Tang Dynasty Bandits

Chapter 233 Farewell
In the Battle of Guilin, the government troops numbered less than 10,000, and blood flowed like rivers.

Zhu Wen achieved victory in one battle and returned as a renowned general.

Not only as a strategist, planning and maneuvering within the command tent, but also as a commander of an army, clad in armor and wielding weapons, facing the enemy on one side.

Instead, he commanded the three armies, directing over ten thousand elite troops with effortless ease. Sitting in the central command, he could annihilate powerful enemies with a mere flick of his wrist.

The four marshals, along with Huang Chao, Zhu Wen's teacher, all possessed considerable martial prowess.

They were always at the forefront, but they didn't often charge into battle.

As the commander-in-chief, directing the generals from the center is his most fundamental responsibility. As long as the commander-in-chief's banner stands tall, the soldiers will have confidence.

After the victory, Zhu Wen did not appear arrogant.

He left a detachment to occupy Guilin City and led the main army south.

They also took all the spoils of war, waiting for Huang Chao to come and reward the soldiers.

In this short period of time, Zhu Wen has become much calmer and more mature.

Huang Chao entrusted Zhu Wen with the full command of 15,000 of his most elite troops, demonstrating his considerable trust in him.

Zhu Wen used the command authority granted to him by Huang Chao, but Huang Chao still controlled the army's personnel, finances, rewards and punishments.

In this way, Huang Chao, as the supreme leader of the rebel army, could feel at ease.

These principles of interpersonal relationships are inescapable no matter where you go.

With Zhu Wen's intelligence, how could he not understand these things?

In the past, he had the help of his second brother, Zhu Cun, which allowed him to act according to his own whims on many occasions.

Huang Chao was overjoyed upon receiving the news of the victory and praised and encouraged Zhu Wen highly.

"With the victory at Liangyu, the traitor Gao Yan surrendered without resistance, and the army of Lingnan West Road collapsed. Li Tiao's Guangzhou is now just an isolated city."

"These days, I have been recruiting sailors and building and buying ships in Guangdong. Once the fleet is in place, we can attack Guangzhou by land and sea and take it with ease."

Although the rebel army marched south, Huang Chao's underground trade network north of the Five Ridges continued to operate well, and the sale of liquor and rose water brought in considerable profits.

Huang Chao's brothers did not join the army; instead, they remained in hiding among the people, managing commercial affairs.

The superior discipline of Huang Chao's army compared to that of ordinary rebel armies was largely due to the benefits provided by commerce.

These goods needed to be transported to Lingnan, requiring a large number of ships. The armed smuggling merchant ships of the bandit partners were also relatively easy to convert into warships.

Faced with Huang Chao's praise, Zhu Wen did not take credit. Instead, he publicly stated that it was all thanks to his master's effective training methods and brilliant strategies. He also thanked his master for giving him the opportunity to avenge his second brother.

"You little rascal, when did you start speaking as carefully as Pi Rixiu?" Huang Chao laughed and patted Zhu Wen on the shoulder. "I've prepared a grand banquet to reward you all and to celebrate your killing of Gao Yan and avenging your family. Tonight, we, master and disciples, will drink until we're drunk!"

His words were as bold and spirited as ever.

Zhu Wen, however, knew that he had done the right thing.

Senior Brother Meng Kai and Junior Sister Duan Hongyan could speak freely to their master because the number of troops they commanded was limited.

In contrast, Shang Rang, who commands the Zhenyi Alliance faction with over ten thousand soldiers, always thinks twice before speaking to Huang Chao.

Things are different now than they used to be.

……

The righteous army won a great victory in the Battle of Guilin, the reinforcements outside Guangzhou were destroyed, and the people in the city were shocked. In addition, as autumn deepened, the water level of the ponds and rivers around the city dropped, and the rebel army tightened the siege, like tightening the noose around the neck of a condemned prisoner.

However, given the upcoming war and the fact that the navy was not yet fully prepared, it was impossible to attack the city immediately.

In addition to supervising the training of his soldiers, Zhu Wen always had some free time.

