RWNEFE -Chapter 279 The Next Target—Xiling City!

Zhou Ruan acted first and reported later. Taking advantage of the chaos, he immediately sent his personal guards to seize Hailing City, and only afterward submitted a memorial to the court explaining the situation.

Having taken a city, Zhou Ruan’s confidence swelled to an unprecedented level. Following Song Daoxi’s advice, he took the opportunity to absorb Chen Xiong’s troops into his own forces, then released news that the bandits had already been executed to avenge Chen Xiong.

Of course, this false report was also entirely orchestrated by Song Daoxi. Afterward, the bandits really did quiet down for a time.

Zhou Ruan took this as proof of the deterrent power of the Zhenbei Army over the bandits.

“Those bandits probably heard the Second Prince’s great name and fled long ago,” Song Daoxi said seriously.

Zhou Ruan’s subordinates echoed him repeatedly. “Exactly. Our Zhenbei Army is now a force as fierce as tigers and wolves. The Second Prince’s reputation has already spread throughout the northwest. Sooner or later, the entire court will know of the Zhenbei Army!”

These words struck right at Zhou Ruan’s heart. As for this unbelievably smooth success, he summed it up as the result of Song Daoxi’s brilliant strategies and his own decisive orders—speed was essential in warfare.

After some thought, he said, “Have Shen Lanxi continue to pursue and suppress the bandits outside the city. They must be wiped out completely!”

“Yes!”

However, Zhou Ruan did not enjoy his victory over Hailing City for more than two days before his subordinates urged him with news that the provisions were running out.

“Second Prince, part of Hailing City’s grain has been borrowed by our Zhenbei Army, and another part was taken by the bandits. At most, the remaining supplies can last two more days. Also, our own Zhenbei Army’s provisions are running low as well!”

After Wu Tong finished his report with great difficulty, Zhou Ruan’s face darkened at once.

“So a city as large as Hailing only had this much grain?” When Chen Xiong had told him earlier, he thought Chen Xiong was merely crying poverty. He never expected it to be true.

Once he realized this, Zhou Ruan felt a trace of regret over Chen Xiong’s death.

It seemed Chen Xiong had indeed been loyal—otherwise, he would not have given Zhou Ruan grain when his own supplies were insufficient.

To be killed by bandits just like that—what a pity!

“Second Prince, we must think of a countermeasure immediately. Without grain, the consequences will be unthinkable!”

The Wei family army was a cautionary tale. Thinking of this, Zhou Ruan’s expression turned cold and hard.

Song Daoxi said, “We can borrow some grain from Xiling for the time being.”

Zhou Ruan’s eyes lit up, but he hesitated.

They had already borrowed quite a lot from Xiling before. If they borrowed again, would Xiling City still have any left? Would they even agree?

“The grain allocated by the court is already on the way. Once it arrives, we can return it to Xiling,” Song Daoxi said calmly.

Zhou Ruan made up his mind and immediately sent people to negotiate with Xiling City.

…

Azure Dragon Lake

Shen Lanxi circled Xiling on the map and said, “Our next target is Xiling City. Have our people get ready!”

Che Mingyuan asked, “General, bandits again?”

Shen Lanxi nodded. “Bandits are extremely rampant right now.”

Everyone fell silent.

Whether they were rampant or not—wasn’t that entirely up to her?

Less than two days later, bandits began harassing the villages around Xiling!

Xiling’s garrison commander, Sun Maoshan, had already started taking precautions after hearing of Chen Xiong’s death. Yet he never expected the bandits to really come, and his men still failed to stop them.

Sun Maoshan immediately informed Zhou Ruan about the bandits. Zhou Ruan had just borrowed grain from him earlier—he couldn’t very well take the grain and give nothing in return.

Those bandits were too cunning. He needed Zhou Ruan to send troops to help suppress them.

Zhou Ruan had not even enjoyed the imperial commendation decree for two days before news arrived that bandits were causing trouble in Xiling.

The news of bandits must not reach the capital.

The bandits had to die!

“That Shen Lanxi is completely useless—she can’t even catch a few bandits,” Zhou Ruan said angrily.

One of his advisers followed his lead. “A woman is still a woman. She’s probably hiding in some corner right now, doing embroidery and slacking off.”

“She never should have been allowed into the army. Letting women into the military only brings bad luck!”

“Second Prince, you should dismiss Shen Lanxi from her post. Keeping her in the northwest is completely useless!”

Hearing this, Zhou Ruan was naturally tempted. But if he dismissed Shen Lanxi now, people at court would certainly suspect it was his doing, which would damage his reputation.

Shen Lanxi had to die—and she had to die in full view of everyone, preferably on the battlefield. At that point, he could casually give her the hollow title of “dying for the country.” That would benefit her, while he would gain a reputation for benevolence and bravery.

“For now, leave her alone. Let her hide in whatever corner she wants, as long as she doesn’t hinder our recovery of the northwest!”

Though his advisers were unwilling, they could only agree.

“Second Prince, the court is urging us to quickly retake the cities seized by the three Turkic tribes. If we send troops to Xiling now, we won’t have enough forces left to attack the tribes!”

Zhou Ruan looked at Song Daoxi. He had already come to rely heavily on this man.

“What does Sir Song think?”

Song Daoxi cast a disdainful glance at the other advisers, then said, “One must pacify the interior before dealing with external threats.”

After a moment of thought, Zhou Ruan said, “Sir, do you mean I should send troops to aid Xiling?”

Song Daoxi lowered his voice. “Xiling’s garrison commander, Sun Maoshan, is mediocre at best. If not for the Yue family’s backing, he would never have become a city commander. This time, he even asked us for help over a few mere bandits—he clearly lacks any courage. Letting such a man command troops and defend a city is far worse than having us do it ourselves.”

Zhou Ruan’s heart jolted.

Taking Hailing City earlier had only been a coincidence. If Chen Xiong had not died, he would never have thought of taking the city into his own hands.

Now that Father Emperor had already issued a decree granting him control of Hailing—couldn’t Xiling be taken as well?

“I understand your meaning, sir!”

Zhou Ruan hastily ended the meeting, returned to his residence, and went straight to the courtyard where Sun Miaoling lived.

The two indulged in each other, entangled in passion. By the time dawn broke, a carriage left Zhou Ruan’s residence, headed straight for the city gate, and after passing through, sped toward Hailing City.

…

Shen Lanxi received a message by carrier pigeon and immediately ordered her men to withdraw.

The stage had already been set, and the idea had been fed to Zhou Ruan. Now all that was left was to wait.

“Elder Sister, Kang Zhu is about to give birth in the next couple of days. I want to go back and see her,” Shen Yuanjing said softly.

A trace of surprise flashed through Shen Lanxi’s eyes. “So soon?”

Shen Yuanjing smiled and nodded gently.

“There’s nothing for us to do here now anyway. It’s a good time to rest for a few days—I’ll go back with you.”

Shen Yuanjing hesitated. “With no one watching things here, is that really okay?”

Shen Lanxi said calmly, “A few days won’t make a difference.”

She was, after all, very much looking forward to her eldest younger brother’s child.

“Elder Sister, Kang Zhu and I have discussed it. We want you to name the child,” Shen Yuanjing said, looking uncharacteristically shy.

Shen Lanxi raised an eyebrow. “This is your first child—you’re becoming parents for the first time. You’re not going to name the child yourselves?”

Shen Yuanjing smiled. “Without Elder Sister, there would be no Shen family. Kang Zhu and I both really want you to give the child a name.”

Shen Lanxi laughed. “Then I’ll have to think very carefully about it!”