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Chapter Fifty-Eight: Discussing the Layout
Tang Jiner caught Lin Feng off guard, prompting Lin Feng to decide to pay a visit to the General's Office.
Due to preparations for war, the security at the General's Office had become much stricter than before. Those entering and exiting were subjected to rigorous questioning and even body searches. Although Lin Feng had not frequented the General's Office often, the guards there had a strong impression of him, knowing he was favored by the General.
After reporting, the captain of the guards, Ke Kuo Tong, returned and said, "Lin Brother, the General has asked you to come in."
Lin Feng adjusted his attire and approached the main hall at a steady pace. As soon as he entered and took in the scene inside, he instinctively stepped back, contemplating whether to return another day.
Tang Jiner had already spotted Lin Feng and said, "Since you're here, why hide?"
With a stiff resolve, Lin Feng stepped inside and respectfully greeted Tang Jiner.
Tang Jiner nodded and said, "General Lin, you have met these two gentlemen before; go ahead and greet them."
Lin Feng could clearly feel two piercing gazes fixed on him since he entered the hall, making him extremely uncomfortable with a chilling sensation creeping over him.
Turning around, Lin Feng saluted Zhu Chui and War Maniac, saying, "General Zhu, General Wu, this General pays his respects."
War Maniac snorted coldly and turned his head away as a form of acknowledgment to Lin Feng.
Zhu Chui returned the greeting politely and then smiled warmly. "Brother Li Daye, long time no see! How have you been? Have you encountered any robbers while out walking? I heard that the security in Dongping County has been quite poor lately; many have been targeting officials from Dongping County to vent their frustrations."
Upon hearing this, Tang Jiner understood their underlying tensions. He took a sip of tea to mask his amusement at the corner of his mouth.
Lin Feng replied with bravado, "Thank you for your concern, General Zhu. This General has never done anything shameful; I eat well and sleep soundly. Those ruffians only dare to sneak around; they wouldn't dare provoke me."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Chui and War Maniac exchanged glances, feeling somewhat surprised.
The person they had sent out returned to report that a man named Li Daye from Dongping County had been beaten so badly that he cried out for his parents, a sight too pitiful to behold. They never expected that just a short while later, he would become so defiant again. Was the last beating not enough?
War Maniac sneered, "A plucked duck is left with nothing but a tough beak."
Zhu Chui chuckled as well, "Brother Li can bend and stretch; he truly has the spirit of a hero."
In the face of their mockery, Lin Feng acted as if he were unaware. He said, "Thank you both for your compliments, but this General has always acted with a clear conscience and will naturally not fear those lurking shadows."
At this point, Lin Feng patted his chest and continued, "I am just such a straightforward person. If anyone finds me displeasing, they can come find me, Li Daye. No matter what tricks they use, I will take them all on. I only fear they won't dare to come at me."
Watching Lin Feng's arrogance, Zhu Chui and War Maniac gritted their teeth in anger, unable to suppress their clenched fists. If it weren't for being in the General's Office, War Maniac would have charged at Liu Feng and given him a good beating.
At that moment, they both silently vowed: Damn it, next time we won't rest until this guy calls us 'Grandpa' and submits completely; otherwise, we'll take on his surname Li.
Tang Jiner quietly observed everything with some amusement and interjected, "It seems you two generals have a deep friendship with Li Daye; it's quite touching. However, with the war imminent, it's more important to discuss serious matters first."
The General spoke up, and Zhu Chui and War Maniac responded respectfully, "This General listens attentively to your orders."
Tang Jiner smiled lightly and said, "You two generals are mistaken. I am merely the commander of Dongping County; how could I possibly give orders to your county's generals? You both are Jiang Duzong's right-hand men; what instructions does Jiang Duzong have?"
Zhu Chui bowed respectfully and replied, "How could we dare? Jiang Duzong holds you in great esteem. Before Lord Wu and I came here, Jiang Duzong repeatedly instructed us to convey his regards to you."
"If it weren't for the Governor's ill health today, he would have come personally to discuss military matters in detail."
"Let's skip the pleasantries and get to the point," Tang Jiner said calmly.
Zhu Chui reported the current military situation. Due to an unprecedented snow disaster faced by the Demon Clan, which already inhabited a barren land, their survival had become a dire challenge. Securing enough food for winter had turned into a matter of life and death. Consequently, the Demon Clan launched an invasion with the aim of seizing food supplies and accumulating wealth.
Upon hearing this, Tang Jiner finally understood why the Demon Clan had suddenly invaded. She asked, "Why have they set up camp in Xichuan County today?"
"After conquering Xichuan County, the Demon Clan has temporarily halted their movements. They wish to negotiate with us, demanding one million stones of grain and ten million taels of gold. If we refuse, they will continue their assault on Nanping County."
Tang Jiner rose in fury and exclaimed, "How audacious! Have they forgotten their defeat from decades ago? What is their military strength?"
"According to our scouts, there are ten thousand Demon Clan Armored Soldiers and twenty-five thousand Cavalry."
