Finest Servant

Chapter 390 Holding Too Tightly

The spring rain lingered, continuing until evening without stopping. This chilly weather left even the horses feeling tired, to say nothing of the people. The road was muddy and difficult to travel, particularly as it ran along a section of official road that had been neglected for years and was in terrible disrepair. The carts carrying silver repeatedly became stuck in the mud, and it took the effort of soldiers to push them forward. The pace of advancement in such conditions could be imagined.

"Damn it all," spat Hu Bugui, throwing aside his rain cape and revealing a face full of thick beard. "At this rate, we won't reach the capital even if we walk for another ten days. If we miss the opportunity to resist the northern nomads, we'll be eternal criminals. What are these Shandong officials doing, eating their meals without even repairing the roads? It's so broken down that even a wild donkey wouldn't walk this path, let alone us, the imperial army!"

The soldiers under his command were temporary garrison troops from Shandong. A commander of a hundred men said with a bow, "General Hu, you haven't returned to your hometown for many years and are unaware of the situation here. Shandong's tax revenue amounts to hundreds of thousands of taels each year, but it's all taken away by the imperial court, leaving nothing behind. With the White Lotus Rebellion a few years ago and the people taxed from both ends, they are in dire straits. Even if they wanted to repair this road, the higher-ups couldn't scrape together the money. It's really a tough situation. To speak irreverently, we can only blame the great lords in the imperial court, for they never considered Shandong's local construction issues."

Discussing the court's rights and wrongs left Hu Bugui without a solution, and he could only snort, "Unlucky, truly unlucky. Following General Lin is better; as long as he's around, we brothers won't suffer. If someday he takes charge of the court, with his intelligence, raising funds for local development would be easy."

"What are you grumbling about, Brother Hu?" A clear voice came from behind. Hu Bugui turned around and couldn't help but laugh. He saw Lord Lin holding a small oil-paper umbrella that barely covered his head, pretending to be refined, looking utterly ridiculous among the army.

"We're talking about this road," Hu Bugui grumbled, helplessly saying, "It's rainy, and there's mud everywhere. The carts are stuck, and today we've only managed to cover a dozen or so miles. At this rate, we'll die before we reach the capital. Oh, General Lin, where did you find this little umbrella? Compared to your mighty stature, it's quite out of place!"

"I had no choice; my wife was worried about me, so she insisted on giving me this small umbrella. This damn little thing doesn't even shield the rain, and it's a burden to carry. If it weren't for my wife's good intentions, I would have thrown it away long ago," General Lin said, folding the umbrella that Ning'er had lovingly given him, laughing cheerfully.

"So it was Miss Luo who gave it to you. No wonder you treasure it so. To have such a beautiful companion by your side, General, you are indeed a fortunate man," Hu Bugui said, showing a knowing smile that men understand, and the two of them burst into hearty laughter.

Lin Wanrong stood firm, looking ahead. Before him stood a perilous mountain, towering into the clouds, majestic and erect, exuding an extraordinary aura. The official road wound through the mountain's waist, appearing as though it was suspended on the mountain ridge. Lin Wanrong's brows furrowed; such a vast mountain could easily conceal thousands, making the path ahead untraversable by night.

With the day turning to dusk and the storm intensifying, the advancing silver carts were facing great difficulties. Lin Wanrong pondered for a moment and resolutely said, "Brother Hu, have our men set up camp. We won't continue today. Let's station ourselves at the foot of the mountain for the night."

"So early for camping?" Hu Bugui asked, puzzled. "We've moved so slowly today that if we don't press on a bit further, I'm afraid we'll fall even more behind schedule."

"We have no choice," Lin Wanrong replied gravely. "This strong wind and heavy rain are hindering the carts and horses. And the path ahead is mountainous and treacherous, mired in mud. If we push on in the dark, the danger will be even greater. Safety comes first. Order the men to halt and set up camp, keeping a strict watch. It won't be too late to continue tomorrow morning."

Hu Bugui looked ahead and saw the winding official road extending to the mountain, rugged and hard to navigate, with the army's vanguard already at the mountain's base. Camping on the mountain while transporting three hundred and fifty thousand taels of treasury silver overnight felt unsettling. It was safer to stay at the foot of the mountain. He nodded in agreement, appreciating General Lin's wise decision.

