Section 119: I Regard a Marquis of Ten Thousand Households as Dirt
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Lai Huer had intended to entangle Qin Qiong with a series of moves and keep him from leaving the platform. He had not expected Qin Qiong simply to stand there without striking back or dodging, taking the blow squarely on his back before collapsing onto the platform.
Lai Huer was utterly dismayed, his face growing terribly grim.
Given his position, attacking from behind was beneath his dignity. Even victory would bring him no honor; instead, it would leave people with grounds for gossip and reproach.
Lai Huer hurried forward several steps and lifted Qin Qiong into his arms. Qin Qiong’s face was waxen yellow, his eyes tightly shut, his teeth clenched, and his features covered in large beads of sweat. He was clearly in excruciating pain.
Everything had happened too quickly. Li Dong was horrified. Without a thought for whether Lai Huer might discover the truth, he leaped onto the platform. After all, he and Qin Qiong were brothers who had shared life-and-death trials together.
Li Dong quickly rubbed Qin Qiong’s chest, slapped his back, and worked to circulate his blood and vital energy.
“Ah!” Qin Qiong regained consciousness. Seeing that he was lying in Lai Huer’s arms with Li Dong beside him, he struggled to sit up and said with difficulty, “Thank you, General, for saving me.”
When Dou Jiande saw Qin Qiong struck by General Lai, he was overjoyed.
So this is what becomes of him!
He was still bitter that Qin Qiong had snatched the credit for the first victory right out from under him. He could never have imagined that, several months later, Qin Qiong would drag him back from the brink of death.
“General Lai!” Li Dong said anxiously. “I must carry him back to the tent and have the army physician treat him. I beg you to grant your permission!”
“All right, go! I will personally visit him later!” Lai Huer was still deeply apologetic. What in the world had happened? Why had Qin Qiong not fought back? With his skill, he could surely have dodged the blow. How had he ended up so badly injured?
As soon as Li Dong carried Qin Qiong down from the platform, a large group of smiths from the armory rushed over. Their faces were grave as they helped carry Qin Qiong around the platform and hurried toward the main tent.
Lai Huer stood tall and faced the tens of thousands of garrison soldiers below. In a deep voice, he announced, “Qin Qiong defeated Dou Jiande and is therefore to be appointed Commandant of Resolute Valor! Dou Jiande is to be appointed a Two-Hundred-Man Commandant, and Zhang Jincheng shall receive the same rank.”
“The challenge continues! Who is willing to come up?” Lai Huer called out. His booming voice rang out across the area surrounding the platform.
“Whoa—”
The soldiers below erupted into uproarious excitement.
So victory in the challenge really did bring a military appointment. The rank of Commandant of Resolute Valor was divided into upper, middle, and lower grades. Qin Qiong would receive at least a sixth-grade military post!
That blow had been worth taking. He had risen to the heavens in a single bound!
“Feng will take the stage!” No sooner had the words fallen than a frail young man, thin as a sickly ghost, sprang onto the platform. He cupped his fists toward General Lai and announced, “Feng Shaoyu is here!”
Lai Huer nodded.
If no one had come up, I would have been utterly humiliated. After injuring Qin Qiong, I might have chilled the hearts of every soldier below. Fortunately, Feng Shaoyu has come to my rescue.
With that thought, he stepped down from the platform and gave Feng Shaoyu the space.
“I am Feng Shaoyu, a man whose loneliness has spread into an ocean! If any damned fool refuses to accept it, come up here and fight me! Come on, fight me! Knock me into becoming a commandant too, and I’ll be happy!”
Feng Shaoyu had no idea why General Lai had granted Qin Qiong such a high rank. He stood on the platform shouting provocatively, challenging someone to come up and fight him.
The soldiers below could no longer contain themselves and burst into roaring laughter.
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Li Dong and the group of smiths returned to the smithy and placed Qin Qiong on a couch in the inner room.
Someone brought over a bowl of warm water. Li Dong took it and personally fed Qin Qiong.
“It is nothing serious. I am strong and thick-skinned, so there is no need to trouble yourselves any further.” Qin Qiong struggled to sit up and spoke to Li Dong.
“Your face has gone yellow. And you still say it is nothing?” Li Dong scolded him unhappily, feeling deeply regretful.
If it had been anyone else, I would certainly have fought General Lai. The rules were mine to begin with. How could I win without fighting? Qin Qiong is truly a loyal man!
“It is only a slight blockage in my circulation. There really is no great problem.” As Qin Qiong spoke, his face twisted again in pain. Clearly, he was lying to reassure Li Dong.
