The Slender Waist-Chapter 60 - 47 Atmospheric General

Northern Yong Army’s Jieqiu Mountain Camp.

The sweltering heat made sweat pour down everyone’s back. It was noon, and without drills, the camp was quiet, but the shrill cries of cicadas on the distant hills could be heard.

Inside Deputy Commander Helian Qian’s tent, generals of the Red Armor, Orange Crane, Azure Dragon, and Purple Lightning Armies sat on rush mats, a folded map on the table in the center, and two jars of wine on the floor, engaged in an enthusiastic discussion.

The Northern Yong Army was divided into seven branches: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Purple. Nearly all were gathered here, likely discussing major plans...

But listening in, it didn’t seem quite right. The expressions of the five generals were also rather frivolous.

When the Great General brought a drenched girl back to camp, it was even more shocking than the Qi Army’s siege; not only were the soldiers curious, even the officers wanted to know what really happened.

As the five men were speaking fervently, suddenly, a guard shouted from outside the tent:

"Great General!"

The gathered men’s complexions changed.

They exchanged glances and quickly hid the wine.

Helian Qian pretended to point at the map.

"...Our Northern Yong Army excels in siege battles. We’ve taken five cities from Nanqi as easily as slicing melons. In my view, Xinzhou is just a block of soft tofu. Their so-called army of 500,000 is nothing but a joke..."

The generals nodded in agreement.

"Deputy Commander Helian speaks the utmost truth."

"I wonder when the Great General intends to cross the river and assault Xinzhou..."

Pei Jue entered the tent, glanced at them, and then scanned the map on the table, but said nothing. Helian Qian hurriedly stood up, cleared his throat, and said loudly with a cupped fist:

"Great General, we were just discussing battle opportunities."

Pei Jue said, "Clean off your beard."

Helian Qian smiled awkwardly and wiped off the liquor from his beard, chuckling, "Those jars of old wine that Feng Twelve sent last time seemed so lonely sitting there; it would be a pity not to drink them."

Pei Jue’s expression was indifferent: "Where is the person?"

Observing Pei Jue’s brow and eyes and seeing no intent to pursue the matter further, Helian Qian finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Reporting to the General, she’s detained in a secret chamber."

Pei Jue asked, "Has she been fed?"

Scratching his head, Helian Qian said, "That Wen fellow still needs to eat??" 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

It seemed he hadn’t expected the Great General to show concern for the enemy commander’s meals. After thinking for a moment, he added:

"Great General, that Wen scoundrel doesn’t deserve kindness. If we were in his hands, we would have no way out. In my humble opinion, we should thoroughly humiliate him and then parade him to Xinzhou City to be executed as a warning, boosting our army’s morale."

Pei Jue commanded, "Bring him food."

Helian Qian gave an "oh" and joked, "Great General, treating him so kindly, are you thinking of persuading him to surrender? You might as well send him a delicate beauty to accompany him."

This fellow had a voice like a bell, rough and robust.

His words drew laughter from everyone.

Pei Jue remained expressionless, "Good idea, you arrange it."

"..."

Helian Qian didn’t dare say much more.

Although they all addressed each other as "General," in Dajin the officials were classified into nine ranks, divided into upper, middle, and lower tiers. The Great General was at the very top of the first rank, his position lofty and his authority immense, the pinnacle of martial officers.

Pei Jue was particularly decisive, allowing no dissent. Although everyone eagerly wanted to chop Wen Xingsu into pieces, seeing the look on his face, they could only laugh it off.

Zhu Cheng of the Red Armor Army asked, "Great General, have you taken a liking to that Wen character?"

Pei Jue replied, "He’s a talented commander."

Everyone believed this statement.

But there were many talented commanders in the world. The Commander of Wanning had committed suicide after defeat, and the General had also recognized his talent. But didn’t they still hang his body on the city walls for all to see?

Why give such preferential treatment to Wen?

No beating or scolding, two meals a day – that wasn’t how you treat a captive enemy commander. It was as if they were venerating an ancestor...

Taking advantage of his slight inebriation for courage, Helian Qian cupped his hands towards Pei Jue.

"I have something to say."

Pei Jue sat down, composed, "Speak."

Helian Qian said, "The General values talent, but Wen should still be taught a lesson. Otherwise, the Qi Army might think the Northern Yong Army has gone soft. The soldiers below also need reassurance; not everyone is content..."

The other leading generals also looked over.

They didn’t say it aloud, but their thoughts were probably similar to Helian Qian’s.

Pei Jue poured himself a cup of cool tea.

"The war can’t go on forever."

Having fought side by side for years, the leading generals, all brought up by Pei Jue himself, could understand his few words’ implications.

He intended to persuade Wen Xingsu to surrender, not just because he was a rare talent, but also to send a signal to the Qi Army – yielding would bring them a bright future. At the same time, it was to pressure Xinzhou on the south bank, hoping to subdue the enemy without a fight.

In a century, the empires had changed emperors more than a dozen times, war had ravaged the land year after year, bringing famine, disasters, and scattering refugees. Even a full meal was hard for the common people to come by.

