First Battlefield Commander! - Chapter 246
Chapter 246: Extra 15: General Lian Has No Weak Soldiers
Extra Fifteen: General Lian Has No Weak Soldiers
General Ji had now calmed down somewhat and stepped forward, saying, "Speak. What do you want?"
Lian Sheng clasped her fists humbly and smiled. "This humble official wouldn't dare."
Before General Ji could rebuke her, Lian Sheng paused briefly and then smoothly continued before he could speak: "But since the General has asked, I'll keep it brief."
"This humble official was dispatched by His Majesty to Changjun precisely because several months ago, court officials jointly submitted a memorial impeaching this region, claiming that officers of our Great Liang were colluding with the Northern Barbarians, acting as accomplices in oppressing the people, leaving the border region of Changjun in dire straits. Upon hearing this, His Majesty was greatly enraged, concerned for the people, and spent several sleepless nights before finally deciding to send me to investigate."
General Ji's face paled—he clearly hadn't anticipated this.
News traveled slowly in Changjun, and rumors often became distorted as they spread. Moreover, Lian Sheng's group had arrived in haste, leaving him no time to properly investigate. So the impeachment had already reached the Emperor's ears—he just didn't know what had been written about him or what evidence they had. Most importantly, he didn't know the Emperor's current stance. He needed to find someone to inquire and make arrangements.
General Ji lowered his head, growing increasingly alarmed the more he thought about it. When he raised his eyes to look at Lian Sheng again, her sincere expression made him feel something was off.
He had known about Lian Sheng's assignment to Changjun—how could he not have heard about the impeachment?
General Ji blew out a breath through his mustache and angrily said, "You're spouting nonsense, forging imperial edicts! You're trying to trick me!"
"This humble official hasn't finished speaking yet. Why is the General so angry? Besides, I have no reason to deceive you." Lian Sheng raised a hand and said, "This matter is absolutely true, but His Majesty, considering the General's years of service and contributions in guarding the border for over a decade without allowing barbarians to invade Great Liang, found it absurd to condemn the General based solely on one-sided accusations. His Majesty actually trusts the General, but to avoid damaging harmony and falling prey to petty schemes, he kept it quiet and simply dispatched me to investigate while also serving our homeland."
General Ji snorted sullenly. That did make sense.
Lian Sheng continued, "His Majesty warned me—if the accusations prove false, I am to promptly send a letter back to report the truth so he can reward the General and reassure him. But if..."
But whether it was true or not... that was entirely up to Lian Sheng's word.
The implications were clear. Though she had arrived as a deputy general, she carried the Emperor's mandate. Whether she remained a deputy general was no longer certain—when and how her status might change depended entirely on her mood. From her words, it was evident that the Emperor trusted this short woman far more than he trusted General Ji.
General Ji said unhappily, "You've just arrived. Do you intend to meddle in military affairs already?"
Lian Sheng replied, "This humble official is indeed unfamiliar with military affairs. Young and impulsive, with no experience, I merely wish to seek guidance from senior officers to avoid making mistakes. Rest assured, General—my only virtue is my humility and eagerness to learn."
As she spoke, she bowed politely to the group. The expressions of those behind General Ji remained grim.
General Ji wanted to say he saw no trace of humility in her.
Lian Sheng turned to look at the rows of soldiers hiding behind them.
"However, this humble official is also a straightforward person. I believe governance doesn't require too many rules—just cleanliness. Those willing to fight will be rewarded for their merits without fail. Those unwilling will have their past misdeeds accounted for—they must pay a price to atone before turning a new page. In doing so, I'm bound to offend some people. If we end up short-handed, I'll have no choice but to request reinforcements from neighboring counties. I've never been one for moderation, and before coming here, I confessed this to His Majesty. Fortunately, he approved and said, 'Proceed.'"
Lian Sheng's eyes gleamed as she scanned the soldiers, narrowing slightly with an indescribable air of danger.
The soldiers were stunned, exchanging glances in silent communication. With General Ji and the other officers present, they restrained their movements and made no sound.
It was clear—this was a power struggle between the old and new, tension thick in the air.
Until the outcome was decided, no one would be foolish enough to openly support either side.
Power struggles among superiors had little to do with them, but if they got caught in the crossfire, they'd be in trouble.
The soldiers' eyes darted between the two sides, and most leaned toward Lian Sheng. It wasn't hard to tell—following the Emperor's will was the smart choice.
General Ji sensed the shift in atmosphere and sneered. "So, whether I live or die depends entirely on your word?"
Lian Sheng said, "General, you mustn't say that. I've come here not to employ underhanded tactics but to compete with you fairly."
General Ji nearly ground his teeth to dust.
Compete? What was this place? This was a military camp! Orders were absolute—who would compete with her?
