Chapter 674 - Alliance Meeting at Huangshui (XI)

Chapter 674: Alliance Meeting at Huangshui (XI)

“…I’m afraid that there will hardly be any result to this alliance meeting… No matter how many troops we bring, it’ll just be a mere formality,” Jiang Pengji muttered, pinching her chin. All kinds of thoughts went through her mind. She said, “To prevent the Red Lotus Group from resurrecting, I can’t transfer too many of the troops away from Wanzhou. I’ve decided to bring 10,000 troops for the rescue of the Emperor. 6,000 of them will be elite soldiers and 4,000 will be recruits. All the remaining troops will stay behind to guard our rear…”
Qiguan Rang, Feng Jin, and the others furrowed their brows. They very much disapproved of her suggestion.
Bring only 10,000 troops?
Although Wanzhou’s troops were under pressure and the province’s foundation was unstable, the whole thing was wretched.
Their lord would be personally leading their troops to the alliance meeting. With only 10,000 troops, how could she keep up appearances?
Her subordinates had their concerns, but they did not utter a word of them yet. Instead, it was the livestream viewers who expressed their dissatisfaction first.
The long-lived Su Muqiu: No, host, you’re going to look so shabby! No matter what, you’re still the magistrate of Wanzhou, even if you’re still an illegal one. You may not feel that it’s shabby to bring only 10,000 men with you to the alliance meeting, but others might think that you’re down and out. Think of the distant past when even the heads of some gangs could get dozens of groups of men to show up for a confrontation. If you bring only 10,000 troops, they’ll look down on you. Speaking of the alliance meeting, I am reminded of the 18 princes’ punitive expedition against Dong. If they also make a fuss about electing a leader for the alliance, you will be sidelined by bringing only 10,000 soldiers.
Quick hands expert Yu Wenzhou: Haha, to the user above me, are you possessed by the @ThereticentHuangShaotian?
Old drivers’ cute alliance: Motherf*cker, can’t you guys change your IDs? And long-lived? Watching the livestream makes me feel like I’ve been stabbed multiple times.
Super talented Guo Fengxiao: Although this series of IDs is rather heart-wrenching, Xiao Susu is not wrong. With the current situation, the host will be completely looked down upon by bringing only 10,000 troops. Whether it is the alliance meeting or the election of the leader, she won’t be able to get in on the action.
During the fierce quarrel between the viewers in the livestreaming room, a few of the counselors started to show disapproving expressions, but their faces soon returned to normal as if they had suddenly thought of something.
This change got the attention of some viewers. They all started to ask for answers that would clear up their confusion.
Liu Xi is my husband: Have you noticed that some counselors objected at first? Why did they calm down?
I live next door and my surname is Wang: Yeah… all my attention was on the fight playing out on the bullet screen just now. Did I miss something?
Old Wang is inferior, Old Song is strong: I know the general situation. By the way, have you all forgotten that the host’s father, Liu She, the Chongzhou magistrate?
Yes, it was as the livestream viewer, Old Song, said. The counselors did not say anything because they have remembered Liu She.
Liu She had also responded to the Emperor’s call for all troops to rescue him in the capital.
Jiang Pengji might be bringing only 10,000 troops with her, but she would be joining her forces with those of her father, Liu She. Which of the participants in the alliance meeting for the rescue of the Emperor could best the pair of father and “son”?
According to the original plan, Jiang Pengji had planned to bring between 15,000 and 20,000 troops, but she’d abandoned the idea after further analysis of the situation in Wanzhou. Feng Jin and the others did not know it, but Jiang Pengji knew very well that she had her obvious enemies as well as hidden enemies to deal with.
The obvious enemies were easy to deal with, but the hidden enemies were a thorny problem.
She had misgivings about the situation in Wanzhou. Therefore, after going over the two choices multiple times, she’d chosen the more secure plan.
It was indeed very embarrassing and unsightly for Jiang Pengji to take 10,000 troops to participate in the alliance meeting for the rescue of the Emperor. However, she was very certain that no one would dare to scorn her for it.
“We offer the best wishes for our lord’s immediate success.”
Jiang Pengji laughed and said, “We’ll encourage one another.”
Before the meeting adjourned, Jiang Pengji called out to Wei Ci. “Zixiao, stay for a while. I need your help with something.”