The group of smiths stood some distance from the couch, watching Qin Qiong with heavy hearts. Qin Qiong’s victory over Dou Jiande had brought great honor to the smiths. They had been celebrating their triumph for barely a moment before their spirits sank once more.
But Lai Huer was the supreme general, with the power of life and death over everyone in the entire camp. The smiths were insignificant men whose words carried little weight. Even if they had grievances in their hearts, there was nothing they could do except mourn Qin Qiong’s misfortune.
While they were thinking this, Lai Huer arrived with his three sons to visit Qin Qiong.
The moment he entered the tent, all the smiths hurriedly bowed and greeted him.
Lai Huer waved a large hand and told them to rise. He went to Qin Qiong’s couch, half crouched down, and asked gently, “I struck too hard. At the time, I only meant to keep you from leaving the platform. I truly had no intention of hitting you…”
When Qin Qiong saw General Lai, he sat up on the couch and tried to salute, but Lai Huer pressed him back down.
“These are extraordinary times. There is no need to trouble yourself with such unimportant formalities.”
As he spoke, he waved toward the men behind him. One of his sons took out some medicine and handed it to Qin Qiong.
Apologetically, Lai Huer said, “I carry this with me. It is an excellent medicine for treating injuries caused by blades, and it works both internally and externally. Take it. It should help your body.”
“Thank you for your kindness, General Lai!” Qin Qiong had no choice but to lie back down and raise one hand in a gesture that served as a salute.
“I already made the announcement. Once you have recovered, you will no longer need to work as a smith. You will serve beside my tent as a Commandant of Resolute Valor. Once you have earned military merit, I will petition His Majesty to grant you an even higher title!” Lai Huer said with a smile. “For now, you will have to endure a little inconvenience.”
“General…”
Qin Qiong grew anxious at once. Bracing himself against the couch with a bent arm, he forced himself upright and repeatedly refused.
“General Lai, you must not do this! I am merely a smith. Repairing weapons is what I am good at, but I know nothing about marching or warfare. When two armies clash, life and death are decided in an instant. One careless moment can plunge a man into everlasting ruin. How could you let me lead troops into battle?”
“Qin Qiong dares not accept your command. I beg you, General Lai, to withdraw your order!”
By the end, his tone had become utterly resolute. Though he was injured and suffering, every word rang with force.
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Lai Huer was not angry. Instead, he was delighted.
Qin Qiong truly was an admirable man. An ordinary person would have knelt and thanked him for such a favor. Qin Qiong, however, had refused him outright. Yet that was precisely what Lai Huer liked about him.
“Was I not once a mere foot soldier in the army? As long as you have ability, your chance to distinguish yourself will come sooner or later. For now, concentrate on recovering. Once you are well, we will discuss the matter again.”
“There is no need to wait. I can tell you right now that I possess neither talent nor virtue and am unfit for such an important responsibility. I beg you, General Lai, to withdraw your order!” Qin Qiong refused again and again.
Lai Huer smiled. “We will discuss it later, all right?”
When he noticed Li Dong, a trace of puzzlement crossed his face.
“Who is this young man? Why does he look so unfamiliar?”
Li Dong had been deeply displeased with Lai Huer. But seeing the general humble himself enough to visit Qin Qiong personally, bring medicine from his own private stores, and grant Qin Qiong a military position, his anger had eased considerably.
Lai Huer was not a bad man. Despite holding such a high position, he treated his subordinates with genuine consideration. He was no useless wastrel; he clearly possessed real ability. Li Dong’s impression of him had changed greatly.
When Lai Huer questioned him, Li Dong hurriedly cupped his fists and bowed slightly.
“Er… I am Dang Yuqian, merely a humble smith. I serve under Qin Qiong, repairing weapons.”
“You are all to take good care of Qin Qiong. If anything happens to him, I will hold every one of you responsible! Is that understood?” Lai Huer asked sternly, displaying the authority of a general.
“Yes! We respectfully obey the Grand General’s command!” all the smiths in the tent answered as they hurriedly saluted.
Having received their affirmation, General Lai led his three sons out of the tent.
“Lai Zheng, after we capture Liaodong Commandery, send Qin Qiong a cartload of the gold, silver, treasures, and other rare curios taken in the campaign!” Lai Huer still felt he owed Qin Qiong and wanted to reward him generously.
Lai Zheng acknowledged the order and left with his father.
Inside the tent, Qin Qiong waited until they had all gone, then dismissed the smiths as well. Turning to Li Dong, he asked, “What do we do next?”
Li Dong replied, “Next, the army marches for Liaodong. When the time comes, it will be our chance for the two of us to truly show what we can do!”
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