General Ji's voice seemed to grind out from between his molars. He made no effort to hide his disdain for Lian Sheng, saying sarcastically, "How do you propose we compete?"
Lian Sheng took a step back, putting distance between them, then beckoned him. "Since we're in a military camp, of course, we'll compete with our fists. Earlier, I angered the barbarians, and due to my lack of skill, a few escaped. Given their arrogant nature, they won't swallow this humiliation. I'm certain they'll soon return with troops to save face. We'll have to fight back—Great Liang cannot afford to lose face. So, General, let's compete for command of this battle against the barbarians."
One soldier blurted out, "So it really was you who killed them?"
The others turned to look at him, and he quickly shut his mouth.
Lian Sheng smiled faintly, unbothered. "General, what do you say?"
General Ji: "Why not? Since you've asked, I'll oblige."
In terms of combat, Lian Sheng's slight frame probably couldn't withstand a single finger from him. General Ji didn't know why she'd chosen this method, but the outcome would surely disappoint her.
The soldiers perked up, forming a circle to watch the spectacle. The shocking news from the morning was forgotten as they focused entirely on the impending duel.
Without bothering to change locations, Old Meng and another man used their weapons to draw a circle on the ground as the makeshift arena—no frills.
Each drew half the circle, and when they connected the ends, Old Meng looked back, pleased. His half was much deeper than the other's—the difference in skill was obvious.
The people around the Ji fellow weren't particularly impressive—far inferior to his own group.
But he maintained a solemn expression and stepped back slightly to make room for Lian Sheng.
Lian Sheng entered the arena lightly equipped.
She carried no weapons and wore no armor. General Ji likewise removed his gear and stepped forward.
As the two faced off, the fortune-teller appeared silently at the front of the crowd, leaning on his banner.
No one knew when he'd arrived or how he'd gotten to the front, but he stood there calmly, waiting.
Old Meng spotted him and tugged at his banner. "Fortune-teller, why don't you divine the outcome?"
The fortune-teller said flatly, "Is there any need?" The result was already certain.
Old Meng thought about it and agreed. He just hoped this Ji fellow would put up a decent fight—it'd be a shame to disappoint their expectations.
But reality proved somewhat disappointing.
General Ji, despite his burly appearance, was all bark and no bite. It was unclear how skilled he'd been in his prime, but after over a decade stationed in the border region with no one to spar with, his skills had dulled.
More importantly, age had caught up with him, leaving him with the air of someone whose spirit was willing but flesh was weak. The leisurely life of a high-ranking officer had sapped his vitality—he just refused to admit it.
General Ji approached with pride, but Lian Sheng gave him no quarter. She attacked immediately, using her agility and speed to target his vital points.
General Ji raised his arms to block, but her foot suddenly changed direction, aiming straight for his face.
The kick landed squarely, sending General Ji flying.
He flew quite far—his bulk slid right out of the circle.
"Whoa—"
General Ji was utterly dazed, his stunned expression almost pitiable.
It clearly wasn't an act. Every soldier was equally shocked.
How could such a slight figure possess such strength? That kick had been devastating—the mark of a true master. They lacked the vocabulary to describe this duel, but perhaps future generations would have a term for it.
—Instant kill.
Whether it could be instant was one thing, but whether one dared to make it instant was another. The latter was what truly shocked them.
The problem was, Lian Sheng didn't stop after landing the blow. As General Ji lay on the ground—unwilling to concede—she pummeled his face relentlessly, horrifying the onlookers.
By the time Lian Sheng was pulled away, General Ji's face was a colorful mess of bruises—quite the sight.
The soldiers gasped habitually, mouths agape in utter disbelief.
General Ji was even worse off, his lips trembling as he pointed at Lian Sheng, unable to speak—a far cry from his earlier haughtiness.
Lian Sheng eyed him coldly, flexed her arm, and said, "Come, escort the General to rest. We wouldn't want him injured from the fall."
Two soldiers stepped forward, supporting him by the shoulders as they hurried him away to fetch a physician.
Lian Sheng clapped her hands together and turned her gaze back to her soldiers.
The soldiers had never witnessed such a one-sided, brutal beating—especially not when the victim was General Ji, the former commander of Changjun.
It took them a long time to process what they'd seen.
This was huge! The conflict between old and new was irreconcilable and utterly undisguised—laid bare for all to see.
Was this infighting? If so, and with the barbarians bound to return as Lian Sheng had said, wouldn't their discord spell disaster?
The soldiers looked at Lian Sheng with complex expressions, unsure what to say. Lian Sheng stared back, making them stand at attention and reflect.
Finally, one soldier couldn't take it anymore and broke the silence: "Deputy General, what should we do now?"
"Now?" Lian Sheng said. "Now, pick up your hoes and farm!"
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