"By the way, Brother Hu, have the scouts been sent out?" Lin Wanrong asked, seeing that Hu Bugui had passed down the order and the army had stopped.

"They're on their way; over ten small teams, more than two hundred brothers, all very sharp. They're expected to return by the latter half of tonight," Hu Bugui answered.

Lin Wanrong felt slightly more at ease. As he was about to turn back, he spotted a figure approaching from the distance, holding an oil umbrella, tiptoeing towards them.

"Miss Xu, why have you come down from the cart?" Seeing Xu Zhiqing's long skirt soaked and her hair wet with rain, Lin Wanrong was taken aback and quickly asked.

Gazing at the distant mountains, Xu Zhiqing's brows slightly furrowed, she softly said, "The mountains ahead are steep and the forests dense. We cannot proceed today; we should set up camp quickly."

Her view coincided with Lin Wanrong's. Hearing that General Lin had already ordered the encampment, Xu Zhiqing nodded, lifted her long skirt, and continued to walk through the rain.

Hu Bugui hurriedly stopped her, "Miss Xu, the camp has already been set up ahead. You should go back and rest!"

"I want to go and look at the mountain ahead," Xu Zhiqing continued walking, speaking calmly, "This is the last barrier to the capital. If the bandits make no move, they will lose their chance. I do not believe they will let go so easily."

With her determined expression and no intention to stop, Hu Bugui looked helplessly at General Lin. Lin Wanrong gave a wry smile, knowing her stubborn personality was easy to entice but hard to block. He nodded to Hu Bugui, saying, "Brother Hu, go and organize the men to station themselves. Strengthen the guard, extend the posts by two miles, and rotate the mobile sentries to patrol. We must never let our guard down at any time. I'll accompany Miss Xu to take a look ahead."

Miss Xu shook her head, snorting through her small nose, "Why would I need you to accompany me? I can go myself!"

‘You bratty girl, are you addicted to backtalk? Even rebelling now, are you?’ Lin Wanrong's face hardened, his expression stern as he said, "I said we're going, so we're going! I'm the one leading this expedition, and whether or not you like it, you must obey my command. If you dare to disobey the military order, no matter who you are, I'll spank you just the same!"

As he mentioned spanking, he couldn't help but feel a thrill, recalling the wonderful sensation from that secretive night. His eyes couldn't resist stealing a glance.

Miss Xu seemed to think of the same incident, her face heating up in anger. She lowered her head, murmuring in irritation, "Shameless!" But seeing his demeanor, so different from his usual jesting, he seemed quite authoritative, and she found herself unable to retort.

The spring rain grew heavier, showing no signs of stopping. As they continued down the slope, the water accumulated, making their progress more difficult. The soldiers ahead had stopped and were setting up camp.

After a few steps, Lin Wanrong looked back, hearing that the footsteps behind him had become more scattered. He saw Miss Xu's dress soaked through, her long hair dancing in the wind and rain. The paper umbrella had torn in several places, barely shielding her from the storm. Xu Zhiqing gritted her teeth, following him silently, her steps uneven in the puddles.

‘What a masochistic girl,’ Lin Wanrong sighed, shaking his head, taking a few steps back and offering her his umbrella. But Miss Xu stubbornly shook her head, "I don't want it! Keep it for yourself!"

Raindrops landed on her face, accentuating her clear, pristine complexion. Lin Wanrong sighed, saying, "Go back first. I'll take a look and report back to you."

"Why can you go, but I can't?" Xu Zhiqing's expression was stern, impeccable, "This is a military campaign. There's no distinction between men and women. We are equal!"

"Equal? Equal, my foot!" Seeing how obstinate the girl was, Lin Wanrong became angry and frustrated. He reached out, saying, "Give me your hand."

"What are you doing?" Seeing his face darker than the sky, Miss Xu was startled and quickly stepped back, her embroidered shoe thoroughly soaked in rainwater.

"Troublesome girl!" Lin Wanrong muttered, grabbing her small hand and leading her forward without another word.

"What are you doing? Men and women shouldn't have such close contact!" Miss Xu was both embarrassed and angry, crying out. Seeing Lin Wanrong ignoring her, pulling her along with soldiers looking at them in surprise, her face flushed with embarrassment, her voice much softer, "Don't let others see. You... you better let go of me."

