In the camp of the Northwest Frontier Army in Yingzhou, Yan Chi welcomed Qin Guan and her party into the central command tent.
As soon as they entered, Qin Guan stated, "The Empress is severely injured and unlikely to recover, and the old general's health has also declined. Coupled with the fact that the current situation differs from before, the old general and the Crown Prince have abandoned their plan to contend for Lin'an. The Fifth Princess is currently in a border city of Northern Wei and will likely come to see the old general. Aside from General Cheng Wei and General Sun, there are nearly seventy thousand soldiers outside, all from the core Northern Garrison Army. Every one of them has voluntarily joined us. Some who have followed the old general for many years and have no family ties remain by his side, while others with relatives at home and no intention of joining have left the Northern Garrison Army to return home."
Qin Guan summarized the situation in a few words. As soon as she finished, Cheng Wei, Sun Qi, and others stepped forward to pay their respects. Over ten officers from the Northern Garrison Army had entered the tent. Cheng Wei, Sun Qi, and four or five others Yan Chi had met during the alliance meeting, while the rest he had never even seen before. However, since the Northern Garrison Army had come to join him, Yan Chi naturally treated them with warmth and respect. Although he no longer relied on them to contend for Lin'an, having one more friend was always better than having one more enemy.
Yan Chi immediately said, "Please rise, all of you. You have all guarded the northern border for many years, and I understand the hardships of such duty better than anyone. Now that you have come to join me, I will treat you no differently than I do the Northwest Frontier Army. Please, rise quickly—"
Yan Chi's words struck a chord with Cheng Wei and the others.
Guarding the northern border was as arduous as guarding the northwest frontier, far more challenging than ordinary garrison duties elsewhere. Moreover, they had to face two fierce tribes, the Rong and the Man. In this regard, the Northwest Frontier Army and the Northern Garrison Army were quite similar. Seeing that Yan Chi understood their hardships and still treated them with respect, even though he did not need their military strength at the moment, Cheng Wei and the others felt their worries ease. Recalling Yan Chi's reputation for bravery, skill in battle, and care for his soldiers, their sense of loyalty grew stronger.
Once they had risen, Yan Chi first let Qin Guan rest to the side and immediately summoned Chu Fei Sheng and Xiao Cheng inside. He ordered them to take charge of tallying the numbers of soldiers and officers in the Northern Garrison Army to arrange the integration of the two armies. After these arrangements were made, Cheng Wei and the others witnessed the decisive and efficient operational style of the Northwest Frontier Army. Moreover, Yan Chi's immediate arrangement for the merger, without any intention of demoting the Northern Garrison Army officers, clearly showed he held no grudges against them. Chu Fei Sheng, Xiao Cheng, and others were seasoned generals, straightforward and candid in their actions. Thus, even before considering the ordinary soldiers, the officers from both sides conversed happily and harmoniously.
After roughly tallying the numbers, Chu Fei Sheng went with Cheng Wei, Sun Qi, and others to arrange the encampment for the troops, finally leaving the central command tent empty. With no one else around, Yan Chi could no longer restrain himself and pulled Qin Guan into his embrace, saying, "This is quite a substantial gift."
Qin Guan laughed, "I set out two days late, so I had to bring a generous gift. How else could I avoid your blame?"
Yan Chi pinched her waist, "How dare you say that!"
Qin Guan giggled from the pinch. Yan Chi, overwhelmed with affection, could not help but whisper sweet nothings and share intimate moments with her. Only after easing his longing did he let Qin Guan go to freshen up. Once she had changed clothes, he spoke with her again, "Zhao You suddenly made such a decision; the Northern Garrison Army must be quite unsettled."Qin Guan took her seat and sipped tea, saying, "Exactly. The Northern Garrison Army knows the Northwest Frontier Army was ambushed, and they're aware you rushed south to Lin'an in fury. Moreover, the Northern Garrison Army is now short on provisions and can't hold out much longer. If they confront the Northwest Frontier Army, defeat is certain. Even delaying with troops in the north is extremely difficult. Rather than that, it's better to join us now. The old general trusts our character deeply, and Cheng Wei and the others greatly admire you. Thus, making this decision isn't hard. To put it another way, their master has lost his fighting spirit, so even if they wish to remain loyal, there's no path left. Given that, why not choose a new enlightened leader? They can preserve their lives and families, and perhaps even have a chance to serve the nation and earn promotions someday."
Yan Chi smiled, "This is largely thanks to you. You saved the Empress, and the old general is grateful to you in his heart. Otherwise, he might not have handed over the Northern Garrison Army so easily."
Zhao You's decisiveness certainly had something to do with Qin Guan, but with the current shift in circumstances, he had no choice but to follow the tide.
"The old general sees things clearly and isn't one to cling desperately to the throne. Knowing the inevitable outcome, he wouldn't make so many Northern Garrison Army soldiers suffer alongside him. Entrusting his trusted troops to reliable people is the best choice."
At this point, Qin Guan sighed again, "The events in Cangzhou hit the old general hard. His health is declining daily, and medicine can no longer cure him. With good medicine to sustain him, he might have a year or two left, perhaps longer. But if he faces hardship and exhaustion, it could be just half a year."
Zhao You spent half his life in the northern border for Great Zhou, much like Yan Lin. In that regard, Yan Chi held deep respect for him.
Yan Chi remarked, "So, the current situation is best for everyone."
After they talked for a while, night had completely fallen. It was early autumn now, and the days were shorter than in summer. Seeing it was dark, Yan Chi ordered simple meals to welcome Cheng Wei and the others. Since the incident with Gu Ling and Yu Qi, Chu Fei Sheng and the others had been on edge. Tonight, Yan Chi permitted them to drink. At first, Chu Fei Sheng and Xiao Cheng exchanged toasts with Cheng Wei's group, but after a few rounds, they couldn't help but think of Gu Ling and Yu Qi!
Chu Fei Sheng, eyes red, said, "We were supposed to return to the Northwest Frontier after a great victory and drink together properly. But now we're heading to Lin'an with His Highness, yet two are missing. This drink is for Gu Ling and Yu Qi—"
He let out another long sigh, "Not killed by enemies, but by the schemes of our own people. It's just... unjust! Unfair!"
Hearing this, Xiao Cheng and the others also reddened their eyes, pouring wine on the ground in tribute to the departed souls. Cheng Wei and Sun Qi, witnessing this, were deeply moved, reminded of the ten thousand comrades left behind in Cangzhou, and shared in the sorrow. Those who've never served as soldiers might not understand this feeling. Thus, the bond between the two armies grew stronger by three parts.
Mention of Gu Ling and Yu Qi inevitably pained Yan Chi's heart. Although everyone was allowed to drink a little tonight, the cup before him remained untouched.The night was pitch black, the sky shrouding the earth like a net woven by ghosts. Yan Chi's voice was cold as he declared, "At dawn we march, striking straight for Lin'an. Though Gu Ling and Yu Qi have fallen, their spirits watch us from beyond. We go to demand justice from the Son of Heaven!"
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