NOVEL NEXT Chapter 101 - Opportunity
Chapter 101 – Opportunity
The breeze on top of the city wall blew the final stench of blood away from the city. The sudden appearance of Great Ning’s cavalry outside the city left the Heiwu troops with no choice but to retreat. What happened during the tragic battle the last time was still a huge nightmare that continued to haunt them.
Meng Changan turned around and glanced over. There were still at least a hundred of Pei Xiao’s soldiers who were still alive. They had already been stripped of their weapons and tied up, kneeling on the ground. Every single one of them was expressionless. They looked more dead than the actual dead beheaded soldiers on the ground.
Of course, they knew what their own fate was. Even if Meng Changan did not kill them, they were destined to die.
“How long do you plan to be here for?” asked Meng Changan.
Shen Leng leaned against the wall and tossed his hair, feeling as though he was rather cool. “At the very most, one more day. There is a beautiful lady waiting for me in Changan city. She’s very beautiful.”
“Oh…”
Meng Changan looked somewhat disappointed. “There aren’t any restaurants here.”
Shen Leng replied, “You can give me cash instead.”
Meng Changan smiled slightly. “A Class A Sixth pin military officer and a Fifth pin Shangqi commandant. Why are you still so stingy?”
Shen Leng said, “Oh, before you mentioned it, I had forgotten about it. Quick, give me a military salute. Be more serious. It will not look nice if you do it half-heartedly.”
Meng Changan looked at him. “I haven’t lost.”
Shen Leng pondered for a while. He felt that it was rather troublesome. “Entering hundreds of miles within the enemy’s territory to explore the area and create a map, and even bringing back hundreds of Heiwu people back, which is a matter of huge significance. These two things will bring glory to His Majesty, especially the second thing. Once His Majesty knows about this, he would be extremely overjoyed that he won’t be able to close his legs.”
Meng Changan replied, “Won’t be able to close his legs? Why would His Majesty open up his legs in the first place?”
Shen Leng said, “Ah…you’re a fella with absolutely no sense of humor. Once you report your achievements, I’m guessing that you will be handsomely rewarded. You are already a Class A Sixth pin military officer. They can easily promote you to a Fifth pin general. In other words, perhaps on my way back, you would have already won?”
Meng Changan replied, “Let’s hear how you feel.”
Shen Leng said, “There’s still enough time for me to silence people.”
Meng Changan was silent for a while before he asked earnestly, “Does Zhuang Yong still treat you well?”
“Yes.”
“Yeah…previously we said that we should compete and see who gets to Fifth pin first. From the looks of it, I’m definitely the winner. So…”
“I will not follow you. If I see your stupid face for too long, it’ll make me annoyed.”
Shen Leng turned around and looked towards the outside of the city. He thought to himself about how that must be the northern border’s snowy plain, which was also the place where Great Ning’s troops fought day and night against Heiwu’s men. Meng Changan did not choose to go there solely because of himself; he wanted to rise the ranks as fast as possible. Only then was he able to protect the things he wanted to protect…such as friendship.
“I heard that Heiwu people are very ferocious?”
“They’re alright.”
“I heard that Heiwu women are very pale and they are well-endowed?”
“Yeah.”
“Have you seen them before?”
“Yes, but they are not as beautiful as Shen Chayan.”
“Oh…”
Shen Leng laughed. “Do I even need you to tell me that? There is no other woman in this world who is more beautiful than Master Cha.”
Meng Changan could not help but shake his head. “If so, why did you ask?”
Shen Leng replied, “I thought that you chose to come to the northern border because you heard that Heiwu’s women are pale, tall and beautiful. I also heard that they reek of lamb meat.”
Meng Changan was speechless.
He stood next to Shen Leng on top of the city wall, looking at Great Ning’s cavalry making their way towards Feng Yan Tai from afar. The Great Ning military banner started to become more and more distinct, as well as the general’s flag with the word ‘Wu’ on it.
“There’s something odd about this. Why were you the one that came here?” asked Meng Changan.
