OFTLHFRO C123

Chapter 123: Han City

The Huo Army’s camp was on the eastern side.

Only after settling the refugees they had brought back did Huo Yan lead his men over.

Of the provisions brought from the capital, one-fifth had already been consumed before they even reached Han City. Another two-fifths had been distributed among Han City’s citizens.

Xue Kang looked at the remaining supplies with deep regret, yet he dared not speak.

Whatever Huo Yan decided, he never consulted them.

Luo Mingchen followed at his side with the three children, drawing many gazes along the way.

The five from Ziyuan trailed behind.

Huo Xiang kept his head low, clinging tightly to Huo Yuhui’s sleeve. His heart thudded nervously as they walked past rows of soldiers lined up with military precision. Not until they reached a grand residence did he finally let out a shaky breath of relief.

A man in black armor strode forward. “General Huo.”

Two others followed behind him, carrying the sharp aura of men long steeped in battle. They were clearly deputy generals once under Huo Yuntao’s command.

“You are Ruan Feng?”

Huo Yan naturally had some understanding of the Huo Army’s state of affairs.

After Huo Yuntao was injured, the Second Battalion and Xue Kang had been taken away. In Han City, the First, Third, and Fourth Battalions of the Huo Army were temporarily under Ruan Feng’s command.

“That’s right.”

Ruan Feng did not salute.

A man parachuted in by decree, who had never commanded troops—though he was emperor-appointed and the son of the Grand General—was not someone real soldiers would easily acknowledge.

Not unless he could prove genuine ability.

And Huo Yan could clearly see his thoughts.

“The Second Battalion returns to camp. One hour from now, all units assemble at the training grounds.”

Of the four deputy generals present, only Xue Kang responded, “Yes!”

At this, Ruan Feng’s eyes flashed with a trace of surprise.

The grand residence before them was the general’s quarters. The four deputy generals each had their own houses, and behind were rows upon rows of low barracks where the common soldiers lived.

Here, the cold began in September and lasted until March, even into April. Snow typically started in October. If they had to stay in tents, many would freeze to death.

Xiao Lin and Hua Niang followed them in.

After they left, Ruan Feng turned to Xue Kang. “Is this General Huo really that capable?”

Xue Kang thought for a moment. “Even if the three of you join forces, you may not defeat him.”

“Oh?”

That surprised the three.

The burly man hefting a massive iron hammer grinned with excitement. “How about we spar with him later?”

The one with a neatly trimmed beard, more scholarly in appearance, said, “To challenge him as soon as he arrives might not be proper.”

“Bah! What’s improper about it? The emperor sent some pampered weakling who’s never fought a day in his life—that’s just insulting! If you ask me, it would’ve been better to promote Brother Ruan as general.”

At those words, Ruan Feng cast a glance at Liu Changlian. “Since Brother Xue says he’s formidable, it does no harm to test him. We soldiers stake our heads on our belts—we cannot risk our lives for an incompetent general.”

If not, then after Huo Yan lost, they could strip him of real power entirely.

Seeing the three eager to test their new commander, Xue Kang knew no words would convince them otherwise. He could only say, “I’ll take the Second Battalion back to camp first.”

Inside the residence, the rooms had been cleaned thoroughly. The house itself was vast, though bare—no flowers or plants, nothing but empty space.

The layout was simple: a smaller front courtyard, and a massive rear courtyard nearly the size of a drill ground, able to hold over a thousand men.

A steward led them on a brief tour. Once they had chosen rooms, bedding was quickly brought in and replaced.

Luo Mingchen settled the three children, urging them to rest, then went to the study to find Huo Yan.

This study had once been Huo Yuntao’s. Inside were countless military texts and strategies, all manner of diagrams, and a massive sand table. A map rolled across a wooden board was covered with red markings.

Looking at it, Luo Mingchen finally understood how a man of such poor character as Huo Yuntao had risen to be Grand General.

Ability and morality were two separate matters.

He might have betrayed his wife, squandered her dowry to fill his debts, and left her to waste away sick without a doctor—but his military skill was undeniable.

As Huo Yan had once said: Huo Yuntao was no good father, no good husband, but he was a fine general.

“There’s still quite a bit left here.”

Luo Mingchen clasped Huo Yan’s hand, asking, “Hungry?”

Setting down the book, Huo Yan turned, smiled faintly. “I’ll tend the fire.”

“No need. You stay here and read. Just tell me what you’d like to eat?”

“These books I’ve read, and studied before. The diagrams left behind aren’t defense maps, only incomplete weapon schematics—useless scraps at best. The real documents are with Ruan Feng. After the meal, I’ll ask him.”

Hearing that, Luo Mingchen realized it made sense. Huo Yuntao had been gone too long—why would he leave anything vital here?

This place had hardly any guards, only two soldiers at the main gate. If anyone infiltrated, they could easily make off with whatever they wished.

The steward, a man surnamed Cheng, lived with his wife and son in the smallest courtyard. Usually, they cleaned the rooms and, when Huo Yuntao had been present, cooked the meals as well.

When Luo Mingchen went to the kitchen, Aunt Wu immediately blocked his way. “Master, this is a servant’s duty.”

“It’s fine. Just stay out of the way.”

Seeing how firm he was, Aunt Wu could only look helplessly to her husband.

Uncle Cheng gave her a look, signaling her to back down.

As servants, their only role was obedience.

After so much time together, Ziyuan’s five had already realized Luo Mingchen and Huo Yan were hiding secrets from them. But they didn’t pry.

Food provided, money given, orders clear—that was enough.

So when Aunt Wu tried to fetch firewood, Ziyuan and Zhuqing intercepted her.

They stationed themselves at the kitchen door, keeping others from intruding—especially wary of those deputy generals barging in. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have left two on guard.

The other three: two watched over the children, while Xiao Chen thoroughly inspected the residence for hidden dangers before returning.

While the couple worked in the kitchen, Xiao Lin and Hua Niang never disturbed them. They only went over when called to eat.

Once, Hua Niang might have offered to lend a hand. Now she didn’t even ask.

When Luo Mingchen called out that the meal was ready, Ziyuan and Zhuqing carried the dishes in.

Soon, all sat around the table.

Uncle Cheng, watching from the side, was utterly stunned.

If he wasn’t mistaken, weren’t those five supposed to be slaves? Yet here they were, sitting down to eat with their masters?

Catching him staring, Luo Mingchen asked, “Uncle Cheng, have you eaten? Why not join us?”

“Master, I’ve eaten already.”

At this hour, it was near enough to supper that his words were clearly false.

Once the meal was done, time was nearly up. Luo Mingchen, seeing the three children were tired, told them to explore the residence a bit and rest.

“Let’s go.”

But just as he rose, Huo Yan caught his hand. Luo Mingchen blinked in confusion. “What is it?”

“Wait a bit longer.”

“Hm?”

After thinking for a while, Luo Mingchen asked, “You think they’ll be late?”

Huo Yan’s lips curved slightly. “Who can say?”

Though he spoke thus, he still waited another half hour with Luo Mingchen in the study before going out.

When they arrived at the training grounds, the troops had only just finished lining up.

Luo Mingchen shot Huo Yan a look.

Did they really have to make their disdain so obvious?

Wasn’t this outright insubordination?