Chapter 107
Book 10 Chapter 10 – Detailed Arrangements
Back at the Command Centre, Teng Yi was nowhere to be found. Instead, Lord Longyang was waiting for him. Both of them are on good terms already so there was no need for the usual courtesies. After dispensing his men, Lord Longyang commented: "I am relieved that my King has sent an army of five thousand soldiers, led by my good friend General Wei Bai Nian. They will arrive at Fan Wu tonight at meet up with us tomorrow. We will no longer be afraid of Tian Dan or Li Yuan’s mischief."
Xiang Shaolong began: "I have a favour to ask of Lord."
Lord Longyang happily agreed: "Brother Dong please speak your mind. I will do my best to help you."
Xiang Shaolong requested: "Please take good care of Lady Ya and make sure she can return safely."
Lord Longyang was taken aback and cried: "Brother Dong, you are really in love with her!"
Xiang Shaolong plainly replied: "I am not sure too but after a night of pa.s.sion, she promised to be loyal to me. Thus, I do not want her to come to any harm."
Lord Longyang was incensed as he shot an eye at him before faintly sighing with helplessness: "Rest a.s.sured Brother Dong! Because you asked, I will guarantee her safety and well-being."
He continues to sigh: "How is Brother Dong going to handle Tian Dan, Li Yuan and Zhao Mu?"
Xiang Shaolong smiled: "Men can plan but Heaven can interfere. I will do my best."
Lord Longyang frowned deeply and unhappily said: "I know I cannot persuade General to abandon Handan City. However, do not forget my invitation. If you can succeed, please escape to Wei. I will inform the border guards to receive you."
Xiang Shaolong is moved and gave his thanks.
This beautiful man changed topic: "Does Brother Dong wants to score a big merit? From my calculations, Talented Lady Ji is pretending to return to Wei. In reality, she is rendezvousing with Xiang Shaolong. I cannot even protect myself and have to escort Lady Ya back to Daliang. So I simply cannot afford any energy or time to keep my eye on her."
Xiang Shaolong had a brainwave and checked: "Does Lord know this man called Yan Ping?"
Lord Longyang exclaimed: "You must be talking about Mohist Juzi Yan Ping! Not only do I know him, we are well-acquainted. This man is good at military warfare and is a rare talent. Too bad he is too arrogant and difficult to get along with."
From his words, Xiang Shaolong can sense that Lord Longyang has sought to recruit Yan Ping as well. This shows that Wei do harbour ambitions against Zhao. He smiled: "Why don’t you tell Yan Ping about Xiang Shaolong and Ji Yanran. This man hates Xiang Shaolong deeply and will pursue him at all costs. I can also focus on my original work."
Lord Longyang smiled: "Not only can you can focus on your work, this will lower Zhao Mu’s prowess at the same time!"
Exposed by him, Xiang Shaolong awkwardly laughed: "It is really hard to hide anything from you!"
Lord Longyang cheerfully said: "I’ll see to it and even exaggerated my words to lend you this helping hand. Ai! After this separation, I wonder if I’ll ever see you again."
Xiang Shaolong gracefully mentioned: "n.o.body will know what will happen tomorrow. Life is only a few decades long. As long as we have shared a life and death experience together, who cares about what the future holds."
Delighted, Lord Longyang stood up grinning: "Brother Dong is one in a million and so is your thinking."
Xiang Shaolong personally sent him to the door. As he is turning back, Zhao Ba had come to see him.
After a few words of courtesy, Zhao Ba revealed: "The King has ordered me to see you and do whatever I can to help."
Xiang Shaolong is glad that Xiaocheng is doing his best to cooperate with him and execute his plan. After some talks, he praised Zhao Ba to the skies. While Zhao Ba is feeling high and mighty, he warned: "Our conversation must remain top secret! Headmaster must not let a third party know, especially Guo Zhong. Headmaster should understand his connection to Li Yuan!"
Zhao Be vehemently cursed: "Old Guo is getting muddle-headed, desiring to be the father-in-law of that cold blooded thief Li Yuan. I am so pi55ed that I haven’t seen him for a while. General can put your mind at ease."
Xiang Shaolong start off: "Today, we require Headmaster’s help as Zhao Mu has secretly conspired with Tian Dan and Li Yuan against our King."
Zhao Ba’s face changed colour as he uttered: "What! Tian Dan and Li Yuan are so daring!?"
Xiang Shaolong explained: "The King has forbid me to give you all the details. Can I enquire as to how many top fighters do you have at the Martial School and whose loyalty is beyond question?"
Zhao Ba puffed his chest: "At least five or six hundred elite fighters. Are we attacking the Marquis Residence?"
Xiang Shaolong suggested: "It depends. Can headmaster find an excuse like an (army field) exercise? Using this cover, secretly a.s.semble your men at Lady Ya’s residence. Once you enter, prevent anyone from leaving so that your location will not be leaked out."
Zhao Ba is a man who loves fighting and action. He happily consented and left after further discussion.
It is almost midnight. Just as Xiang Shaolong was deciding to go home and sleep or not, Teng Yi came back. In a relaxed mood, he updated: "Lucky we had that name list or we will be in peril. Major Gan Zhu and Major Li Ming who are guarding the South gate are Zhao Mu’s spies as well. Zhao Ming Xiong has deployed them there with ulterior motives."
Xiang Shaolong remembered these two names but had no idea they were in charge of the South gate. Thinking what a close shave they had, he a.n.a.lyzed: "Zhao Mu is a top schemer. First, he let Tian Dan’s army come in from the tunnel and create chaos. Then, he will open up both the North and South gates for the entire army to enter Handan City. Their attack is focused and well-planned. Even with the entire Zhao population attacking them, it is of little use. This is truly a top battle strategy."
Teng Yi laughed: "A pity he is not your match. Otherwise, the loyalty letters will not have appeared." Patting his shoulder, he added: "Third Brother should return first. Leave this to me. Little Jun and his men are actively spying on the Qi army. You can relax and keep your wives company."
Xiang Shaolong questioned: "This upcoming battle, we will use our elite brothers exclusively for Zhao Mu. Does Second Brother have any method of a.s.sembling a force of elite City guards and plant them in strategic locations inside the city. I want them to limit the power of the Qi forces."
Teng Yi replied: "All thanks to your Army Seal. Earlier, I was discussing the deployment with Zhao Ming Xiong. He tried to trick me with various recommendations. I allowed myself to be tricked and accept all his suggestions. Now that he has deployed all those loyal to him at the north and south gate, I am free to choose my elite city guards from the remaining forces. In fact, I have a.s.sembled an elite force of two thousand city guards. The rest of the old,