A month passed quickly amidst marching and encampment.
As the main vanguard slowly advanced to the foot of Mount Beiman, completing the encirclement, Qingchen's Second Battalion was ordered to camp at the foot of a gentle slope twenty li away.
Far from the main battlefield, the atmosphere was relaxed; it was more like an outing than a military camp.
Dusk descended, the setting sun like blood.
Inside a tent several sizes larger than the others, torches flickered.
Qingchen sat upright at a table, his face plastered with a fawning smile, a stark contrast to his usual ruthlessness.
The person he was currying favor with was none other than Li Muyun, the Second Battalion Commander, whose helmet was inlaid with jewels and who wore fine leather armor.
"Commander, you must drink heartily tonight and return home satisfied!"
Qingchen offered a full cup of wine with both hands, his words dripping with flattery.
"I know your lord has a fondness for this, so I specially sought out the finest aged medicinal wine, the most nourishing and restorative."
As he spoke, a barely perceptible glint of cunning flashed in his eyes, and he lowered his voice:
"Furthermore, I've secretly arranged an empty tent for you in my outpost, guaranteed to be comfortable and quiet, undisturbed.
Hehe, and as you instructed, that little beauty is all tied up securely, just waiting for you to enjoy her tonight!"
Upon hearing this, Li Muyun was slightly taken aback, then threw his head back and laughed heartily, his laughter echoing in the tent.
He unceremoniously snatched the cup of wine from Qingchen's hand, tilted his head back, and downed it in one gulp.
Seemingly feeling the cup was too stingy, and still unsatisfied, he simply picked up the entire wine pot on the table and drank it down in one gulp.
The wine slid down his chin, soaking his chest.
"Hahaha, Brother Qing, not bad, not bad! You truly are a capable and insightful person!"
Li Muyun casually tossed the empty wine jug onto the table with a crisp "clang."
He reached out his wine-stained hand and patted Qing Chen's shoulder forcefully, his smile unrestrained.
Seeing this, Qing Chen bowed even lower, his smile almost reaching his ears, and hurriedly replied:
"My lord trusts me so much, entrusting me with such a crucial matter. I am deeply grateful. Only by serving you wholeheartedly can I repay even a fraction of your kindness.
If you need anything in the future, no matter what it is, just give the order, and I will go through fire and water without hesitation!"
After spending the past ten days or so together, Qing Chen had already thoroughly understood his superior's temperament and quirks.
To be fair, this battalion commander, who rose through nepotism, was truly an astonishingly incompetent fool.
A typical battalion commander of five hundred soldiers, in the face of imminent battle, would be working tirelessly, training his troops, maintaining discipline, and fearing no oversight.
But this Li Sima, all he did was idle away his days, utterly indifferent to the affairs of the camp.
He only knew how to follow the sons of the city's powerful and wealthy, indulging in pleasure outside the military camp.
Even more astonishing was that he seemed to have mastered the art of "living off a woman's kindness."
Relying on the city lord's daughter's complete devotion, he used his good looks to indulge in wealth and luxury.
Life is short, after all, about wine, women, wealth, and power.
Li Muyun was a heavy drinker, a womanizer, and had a penchant for fair-skinned, scholarly men. He was also hopelessly addicted to "Five-Stone Powder."
It seemed only in this way could he satisfy a twisted desire for conquest.
Qing Chen had precisely identified this.
A few days ago, under the guise of leading a patrol, he meticulously planned:
He led his men to abduct a woman from out of town in a secluded spot far from the main road.
Then, he spared no expense, purchasing high-quality "Five-Stone Powder" from the black market.
Through careful planning, he had created this "love nest" for Li Muyun in this secluded corner far from the main camp.
This precise and meticulously executed method, catering to his every whim, indeed deeply irritated Li Muyun.
What particularly caught Qingchen's attention was that, compared to the pleasures brought by women,
this Lord Sima seemed even more interested in 'Five-Stone Powder,' and spared no expense in continuously supplying it.
Li Muyun, with his limited salary and the need to maintain his extravagant lifestyle, was naturally very pleased with this timely help.
Before long, he regarded Qingchen as his most trusted confidant, relying on him greatly.
"Haha, Brother Qing, there's no need for such formality between us!" Li Muyun was clearly in high spirits, fueled by the alcohol.
He laughed heartily, his tone exceptionally amiable and friendly, "From now on, in private, don't call me 'Lord Sima' anymore, it's too formal! Just call me Brother Yun, that'll show how close we brothers are!"
Qingchen, secretly delighted, immediately seized the opportunity, his face beaming with a flattered smile:
"Hey, then I'll take the liberty of calling you Brother Yun. If you ever need any help, just let me know, I'll do anything!"
After saying that, Qingchen's eyes darted around, and he continued, "By the way, Brother Yun, our camp has been stationed about twenty miles north of Beiman Mountain. I'm wondering if that's a bit inappropriate?
The vanguard and the main force have already arrived at the foot of Beiman Mountain, completely surrounding the entire mountain."
"Haha, you don't know that, do you?"
Li Muyun, head held high and a hint of smugness on his face, explained to Qingchen, "I came out this time just to gain some experience.
Once the war is almost over, I'll go back and pick up the scraps—easy and carefree. Besides, our current position is pretty good.
Although it's a bit far from Beiman Mountain, if any escapees manage to get here, we can catch them like turtles in a jar. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Upon hearing this, Qingchen felt a surge of contempt and secretly cursed Li Muyun as a fool.
"Twenty miles north of Beimang Mountain, how could we possibly encounter bandits from Beimang Mountain?
That area is all sheer cliffs and dense forests.
Large forces simply cannot pass through; there's virtually no chance of fighting here.
Even if bandits did come down from the mountain, it would only be a handful at most.
This fool hiding here is clearly cowardly and afraid of battle;
His talk of 'catching turtles in a jar' is utterly absurd.
Qingchen inwardly scoffed, but dared not show any disdain on his face.
He forced a smile, his tone full of respect: "Brother Yun is right, I truly admire your foresight."
"But I have a concern. What if others don't understand your good intentions and mistakenly believe you've missed a crucial opportunity to encircle Beiman Mountain with the main force? That would be troublesome.
Such misunderstandings and rumors could significantly impact your future. I fear there might be malicious individuals plotting against you behind your back."
As he spoke, Qingchen subtly revealed concern and worry, carefully observing Li Muyun's reaction.