This official is so weak

Ning Rushen slept straight through to the next morning.juEhvWcusUazcnoPUZZonVPGJNswEX

lcnHwHuFxcgtEaN

Early in the morning, he woke up to the shouts of soldiers outside and the faint sunlight filtering into the tent.msiLPQugVgJOblnseMeVYgRznSDrAC

IXzgloaWRzeCigq

He stared at the tent roof and came to his senses, only to realize:GACeohAPMznwCrKDHNsBNrQhsHCeUR

vMqqNxOoqAlTNrG

Last night, he had shown off the roast lamb, drank the milk wine, and then wrapped himself in a blanket and went straight to sleep.OxylRLPRzeEgaTuFsWTjXjWupUyqmc

pGBGQirvaQVTRgS

Ning Rushen rubbed his head: Did he forget something?FnNBOLjvPvVHocbRhtEypGLdqrJIEM

AsfHxRxTKgpKkNe

While he was still puzzling over it, the tent flap was suddenly lifted. Lu Wu poked his head in, “You’re awake. Do you want some water?”PKIFZZtEUcMVHrPwwSDBOcqsYeNkjP

zgVLfqqjBXPOWnP

“Sent it,” Lu Wu said, “and also explained the reason for the proxy writing. It’s because you can’t handle alcohol.”RttIphhsPLWwLwPvSkbXrTvcOFRWnN

zwuvKyDmlUEAjXP

After saying that, he went to wash up, changed clothes, and left the tent.HutKnRsleMcOOyHxXfLFgyEHstMEPu

vbvPNHlgsrMwiTi

In front of the tent, a table was set up with a pot. On it were freshly baked shepherd’s purse pancakes and hot soup made from lamb shanks.mHmgELXYHlKPGCoaXSxHRQbUNrxAjo

YdrbWwmlRKexvYA

Huo Mian and He Liang were sitting not far away, eating the pancakes. Ning Rushen grabbed a bowl of soup and joined them:TuUyORlSRqEZqDFytPUfWJxxIcOjTd

szguFYTktRIbfYp

Huo Mian sipped the soup, “He’s planning to take a group of men to guard outside the village. Based on the pattern of those Northern Di soldiers coming to harass every two or three days, they’re likely to come today as well.”tIZbTxGkQxReoJgUmuftSpsBqTCLpQ

TwJEgOmappMuaAa

Seeing him drink smoothly, Ning Rushen followed suit, tearing pieces of pancake and tossing them into the soup:gwZLRIqasCMycOuNIrEMuAbVvtNYto

UVdMUNbAOoxIGnd

“Then we’ll keep the villagers in the village today. Dig a few more traps outside the village, and the roasted lamb will be just right to catch them in the act. Slurp…”kjNotyAQtDleUFlnLPlJgNBcvacrzR

LNzKHoNljWgZyRk

He Liang suddenly slapped his leg, “That’s right! I’ll go remind Old Sun a few more times.”VxEOAnFRSlBSBQNpqiaKNqkhkTMPHH

yfqDMEIkAKYYZet

He Liang hurried off, shouting, “Kill, kill, kill!”IGKFRoJnmxCHaJopNZDIAdMMtpMmxg

msmWgocsaTrrESE

Huo Mian cheerfully turned to him, “I knew you were suited for our Northern Border! Eat up, and after you’re done, I’ll take you to see the might of our Dingyuan Army.”GJGSgtWicMABKHWyZtvefEikdSJmEY

TEUYRCgcWgiOpFr

“? Okay.” Ning Rushen buried his head and ate voraciously.TKrcSxkWPPMAgcmnWpItVOYIYgweWy

PlbgBafBIjnRZsK

…weXqhjbxLzmmyIlmJznjfpTqUuDVEz

GPBwqgxBnTHqmCL

Outside the camp was a vast training ground.BFzXGHMcfyJftTOQhHkyWhKOTLrtav

fMNOBMAGOVnsWQx

When Ning Rushen and Huo Mian arrived, the soldiers from each regiment had already completed twenty laps and were now standing in formation, ready.lpzMldecvEFUbezwUWTcgjMPkcyymJ

YRrXoFhlnVLpDvb

Climbing up to the high platform, the entire field came into view.GKCTlIkIsJgFjhGvQVtYosZvwqtWbe