Wei Ci agreed with a calm expression. Yang Si stared at his friend’s face with a complicated gaze before being dragged away by Feng Zhen.
They walked out of the government office. Fengzhen tucked his hands into his sleeves, a dissolute smile on his face.
“Yang Jing Rong, you haven’t gotten married as yet. Do you have some trouble that you find hard to talk about?”
Yang Si rolled his eyes peevishly. Feng Zhen would be his partner for a while, it would be best to be polite to him.
“What do you mean?”
Feng Zhen smiled. “I saw you glance at Zixiao a total of 22 times today.”
This was a bolt of lightning from the out of the blue.
Yang Si’s knees went weak and he almost fell over.
“You wastrel, do you think everyone is as indiscriminate as you?” Yang Si was so angry that he was nearly frothing at the mouth.
Feng Zhen smiled, a strange light flashing across his eyes. “Although I’m a wastrel, men are not my type.”
Yang Si flung his sleeves in a rage. “They are not my type either!”
Feng Zhen scoffed and put a hand on Yang Si’s shoulder. He coaxed him to the side and asked in a whisper, “Did you find out something?”
Yang Si’s heart thumped and he looked a little green. He deliberately tried to cover it up by saying, “What did you mean by ‘find out something’? I have things to do, I won’t be mired in this conversation any longer.”
“Zixiao and the lord. Do you guys have something going on?” Feng Zhen’s lips turned up as he said matter-of-factly, “At today’s meeting, not only did you glance at Zixiao 22 times, you also glanced at his lordship with a veiled expression 23 times… Tell me, what interesting things did you find out?”
Yang Si felt suffocated. He would have to work with a gossipy wastrel during the alliance meeting.
“If you’re curious, ask them yourselves.”
Feng Zhen helplessly gathered his sleeves. “I did. His lordship and Zixiao bluntly denied anything. You know how they are, I don’t want to play any mind games with them. By trying to trick something out of them, I might lose everything that I’m working towards if I’m careless…”
Yang Si harrumphed inwardly.
He didn’t want to play any mind games with Feng Zhen either. While Feng Zhen was thoroughly shameless, he was not.
Feng Zhen said, “The kitchen perfected a new dish some time ago. It’s sweet and sour, very appetizing. Do you want to try something new?”
Yang Si didn’t reply.
He couldn’t move him with words, so he was changing tactics by tempting him with food?
Was he, Yang Jing Rong, someone who had no morals or integrity when it came to food?
“Oh, let’s go, it’s almost lunchtime.”
Yang Si started walking with a smile on his face as his mind went to work.
According to Jiang Pengji, she wanted to reveal her true identity. Why not test Feng Zheng’s limits?
Since the two had been selected by their lord for the expedition, it was not all that unusual for them to have a meal together. Were they not allowed to discuss strategies while eating?
Neither of them was a stickler for the rules. Not talking while eating or something like that… They would keep up appearances when there were outsiders around. Otherwise, they would just act casually.
When Feng Zhen heard Yang Si’s “guess,” he nearly choked on a piece of tenderloin and coughed loudly.
“Jing Rong, are you making fun of me?” Feng Zhen looked like a mess. He’d lost that usual air of degeneracy. On the contrary, he seemed to have become presumptuous and opinionated like a teenager in an instant. “You suspect that our lord is a woman… This is the biggest joke on earth. I tell you, if a woman can look like our lord, I’ll never be able to find a wife in this lifetime. I’ll probably be reduced to raiding an innocent family and kidnapping their son to be my husband.”
Yang Si was silent.
Feng Zhen couldn’t help but think of the time when he and Jiang Pengji had sneakily drunk alcohol and ate meat. His desire to roast and ridicule erupted.
“The lord does have even a slightly feminine air about him. No matter how you look, he’s clearly a man. Fengyi County was not so busy when I first arrived; our lord and I drank and went to the brothels in private more than a few times… Whenever he was around, the courtesans couldn’t be bothered to look at anyone else. Whatever bawdy songs, stories from the marketplace, racy stories, and degenerate words came out of our mouths, he would only request to hear more. But you’re saying that someone like this… a gluttonous creature steeped in worldly experiences… is a woman? How could you believe it?”
Yang Si didn’t have an answer.
He didn’t believe it either.