Finest Servant

Chapter 247 Trouble

‘If there’s no great general in the army, Lin San becomes the vanguard?’ Such a thought suddenly flashed through Lin Wanrong’s mind, causing an immediate wave of displeasure. ‘Damn it,’ he thought. ‘Why such a crazy idea? Am I not more handsome than Liao Hua? Do I not have more skills in courting women? I am far superior to him.’

[TL: Liao Hua was a minor military general who served under the warlord Liu Bei in the late Eastern Han dynasty and later in the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period; The first sentence seems to express a sentiment that in the absence of strong, well-known leaders, less renowned individuals may step up and play important roles, which in Lin Wanrong’s mind seems to compare him to Liao Hua, a minor general.]

“Well, Marshal Xu, that may not be the best idea. I am both inexperienced and lacking in knowledge. I haven’t fought many battles, and aside from being somewhat decent looking, I don’t have much else to offer. Maybe it’s best to let someone else take the vanguard position on the right flank. I’d be content to serve as a military strategist,” Lin Wanrong modestly proposed.

Xu Wei smiled without uttering a word. Instead, Zuo Zongyou spoke up, “Ah, Brother Lin, you are too modest. As the saying goes, ‘ambition is not a matter of age.’ Even though you are new to the military, you fought extraordinarily well in your first battle and even killed Meng Du. Who can compete with such accomplishments? Saying that you lack knowledge and experience is a clear understatement. You have outsmarted thousands. I bet those damned dogs from the White Lotus Sect tremble at the sound of your name. If you don’t take the lead on the right flank, then who will?”

Coughing twice to conceal his embarrassment, Lin Wanrong thought, ‘Zuo Zongyou sure knows how to flatter.’ He was pleased with the compliments. Xu Wei laughed, “General Zuo is right, and he speaks my mind. Brother Lin, considering your achievements and the loyalty of your soldiers, no one can compare to you. The vanguard position on the right flank is rightfully yours.”

‘Ah, I have always been modest, but Old Xu insists on pushing me into this situation. Is he trying to make others jealous of me?’ Lin Wanrong shook his head helplessly, “In that case, I must obey your command. I am young and lack experience in leading troops. I hope you, respected generals, will guide and help me in the future. I would be extremely grateful.”

“Great, then it’s settled.” Xu Wei laughed loudly, “Hear my command, all officers!”

“Present!” They responded.

“After breakfast today, our army will march forward. In three days, we will capture Jinan. Whoever conquers Jinan first, I will recommend him to the Emperor for the highest merit!”

“Understood!”

After dismissing the meeting, Xu Wei retained only Lin Wanrong, laughing as he spoke, “Little Brother Lin, the right flank is now in your hands. I await news of your triumphant return.”

Lin Wanrong laughed bitterly, “Mr. Xu, it seems you had this planned from the start. You tricked me into becoming a military advisor, only to end up making me lead troops into battle. This difficult task is really troubling.”

‘Difficult task? The position of the right flank general is a desirable job that many yearn for but cannot get. This kid gets a good deal and still acts coy.’ Xu Wei felt rather disgruntled. Shaking his head, he said, “Little Brother Lin, what are you talking about? I invited you here to lend me your strength. Sending you to Chuzhou to command the remnants was also a way to let you accumulate some experience. I didn’t expect so many things to happen, let alone for you to display such valor, completely annihilating thousands of Meng Du’s troops. With just this battle, you’ve become the foremost meritous officer and the bravest warrior in my massive army.”

The foremost meritous officer and the bravest warrior? ‘I am ashamed,’ thought Lin Wanrong. ‘If it were not for the musket, my brothers and I would have been doomed in that battle. I should thank Qingxuan, my beloved wife, for this.’

“Perhaps you’re unaware, but the story of your righteous fury on behalf of your brothers has already spread throughout the army. Everyone praises your leadership and your affection for your troops. At this moment, your prestige is unparalleled. If we didn’t assign you as the vanguard general, I’m afraid the tens of thousands of soldiers wouldn’t spare me. Naturally, I need to recognize and utilize your talent,” Xu Wei told him.

“Well, prestige and fighting wars are completely different matters. To be frank, Mr. Xu, my so-called tactical foresight comes purely from luck. I’m afraid I might end up messing up your plans,” Lin Wanrong modestly replied.

Xu Wei roared with laughter, “Opportunity doesn’t favor the unprepared, Little Brother Lin. As long as you can win battles, who cares if it was by luck or not? If you have the ability, then you’re a hero.”

Lin Wanrong shook his head helplessly. The situation was escalating. How he missed his freedom when he was just a servant in the Xiao family. Although he now had many brothers-in-arms in the army, he felt more restrained, shackled. He missed the Xiao family and missed her. Lin San sighed heavily as he looked up at the sky.

Seeing through his thoughts, Xu Wei said seriously, “Little Brother Lin, to be honest, I recruited you to serve in the army to provide us with a strategic advisor and also for your own benefit. While you had freedom as a servant in the Xiao family, you were burdened with trivial matters every day. Hanging out with Miss Xiao, Miss Luo, and Miss Qiao didn’t do any good for your ambition. It even made you the butt of jokes.”

Hang on, Hanging out? He would call it interaction. Wooing virtuous women was merely a by-product.

“With your talent and wit, if you spent all your days in women’s company, your ambition would likely be whittled away. Men of our great nation are born as heroes and die as valiant spirits. I couldn’t bear to see you waste away like this, so I took the trouble to invite you to help me in the army.” Xu Wei explained with great effort, but Lin San’s face was expressionless, as if he wasn’t listening at all.