After hurrying for a while, they reached the mountain path. Lin Wanrong finally released her small hand. Miss Xu was panting, her face covered with a deep blush, angrily saying, "How can you be so rude?"

‘Rude? You haven't even seen the worst of it!’ Lin Wanrong's face darkened, angrily retorting, "Miss Xu, I've tried to reason with you both politely and impolitely. Don't challenge my patience. Either you shut up and follow me quietly, or you go back!"

Miss Xu hummed but said nothing. Lin Wanrong glanced at her, noticing that her clothes were soaked through and her lips were turning purple from the cold, yet she stubbornly refused to utter a word. Such a woman was indeed rare! He sighed inwardly, his face contorting into a fierce expression as he growled, "Did you hear me clearly?"

Xu Zhiqing clenched her teeth and nodded. When she saw him reach out to her again, a faint blush appeared on her face, and she let him take hold of her hand. She hadn't noticed it when they were walking quickly earlier, but now as he held her rough hand, she felt a warmth spreading through her body, dispersing much of the chill. Her palm trembled slightly, and she unconsciously gripped his hand a little tighter.

The two of them stood on a steep hillside, with no one else in sight except for the faint movement of sentries in the distance. Lin Wanrong looked around at the distant green pines and cypresses, thick clouds, and the winding official road that stretched out of sight. The road was slippery with fallen pine needles and leaves, making it difficult to walk.

"What do you think of this situation?" Miss Xu asked, feeling a strange sensation in her heart as he continued to hold her hand, her face flushing with inexplicable warmth.

"I was cursing the heavens earlier, but now it seems that the gods have done us a great favor. This spring rain has come at just the right time—ah, be careful, Miss Xu. Hold my hand tightly, don't slip," Lin Wanrong said with a chuckle, lightly brushing her palm. The soft sensation made his heart flutter, and he pointed seriously at the dense trees in the distance. "This official road is tens of miles long and winds around the mountainside. With our tens of thousands of troops stretched out, we lose the advantage of close formation, making us weak everywhere."

"Are you worried that the enemy will charge down from the mountains to fight you?" Miss Xu tried to pull her hand back but found it tightly gripped, unable to move. She could only glare at him angrily, turning her head away. ‘It's his fault for holding so tightly, not mine,’ she consoled herself, feeling somewhat calmer.

"Fight us? Only a fool would try to rob an official army on the road," Lin Wanrong shook his head, his face suddenly becoming serious. "Good rain knows the season, blossoming in spring! If not for this timely spring rain, the mountains and fields might already be engulfed in flames. Even with a hundred thousand soldiers, we couldn't stop such a fire. If they spread tung oil on both sides and the fire catches the wind, even with three heads and six arms, I would be helpless. Damn it, I must burn incense tonight in thanks!"

Miss Xu shot him a glance, clearly unhappy with his foul language, and snorted, "At least you have some sense, not making such a foolish mistake. We have rules when we march and fight. Not crossing bridges in snow or forests at night prevents the enemy from taking advantage. If we were reckless and overconfident, we would surely pay a heavy price."

Seeing Lin San listening to her chastisement obediently, Miss Xu felt a faint sense of joy in her heart. Although she had led a hundred thousand soldiers against foreign invaders, she had never felt such a sense of accomplishment. Teaching him alone seemed more rewarding than training a million soldiers.

‘I had just taught her a lesson, and now this young lady was looking for an opportunity to educate me in return.’ Seeing Miss Xu with her clothes soaking wet and her lips turning purple from the cold, Lin Wanrong wanted to spar with her verbally but couldn't find the words. He took her small hand and smiled faintly, "Let's go back quickly."

When had he become so gentle? Gazing into his eyes, filled with a fleeting expression of tender affection, Miss Xu's heart pounded in her chest. She was about to speak when Lin San's face suddenly turned serious.

In the distant sky, a flare shot up and almost immediately withered away in the wind and rain, leaving behind a trail of long green smoke.

"It's bad, something has happened!!!" Miss Xu cried out in alarm, but Lin Wanrong's loud shout to muster the troops had already resonated throughout the entire army: "Hu Bugui, assemble the soldiers!"

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