Chapter Twenty-Two: The Grand Camp

Having overheard the conversation between Feng Mu and Lin Feng, she could no longer restrain herself. She slipped out of the county magistrate's office and made her way to Heroic Spirit Village. She herself did not know why she felt such an urgent need to see Lin Shize at this moment. Ever since her family had met with such a tragic end, she had harbored a deep-seated hatred for the Mengla people, and she had felt immense satisfaction upon hearing the news that Lin Shize had slaughtered them. Yet, the moment she saw him, she felt a sudden, nervous tension.

"You... are you alright?" she asked in a soft, tentative greeting.

Having never held a woman's hand in either of his two lives, Lin Shize knew nothing of a woman's heart. He replied in a carefree, blunt manner, "I'm fine. Just got nicked by a Mengla blade on the arm; it's nothing."

"Where are you hurt?" Wanqing, unlike Lin Shize, was deeply worried. She grabbed his arm, and seeing the blood-soaked wound, she felt a pang of heartache. She hurriedly produced the medicinal powder she kept with her and carefully sprinkled it onto the wound.

"Does it hurt?" Wanqing pursed her cherry-red lips and blew gently on the wound, causing a ticklish sensation. She then took out a handkerchief and slowly bound it around his arm.

"It's alright, just a small scratch." Hearing his words, Wanqing suddenly realized how close they were; their breathing was clearly audible to one another. She could now hear the frantic thumping of her own heart.

Lin Shize looked at her flushed earlobes in confusion. He touched her forehead and asked, "What's wrong? Why is your face so red? Do you have a fever? You don't look very well."

His intimate gesture only made her face burn brighter. Her poor complexion was due to the sleepless nights she had spent worrying about his safety since they last met. Now, seeing that he was unharmed, the heavy weight on her heart finally lifted. A smile, one she herself did not notice, graced her soft, rosy cheeks. She took a deep breath and reached out to smooth the loose hair at his temple.

"I have to go back now. Take good care of yourself; don't make me worry."

Lin Shize patted his chest, guaranteeing, "Don't worry! I'm as fit as a fiddle and have a great appetite."

*Pfft.* His comical remark made Wanqing giggle, her frame trembling like a flowering branch.

"Silly." Before leaving the military tent, she cast a lingering, reluctant glance at him.

Lin Shize waved his hand. "Goodbye! You're welcome to visit anytime."

Wanqing mimicked his quirky gesture and said, "Goodbye!"

"Old Liu, arrange for a few men to escort Miss Wanqing," Lin Shize called out.

Liu Wu popped up from somewhere and waved his hand, saying, "Got it!" He dodged a flying teapot and ran off, laughing heartily.

Just as Liu Wu left, Gou Dan walked in and said, "Chief, Commander Sun is here."

Lin Shize stood up quickly. "Invite him in at once."

Sun Zheng walked in, laughing, "Brother Lin, it’s been a while. Are you doing well?"

Hearing Sun Zheng address him as 'brother,' Lin Shize was momentarily stunned, then replied smoothly, "I'm doing great. Eating well, sleeping well, and killing Mengla as I go. To what do I owe the pleasure, Brother Sun?"

Sun Zheng smiled. "I had to come; I'm here bearing orders from the Assistant General."

Lin Shize was not surprised; he figured his military report had reached the Assistant General. Sun Zheng handed him a silver medallion and said, "The Assistant General has promoted you to the rank of Commander, and he wants you to return to the main camp with me to receive your formal orders."

"Commander!" Gou Dan gasped. A commander was a formal military officer in the frontier, leading five hundred men—a true milestone in a military career. Once one became a commander, they could join the main army on campaigns, no longer tethered to the defense of a single beacon tower, and the opportunities for promotion would be far greater.

Lin Shize took the medallion and said to Sun Zheng, "Brother Sun, you really are my lucky star. This is the third time you've brought me news of a promotion. We must have a drink together when we have the chance."

Sun Zheng laughed, "Hahaha, it should be me treating you, Brother Lin. It’s all thanks to your success in wiping out that Mengla unit at Bao Village. Last night, the Mengla actually sent a thousand men toward the village, but I intercepted them midway and cut down over seven hundred. I've been promoted to a Thousand-Man Commander because of it."

Hearing this, Lin Shize was startled. It seemed the Mengla were truly desperate to have mobilized so many. Thankfully, they had been intercepted, or he might have been in grave danger.

"Right, Brother Lin, prepare yourself. Let's head to the main camp," Sun Zheng said, standing up and brushing the dust off his uniform.

Lin Shize, accompanied by Liu Wu and a ten-man squad, rode their warhorses along the main road toward the base. Four hours later, he saw rows of camps rising slowly from the horizon. The watchtowers at the gates were filled with figures, squads of soldiers patrolled back and forth, and two Great Qi military banners stood tall in the wind, snapping loudly.

"My goodness, this place is much bigger than our camp!" Liu Wu, seeing the main camp for the first time, was stunned by its sheer scale.

Sun Zheng said proudly, "This is the premier military base of the Longdong region. Impressive, isn't it?"

The guards at the gate had already spotted them. One saluted and asked, "Thousand-Man Commander Sun, returning from duty?"

Sun Zheng handed over his medallion. "Yes, bringing the new Commander Lin to see the Assistant General."

*Commander?* The soldier glanced at Lin Shize. He had never seen such a young commander in all his years.

The group passed through the gate and entered the base. It was indeed the finest camp in Longdong; the main thoroughfare was paved with bluestone, designed to facilitate the rapid movement of troops. Soldiers on the watchtowers looked sharp, and after passing several defensive barricades, they saw the barracks. Even here, they were mere thatched huts.

Soldiers who had finished their drills were resting inside. While the scene appeared orderly, Lin Shize found the details lacking. In his previous life, soldiers would scrub even the cracks between their bunks until they were spotless. Here, the corners of the barracks were cluttered with debris. If this were his past life, the platoon leader would have had their heads for such poor housekeeping. Furthermore, the soldiers' drills were singular and outdated, lacking any real method. If this was the best base in Longdong, he dared not imagine what the ordinary ones looked like.

After walking and stopping, they finally reached the central command tent. Only after the guards announced them were they allowed to enter.

Lin Shize strode into the tent and saw a man sitting in the center, looking at him with a smirk. Lin Shize immediately saluted, "Assistant General, Lin Shize has come to report."

Wu Tian, standing to the side, said with a sarcastic tone, "Commander Lin, what an ego you have. It's already afternoon, and you arrive so late. Where does that leave the General?"

Lin Shize frowned. "And who might you be?"

Wu Tian coughed into his fist and said, "My name is Wu Tian. I hold the same rank as you—also a Commander."

"However, I earned my position through three years of service under the Assistant General, having fought in dozens of bloody battles. Unlike some who, by sheer luck and a few kills, find themselves promoted to Commander. One wonders if they can actually lead men; after all, an incompetent general can exhaust an entire army."