Chapter 1650: Great Fortune
Chapter 1650: Chapter 1650: Great Fortune
General Cheng was very appreciative of Qin San Lang; just the fact that he could fight battles while protecting the soldiers and keeping casualties extremely low made him a promising talent.
"You’ve met him, General Cheng? That truly is fate." General Liang said, then asked, "Has he come back yet? Leimuqin’s head is still hanging at his waist."
He had to come back so it could be sent to the Capital to make the Emperor happy.
Duan Changling drawled, neither warm nor cold, "Carrying the enemy general’s head around on his person—youngsters nowadays really do know how to flaunt their merits."
No general likes soldiers who cling too hard to their credit; that was obviously an attempt to sow discord.
General Cheng pretended not to hear. He glanced back, frowned, and said, "He should have come back with us; where has he gone now? Someone, hurry and invite Company Commander Qin of He’an Prefecture here!"
"Yes." A personal soldier rode off to fetch him, but after searching all around, still didn’t see him, and General Cheng and the others were growing anxious.
Vice General You suggested, "General, the soldiers are utterly exhausted. Why don’t we enter the city first and summon Company Commander Qin later?"
Duan Changling was delighted to hear this. A general sent for him, yet he failed to appear—this was the sub-general’s face being stepped on. That brat was about to miss out, for nothing, on the chance to cozy up to his superiors and march into the city in triumph with the main army.
General Cheng refused. "Let’s wait a bit longer. He’s the one who cut off the enemy general’s head; it’s best that we enter the city together."
By rights, he should even be walking at the very front.
"Brother Cheng, youngsters these days are the most unruly; no need to wait. Let’s enter the city first." Duan Changling pointed at the soldiers and said, "Many of the soldiers are injured; we must get into the city quickly for treatment. We can’t let them worsen their injuries just because of one Company Commander Qin..."
The words "and die" had yet to leave his mouth when a soldier at the rear shouted, "Company Commander Qin of He’an Prefecture is back, with a huge group of wounded soldiers!"
He was back, and bringing a group of wounded soldiers? Where did these wounded soldiers come from?
General Cheng was curious, but instead of going to receive Qin San Lang, he had them all brought over and asked, "Earlier, I wanted to see you, but couldn’t find you. What were you doing?"
Qin San Lang replied, "Reporting to General, this low level general went to the South City Gate to look for my comrades."
He looked at Xie Cheng, whom he was supporting, and said, "These are them; they’re all soldiers from our He’an Prefecture, including some who marched west with us. Earlier, when the South City Gate sent an emergency plea, Xie Cheng and the others went over there to kill Rong bandits."
As he spoke, he and Xie Cheng cupped their fists to the few men and saluted. "We pay our respects to you, Generals."
The several generals saw this and were pleased. Not bad—he was courteous enough.
General Cheng looked toward his waist and said, "I hear you killed Leimuqin."
"Yes." Qin San Lang removed the pouch at his waist and presented it to General Cheng with both hands. "This is Leimuqin’s head. Please inspect it, General."
General Cheng took the pouch, opened it, and saw inside the helmet of a Rong Royal Family general; inside the helmet was a bloody head. "Not bad. You’re quite capable."
Qin San Lang said, "The General praises me too highly. It wasn’t that this low level general is capable; it was merely a trick born of desperation."
He explained how he disguised himself as a Rong soldier, infiltrated the Rong soldiers, used a sedative on Leimuqin first, and only then was able to cut off his head. He then added, "This low level general used a sedative. Please punish me, General."
Duan Changling was thrilled to hear this. Using poison in battle between two armies—this brat’s merit was bound to be heavily discounted!
General Cheng likewise disliked those who used poison on the battlefield, but after witnessing the power of the poisonous insects, he said, "The Rong bandits poisoned our Great Chu, killing many people, and tonight was critical. Using a few tactics in an emergency doesn’t count for much."
Duan Changling was furious and was just about to denounce Qin San Lang when General Liang said, "It truly doesn’t count for much. The Rong bandits deserve to die in torment from poison!"
The words were filled with hatred for the Rong people.
He added, "Besides, Company Commander Qin’s wife saved our entire Xing’an Prefecture. If not for Mrs. Qin Gu, the people and livestock of Xing’an Prefecture would already have been killed by the Rong bandits’ poisonous insects!"
