"Ling’er, I promised you a peaceful and happy life, so if you are unwilling, then I will not raise troops." Ye Shikai said firmly.

"Husband, if I did not exist, would you still raise troops?" He Linghan asked again.

"This..." Ye Shikai did not answer for a long time. If he had never met He Linghan, then naturally he would have no scruples now; eight or nine times out of ten, he would raise troops.

"Husband, if there were no me, you would definitely raise troops, right." He Linghan said lightly. Her voice was very soft, but every word fell on Ye Shikai’s heart like a heavy hammer. How well she knew him. The two had been married for half a year; many heartfelt thoughts, even if left unspoken, only needed a glance to be understood. In Ye Shikai’s hesitation, He Linghan had already grasped his intent.

"Ling’er, this matter is of great importance. I don’t want to make a hasty decision. The fate of tens of thousands of brothers is in my hands, but what I care about most is you."

"Husband, since I have married you, no matter what decision you make, I will have no complaints. Since your resolve is set, for the greater good of the people, to raise troops in resistance, then go and do it. Don’t worry about my safety."

"No, Ling’er, I won’t raise troops anymore. We’ll just live out our lives like this." Ye Shikai suddenly grabbed both her hands in agitation, his eyes reddening as he spoke loudly. He Linghan gently pushed his hands away, their gazes locking.

"Husband, since you have already decided to raise troops, then don’t say any more. Ling’er supports you. You are raising troops for the sake of tens of thousands of commoners. You are not a rebel; you are a great hero under heaven. To be able to marry a great hero, I am already very content." He Linghan showed a faint smile and leaned into Ye Shikai’s embrace.

"Husband, just give it your all."

"Ling’er, I have wronged you." Ye Shikai held her tightly in his arms. To tell the truth, he really did not want to take risks, much less take He Linghan into danger with him.

"Husband, you have never wronged me. If you were to abandon righteousness for the sake of preserving your own interests, only then would Ling’er look down on you." He Linghan said calmly. "Husband, hurry and go."

The next day.

The military camp.

"General Chen Ping, for what matter have you come to the camp?" Shangguan Jian sat in the center, looking at the general before him, his expression grave. The General Chen Ping standing before him was a general of the Commander Mansion. Shangguan Jian knew him; he and Ma Yao were from the same hometown, so he was also one of Ma Yao’s trusted aides. Before dawn, Chen Ping had brought a squad of guards to the camp.

"Military Marquis Shangguan, why do I not see General Ye?" Chen Ping’s tone was rather arrogant. From the start he was not polite, going straight to the point.

"General Ye has urgent business and is currently not in the camp. He left me to hold the Commander’s Seal in his stead and command the whole army."

"I see. No matter." Chen Ping waved his hand, and had the guards present a bamboo slip.

"Commander Ma’s military order is here." Chen Ping opened the bamboo slip and began to read aloud: "General Ye has exterminated the bandit army and has toiled tirelessly for the peace of East County. The Commander, mindful of his hard work and great merit, specially grants General Ye a one-month leave, and additionally rewards him with one thousand taels of silver, that work and rest may be balanced and his body preserved. During General Ye’s leave, General Chen Ping will act in his stead as commander of the troops." After reading, Chen Ping handed the bamboo slip to Shangguan Jian.

"Military Marquis Shangguan, the Commander’s military order is here. Since General Ye is not in camp, I must ask you to hand the Commander’s Seal over to me."

Shangguan Jian clenched his fists tightly. Ma Yao was hardly thinking for Ye Shikai’s sake; this was clearly a move to strip him of his military authority. However, Ma Yao was, after all, the Commander of East County, leading the county’s troops. If Shangguan Jian openly defied the order, he would certainly give people cause for gossip, and the one to suffer would be himself. Better instead to turn the situation on its head.

"Haha, so that’s how it is. Since it is the Commander’s military order, I will naturally comply. Only... General Ye has yet to return. If I hand the Commander’s Seal over to you now, then the army will have two commanders. Will the soldiers listen to your orders, General Chen, or to General Ye’s? In this way, management will inevitably fall into disorder. It is a critical moment now; General Chen Ping, you surely do not wish to see chaos in the ranks, do you?" Shangguan Jian said with a smile, putting on a straightforward air.

"What Military Marquis Shangguan says... does have some sense."

"How about this, General Chen Ping, I have a plan that satisfies both sides. When General Ye left camp, he told me that he would be back within two days. Why not stay in the camp for one day first. When General Ye returns, then you can proclaim the Commander’s military order. At that time General Ye can personally hand the Commander’s Seal into your hands. That way your position will be proper in name and in fact, and the soldiers will obey you."

"This... Very well, we’ll do as Military Marquis Shangguan says." In the end, Chen Ping chose to compromise. Ye Shikai was a renowned general in the county, with extremely high prestige in the army; the soldiers all looked to him as their leader. If Chen Ping were to take over command while Ye Shikai was absent, it would inevitably arouse the soldiers’ dissatisfaction.

"Good. Men, bring wine. I must give General Chen a welcome feast to wash away the dust of travel."

"Yes."

..................

"General Chen, this is fine wine I brought back from Ji County. Please." At the banquet, Shangguan Jian ceded the principal seat to Chen Ping, while he himself sat on the side and even personally poured Chen Ping’s wine. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"Military Marquis Shangguan, you are too courteous." Chen Ping nodded in acknowledgment. The central main seat was only for the commander to sit in. Shangguan Jian giving up that place put Chen Ping much at ease.

"General Ye has been campaigning outside all year; he truly has had a hard time. To be frank with General Chen, I too have thought of resigning and going home, to enjoy life properly. Would that not be delightful?" Shangguan Jian said with a smile.

"Haha, what you say, my good brother, why would I not wish the same? Now the bandit armies are rising everywhere and there is fighting all around. Though it is a good chance to make military achievements and build a career, if one is even a little careless, one may lose one’s life." Chen Ping drank the strong liquor; as the wine took effect, his tongue loosened, and he actually began discussing his "life ideals" with Shangguan Jian.

"General Chen, my stomach is suddenly feeling a bit unwell. I’ll go to the latrine. Please, enjoy food and drink."

"Is that so? Then, my brother, go quickly and come quickly."

Shangguan Jian found an excuse to leave the tent. Xue San and Man Cang were waiting outside.

"Shangguan, what’s going on?" Man Cang immediately asked.

"Commander Ma has issued a military order, telling Old Ye to hand his military authority over to Chen Ping. He’s probably afraid Old Ye will interfere with their actions." Shangguan Jian speculated. After the falling star, the Emperor had secretly ordered the nearby commoners slaughtered. Ma Yao had most likely concluded that Ye Shikai would not carry out the secret order, and so had sent Chen Ping to seize his command.

"What, trying to seize his command? I’ll cut him down." On hearing this, Man Cang grew agitated, drew his sword, and was about to charge into the tent, but Shangguan Jian hurriedly stopped him.

"Military Marquis, what do you plan to do next?" Xue San, being the rational one, asked.

"Xue San, leave camp at once, find Old Ye, and tell him what has happened, so he can be prepared."