Chapter 39
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: The Enemy Within
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Finally, the subjugation army entered Chang'an.
The government office serving as the subjugation army's temporary headquarters was shrouded in silence. Centered around Left General Lu Zhi, the key officers including Zhong Yuan and myself all sat with grim expressions, lips sealed tight.
Before us stood an official dispatched from the Liang Province Governor's office, sweating profusely like rain.
'Judging by that guy's pallor, there's not a shred of good news.'
The official began his report on Liang Province's dire situation in a trembling voice.
"Th-the Qiang tribe's Beigong Boyu and the Hu tribe's Li Wenhou have raised armies... They crushed the previous Governor Geng Bi's forces and severed his head. Riding that momentum, they smashed Protector of the Qiang Colonel Ying Zheng's cavalry and slaughtered him too."
The official swallowed dryly and continued.
"The rebels also took the hostages, Inspector Bian Zhang and Attendant Han Sui, coerced them into leading troops, and with them, sacked Jincheng. Afterward, the rebels proclaimed Beigong Boyu as king, rousing ethnic minorities and Hu tribes across Liang Province to pillage relentlessly from all directions!"
As the despairing report concluded, the other officers let out low sighs.
"Ha..."
"Isn't this more than half of Liang Province gone?"
"No way! What the hell was the previous governor doing to let the rebels... Damn it..."
But Lu Zhi stared coldly at the official who had finished his report, not twitching a muscle.
"I can understand the Governor and Protector of the Qiang falling in battle. The enemy are ethnic minorities with plenty of cavalry, after all. But I can't comprehend Jincheng falling."
Lu Zhi tapped the table with his finger—tap, tap—and asked.
"How large is the rebel force?"
"...The exact size isn't confirmed, but it's likely over 100,000—"
The words "100,000" sent another wave of unrest through the officers.
"What!? 100,000 rebels?"
"Our army is only 30,000... and if it's mostly ethnic cavalry..."
"Ahem... This might not be a subjugation anymore; we may need to defend the Sanfu region instead..."
Unlike the officers' reactions, Lu Zhi didn't bat an eye.
"100,000, eh. But most will be infantry-poor, with no siege weapons to speak of. It took just over a month for the court to assemble and dispatch this subjugation army. And Jincheng fell in that time? It doesn't add up."
Lu Zhi's sharp gaze pierced the official.
"Are the rebels who took Jincheng still regrouping there?"
"Ahem... W-well... After sacking Jincheng, they've been rampaging and plundering around the nearby Sanfu region."
The moment he heard that, Lu Zhi drew his sword. The gleaming blade pointed straight at the official's throat.
"Not only did Jincheng fall so quickly, but you let the enemy plunder right under our noses in Sanfu? Do you take me for a fool? Speak the truth!"
"Th-the new Governor... he..."
Lu Zhi bellowed.
"Speak, now!"
Finally, the official spilled everything.
"The new Governor embezzled military funds and ordered the dissenting generals out of Jincheng to fight in open battle! With the main force annihilated... in a defenseless state, Han Sui and Bian Zhang—who joined the rebels—attacked... Sniff, and it fell!"
Upon the official's confession, the listening officers erupted in fury.
"W-what? That mad bastard embezzled funds?"
"With over 100,000 enemies, he doesn't fortify the walls but sends troops out for field battle?"
"...Fuck."
Gnashing his teeth, Lu Zhi asked.
"Where is this new Governor now?"
"H-he hasn't returned to Sanfu yet. He's currently stationed in Jicheng with his army."
At those words, Lu Zhi's rage exploded.
"I'll take that bastard's head first!"
The surrounding officers hurriedly restrained him.
"General! Restrain yourself!"
"Jicheng is right in the heart of enemy territory! You must calm down first!"
I watched the commotion from a step back, clicking my tongue.
'What a headache. The rebellion is in full swing, yet the new Governor embezzles funds, most of Liang Province's forces that should link up with us are wiped out in field battles... Damn it...'
It seemed the real problem wasn't the external rebels, but the enemy within our ranks.
Lu Zhi was still fuming and panting, while the officers around him sweated bullets trying to calm him.
After heaving ragged breaths for a long while, Lu Zhi finally clenched his teeth, shoved off the officers holding him, and slumped back into his seat.
