Chapter 663: I, Wu Gongling, Will Not Live Out My Life a Nobody!

Once they were back inside the central command tent, heavily guarded by troops and large numbers of cultivators, Shan Dongxing flung Wu Gongling's arm aside and stamped his foot, slapping his hands together in exasperation. “Grand General, you've lost your head! Of all the people you could have laid hands on, why her? She's already that old. Was there really any need?”

Wu Gongling waved him off. “Elder Shan, she still looks quite young. Fine skin, tender flesh, fair and clean. That mature charm of hers is something ordinary women don't have. I truly couldn't help being moved. Elder Shan, since we're on the subject, I need to ask you a favor. Could you go to Tiannü Sect and propose marriage on my behalf?”

Shan Dongxing truly wanted to slap him across the face. “My Grand General, propose what? Tiannü Sect's rules forbid romantic relations between men and women. Once a woman enters Tiannü Sect, she cannot marry. If I went over to propose marriage, wouldn't that be humiliating them? I might as well go looking for death.”

“An outdated custom!” Wu Gongling lamented, clutching his wrist. “How can a woman go without a man? It's a truly inhuman custom. It ought to be abolished!”

“You... you! I'd like to see how you clean up this mess!” Shan Dongxing pointed at him and scolded him for a while before finally stamping off. There was simply no dealing with a brute like this.

He had to hurry and arrange for Tongxian Pavilion's people to strengthen the defenses around this place, lest Hui Qingping come charging over and slaughter the bastard.

Once all outsiders were gone, the frivolity disappeared from Wu Gongling's face. He ran a hand over his damp clothes and barked, “Change of clothes!”

His personal guards immediately brought clean garments and helped him change.

A short while later, Deputy General Jin Xiang hurried in and leaned close. “Grand General, I heard you grabbed that Elder Hui's backside. Is it true?”

Wu Gongling gave him a sidelong look. “Do I look like the sort of man who'd dare do something but not dare admit it?”

“...” Jin Xiang was utterly convinced by him. After a speechless pause, he sighed repeatedly. “Grand General, you... how could you do something like that? Aren't you asking to die?”

“You know shit!” Wu Gongling slapped the back of his helmet hard enough to send him staggering.

Jin Xiang steadied himself, straightened his helmet, then edged close again and asked tentatively, “Could it be there was some reason behind what the Grand General did?”

“Ah!” Wu Gongling sighed. “Those bastards from Han and Song have screwed us badly. We brothers can no longer return to Cangzhou. Staying put means death, and continuing east means nine deaths for every one chance to live...”

A rare trace of melancholy appeared on his rugged face. “Either way, death is close. All we can do is fight for that one thread of survival and keep going east. We've fallen this far. After this, everyone will probably think we're easy to bully. There'll be no shortage of people trying to boss us around. Take that Luo Zhao of Song. Once we reach him, he'll certainly order us to fight this way and that. How could I let him casually throw the lives of our three hundred thousand brothers into a pit for Song?”

He raised a hand and patted Jin Xiang's shoulder. “At a moment of nine deaths for one life, if we stand firm, the brothers still have a road to survive. If we show weakness, they'll push us until no road is left. No one will pity whether our brothers live or die. They'll drive us all the way toward death.”

“So now, of all times, we absolutely cannot show weakness. If I don't act like a mad demon, we die. I want them to know that I'm a lunatic. If they anger me, there's nothing I won't do. I even dare touch a woman from Tiannü Sect. What am I supposed to fear?”

“They need to understand they can't threaten me. Let them get used to that first. Later, it'll be easier for me to fight on behalf of the brothers. We cannot let others command us however they please.”

Jin Xiang's expression turned grave. He nodded slowly.

“My elder brother was too pedantic. Why should the realm of Yan that we bled and died to pacify belong only to the Shang clan? Why should we spill our blood and lose our heads, only for them to treat us as worse than pigs and dogs, killing us whenever they please?”

