Chapter 212: Is He Really The Wise War God You Described?
After Mo Ziyuan and Lin Xin arrived at the Western Frontier, their situation was somewhat worrisome. Originally, the Great General Chen Lingyuan who had previously brought him here was stationed there, but just three days before they arrived, the Western Rong People sneak attacked the camp. Combined with insiders collaborating with outsiders, Great General Chen was seriously injured and was still in a coma. Now, his previous Deputy General Kong Xiao was temporarily in charge.
Kong Xiao had followed Chen Lingyuan for many years and had always worshipped him as an idol. Chen Lingyuan treated him very well too, and would point out military strategy and tactics to him when he had time. Kong Xiao was very satisfied with this.
But Mo Ziyuan’s arrival disrupted everything. He was clearly just an unfavored heir from the Duke’s Mansion. Why could he gain the general’s favor right away? Not only did he lead him to establish all sorts of merits, but he openly praised him without restraint and personally protected him in front of the Late Emperor. This made Kong Xiao very uncomfortable.
Fortunately, Mo Ziyuan stayed here for three years and then went back.
But he never expected that after the urgent letter from the Border Region reached the Capital City, the person the New Emperor sent was him. This gave Kong Xiao an unprecedented sense of crisis.
Mo Ziyuan had already received the news of Great General Chen’s serious injury and coma on the road. As soon as he entered the military camp, he proposed to go see him, but was rejected by Kong Xiao. The reason was extremely righteous: they had been traveling through wind and dust, so they should rest well first!
Moreover, he showed great contempt for Lin Xin, thinking that Mo Ziyuan had become depraved after returning to the capital once, actually bringing a beauty along while marching and fighting.
Therefore, he maliciously arranged a tent next to Mo Ziyuan’s for Lin Xin.
Mo Ziyuan coldly observed all of this without any intention of objecting. He knew Kong Xiao’s thoughts very well but did not want to bother with it. His thinking was simple: he came to fight a war, not to seize power. He just hoped to win quickly and return to the capital. He still wanted to marry Xin’er home early!
“This Deputy General Kong has a grudge against you?” Back in the camp tent, Lin Xin asked Mo Ziyuan.
“Not really. He’s just afraid I’ll take his position and the power in his hands.”
“Ha, then he really doesn’t understand you.” Lin Xin didn’t know what else to say about this.
“Don’t mind him.” Mo Ziyuan hadn’t seen Chen Lingyuan with his own eyes, so he was always worried about it. He asked Lin Xin: “Xin’er, do you have any way regarding General Chen?”
“They won’t let you see him. Even if there’s a way, what can be done?”
“I’m still a bit uneasy. By reason, the general has been in a coma for three days, so Kong Xiao should be very anxious. But when I saw him just now, there wasn’t a trace of anxiety in his brow or gaze. I’m afraid…”
“You fear Kong Xiao is deliberately not treating the general in order to seize power?”
Mo Ziyuan nodded.
“Can’t be, right? Didn’t you say this Kong Xiao greatly respects and worships General Chen? He shouldn’t do such a thing.” Lin Xin said uncertainly.
Actually, she had seen plenty of such situations in the apocalypse: supernatural ability squad members scheming to ascend to the throne, base members plotting to become leaders—there were simply too many.
“If it were up to him alone, maybe not, but this isn’t a place where General Chen has the final say.”
“Fine, let’s say it’s to ease your mind. I’ll take you there tonight to take a look.” Lin Xin was a bit curious about this General Chen, so she decided to take the opportunity to meet him.
“Let’s prepare the things we’ll need first.” Mo Ziyuan’s meaning was self-evident.
“Got it.” Lin Xin said, starting to take things out from the space: Cui Shi’s medicine, some nourishing medicinal herbs were essential.
“The general loves meat food. Prepare some to have on hand.” Mo Ziyuan reminded from the side.
“You can’t be serious,” Lin Xin widened her eyes at him. “He’s seriously injured. Won’t eating meat be bad? All I have here are heavy flavors, no light meat food suitable for patients.”
“No problem. I just hope the general can eat something.”
Lin Xin: “······” Fine, your general, you have the final say.
She also packed some handmade braised pork, several large buns with pure meat filling. Compared to these, the medicines became mere accessories. Lin Xin was speechless.
The two waited for gaps in the soldiers’ patrols, found the pattern, and slipped out of the camp tent at night.
“Do you know which tent the general is in?” Lin Xin questioned, looking at the tents that were all identical except for size.
“Given the general’s status, he should be in the largest tent, but now I’m not sure.” Mo Ziyuan said.
“Then what? Should we find someone to ask?”
“No need. Let’s check the largest camp tent first. If not, then we’ll think again.”
The two took advantage of the night to dodge patrolling soldiers all the way to the tent symbolizing the highest commander’s status. From far away, they could see several soldiers guarding the entrance.
Mo Ziyuan pointed to the back of the tent. Lin Xin understood. The two sneaked over. Fortunately, no one was guarding the back; they just needed to avoid the patrolling soldiers.
There were people arguing in low voices inside the tent. After hearing a few sentences, Mo Ziyuan’s eyebrows shot up.
One voice belonged to Kong Xiao, whom they had just seen today. The other sounded very weak. Lin Xin guessed it was probably Chen Lingyuan.
She heard Kong Xiao say furiously: “Who doesn’t know he was Your Majesty’s reading companion as a child? I have nothing to say if His Majesty trusts him. But general, why are you like this too? Your subordinate really can’t accept it.”
“You can’t accept it? So you confine me and won’t let me contact Zi Yuan? Do you know that if this is discovered, you won’t have any future?”
“Haha, would you care about my future? How long has that Mo Ziyuan kid been here? Your eyes already have no place for me. These years I’ve diligently followed at your side like a dog, obeying your every word. But how have you treated me? Say it with your hand on your conscience!”
“Kong Xiao, don’t let others blind your eyes and ears, making a decision you’ll regret for life.”
“Hmph, hit the mark and you don’t dare answer? Chen Lingyuan, it was I, Kong Xiao, who was blind. Only today do I see your true face. From now on, I won’t be manipulated by you. Anyway, everyone knows you’re seriously injured, so take this chance to rest well!”
With that, Kong Xiao turned and flung open the tent flap to leave. At the entrance, he ordered: “Guard this place well. Don’t let anyone disturb the general’s rest and recovery. Without my orders, no one is allowed to enter!”
The guarding soldiers unhesitatingly responded in unison.
“Looks like this Kong Xiao has been operating a lot these years!” Lin Xin whispered to Mo Ziyuan in admiration, and a bit disbelieving of his judgment of the general inside whom she had never met. “By the way, is he really the wise and mighty war god you described?”
Facing Lin Xin’s doubting gaze, Mo Ziyuan’s response was to scrape her nose hard.
“Stop joking around. Hurry and think how we can get in without alerting the guards at the door!”
“That’s easy. Let me ask you: if you two meet face-to-face, what would you do? What would your general do? Could he expose that Kong Xiao in front of everyone?”
“This······” Mo Ziyuan, who knew how much Chen Lingyuan valued loyalty, didn’t dare to conclude.
