Chapter 1556: Obstruction
Qin San Lang intended to take in Guo Daming and his group for the sake of Zhang Yan.
Zhang Yan is now following them, but after all, he is not a soldier from He’an Prefecture. Due to the pursuit by Mrs. Jiao, many of his soldiers have died. If they go to the Northwest Camp, and the generals see that Zhang Yan has too few soldiers and decide to split them up, he would lose this ally.
By taking in Guo Daming and his group, they could gather more soldiers, so even if they merge, it would be with soldiers from the same Prefecture, making any undertaken task more cohesive and convenient.
Zhang Yan said, "I want to help them, but you are the leader, and I have not asked your opinion yet. I did not immediately agree with Guo Daming and sent him back first, intending to reply after consulting with you."
He added, "Guo Daming is a good person. When my family was being pursued by assassins, he led soldiers to help twice, but soldiers cannot be compared to assassins. His soldiers suffered thirty percent casualties and became too terrified, which is why they, along with other Company Commanders, abandoned us."
It’s understandable; you can’t expect people to die with you.
Qin San Lang asked, "Who are the other remaining Company Commanders? What are they like? How is their combat strength? How are their accompanying families?"
He needed to ascertain these details. If the other Company Commanders were a burden, he would not agree to help Zhang Yan no matter how much he wanted to.
Zhang Yan, being efficient, had already gathered all the information and relayed it to Qin San Lang.
Qin San Lang listened, frowning, and finally said, "Let Guo Daming bring his soldiers, along with the remaining soldiers of Company Commander Liu and Company Commander Zhang, as well as their accompanying families, but do not bring the remaining three Company Commanders."
The remaining three Company Commanders, surnamed Lin, Wu, and Peng, came from good families and, as a result, had picked up some bad habits. When Company Commander Liu and Company Commander Zhang died, the beautiful relatives of their soldiers caught the eye of Company Commander Wu, who boldly took one of them to his tent to do as he pleased.
It was fortunate that Guo Daming’s wife heard the commotion and called Guo Daming, who then rescued the woman.
However, when Guo Daming wanted to punish Company Commander Wu, Company Commander Lin and Company Commander Peng opposed him, saying that the woman’s husband was dead, and it was her good fortune that Company Commander Wu took a liking to her; she should consider it lucky to become a concubine of Company Commander Wu.
The woman was the wife of a small Section Leader and had known him since childhood. She was unwilling to serve Company Commander Wu, but Guo Daming was no match for the three of them, and ultimately, the woman was taken by Company Commander Wu and violated.
The woman was desperate. After her husband’s death, she had thought of ending her own life, but feared she might be pregnant and did not want to end her husband’s line. Thus, she stayed alive.
But after being violated by Company Commander Wu, she slit her own throat with a knife.
Qin San Lang was disgusted upon hearing this and detested such people, which is why he did not allow Company Commander Wu and his group to come.
Zhang Yan was also repulsed by this matter: "The Wu family is from Linhe Prefecture, a local noble family. To think they would commit such heinous acts."
After talking for a while, the two of them went to find Niu Dabao, Xie Cheng, and Company Commander Liu to discuss taking in Guo Daming’s group.
Along the way, everyone increasingly listened to Qin San Lang. Seeing him agree, there were naturally no objections.
Company Commander Cao took the opportunity to flatter Qin San Lang: "San Lang, thinking of fellow soldiers on the westward journey as you do, truly makes you an excellent young man."
Niu Dabao listened to this stiff flattery and clicked his tongue, saying, "Old Cao, think of your words next time before you speak. Forcing such words makes even me feel dry!"
Company Commander Cao’s face turned black. This damn Niu Dabao had such a fiery temper; didn’t he only hide when the bandits attacked? He had already repented, yet Niu Dabao still mocked him at every turn.
Nonetheless, the incident with the bandits made Niu Dabao see through Company Commander Cao and consider him untrustworthy, someone he would guard against for life. If possible, he would leave Company Commander Cao to fend for himself!
Knowing Niu Dabao’s temper, Company Commander Cao dared not retort, fearing even harsher insults, and left promptly after Qin San Lang dismissed the meeting.
Niu Dabao said, "That Cao fellow used to seem decent, but now he’s becoming more and more worthless. San Lang, we have to be wary of him."
He then looked towards Company Commander Liu.
Company Commander Liu said, "What are you looking at me for? I listen to whatever San Lang says."
But inside, he felt guilty because he had also accepted many benefits from the Ding Family and only switched sides to help San Lang at the last moment.
Niu Dabao snorted but said nothing further and asked Qin San Lang, "San Lang, with Company Commander Liu and Company Commander Zhang dead, and many soldiers lost under their command, what will happen to the families left without men?"
Qin San Lang had already thought it through: "First let them stay at the Manor, and when the Lei Family’s Trading Team goes south for goods, they can accompany them back south."
With their men dead, it wasn’t possible for the women and children to head to the Northwest. The best solution was for the Lei Family’s Trading Team to take them back to their hometown.
"That’s a good plan!" Niu Dabao was pleased and said to Zhang Yan, "It’s settled, send someone to notify Guo Daming quickly."
Zhang Yan nodded and promptly sent someone on horseback to inform Guo Daming.
Upon hearing the news, Guo Daming and his group were overwhelmed with joy and disbelief, asking, "Brother, is this really true? We can actually move to the Lei Family’s Manor and travel west with you?"
The messenger said, "Yes, after discussions among several Company Commanders, they agreed. You can pack your things and head to the Lei Family’s Manor tomorrow."
He added a reminder: "Company Commander Zhang asked me to remind you all that Qin Company Commander at the He’an Prefecture Tianfu County Military Office is very capable, and the leader of our army, and we all listen to him. Since you are traveling with us, you must also listen to him and not disrupt the cohesion of our team."
Having journeyed this far, everyone had finally united as one, and they could not allow newcomers to break the close-knit team apart.
Guo Daming said, "Rest assured, brother, we understand. We know about Qin Company Commander. Though young, his skills are truly admirable."
He quickly instructed his subordinate Section Leader, "Lu Zi, quickly share the good news with the crew and tell them to get up early tomorrow. We’re heading to the Lei Family’s Manor."
"Got it." Lu Zi was delighted and hurried to spread the news.
But Company Commander Wu and his group were infuriated upon hearing the news and confronted Guo Daming, demanding, "What does Zhang Yan mean by this? Why aren’t we allowed to go to the Lei Family’s Manor with you?"
The Lei Family’s Manor was indeed valuable. The Lei Family’s Trading Team had great influence in the Northwest, and if they could curry favor with the Lei Family, their future would be brighter.
Guo Daming replied, "Company Commander Wu, it’s not that Company Commander Zhang disagrees, but he cannot decide alone. Several other Company Commanders are involved, and without their consent, what can Company Commander Zhang do?"
Grateful to Zhang Yan, Guo Daming did not want Company Commander Wu to resent him and thus spoke on Zhang Yan’s behalf.
However, Company Commander Wu was a rogue and started to act up: "Don’t talk nonsense with me. We will also go to the Lei Family’s Manor, or else none of you will leave! Huh, thinking you can abandon us and go to the Lei Family’s Manor yourselves to enjoy life, dream on!"