Chapter 7

Inside the main tent of the Northern City's central army.

After Li Jue announced Li Li's promotion to the position of Commander of the Longxiang Camp, he had his nephew distribute several bolts of Shu brocade to the officers in the tent.

For a moment, all the officers in the tent were overjoyed, treating Li Li with even greater warmth and smiling broadly.

Although a few bolts of Shu brocade were not much, they were a gift from Li Jue's own nephew, which carried significant meaning, light in substance but heavy in sentiment.

Moreover, Li Li now held the position of Commander, a rank almost equal to the other officers present, and even held more actual power.

The Longxiang Camp was not just any ordinary unit; it consisted of a full three thousand cavalry and was renowned for its bravery and prowess.

By taking over the actual command of the Longxiang Camp from his uncle Li Jue, Li Li would truly be in charge of the Longxiang Camp, not just a nominal position.

From this moment on, Li Li would be on equal footing with the other officers in the tent, holding a similar status.

He could now participate in military deliberations with a legitimate position, unlike before when he had to rely on his status as Li Jue's nephew to stay in the main tent and participate in military affairs.

After settling Li Li's affairs, Li Jue's expression turned solemn as he sat in the main seat, exuding authority without anger.

"Everyone, let's get to the point. Guo Si, listen to your orders. I command you to lead your three thousand cavalry as the vanguard of our army. Clear the way through mountains and build bridges over rivers, and engage the rebel forces of Zhu Jun!"

"Understood, I will follow your orders!"

Guo Si stood up in the center of the tent and bowed to receive his orders.

Li Jue nodded slightly and continued, "Li Meng, Wang Fang, listen to your orders. I command you two to lead fifteen thousand infantry as the main force, following closely behind Guo Si. Prepare all the siege equipment and attack Zhu Jun's stronghold!"

"Understood, we will follow your orders!"

The two burly men sitting in the front on the left side stepped forward to receive their orders.

"Li Zheng, Fan Yong, listen to your orders. I command you to lead your two thousand cavalry and three thousand infantry as the rear guard, escorting the supplies for half a month with the army!"

"Understood!" The towering man standing below Guo Si bowed to receive his orders.

"Li Li, Guo Meng, Li Fu, listen to your orders. I command you three to lead two thousand infantry and one thousand city guards to remain at the county office, ensuring a steady supply of provisions at all times!"

"Understood! We will follow your orders!"

Li Li, Li Fu, and Guo Meng, Guo Si's cousin, stepped forward and bowed to receive their orders.

With this, all the officers in the tent had received their orders. They only needed to prepare their troops and wait for the early morning to set out.

Li Li took this opportunity to reassess the officers in the tent.

To be precise, none of the officers in the tent were outsiders; they were all related by blood or marriage.

Guo Si was Li Jue's sworn brother. Although Li Jue nominally commanded the entire army, in reality, the two of them shared the command.

Li Meng was an outstanding representative of the Li family's collateral line and was currently the Left Army Commander.

He was about 1.80 meters tall, with a square face, thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a half-foot-long black beard. He had a broad back and a bear-like waist, and his hands were extremely large, making his fists noticeably bigger than those of ordinary people when he clasped them together. He was a typical burly man from the northwest.

Wang Fang was currently the Deputy Army Commander and was a sworn brother to Li Meng, sharing the command of the army, similar to the relationship between Li Jue and Guo Si.

He was 1.78 meters tall, with a rugged appearance, a square face, thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a full beard. He had a broad chest and a thick waist, giving him a fierce and powerful look, a true warrior.

Li Zheng was the eldest son of the Li family's steward, Li Fu, and was also the Deputy Army Commander, commanding three thousand infantry in Li Jue's main force. He was the most outstanding family retainer in the Li family's three generations.

He was extremely robust, weighing over 200 pounds and standing over 1.90 meters tall. His appearance was unique and rugged, somewhat resembling Li Li's younger brother, Li Xian. In terms of physique, he was a paragon of a fierce warrior.

Fan Yong was currently the Infantry Commander, commanding five thousand elite infantry and five hundred cavalry. He was the nephew of the Chief Military Commander, Fan Chou, and was a sworn brother to Li Li, sharing a deep bond. Instead of staying with Fan Chou, he chose to serve under Li Jue.

All the infantry and cavalry under his command were dispatched by his uncle, Fan Chou, who currently served under the Middle General, Xu Rong.

Li Li was not unfamiliar with this man. The original "Li Li" and Fan Yong were sworn brothers, with a deep and life-long bond.

However, from Li Li's current perspective, Fan Yong was a rough man, about 1.85 meters tall, with a casual and rugged face, very ugly, dark skin, and looked like a big black bear.

Such an appearance was enough to scare noble ladies and timid people.

Despite his ugly appearance, Li Li knew that Fan Yong was a man of honor, honest and sincere, and his word was as good as gold. Additionally, his strength was like that of a bear, and he was incredibly fierce and brave.

Guo Meng was Guo Si's cousin and a fierce warrior, regarded by Guo Si as the pride of the Guo family and heavily relied upon. He was currently the Infantry Commander.

As for the steward, Li Fu, he was a versatile talent, the Right Deputy Commander of the Longxiang Camp, originally assigned to assist Li Li. He could serve as a general in battle and as a servant at home, with high martial skills and a meticulous mind.

He was both a scholar and a warrior, a rare and excellent family retainer.

Perhaps only a father as accomplished in both literature and martial arts as Li Fu could raise a son as outstanding as Li Zheng. Currently, this father-son duo was the most capable support in Li Jue's camp.

...

After the meeting, Li Li remained in the main tent without leaving.

"Li'er, did you stay behind because you want to join the expedition?"

After the other officers left, Li Jue got up from his main seat and sat beside Li Li, smiling and asked.

"Yes, and no."

Li Li nodded and then shook his head in denial.

"Oh? Why is that?" Li Jue asked curiously.

Li Li looked straight at Li Jue and said solemnly, "Uncle, this time you did not let me participate in the battle because you want me to avoid any complications during my recovery, to prevent any accidents. I have no objections to this and can readily accept your concern.

To be honest, I do not want to fight, and I dislike killing. If I could stay away from war and battles, I would leave the army without hesitation. However, this is clearly impossible.

Now, Chancellor Dong dominates the court and the country, using the emperor to command the feudal lords, staying in the palace and looking down on the world. Meanwhile, the Han Empire is in turmoil, with various warlords constantly warring. Every feudal lord hates Chancellor Dong to the bone and dreams of killing him, hoping that the one who holds the emperor is themselves.

Therefore, our Liang army, standing alone against all the warlords, is surrounded by enemies and faces the constant threat of destruction.

Zhu Jun, a renowned general, now stands against us, forming a righteous army and vowing to fight us to the end. In such a perilous situation, how can I remain aloof and stay in the rear?

As the saying goes, 'Brothers fight tigers together, and fathers and sons fight on the battlefield!' Therefore, I humbly request that you not worry about my injuries and allow me to join the expedition. If possible, I hope to capture Zhu Jun alive, and publicly claim that he escaped or was killed, while secretly imprisoning him for future needs!"

"Uh?"

This was the first time Li Jue had heard his nephew's true thoughts and the first time Li Li had discussed the overall situation in such depth.

For a moment, he was shocked and his expression changed dramatically.

The advertisement starts on the previous page.

The advertisement ends on the previous page.