Shen Leng laughed, “Who knows why Yanta Academy’s head likes you that much, to the extent that he sent someone to travel so far to look for me, and got me to rush all the way here to Feng Yan Tai to save your life. Did you get a new godfather behind my back in the academy?”
Meng Changan replied, “The academy head is already very old.”
“God-grandfather?”
“Scram…”
Shen Leng laughed for a while before he had a serious look on his face. “Actually, I’m sure you can already guess what exactly is happening. I’m 80% sure that His Majesty wants to get rid of the hidden threats within the military. Pei Xiao is definitely not the only one. In the four borders and depositories and nineteen garrisons of Great Ning…no, twenty garrisons, there should be quite a number of people like Pei Xiao.”
Meng Changan nodded. “Yeah, they are all from noble families. Especially after His Majesty ascended the throne, the situation became very complicated. At that time, His Majesty had an extremely high prestige within the military, which he attained because of Pei Tingshan and Tie Liuli, who killed for him. Hence, inevitably, His Majesty took better care of them. Because of their past, it made them more unbridled. Pei Tingshan is the prime example.”
Shen Leng said, “His Majesty is not planning for the next hundred years, but even longer. Hence, the hidden threats within the military must be eliminated. At that time, His Majesty heavily relied on people like Pei Tingshan and Tie Liuli – people who were not born into nobility, but people who made a stand and fought hard. When Great Ning was founded, everybody knew how domineering the nobles were. Most of the time, the previous emperors turned a blind eye. After all, establishing a new country is a difficult feat. Without the help of the nobles, Great Ning would not be this prosperous now.”
“Hence, His Majesty mainly used people from humble backgrounds in the military. But now, Pei Tingshan is supporting the huge Pei family all by himself. The eastern border is firmly in his hands now, as though it is his entire family’s wealth, refusing to allow outsiders to lay their hands on it. However, it does not belong to him. It belongs to Great Ning.”
Meng Changan looked at Shen Leng. He suddenly realized that the fella who used to look rude and impetuous like an idiot had already become very mature.
“The people His Majesty used to deal against nobles have become one of them.”
Shen Leng asked, “So we should be happy?”
“It’s not the time to be happy yet.”
Meng Changan looked at the troops outside the city that were closer and closer. “Why did I not receive reinforcements from the northern border this time? They were clearly close at hand, and yet they did not come to our rescue. It is because Tie Liuli had too many apprehensions. He knew what His Majesty wants, and who he wants to deal with. However, it’s impossible that he’s one of the people His Majesty wants to deal with. Hence, naturally, he cannot do things without hesitation.”
“Perhaps, it was not his idea alone.”
Shen Leng said plainly, “Survival of the fittest…His Majesty does not want talents who are being protected in every possible way. For example, Pei Xiao. Do you think that he was a worthless idiot? He came in second in the all-military competition. That year, he was second to Wu Xinyu. That shows how strong he was. However, why did he appear to be less strong? That’s because people like him are used to taking shortcuts. And when he took shortcuts, nobody was there to stop him.”
“While we were running on this path, competing with other people, he rode his family’s high horse, and surpassed us. When we get to our destination, pondering hard over how to open the gate to success, he entered via a back door, sitting inside looking down on us.
Meng Changan said, “His Majesty hates people like him.”
Shen Leng replied, “Oh…so what His Majesty wants is a group of people who had truly been through life and death situations. Like you and me.”
“Not interfering with life and death?” Meng Changan muttered to himself.
“It’s a good thing for us.”
Meng Changan saw that Wu Xinyu was beckoning to him down below. “I’m going to pretend to be thankful and thank him.”
Shen Leng asked, “What about me?”
Meng Changan replied, “Do you really want me to thank you?”
Shen Leng responded, “I accept cash too.”
Meng Changan said, “Why do I feel that you are exceptionally greedy for wealth?”
