252: Chapter 0252 Still Has Some Backbone

Tossing down some copper coins, he mounted his horse.

Lin Xiao headed west all the way.

By nightfall, he had just arrived outside Suide City.

After tethering his horse in a hidden spot, Lin Xiao used his lightness skill to slip into the city.

Reaching a rooftop in the city center, he used Dragon Seeking and Point Locating.

Soon, within a one-li radius, three distinct auras emerged.

After some searching, Lin Xiao found two yellow grade pills in a wealthy man's house and a mystic grade weapon in a pawnshop.

Leaving some money according to market prices, Lin Xiao directly converted the items into prestige.

These past few days, he had been using Dragon Seeking and Point Locating daily in crowded places.

It was too difficult to find fortuitous encounters in the wilderness; county seats and such were more reliable.

Unfortunately, it seemed Dragon Seeking and Point Locating could only find ownerless objects that had been sitting undisturbed for a long time, waiting to be discovered.

Treasures carried by people would be masked by their aura, making them impossible to lock onto.

After treasure hunting, Lin Xiao quietly infiltrated the Inspectors Office.

With his cultivation and movement techniques, the guards in the office stood no chance of detecting him.

Even if he couldn't avoid them, he could knock them unconscious with his true qi the moment they met.

Lin Xiao walked almost openly toward the back door of a brightly lit main room.

Yan Shifeng, dressed in a green official's robe and sporting a three-strand beard, was discussing matters with several Sha Prefecture military officers.

"Lord Yan, there's truly no one left. The maximum number of troops we can send to reinforce Qin Province is three thousand."

"What?! Three thousand?! No! It must be at least ten thousand!!"

Yan Shifeng waved his hand dismissively. "Zhao Qi, the Gan Province inspector general, sent all thirty thousand of his Prefectural Army to the front lines!"

"My Sha Prefecture is twice the size of Gan Province and has two hundred thousand more people. How can we be ten times worse?"

"Gan Province is right next to Qin Province, so it's naturally easier for them to send reinforcements."

The Sha Prefecture Registrar said aggrievedly, "Even for these three thousand, I had to promise my old subordinates that their back pay would be issued immediately before they agreed!"

"Isn't it just silver? Once Prince Bai's army invades Qin Province, they can plunder silver and women from every city they pass. How could they lose out?"

Yan Shifeng said dismissively, "I think these people are just cowards who only want to pick up easy gains!"

The Chief Secretary sighed, "It's all because Zhao Yunting and Mu Wanying have been putting pressure on several of our county seats."

"Now that our main army must defend Suide to the death, we truly have no spare strength to assist Prince Bai."

Yan Shifeng flew into a rage. "I am not here to listen to your complaints!!"

"You must understand that any campaign personally overseen by Great General Lu Sanchuan has never been lost!"

"Moreover, the White Kings Army has two hundred and fifty thousand strong troops this time, while the Qing Kings Army has only one hundred and fifty thousand. The outcome is a foregone conclusion!"

"If we don't provide timely help now, we can't expect to share in the glory later!"

"When that time comes, not receiving rewards will be the least of your worries. Beware of Prince Bai's wrath; he might just take your heads!!"

Several Sha Prefecture officials wiped away cold sweat, their pressure mounting.

A Sha Prefecture adjutant named Cheng Gaosheng shifted his gaze and reported:

"Lord Yan, I have an idea, though it's a bit risky..."

"adjutant Cheng, you've always been full of ideas. Speak your mind!"

Cheng Gaosheng said, "Actually, while the Zhenbei Army seems brave, they are bogged down by the plague in their rear. There are only ten thousand troops truly on the front lines."

"They haven't launched a general offensive because, firstly, Lin Xiao has yet to return, and secondly, they lack the strength despite their will."

"In my humble opinion, rather than wanting to attack Suide, they are more likely just putting on a show."

"Previously, your peerless strategy of using the Cang River's water threw the Zhenbei Army into disarray. They are afraid."

"Even if we withdraw ten thousand troops from the forty thousand on the front lines, I doubt the Zhenbei Army would dare to act."

"This way, we can reinforce Prince Bai and keep the Zhenbei Army in check."

Yan Shifeng enjoyed the flattery and nodded repeatedly. "Indeed, losing ten thousand won't affect the overall situation. This arrangement is excellent."

"You may all leave. Cheng Gaosheng, follow me to retrieve the tally and the troop deployment orders!"

"The sooner this is done, the better. It must be settled tonight!"

Cheng Gaosheng's face flushed with excitement. Feeling a promotion was imminent, he nodded enthusiastically!

After the other officials left, Cheng Gaosheng followed Yan Shifeng into the study.

Yan Shifeng carefully took out half of a military tally, wrote out a deployment order, and stamped it with his seal.

"adjutant Cheng, this is of great importance. Remember to keep it as low-key as possible..."

"I will not fail your trust, my lord!"

Cheng Gaosheng was excited and about to reach out to take them, but he noticed Yan Shifeng's expression was extremely grim!

"My lord, what's..."

Before he could finish, a large hand suddenly appeared from behind Cheng Gaosheng and snapped Yan Shifeng's neck!

By the time Cheng Gaosheng reacted and turned around, he saw a handsome yet cold face.

"adjutant Cheng, you really are a clever little fellow."

As Lin Xiao spoke, he shattered Cheng Gaosheng's heart with a single palm strike!

Hiding the two bodies, Lin Xiao picked up the deployment order, spread it out, and lifted an ink brush...

Late at night.

Gucheng, on the border of Suide and Huanglong.

Liang Hu, the commander, was a veteran general. Though obscure, he was known for his steadiness.

When he received the tally and orders brought by "Cheng Gaosheng," the old General Liang Hu was stunned!

"Thirty... thirty thousand!?"

Liang Hu said in disbelief, "adjutant Cheng, is this truly the inspector general's idea?!"

Lin Xiao said in Cheng Gaosheng's tone, "The tally and deployment orders are right here. Could they possibly be fake?"

"But if we withdraw thirty thousand, how can we defend Gucheng and the two neighboring county seats? Even ten thousand Zhenbei Army troops could drive straight in!!"

"General Liang, you're overthinking it. The Zhenbei Army is currently plagued by disease and can barely look after themselves. They won't actually attack Suide."

Lin Xiao waved his hand. "Hurry and deploy the troops. If we delay the important matters of the inspector general and Prince Bai, neither of us can bear the consequences!"

Liang Hu examined the document repeatedly. Though the word "three" looked a bit awkward, he didn't dare to question it to his face.

"This general obeys!"

After walking a few dozen meters, Liang Hu summoned a confidant and whispered instructions:

"Return to Suide immediately and ask at the Chief Secretary's Office..."

After giving the orders, Liang Hu calmly continued to deploy the troops.

Little did he know, even from dozens of meters away, Lin Xiao still heard him.

"This old man is quite cautious, just a bit timid..."

Lin Xiao took a few steps and faded into the darkness.

Wanting to send someone back to Suide for verification? That was naturally impossible.

Late into the night, Lin Xiao watched the thirty thousand troops strike camp and depart, while he remained in Gucheng.

Seeing this, Liang Hu was puzzled. "adjutant Cheng, you aren't coming along?"

Lin Xiao said solemnly, "Now that General Liang is going to Gan Province, someone must stay to guard Gucheng. How could the inspector general rest easy relying only on one or two garrison generals?"

Liang Hu was slightly surprised. He had thought this kid was only good for flattery, but he actually had some backbone, daring to face the renowned Zhenbei Army?

"adjutant Cheng, take care!"

"I wish General Liang a triumphant return!"