Free Web NovelChapter 2329: Chapter 2304: Awakening
This approach is completely opposite to that of the Meng family, which is why Junior General Meng looks down on General Guo. He said, "Just listen to what General Li says, that’s all."
"But now General Guo is no longer here," Bai Shan said, "Since those things haven’t been distributed, they still belong to the army. Now, you and General Li are in charge of the military. As long as the two of you agree, it’s fine."
Junior General Meng was taken aback and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Isn’t this inappropriate? There’s also the Chief Steward. At the time, General Guo didn’t directly take those things because General Ashina was present."
"General Ashina won’t mind," Bai Shan said confidently, "As long as we can maintain the peace in the five cities of Kucha, ensure the roads remain open, and hold our 2,500 troops together, even if we were to send the entire spoils back to the Kucha palace, General Ashina wouldn’t mind."
"How do you know?"
He was guessing.
But at this moment, Bai Shan spoke with a serious face, "I understand General Ashina, I can guarantee you that."
If he does mind, we’ll deal with it later. For now, let’s focus on what’s in front of us.
Junior General Meng pondered over this, and Bai Shan patted him on the shoulder, "You can discuss it with General Li first. From what I know of Junior General Guo, he wouldn’t mind either."
Of course, Junior General Guo wouldn’t mind. He has always had his criticisms of his father’s actions, but a son does not speak ill of his father. Moreover, General Guo had openly scolded him, thinking he’s unworthy.
"We are the ones with our heads tied to our belts, more dangerous than those bandits. Life is short; if we don’t indulge while we’re alive, are we supposed to wait and enjoy after we’re dead?"
General Guo said, "And for whom am I doing this? Isn’t it for you all? I enjoy these things now, but after I die, aren’t they left for you?"
He sighed and said, "You haven’t lived through difficult times yet. Thinking back to my youth, though I was born into the Guo Clan of Taiyuan, it was during a chaotic era. If not for my bit of strength and some literacy due to family upbringing, not to mention you, I would’ve been a pile of bones by now..."
At times like this, Junior General Guo couldn’t find words to say. He had once been troubled and discussed this matter with Junior General Meng. He didn’t have many friends, and Junior General Meng was similar to him in both family background and position, and their personalities matched, so he couldn’t help but confide in him.
So Junior General Meng knew that Guo Zhao would not mind, but instead, he would be quite happy about it.
Only, it’s uncertain if General Li would be pleased with it.
Bai Shan seemed to know what Junior General Meng was thinking and said to him, "You could go to the logistics department and bring out that golden Buddha to discuss the matter with General Li."
Junior General Meng: ... He found the person irritating, but the method had a good chance of succeeding.
General Guo loves wealth, and naturally, General Li would also be fond of wealth.
Junior General Meng gave Bai Shan a glance and turned to leave.
Bai Shan went to find Manbao.
Manbao was in the main medical tent checking on Junior General Guo; he had regained consciousness.
Manbao checked his pulse and instructed someone to bring rice porridge and medicine, saying, "You’re recovering well. In two days, you’ll be completely awake."
In a hoarse voice, Junior General Guo asked, "How is my father?"
Manbao paused and then replied, "Things are not looking good, but your priority now is to take care of your own health."
Junior General Guo seemed worried but also somewhat relieved, indicating his father was still alive.
He quickly asked, "How is the situation in the army now?"
Bai Erlang and Liu Huan rushed in upon hearing the news and, upon hearing this question, said, "You’re still worrying about these things? Focus on healing and getting yourself better. Your life was saved by our blood."
Junior General Guo looked confused, "What?"
Bai Erlang rolled up his sleeve and said, "See this blue spot? We donated a lot of blood for you; at least a third of the blood in your body is ours now."
Liu Huan nodded, "That’s right, you must take good care of yourself, or our blood will be wasted."
Manbao added, "And my medicine."
Junior General Guo, distracted by them, forgot the question he wanted to ask. Only after eating porridge and taking the medicine did he mumble as he was about to fall asleep again, "I seem to smell the scent of a corpse."
Manbao and the others: ...
Their gaze involuntarily shifted toward the curtained-off area. Now that the weather was cold, General Guo’s body didn’t have a strong odor after two days, which is why they kept him in the medical tent. However, now...
It seemed they had to move Junior General Guo.
After he fell asleep, Manbao and the others discussed and decided to move him to the adjacent medical tent with the others.
Bai Shan saw and nodded, "This is good. There are more injured soldiers there; they can keep him company and distract him from overthinking."
Currently, only they and high-ranking officers knew of General Guo’s death.
The rest of the soldiers were still in the dark.
They carefully moved the sleeping Junior General Guo. Officially, the reason given was that Junior General Guo had stabilized, but since General Guo’s condition remained critical, they moved Junior General Guo so as not to disturb General Guo.
No one in the army doubted it.
The fact that General Guo had been hit by a stray arrow wasn’t a secret; many soldiers had witnessed it. To the soldiers, it was a blessing that General Guo was still alive.
As long as he was alive, he remained the heart and pillar of the army.
If news of General Guo’s death spread, the troops might lose their morale, and the Kucha royal city might not even need to act, as soldiers might desert their camp first.
Seeing Junior General Guo moved but still alive reassured everyone; it implied that General Guo might, like him, gradually recover.
Junior General Guo had also been hit by a stray arrow, and they had all seen it.
While they were busy here, movements were finally detected from the Kucha royal city as they began sending scouts to investigate.
The scouts reported back immediately.
General Li had just sent off Junior General Meng and, upon hearing the report, had someone call him back. After a discussion, they decided to send a box of jewels with a secretary, accompanied by a few soldiers, to the Kucha royal city.
Along with the jewels went a letter written by Bai Shan.
General Li had read the letter at that time. Had Bai Shan not clearly stated it was a feigned surrender, with the presence of people from noble families, the grandson of the Ministry of Revenue minister, the imperial physician, and the son-in-law of the emperor among them, he would’ve doubted if Bai Shan truly intended to surrender to Kucha.
Indeed, scholars have a way with words, making falsehoods sound like truths.
They had just sent off the secretary to deliver the letter when they encountered a man with high cheekbones and deep-set eyes.
Bai Shan’s smile faded upon seeing the man. General Li, unaware of their personal grievances, nodded to the man and asked, "Erge, what brings you here?"
