Chapter 145 Probing

"Sir, this Li Yi refuses to take the bait," a squad leader whispered to He Renlong.

"Damn it all! If that's how it's going to be, we'll just have to play it rough."

With that, He Renlong spurred his cavalry and roared toward the Suijin Army.

As the earth thundered beneath the hooves of the fierce and menacing cavalry, the new recruits in the Suijin Army turned pale with terror, stumbling backward as their formation instantly fell into chaos.

"Hold your ground, you bastards! Whoever takes another step back, I'll cut him down!" Gao Jie bellowed, violently drawing his waist saber.

Dozens of frontier cavalrymen, skilled in horsemanship, shouted and waved their weapons while galloping their mounts in a blur right past the formation.

The recruits scattered in all directions, crowding and stumbling in utter disarray.

"Li Yi, these captives of yours are truly useless," He Renlong laughed heartily.

Li Yi stared at him coldly and raised a hand.

Dozens of veteran soldiers of the Suijin Army surged forward, planting their long spears and hoisting their shields high.

He Renlong was about to speak again when the shields suddenly parted, revealing dozens of matchlock firearms aimed squarely at them.

Gazing into the dark, ominous barrels, He Renlong swallowed his words on the spot and offered an awkward, sheepish laugh.

"Just playing around, no need to take it this way, right?"

With a completely expressionless face, Li Yi replied, "According to military law, charging into a military formation—even by friendly forces—is punishable by immediate execution."

He Renlong narrowed his eyes into slits and sneered, "Are you trying to scare me? I'm standing right here, I dare you—"

Before he could finish, Li Yi snatched a matchlock directly from the hands of a gunman and pulled the trigger.

*Bang...*

With a sharp crack and a shroud of drifting smoke, He Renlong's steed let out a shrill whinny and collapsed heavily to the ground.

Caught completely off guard, He Renlong was violently pitched to the earth, nearly crushed beneath the struggling, thrashing horse.

Several personal guards hurriedly leaped from their saddles to pull him up.

The frontier cavalrymen frantically drew their weapons, reined in their horses, and leveled them at the Suijin Army.

Li Yi raised his hand, and the Suijin Army soldiers closed in from both sides. With matchlocks aimed and archers drawing their bows, their murderous aura sent a collective shudder through the frontier troops.

He Renlong’s trusted squad leader wanted to salvage some pride, but upon catching Li Yi’s icy gaze—fraught with the intent to strike down anyone in the very next second—he instinctively shrank back.

"Li Yi, I don't believe you'd dare to kill me. If you've got the guts, do it!"

Supported by his guards, He Renlong glared at Li Yi through bloodshot eyes, gritting his teeth as if ready to fight to the death.

Clutching the matchlock, Li Yi said coldly, "You are welcome to try."

In unison, the officers and men of the Suijin Army leveled their long spears, the razor-sharp tips pointing straight at the chests of the frontier cavalry.

Horses neighed anxiously as the cavalrymen looked toward He Renlong, awaiting orders.

The chilling look in Li Yi's eyes sent a tremor through He Renlong's heart; he dared not gamble on whether Li Yi would actually pull the trigger.

At that exact moment, Commander Yang of the Standard Battalion rode up and shouted loudly, "An order from the Administration Commissioner: Lord He is requested to the central camp for a military council."

This timely lifeline allowed He Renlong to exhale a hidden sigh of relief, though outwardly he put on a resentful front. "Li Yi, I'll settle this score with you later."

With that, he and his men slinked away in disgrace.

Watching the direction of the departing frontier cavalry, Li Yi turned his gaze back to the clay urns within the army ranks, lost in thought.

Witnessing the arrogant frontier troops suffer a humiliating defeat, a mighty cheer erupted from the Suijin Army. Looking at Li Yi standing at the very front, the new recruits felt an unprecedented sense of security settle over them.

Upon arriving at the central camp, He Renlong immediately dismounted and walked beside Hong Chengchou's carriage.

"This subordinate pays respects to the Administration Commissioner."

The curtain lifted, and Hong Chengchou glanced at him. "Have you found out where Li Yi has hidden the silver?"

He Renlong shook his head. "This subordinate observed for quite some time, but found no place capable of concealing such silver. I intended to provoke a conflict to send men in for a search, but Li Yi blocked me at every turn."

Hong Chengchou pondered silently, his expression darkening with displeasure.

