Chapter 125: The Minority of Truth

Page 1/3

When Lai Huer saw Dou Jiande suddenly step out of line, he put on a poker face and asked coolly, "Captain Dou, do you have something to say?"

Dou Jiande paid no attention to Lai Huer’s attitude. Bowing respectfully, he said, "Our army has just won its first victory, morale is high, and logically, we should press the advantage and give the enemy no chance to recover. However..."

He glanced at the generals standing on either side and, with some concern, advised, "Our troops are new to the territory of Goryeo and unfamiliar with the terrain. Meanwhile, the enemy knows the land well. If they fake a retreat and set a trap ahead, our situation could become extremely dangerous. I urge General Lai to consider this carefully."

"Boom!"

"Haha!"

"Caw caw!"

The officers in the office burst into laughter, each mocking Dou Jiande for being out of touch. The enemy’s cities had already been captured, and their own capital, Pyongyang, was only about sixty miles away. At such a critical moment, did they really think the enemy would resort to trickery?

Lai Huer also laughed along with the others, tilting his head back and looking up at the ceiling, then turning serious to retort, "So Captain Dou believes that General Gao Jianding has set an ambush on the road to the afterlife, just waiting for you! Ha ha ha!"

Dou Jiande’s face flushed red, and he fell silent, retreating to his place. Lai Huer’s mockery implied that Gao Jianding’s life was at stake on the battlefield, and if there really were an ambush, the enemy wouldn’t be willing to sacrifice such a precious life. They’d just feign defeat and escape—why risk another life? Did he think they had too many lives to waste?

Dou Jiande became the target of ridicule. Liu Heita, who was very close to him, felt indignant. He stepped forward from behind Dou Jiande and spoke loudly, "It’s true the enemy is defeated, but it’s also possible they have set traps. No one wants to be defeated over and over—they will surely regroup and fight us fiercely again. We must stay vigilant!"

Before Lai Huer could respond, Fei Qingnu jumped forward with narrowed eyes and barked, "Get your butt back to kissing—idiot! What place is this? Who gave you permission to speak? Get back!"

Lai Huer waved his hand to calm things down and advised, "We all serve in this tent. Ah, Qingnu, enough—don’t be so harsh. They’ve just taken their posts and are still unfamiliar with marching and warfare. Let’s give them some face."

Fei Qingnu snorted coldly and retreated to his place.

Liu Heita stayed standing, fuming as he cursed, "The garrison soldiers belong to the Great Sui, not Fei Qingnu’s private troops. Everyone has the right to speak. Unlike some people who hold position but do nothing, occupying a spot but leaving a foul stench behind!"

Fei Qingnu’s veins bulged on his forehead, clearly enraged by Liu Heita’s words.

Page 2/3

Lai Huer’s face darkened; he was displeased too. Although he knew Liu Heita was targeting Fei Qingnu, he couldn’t lose face. Fei Qingnu was his trusted right-hand man. If Fei Qingnu was someone who held a position but did nothing, then what did that make the highest-ranking officers?

At least they must be men who failed to recognize talent, blinded by their own ignorance.

Lai Huer hastily reached out to stop Fei Qingnu from jumping back in and said coldly, "You, Liu Heita, are a friend of Qin Qiong and Li Dong. For their sake, I’ll let this slide. But what I want to tell you is—first prove your worth like Qingnu, first win glorious military achievements, then boasting will have some effect."

"That’s enough! No more quarrels. We march at the appointed time this afternoon, no mistakes!"

"Understood!" The officers in the office responded in unison.

Zhang Jincheng observed coldly, neither advising nor speaking, not drawing anyone’s attention.

After leaving the office, Dou Jiande, Liu Heita, and Zhang Jincheng walked side by side. Liu Heita was still angry about the earlier incident. Dou Jiande, however, took it more lightly, advising him repeatedly not to get upset.

Zhang Jincheng said, "They just look down on us because we’ve just entered the army without any achievements. Next time, the three of us will surely kill the enemy and win merits! Let those smug ones open their eyes and see!"

"Sigh! We’ll see," Dou Jiande said worriedly. "But it’s a pity..."

His regret was that Li Dong had sent Qin Qiong to suppress him, preventing him from taking the lead. Otherwise, he could have come along with the army here and heard his opinions face to face. He was eloquent, persuasive, and most importantly, full of cunning tactics—an extraordinary talent in command.

Not only the large army before them was in danger, Dou Jiande felt that the three of them would all face unexpected perils. He silently prayed that heaven would show mercy and allow at least one of them to survive.

Meanwhile, Fei Qingnu left the office full of vigor and proudly went to various camps to collect the loot money from the garrison soldiers. He soon gathered over a dozen large carts, gleaming with gold and silver, making him so happy he could hardly close his mouth.

Just as he was reveling in his joy, suddenly loud noises erupted in the camp. He frowned and hurried to investigate.

It turned out that after Fei Qingnu’s order, a squad leader was collecting all the soldiers’ money. Du Xinzhen, a rookie soldier, insisted the silver was bought with his life and refused to hand it over. When the squad leader punished him, Du Xinzhen fought back in anger.

The other soldiers, having had half their money taken, were also furious and secretly helped Du Xinzhen deal with the bullying squad leader.

Page 3/3

"Everyone stop!" Fei Qingnu shouted. "Disobeying orders, disrespecting superiors—do you want to live too long?"

"This isn’t fair!" Du Xinzhen retorted angrily.

"Turning over silver is the general’s order. All soldiers handed theirs over. You think you’re special? Do you have three heads and six arms?" Fei Qingnu assumed an official stance and shouted intimidatingly.

"The general should be reasonable, right?" Du Xinzhen was remarkably bold, fearless and unyielding in the face of authority.

"Reason???" Fei Qingnu looked at Du Xinzhen as if he were a monster. He thought: These rookies have no discipline. If I don’t make an example of them, they won’t recognize me as a Martial Valor Commander!

"Men! Drag Du Xinzhen out and behead him!" Fei Qingnu said with a half-smile. "That’s what I mean by reason!"

"Why kill me? I haven’t broken any major laws!" Du Xinzhen stubbornly questioned, unwilling to submit.

"You know too much!" With a wave of his hand, five or six of his personal guards charged forward like wolves, seized Du Xinzhen, dragged him to the back, and a scream soon followed. A life was claimed just like that.

He didn’t die on the battlefield between the two armies but was killed by his own people.

The soldiers were terrified and shrank back, hastily handing over all their money to save their lives.

Only then did Fei Qingnu become pleased. "Add Du Xinzhen’s name to the casualty list. At least he gave me a gift, so his family can receive compensation."

"Am I not kind-hearted?" Fei Qingnu smiled as he looked at the trembling soldiers and asked.

"Commander Fei’s kindness is boundless, we all admire it!" the soldiers responded obediently, but in their hearts, they were cursing.