A Well-Calculated Plan That Kills Two Birds With One Stone

Few people in the military camp knew Ding Chen was the Ninth Prince.

Moreover, since the Ninth Prince was using the alias Ding Chen, Li Sheng looked down on him even more, not viewing Ding Chen as a prince at all.

In any case, his Li family supported the Sixth Prince Ning Hong. Even if Ning Hong didn't become emperor in the future, with his mother's status, Ning Hong would still be a Grand Prince.

That Ninth Prince Ning Chen probably wouldn't even become a Duke.

"Speak," Li Sheng said, staring at Wang Pei.

Wang Pei replied, "Brother Sheng, think about it. Ding Chen knows he has no background and is cowardly and incompetent. Why else would he dare to come to the front lines for training?"

Li Sheng frowned. "He was faking it all along?"

Wang Pei nodded. "He's using the art of hiding one's talents. Ding Chen wants to use this opportunity to achieve success and build his own trusted followers and power base. Otherwise, how will he have the qualifications to compete with other princes in the future?"

Upon hearing this, Li Sheng sneered dismissively. "With him, wanting to compete with other princes? He's just rushing his own death."

Wang Pei said, "No matter what, we definitely can't let him lead his cooks to the front lines to fight demons and achieve success."

At this moment, the armored youth sitting beside them had his eyes flash slightly. He suddenly smiled and said, "Young Master Sheng, actually, we can do this: let Ding Chen lead his cooks to the battlefield, but all the merits they earn will be credited to you, Young Master Sheng."

"This way, you'll gain merit, and perhaps one day when they encounter a powerful demon, Ding Chen might die. Then you'll also have a way to report back to the Sixth Prince."

Li Sheng and Wang Pei both looked at the youth. The latter was Mu Feng, also one of the noble youths from the capital.

Wang Pei thought about it and couldn't help but clap his hands, laughing. "Brother Mu's words are indeed reasonable! It kills two birds with one stone!"

Li Sheng frowned. This was indeed a good plan. "He's a cook. Once he's on the front lines, he'll be a Demon Slayer Soldier of the front lines, not part of the Head Chef Army. How can the merits be transferred to my name?"

Mu Feng's lips curved up. "Young Master Sheng, isn't this simple? The Cooks' Camp originally falls under the jurisdiction of our Head Chef Army. We'll assign Ding Chen a fifty-man cook squad, stop them from cooking, and have them represent the Head Chef Army on the battlefield to fight demons."

"This way, no one will say our Head Chef Army are cowards anymore. When the news reaches the capital, His Majesty will surely reward you!"

Li Sheng clapped his hands repeatedly upon hearing this. "Mu Feng, you're quite something!"

He immediately ordered someone to summon the man in dark gold armor who had just spoken.

The man in dark gold armor was a lieutenant in the Cooks' Camp named Liao Zipeng.

"Greetings, Commander Li!" Liao Zipeng said respectfully.

Li Sheng's rank in the army was not only higher than his, but he was also a noble from the capital. Liao Zipeng could only curry favor with him and dared not have any other intentions.

Li Sheng didn't waste time with Liao Zipeng and directly explained the plan the three of them had devised.

"Cook squad?"

Liao Zipeng opened his mouth and said, "Commander Li, isn't fifty men a bit too few?"

Li Sheng frowned. He also felt that fifty men was a bit stingy.

At this moment, Wang Pei sneered, "Then give him a hundred men."

A hundred men wouldn't amount to much.

"Yes, I'll go do it immediately!" Liao Zipeng nodded.

Mu Feng stopped him. "Designate a specific area in the military camp for them to train as well, so that when they go to the battlefield, it won't be said that the Head Chef Army deliberately sent the cook squad to their deaths."

"Yes!" Liao Zipeng nodded.

After burying the seven cooks, Chen Xian and the other five returned to the camp and were practicing.

Suddenly, Zhao Tong ran over. First, he checked on Cao Fang and Zhao Yu.

Then, he called Ding Chen away.

In a large tent of the Cooks' Camp, Liao Zipeng sat in the upper seat. Beside him stood a youth in armor, a second lieutenant of the Cooks' Camp.

The ranks in the army were: Squad Leader, Chief Medic, Second Lieutenant, Lieutenant, Captain...

