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墨書 Inktalez
Xu Zhen felt increasingly uneasy as she pondered the situation. Whether it was Gao Zhensheng or the scheming Hou Junji, both were adept at manipulation. The events of the night had nearly led to disaster, and it was truly hard to guard against such cunning.
In her gloom, communication with Zhang Jiunian became difficult, so she returned to her camp alone. Before long, Caesar entered the tent and saw Xu Zhen looking dispirited. He felt a pang of sympathy but feigned sarcasm, saying, "A little turbulence has brought you to this state; how will you accomplish anything in the future?"
In the past, Xu Zhen would have responded with banter and teased him playfully. However, feeling overwhelmed with frustration, she vented her feelings: "When have I ever thought about achieving great things? Is it enjoyable to bear the weight of hundreds of lives? Is it thrilling to fight and kill every day? Had I known this would happen, I should have just lived idly in Chang'an and worked as a male entertainer in a Brothel Management!"
After exhaling deeply, Xu Zhen continued to express her grievances: "I just buried hundreds of lives, and now I've been lured into a trap again. It seems like I’m sending another group of these Brothers to their deaths. I’m at a loss for solutions; this Lord is so useless that he’s even worse than Liu A-Dou!"
Once she had poured out her frustrations, Xu Zhen felt inexplicably wronged. She buried her head and ignored Caesar, feeling utterly helpless.
Caesar had initially intended to provoke her into action, hoping she would find courage through shame. However, seeing that Xu Zhen was clearly overwhelmed, he felt a deep sense of guilt that nearly crushed him. He realized that this young woman was only in her twenties and merely a lowly figure skilled in Illusion, yet she was shouldering the burdens of a general—truly an unfair situation.
Thinking of this made Caesar feel compassion. Observing the rise and fall of Xu Zhen's back, he guessed she was trying hard to suppress her sobs. Reflecting on her journey thus far caused him pain akin to being pricked by needles. He disregarded the formalities between master and servant and slowly approached her, pulling her head into his embrace while gently stroking her long hair.
Whenever Xu Zhen recalled the many fallen Brothers, the nightmares she endured each night, the hidden enemies plotting against her, and the difficult path she had walked, all her grievances erupted at once. She clung to Caesar's waist, burying her face in his chest, crying uncontrollably despite any sense of male pride.
The saying goes that men do not easily shed tears unless they reach a point of deep sorrow. Since ancient times, countless lives have been lost for one general's success. Xu Zhen could not stand those who were overly sentimental; she had believed she could be decisive and ruthless, roaring through Tang Dynasty and reaching the pinnacle of life. Little did she know that human lives were at stake; each time she faced her conscience's interrogation and condemnation, she realized that brotherhood mattered more than power—she could not become a ruthless tyrant who disregarded human life.
Only at this moment did she feel Caesar's tender affection—like that of a neighborly sister with boundless understanding and compassion. Because of this moment of weakness, she saw the most maternal and beautiful side of this cold-blooded Female Assassin.
As time passed for Xu Zhen, peace returned to Xu Zhenxin, yet she still held onto Caesar, relishing in the softness and warmth of his embrace. It seemed as if all pain and resentment dissipated; all she wanted was to sleep peacefully in this warm and fragrant embrace for several days.
However, one sentence from Caesar abruptly brought Xu Zhen back to reality.
"Xu Lang, I am just a wild girl who has experienced countless life-and-death situations. I have no strategies for conquest, but I know that wherever you go... I will follow you to the death... Perhaps this is also the sentiment of many Brothers. With this in mind, what worries could you possibly have?"
Caesar's voice was gentle, no longer the coldness that kept others at a distance. It was as if he were soothing his weak little brother, his words filled with affection and care. Xu Zhenxin was affected, slightly raising his head. The two locked eyes, and unexpectedly, both felt their hearts race. Realizing the situation, they remained close together, creating an intimate atmosphere. Caesar quickly pushed Xu Zhen away, instinctively placing his hands in front of his chest.
Xu Zhen's figure was voluptuous like a ripe peach, yet her cheeks were flushed with the shyness and purity of a young girl. This made her blood rush, and her eyes revealed a man's desire.
Although Caesar had not experienced intimacy, he was emotionally mature and had seen enough to understand the meaning behind Xu Zhen's gaze. However, he felt flustered, filled with both anticipation and hesitation, and instinctively took half a step back.
The two gazed deeply into each other's eyes, the air in the tent seemingly filled with a sweet fragrance that stirred their hearts. However, footsteps could be heard approaching from outside.
In that passionate moment, neither of them noticed the sounds from outside. Xu Zhen swallowed hard and was about to speak; she knew that once she did, Caesar would never refuse her. But suddenly, the lamp flickered, and a loud voice interrupted their heated moment.
"Lord! Brother has thought of a good plan and has already gathered the Brothers. Please have the little brother come over; I kindly ask you to step out!"
Zhou Cang's voice arrived before he did. He never bothered with mundane formalities when it came to Xu Zhen; he pushed aside the curtain and rushed in. Upon seeing Caesar's face flushed like a peach blossom as he adjusted his clothes and Xu Zhen sitting awkwardly, Zhou Cang immediately understood that he had interrupted something important for the Lord!
This bold man had dark skin and couldn't show embarrassment even if he wanted to; he stood there dumbfounded like a child who had done something wrong, staring at his toes and not daring to speak. The tent fell into an extremely awkward silence!
