Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Hearing this, the three glanced at each other. Lei Sitong sighed and said, “So you already guessed it!”
Yan Liqiang smirked, “The person at the capital tries so hard to send an army to intervene in the Gulang Plains, bleeding the blood of our Han men to obtain peace for the Shatu people. I’m the thorn in his side. That guy wants to use this opportunity to cause trouble for me. I wonder what news the Provincial Governor and Prefectural Governor have for me?”
“Yan Liqiang, you have the title of the Qiyun Protectorate. Theoretically, the Gulang Plains is the area you manage. This time the imperial court is sending an army to the Gulang Plains and this is greatly related to you!” Lei Sitong said. “We’ve received news that the newly-appointed Anxi General Wei Wuji hasn’t arrived yet, but he wants you to be responsible for the army provisions!”
According to the military and political system of the Great Han Empire, Yan Liqiang’s title of Qiyun Protectorate General was usually free and ordinary governors couldn’t manage him. However, in times of war the imperial court would appoint a general to manage the warfare, then this Protectorate General would be under the command of the general.
“Who is this Wei Wuji?” Yan Liqiang frowned and thought. He didn’t know this person at all.
“Wei Wuji was originally the Yun Province Military Governor, but was then approved by Lin Qintian and rose steadily until he became the military vice minister. This time he was appointed as Anxi General due to the invasion of the Black Ram Tribe!”
“So he’s a loyal henchman of Lin Qingtian’s… This guy doesn’t harbor goodwill!” Yan Liqiang realized and shook his head, “Provincial Governor, you know that this title of Qiyun Protectorate General is an empty position. All the imperial court gave me was a weaponsmiths quarter and there’s only a squad of soldiers. That’s not even as many as our Yan Clan servants. I pretty much have no soldiers and the imperial court is giving me such a huge task. This is probably not suitable!”
Lei Sitong groaned, “That’s right, but many things in this world are unreasonable. Otherwise, what’s the point of your fists? You accept the position of Qiyun Protectorate General and now Wu Wuji is the Anxi General. If you reject Wuji’s orders, then he could punish you according to military law…”
“How many people did Wei Wuji bring this time? The imperial court wouldn’t let him come alone!”
Wang Jianbei shook his head, “Of course he wouldn’t come here alone. He brought 200,000 soldiers this time. At the same time, all the northwestern provinces each have to give him 20,000 soldiers. So by the time he arrives, he would have more than 300,000 soldiers under his command!”
“So that means if I don’t listen, then Wei Wuji can cut my head off and accuse me of being a coward in the wake of the Black Ram invasion and refusing military orders, thus ruining my reputation?”
“That’s about right!” Wang Jianbei nodded.
“Okay, then where’s the money?!” Yan Liqiang reached out his hand, “Since the imperial court wants me to be responsible for the military provisions, then at least give me money. The food for this many people isn’t a small number. How much money did the imperial court give me?”
“The imperial court didn’t give you one silver. It would be the Northwestern Transportation Office who will give it to you. Wei Wuji told you to think of a way!” Lei Sitong said and took out something from his sleeve, “Liqiang, have a look at this…”
It was an official document but not an ordinary one. Yan Liqiang took it and looked; it was a list of all the provisions, weapons, armor, anchor, food, horse, arrows, cloth, and machinery. The number behind each category was shockingly huge. It was impossible to gather all the things on there without a few million silver. Even with that much money, it wasn’t easy to gather it all.
“What is this?”
“These are the things Wei Wuji wants you to gather. It was just sent to the Northwestern Transportation Office three days ago. I have some connections there so I got a copy!”
Yan Liqiang was laughing in anger, “So this means that the Wei guy thinks he got me. Even though I earned some money these two years, it wouldn’t be enough to supply these 300,000 soldiers. If I don’t accept this, he can find an excuse to kill me. If I accept it, then even if I use up all my money, I can’t satisfy the needs of the military and he can find a random excuse to kill me!”
“That’s it!”
This was the real lethal situation. For someone like Lin Qingtian, he could easily manipulate huge power and position himself on moral high grounds. If he gets the opportunity to attack, then you wouldn’t even be able to resist. It was all too easy for a big general to toy with a logistics officer.
Yan Liqiang frowned and thought before looking at Lei Sitong, “Then what does Provincial Governor have to teach me?”
“It would be at least the fourth lunar month of next year when Wei Wuji comes. If you want to avoid this disaster, then it’s best that Wei Wuji doesn’t have the opportunity to encounter you and give you orders!”
“You’re saying…”
Lei Sitong laughed like an old fox, “I think the military order Wei Wuji has for you is on the way but you still haven’t received his order yet so you’re free. Sometimes, if you know you are no match, retreat is no shameful thing. So it’s best you find an excuse to dodge and make Wei Wuji unable to see you. That way, he can’t send the order to you and you can still protect your business. This is the same as how the uninformed have no sin. Otherwise, it would be all too late if the order arrives to you!”
“Thank you for telling me lord!” Yan Liqiang saluted with his fists.
“This is for your benefit and mine. With our relationship, if Wei Wuji really wanted to harm you, it would be the hardest for me to be caught in the middle! But this time, it’s unavoidable for you to lose some fortune. At least put on a good show to shut people’s mouths…”
“I know what to do!” Bright light flashed in Yan Liqiang’s eyes as he nodded…