"This is a full-scale deployment. Does the Demon Clan really intend to invade just for some food? I doubt it will be that easy," Tang Jiner said as she sat down, lost in thought.
This number shocked Lin Feng. The Armored Soldiers in Dongping County were only fifty in total, all assembled by him. If the Demon Clan reached Dongping County, how could they possibly resist?
If it weren't for their cultivation abilities that allowed them to move mountains and fill seas with a mere gesture, they would be doomed.
"Their numbers won't help them much," War Maniac scoffed. "The Demon Clan may be formidable in physical strength, but their Xuanjia is outdated. When you calculate it carefully, five of their Armored Soldiers are equivalent to one of ours."
"I see," Lin Feng thought to himself, feeling slightly reassured.
After pondering for a moment, Tang Jiner asked, "What does Jiang Duzong plan to do?"
Zhu Chui replied, "The Governor said, 'What kind of joke is this? One million stones of grain and ten million taels of gold? Are we supposed to let the people of the Tang Empire starve? We must fight back fiercely against these demons and make them understand our strength.'"
Tang Jiner did not express an opinion on the matter, but instead asked, "What does the Governor think we should do?"
Zhu Chui replied, "The Governor suggests that we take the initiative to attack from Nanping County, then deliberately create an opening for the Demon Army to enter Dongping County. After that, the General will lead the Dongping troops out of the city to confront them. With our combined forces, we can ensure that the Demon Army has no way to retreat."
Tang Jiner raised an eyebrow in confusion and said, "Wasn't the Governor previously focused on defending the city? If the Demon Army breaches Dongping County and crosses Solitary Mountain, we will be left powerless."
Zhu Chui quickly responded, "General, you are wise. Dongping County is a heavily fortified area; among all the counties, it has the most soldiers and the strongest military strength. We can effectively block the demon forces and launch a counterattack. Furthermore, with the Governor leading soldiers from other counties in ambush behind them, we can surely annihilate the Demon Army in one fell swoop."
Seeing Tang Jiner hesitate, Zhu Chui continued, "General, if we do not eliminate the demon forces, our Tang Empire's borders will never know peace. The current invasion by the Demon Army has already caused great suffering for our people. As a border commander of the Tang Empire, I am willing to fight with a heart prepared for death."
"Although this plan is somewhat risky, it could wipe out the entire Demon Army. From then on, our Tang Empire's borders will enjoy lasting peace, and you, General, will be credited with this victory. Your name will be forever remembered in history, celebrated by generations of Tang citizens."
Zhu Chui fervently encouraged this course of action while War Maniac nodded in agreement.
Tang Jiner remained silent for a long time before looking at Zhu Chui and saying, "The patriotic fervor of both generals is admirable."
"General praises me too highly. As a border commander of the Tang Empire, seeing the demon forces conquer Xichuan County and slaughter defenseless civilians fills my heart with rage. It is difficult to eradicate them when they are on open plains. Now that they have come out in full force, I naturally must bravely fight against them," Zhu Chui declared passionately.
Tang Jiner still had not made up her mind and asked, "What do you think our chances of success are?"
War Maniac immediately replied, "Ten out of ten. General, the Governor is fully confident that we can completely annihilate the Demon Army. They have traveled a long way and are already weary from their journey. If we wait for them while taking advantage of our favorable position and timing, as long as we unite our efforts, this battle will be without doubt."
Tang Jiner nodded and said, "The Governor has fought against the demon forces for many years. Even both frontline generals have extensive battlefield experience and can see the bigger picture."
"Then does that mean you agree to this plan?" War Maniac asked eagerly.
Tang Jiner shook her head slightly and said, "Such a significant matter requires careful consideration. This battle concerns the foundation of my Tang Empire that has lasted for millennia."
Zhu Chui, puzzled, replied, "My lord, as long as we engage in battle, victory is assured. The General's reputation will surely spread throughout the Tang Empire and even across the nine provinces. Why hesitate? Our desire to slay the enemy remains unfulfilled!"
"Does the General still not trust the Governor's strategy? Is there a lack of confidence in winning this battle? It is understandable; historically, women in command tend to be more cautious and contemplative than men."
Seeing that his attempts to incite her were ineffective, Zhu Chui resorted to provocation. However, no matter how Zhu Chui and War Maniac argued or assessed the situation, Tang Jiner remained quietly listening without expressing her stance.
As repeated persuasion failed, War Maniac's expression grew darker, and his gaze became increasingly cold. His breathing became noticeably heavier, exuding a palpable aura of menace.
After Zhu Chui once again exhausted his efforts only to be rejected, War Maniac finally lost his patience. He suddenly stood up, glaring fiercely at Tang Jiner with his menacing eyes, clenching his large fists that made cracking sounds. His fierce demeanor resembled that of an enraged beast.
Lin Feng quickly moved forward, positioning himself in front of Tang Jiner and meeting War Maniac's gaze without backing down.
Before the towering figure of War Maniac, Tang Jiner appeared like a delicate flower. Yet her beauty was as striking as a plum blossom in the snow; she calmly remarked, "General Wu, why have you suddenly risen? Is it because the tea has gone cold?"
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