Caesar's heart had not yet calmed down; feeling embarrassed, he lowered his head and hurried out of the tent. The autumn wind blew, clearing his mind, but he cursed Zhou Cang for causing trouble!
Xu Zhen's face twitched. Once her anger subsided, she awkwardly got up, cleared her throat to feign authority, and kicked Zhou Cang out of the tent while muttering angrily, "Rude fool! Can’t you knock before coming in?"
Zhou Cang knew he was in the wrong and did not dare to retort; he could only nod submissively as he watched Xu Zhen storm off toward Zhang Jiunian's tent.
Seeing that his Lord was now a distance away, Zhou Cang finally breathed a sigh of relief and hurried after him. After a moment, he suddenly realized something was off—where was the door to this shabby tent? "Lord," he thought to himself in frustration, "why didn’t you tell me where the damn door is!"
In the tent, Zhang Jiunian had already gathered many key members. Upon seeing Xu Zhen arrive, they all stood up and allowed their Lord to take the main seat. Zhou Cang was mumbling to himself, and no one knew what had happened. When Zhou Cang turned around to sit down, he discovered a large footprint behind him. The Brothers exchanged glances, unsure how this straightforward and honest man had caused such a commotion for their Lord.
Xu Zhen was still fuming. Seeing that Zhou Cang had the audacity to sit down, she shot him a fierce glare. Zhou Cang felt a chill run down his back and chuckled awkwardly, squatting behind the tent entrance. Their antics left everyone both amused and exasperated, lightening the atmosphere.
"What clever plan do you have, sir?"
Xu Zhen leaned forward slightly, seeking advice from Zhang Jiunian. The chief advisor did not keep them in suspense and spread out a sheepskin Military Map on the Table, pointing out strategies.
"My Lord, we are less than a hundred miles from Ganzhou. Along the way, there are many Barbarian troops roaming and causing disturbances, with scouts lurking about. Attempting to break through northward is indeed difficult; it could even be considered courting death."
Xu Zhen understood the dire situation but also knew that Zhang Jiunian must have more to say. She nodded lightly to encourage him to continue. Zhang Jiunian took the cue and continued.
"In our previous battle, we captured many heads and gained significant spoils, including enemy uniforms, flags, and horns as military supplies. If our Brothers disguise themselves in these uniforms, we might be able to evade enemy surveillance and inspections! This way, we could smoothly reach the outskirts of Ganzhou City and perhaps even sneak in under the cover of night!"
Zhang Jiunian emphasized the position of Ganzhou on the Military Map with his finger, his eyes shining with confidence in this plan.
The Tang people valued propriety highly and prided themselves on their heavenly authority. Although many in the populace imitated simple Barbarian attire, when two armies faced off, they looked down upon such barbaric customs, let alone resorting to the third-rate tactic of disguising as the enemy.
However, as Xu Zhen thought it over carefully, she realized that among her troops, who could be considered true Tang soldiers?
Yin Zong and others were from the Caesar Tribe; Gao He Shu's Brothers came from Rouran; Qin Guang's soldiers were from humble beginnings; while Zhang Jiunian, Zhou Cang, and fourteen other Brothers were former Miner Slaves. Xu Zhen herself was not even a person of the Tang dynasty!
With such an unusual group, what did it matter about adhering to Tang Army customs? As long as they could successfully enter Ganzhou, Xu Zhen could rely on Yan Lide's authority to help her construct that powerful weapon from the design plans. Wouldn't that turn the tide in their favor?
Zhang Jiunian delayed notifying Lord and Xu Zhen because he was concerned that Xu Zhen might hesitate due to the reputation of the Tang Dynasty and refuse to adopt this strategy. If they recklessly charged northward, they could easily be ambushed by enemy cavalry shortly after leaving Zhangye. Although this plan may seem unorthodox, it is still a sound strategy.
Many Brothers focused their attention on Xu Zhen, noticing their Lord's furrowed brow and assuming that he disapproved of the plan, which led to many sighs among them. However, Xu Zhen stood up confidently and patted Zhang Jiunian on the shoulder, saying, "This plan is excellent! Let's execute a stealthy maneuver that no one will see coming!"
Everyone immediately cheered with joy, but Xu Zhen remained calm, repeatedly emphasizing the importance of keeping this a secret. If Gao Zhensheng, that old fox, learned about it in advance, he would likely take the opportunity to create trouble and accuse Xu Zhen of treason.
Zhou Cang squatted at the entrance of the tent with a silly grin, but Xu Zhen kicked him lightly and laughed heartily, "You big fool, go find your Lord and General Qibi Helix!"
Seeing that their Lord's anger had dissipated, Zhou Cang instantly brightened up and eagerly followed Xu Zhen toward Qibi Helix's Central Army Tent.
Most of the spoils from their previous battle had been turned over to Qibi Helix. Since Xu Zhen needed clothing from the Barbarians, she naturally had to consult Qibi Helix. Moreover, she needed this Old General to keep her secret and might even take the chance to request some quality armor.
The two quickly arrived at the front of the Central Army Tent. Just as Xu Zhen was about to summon her personal guards to announce their arrival, she heard Zhou Cang cautiously remind her from behind, "Lord, remember to knock..."
Xu Zhen: "... ..."
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