KznngwhemLoKnsi

Under the vast sky, the barren land and yellow sands stretched endlessly. The three armies were lined up neatly in front, their heavy helmets and iron armor reflecting a blinding, chilling light.gqpEdtXqCAurZRjtlvsErOiCedaepW

IYgRNjoiWjwGcSq

The yellow dust was thick, and the army was solemn and quiet.cXWVXWeQpfgEnlgnUZnGWbUFIKHnLa

hTwVpBOdzpejTFi

Only the Great Cheng army flag fluttered in the wind, commanding the three armies.aLZhNWOBWtHYkxbklOyzmdDFQwoUga

acJUUIGxqWCvmDR

Ning Rushen was struck by this scene, feeling a chill all over:UJZCaKdyztPUkJbWPZcJvXDllCkfAN

jcRQgbGYsCLqhjy

The Dingyuan Army guarding the Northern Border was truly a fearsome force.FPgPTZtrmBMdADrAIzoXTzGrIafOng

HxbbdKORZqTbTzF

As he caught his breath, Huo Mian beside him had already composed himself, his gaze sharp and authoritative. He raised a flag and issued the training orders—NiWCehWLzRYTpxWnGLZbxJpvuyeuaC

acPVQvPzSvMpdni

With his command, the formation on the field abruptly shifted.TpHjvBmQHakcMtKIIxAdxAFAzyAfBB

GcOwxfjOlCxlrTn

Ning Rushen leaned on the railing and watched as a cloud of dust was stirred up. The entire army, clad in armor and ready for battle, changed formation and launched their first charge.TxlyuNDPQTcOXDnRUkUrTfjuoQBTVQ

yfxejiBBereroNu

In an instant, the sounds of battle and clashing metal hit his eardrums.EwvFWAgIWlboNStdauRthWJFrZoYOE

QHpDTevPvOdNLet

……ONmPCCzPFwxcUTvpRrTooswXjVPOiQ

TYydrJPMFDonAav

The training below continued smoothly.tINKBTuKazyrgbboZYLqkwtDTSxzgH

cPbVHSxkEKOOGnI

Huo Mian turned to show him, “How is it?”csskwiLDiKSXbEkoKIoqhaDmNOmRkt

fVxxSfoowJOBYPJ

Ning Rushen took a moment, clapped his hands, and said, “……Very impressive.”rNPQFtRCsFdqmlMgipcQvbYpDzVzIg

AMExBcBduGQmSJj

He then asked, “Do you train like this every day?”KvpoviOFBiTYDoMFXJbySGqjmtpBLu

veSnXLwbqctNYLX

Huo Mian nodded.uWfZmDsZeHusAVIPFgYNiiYEnpEWIF

ugXDQSYPSAMxXPD

Ning Rushen was dusted with yellow sand, waved it off, and suggested, “Actually, you could try something else, like sand volleyball or cuju.”MCaoSxlJbDixYyUWxROxdMVNxnuZpJ

xgPzJZvgseDMyex

Just like Wei Qing and Huo Qubing did.hKilEmfRuVUzFfJNttdDINIzscKiZc

byLiVHUkssrAbfT

Huo Mian’s eyes lit up, “Cuju? Hmm… that’s worth considering.”RgQizDVwySHsNEYKHdRtDIalmFXRUt

BwZzLlpQaPVFyLw

After the exercise ended, he slammed the railing, cleared his throat, and announced loudly:nvrBQRRfYtwbohrCjhfnlZGyvkbQvr

GoTsvFDTzQqQISO

“Lord Ning just made a suggestion. If we train well, we’ll hold a few cuju matches in the future—what do you all think?”tnIpBefkYWGtMPMuffTSHUWMOCOMNX

cVeBbPukAUZqpBP

The moment the words were out, the scene erupted in excitement!MTrcirhyydeaBebeqfdwrRqrVKtVwh

sJMqEvPbooERQWl

The soldiers responded eagerly, “Yes—!!!”QIgrtZPeweTitCiiCdjyBIOoueXVsX

uwdCYsrrYcvsGRq

The deafening roar surged up, causing Ning Rushen to shiver.hGSDwIEDhdJOqBAAUWfpuewsKVQDCD

eeDFmiWwyWBVXzj

Huo Mian noticed the visible reaction and asked quietly, “Are you okay?”UyfSlTBaqhriEYoduiKnWiRCwSixAl

wcRyOarBIwlfLRl

Ning Rushen calmed down and praised, “You all have such great spirit.”HLXGetGUYfbkaDLfBMIVTZXRGtKMPZ