This young man was truly unique, Xu Wei sighed inwardly, “Actually, there’s another reason why I brought you into the army. With some military experience under your belt, when the time comes to go to the capital with Miss Xiao, you’ll have quite a bit of assistance.”

What’s all this about being born a hero and dying a valiant spirit? He wasn’t that noble. However, the reason of providing help in the capital was somewhat acceptable. Regardless, Xu Wei was looking out for him and didn’t harbor any ill intentions.

Lin Wanrong nodded, “In that case, I really must thank you, Mr. Xu. However, let’s get this straight: this is the last time. I don’t want to be promoted again, I have a phobia of high-ranking positions.”

Xu Wei thought, ‘Can I even promote you again? You’re already the vanguard of the right flank. If you were to be promoted again, you would have to be the Marshal.’

“Oh, by the way, Mr. Xu, thank you for sending the letter yesterday.” Lin Wanrong said with a forced smile, wishing he could give the old man a good beating. Xu Wei was too eager to meddle in trivial matters but wasn’t concerned with serious issues. He didn’t know what kind of torment awaited him when he returned home.

“Little Brother Lin, having performed such an extraordinary feat, it’s only right for an old man like me to attend to these trivial matters. That letter was personally delivered by Gao Shou a few days ago. Miss Xiao sought out Luo Ning in order to deliver this letter, yet she had no idea of our whereabouts. Afterward, Miss Xiao found Luo Min and pleaded with him to get the letter to me. As you know, our whereabouts are absolutely confidential. Aside from Luo Min, his own children were clueless. But Miss Xiao beseeched him daily, looking pitiful. Luo Min had no choice but to send Gao Shou, specifically to deliver this letter.” Xu Wei sighed.

So that was the story behind the letter. Xiao Yuruo, that little minx, usually likes to keep a cold face, but when it was important, she was remarkably righteous. She had prejudices against Luo Ning, but for this matter, she put her pride aside and asked both Luo Ning and Luo Min. Thinking of the Eldest Miss’ thin face and the content of the letter, Lin Wanrong was suddenly moved. If he had known this before, he should have written a grand letter yesterday. How could he have known that his playful mood would produce such an unusual thing? He was truly regretful.

“Little Brother Lin, your deep affection for the Xiao family and Miss Xiao’s kindness towards you have earned my utmost envy. You must not let her down,” Xu Wei said with a laugh.

Let her down? When had he ever let anyone down? When he got back, he wouldn’t argue with the Eldest Miss. He would speak to her properly to repay her caring heart.

When Lin Wanrong left the big tent, several people had already surrounded him with congratulations. Not to mention Du Xiuyuan and others, even a few of the thousand-man commanders from under Zhai Canghai’s command came to pay their respects. They had all been reassigned under the Right Vanguard General Lin, and after witnessing General Lin’s bravery and righteousness yesterday, they were genuinely respectful.

Xu Wei hadn’t lied this time. The five thousand infantry and cavalry soldiers assigned to Lin Wanrong were all elite troops, far superior to the previous supply troops. Lin Wanrong had Du Xiuyuan place the original brothers in various ranks, conveying the intentions and spirit of General Lin.

The story of General Lin’s power to split Meng Du and his rage against Zhai Canghai had already spread throughout the army. Once the supply troops who had experienced the battle spread this, the tens of thousands of soldiers immediately admired and respected him, raising the fame of Right Vanguard General Lin to the peak.

Du Xiuyuan, Hu Bugui, and Li Sheng had all been promoted to thousand-man commander, but General Lin had been promoted to Right Vanguard General overnight, which excited them enormously. Their training enthusiasm surged, vowing to train their soldiers to be capable of taking on ten enemies at once.

Originally, before commanding the troops, Lin Wanrong had thought of the prestige of leading tens of thousands of men. But when the day came, he lost his interest. Looking at the tens of thousands of soldiers with their shining weapons and strict discipline, and recalling the bloody battle of that night, Lin Wanrong sternly told his thousand-man commanders, “In the art of training troops, laziness is absolutely forbidden. As for the elimination system, you must implement it strictly. I do not wish to see a repeat of the Battle of Pei County.”

Hu Bugui and the others nodded their agreement, deeply understanding his sentiment. The thousand-man cavalry commanders had personally witnessed the horror of the soldiers who had died in the battle that night, and they strongly agreed with this concept of training elite troops.

Watching tens of thousands of soldiers training, the drill ground filled with the constant sound of weapons clashing and clouds of dust billowing, Lin Wanrong couldn’t help but sing: “In the beginning, when my team was first established, there were only about a hundred men and a few dozen guns—” Gao Qiu, following behind him, broke out in goosebumps all over his body.

[TL: A butchered version of an opera song titled: ; google this to listen to the song.]

——

Xu Wei gave the order with all seriousness that Jinan should be captured within three days. The armies from the north and south advanced together, implementing a tactic of layered compression, forcing the elite of the White Lotus Army, who had no route of retreat, to withdraw into the city of Jinan.

The right-wing army led by Lin Wanrong adhered to General Lin’s usual principle: to train strong soldiers and create happy warriors. They practiced military drills morning and evening, and traveled during the day, leading a life that was quite leisurely and comfortable.

However, the closer they got to Jinan, the more uneasy Lin Wanrong became. The battle had been going on for days now, and according to the news from the left-wing and central armies, the White Lotus Army had been continuously defeated and had already retreated back into the city of Jinan. However, no matter how much he inquired, he hadn’t heard any news of Xian’er. Could she still be in the city of Jinan? That would indeed be a problem.