After the Immortal Disappeared

He was still unaware of the murders in town, but he recognized Hong Chenglu. A look of surprise crossed his face. "Hong Chenglu, what are you doing here?"

Hong Chenglu smiled. "Someone asked me to find you."

"Ah? Who?"

"Liu Yalin."

The first youth to be beheaded just now was named Liu Yalin. Chen Youjiao was stunned, then snapped angrily, "What nonsense are you talking about!"

"He said to take your time, that he'd wait for you to travel the road together."

Chen Youjiao's subordinate snarled, "Watch your mouth!" He raised his scabbard to strike the tall man across the face.

And then he was sent flying backward.

He crashed into a tree trunk as thick as a bowl over ten feet away, snapping it in two.

The Official had already vomited up a massive amount of blood in mid-air. By the time he landed, he was no longer breathing. A large, fist-sized crater was caved into his chest.

Chen Youjiao's other subordinate, who could hardly be called loyal, took two steps back at the sight before crying out, "Boss, watch out—"

He had just started to speak when an object came flying, rapidly growing larger in his vision before it slammed into his face.

The man fell flat on his back.

What had struck him down was the first victim's saber, still in its scabbard.

Only then did Chen Youjiao feel fear. He drew the saber from his waist and shouted, "What are you doing! I was carrying out my official duties! Those three were—were sentenced to death according to the law!"

Hong Chenglu's voice was grim. "This June, you failed to suppress the bandits, so you arrested innocent people from Jiuling Gully to pad your numbers and claim rewards. Was that also 'according to the law'?"

"That's a lie! You're spouting—"

With a soft SHINK, Chen Youjiao's words were cut short. He stared, wide-eyed and slack-jawed, at Hong Chenglu. The latter paid him no more mind and turned toward the carriage.

Three steps later, Chen Youjiao's upper body suddenly slid to the ground.

He had been sliced clean through, from his left breast to his right ribs. The cut was perfectly even.

Seeing his own legs still standing on the ground, Chen Youjiao let out a bloodcurdling scream. Blood gushed out, soaking the sandy soil beneath him.

A man cut in half at the waist does not always die instantly. One with a stronger constitution might linger for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, enduring immense suffering before finally breathing his last.

Hong Chenglu got into the carriage and glanced out the window. "Let's go."

'Casually killing someone to christen the blade... I guess that's one way to close the book on that chapter of my life.'

Wuu Qing clapped his hands in praise. "General Hong, your treasured saber has not grown old." He had been watching without blinking, yet he hadn't even seen how Hong Chenglu drew his blade.

Hong Chenglu chuckled. "Am I that old?"

'Without the shackles of his oath, he felt a weight lift from his shoulders.'

'This was what it meant to be alive.'

'For the past few years, he had been nothing but a walking corpse.'

「One double-hour later, the carriage arrived at Wue Family Manor.」

The manor was hidden near a stretch of forest, far from the Official Road. Aside from the occasional lost traveler, almost no strangers ever came near.

Though called a "manor," it was actually a stockade, surrounded by a solid ring of chevaux de frise with spikes facing outward, clearly meant to keep out bandits and robbers.

Wuu Qing showed his face and called out. Someone from inside came out to move the barricades, allowing the carriage to enter.

Hong Chenglu disembarked and, with Wuu Qing leading the way, first settled his wife into a small wooden cabin nearby.

Though the cabin was small, it was fully furnished—far better than his dilapidated house in Bailu Town. Even the brazier burning brightly at the foot of the bed was a sunken hearth, complete with a stone guardrail around the edge.

Although the dozen or so wooden cabins, large and small, were silent, Hong Chenglu could still sense that they were all occupied.

Once he had his wife settled, Wuu Qing led him to the central cabin.

The moment the door opened, more than ten people inside rose to their feet.

Wuu Qing made the introductions. "Everyone, this is the General Hong our master has been so eager to meet." Then, to Hong Chenglu, he said, "We have infiltrated Xiazhou. These are the leaders of our various teams."

