Chapter Forty-One: The Supremely Unflappable Boss

“Hurry, go inform the lord at once—rally the troops and cut down the rebels!”

Qiao Rui’s expression turned grave in an instant. There was no mistaking it now—this was no false alarm. The powerful families in the city were indeed colluding with Liu Xun. The key point: there was only a single squad of troops guarding the city gate.

Damn it, how careless I’ve been!

At that moment, Yang Hong led the charge, sword in hand. The scions of the noble families refused to fall behind, each drawing their own gentleman’s sword. Yet, the vanguard had already struck down the armored guards at the gate with astonishing bravery.

Immediately after, the heavy city gate swung open.

“Quick, light the torches!” Yang Hong’s household retainers shouted in unison.

Two torches were lit at once. On Yang Hong’s side of the gate, they were waved rhythmically, while on the other side, they were swung about wildly. Someone cried out at the top of his lungs:

“The Li family of Runan welcomes General Liu into the city!”

The shout rang through the night sky. In the distance, Liu Xun, standing ready with his sword, watched the two torches being flailed about and felt momentarily at a loss.

“This Yang Hong—didn’t we agree on one torch, three waves to the left, three to the right? Why are there two now? Could something have gone wrong?” Liu Xun frowned in suspicion.

While he hesitated, the city guards on the walls heard the commotion and began moving toward the gate. Qiao Rui led a hundred men in a charge from the rear, unleashing a barrage of arrows and bolts that felled countless rebels.

“They’re behind us! Reinforcements have arrived!” someone shouted anxiously.

Yang Hong glanced back and could just make out Qiao Rui’s figure. “Damn it, reinforcements just as I arrived? Hell must have frozen over.”

“Hold them off! Guard the gate!”

With the arrow nocked and no retreat possible, they could only fight for their lives.

More and more armored soldiers surged down from either side of the gatehouse. Though a dozen or so were cut down by the desperate rebels, it did nothing to intimidate the defenders—especially with Qiao Rui looming in the distance.

Outside the city, Liu Xun narrowed his eyes.

The chaos inside was unmistakable. Clearly, there was a trap, or else why would two torches be shown? One torch meant enter; two torches—a warning to stay away.

Yang Hong, you sly fox—you took such pains to signal me!

“Relay my orders to the army: maintain formation. Without my command, no one is to act on their own.” Liu Xun drew his sword and shouted to his elite troops behind him.

“Yes, sir!” the officers replied.

A moment passed. Yang Hong was growing frantic—why was there still no movement from Liu Xun’s camp? Meanwhile, the squad causing trouble had already been driven off.

“Yang Hong, where is Liu Xun?” demanded the patriarch of a noble house, sword in hand.

They had staked their family’s fate on Yang Hong. Now, although the gate was open, Liu Xun still had not entered. Were they being toyed with?

“He should be here any moment. I’ll go out to meet him,” Yang Hong said nervously, wiping sweat from his brow, but he himself was at a loss.

“Stay where you are. Li Gan, take a few men outside the city and see what’s happening,” another patriarch commanded, glaring at Yang Hong. He would not permit him to simply walk away.

“Yes, sir!” The retainers hurried off.

——

Yuan Manor, study.

Chu Feng read by lamplight.

“My lord, General Ji Ling requests an urgent audience,” reported a personal guard, bowing.

“Let him in.”

The door swung open and Ji Ling burst in, flustered. “My lord, trouble has found us—there’s been a rebellion among the noble families inside the city. The southern gate has fallen, and Liu Xun is about to enter!”

“Oh,” Chu Feng replied, eyes still on his book.

Ji Ling was dumbstruck.

His lord was calm to the point of absurdity. The city gate had been lost, their home was about to be overrun, and all he said was “oh”?

Truly, this was the bearing of a true lord—unflinching even as Mount Tai collapsed before him. Ji Ling was in awe. If this were Yuan Shu, he’d probably be halfway out of the city by now.

But this was not the time for composure!

“My lord, I said the gate has fallen and Liu Xun is about to enter. We must rally the troops and crush the rebellion at once!” Ji Ling pressed again, unwilling to give up.