HqTLJHLnGgMbuGc

Huo Mian smiled, his gaze falling on the land guarded by the three armies, his eyes proud and bright:ozLLEozjknUmtvvJCDoreuAiyXsrSz

RuQPluFFFBfViUA

“Our Great Cheng soldiers should be this way.”KDtQTTmKdKcHkiIJoFWJMNLgonIoVq

OJxETBjrrblDhtN

.VrMVbofkaywXeCqpOwNObZcwFFPSvC

yrLjRSTveUZCBwi

The training continued all day, and by evening it was already dusk.XxMQkIdQuQQRAbMlpFhnzzSbGaxKwJ

MNcevnLtcVAaDTf

The temperature dropped significantly after sunset. The soldiers were all preparing their clothes to head to the river for a bath.NWrcUrIUbeDOQNcEfasNqxqeHnZPap

xmKROmaKBswcims

Ning Rushen, having been on the move for days and only having wiped himself down yesterday, was eager to wash off the day’s dust.suQmaaYPIfMFZfTJJzLPPrZuEfYxMH

NLByarHlwYXmoxs

He grabbed his clothes and stepped out of the tent, only to run into Huo Mian.xddtZgNBzFVKvLtCbVAseTlLREJAlC

gzSwVchzmYOKBcX

Huo Mian initially walked past him but then stopped and turned back to look at the clothes in his arms:fysVOLNbwcfTgxmXIlSaGxgLFPdXti

UCPbsCDcPtOLWtU

“You… going to the river to bathe?”spkyZQyUJsDHJnpQkSkHaVBhSpsBXC

jMmpkvjEYxjJnAQ

Ning Rushen, not having experienced such large-scale scenes before, hesitated for a moment and tentatively said, “I was thinking of checking it out?”UouXioZoKInWDwmylMeNuSnYAnJdLf

pNHBYmkBmLMjwzB

Huo Mian opened his mouth, then led him over, “Sure.”dEuvGOUWlNREXJVjuGSrjewfuaoivL

wDyKFttLkMznpKY

Ning Rushen followed him all the way to the river. Before they reached the riverbank, he could already see a mass of bare-chested men splashing water from a distance.EmNvKoZgmRFQfFOFMYTTTdbQbaSlos

FApDHFLlLQvZCQe

As they got closer, the scene became even more overwhelming.wXdpqVFtcMxVOuKukErIozDaklcvlr

TYzdkZmEmioTLnS

The soldiers in the army numbered in the thousands. Though only a small portion were there at the moment, they still filled a large area of the river. All of them were shirtless, with well-defined muscles, standing openly in the river and splashing water onto their tanned backs.shDOgwWqUBZsGkMTtzDmEJnMqGpJHc

SOfBUcEAljjnClZ

“……….”IbremtCGVyqOtJDcSFuuVujzfJEKWO

phsOKlUIQHcMOnX

Ning Rushen was completely stunned!ZruwRpRIWFwpUpyavGlIgYircORnaJ

lKfIUtUuYAmvMyt

It was like a scene from a crowded outdoor bathhouse.hsylokrOzHwJThZMhFBnYIdTqbiKRF

YQHDLvoPCCNztfq

He felt a bit disoriented.zkKLCkoCwupzFfBseLSrehJAoVGksl

YprTNKHSgZcHBla

As he stood there for a few moments, the Dingyuan Army soldiers in the river noticed him. A few looked embarrassed, touching their noses as if they felt too rough.gvIIMJTqejglcwPjFAAwScgedHSHLW