“Yan belongs to the people of Yan. It does not belong to the Shang clan alone. Why should that muddleheaded Emperor and those treacherous ministers at court keep using us like oxen and horses?”

“Are kings, princes, generals, and ministers born to their stations? I, Wu Gongling, will not live out my life a nobody!”

“Chaos has already begun. This is exactly when heroes like us should put our talents to use. We cannot scrape by merely clinging to life! Tell the brothers: since I have already raised troops, I will never let the matter end halfway. Those willing to follow me can fight with me for a future. Who says it is impossible for us to win princedoms and ministerial rank?”

Jin Xiang hesitated. “Is it suitable to tell the brothers that openly? I'm afraid it may make other people think too much.”

Wu Gongling swept one broad hand. “What's unsuitable about it? I'm not hiding anything. Say it openly exactly like that. Who doesn't know I'm a coarse brute? What the hell is there to fear?”

Jin Xiang nodded. “Very well! It's just that the Grand General has probably offended Elder Hui beyond repair this time. How could she let you off afterward? Tiannü Sect's strength truly is...”

Wu Gongling looked utterly disdainful. “Afterward? If we can't survive the crisis in front of us, what afterward is there to talk about? So long as we manage to gain firm footing afterward and remain useful to them, Tiannü Sect might even have that woman leave the sect and marry me.”

“What are you baring your teeth for? Don't disbelieve me. That woman—I'm going to sleep with her sooner or later!”

Jin Xiang did not know whether to laugh or cry. He shook his head as he turned to leave.

Wu Gongling beckoned him back. “Wait. How long will our grain last?”

Jin Xiang stopped. “We withdrew too hastily and couldn't carry much grain. The supplies traveling with the army can feed everyone for fifteen days at most.”

Wu Gongling paced back and forth with his hands behind his back. At last he stopped before the hanging map, studied the distance for a while, then turned. “My intent has already been exposed. There's no need to keep hiding it. We can speed up the march. Once our speed rises, fifteen days should be enough.”

Jin Xiang nodded. “Grand General, just give the orders.”

Wu Gongling stepped closer. “Dragging so much grain and fodder slows the army too much. We need to spread the load and lighten the baggage train. From now on, whenever the army stops to rest, order the cooks to do nothing but roast the grain and turn it into dry rations.”

“Have the brothers sew ration bags. Every man must carry three full days of provisions on his own body. That will lighten the army's burden and speed up the march, but it will also leave the brothers a road to live.”

“If fighting breaks out and anyone gets separated... We are heading into nine deaths for one life. If some brothers want to part ways, don't force them. They've followed me for years. Let us part on good terms. They can go wherever they wish.”

“Whether someone gets separated or simply leaves, in chaotic times like these, three days of food gives him something to fall back on. Wherever he goes, grain in his belly means less fear in his heart. It is still a road to survival... Do it this way.”

Jin Xiang clenched his jaw and nodded hard. “Grand General, rest assured. I'll give the order at once and make certain the rations are distributed to the brothers as quickly as possible.”

“One more thing. Don't hide what happened when I grabbed that woman's backside. Spread it openly. Let the brothers have a laugh.”

“Ah? Do we really need that sort of amusement?”

“You know shit. Do you understand morale?”

Realization dawned on Jin Xiang. At last he understood the many hidden purposes behind what the Grand General had done...

A short while later, Wu Gongling carried a jar of wine out of the tent alone and sat on a grassy slope, drinking by himself.

A patrol squad passed nearby and saluted.

Wu Gongling turned his head toward them and waved. “All of you, get over here.”

The soldiers looked at one another, then obediently came over, having no idea what he wanted.

Still seated, Wu Gongling asked, “There are ten of you. Who can hold his liquor best?”

The ten men glanced around at one another.

Wu Gongling added, “Whoever drinks the best gets a reward from this General.”

“Me!”

“I can drink the most!”