The two sides exchanged greetings.

Hong Chenglu also noticed a scholar in blue robes sitting in the corner. The man wore a mask and neither spoke nor rose to greet them. A brown-furred monkey squatted by his knees.

He couldn't tell what breed it was, but it was a size larger and more robust than an ordinary monkey. It was rubbing its hands together to warm them by the fire, and even pushed a few chestnuts closer to the flames. It seemed quite intelligent.

Wuu Qing invited both sides to sit, then said, "Three of our squads were intercepted by the Xiazhou Army. They've exaggerated their success tenfold and are boasting about it everywhere. The Xiazhou people are completely fooled, thinking the New Chief Steward has brought about a new era. By the way, the New State Official of Xiazhou, Hee Chunhua, has already taken up his post. Marshal Nian has a blood feud with him over the death of his son. This news has already reached Marshal Nian, and he has ordered us to find a way to cut off their grain supply lines."

"Spring is almost here. If we let Zhao Pan's army make it through the season and wait for the summer grain harvest, it will be even more difficult to push the front line south."

Even if Wuu Qing hadn't said it, everyone present was well aware that Yuanbei's combat results were far below expectations. Wuu Qing looked at Hong Chenglu. "General Hong, my master recommended you to Marshal Nian. Marshal Nian hopes you will lead the upcoming operations."

'Hope?' Nian Zanli just wanted to test his mettle. Hong Chenglu nodded. "Alright. Is there a Sand Table?"

Someone immediately took out a square box and placed it on the table, unfolding it.

It was clearly a Magical Artifact. When folded, it looked like a tea tray, but when unfolded, it covered the entire tabletop. The sand inside quickly molded itself into the topography of the entire Xiazhou region.

"The last three defeats—where did they happen?"

Wuu Qing broke off a twig and pointed to three spots on the map. "Our three Ranger units were ambushed at these locations. The Xiazhou Prefecture posted a notice saying the two commanding generals, Zhao Qinghe and Wu Shaoyi, are both subordinates of Hee Chunhua. As far as I know, Wu Shaoyi was originally one of Hong Xiangqian's old subordinates who was later recruited by Hee Chunhua. As for the other one, Zhao Qinghe, we have no specific information."

"The combat effectiveness of Xiazhou's government troops is pathetic. To be defeated by them is unthinkable." Hong Chenglu had lived in Xiazhou for several years; he knew exactly what kind of soldiers the local troops were. They were experts at faking headcounts, pocketing pay for ghost soldiers, and slacking off, but they were completely useless on a real battlefield.

At these words, the other commanders looked embarrassed.

"The last defeat was mainly because we were caught off guard." Hong Chenglu already had a plan forming. "Since we're deploying Rangers, three hundred men per unit is far too many. They need to be leaner. Otherwise, their movements will be easily spotted and reported. Xiazhou isn't the Great Plains. A group of three hundred men still needs to eat, drink, sleep, and relieve themselves. They're too conspicuous coming and going."

"How would you propose we coordinate?"

"We have more than one base in Xiazhou, don't we?" Hong Chenglu said. "Break up the units. Each squad should be no more than ten men, disguised as traveling merchants to move between towns and villages gathering intelligence. Everyone else stays at the bases. No going out without reason."

"I hear the new State Official is quite capable," one of them said. "He's secured a large amount of military supplies and is constantly shipping them to the front." No wonder Marshal Nian was so agitated.

"A shipment was sent ten days ago. When it passed through Bailu Town, a few villagers managed to steal two cartloads of grain. That shows how lax the guards are." Hong Chenglu tapped a few spots on the Sand Table. "When transporting grain from south to north, no matter the initial route, they can't avoid these three major thoroughfares: Bailu Town, Xinhuang, and Jiazhai Pass."

