ATPnovel Chapter 390 After the Moon Goddess Cult was wiped out, what became of the surnames?
Chapter 390 After the Moon Goddess Cult was wiped out, what became of the surnames?
Han Zhong looked at Zhou Cheng.
Looking at his young face, which was filled with determination, I felt a complex mix of emotions.
"Then it's up to you."
Zhou Cheng nodded vigorously, his voice firm.
"General, rest assured, I will definitely complete the mission! This time, we can retreat to attack or advance to defend, putting us in an invincible position from the outset. There will be no mistakes, and there will definitely be no problems!"
Han Zhong, however, was not so optimistic.
He sighed and said slowly:
"I hope so. Nothing in this world is foolproof. We're just surviving in the cracks, taking it one step at a time and acting according to circumstances."
Zhou Cheng's smile faded, and his expression became serious and solemn.
He clasped his hands in a fist salute and bowed, his voice low and firm.
"I am willing to die for the general!"
Han Zhong waved his hand lightly, a gesture tinged with weariness.
"Just do your own job well."
He turned around and walked towards the main tent.
He took two steps, then stopped without looking back.
"Keep a close eye on it."
Zhou Cheng bowed deeply. "Yes!"
Han Zhong strode away, his footsteps fading into the distance.
The morning light shone on his broad back, making his black iron armor gleam.
His back was very straight, but beneath that straight back lay an overwhelming weariness and heaviness.
Zhou Cheng stood there, watching Han Zhong's retreating figure, his expression somewhat melancholy.
He did and said so much, but in the end, it was all for himself and his family.
But as the general said, there is no such thing as a foolproof thing in this world.
Even a general who sits in that position can only survive in the cracks, let alone a mere deputy general.
At this point, all he could do was try his best and leave the rest to fate.
He sighed, then turned and walked towards Fan Li's tent.
His steps were steady, and his back was straight.
He lifted the curtain, bent down, and went inside.
Inside the tent, Fan Li was sitting on a wooden stool, resting with his eyes closed.
Hearing footsteps, he opened his eyes, looked at Zhou Cheng, and smiled.
"General Zhou, has General Han left?"
Zhou Cheng nodded, sat down opposite him, and put on a smile.
"I'm off. Mr. Fan, you must be tired from your journey. Would you like a cup of tea? I'll go and brew you a pot."
Fan Li waved his hand. "No need. I'll just sit for a while."
Zhou Cheng smiled and said nothing more.
He sat there, his gaze fixed on the curtains and on the small patch of morning light filtering through the gaps.
He was still making plans in his mind.
As long as we keep an eye on Fan Li and prevent him from leaving, everything will be under control.
But a sense of unease still lingered in his heart.
That unease was like a thorn stuck in his heart; it wasn't deep, but he couldn't get rid of it no matter what.
He took a deep breath and suppressed his unease.
He could only wait.
Wait for tomorrow, wait for news from the battlefield, wait for that uncertain ending.
........
Inside the main tent, the candles had already been changed once.
Qin Mu sat in the main seat, resting his chin on one hand, his posture languid.
The middle-aged man's face was expressionless, except for his deep eyes, which gleamed slightly in the candlelight.
Yunluan stood beside him, bent down, and lowered her voice so low that only the two of them could hear it.
"Your Majesty, shall I go and see if Xu Longxiang has returned?"
Her gaze fell on the tent flap. Although Han Zhong and Zhou Cheng's cooperation was quick and their eyes were discreet, she had been the commander of the imperial guards for so many years. What tricks hadn't she seen?
After a little thought, I understood.
Who else in this southwestern border region could make Han Zhong and Zhou Cheng so nervous, besides Xu Longxiang?
Qin Mu waved his hand. "No need. Xu Longxiang didn't return; only Fan Li did."
Zhao Qingxue sat beside him, with Frost Moon Sword leaning against the chair. Hearing this, she couldn't help but chuckle.
"It seems Xu Longxiang is truly bewitched by that Moon Goddess. He even sent his chief strategist back, while he himself remains in the arms of a beautiful woman. He doesn't seem worried at all."
Qin Mu smiled, the curve of his lips deepening.
"That way, the scene will be more interesting and exciting."
Upon hearing this, the three women all smiled slightly.
The atmosphere inside the tent relaxed a bit, like a breeze suddenly blowing into a stagnant pool, creating faint ripples.
The curtain was lifted.
Han Zhong walked in, bending down. His black iron armor was covered in dust, and there was a fine sheen of sweat on his forehead, showing that he had rushed back.
His face was covered with a smile, a smile that was just right, neither too deep nor too shallow.
"Mr. Liu, I apologize for keeping you waiting."
Qin Mu nodded, his voice calm. "It's alright."
Han Zhong walked to the map and pointed to the mountain range marked with dense symbols.
