Peace Order-Chapter 1457 - 132: The Aging Azure Dragon, the Frenzied Tiger
The Yue Family Army corps originally stationed at the Chen Country border to counter the Ying Country army, brazenly counterattacked several of Chen Country’s cities when Jiang Su retreated, and then defected to Marquis Qin Wu.
The deputy commander of the Yue Family Army, Han Zaizhong, is a shameless brute.
Initially, the commanders of the Yue Family Army were concerned about whether to defect to Marquis Qin Wu, worrying that reckless actions by the Yue Family Army might lead to retribution against the citizens in the garrisoned cities by Chen Dingye. The argument went back and forth without a conclusion, leaving Han Zaizhong irritated.
Taking advantage of the situation, he boldly went without armor, making the opponent drop their guard, leisurely riding his horse while drinking, and easily decapitated the opposing supervisor, seizing the cities in the process.
But having secured the cities.
When planning to join forces with Marquis Qin Wu, Jiang Su appeared.
Making it impossible to proceed immediately.
Facing Jiang Su without General Yue present is a battle without any chance of victory, beyond possibly exhausting some of Jiang Su’s soldiers. Victory is meaningless, and a loss would be a severe blow, especially since Jiang Su now leads a wandering army. Winning brings no benefit, losing means a complete defeat.
When it’s time to be aggressive, be aggressive; when it’s time to be cautious, be cautious.
Facing Jiang Su, who’s full of anger, going crazy wouldn’t do any good.
That would simply make you Jiang Su’s punching bag.
Jiang Su may not be able to take down Marquis Qin Wu guarded by a Great Formation Leader, but surely he can handle an army fighting in the open field? Old Han is not planning to use the foundation left by General Yue to serve as a war merit for Jiang Su.
During this waiting period.
Han Zaizhong’s clever mind, full of wild ideas, hatched a new plan.
As the saying goes, if one does it, do it thoroughly.
Remove the root, or it will grow again with the spring breeze.
Another saying goes, kill the juniors, and the elders will come.
Since we are already in a capital offense business.
Why not make it bigger?
The surrounding cities of the ones we’ve captured are still loyal to Chen Dingye. They might not react in a day or two, but if they find themselves cut off from contact with the royal uncle and supervisors here, suspicion will arise.
"By then, these fools will certainly come to punish us, so detestable!"
"Why not go all the way, before they come to attack us?"
"Capture them first!"
"Even when reaching General Yue, it’s reasonable, they forced me into it!" 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚
Yang Xingshi’s forehead veins throbbed: "How did they force you?"
Han Zaizhong boomed: "I killed the royal uncle and supervisors, once they know, they will certainly retaliate."
Yang Xingshi said: "But they don’t know, do they?"
Han Zaizhong rubbed his bearded chin and said: "They can find out."
Seeing the Yue Family Army generals hesitant towards taking risks, Han Zaizhong gave a reason:
"An unfounded charge?"
Those four words ignited the fury suppressed in the generals’ hearts for several years.
Han Zaizhong seized the moment to rally, thinking that being caught would certainly lead to an unforgivable crime, so why bother saving face for Chen Dingye? With many lice, you don’t itch; with many debts, you don’t worry. If you’re going to do it, might as well do it big!
This time, even Yang Xingshi sided with Han Zaizhong. After a collective consideration by the Yue Family Army commanders, it seemed truly logical to escalate the matters already set in motion.
I’m already guilty of death.
Why would I care if I take one city or two?
I’m not stupid!
Clearly, the more, the better!
Seizing the opportunity before the news spread, Han Zaizhong and his men swiftly captured several cities, sending emissaries to contact Marquis Qin Wu. By the time the situation was exposed, Marquis Qin Wu’s troops had arrived for defense.
Han Zaizhong appeared bold and rough, yet he was meticulous and left no loose ends. Upon meeting, he insisted on personally handing over each city’s official seal to Marquis Qin Wu’s Li Guanyi. Grabbing Marquis Qin Wu’s arm, he lamented how tough times were for the brothers of the Yue Family Army.
He said that when General Yue was your age, he fought under the old Duke Taiping, seeing you reminds me of the Duke, and of General Yue in the future.
Lamenting loudly, wiping his eyes with Li Guanyi’s sleeve was one thing.
He nearly used it to wipe his nose.
Li Guanyi’s eye twitched.
After the Yue Family Army corps joined Marquis Qin Wu’s faction, Old Han finally breathed a sigh of relief. However, after joining Marquis Qin Wu’s ranks, he no longer indulged in past habits of gambling and keeping mistresses. Yang Xingshi asked him why he had changed his ways.
Han Zaizhong said: "In the past, we were on our own territory, being carefree was harmless, but now under Marquis Qin Wu, the world knows the strictness of his laws. Even if I get punished under military law, my thick skin can bear it."
"Bringing disgrace to General Yue’s name would be intolerable, not even if I hit my head and die."
Yang Xingshi was surprised, Han Zaizhong patted his shoulder, saying: "They say oranges, when grown here, are large and sweet, but small and bitter when grown elsewhere. A real man should be aggressive when aggression is needed, and resolute when resolution is needed."
"When I was at the Chen Country border, how would those people trust me if I didn’t live uninhibitedly?"
"Here, if not firm and brave, how can the Yue Family Army establish its prestige?"
Yang Xingshi sighed in admiration: "No wonder General Yue entrusted the legion to you when he left."
Han Zaizhong laughed heartily, waiting to drink with Yue Qianfeng.
Many criticize Marquis Qin Wu for unjustly invading other countries.
Yet others say it’s simply a counterattack since Ying Country initially attacked Marquis Qin Wu. The affair of the Yue Family Army followed the prior incident of Yue Pengwu, and the Gongyang Confucianism states a ten-generation vengeance can be avenged, thus it is so.
Others argue that Marquis Qin Wu, as the Heavenly Strategy General, commanding the world’s armies and serving as the Grand Marshal of the Red Emperor, should not have the armies of Ying Country and Chen Country defying his command, let alone daring to launch counterattacks. In the end, who is unfaithful and unrighteous?