Wuu Qing nodded. "Indeed. It was at Xinhuang that Hee Chunhua's army attacked our forces and won, thereby securing that shipment of grain."

The commanders exchanged glances. "Are we going to lie in wait at these three places?" Even with a one-in-three chance, the odds of picking the wrong spot were high.

"Correct," Hong Chenglu said. "When intelligence is lacking, the simple method is the best method. How many men do we have?"

Wuu Qing stated a number.

"Good. We'll divide our forces and cover Bailu Town and Xinhuang. Forget Jiazhai Pass. Send spies disguised as merchants into the town. This time, we'll be the ones ambushing the grain convoy."

A commander asked doubtfully, "Forget Jiazhai Pass?"

"I've been to Jiazhai Pass. The Official Road there has been in disrepair for years and is very difficult to travel. Plus, its defenses are weak, and it's overrun with bandits. If I were the Grain Transport Officer, I wouldn't choose that route either. In contrast, the Official Roads to Bailu Town and Xinhuang are straight and well-maintained. The two towns are no more than forty li apart, making it easy to send for reinforcements if needed," Hong Chenglu analyzed. "Besides, we're short on men. We need to concentrate our forces, so let's stick to the Bailu Town and Xinhuang routes."

The commanders answered in unison, "Yes, sir!"

Hong Chenglu was a veteran of many campaigns. He knew that as a commander who had just dropped in, they wouldn't necessarily be convinced by him bossing them around. 'Besides, when is war ever a sure thing?'

'As long as you win, whatever you say is right.'

The group then discussed further and made more detailed arrangements.

「Two days later, Wuu Qing, who had hurried out, rushed back in to report to Hong Chenglu: "Our contact in Dunyu sent word! A convoy of over nine hundred grain carts from the south has reached Qingping Village!"」

The military council session didn't end until after dark.

Wuu Qing was a merchant, responsible only for intelligence and logistics, not direct combat.

He was just about to go take inventory of the horses and medicine when a soldier hurried over. "Lord Wuu, General Hong's wife requests your presence."

Wuu Qing was surprised. He pointed to his own nose and asked, "She's looking for me?"

"Yes, yes."

"Is there something wrong with the arrangements?"

"This subordinate doesn't know."

Hong Chenglu was presiding over the military council at that moment. Wuu Qing thought for a moment, then headed to Hong Chenglu's quarters.

The door was ajar. He knocked gently. "Madam?"

Ajin's voice came from within. "Please, come in."

Wuu Qing entered and saw Ajin leaning against the headboard, covered by a quilt with a pillow propped behind her back. The brazier at the foot of the bed burned brightly, making the room as warm as spring. With food and warmth from the charcoal, her complexion was much rosier than it had been during their escape, and some of the spirit had returned to her eyes.

"Madam, is there any part of your accommodations that is unsatisfactory?"

"No, everything is wonderful," Ajin said softly. "I hear that you, Mr. Wuu, are in charge of planning all the supplies for the entire force?"

"That's right. I'm responsible for the food, drink, and daily needs of these several hundred people." 'Pies don't just fall from the sky, after all.'

"I'd like to ask Mr. Wuu to find something for me," Ajin said. "I heard from Mr. Hong that the Scouts and spies who infiltrated enemy nations from the Beiga Kingdom used to carry this with them. You must have one too, right, Mr. Wuu?"

She then requested an item. Upon hearing what it was, the color drained from Wuu Qing's face. He waved his hands frantically. "Absolutely not, absolutely not! If I dared to give you that, General Hong would chop me to pieces!"

"Just in case of an emergency," Ajin sighed softly. "If there were good days to look forward to, if there were any hope of recovery, why would I ever consider such a thing?"

No matter what she said, Wuu Qing refused.

Ajin glanced at the sky, afraid Hong Chenglu might return at any moment. Her expression hardened. "If you refuse, I'll tell Mr. Hong that you slighted me, insulted me behind my back, and threatened to throw me in a ditch."