He was about to go down to greet Wu Xinyu, but he suddenly stopped in his tracks. When he turned around and looked at Shen Leng, there was worry and wariness in his eyes. He knew Shen Leng’s background very clearly. In fact, nobody was clearer than him. He also understood the taste of hardship. After he left home at the age of twelve, he never once asked a single cent from them. He even worked as a coolie at the pier, like Shen Leng. Everything Shen Leng had been through before, he had gone through the same. He knew what the biggest temptation was.
“You still don’t understand me.”
Shen Leng shrugged. “You don’t have to look at me like that.”
Meng Changan laughed with his eyes closed. “Next time, I won’t.”
He walked down to the city. His footsteps were more relaxed. He could see how clear Shen Leng’s eyes were.
“Of course I’m greedy for wealth.”
Behind him, Shen Leng said earnestly, “I need to provide for my wife in the future.”
Meng Changan stopped in his tracks. “In that case, you have a big dream.”
Shen Leng asked, “You really did not accept the academy head as your godfather?”
“No.”
“In that case, are you interested in becoming my future child’s godfather?”
Meng Changan continued walking. “I might not necessarily lose.”
Shen Leng was dumbfounded for a moment. ‘What…you want to compete in this too?”
“Leng.”
“Yeah.”
“In the future, I will not let you travel so far to save me again.”
“Oh, who’s willing to do that? It’s hard work and very troublesome too.”
“Yeah, exactly. So in the future, I will go through more hardships.”
“Oh, don’t need to thank me. Besides, you didn’t thank me.”
Meng Changan had already walked to the bottom of the city wall. He got his men to open the city gate. Wu Xinyu led 2,000 troops into Feng Yan Tai. The Heiwu people at a distance away from the city stopped walking for a while. Once they confirmed that they had no chance of making an attack, they left. Shen Leng stood on top of the wall, looking at the troops that gradually disappeared from his sight. He seemed to be able to sense a particularly ferocious and malicious glance.
“That pack of wolf cubs.”
Shen Leng lamented, “Indeed, they are harder to deal with than water bandits.”
Down below, Meng Changan welcomed Wu Xinyu and his troops. Wu Xinyu was very pleased and looked at him smilingly. However, he only said one word. “Congratulations.”
Meng Changan cupped his fist. He did not say a word.
Wu Xinyu leapt off the back of his horse and looked up to the top of the city wall. He saw Shen Leng’s back view. Thereafter, he felt rather emotional and said. “I could never understand women, but a true brother is very important to men. Sometimes women even feel jealous that occasionally, their men treat their brothers better…to be honest, I envy you a lot. Because I don’t have a brother as such.”
Meng Changan said calmly, “General, you do. Every single one of your subordinates is that kind of brother.”
Wu Xinyu’s facial expression changed. He cupped his fist. “I’ve learned something new.”
He looked at Pei Xiao, who was on the ground at a distance away. He looked extremely terrible – one could tell he died a miserable death.
“That violent?”
“Already tried to be as gentle as possible.”
“Oh…”
Wu Xinyu was silent for a moment before he said, “The great general is in An city. Take the brothers with you and head there. The great general is already waiting for you. Leave everything here to me.”
Meng Changan nodded. He did not question anything or anyone. Of course, Wu Xinyu knew what Meng Changan was thinking when he was put in the most life-threatening situations. Even he himself had those dark thoughts as well, let alone Meng Changan.
However, both of them were smart people – one did not ask and the other did not say anything.
Meng Changan beckoned to Shen Leng. After Shen Leng went down, he exchanged polite greetings with Wu Xinyu. Thereafter, he brought his men and left Feng Yan Tai. They were not far from An city. If they were to head there at full speed, it would only take them two hours to get there. An city was a newly constructed city. After Feng Yan Tai had been abandoned, that city became the new border town fort.
After Shen Leng and Meng Changan had left, Wu Xinyu called out to his soldiers. “Kill them all before giving them a proper burial. After all, they did it involuntarily.”
A group of soldiers charged forth. A moment later, all of Pei Xiao’s soldiers were killed.
The stench of blood drifted through the air once again and went up their noses and into their brains, lingering for a long, long time.