A Squad Leader commanded fifteen men, a Chief Medic commanded thirty men, a Second Lieutenant commanded a hundred men, a Lieutenant commanded three hundred men, and a Captain commanded a thousand men.

Liao Zipeng was a Lieutenant, the highest-ranking officer in the Cooks' Camp.

Of course, he still had to obey the orders of the Captain from the Head Chef Army.

Ding Chen walked in and saw that the Second Lieutenant who was in charge of him was also there. His eyes flashed, and his gaze fell on Liao Zipeng. He snorted inwardly.

He wondered what new trouble that dog Li Sheng was planning.

"Ding Chen, have you reached the Blood Moving Realm?" Liao Zipeng asked directly.

A cold glint flashed in Ding Chen's eyes. "Replying to you, sir, I have just entered the Blood Moving Realm."

"Very good!"

Liao Zipeng nodded. "Our Cooks' Camp is forming a hundred-man cook squad. After three months of observation by this Lieutenant, you and your brothers are all brave and skilled fighters. I am now promoting you to Second Lieutenant of the cook squad, commanding a hundred men. Train day and night, and depart for the battlefield in half a month to contribute to the court."

Ding Chen was stunned by the announcement!

Although he had intended to achieve success before coming to Demon-Slaying Pass, why was it a cook squad? Couldn't he go to the front lines?

Furthermore, he had only just entered the Blood Moving Realm. Starting to form an army and going to the battlefield to fight demons in half a month was tantamount to sending him to his death!

A Second Lieutenant should have at least reached the peak of the Blood Moving Realm, or possess the strength of the Surging Origin Realm.

"Lord Liao, what is the strength of a hundred-man cook unit?" Ding Chen asked.

Liao Zipeng's eyes flickered slightly. "Blood Moving Realm strength!"

The commander of Demon-Slaying Pass had strict regulations: soldiers were not allowed to fight demons until they reached the Blood Moving Realm.

Even Young Master Li dared not violate this.

"Your subordinate accepts the order!"

Ding Chen pondered for a moment before agreeing.

This might be his only chance to turn things around. If he refused, Li Sheng would continue to suppress him, preventing him from achieving merit in the front lines.

"Second Lieutenant Lu, take him to see the grounds!"

Liao Zipeng wasted no time and had the Second Lieutenant Lu by his side lead Ding Chen away.

Zhao Tong snapped back to reality and asked in confusion, "Sir, don't you dislike Ding Chen?"

He couldn't quite understand it. Just last night, he had sent Ding Chen and the others to their deaths, so why was he being promoted to Second Lieutenant today?

A Second Lieutenant in the cook unit was still a Second Lieutenant, a higher rank than his own.

Liao Zipeng let out a cold snort. "Don't ask what you shouldn't. Go!"

Zhao Tong's brow furrowed slightly, and he bowed before exiting the tent.

Ding Chen walked into the tent with a blank expression.

Upon seeing that something was amiss, Wang Yan and the others immediately surrounded him.

Chen Xian also opened his eyes to look.

"Brother Ding, what's the situation?" Wang Yan inquired.

Ding Chen sat down on the communal bed. He glanced at Cao Fang and Zhao Yu, who were still unconscious, and took a deep breath. "It's both good news and bad news."

He immediately recounted how Liao Zipeng had called him over to discuss the formation of the cook unit.

"Cook unit?"

Everyone was stunned.

The camp had a front army, a reserve army, and a head chef army. What was the point of forming a cook unit?

They didn't want to give them status, yet they wanted them to fight on the battlefield. This was clearly a trap!

Wang Yan frowned. "Brother Ding, we're definitely being targeted!"

Qin Fei and the others thought the same, but upon reflection, they hadn't offended anyone since arriving at Demon-Slaying Pass.

Who would target them?

Chen Xian sat cross-legged to the side, remaining silent, but his gaze was fixed on Ding Chen.

In his opinion, it wasn't that they were being targeted, but that Ding Chen was being targeted, and they were merely caught in the crossfire.

Ding Chen sighed helplessly. "We only have half a month. Time is tight, so let's pack our things quickly, carry Cao Fang and Zhao Yu, and move to the cook unit camp immediately."