CHAPTER 476
The Art of Commanding Men
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Hearing this, Ye Qinghan was utterly dumbfounded!
What did that mean?!
"Are you implying this battle report is fake, Master?"
Su Cheng smiled again and shook his head.
"No, the battle report is sound. But consider this, Qinghan: if Ye He truly intended to withdraw her forces, would she have consulted me first?"
"Um… well…"
Ye Qinghan felt she understood a little, but not entirely.
She picked up the battle report once more and read it again…
Her master had a point. Given the temperaments of these Kings of the Gods, most would likely act first and report later!
The battlefield changes in the blink of an eye. If they waited for the Master's instructions for every little thing, what would become of them?
Ye He hadn't ascended to the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Army by being incompetent!
But if that's the case, why go through all this unnecessary trouble?
"Could it be that General Ye He has already withdrawn his troops?"
Su Cheng shook his head again. Ye Qinghan had clearly guessed wrong once more!
"Impossible. If he were retreating, his tone wouldn't be like this!"
"Hundreds of thousands of troops—if they were defeated so easily, then her tenure as commander-in-chief would truly be over!"
Ye Qinghan was baffled. What did this mean?
"Could it be General Ye He's old injury flared up again?"
"Her? She doesn't have any old injuries! She'd ask me for medical expenses even for a minor scrape. If she were truly injured, how could I not know?"
Ye Qinghan was utterly baffled!
"Um… I truly don't understand, Master. What exactly are you and Lord Gu Ai laughing about?"
"The battle report only stated that much. There's nothing else, is there?"
Su Cheng wore a bitter smile.
"Qinghan, haven't you noticed our supplies are running low? Your master's general is short on funds~"
"Huh?"
If you look at it that way…
Uh…
Then it's:
Old bastard, I've guarded Linlang River for all these years. If not for merit, then surely for hardship?
Damn it, I've been roughing it out here while you've been partying every night?
Do you think I'm itching for this commander's position?
No troops, no money, and you expect me to win battles?
If you won't pay me, then find someone else to fight your wars!
Look around—who else would work for you here like a nobody, just like me?
When you find someone, you better let me know. I'll be damn sure to stand on the city gate tower and see what kind of bastard it is!
Linlangchuan Frontline — Wangjun Command Headquarters
—Ye He
At this moment, Ye Qinghan finally understood. This linguistic artistry was truly…
"So, Lady Ye He means that if the Master doesn't provide provisions, she'll withdraw her troops?"
Su Cheng chuckled. How could she possibly withdraw?
"I still need her! She knows it, and I know it."
"Without me, who else could she turn to for funds? Even if she doesn't withdraw her troops, she'll come looking for trouble in a couple of days if I don't pay her…"
Ye Qinghan recalled the first time she saw Ye He—she had been lying on Su Cheng's desk…
"Qinghan has learned a lesson…"
Ye Qinghan thought to himself, Is this the art of controlling people?
Why did it feel so different from what the books described?
Xiao Ai merely smiled, saying nothing. She stood quietly by, occasionally refilling Su Cheng's teacup throughout the morning before settling by the doorway, propping her chin on her hand to gaze out at the scenery.
Huh… Is this what a personal attendant's job entails?
Xiao Ai remained utterly still, so much so that Ye Qinghan wondered if she had fallen asleep. The usually timid and alert sparrows formed a neat line beside her, with one even perching atop her head.
The entire morning passed without Xiao Ai uttering a word, nor did Su Cheng call for her.
It wasn't until the afternoon that Su Cheng called her name: "Xiao Ai."
Xiao Ai rose slowly, adjusted the sword at her waist, and entered Su Cheng's office.
Ye Qinghan could distinctly sense a shift in Xiao Ai's aura, though he couldn't pinpoint exactly what had changed.
"Take a look at this."
As he spoke, Su Cheng tossed a document onto the desk before Xiao Ai. Yet the moment she saw the cover, she knew exactly what it was about.
"Her Highness the Princess has already made her move to prevent a military uprising…"
Before Xiao Ai could finish, Su Cheng slammed his palm down on the desk, nearly scaring Ye Qinghan out of his wits!
In all the time Ye Qinghan had been his disciple, he had rarely seen Su Cheng this furious!
"Of course I know! That fool Su Lin! How could he fail to see they're in cahoots? If we send the 76th Army, won't that play right into their hands?"
"Then the two armies would join forces—how would we handle that?"
"Transmit my orders: withdraw the 76th Army immediately! Those are three air superiority heavy artillery divisions! We can't just hand them over!"
"My Lord, please calm down. Xiao Ai has already dispatched men to handle it. Xiao Ai has transferred General Qingcang to Qinglong Pass for rotation, and the 14th Army has been urgently recalled. They should be en route by now. My Lord needn't worry."
"That's not enough! Notify Yu Yan and Ye He as well. Have them advance north along Qingbao Commandery and trap them inside Drunken Moon City!"
"Keep the inner city quiet. Keep a close watch on everyone involved. The moment we get news from Drunken Moon City, arrest them all!"
Xiao Ai gave a helpless smile and bowed.
"Yes, I shall obey your will, my revered master."
Su Cheng narrowed his eyes, his tightly clenched fists trembling uncontrollably. A murderous intent filled the room, the silence thick and oppressive.
"Kill them all. Not a single one spared. Anyone connected to this—execute them all."
"Xiao Ai will see to it."
Su Cheng said no more, his chest still heaving violently. Ye Qinghan was genuinely startled.
Especially that glance from her master just now—merely a fleeting look had made her legs go weak!
With that, Xiao Ai sat down nearby and drafted three documents. After Su Cheng reviewed them, he stamped them with his official seal.
Master was busy with work today. Li Shiyao glanced at the documents before pestering Yu Lan to cook. Though she loved to be spoiled, she knew when to be discreet!
Yu Lan prepared a feast, but Ye Qinghan had classes to attend and missed out on the delicious meal.
This became Ye Qinghan's routine for the next year: either going out on missions with He Guang and the others, or learning to handle official duties alongside Xiao Ai.
During missions, Ye Qinghan rarely rested, handling most of the preparatory work herself.
When learning from Xiao Ai, she rarely got hands-on experience, as Madam Gu Ai always handled everything flawlessly.
But today, Ye Qinghan was notified of a holiday first thing in the morning, which struck her as highly unusual!
And most importantly!
There was no one there!
That's right! Lingxian Hall was completely deserted. Neither Heguang nor the others had come for class. Yulan was absent too. Even Baitao and Chu Youwei were nowhere to be found!
Logically, today should have been the day for the combat mission. According to He Guang, they were supposed to go clear out the remnants of the Dead Zone.
Yet, even at this hour, Ye Qinghan hadn't seen a single soul. Upon inquiry, Huaguo informed her it was a day off!
Ye Qinghan sensed something was terribly wrong! More than terribly wrong!
Could it be the end of the world? That so-called Groove God had descended?
Had the Master sent everyone away to face the enemy alone?
And weren't Shiyao and Juer already at the Spirit Transformation Realm? Didn't the Master say today he'd be teaching them immortal arts?
Why weren't they here?
【Xu Zhanfeng!】
【Shiyao!】
【Jue'er!】
【Master! Where have you gone?】
No response. Ye Qinghan was genuinely panicking now, but she didn't believe her Master would abandon her!
Master would definitely find her!
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