Chapter 686: Chapter 495 Meiling’s Edge_2
Madam Xu was startled.
"We are serving the lady, and it is our duty..."
Feng Yun smiled, "In this world, there is no such affection that is due."
She held Madam Xu’s hand, "We are in the same boat, and from now on we must pull together and work diligently."
Madam Xu left with tears of gratitude.
She then found her son, Xing Dalang, and lectured him earnestly, advising him to serve Feng Yun wholeheartedly from here on out.
Xing Dalang’s ears were calloused from listening.
"All right, all right, Mom, the whole village knows you’ve become a petty official, a person who lives off the government’s grain too."
Madam Xu spat at him.
"Irreverent. Remember what I told you..."
When Xing Dalang heard her start again, he looked to make a quick exit.
"When Dad comes back, talk to him about it. I’m definitely obedient on this end."
Madam Xu couldn’t help but laugh and cry, tapping her son’s head.
"If I could find him, would I need you?"
Xing Dalang smiled wryly, "Alright, I have to deliver the account books to the lady. You just enjoy your little secret happiness."
Recently, Xing Bing was not in Huaxi; he had taken his troops and the few hundred men under Hou Zhun at Little Jieqiu and gone to the Tonghui River.
This was Feng Yun’s order.
She said that only the battlefield could train soldiers.
The Meiling men trained hard day after day, yet they were far from being a true combat-ready army.
She wanted them to see up close the most primitive form of war.
When Feng Yun dispatched Xing Bing and Hou Zhun, she merely described them as civilians organizing voluntarily to help the Northern Yong Army with some transport duties, no pay necessary.
With the frontlines in dire need of manpower for transport, Wen Xingsu naturally agreed and hand them over to Shentu Jiong to lead.
At first, Shentu Jiong was indifferent.
Except for Hou Zhun, the rest were merely brawny. Even Hou Zhun’s subordinates, those bandits from the Xiufeng Mountain, he didn’t think much of them...
So Shentu Jiong cheerfully accepted and truly only assigned them some menial tasks of transporting grain and supplies.
Unexpectedly, on their way to deliver grain to Chuzhou, they encountered a surprise raid by a small force from the Yecheng Army.
Shentu Jiong was greatly alarmed, fearing for their safety and how he would explain the situation to Feng Yun...
However, under the command of Hou Zhun and Xing Bing, this group of men faced the sudden battle without panic; they organized troops, formed ranks, blocked off, and fought fiercely until they crushed the enemy and, gathering momentum, encircled and counterattacked to repel the assault with ease...
This was no small feat; Shentu Jiong skipped his meal and immediately sought Wen Xingsu.
"General, this is by no means the behavior of ordinary soldiers and scattered troops; they are clearly well-trained..."
He paused, a sharp look in his eyes.
"Does Shi’er Niang know about this?"
His concern was for Feng Yun.
Having such a force under her command was dangerous if she was unaware.
Wen Xingsu’s brows furrowed slightly.
He had always known that Feng Yun had recruited these people, but he had not realized the combat strength of the Meiling troops would be so fierce.
He pondered for a moment.
"What’s so surprising about that? Hou Zhun stood out at Xiufeng Mountain, and you’ve experienced it yourself; he is no mediocre person. With a good general comes good soldiers; it’s not surprising at all. Moreover, those men under Ge Pei, all they do is butter up and flatter. They are no match for a real fight."
Shentu Jiong felt that he made sense.
However, the more he thought about it, the more uneasy he became.
"Shi’er Niang raising so many retainers is a bit over the top. Never mind whether the Western Capital Dynasty will be suspicious, just considering herself, what if she can’t control them..."
A fragile woman.
A group of fierce and brave soldiers.
Shentu Jiong felt anxious for Feng Yun just thinking about it.
Wen Xingsu, however, didn’t seem to think much of it, giving him a glance and a dismissive smile.
"Where did she exceed? She has so many workshops under her... farm tools, ironware, mines, coal mines... each one requiring great physical strength. These men are nothing more than craftsmen from Changmen, probably Hou Zhun just has a habit of training troops and took them for some drills. It’s not worth worrying about."
Shentu Jiong privately felt it was not as simple as that.
But since Wen Xingsu had put it that way, it was even less appropriate for him to argue.
So he smiled, changing the subject to the embarrassing incidents of the Yecheng Army—
Who knew, Wen Xingsu steered the conversation back.
"The victorious reports from Xijing, do not mention Meiling’s troops at all. If someone asks, say that the civilians volunteered to help, transporting food, fodder, and military supplies for the Northern Yong Army..."
Shentu Jiong bowed, "Understood."
-
Huaxi.
Feng Yun also received the news of Meiling’s retinue winning the battle.
It was Xing Bing who brought the news on a fast horse—
He couldn’t conceal the excitement in his heart.
After all, having been in the army for years, he had never experienced a thoroughly gratifying victory...
Feng Yun smiled and looked up thoughtfully.
"Easy victories can breed arrogance. We must make everyone refocus and not become complacent or careless..."
Xing Bing said with a smile, "Madam, rest assured. We’re aware. These last few days, General Wen has been preparing to attack Ningcheng. The brothers are all eager to fight in the vanguard."
Xing Bing, having trained for so long, was finally seeing the fruits of his efforts. At this moment, he was even more excited than those Meiling lads, itching to rush forward and clash with the Yecheng Army for hundreds of rounds.
Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Feng Yun’s expression grew somber.
"Are support roles not good enough?"
Xing Bing quickly restrained his expression, "They are fine, just not as satisfying."
Feng Yun’s brow furrowed, eyes flashing sternly.
"I had you take them there so they could witness what a true battlefield is like, not to go to their deaths... Learn more, do not underestimate the enemy. Just take care of internal affairs and do not meddle in other matters."
Xing Bing was taken aback.
As if doused with a bucket of cold water, he looked at Feng Yun thoughtfully, nodded, and calmed down from his enthusiasm.
"I’ve taken note, and I will also pass it on to General Hou, to restrain them together and not rashly underestimate the enemy."
Feng Yun hummed in acknowledgment, then her smile returned.
"Tell them that on the day of the triumph, there will be substantial rewards."
Xing Bing was overjoyed and bowed in gratitude.
"Yes, thank you, Madam."
