I became the God Brother of the Regent King after Transmigration!-Chapter 301 - 224: Commander-in-Chief (Part 2)

Tang Zhan clenched his fist at the remark, his voice low, "Earlier this month, you lost to Su Yi on the training ground."

Li Yuanju snorted coldly, turned to Su Yi, and pointed a finger directly at him, raising his voice:

"This man colludes with the Fifth Young Master Rong. He used to be a member of the Xiao family. When the Prince wakes up, he will surely punish him severely. You must know, the border army of the Southern Border belongs to the Rong family, not the Xiao family. How does having strong martial arts make one qualified to be the commander of the Three Armies?

Also, Young Master Gu is the Captain of the Cavalry in the Dingyuan Army, not in our Southern Border army."

Tang Zhan’s expression became grim, his already dark face growing more somber.

The surrounding generals also looked at Su Yi with a hint of suspicion.

Originally, Su Yi, having guarded the border for many years, commanded high respect in the army. His martial arts and leadership abilities were not inferior to Li Yuanju’s, and his style of command even resembled the Prince’s, making him indeed suitable as the current commander of Yinzhou City.

However, he had returned alongside Rong Heng.

Su Yi’s exposure as a member of the Xiao family and his command over the 5,000 usually nonconformist Pingnan Army soldiers made things complicated. While Tang Zhan knew that if the Prince were awake, he would never punish Su Yi, he couldn’t quell the whispers among the people.

Su Yi, who had remained silent throughout, raised his head and said coolly, "My matters will await the Prince’s judgment upon his awakening. Regardless of the outcome, I will not object."

"You have no grounds to object in the first place!"

Su Yi’s gaze turned icy as he continued, "Moreover, I have no intention of claiming the commander’s position. I am willing to follow the Prince’s order, allowing Captain of the Cavalry Gu Lan to oversee all military affairs in Yinzhou City. As for you, Li Yuanju, you are not qualified."

Li Yuanju was furious, nearly roaring as he pointed at Gu Lan:

"I’m not qualified? This kid is just a wet-behind-the-ears, slippery scoundrel, a pretty boy, and part of the Dingyuan Army. What right does he have to meddle in Southern Border military affairs? What right does he have to be the commander?"

Tang Zhan stepped forward, his tone awkward yet resolutely firm:

"She single-handedly defended Yinzhou City the other day and led hundreds of soldiers to bring the Prince back to the city.

Though Young Master Gu is young, she is fearless in the face of danger and possesses the demeanor of a great general. Li Yuanju, you also joined the army as a teenager and stepped onto the battlefield in your teens. Do not underestimate the young."

Being young doesn’t mean anything. Back then, the Prince also joined the army as a young man, and the Princely Heir Xiao of Pingnan Marquis was trained in the military in his teens. These are living examples.

Tang Zhan looked deeply at Gu Lan, whose proud figure had stood before him that day, etched in his mind.

Silence fell upon the military tent as the soldiers and officers split into two factions.

One faction heeded Tang Zhan’s words and the Prince’s orders, having experienced the battle two days prior, and chose to trust Gu Lan.

The other faction was comprised of Li Yuanju’s followers who had returned from Cang Wind Port. Naturally, they supported Li Yuanju, with some also thinking Gu Lan was too young to be qualified as commander.

Gu Lan recalled the original story.

If she and Rong Heng hadn’t come to the Southern Border, Prince Rui would be dead by now, and Li Yuanju likely would have become the commander.

However, once Li Yuanju assumed command, he disregarded opposition and forced unarmed civilians to defend the city, causing mutiny in the army and chaos within the city, leading to internal upheaval.

Yinzhou ultimately fell.

Li Yuanju was defeated and killed before Gu Chengzhao and Rong Heng arrived, and the Southern Border, left leaderless, lost half to Wei Country due to his previous decisions to avoid battle.

These were the findings uncovered by Rong Heng and the others upon reaching the Southern Border.

Such a character, yet he still aspires to be the commander?

"General Li just said no one in the army could surpass your martial arts, and your promotion to Lieutenant General is due to outstanding military achievements?" Gu Lan glanced down, asking indifferently.

Li Yuanju’s expression was filled with pride:

"Of course. In terms of military achievements, following last year’s great victory in the Southern Border, I was the Prince’s vanguard, personally killing two great generals from Wei Country. In terms of martial arts, apart from the Prince and Su Yi, no one in the army can surpass me."

Gu Lan turned her head, pulled out a chair, and lazily seated herself.

Sitting in the middle of the military tent, she fished out a candied fruit from her pocket and tossed it into her mouth, asking:

"Oh, you played the vanguard once and killed two Wei Country generals? I thought you were formidable enough to have captured Bian.

I wonder, how many Wei troops did I kill yesterday on the city wall?"

Her expression was calm and relaxed, her eyes revealing a touch of authority, prompting Tang Zhan to instinctively reply:

"At least, at least fifty. Young Master, these military achievements of yours, I will make sure to document. Once the war ends, I shall report to Your Majesty and request merits on your behalf."

Upon hearing this, Shiqi proudly puffed out her chest, even happier than if she had earned the military merits herself.

Suppressing her inner excitement, she nodded at Gu Lan and spoke up:

"The Young Master injured five and killed sixty-two enemies on the city wall the other day, including one of the key deputy generals under Wei Junzhuo, Lu Jin, who led the city assault yesterday;

Before that, the Young Master led us from the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion to rescue Prince Rui outside the city, single-handedly claiming twenty-three Wei soldiers’ heads;

Also, when in the Capital City, the Young Master, as a youth, captured Qian Zhen and others colluding with the Qiangrong, foiling the Qiangrong conspiracy, potentially saving countless citizens of Dayan;

And, thanks to the Young Master’s strategy, Marquis Zhongcheng surrendered to Dayan..."

Shiqi was a spy for the Dark Hall, and the Dark Hall of the Marquis Mansion could be said to be among the best-informed in all of Dayan, and also...

particularly good at idolizing.

This girl, knew every event in her life better than Gu Lan did herself.

Gu Lan understood that Shiqi was idolizing her here.

"Enough!" Li Yuanju interrupted Shiqi, "I have fought for years, and yet you’re telling me I’m no match for a mere boy?"

"Also—" Rong Heng, having a headache from listening, irritably set down his teacup and picked up Shiqi’s words, one by one.

"Someone like you? My Lanlan could take on ten of you."