"Let's see who dares!"
Li Muyun snorted coldly, a flash of menace passing through his eyes.
Qing Chen lowered his eyelids, secretly delighted, though his face betrayed nothing.
He knew full well that although this man coveted power and women, he was no mediocrity. The timing was ripe now, the perfect opportunity to ride the momentum.
"You see clearly, Brother Yun."
He bowed respectfully, his tone humble. "Naturally, no one would dare defy you openly, but petty villains are bound to stir up trouble in the shadows.
"Those people are green with envy over you, so they spread rumors behind your back, saying you're hesitating to advance and harboring sinister schemes, trying to shake your foundations."
As he spoke, he watched Li Muyun's expression, every word landing precisely where it would strike a chord.
The tent was so quiet that the crackling candle flame could be heard.
At these words, Li Muyun's brows furrowed slightly, and a trace of hesitation flashed through his eyes.
He pondered for a moment, then spoke with a measure of helplessness. "Then... then, Brother Qing, tell me, what should we do about this? I really have no interest in charging into battle on the front lines."
Clearly, he found dealing with this sort of matter troublesome.
Qing Chen had long since gained a thorough grasp of the man's temperament.
He knew very well that bringing up military authority directly would inevitably arouse suspicion;
but if the security of his power and position was at stake, the man would surely lose his composure.
He immediately thumped his chest in assurance. "Brother Yun, I already said it earlier: your business is my business.
"I, Qing Chen, may not be anyone important, but I'll spare no effort to ease your worries and resolve your troubles. I won't waver."
After speaking, he deliberately paused for a few breaths. Only when he saw the other man's expression ease slightly did he continue:
"I do have an idea. It would let you participate in the fighting with full justification and demonstrate your strength, while allowing you to remain here, devising strategies from your command tent.
"Why not dispatch a unit under your banner to Northern Mang Mountain to join the main force?
"That way, you could take part in suppressing the bandits while secretly observing the situation and waiting for an opportunity to act. Wouldn't that give you the best of both worlds?"
Li Muyun's eyes immediately lit up. He slapped his thigh and exclaimed approvingly, "Brother Qing, that's a brilliant idea!"
Then he hesitated again. "But who should I send? What if the truth comes out? This isn't as simple as visiting a brothel, where you can switch to another establishment if you stop going to one."
"I'm willing to go."
Qing Chen immediately bowed, his tone firm. "My abilities may be modest, but I'm willing to shoulder your worries and charge at the front, Brother Yun. You need only assign me three platoons, a force of three hundred men in total, which I'll personally command.
"As for the officers of each unit, you need only gather their commanding officers in the main tent. Then keep them under strict watch in the name of planning the battle."
Li Muyun gazed at him for a moment, then suddenly broke into a smile and clapped Qing Chen heavily on the shoulder:
"Good! I'll leave this matter to you. Once it's accomplished, I certainly won't treat you poorly."
Suppressing the wild joy in his heart, Qing Chen respectfully accepted his orders and departed.
When he stepped out of the tent, the night breeze brushed his face. He drew a deep breath, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes.
He really is a useless sack of straw.
That night, undercurrents stirred through the military camp.
Under cover of moonlight, Qing Chen began making arrangements in secret. Besides the platoon he ordinarily commanded, he carefully selected two more platoons of soldiers.
Most of these soldiers were former gang subordinates or trusted men he held leverage over, ensuring nothing could go wrong.
Early the next morning, under Li Muyun's military orders, all the units' officers were summoned to the main tent.
Once everyone had arrived, Qing Chen immediately ordered his trusted men to take command of the troops with the orders in hand. The entire process flowed like drifting clouds and running water, and the transfer of military authority was completed in less than half a day.
The officers under house arrest were still drinking and chatting in the tent, utterly unaware that the winds and clouds outside had already shifted.
Qing Chen ordered his second brother, Qing Jie, and Twin Eagles Association leader Niu Dali to command these three platoons, while he secretly assembled an elite force of fifty men.
All these men had trained in martial arts, and every one of them possessed exceptional fighting skills. They were a crucial part of the plan.
That night, candlelight flickered in the central command tent. Qing Chen dismissed his attendants and repeatedly cautioned his second brother:
"You only need to disguise yourself as me and march with Niu Dali at the head of the troops. With Li Muyun's command token in hand, naturally no one along the way will dare stop you."
Qing Jie straightened his back and repeated each word carefully. "Disguise myself as you, Big Brother, command the three platoons with Niu Dali, and follow the main army closely.
"With Li Muyun's military orders in hand, relying on his special status, naturally no one along the way will dare obstruct us. I only need to remain in command at the center, pretending you're still in camp, and carry out everything according to plan."
Qing Chen nodded, a trace of approval flashing through his eyes, but his expression immediately turned grave again:
"Leave the actual tasks to Niu Dali. You only need to remain in command here in this tent. With the brothers of the Twin Eagles Association looking after you, absolutely nothing will happen."
Qing Jie nodded, but a trace of unwillingness showed between his brows.
"I know, I know. It's just, Big Brother, not being able to go out and fight really leaves me feeling stifled. I learned all that saber work for nothing." His words carried a measure of frustration.
Qing Chen frowned, his tone stern. "Fool! Fight, my ass! Use your brain a little. What vanguard army? Strip away the words, and they're just going off to die!
"Northern Mang Mountain's terrain is perilous, easy to defend and hard to attack. The vanguard is merely going there to probe the enemy's strength and wear down the bandits.
"Once the fighting becomes a struggle to the death, the city lord's two thousand household troops will reap the fisherman's profit and clean up the aftermath. And you still want to fight? How many lives do you have?"
He paused, his tone easing slightly. "Remember, when your strength is insufficient, win through your wits. Don't indulge in a reckless man's courage."
There was a measure of anger in Qing Chen's words. He feared Qing Jie would let hot blood rush to his head and disrupt his plan.
At these words, Qing Jie also fell silent. He understood his elder brother's intentions as well and nodded firmly.
The candlelight danced across his young face, revealing a glimmer of understanding.
He could guess that his elder brother had been planning this for a long time. Their fortunes and lives were at stake, and there was no room for the slightest mistake.
He secretly swore that he would follow the plan and not disappoint his elder brother's expectations.
Watching his younger brother's retreating figure, Qing Chen sighed softly.
This moment was precisely why he had gone to such lengths to bring his second brother into the army as well.
As long as Qing Jie followed the plan, he could slip into Northern Mang Mountain with fifty elite men, unnoticed by gods or ghosts, and carry out his real plan.
And he would not alert anyone.
The night deepened, leaving only the footsteps of patrolling soldiers in the camp.
Qing Chen stood alone before the tent, gazing at the stars filling the sky. He drew a deep breath and tightened the saber at his waist.