"Mr. Liu, let's each do our part. Tomorrow morning, I will lead the main force in a frontal attack, while you will infiltrate from the flank."
Qin Mu nodded, but did not get up immediately.
He sat in the main seat, his hands crossed on his knees, his gaze fixed on Han Zhong's face.
"General Han, I have another question to ask."
Han Zhong's heart clenched suddenly, as if someone had squeezed it from his chest.
His face showed no sign of anything amiss; he simply bowed slightly and spoke in a steady voice.
"Is there anything else Mr. Liu doesn't understand?"
Qin Mu's gaze was calm, like a stagnant pool, showing no ripples.
"The Moon Goddess Cult has long been established in this southwestern border region, with deep roots and a large following. Once our army advances, we will inevitably encounter resistance from these believers. General Han, have you considered how to deal with this? And have you considered how to reorganize the southwestern border region after our army's victory?"
Han Zhong was stunned.
His mouth opened slightly, then closed, then opened again, then closed again.
He lowered his head, looking at the densely packed mountains and rivers on the map, but his mind was blank.
He hadn't really thought about these things.
During this time, he was preoccupied with Xu Longxiang's matter, torn between personal feelings and imperial orders. He had no time to think about post-war reorganization.
His Adam's apple bobbed, and he raised his head, forcing a bitter smile onto his face.
"Mr. Liu, I truly haven't considered these things. After all, all I know is how to lead troops into battle. Once a victory is won, local officials will naturally take charge. As for how to win over those believers and how to bring them back under the rule of the imperial court, I really don't know the answer to those matters. I believe His Majesty has other plans, doesn't he?"
Qin Mu stared at him for a long time.
There was no emotion in those deep eyes; he simply nodded faintly.
"There probably will be. In that case, we'll head back now."
He stood up, and his moon-white robe slid off the chair.
Yunluan, Zhao Qingxue, and Jiang Zhaoyue also stood up.
Han Zhong quickly took out a copper whistle from his sleeve, put it to his lips and blew it.
The whistle's high-pitched sound echoed through the silent camp.
A moment later, a rustling sound came from the sky.
Two greyish-white peregrine falcons descended from the sky and landed on the wooden stakes in front of the tent, tilting their heads and looking into the tent with their beady black eyes.
Han Zhong stepped forward, took two thin bamboo tubes from the guard, and handed them to Qin Mu.
The bamboo tube was very small, only as thick as a thumb, and the mouth of the tube was sealed with wax and tied with a thin rope.
"Mr. Liu, we'll use these two peregrine falcons to relay messages. One will be released, and the other will follow the scent to find us. A journey of thousands of miles can be completed in a day."
Qin Mu took the two peregrine falcons, handed one to Yun Luan, and carried the other himself.
The peregrine falcon's talons were icy cold, gripping his fingers tightly, its wings slightly spread, ready to take off at any moment.
"General Han, you've gone to so much trouble." His voice remained indifferent, revealing no emotion.
Han Zhong clasped his hands and bowed. "Take care, sir."
Qin Mu nodded and turned to walk out of the tent.
Yunluan, Zhao Qingxue, and Jiang Zhaoyue followed behind him.
The sound of the four men's footsteps echoed softly through the camp, quickly disappearing into the morning light.
Han Zhong stood at the tent entrance, watching the four figures recede into the distance, and the moon-white figure gradually disappear into the crowd.
His fingers slowly clenched into his sleeves, his knuckles turning white.
He knew he was dancing on the edge of a knife.
Every step is like walking on a knife's edge; a single misstep could lead to an abyss.
The crime of deceiving the emperor is punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family.
He wanted to save Xu Longxiang and repay that favor, but he didn't want to betray the Qin Dynasty.
He was caught in the middle, with cliffs on both sides and only a thin steel wire beneath his feet.
He could only hope that his plan would succeed.
As long as you succeed, repay the favor, and keep your promise to the emperor, everything will be perfect.
A bitter smile appeared on his lips as he turned and walked back to the main tent.
The curtain fell behind him, blocking out the increasingly bright morning light.
Outside the camp, on the official road.
The four horses walked at a leisurely pace.
Qin Mu rode at the very front, his moon-white robe fluttering gently in the morning breeze.
His face still bore the look of a middle-aged man, but his eyes had regained that languid and profound light.
Zhao Qingxue rode alongside him, turning her head to look at him with a hint of curiosity in her eyes.
"Your Majesty, were you testing his abilities by asking him how Han Zhong would govern the southwest?"
Qin Mu shook his head, his gaze falling on the vast, desolate mountain ridge in the distance.
"Just chatting casually."
He paused, his tone becoming slightly more somber than before.
"However, the people in the southwestern border who believe in the Moon Goddess Cult are indeed the most troublesome thing for me recently."
Zhao Qingxue's brows twitched slightly, but she remained silent, waiting for him to continue.