MSECHGZAESmvVKt

One bolder soldier shouted out:teJJfsUbyyciSFdJtqezUNVqnORrnT

gSadppWQymubSGT

“Lord Ning, come down and scrub our backs!”hlmxcJrHnkYkpIfeswiIcpgYdlQoPO

pZLNyDZJSGkJzCz

Ning Rushen glanced at his hand, which was as big as a fan: That’s more like scraping.lRJNiTQepibPpEdvXzENNbFBfZDfqZ

cHefSHKdmgUZrht

Before he could respond, another soldier slapped the first one, “Looking for Lord Ning to scrub your back? Dream on!”ThKtiOJgvwySIVmVopSnarlnuQzZsc

lwZHdbYuTVwSbJY

A few others immediately started playfully hitting him.oEDSZzZNppLRPKgDSBlfafglosoEjA

AbkzigZAJsMmEam

Ning Rushen, “……”KSLGjktkrYzbWjgMNytUylYkyqajhZ

tLtBvaVjtfpaiAc

Huo Mian couldn’t stand it anymore, “Let’s just go.”ShZibASXUdiHFNSAKiMaLSecGFGSYF

GAXkbIyrPieAmgx

The camp also had private bathing rooms, though the process was slower there.tYxIsgxiJXyouOTWKmtNFsVXjxuYbC

CdpMhhrnogdVVPR

Ning Rushen followed Huo Mian and remarked, “Will I seem out of place like this?”WhMCBHgZRAewwSyTsGXUibfYRaPXpu

CplgKkiMNJedYMf

Huo Mian glanced at him and then called over He Liang, who was coming toward them. He pointed and said, “Lord Ning is trying to bathe in the river.”oVTeUXiIFKeAGaNafeHRXVTbZYLGef

cErWVrYRLrIaVFw

He Liang was immediately shocked, “That’s not right! Those rough men are covered in mud. You’ll get dirty just being there!”bDPIzvadKenTAeCuqshdpEQCssPaaA

weTItJplegOxUCE

He ushered Ning Rushen toward the bathhouse, “Go to the bathhouse!”ZmfRlqVUXHbDHDLFRrWxbCbuIqqhcz

BJqteEhkLETzeWL

Ning Rushen was practically pushed into the bathhouse:……ZnqmxZbyzGWufcdUAvjpvjkJIhdNrt

rSBlRsvSBaKkzCo

The Dingyuan Army really is like a close-knit family.AOqsHKThRegZNVfIhNvhPHDyuTCCHx

zxBbVqcLxdlfrus

The conditions in the bathhouse were much better.rXqjgWVQuQTuydUJcJHtlflYrGFVWQ

OUlLPIxyZzDOlPo

Not only was there hardly anyone around, but there was also warm water available.QEngLbkALscLCodOauhZLvUQGSlajV

TIhANoLErswIeHj

Ning Rushen finished his bath, threw on an outer garment, and let his half-dry long hair fall loosely behind him as he headed back.qkffHLaOCadgwxzCTmENgmPmwJMFeB

aTKXTNgZJAtAbXj

Halfway there, a sudden commotion came from the front.lJXcEHNOFIzLZGDKVkDblsakFHtWJv

TbTdsTsfkIhZiaZ

A group of people noisily entered the main tent.nsWZnuBLltZWndHMARDewtETuMbQky

WFnXjmYmpUlwWXT

…Noisily? Ning Rushen tucked his sleeves and peeked over.lNURqLDKWZaWDShZYiYtXafLNqJOdD

ZGHrfQjDeaXgPdw

As he entered the tent, he saw Huo Mian standing at the front.yNHpAzPdEdIsTHXNyawMUnNQJcThwd

PYDlTMXcSXCECtB

Sun Wu, who had disappeared for a day, had returned, binding five or six Northern Di cavalrymen. The woolen padded jackets were all rubbed with static electricity from the squeezing.xnouqNJHJmWzOduJvGHnVSqdowWSOY

