Chapter 1667: Hot Potato
Qin San Lang stepped out and saluted Vice General Ma: "Greetings, Vice General Ma. In response to Vice General Ma, I am indeed Qin San Lang from Tianfu County, He’an Prefecture, the one who killed Leimuqin. However, this achievement of killing the enemy general was not solely my own. The slaying was accomplished with the combined efforts of my brothers."
"You sure talk a lot," Vice General Ma said with slight dissatisfaction, then added, "But remembering the merits of your comrades is a good thing."
When driving away insects outside the city, General Zhou had already sent his personal soldiers to inform Vice General Ma about Qin San Lang’s affairs.
General Zhou specifically mentioned that Qin San Lang killed Leimuqin, which is a significant achievement. If such a person is recruited under General Xu’s command, when the officials in the Capital discuss Qin San Lang’s achievements, they would associate them with General Xu, benefiting him.
Furthermore, Qin San Lang’s wife concocted Insect Attractant and cleverly presented it to the Emperor in the name of the Kangrong Soldiers, earning another achievement, one that could win over soldiers and curry favor with the Emperor. Therefore, they must recruit Qin San Lang and not push him to other generals!
Vice General Ma was not foolish and naturally wouldn’t push such talent away.
Yet, he was a vice general, much higher in rank than Qin San Lang. Upon first meeting such a young man who accomplished great achievements, he naturally had to assert himself and curb Qin San Lang’s arrogance.
However, Qin San Lang’s performance pleased him greatly.
This lad has a composed demeanor and shows respect to his superiors, making him worthy of promotion.
But an untimely voice rang out: "Not bad? Using sedative to poison and then decapitate Leimuqin, such a disgraceful deed can still be considered not bad?"
Duan Changling, accompanied by his two deputy generals and a team of personal soldiers, walked in, stared at Vice General Ma, and laughed: "When the Rong bandits besieged the city, you didn’t come. Only when the Rong bandits ran away did you arrive. Such an effortless achievement you have claimed!"
He then pointed at Vice General Ma and asked: "How did you get injured? Could it be that you encountered the Rong bandits we drove away and got hurt by them?"
This remark was full of ridicule, almost directly stating that Vice General Ma and his men were so incompetent that they couldn’t even handle a group of fleeing soldiers.
Duan Changling was the Commander Vice Magistrate, a rank higher than Vice General Ma, but Vice General Ma wasn’t afraid of him. General Xu had said that Duan Changling was a fool—too greedy, arrogant, and unlikable—which is why he was sent to the Northwest to fight.
However, General Xu had reservations about Duan Changling being sent to fight the Rong, as the Rong people were fierce, and what he needed were capable fighters, not useless individuals.
Vice General Ma said: "Vice Magistrate Duan is correct; indeed, we encountered the retreating Rong bandits. Those Rong bandits were genuinely formidable and numbered over ten thousand. Thanks to General Xu personally supervising our training regularly, we managed to escape alive despite the massive encirclement of Rong bandits."
These words turned a defeat into a victory in narration, while invoking General Xu to press Duan Changling.
As for the matter of Qin San Lang using sedative to poison and decapitate Leimuqin, Vice General Ma didn’t elaborate.
Qin San Lang was merely a Company Commander, and drawing him into the upper-level contention would only harm him. Since they had their eyes on this asset, they would protect him to some extent.
Duan Changling wished he could crush Xu You into pieces; they both came from the same base camp, and back then, Duan’s rank was higher than Xu You’s. Yet now, he was subordinate to Xu You—really infuriating.
Duan Changling wanted to retort, but considering Xu You was already a first-rank official, he could only swallow his resentment and say to Vice General Ma: "Have you heard about Luo Ying from the Eagle Food Gang?"
Vice General Ma naturally knew, but pretended to be oblivious: "I’m unaware. Please enlighten me, Vice Magistrate Duan."
Duan Changling sneered and said: "Luo Ying, this bandit, has held General Dai captive, relying on his merit in defending the city, and has yet to release him. Vice General Ma, being a trusted aide of Xu You, the rescue mission for General Dai is now yours."
He continued: "Xu You and I hail from the same base camp. I know he’s very capable in leading troops, and since you’re his confidant, you undoubtedly possess significant skills. I’ll give you three hours to safely rescue General Dai. If anything happens to him, Minister Dai won’t let you go."
Hmph, think only you know how to use Xu You as leverage? I too can use Minister Dai to crush you!
"Hurry and go rescue him." Duan Changling, having tossed aside this hot potato, rose and walked out.
General Zhou was quite enraged; this Duan Changling was utterly useless, yet very adept at making things difficult for others.
Vice General Ma said: "Brother Zhou, don’t be angry. Luo Ying won’t kill General Dai."
He merely wants to use General Dai as a hostage. Once Luo Ying safely leaves Xing’an Prefecture, he will naturally release General Dai.
General Zhou asked upon hearing this: "What do you mean, Brother Ma?"
Vice General Ma replied: "General Dai is the nephew of Minister Dai. Being kidnapped by bandits, we naturally need to send people to rescue him. But, as the bandits are ferocious and ruthless, for General Dai’s safety, we must first send people to negotiate. If it fails, then we’ll think of ways to rescue him."
Magistrate Hao nearly laughed upon hearing this; by the time negotiations are done, it’ll be time for Luo Ying to leave Xing’an Prefecture—saving will be too late.
Nonetheless, Duan Changling has tossed the task of rescuing General Dai to Vice General Ma and his men, so General Dai’s outcome has nothing to do with him; he feels relieved.
"Vice General Ma, when are you setting out to aid Long’an Prefecture? If you’re not leaving within these two days, let the soldiers help both inside and outside Xing’an Prefecture with repairing city walls, gates, and killing poisonous insects," Magistrate Hao lamented. "You have no idea how prolific these poisonous insects are; one can produce dozens of offspring. Now, Xing’an Prefecture is swarming with them inside and out, and we need to eradicate them, or both humans and animals in the city will perish."
Vice General Ma had witnessed the ferocity of these poisonous insects, and he was wary of them, so he agreed: "Alright, I will order the soldiers to help kill the insects."
He turned to Qin San Lang and said, "We’ve brought some medicinal materials; take what you need to make Insect Attractant and bring them to Lei Family’s Courtyard."
The myriad poisonous insects required a lot of Insect Attractant; they needed to produce the medicine promptly.
As for the formula for Insect Attractant?
That’s the Emperor’s property, and General Xu had instructed that the Emperor’s temperament differs from ordinary people; coveting Imperial tributes means courting death!
Moreover, with them recruiting Qin San Lang, as long as they secured him, lacking Insect Attractant would not be a problem.
Undoubtedly, the people trained by General Xu were very intelligent. Whether Vice General Ma or General Zhou, they didn’t trouble Qin San Lang but sought to recruit him, exhibiting much greater wisdom than Duan Changling.
"Yes, low-level general, I will go select the medicinal materials immediately." Qin San Lang couldn’t bear staying there acting, so he readily agreed, following Zhang Yan and a Company Commander under Vice General Ma to choose the medicinal materials.
After picking them out, they hauled the materials straight to Lei Family’s Courtyard.
Zhang Yan was eager to return, rode ahead of the group, and upon turning into the alley where Lei Family’s Courtyard was, saw from afar a tiny figure sitting on the steps, peering towards the street corner: "Brother Yi!"