Chapter 243.1: Hello Chang’an
Chapter 243.1: Don’t You Think It’s Absurd?
The venerable General Chang was showing such an obedient side—his deputy, while surprised, realized upon reflection: if he had a daughter as capable and skilled as this, he would surely be just as obedient.
He would serve tea to his daughter every day; if she told him to go east, he would never go west—certainly even more obedient than the general himself.
Very well, the obedience was ready; all that remained was a capable daughter.
This fleeting thought passed quickly. Listening to the repeated shouts of “The General has arrived!” from the opposite side, the deputy fixed his gaze and gripped his weapon tightly.
The two armies slowly pulled back, separating into two halves with a clear dividing line.
Soon, the enemy troops moved aside, leaving a path in the middle.
The sound of hooves drew closer. A squad rode forward to clear the path, and before long, a figure on a black horse appeared in view.
“The General!”
“Indeed, the General!”
A deputy and a captain from the Xu army shouted in unison: “The General has arrived!”
The atmosphere shifted abruptly. The morale of the already scattered troops was forced to reassemble upon seeing Xu Zhengye himself.
Xu Zhengye rode to the front of his army.
Chang Suining looked.
The man was clad in armor, with a bright vermilion cape outside, dazzling as befitted his self-styled title of “Restorer General.”
Over forty, with neatly trimmed short facial hair, his face was slightly long but well-proportioned. His slightly upturned phoenix-like eyes hinted at the elegance of a cultivated family, giving no sense of roughness even as he wielded sword and horse.
In short, he looked every bit like a reasonable man who understood righteousness, with a face hardly resembling a rebel.
Chang Suining thought: the reason people were willing to believe his claim of restoring the Li family’s rule was not just gullibility; those truly deceived could hardly be blamed entirely.
She and Chang Kuo looked at Xu Zhengye, and he looked at them in return.
The first thing Xu Zhengye noticed was the high-held severed head of Ge Zong.
His expression changed slightly.
He had come after hearing news, worried about conditions in Hezhou, but he never expected to witness this scene.
He had never imagined the battle would be so shamefully disastrous.
Ten thousand against fewer than twenty thousand—no one could have predicted the reversal of the battle.
Had he arrived any later, his entire army might have been forced to surrender.
Xu Zhengye looked at the soldiers behind Chang Kuo who glared at him, and coldly asked the deputy at his side, who was making excuses: “Where is Ji Xi?”
The deputy bowed his head lower: “Reporting to the General, General Ji… is also dead!”
Xu Zhengye asked steadily: “Who killed him?”
Compared to Ge Zong, the clear-headed Ji Xi was even more valuable. To lose both in this battle!
“It is—” the deputy began, but a young voice rang from across.
“It was me.” Yun Hui, just awakening from unconsciousness and aided by Officer Peng, stepped forward. His pale lips spoke through hidden hatred: “Yun Hui, son of the Prefect of Hezhou.”
The deaths of his father and brothers in Hezhou were all caused by this man, all due to his secret ambitions.
Xu Zhengye observed him for a moment, as if taking note, then asked, “And who killed Ge Zong?”
“At this?” Chang Suining turned to Ge Zong’s head, speaking casually: “I did.”
Xu Zhengye’s gaze moved lightly—another youth?
He looked at Chang Suining, scrutinizing: “And who are you?”
Holding the reins, she smiled faintly: “Chang Suining of the Cavalry General’s household.”
“Chang Suining…” Xu Zhengye looked at her, then turned to Chang Kuo.
Chang Kuo’s emotions fluctuated; his palms were slightly sweaty.
The Golden Deputy General beside him grew anxious. This formidable daughter of the General—why hadn’t he recognized her? He loudly declared for the General: “This is our General Chang’s daughter! A Chang family lady!”
Chang Kuo didn’t dare move.
Until Chang Suining turned to him: “Father?”
Chang Kuo started: “…Yes, my daughter killed him!”
The Golden Deputy General smiled with satisfaction—look at how proud the General is, even his voice trembles!
“So it’s a girl… indeed, like father, like daughter.” Xu Zhengye gave a faint, ambiguous laugh, though he still half-doubted that this young lady killed Ge Zong.
After all, it was hard to believe.
But now was not the time to scrutinize how a mere girl slew Ge Zong.
He looked at Chang Kuo: “In today’s battle, two of my generals have fallen… General Chang’s tactics truly impress me, quite unexpectedly, and I admire them.”
“The battle has exhausted both armies, yet its outcome is still undecided,” he raised his hand slightly, speaking to Chang Kuo: “For the sake of the soldiers, would General Chang gamble with me?”
Chang Kuo replied cautiously: “Let’s hear what kind of gamble it is first.”
Those who seek greatness cannot be thin-skinned. Xu Zhengye, unbothered by any perceived insult, continued:
“I remember when General Chang followed the late Crown Prince to fight and earn merit, I was still indulging in pleasures in the capital, oblivious to hardship… truly shameful.”
“Thus, in terms of commanding troops, I am but a junior before General Chang. Today, I dare to challenge General Chang to a single duel—”
“If General Chang wins, I will withdraw my forces. If I am fortunate to win, I ask that you allow me entry into Hezhou.”
Chang Kuo looked: “Our army has already won a great victory. Why should I agree to such a gamble?”
“Victory is not yet certain,” Xu Zhengye glanced behind him: “I bring an additional fifty thousand troops.”
The Golden Deputy General’s face changed; Yun Hui, assisted by Officer Peng, pressed his pale lips tight.
“If I forcibly take Hezhou, it might not be impossible,” Xu Zhengye said. “But today’s casualties are too severe; I prefer no further bloodshed, hence this proposal—”
He displayed the air of justice and benevolence, adding: “I imagine General Chang’s heart is the same. Though I may be presumptuous, as a junior, I offer this gamble as a mark of respect.”
“How does General Chang feel about this?”
In other words, refusal would only leave one option: attack.
“General Chang… cannot agree!” Yun Hui looked up at Chang Kuo: “His every word seems righteous, but he is a petty man pretending to be virtuous. The General must not fall for it!”
The enemy humbly calls himself a junior, seemingly weak, claiming to be “no match for General Chang”—yet if he had no certainty, why abandon the sure path to victory for a gamble?
What he calls “a token of respect” is merely an attempt to seize Hezhou at minimal cost!
The General had not fought directly but had overseen the battle all day from the city towers, not even pausing to drink. Xu Zhengye, in his prime, had arrived fully prepared. Surely he had confidence in victory.
Stepping back, even if defeated, he could find excuses to renege.
These were objective facts; privately, Yun Hui did not want Chang Kuo to risk himself further.
General Chang owed nothing to Hezhou, but Hezhou owed far more to him and the General’s daughter.
Yun Hui was about to speak again when Chang Kuo raised his hand, stopping him.
Just as Yun Hui assumed the General would accept the wager—
“Ning… Suining, what do you think?” Chang Kuo asked softly, more like seeking counsel.
Yun Hui: “?”
“I think this proposal is reasonable,” Chang Suining looked at Xu Zhengye: “But one point needs to be added.”
Xu Zhengye looked at her: “What addition? Please, Chang family lady, speak.”
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