He Renlong quickly added, "Rest assured, Commissioner, this subordinate will continue to investigate and will undoubtedly find proof of where Li Yi is hiding the silver."

"There is no need."

Hong Chengchou said indifferently, "You've startled the fish by beating the grass; now that Li Yi is on his guard, he won't give you another chance. Dismissed."

Without waiting for He Renlong, who still wanted to speak, Hong Chengchou waved a hand dismissively.

The carriage rolled forward, its wheels creaking. After trailing behind for a stretch drenched in sweat, He Renlong glared bitterly at the receding carriage and turned away in fury.

After He Renlong left, Hong Chengchou looked in the direction of Li Yi's position.

He Renlong possessed loyalty and decent capability, but compared to Li Yi, he fell far short.

If he still could not bring Li Yi to heel, then such a talent must never be left for Yang He to claim.

Hong Chengchou's expression flickered before he finally let out a soft sigh and dropped the carriage curtain.

After several days of continuous marching, having just crossed from Suide territory into Mizhi County, they spotted a crowd waiting far in the distance.

Banners fluttered high in the distance, and officials clad in various robes stood in the front row. Most striking among them was a high-ranking official in scarlet robes stationed dead center.

The army halted, and Hong Chengchou stepped out of his carriage, going forward to greet them accompanied by his entourage of military and civil officials.

"Governor, what virtue or ability does this humble official possess that warrants you coming such a long way to welcome us?" Hong Chengchou said, cupping his fists.

Yang He, the Viceroy of the Three Borders, stroked his beard and smiled. "Commissioner Hong, you quelled the rebel Wang Zuogua and rendered a great service. It is only fitting that I come out to meet you."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two boarded the same carriage and headed toward Mizhi County.

The various officials of differing ranks boarded their own sedan chairs and followed behind.

Upon arriving in Mizhi County, the civil officials naturally gathered for tea and conversation to discuss administrative affairs, while the military officers set about arranging the troops.

Having requested instructions from Hong Chengchou, Li Yi led the Suijin Army back to Suijin Township.

Just as they headed north from Mizhi County, they saw numerous commoners waiting along the roadside.

Officials greet one another to maintain harmony and share the spoils, carrying each other's palanquins in mutual accommodation.

These commoners, however, were waiting for the husbands, sons, and fathers who had gone off to war.

Standing by the roadside, the townspeople caught sight of their loved ones and immediately let out joyful, tearful cries.

The Suijin Army maintained strict discipline, forbidding unauthorized departures from the ranks. The soldiers could only flash broad smiles at their families and march onward.

Meanwhile, those who could not find their loved ones wore expressions of sheer panic, muttering incessantly as their reddened eyes frantically searched the passing faces.

"Gouzi! Gouzi! Where is our Shitou?"

An older woman asked a young recruit from her village, her voice trembling.

The Suijin Army soldier called Gouzi wore a look of deep sorrow and gently shook his head.

That simple gesture caused the woman's world to collapse, and she slumped powerlessly to the ground.

Surrounding villagers hurried forward to support her, but she remained limp and vacant like a walking corpse, letting them handle her as soundless tears streamed from her hollow eyes.

Hearing the heartbreaking weeping echoing from behind, Li Yi ultimately did not dare to look back.

Upon returning to Suijin Township, Yunniang and Li Guo hurried out to welcome them.

"Brother Yi, are you well? Were you injured?" Yunniang asked with concern, noticing his grim expression.

Li Yi forced a smile. "I'm fine."

Entering the main hall, Li Yi instructed Gao Jie and Gao Laoshi, who stood behind him, "According to the roster of the fallen, send people to notify their families so they can come and collect their ashes and the compensation."

The two acknowledged the order and withdrew.

Turning to Li Guo, Li Yi said, "Take the Youth Squad to settle the new recruits and their families, and distribute some grain to them."

"Don't worry, Master, I'll take care of it right away." Li Guo nodded and went off to execute the orders.

With the army settled, the lingering unease in Li Yi's heart did not dissipate; instead, he felt a rare, heavy headache.

Yunniang walked in carrying a bowl of broth and said gently, "Brother Yi, what is the matter?"

Rubbing his temples, Li Yi replied, "I'm just a bit tired."

Yunniang gently set the broth aside, walked to Li Yi's side, and began to massage his temples with her slender fingers.

Breathe in the faint fragrance and feel the soothing pressure of Yunniang's fingertips, Li Yi's restless mind quickly grew calm.