“Ji Ling, you are the general entrusted with defending the city. Must you seek my advice on such a small matter? Take your men, kill the rebels, and while you’re at it, ransack their homes,” Chu Feng replied, putting down his scroll and looking at Ji Ling.

After all, he couldn’t admit that he himself had lured these people in. He was counting on Ji Ling to cut down the two houses, fill the treasury, and send a message to the rest.

Hearing this, Ji Ling bowed his head in shame.

His lord placed such trust in him, yet he had been so hesitant. It was unforgivable.

“Rest assured, my lord. If I fail to put down the rebellion, I will bring you my head,” Ji Ling said, saluted with his sword, and strode off, heart swelling with confidence.

“If you can’t handle such a minor disturbance, you ought to bring me your head,” Chu Feng muttered, shaking his head, and returned to his reading.

——

Soon after, at the city gate.

Liu Xun had already led his troops inside, but was blocked by Qiao Rui’s men at every turn.

“Ji Ling, what took you so long?” Qiao Rui, bloodstained and sword in hand, demanded. “Where is the lord?”

“Old Qiao, take a rest—this petty rebellion hardly requires the lord’s attention. Watch me deal with it!” Ji Ling spun his double-edged saber with confidence.

“Soldiers—hear my command! Whoever brings me Liu Xun’s head shall receive a thousand gold pieces and the rank of thousand-household marquis. Follow me to battle!”

With that, Ji Ling spurred his horse and charged into the fray.

Behind him, the armored soldiers were roused by his words. Seeing their general so fearless, they too charged forward, heedless of death.

Immediately, the two sides clashed at the narrow gateway. Blood flowed like a river, severed limbs littered the ground, and Ji Ling fought with unmatched valor. No one who stood before his flashing blades survived.

“Hold the line! Hold the line!” Liu Xun roared, sword raised, doing his best to rally his men.

But on the other side, the shouts grew louder—everyone was after his head. The pressure weighed on him, especially since they had yet to break through.

“Liu Xun, do you know me—Ji Ling?” Ji Ling bellowed, eyes blazing.

Of course Liu Xun knew him—Yuan Shu’s fiercest general, feared by all. His heart quailed. “Ji Ling, Chu Feng murdered his father and usurped the throne. Would you aid such a traitor?”

“Hmph! Who says Lord Yuan is dead? I say you are the real traitor! Prepare to die!” Ji Ling shouted, spurring his horse and swinging his saber, intent on cutting Liu Xun down.

Liu Xun frowned, glancing around him. His attack was faltering; clearly, the battle was lost. At once, he shouted, “Retreat! Fall back, quickly!”

With that, Liu Xun was the first to pull back.

He had no wish to clash with Ji Ling—his men all knew of Ji Ling’s ferocity, and their fighting spirit ebbed before the fight even began. Not to retreat now would be suicide.

“General Liu, our fate hangs by a thread—don’t retreat!” The noble families still fighting within the city cried out in despair as they saw Liu Xun withdraw.

“Hmph! You fools dared to betray your lord and consort with the enemy—you deserve to die!” Ji Ling shouted, cutting down one of the noblemen with a single blow.

“Old Qiao, take your men and sweep the city inside and out. I’ll take my men and cut down Liu Xun.”

“Ji Ling, don’t chase a desperate foe. First, capture these traitors and present them to the lord. Besides, there are still many riffraff in the city who need a show of force,” Qiao Rui called urgently.

“Hmph. I’ll spare him—for now!” Ji Ling, seeing the sense in this, led his men to clear out the remaining rebels. Some managed to escape with Liu Xun’s retreating troops, but most were either killed or captured.

After a while, in the study—

Seeing Ji Ling return covered in blood, Chu Feng was momentarily taken aback. “What happened to you?”

“All the blood belongs to the enemy—nothing worth mentioning.”

“With so few men, how did you end up bathed as if you’d jumped into a pool of blood?” Chu Feng asked, bewildered.

Ji Ling: “???”

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