General Liang recounted how the Rong people used birds to scatter poisonous insects, and how Gu Jinli developed an Insect Attractant. He concluded, "The Rong bandits are vicious; they will certainly use birds to scatter poisonous insects throughout Quan Dachu. Mrs. Qin Gu has already decided, in the name of the Kangrong Soldiers, to present the formula for the Insect Attractant to the Emperor, so that when poisonous insect disease breaks out, all regions can quickly produce Insect Attractant to lure and kill the poisonous insects, keeping the people and livestock of Great Chu safe and sound."
Everyone present was stunned, especially the Kangrong Soldiers; they were so excited that they turned to Qin San Lang and said, "Our thanks, Company Commander Qin!"
Presenting the formula to the Emperor in the name of the Kangrong Soldiers meant that they would all be credited as meritorious officers—and this great merit falling from the sky was being given to them by Mrs. Qin Gu.
The soldiers were very grateful. Those who had been jealous that Qin San Lang, so young, had already cut off an enemy general’s head now set their jealousy aside and began to admire Qin San Lang.
After hearing this, Duan Changling was so jealous his eyes turned red. "She’s just a peasant woman; how could she possibly create that kind of Divine Medicine? Don’t try to fool us. The formula definitely isn’t hers!"
He had found fault several times already, and General Liang was sick to death of him. He shot back, "No matter how Mrs. Qin Gu came by the formula, the medicine she made cured everyone in the city!"
General Cheng added, "Vice Magistrate Duan, since it’s already been decided that the formula will be presented, then it is the Emperor’s property. As subjects, we shouldn’t discuss it too much, lest we end up charged with coveting tribute."
That was serious talk. Duan Changling was frightened and hastily shut his mouth, smiling obsequiously. "General Cheng is right."
They had won a great victory today, and General Cheng was in high spirits. Seeing Duan Changling back down, he let it go and looked at Qin San Lang with a smile. "Company Commander Qin is blessed indeed, to have married such a virtuous wife. It truly is great fortune in life."
Uh... Magistrate Hao and General Liang heard this, their expressions changed, and the corners of their mouths twitched... It was indeed great fortune in life; without some serious good fortune, you really couldn’t manage to marry such an ugly wife.
Hearing this, the fatigued face of Qin San Lang broke into a smile, and he nodded. "Mm. This low level general also feels that being able to marry such a wife is very lucky."
General Cheng was taken aback, then burst out laughing. "Ha! As expected of a young man—he breaks into a grin the moment his wife is mentioned."
General Liang: "..."
Magistrate Hao: "..."
Ugh~
Thinking of Mrs. Qin Gu’s face, they almost retched again.
"It’s getting late and the soldiers are exhausted. General Cheng, lead the troops into the city." Magistrate Hao looked at the faint whitening of the sky and urged General Cheng.
"Very well, into the city!" General Cheng swung into the saddle, tidied his gear, then took Leimuqin’s head in hand and led the way into the city.
Only after he entered the city and had gone forward dozens of paces, with commoners beginning to come out to welcome them, and still no sign of Qin San Lang coming to ask him for Leimuqin’s head, did he finally feel satisfied.
He was a good kid, not grabbing credit. Seeing his great merit taken by his superior, yet able to keep his composure.
"Kid Qin!" General Cheng called as he nudged his horse and brought it to a stop.
Qin San Lang froze, staying right where he was.
General Cheng found it amusing and said, "What are you standing there for? Hurry over."
"Yes." Qin San Lang’s face broke into a broad smile. He rode toward General Cheng, but when he was nearly there, he got a bit timid and stopped, looking at General Cheng.
General Cheng was very pleased. He really was a simple, honest lad, someone you could trust, and he was capable, good to his wife, clearly a man of deep feeling. If he gave him a pull up the ladder, it would certainly be worth it.
However, Luo Ying, watching from a carriage at the roadside, had the corner of his mouth twitching: Honest and simple, my foot. Qin Laoyao was the shrewdest and proudest of them, and very good at putting on a show. When they angered him as kids and he was too young and weak to beat them, he’d play the wronged child in front of the elders and win their pity, and then he and Qin Er would get a beating.
"Take it. This is the head you cut off; you ought to carry it into the city." General Cheng handed Leimuqin’s head to Qin San Lang.