A special thank you to all my patrons.
The List of My "Wandering Reader":
-[ ]
-Cain
-Goha21
-Jacob Mooe
-Varun Madhu
-Mp Gaming
-Paul Panzer
-Austin Levy
-Aziz Makda
-TylerD
You can read 50 chapters ahead of everyone on p@treon.
P@TREON - p@treon.com/lessaservantofcosmos
(just replace the "@" with "a")
ps: Please support me on P@treon. I can really use your help!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Although Fei Qian strongly suspected Liu Biao would send Yi Ji as a replacement, he didn't wait idly. After expelling Liu Pan, he promptly resumed the march.
The wrestling tournament he had arranged that evening proved highly effective. Huang Zhong, understanding the unspoken purpose, demonstrated his martial prowess thoroughly, leaving the soldiers awestruck and obedient.
As the saying goes, "In scholarship, there is no undisputed first; in martial arts, no uncontested second." Debates could drag on endlessly with no side conceding, but in the military, strength spoke louder than words. Whoever had the bigger fists held the authority.
That night, Huang Zhong effortlessly defeated every squad leader and platoon commander. None could last more than a single exchange against him—most were floored instantly. From then on, the soldiers followed his orders without hesitation, with no hint of passive resistance.
In an era of cold steel warfare, survival on the battlefield depended heavily on one's commander's skill. Any soldier with a working brain preferred a fierce general over a coward.
Thus, after handing the tiger tally to Huang Zhong, Fei Qian stopped micromanaging. Under Huang Zhong's direction, the entire procession moved with greater efficiency and rhythm.
Huang Zhong divided the 800 troops into four rotating units—front, rear, left, and right—centered around the 100 private soldiers led by Huang Cheng. Unlike before, where the same 200 men bore the exhausting vanguard duties, now each unit took turns.
At fixed intervals, Huang Zhong would halt the vanguard for a brief rest, allowing the other units to catch up before rotating their positions clockwise. Though seemingly tedious, the results spoke for themselves. By nightfall, when setting up camp, all units worked at similar speeds—unlike the previous day, where the vanguard had been too exhausted to keep pace.
Fei Qian guessed Huang Zhong's reasons for this rotation:
1. Familiarity: Quickly acquaint himself with each unit to ensure smooth command when needed.
2. Efficiency: With a small force, switching positions wasted little time.
3. Experience: (Fei Qian smirked mischievously). Maybe Huang Zhong was grinding his leadership stats using these soldiers as training dummies...
That evening, they camped in the wilderness, far from any village or relay station.
To Fei Qian's eyes, Huang Zhong's camp layout was nearly flawless—only slightly imperfect due to limited equipment. He recalled intriguing passages from 'Six Secret Teachings' about wilderness encampments and defensive setups:
"Narrow paths and hidden trails: set traps, interlocking iron chains... In forests and wildlands, construct barriers with thorny hedges and encircling iron cables... Guard the gates with spears, halberds, and small shields... Scatter iron caltrops on narrow paths... In open grasslands, plant chest-level slanting pikes..."
In short: dig pits, lay tripwires, scatter caltrops, and conceal spike traps in tall grass.
'Ancient people were devious.'
As for whether any unlucky souls might stumble into these at night—Fei Qian shrugged. In the Han dynasty, commoners rarely ventured out after dark. Travelers camped early; those skulking around midnight were usually thieves or bandits...
Just as dusk settled, Yi Ji finally caught up, having pushed himself and his escort relentlessly. To save time, he had abandoned slow carriages, switching horses at each relay station without rest.
By the time he reached Fei Qian's camp, Yi Ji—though better prepared with leather thigh pads—could barely stand upon dismounting, collapsing straight to the ground. His guards fared worse, some with thighs rubbed raw and bleeding.
Fei Qian immediately ordered medical attention for them.
After resting, washing up, changing clothes, and eating, Yi Ji finally regained some energy. As an old acquaintance from Xiangyang and a fellow civil official, Fei Qian invited him to share his tent—spacious enough for three, now accommodating a fourth without crowding.
"You've had a grueling journey, Jibo," Fei Qian said, sitting on a straw mat as he removed his headpiece. 'This Yi Ji really is Liu Biao's trusted man—such dedication...'
"Official duties demand no less," Yi Ji replied, then produced a letter. "This is from Governor Liu."
Fei Qian skimmed it—unsurprisingly, Liu Biao omitted any mention of Liu Pan's dismissal. Instead, he emphasized the mission's importance, explaining Yi Ji's assignment as deputy to "assist and supplement" Fei Qian's efforts, urging their cooperation.
'No punishment for Liu Pan, then.' The letter's tone also subtly conveyed Liu Biao's displeasure.
'Doesn't matter if you're displeased—my goal's achieved.' Fei Qian made no fuss, retrieving the deputy seal and presenting it ceremoniously to Yi Ji.
Yi Ji accepted it solemnly, visibly relaxing once it was secured.
Fei Qian waited before asking, "It's an honor to have you join this mission, Jibo. Did Governor Liu give any special instructions?"
Yi Ji, organizing his belongings, paused briefly. "Didn't the letter cover everything? I'll naturally follow your arrangements..."
Fei Qian smiled but didn't press further. "Well, it's late, and you've had a taxing trip. Best rest early—we march again tomorrow."
'Though Yi Ji's words sounded compliant, they revealed at least two clues...'