RWNEFE -Chapter 258 The Great Turkic Warrior!

The soldiers of Great Zhou defend their homeland; from the perspective of the Turks, they are expanding territory.

These men had all been conscripted far from their homes and brought to the battlefield.

Some may not have wanted to come. Some left behind wives, children, and elderly parents at home. Some may have had fiancées or childhood sweethearts waiting for them.

From both sides’ perspectives, neither was truly in the wrong.

Xiao Fang looked at Shen Lanxi with admiration. Based on her usual military regulations and way of handling matters, he had expected that she would punish the corpses again.

The general was indeed ruthless, but she always had principles and limits!
He had chosen the right person!

Xiao Fang gave Shen Lanxi a deep look and then turned away to make arrangements.

Although Abu Khan and the generals of the three Turkic tribes had left, they left scouts behind, constantly monitoring the Zhenbei Army.

When they saw the Zhenbei Army hauling the corpses of Turkic soldiers ten miles outside Huangtu City to bury them and erect tombstones, they all fell silent.

Only after the Zhenbei Army had left for nearly a quarter of an hour did they emerge from hiding to investigate.

“The Zhenbei Army didn’t strip the armor off them!”

“The shoes are still there too,” and even the gifts from the soldiers’ families remained intact.

The Turkic scouts stared silently at the inscriptions on the tombstones, which read: Great Turkic Warrior!

Were the dead truly great warriors?

In their hearts, yes. But in the eyes of the Great Zhou people?

Didn’t they all see the Turks as evil barbarians trying to seize territory?

“Should we report this to General Abu Khan?” one scout asked cautiously.

“Report it. Our general’s courage can’t be outdone by a woman!”

…

After Shen Lanxi had faked a retreat to recapture the city, everyone expected her to pursue the victory. To their surprise, she ordered the army to start farming!

“You don’t really think the previous supplies came from the court, do you?” Shen Lanxi’s eyes swept across the room.

Her troops all knew who she was addressing.

The envoys for the marriage alliance, and the newly appointed supervising prince, Zhou Ruan.

Shen Lanxi sighed deeply. “The Zhenbei Army will soon run out of provisions!”

Zhou Ruan looked at Wu Tong, who immediately responded indignantly: “You should know very well why the Zhenbei Army has no supplies. If you hadn’t ceded Huangtu City earlier, how could His Majesty have given the provisions to the Third Prince?”

Shen Lanxi’s cold gaze cut across him: “Are you blaming His Majesty?”

Zhou Ruan clenched his fist, his eyes flashing. “If you had informed the court in advance instead of acting unilaterally, those provisions wouldn’t have been handed over. This situation of having no supplies wouldn’t have happened.”

Shen Lanxi: “So, you’re blaming me for not notifying the three Turkic tribes when leaving Huangtu City, suggesting that this was a strategy to lure the enemy in?”

Zhou Ruan scowled: “Shen Lanxi, that’s nonsense!”

Shen Lanxi glared back: “You’re the one twisting logic and making baseless complaints. Should I report to the court and tell His Majesty that the Second Prince thinks the provisions given to the Third Prince were too generous, which caused the Zhenbei Army to be deprived of their supplies?”

“Second Prince, are you dissatisfied with His Majesty, with the Third Prince, or just with the fact that provisions were given to the Third Prince?”

Zhou Ruan glared at Shen Lanxi in fury—she was trying to shift the blame onto him!

“Shen Lanxi, that is not a reason for letting the three Turkic tribes off! Don’t try to use the lack of supplies to stall me. I now order you to immediately march against the Turks and reclaim the cities that rightfully belong to Great Zhou!”

Shen Lanxi also became angry, slapping the table immediately.

“Very well. Since the Third Prince is so determined and wholeheartedly for Great Zhou, if you can have the court send provisions, I will immediately deploy troops to attack!”

Zhou Ruyuan: “……”

“I don’t believe the Zhenbei Army has no provisions. If not, what were they eating before I arrived?”

Liu Yanhui quickly brought out the accounts book. Wu Tong, seeing this, quickly hunched down to reduce his presence.

“These are the accounts of provisions borrowed from merchants by General Shen. Since the Third Prince is now supervising the army, these should be handed to him for verification and management!”

Che Mingyuan also had his men bring out the accounts. He had amassed a whole box of them—any investigation would have proof. Now, the hot potato could finally be handed off!

Zhou Ruan didn’t believe it.

“The northwest front is in dire need. How could merchants lend you provisions?”

Liu Yanhui smiled: “Coincidentally, your brother, Zhou Ruyuan also asked this.”

Liu Yanhui continued, smiling: “Because our general has adopted many sons and daughters. They are all the legitimate children of these merchant families.”

Zhou Ruan felt as if struck by a bolt from the blue.

“Impossible! Absolutely impossible!”

Che Mingyuan, with no respect for the prince who had just taken his supervisory position, spoke coldly and sarcastically: “The Third Prince can do the same. Borrow provisions, and the Zhenbei Army will surely strike the heart of the Turkic Empire!”

Zhou Ruan was enraged: “I don’t believe it! I’m going to the supply depot right now to see!”

Shen Lanxi looked at Liu Yanhui, who calmly stood.

“I’ll take the Third Prince there immediately!”

After the Third Prince left, the marriage envoys also departed, leaving only Shen Lanxi’s men.

“General, this prince is too troublesome. Should we give him some medicine?” Ban Sicao suggested mischievously. He still had some of the ‘beauty medicine’ left from last time; since they were siblings, it could be shared.

Wei Dongzhu glanced at the playful Ban Sicao and, for the first time, found him somewhat likable.

“I think that’s fine,” Wei Dongzhu said honestly.

Shen Yuanjing: “I think it’s okay too!”

Qian Feng: “As long as he doesn’t die in our Zhenbei Army, anything goes!” He had no fondness for any princes or princesses.

Even Cheng Zheng and the others agreed, supporting Ban Sicao.

After listening to them, Shen Lanxi said: “If the prince goes to the northwest, he’ll be a weakling. Not good—not good!” It’s too easy to arouse suspicion if it’s too obvious.

Wei Dongzhu didn’t know her thoughts—he only noted the inconvenience Zhou Ruan’s presence would bring.

“Zhou Ruan is not Wu Tong. He will definitely interfere with army affairs after arriving.”

Shen Lanxi nodded and listened quietly.

Xiao Fang: “If he dares speak nonsense, I won’t listen. If he makes me angry, even as a prince, I’ll strike him without hesitation!”

Qian Feng sneered: “Princes only rely on their status to give reckless orders!”

Everyone knew his background and, hearing this, they believed he must have suffered greatly under such princes.

Cheng Zheng said: “We can send him to request provisions from the court!”

Wei Dongzhu and the others all agreed.

“Zhou Ruan may not listen!”

“Didn’t you hear his intentions when he first arrived? He immediately tried to seize power and order our general to recruit troops. Who does he think he is?”

“Dream on if he thinks he can control the Zhenbei Army!”

They cursed Zhou Ruan again.

Shen Lanxi suddenly smiled. Everyone, tense and ready for conflict, was taken aback.

“I actually think Zhou Ruan staying here is quite useful!”