This official is so weak

Ning Rushen slept straight through to the next morning.oQFDrDeVBrfIjQZWgVYTdLXXufiagg

XwgDjIGKTWJKKAY

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

dVtKjJDvtBUIHiD

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

cWtFZZAydtXjidr

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.lWBbstUvrhtdvlDyvsquloDMdmLKaG

CZQKNBsYFCqBlyp

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

XYnpSJMoLMPRXcK

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?”rHOYzDscasCAjJGvdcVjVnQtCWZKin

mpkytUoZsDRhXAy

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

dVZqkbNopbwnAmp

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

cNQjnKyDgmaUzDh

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.DbKsKiwotPWaUKSSzzxfchWQryRAQL

fRfNPAiQPXTbgZJ

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

wFupBBKUjZaXAzH

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.”UTXPCcoCBTyjACKJQRNodpesySQOTe

oxIPTQrAZbmCcMC

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

gHPrAtzjIXKtMWh

“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…”ZXbAiFsIcAHiKCLAHxMigWecJuhIAl

gbdNyHPseRKNmye

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

pOrHCUpMjaWTjkg

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

nxRKOBDASftZRTE

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.”OKNiODDcWKVIzzprJWLFyezCSGmQRQ

cQdBgJyVrDnKpuO

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

eUGzxEtwRZwBgwZ

…yeLlhKlJpuRridGGXFdhajDoepuQku

qgWbkOmogRaMeXf

Outside the camp was a vast training ground.DQySsXbYESAhBPOiawDJdvXPAbQIKo

jfPkcaSfdgkCVai

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

ydBmPfikoNpbdCt

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

DOeluXNOOENAACD

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.dKTpOeXJEbgGriZxEIadliGmNSfaVc

SusxSFQlNhjwfnn

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

fdfrxuHnusSYETS

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

ePBzUmjNpgHiGUJ

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

BGPFtCbyuZKUrOv

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

PdDrbZVbeexCHmv

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—UnXtvaMsrkWdiCcmLdPXgVazMEtTOw

tQpPnofxeTwyDAp

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

spSQueJIkBkijVa

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.LeXoNNNBGdZwHLyNkfyOoheAvzcBuD

xbgdsIvJTrZQkNZ

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

bcPisGDyxMuZymA

……iembskSqOpPRpWhUyGQpJrZfzwJQoh

CLAoigiWTMpSNSi

The training below continued smoothly.lJFqFsnkscVjExpRuAlSjQQVkUnHRM

hoUnIvjQASKvrWo

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

AUGwRWFtEmdpize

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

zGMevmICHFaczgS

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

EhMldnHPOKsqFcV

Huo Mian nodded.XumfaMoIUEfCudFWshbsiOAlsgfHny

tufKhEGRpMLgZaH

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

wJATBCieZnqTZeM

Just like Wei Qing and Huo Qubing did.oChdSnljDWaOEvObiSDvBGiAzfzIDz

SYTijmvSHsGFHqm

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

lveqbZnVsmtaVKe

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

uAHWIcZgszlTRCj

“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?”BxouyTKzLRQqexoYyoCysRjVldouJw

cYcOZzbPaHfGeWl

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

KecLNXXmOtaGnys

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

YfBMpMnyQXkyUni

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

UeVdWQecajAEkYC

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

RmnaPibKbZGexvL

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

TWpQyCJdfUAhCld

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

dFiOYLeAjvplazC

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

KZFOOysNaMBgVVA

.sHeSJLCedqTegRAXetmtKLnGEiVSCu

PCfJIzbRkEweftb

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

qyHyqBwxsZlKXAs

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

tjCSsQxXlawOTrH

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.KmBnMrXxoRocUSvblpYrDIsLRckPkb

EcHQQxCkyIEJDNc

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

sNrmzwlzvDOITKZ

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

KuKIXbaQDECXUjP

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

gLnENYSHUYpaOin

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

MNYEoCZklTJVFxL

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

sVhNVMjvlSAIemi

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.kClLKpCLvQcLCQljqKDslfzmFwXZzR

vuRaAAiJvKGxAaH

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

InmfcjtEtKMikGN

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.OMgtZoeUmHYiYyVnyjqFKsLSbdWjqS

kBwytXZotsoBwdr

“……….”zqHbBiskqvMogtugqeFQXIRbjEtRgH

KBEoirlvXjUImNa

Ning Rushen was completely stunned!XMubRrCNHbBbSurbglIEFeFgTkZggQ

HiDqEsMfyYqNyGA

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

RzZJfSaMelIMukQ

He felt a bit disoriented.nlksWvLPrCjAweQaLpjSvDFIshOmFt

knskmxWltBYvBbQ

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.GIbUaALjuoFMhBXOpveZumKwyVGTuq

gSJIgXeFtFEmASD

One bolder soldier shouted out:idhahtbaewqDUzRtgxEBkJGGjdlTiR

aViAZwgQijvUYHp

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

wecPezLqMZbzwNC

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

jeRlJcLBGyaavKt

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

aDLxtBVlsUVutDw

A few others immediately started playfully hitting him.coWAVFRDSXjxijzGGxVHvpwUQqBCEo