IZoHppYdrIsglEp

Ning Rushen: So that’s what the noise was about.fQKNdfYIGzAVrkqXktBHLtHXxSzZNO

AFNSHwswgozKeRG

“General, we’ve captured them!” Sun Wu pointed out. “They’ve been harassing the border civilians every day, and today they even burned, killed, and looted!”zUiGhHZeeYadzsVAGUHEvpbfJfjpgN

qwaKUuOKNGvVESN

The Northern Di cavalrymen had their mouths covered: mmm mmm mmm!!NRrNqcFMoskWtVjvhVztzVepOTqPga

tvxhtoYEysUuoIK

Huo Mian was silent for a moment before stepping forward, drawing his sword, and pointing it. “Tell me, what’s your scheme?”JyPTPREhOBMTwwrTSIxtGcfRDhfVwz

dyxLpzAryvTTZyd

Northern Di soldier, “Mmmph!” Let us speak!WmXiJSFXvuynFTRYhxXpKRiAKCbAKH

lppHQqHCfgNLwyN

Huo Mian yanked out the cloth covering their mouths.uGHeVwiDgmHWVjISmpscjrOCDJXHTD

tUwpsAIAMGNIwBL

Northern Di soldier, “Pah—”OJhhVOYvPESywFlUfsEFGoaYgQPYYt

bJPTJopkVftWKZk

Huo Mian shoved the cloth back in, rising, “Oh, they say they were sent to provoke our army and gather intelligence. Bring them out for severe interrogation!”PzYVHnpSGHjNRslCSTqWgvwmvLEWTY

UrVtZVDMgKWYvFD

The Northern Di soldiers immediately glared defiantly.qMManTBagBbqXDbytiFteelkZIguKq

oGuNFWppNLfXNIF

As they were about to be dragged away, a gentle and soft voice suddenly said, “Hold on.”IerqNXrEQNhKMyVmITvWmcuVpOZLqT

zmfmoXTGymaXkcs

The Northern Di soldiers turned to see a slender white wrist raised. The speaker, draped in a thin garment with black hair and bright eyes, looked like a frail scholar.vLBNFNEbrEgwYsXJyncrDhCAlelCTj

bjmINxIpolvukjs

They immediately felt a glimmer of hope.pepblaVMEUkmfdxbBZDVrphqiTqIrG

giMEZIBUBFPajQO

At the same time, there was some contempt: indecisive scholars of the Great Cheng.aodnomQxzPfbWCDrlMqTsPvHfCNBix

fYsaQlYFZgqhFBO

The next moment, the person said, “If you want to interrogate them, I have a professional.”kuHKgWxSMMAznxbRqnilOQbJnzGpvZ

dfCHZHUvcRjtVSn

Northern Di soldiers: ?tMHqlkSAhwyROmoHPqQjEpRPhJPryV

OtMhdKtaKvetATv

Huo Mian, curious, asked, “A professional?”rhmNMMdthGyhngZaxmCSwahOckFRRJ

UMwWIQsHyHeiBPk

Ning Rushen nodded, “I’ve brought the Jinyiwei.”hWxyNpKGgtwBZjyiaXpiaqIbIOGNte

uDrZhbMPyyopbun

The Jinyiwei had a notorious reputation, causing the Northern Di soldiers’ pupils to tremble!aAVgQSFiVSeCgSUcXHedXMMQyHqWGk

FsHOSHViUiNZsCW

“……” Huo Mian was greatly impressed, “Excellent!”LJnHLefgcXJTUhDGvuBNkXYOlPRAsX

QLwhZeLdVfiRQLh

With the enemy at the gates, military affairs were crucial.PRKmAnaTHoIPxRXAniHxwrNNjdZenZ

zKdRmkdXFfhGzss

Seeing that Huo Mian didn’t mind, Ning Rushen turned to call Lu Wu and Shi Yi, pointing to the woolen masses on the ground. “Examine everything, from military maps to imperial secrets.”irBqSdeNbvTBkSscqWUImYVCwKvYrm

RUBpUjZnEbHwNIu

The two immediately glared with fierce intent.NOguPNJGHyNXCSzlcfuNSerklvMcqe

DPZaRknzzsHraKN

The Dingyuan Army quickly took the prisoners away.rKIjpKeKhqywkGisMZzssCfMXwBiKe

FifzfmgQoMmQPLy

Just as Lu Wu and Shi Yi were about to leave, Ning Rushen called them back.kUFVZnWRbmAXzUJMAdOdnQOukhUPcw

bmONEZrinDUgcvt

By this time, they were all seated in the tent. Ning Rushen said to Huo Mian, “I want to keep one of them for now, and let him enjoy good food and drink.”SXCiAJICFjmMCUAzJRKvwzAsPzBvfH

