A month slipped by in the blink of an eye amid marching and making camp.
When the main body of the vanguard army slowly reached the foot of Northern Mang Mountain and completed the encirclement, the Second Battalion, to which Qing Chen belonged, was ordered to camp beneath a gentle slope twenty li away.
Far from the main battlefield, the atmosphere here was relaxed. It felt less like a military camp than an outing in the countryside.
Dusk closed in on all sides, and the setting sun was red as blood.
Inside a tent somewhat larger than the others, torches flickered.
Qing Chen sat upright before a low table, his face plastered with a fawning smile utterly unlike his usual vicious expression.
The man he was currying favor with was none other than the Second Battalion's military officer, Li Muyun, who wore a jewel-studded iron helmet and finely crafted leather armor.
"Sir, you must drink to your heart's content tonight and leave fully satisfied!"
Holding a brimming cup of wine in both hands, Qing Chen offered it with utmost respect, his words dripping with flattery.
"I know well your refined taste for such things, sir. I specially sought out this fine, aged medicinal wine. Nothing could be better for nourishing your health."
As he spoke, a barely perceptible glint of cunning flashed through his eyes, and he lowered his voice.
"Besides, I've secretly arranged an empty tent for you among my patrol unit's quarters. I guarantee it'll be comfortable and quiet, with no one to disturb you.
"Heh heh, and just as you instructed, that little beauty has already been tied up nice and tight. She's only waiting for you to enjoy yourself with her tonight!"
At this, Li Muyun paused briefly, then threw back his head and roared with laughter, the sound echoing through the tent.
Without standing on ceremony, he snatched the cup from Qing Chen's hands and drained it in one gulp.
Apparently finding the cup too small and still wanting more, he simply lifted the entire wine jug from the table and tipped his head back to drink freely.
Wine trickled down his chin, soaking the front of his clothes.
"Hahaha! Brother Qing, excellent, excellent! You really are a splendid fellow who knows how to get things done and understands what people want!"
Li Muyun casually tossed the empty jug onto the low table with a sharp clank.
He reached out with a wine-stained hand and clapped Qing Chen hard on the shoulder, his smile unrestrained.
At this, Qing Chen bent even lower, his smile nearly stretching to his ears as he hastened to reply.
"Sir, you place such trust in me and entrust me with confidential matters. I'm moved to tears with gratitude. Only by doing my utmost can I repay even a fraction of your kindness in recognizing my worth.
"Whatever you need in the future, sir, no matter what it is, you need only say the word. Even if I must plunge into boiling water or tread through fire, I won't hesitate!"
Over the past dozen or so days spent together morning and night, Qing Chen had thoroughly learned his immediate superior's temperament and tastes.
In all fairness, this battalion officer who had risen through connections was a waste of space so astonishing that he left people dumbstruck.
At a time like this, with battle imminent, any ordinary battalion officer commanding five hundred soldiers would have racked his brains, drilled his troops, and tightened military discipline, fearful of overlooking anything.
But Military Officer Li spent his days idling, paying no attention to military affairs in the camp, great or small.
All he knew was how to follow the city's young nobles, hunting with hawks and hounds and finding ever-new ways to seek pleasure outside the military camp.
More remarkable still, he seemed to have perfected the art of living off a woman while acting as though he was the one in charge.
With the city lord's daughter obeying his every wish, he relied on his handsome looks to revel in wealth and luxury.
A person lived only once, and sought little more than wine, sex, wealth, and power.
Li Muyun loved wine as dearly as life itself, lusted after women, favored fair-skinned young scholars, and could not get enough of Five-Stone Powder.
It seemed that only these things could satisfy some twisted desire of his for conquest.
Qing Chen had seized on precisely this point.
A few days earlier, he had used the opportunity of leading a patrol to lay careful plans;
he had led his men to a secluded spot far from the main road and abducted a woman from elsewhere who was passing through.
Then, sparing no expense, he had bought high-quality Five-Stone Powder on the black market.
After meticulous arrangements, he had actually created just such a "den of ecstasy" for Li Muyun in this corner far from the main camp.
These methods, catering precisely to his tastes while leaving not a single gap in the arrangements, had indeed scratched Li Muyun exactly where he itched.
What Qing Chen had noticed in particular was that, compared with the pleasure women brought him,
this military officer seemed even more interested in Five-Stone Powder, so Qing Chen spared no expense in keeping him supplied.
Li Muyun's own pay was limited, and he also had to maintain his extravagant spending. Naturally, he was immensely pleased with such "charcoal delivered in the snow."
Before long, he had come to regard Qing Chen as his foremost confidant and relied heavily on him.
"Haha, Brother Qing, why stand on such ceremony with me?" The wine had clearly gone to Li Muyun's head, and he was in excellent spirits.
Laughing, he spoke with particular warmth and familiarity. "From now on, when we're in private, stop calling me 'sir.' It's too distant! Just call me Brother Yun. That's how we brothers should show how close we are!"
Hearing this, Qing Chen secretly rejoiced and immediately climbed the pole offered to him, his face full of a smile that showed him overwhelmed by the favor.
"Heh, then I'll take the liberty of calling you Brother Yun. If you ever need help with anything, Brother Yun, just say the word. I can do anything!"
After speaking, Qing Chen's eyes shifted, and he continued, "By the way, Brother Yun, our battalion has been camped here twenty li north of Northern Mang Mountain all this time. I was wondering whether that might be a little inappropriate.
"The vanguard army and the central army have already reached the foot of Northern Mang Mountain and surrounded the whole mountain so tightly that not even water could escape."
"Haha, that's where you don't know the whole story."
Li Muyun tilted his head back with casual abandon, a touch of smugness on his face as he explained to Qing Chen, "I actually came out this time just to pad my record.
"When the fighting is nearly over, I'll go over and scoop up whatever's left. Easy and carefree. Besides, our current position is quite good.
"We might be a little far from Northern Mang Mountain, but if any fish slip through the net and flee this way, we can catch them like turtles in a jar. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Hearing this, Qing Chen felt a surge of contempt and silently cursed Li Muyun for a blockhead.
Twenty li north of Northern Mang Mountain-how could we possibly run into bandits from Northern Mang Mountain here?
That side is all sheer cliffs and precipices, with dense mountain forests.
Large forces can't pass through at all. There'll be practically no fighting here.
Even if bandits come down from the mountain, there'll be only a handful at most.
This blockhead is hiding here because he's afraid of dying and afraid of battle;
all this talk of catching turtles in a jar is utterly absurd.
Qing Chen grumbled inwardly, but dared not let the slightest trace of disdain show on his face.
He forced out a smile, his tone full of respect. "You're right, Brother Yun. I truly admire your foresight.
"But I do have one concern. If others don't understand your painstaking intentions and instead mistakenly believe you've squandered the opportunity for battle by failing to join the main force in encircling Northern Mang Mountain, that would be troublesome.
"Such misunderstandings and malicious rumors could have quite an impact on your future prospects. I'm only afraid that someone with ulterior motives might play dirty behind your back."
As he spoke, Qing Chen showed concern and worry at just the right moment, carefully watching Li Muyun's reaction.