pmGNdTFncNxSYSW

Ning Rushen, “……”XESYnQfpJBbhBjGxIfSXrMyQrjDYzS

HhAVxcZFEeUuwDs

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

HFVbvvVLpKSluPE

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

LueegRENuwgZkdV

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

NXPAaffZbnOahuu

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.”SLHNJtrNbagZRqVVuiGiGylrJRqUXo

hTbhrEEbzIbPzOS

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

RwEVCVBcBMQIgiN

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

yeeKsZioYeTihWD

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

lFcAOcsEnYZHUbf

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

rSGyXfsdoaNenYj

The conditions in the bathhouse were much better.GOIJJdlikNTTEgWlMCclSQOlljzELp

IQcPfAWKmTkNwBa

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

RGDEXFOkqljurzf

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.exgHEDCjWomnYXdshyKabnAwsiayKq

TnpRTCRUXGHgWUj

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

CKTcWzYwiVPsOkL

A group of people noisily entered the main tent.LWAzXNsavwBWdvasUvYmczedfSnnbn

RIBJqJGhnZIkDvt

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

qiXkUIWWNHrwahu

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

RKcTSoCwBczluxB

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.fUPrWypWwlIkyQLjjSbWTHGETJOPcA

XDTSEfzzJslAupM

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

qpwqdUIMtQozTHE

“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!”rDObnVeTpmXMgIyLpMpbrDteEdRTrO

LsZHLTFUxVFyJno

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

wwhCjtkqaahoaPq

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

IouIVSEktBHuwxT

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

FtxNBgUiiJPLpEk

Huo Mian yanked out the cloth covering their mouths.nAWBBgYdwSaVbxPHefjOMpdRDCjKYo

EGsWTyuwczWdxZi

Northern Di soldier, “Pah—”YtWxSgRHVrdSCgmmJlUKvQvwyhckKD

jOxncEBJZYGIdrq

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!”XQXhfzxSjaCExIdwxAyLJVnGKyjcex

WxSjeYUfRWlFNYk

The Northern Di soldiers immediately glared defiantly.schAbOpjlFUQtfWoaPdLIRhstEhyGB

NZYpgCcRuNsFbXG

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

oNuBUwYFNUyGRFA

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.DjIJEHaRzuEUQHudsrFDVsXEiTbzkY

PAoBILhahIqyQbf

They immediately felt a glimmer of hope.tIaOGXRHvXvatYolJMMwbaZrTXqGEF

XSCKhVUsgvnvSit

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

djCKnTzyGWMyuDv

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

tMZwCSMuXUmqEts

Northern Di soldiers: ?iGiNbJbcDrZHxcpfmyIyZJLwEFmUHD

GxRMpTurKfncFDM

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

HSdiXghBJNHKWGD

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

BRVwcikiKLzXkGS

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

GnxVWbhcbmBQMRj

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

ElMzqHgiyHsQdan

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

QjVoeJsgphSSwCL

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.”wVwcHuAvMAqowjhwXYLOLyLkwBvhoU

iIPDXGnYBoXETFX

The two immediately glared with fierce intent.qYSubAdzUVWyXZnkxxCTpLQAzpaqlm

bqEDwPVOfocSKYF

The Dingyuan Army quickly took the prisoners away.uPQDixvyUJiIGDWAwchIoVmXCcBNFi

ltKwrNoUdXrmtjO

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

nUilHpknYlfEZEl

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.”sCcyfweqIEeeEfXrkrwSfRxbAJBNPB

nxUsEuJwiubxvpw

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

KDacAJlRImWUznX

“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…”sGQYSuLzzoPArkfoniwvBirqmVzlRU

yKYzYrMRnyUHkjl

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

hRMMGunEMhXwxJO

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

UWlRpRjNgcWQSNw

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

HYJYuBaWBHQsgFl

“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.”hXvIGWgjdjzgTeZUcFsiXzZaxaLCGb

SQZoffTWgYDQdsH

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

FLFRbDqSsghNjpX

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

wVRllfaJRLIpQci

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

HjJtqTYgEypJKlc

……WexhHhXEVzyRFfDTuZLBsELWGVwBDG

byEPcWYIGZOjZoo

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

kZdUwPoTIqIJiKa

In the palace, inside the Yangxin Hall.AZHIWZCLQCmendlJoFzevKeYanYvOK

nJKTpmkuvLECjGE

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

SSVbjfuMFWEfQoi

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

eIFjeRAqXvZLDlk

The voice seemed to snap him back to reality.iAPYRTZPZyiHFYyzNyLFRjyjcdAETU

YFQGeEiVLSiTMpJ

Li Wuting blinked, pressed his lips together.kNbdCRcNLyAonfVqAmsoZgehLzehgs

eUJuXHChEVwFaIN

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

LvLHjtcwxcqOcbh

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

bgOdlmxPqotszyH

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

EqeeoWikjgfHvny

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—”hJYndlECfqieLyzKMZlPBsbyUkTiex

FLtLPcMZAQBLZjS

“Enough.” Li Wuting cut him off.hXNPnvZIUJECugCBHUbcCmnKAryRLg

DqemaTehXhKNSfC

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.”kATrCsHxPcZUWphtOTwNSgraXwZckF

ibbMuSmStyROifr