The Old Gray-Templed Thief

"Ah, then I shall wait and see." Cha Hu smiled. "Luo Zhao failed to see through Meng Shanming's intentions, yet the General did. It seems Yan Shanming and Qi Wuhen were not without reason. I simply wonder, if the General faced Meng Shanming, whose skills would prove superior?"

Even Hao Yuntu had been too embarrassed to ask that question, but this steward showed no such restraint.

Hu Yan Wuhen fell silent for a moment before slowly saying, "If I had been the one facing Luo Zhao in this battle, and Luo Zhao had struck at my weak point like this, I would certainly have been defeated!"

Cha Hu had thought he was joking. He had asked him to compare himself with Meng Shanming, so why was he instead comparing himself to Luo Zhao, who was supposedly a level below? And even saying he was inferior to Luo Zhao—what did that mean?

Yet Hu Yan Wuhen did not look as though he were joking. Cha Hu could no longer smile. "How could that be? You said it yourself, General. Luo Zhao has yet to see through Meng Shanming's intentions, while you already have. The difference between you is plain to see."

Hu Yan Wuhen waved a hand and shook his head. "Tiger, this has nothing to do with the level of one's skill in war. If it were me, I could not ignore the danger facing Yan Capital. With a single imperial decree, I would have no choice but to rush to Yan Capital's aid, no choice but to be led around by the nose by Luo Zhao. Meng Shanming is a rather pure soldier. One can tell simply by watching him wage war. After all these years, he has never changed in what he insists upon. Not only does he