart was filled with emotion.
The image of her enchanting face couldn’t help but surface in his mind.
"I wonder how Xiao Hua has been doing lately," he murmured after a deep breath.
Then, after carefully putting the letters away.
Lu Yuan was about to resume his cultivation when Zhou Xiong’s voice came from outside. "My lord, all of the Sun Family’s wealth has been brought back."
This news made Lu Yuan’s eyebrows jump, and he immediately headed outside.
’The Sun Family has been operating in the Northern Border for so many years. There’s no way they haven’t amassed a fortune,’ he thought.
’It would be even better if there were some Heavenly and Earthly Treasures that could help me with my breakthrough.’
At this thought, his pace couldn’t help but quicken.