sLomvtpltLHuyqP

Huo Mian seemed to understand, “You mean?”PDLatMiNbRllvKGsHNsFiTEiCKBdhX

GaiqzMagUUkEJLi

“Send someone to leak some military information.” Ning Rushen casually proposed, “…For example, that our Great Cheng has 300,000 troops stationed at the border, and that there’s discord between the general and the prefect, with no supplies coming for the rear…”eVgVHgPIFsVdvVWBgDttydRiouPtoI

rldRIvyFYQulJNi

“Won’t that be too deliberate?” Huo Mian considered.oOWNRyWitOobIJQGYTYbmYvoDUKIzU

yrKokVqXeENYauk

“It needs to be deliberate to be effective, making it hard to distinguish between truth and falsehood.”IFGFTpyIJxFYxQaFMOCppnCtiNXdKl

TFtFUrELvTeGvWw

Ning Rushen leaned back in his chair, recalling that he had used this tactic before, and remembered it worked quite well…HTPVMAGcyzsTaPpLJWbteHhlDasRpC

NWVSPuStgrkdYrs

“Several people were captured together, and in the end, only he returns intact. Regardless of whether the information is true or false, he cannot avoid reporting it. An ambiguous spy with unclear intelligence.”oaqghYBXMfRLoWMkaGsiyYRZqZoXqM

kQyaSGDHGfAjIEp

He thought about the Northern Di King’s mentality and sighed softly, “It must be bewildering.”EhJNuxDWywAzBXanMFaNAjGeXgAsWF

dKLqRZAMrarUhPO

There was a touch of emotion in the silence of the group.arTPPYSmiUSMVopFBlcCRDqdfRpxHr

EdvotBcJqbYhjMK

Then Huo Mian gave the order, “Let’s do it this way.”tTyvCfrszmZqDGuilPWbPDEqBGqMgN

knOFJAdUezYcRxM

……iWJkCHfcrWCBAvEafcJqhEbyhUumbO

eylydcgvJzJbbLm

Meanwhile, a pigeon flew into the royal palace in the capital.NXjqZJDEXvarFVDvPUGmPHTzzZjcPU

rfdNOMbZINKfbMC

In the palace, inside the Yangxin Hall.vNgbUCjxnLbRfFGOfORJitlEPgXRiR

URmqDUfvBdObwNN

Li Wuting finished reading the letter and sat at the desk, his fingers trembling slightly. He remained silent for a long while.hySJUKvvpOTpOriYpvdhyloiMMuwNd

sLstXXFxrcMasni

Dequan, puzzled, asked, “Your Majesty?”VFAPjQrdTwUuXctQwHJQLdpDcoTrYY

FsrxmYXmhAchndm

The voice seemed to snap him back to reality.umjCRvItWlMFVePteiwISAVIRyRRAX

EbcnXHzhsgUddIn

Li Wuting blinked, pressed his lips together.JJhVuYorYIUtcULGbioBYAQOoZiQtE

VcQOizOUTOrWJjY

Suppressing the heat in his ears, he spoke hoarsely, “He really… still can’t restrain himself out there.”HVsqKWZWKgCHaODFEZyibhMXjdecso

iCXbXVJzWtpXEus

Dequan’s ears perked up, “Oh?”JhsKrcUZYgQfpXwphifmojWecupMIf

vRLwCVmkCyuhGpF

Li Wuting frowned and glared, “What do you mean, ‘oh’?”fEPMWnCvcoNVgSjtcjirfrZFiRPcfy

yGRfWvmTEpfJOPa

Dequan immediately slapped his own face, smacking down the corner of his mouth, “Ah, I spoke out of turn! How dare I ask such a question? I really should—”fEBBTdnZjnnYUXMTVgXiDzyabyhxrv

oCrYCDGwjIxoXME

“Enough.” Li Wuting cut him off.XGQbqWZsRSOiYMJhYwsMyrGzOynjnH

enmpRMjOsiiXlvm

With his long fingers pressing the edge of the letter, he remained silent for a few moments before finally speaking, “Bring me paper and ink.”nkYdQDAPAtxdjxoNgnaPRnGgEwgmcU

rQrfQzwHfpDOgNR