The moment they heard there was a reward, all ten started arguing.

Wu Gongling stood, slapped the grass from his backside, and grinned. “Words prove nothing. We need to see the real thing! Someone bring ten jars of wine. Then call over a battalion to witness it, so no one says I handle things unfairly.”

One of the guards immediately went for the wine, while another summoned several hundred men.

Soon everyone had crowded into a circle. Ten jars of wine stood at the feet of the ten soldiers. Wu Gongling paced before them carrying a jar of his own.

“Boasting means nothing. If you say you can drink, prove it. Let the brothers all serve as witnesses.”

“Good!”

There was entertainment to watch. The surrounding men shouted and cheered, their spirits high.

The squad leader among the ten called, “Grand General, what does the winner get?”

“What does he get? Are you afraid I'll shortchange you?” Wu Gongling stopped and looked around. “Everyone listen well. Whoever can finish the jar before him first—wherever our army finally settles after this war, I'll marry him to the prettiest unmarried maiden in the whole place. I'll personally go propose the match.”

“If her family refuses, I'll snatch the bride for him if I have to. I'll even give him a fine house to keep his beauty in, plus ten thousand gold coins for the two of them to live on. How does that sound?”

Every eye lit up. The ten competitors in particular were practically rubbing their hands together in excitement.

The squad leader shouted, “Does the Grand General keep his word?”

Wu Gongling roared, “When have I ever broken a promise I made to my brothers?”

“Never!”

“Never!”

Men throughout the crowd raised their arms and shouted. The spectacle was becoming more entertaining by the moment, and everyone's spirits soared.

One officer could no longer hold himself back and rushed out. “I want the prettiest unmarried maiden too. Grand General, count me in. I—ah!”

Before he could finish, Wu Gongling kicked him back into the crowd. “Get the hell out of here. This has nothing to do with you. If you joined, who would dare beat you? Just these ten!”

The officer scrambled back to his feet and sheepishly withdrew to one side, drawing a roar of laughter.

Wu Gongling turned back and pointed at the ten men. “Ready!”

The ten hurriedly lifted their jars, knocked off the mud seals, and held them poised. Every pair of eyes shone as they strained their ears for the signal.

Smash!

Wu Gongling hurled his own wine jar heroically to the ground and barked, “Begin!”

All ten raised their jars at once and desperately poured wine down their throats.

“Faster! Faster! Faster...!”

The surrounding men roared encouragement, cheering the ten on as though they themselves were competing. The commotion drew plenty of curious glances from farther away.

Halfway through, one man suddenly sprayed the wine back out. Shouts of “Doesn't count!” rose immediately, and he was dragged aside while stamping his feet in bitter frustration.

In the end, a dark-faced young soldier was the first to turn his jar upside down, showing it was empty. His lips remained clamped tightly together, afraid that if he opened his mouth, the wine would come surging back up his throat.

Cheers erupted.

Wu Gongling pointed at the young man and asked his name, then ordered his guards to remember it and remind him after the war to fulfill the promise. He repeatedly assured everyone he would absolutely not go back on his word.

The cheering and envious shouts brought an indescribable burst of joy to the army's otherwise tedious march.

Wu Gongling squeezed happily out of the crowd. He had just ordered the men below to prepare to pack up and resume the march when he saw five Elders standing outside the gathering with dark faces.

Hui Qingping alone was absent.

Everyone entered the central command tent. Quan Taifeng was the first to point at Wu Gongling and curse, “You are outrageous!”

Wu Gongling dropped into the chair behind the desk. “I won't hide it from any of you. I really have taken a liking to her, and I won't marry anyone but her. If she becomes my wife, I'll finally feel at ease. At least then I'd have some guarantee. Otherwise I'm always worried you'll tear down the bridge after crossing the river. I can't even put my mind on fighting the war.”

He slouched back in the chair, shameless as a dead pig no longer afraid of boiling water.

[End of Chapter 663]