Chapter 682: It Is Him?
It Is Him? . . .
At the very least, one could hardly blame the soldiers for heeding Cha Eun Xiao's orders. After all, who in their right mind would dare to defy a man who had brazenly executed numerous young lords simultaneously? Nobody dared to violate his commands from that moment onward. Within an astonishingly short span, this once disparate group of soldiers had metamorphosed into a formidable iron army.
Through days of relentless practice, they had quickly become seasoned warriors. It was too early to determine their strength definitively, but as long as Cha Eun Xiao remained their leader, not a single soldier dared to entertain the thought of desertion. Even in the face of impending defeat, they preferred to meet their demise on the battlefield rather than flee from it.
It wasn't merely Cha Eun Xiao's persuasive charisma that kept these men loyal; it was the promise he had made on Iron Peak. The vow to avenge their fallen Great General had kindled a fierce loyalty within these hardened warriors. They yearned for nothing more than revenge and were willing to sacrifice everything to achieve it. They weren't driven by personal ambition or survival; their sole focus was retribution.
Cha Eun Xiao had given them precisely what they desired: a promise to lead them to revenge. He was not only powerful himself but also commanded a formidable army to aid in their quest. The wounded soldiers held a deep sense of gratitude for him, and they deeply appreciated this Commander Cha.
It had been but a few days earlier that Cha Eun Xiao had employed threats and coercion to discipline the soldiers. Now, he had won over the toughest of them by touching their hearts through different means. His methods might have varied, but the outcome was consistent: unshakable loyalty.
Song Jue observed his nephew's transformation with a mixture of pride and amazement. "Well, I guess my nephew isn't just an ordinary figure now," he murmured. "Like father, like son. So it is."
Zhu Chenggong breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Cha Eun Xiao's promise. It felt like a tremendous burden had been lifted from his shoulders. He guided Song Jue and the others into the building, where he informed them, "Please, this way, Commander Cha. Brother Song, we have prepared food for you inside. It might be basic, but it's enough to fill your stomach. We soldiers never waste food."
They walked with firm strides, but Zhu Chenggong couldn't contain his curiosity and leaned in to speak to Song Jue discreetly. "Brother Song, how did you find the resolve to don your war attire and return to the battlefield? And if I may ask, who is this Commander Cha? What's his background? Actually, it doesn't matter who he is, I suppose. What he's just demonstrated is impressive. He's young, and I can hardly think of anyone in our kingdom's younger generation who could match his prowess."
Song Jue beamed with pride. "You are an astute man. Why ask such a simple question? Consider this: he is Commander Cha! Whose name carries more weight in the entire Kingdom of Chen than Cha's? If not for my brother Cha Nantian, who could have fathered such a remarkable son? Whose son do you think I'd return to the battlefield for?"
Zhu Chenggong's eyes widened, and after a moment of astonishment, he took a deep breath and finally spoke, "Oh, my heavens... Old Song, are you jesting? Commander Cha is Cha Eun Xiao? The son of General Cha? The same young man who was infamous for his dissolute lifestyle in the city, entangled in all sorts of dubious dealings and leading those 'three lords in town' people always talk about... Cha Eun Xiao?"
Zhu Chenggong's jaw hung agape, seemingly wide enough to swallow an elephant whole. It became evident that Cha Eun Xiao was far more renowned in the kingdom than he had ever imagined.
Song Jue rolled his eyes, his frustration evident. He responded with a touch of irritation, "Do you not know how to steer a conversation in the right direction? Like father, like son. Both are extraordinary figures. Can't you see that?"
Zhu Chenggong, however, erupted in anger and muttered, "Like father, like son, my foot. Do you know who your nephew is? A man like him has been appointed as a commander here? Are you kidding me? Did the king simply agree to this? Is he ready to relinquish the Western Army? Heaven and hell! I fear that within half a day, my hundreds of thousands of brothers will meet their end under his command!"
"We've fought so valiantly, sacrificed our lives, and this is our outcome? I've been a complete fool. The sight of that flying big white flag forewarned me. I can't believe that this rascal is leading our army. It all makes sense now. Of course, he would be the one brandishing that ridiculous white flag in battle!"
It was abundantly clear that Vice-Commander Zhu had little faith in Cha Eun Xiao's leadership.
Cha Eun Xiao could sense that Zhu Chenggong's trust in him was non-existent, and it weighed heavily on the vice-commander's shoulders. Just moments ago, a glimmer of hope had ignited in Zhu Chenggong's heart, only to be mercilessly extinguished, leaving him mired in despair. He had briefly believed that a savior had arrived to lead them out of their dire situation, only to discover that the supposed rescuer was none other than a notorious, debauched young lord who had been the talk of the town for all the wrong reasons.
The idea of being under the command of such an individual in a life-or-death battle filled Zhu Chenggong with an overwhelming sense of aggrievement. He couldn't help but express his disdain, venting his frustration at Cha Eun Xiao. "Stop behaving like a pompous fool. You know nothing! In fact, you are nothing!" Song Jue shot him a scornful look. "Do you have any clue how that white flag with blood-written words came to be?"
Zhu Chenggong responded irritably, "Just some blood smeared on it, isn't it? How hard can it be? Do you think I wouldn't recognize it? What's more affordable than life in a war? Blood is spilt everywhere. I could whip up a thousand of those flags in seconds! Coming to battle with a white flag—what's so remarkable about that? Soaked in a bit of human blood, and what? Suddenly, it's sacred? Bah!"
Song Jue's patience wore thin, and he retorted sharply, "Zhu Chenggong, in just a few years, you've grown incredibly arrogant! You claim you can make a thousand of those white flags, right? But what if you fail?"
Zhu Chenggong refused to back down in the face of Song Jue's intensity. He retorted with equal fervor, "Song Jue, don't think you can overpower me with your martial skills. Yes, I did say it. So what? Hmph, I know what you're thinking. You believe that we lack the materials to create that 'stupid' white flag, just as your 'stupid' nephew did. That's why you're so confident that I won't succeed. That's why you're acting like such a pompous know-it-all! Bah! You think you're clever? You're... hmm... devious! Yes, that's it! Song Jue, after these few years, you've grown quite cunning. You're resorting to tricks akin to those used by the foolish scholars. Now, I finally see through your true colors!"
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