'Hmm, still, the General's no ordinary man. Suppressing that rage...'
Silence returned to the office. In a voice chilled to ice, Lu Zhi spoke.
"No matter how much that idiot embezzled and ruined his army, he's still the Liang Province Governor appointed by His Majesty. If he dies at enemy hands, the court's face is lost. We have to... go rescue him."
One officer voiced concern at Lu Zhi's words.
"But General! Jicheng is smack in the middle of enemy lines! Marching north with 30,000 is too risky!"
"Do you think I don't know that? Moving the whole army is walking right into their trap. There's only one way: send a small elite force to strike their unguarded flank."
Finishing, Lu Zhi slowly scanned the faces of the assembled officers one by one.
"But... this mission's odds favor failure over success. No guarantee of return. We can't throw away good soldiers on a suicide run."
As Lu Zhi's gaze passed, the men who'd been shouting moments ago ducked their heads or coughed awkwardly, avoiding his eyes like it was rehearsed.
Only Zhong Yuan and I met his gaze steadily. Zhong Yuan even wore a faint smile, as if amused.
Lu Zhi's eyes finally settled on me. After staring intently for a moment, he spoke as if resolved.
"Cavalry Captain. Ever smoked out rats from their holes?"
"...What do you mean?"
"The main army will advance grandly on Jincheng. Drums blaring, banners flying, the works. The rebels will think we're reclaiming it and focus there. That's the 'smoke.'"
Lu Zhi's eyes flashed.
"You take 5,000 elites, slip into the rat hole they rush out of, and hit Jicheng. They won't dream we'd do something so bold with so few."
Impressed by the daring ploy, I asked.
"Understood. But if the plan fails and we can't rescue him with our force, what then?"
A cold smile curled Lu Zhi's lips at the question.
"No need to take needless risks. The court's prestige matters, but do we need to lose good men? Retreat as is. I'll take all the blame. Got it?"
"As you command!"
Jicheng's government office.
Unlike the faint rebel clamor outside the walls, Liang Province Governor Zuochang was on the verge of exploding with rage.
Pacing and snarling, he bellowed at his subordinate officers.
"Days have passed already! Why hasn't a single Commandery Administrator or general sent reinforcements? I'm the Governor of Liang Province! How dare they ignore my orders!"
His subordinates tried to calm him, to no avail.
"Governor, please calm down. The roads are treacherous, the rebels fierce—everyone's likely gauging the situation..."
"Shut up, you useless lot! All of you, get out of my sight!"
At Zuochang's roar, the officers scrambled out. Left alone, he vented his fury.
"Do I look like I'm dying here?!"
Zuochang had bribed the Emperor with 30 million cash to snag this governorship.
The moment previous Governor Geng Bi marched out to suppress the rebels and met a dog's death, Zuochang slid into the seat as promised.
—30 million cash.
To recoup that massive sum, he'd pocketed the 20 million in subjugation funds from the court right upon arrival.
Of course, Zuochang wasn't a complete fool. He had a plan to crush the rebellion.
Unlike the idiot Geng Bi's open-field blunder, he'd fortify the city, hold out, then join the central subjugation army and claim the glory.
"That bastard Gai Xun! Opposing me to the end!"
Fuming, Zuochang slammed the desk hard enough to shatter it.
He'd sent the fund-opposing Gai Xun to die in field battle on purpose, but the bastard kept winning and surviving.
The frame-up plan failed.
When even the Jincheng garrison sent protesting letters, he issued the same field orders—but those incompetents, unlike Gai Xun, got wiped out.
"It's not my fault...! This Liang Province is full of useless scum—that's why it turned out like this!"
As Zuochang trembled alone, shifting blame, a massive roar erupted outside the walls. The rebels were sieging again.
His face, cocky moments ago, drained white in an instant.
"D-damn it... those bastards again...!"
Terror of death and despair over losing his investment crashed over him.
"Do I look like I'm dying here?! After all the money I spent!!"
Eyes bulging, Zuochang kicked open the door and screamed at the soldiers in the hall.
"What are you doing?! Rush to the walls and hold those bastards off! Not one can climb up! Hurry! Relay the order!"
"Y-yes, Governor!"
Trembling in fear, Zuochang drove the soldiers to their deaths solely to protect his life and fortune.