If the two nations were to cease hostilities, it could give the common folk a chance to breathe.

After hearing this, Helian Qian no longer felt resentful.

Several people giggled and nodded in agreement.

"The General has such a broad mind, truly magnanimous!"

"Magnanimous about what?" Puyang Jiu, who always had a sharp tongue, was very displeased at being summoned on such a hot day to tend to an enemy general’s wounds.

He said sarcastically, "I think the General is big-bodied but brainless, bewitched by beauty, and has lost all sense of propriety."

Pei Jue was in the middle of sipping tea and choked, coughing violently.

And Helian Qian, seated at the table, along with the others, wanted to laugh but didn’t dare, struggling to maintain composure as they contorted their faces, finding it quite a challenge.

All the generals deeply admired Medical Officer Puyang.

In the entire Beiyong Army, who else but Medical Officer Puyang would dare to jest about the Great General like this?

The camp was filled with a strange atmosphere.

After a long while, Pei Jue stood up, acting as if he hadn’t heard the earlier comment, and coldly glanced at Puyang Jiu.

"To the dark room."

Puyang Jiu bowed and acknowledged the order, then lifting his head, he gave Pei Jue a sly smile.

Pei Jue walked ahead, paying him no attention, but from then on, he gained the fine reputation of "Pei Daqi," all thanks to Puyang Jiu.

—

Leaving that matter aside, let’s talk about the dark room.

This place was actually used by the Beiyong Army to punish soldiers who broke military regulations, with no windows on all four sides and dim lighting. However, the room had straw mats and was still relatively clean; ordinary captives didn’t receive such favorable treatment.

Wen Xingsu had injuries, but he sat upright at the table, wearing a white robe stained with blood. His complexion was pale, yet he still looked refined, learned, and extremely noble.

Pei Jue glanced at the untouched food on the wooden table and walked over without a word, lighting the oil lamp by hand.

There were no stools in the room, so, like Wen Xingsu, he sat down on the floor.

"Do the people of Qi dislike wheat-based meals?"

Wen Xingsu looked at Pei Jue, "I’m deeply grateful for the Great General’s hospitality, but there’s no need for the General to waste his words. My family has been cultivating the land on the banks of the river since our ancestors’ time, and we are deeply indebted to the Emperor’s grace; I will not surrender."

Pei Jue didn’t speak, simply raising his hand to pour wine from the pot into two cups.

He then pushed one cup in front of Wen Xingsu.

Wen Xingsu glanced at it, "I don’t drink."

Pei Jue’s face still showed little expression, as he himself picked up a cup and took a small sip.

"Ayun of the Feng Family is within my grasp."

Wen Xingsu’s expression changed, "What do you plan to do with her?"

When Feng Yun had let him go on her own initiative, Wen Xingsu had refused.

Since he was already targeted by the Beiyong Army, he no longer harbored any hopes of clinging to life, so how could he involve Feng Yun because of himself?

"Does the Great General intend to use Ayun’s safety to threaten me?"

Pei Jue gave him a look, "Ayun is worried about General Wen."

He spoke indifferently, making it difficult for Wen Xingsu to discern Feng Yun’s current situation, sending his heart into turmoil.

He said, "Ayun and I are siblings, and her efforts to save me are out of natural sibling affection and pure kindness. The Great General should not blame her."

Pei Jue looked composed, "I understand."

Still an ambiguous response.

Wen Xingsu was anxious, unable to fathom Pei Jue’s actions and didn’t dare to question rashly.

Pei Jue coldly watched him, "How is the army under General Wen’s command?"

Wen Xingsu replied, "Sufficient to defend Xinzhou."

Pei Jue said, "Then General Wen’s action this time was rash."

With a major battle imminent, to cross the river alone as a defending general and to fall into enemy hands was indeed more than just rash.

Wen Xingsu was well aware that his actions weren’t wise, but he felt no need to explain to Pei Jue his decision to take the risk out of concern for Yao Yao.

Thus, he lowered his eyelids and remained silent.

"Do you regret it?" Pei Jue asked.

Wen Xingsu answered, "I don’t."

Pei Jue’s eyelids twitched slightly, "Then General Wen should rest well tonight; as soon as day breaks tomorrow, I will take the General to observe the Beiyong Army’s exercises."

This statement surprised Wen Xingsu greatly.

Every army has its secrets, and ever since its inception, the Beiyong Army had been adept in combat, serving as the elite force of Northern Jin, with unique and ingenious methods of deploying troops.

It could be said that not just Wen Xingsu, but other commanding generals too, were eager to observe the Beiyong Army’s formations.

Was Pei Jue really so magnanimous?

Wen Xingsu couldn’t figure out what Pei Jue was plotting. There’d been no persuasion, no humiliation—only a display of grace and open-mindedness, a far cry from the King of Hell of rumors.

He raised his hand and downed the cup of wine in one go.

Pei Jue didn’t linger any longer, signaling Puyang Jiu, who was waiting, to come in and check Wen Xingsu’s wounds. He then took his leave and departed.

Watching his retreating figure, Wen Xingsu thought of Yao Yao in his hands and tightened his fists...