Chapter 21 Two Chances

  "Let's talk about this in two days." Qian Bu Li gathered his disorganized thoughts: "We can't leave for the time being, Zha Mu He is only trapped in Lu Ri Gorge, whether he's alive or dead is still unclear, and you'll have an easier time speaking after returning to the capital."

  "Really good!" Ji Sheng's emotions were overjoyed as she stood up, thinking that Qian Buli had already agreed to accompany her to the capital.

  Qian Buli didn't say a word: "In the next few days, I plan to train the soldiers in Xueyuan City and select some elite troops. When we return to the capital, we'll bring them along as a precaution against unexpected events."

  The princess smiled slightly: "You are in charge, I'll listen to you."

  Qian Buli thought for a moment, then walked to Ji Shengqing's side: "However, my training method is quite different from others. I need your help, like this... and then like that..."

  Ji Sheng looked at Qian Buli in surprise: "Why must you do this?"

  "Because what I want is an iron army that can win every battle and conquer every attack!" Qian Bu Li replied resolutely: "The most important thing for the military is to have orders that are carried out! However, doing this would be too humiliating for you, if you believe me..."

  "Nothing to be wronged or not wronged about, you're also doing it for me, aren't you?!" Ji Sheng's emotions overflowed as she reached out her hand to cover Qian Bu Li's mouth.

  "It's settled then." Qian Bu Li grasped Xi Sheng Qing's small hand tightly.

  Money doesn't know there's a story like this, in an iron cage locked up a group of monkeys, the administrator hung a string of bananas on top of the cage, every time the monkey picked the banana, the administrator would open the mechanism and use a water gun to shoot the monkeys until they were screaming. After a long time, the monkeys lost interest in the bananas above their heads.

  This is a conditioned reflex.

  This time, Ji Shengqing's insistence on returning to the capital made Qian Buli very dissatisfied. Qian Buli decided to give Ji Shengqing two more chances. If Ji Shengqing didn't listen to his advice for the third time, it would mean that her personality couldn't be changed, and Qian Buli would have to think of another way. By then, he should have grasped a certain amount of power in his hands, and with greater power, there would naturally be more ways out.

  Don't hang yourself on one tree, this is another rule of Qian Bu Li. There's no need to help someone who can't be helped!

  ※※※

  "Report!" Three mounted messengers rushed into the military camp and galloped up to the central command tent, dismounting in a flurry.

  Du Bing was sitting on his commander's seat staring at the sand table in a daze, when he heard that the messenger he had sent out had returned, and immediately called him in.

  "How do you say 'command'?"

  "Sir, the commander says you can now return to Snowy City."

  "What?" Du Bing was stunned: "Didn't you tell the commander that we still haven't found Zha Muhe?" For the past three days, Du Bing's troops did not dare to enter Lu Ri Valley. They could only send out small teams, but they had either captured or killed a few lucky survivors of the Flying Eagle tribe soldiers, yet they still couldn't find any trace of Zha Muhe.

  "Temujin said that if he could defeat Jamukha once, he could defeat him again; even if Jamukha managed to escape back to the steppes, it wouldn't be a big deal."

  Du Bing smiled wryly, what a great heroic spirit! Even Zha Muhe was not taken seriously! If someone else had said this, Du Bing would have definitely sneered at it, but the achievements of the commander were there, and one couldn't help but be convinced.

  "What else did the leader say?"

  "General, you have urgent business in Snowy City, return immediately."

  "Hmm... Alright." Du Bing stood up: "Pass on the order to the entire army, break camp and return to Xueyuan City."

  Money did not leave the glorious deeds of 'Tianwei', and has been passed on to the cavalry through the infantry who transported military supplies. When they heard that the general ordered them to return to the city, for a time, the voices calling out 'Tianwei' rose and fell in succession, it was clear that everyone was very excited.

  Du Bing walked out of the commander's tent, staring blankly at the sunset in the valley. Wang Rui, oh Wang Rui, I thought only I could notice your intelligence and bravery, but unexpectedly the commander-in-chief valued you with just one glance, letting you take on such a heavy responsibility! What a pity... No matter how great the achievement, one must have their life to enjoy it... Hope you can return safely!

  Qin Chong.

  "In."

  "Aren't you acquainted with Wang Rui? I'll give you a small squad, divide it into two routes to search along the Sunset Canyon. If you still can't find him within two days, then return to Snow Plain City."

  The military organization of the Ji Zhou Kingdom was different from that of the Flying Eagle Tribe. A small squad had 100 people, every three squads formed a medium squad, and every three medium squads formed a large squad. The rank of a medium squad leader was basically deputy general, while Du Bing, this large squad leader, held the rank of Jianwei General, which belonged to the lower-level generals along with Weixi General, Pingdi General, and Zhenwu General.

  No matter in public or private, Du Bing did not want Wang Rui to encounter any mishap. Before he set out, Qian Buduan specially instructed him that after annihilating the near-guard light cavalry, he must find Wang Rui! Du Bing could see that Commander-in-Chief valued Wang Rui highly. However, things turned out unexpectedly, Zhamahe did not die and instead escaped into the depths of Luori Valley, blocking the rescue route just in time!

  Du Bing couldn't think of a good solution at this moment either. He left a small team to continue searching, and Wang Rui had already done his best.

  Meanwhile, the person who was worrying Du Bing was silently moving forward, cutting off pieces of his armor with a small knife and putting them into his mouth to chew slowly.

  Behind Wang Rui was a stumbling team of no more than fifty people, many of whom were repeating Wang Rui's actions.

  After the avalanche that day, Wang Rui crawled out of the snow and gathered his team. It was unrealistic to cross the Sunset Canyon after the avalanche, so Wang Rui decided to go to the nearby Liancheng Fortress first. The terrain of Sunset Canyon is very high, and far away, Wang Rui saw that the inside of Liancheng Fortress was crowded with teams, looking extraordinarily lively, which alerted Wang Rui.

  Qian Buli's assessment of Wang Rui's performance made him think that Wang Rui was a wise general, and Wang Rui did not disappoint Qian Buli's expectations! Xueyuan City had no other specialties besides gold and snow lotus, so all daily necessities had to be transported from outside. As a result, every one or two days, merchant caravans would pass through Luori Valley on their way to do business in Xueyuan City.

  Wang Rui clearly remembered that within five days before the war, no merchant caravan had passed through Xueyuan City again. The scouts sent by the Earl to investigate the situation also did not return to Xueyuan City. It turned out that they were all detained by the people of Liancheng Fortress! Since something was amiss, Wang Rui, although he didn't dare think deeply about it, still cautiously dispatched two men to Liancheng Fortress to gather information.

  Who knew that the two people would not come back, Wang Rui made a decisive decision and immediately led the team to transfer. The cold and trekking of the past few days had caused his troops to lose heavily, and now only 47 were left.