This was the first time Tian Jun had suggested a date to him since their previous argument.

Although he had avenged his great enemy, Zhu Wen did not feel particularly enthusiastic about Tian Jun's invitation.

After Zhu Cun left, he also reflected that the army had been fighting hard for years, and perhaps he shouldn't have spent too much time on personal relationships.

As the saying goes, the land of gentle pleasures is the graveyard of heroes.

Zhu Wen did not have the habit of blaming others like Gao Yan. He did not feel that Tian Jun was too clingy and was delaying him, but rather that he was young and inevitably prone to being attracted to love.

Although the two restrained their passion, they did not cross the final line.

However, compared to directly addressing physiological needs, emotional communication and intimacy are actually the most mentally taxing.

Such introspection inevitably affected the intensity of their relationship. With his brother's revenge avenged, Zhu Wen had no reason to refuse and could only gladly accept the invitation.

With a beaming smile, Tian Jun warmly embraced Zhu Wen, nestling her soft body in his arms.

Zhu Wen had to admit that although this guy was a fool, his fit and taut body had an irresistible attraction.

If it weren't for his concerns, Zhu Wen would definitely not have been able to resist such temptation.

Tian Jun nestled in Zhu Wen's arms, her eyes softening as she raised her hand to cup Zhu Wen's cheeks.

"How about we break up?"

What she said surprised Zhu Wen.

He never imagined that Tian Jun would be the one to initiate the breakup.

Zhu Wen initially thought that Tian Jun was throwing a tantrum because of Duan Hongyan.

But from Tian Jun's serious gaze, he realized that she was serious.

Tian Jun looked up and said, "Don't misunderstand, it's not that I don't like you anymore. I still like you very much."

Tian Jun said these things without any shame.

"I just feel that being together all the time isn't as fun as it used to be. When you're tired and weary, you should separate. There's no need to drag things out. It's better to forget each other than to cling to each other in hardship."

As she said these words, Tian Jun turned her body and touched her with her fiery red lips.

Zhu Wen remembered the promise Tian Jun had made to him.

"When we're both tired, let's part ways gracefully."

Xingxiang held too much weight in Zhu Wen's heart; it was impossible for him to be so passionately devoted to Tian Jun in their relationship.

Tian Jun understood this from the beginning.

She kept her word, just as she suddenly confessed her feelings to Zhu Wen, ending the relationship decisively and without any hesitation.

Zhu Wen responded enthusiastically.

"I've been very happy to be with you these past few days. Thank you," Tian Jun said with a gentle smile.

Her lips brushed against Zhu Wen's ear, her words carrying an unprecedented tenderness.

May you one day meet the important person again.

These words filled Zhu Wen with mixed feelings.

After saying that, Tian Jun gave Zhu Wen another big hug with all her might.

Then he strode away and turned to leave.

Zhu Wen then noticed that Tian Jun's warhorse was tethered in the bushes, and her personal belongings had been packed into two chests and hung on the horse.

Some of these were books that Lan Suting gave to Tian Jun.

She finally decided to read some books.

Tian Jun spurred her horse and galloped away, her dashing figure gradually disappearing into the horizon.

Throughout the entire process, she didn't say a single bad word about Duan Hongyan.

There were no sentimental statements like, "You have a white moonlight in your heart, and I can't accept impure feelings."

This carefree and unrestrained attitude is exactly what this silly beauty should be like.

With her back to Zhu Wen's gaze, Tian Jun rode her horse a long way away. Only when the strong wind blew across her face did she realize that something wet was flowing from her eyes.

The future is long and uncertain, and we don't know when we'll have the chance to meet again.

Tian Jun is a descendant of Tian Chengsi, the "cunning fox of Weibo." If she really wanted to be clever, it wouldn't be difficult for her.

However, she inherently disliked engaging in the petty power struggles and backstabbing between women with Duan Hongyan.

Tian Jun knew that although she couldn't beat Xingxiang, she had completely defeated Duan Hongyan the moment she left.

As the confession said, if I can't be the white moonlight of my childhood sweetheart, at least I can be the cinnabar mole in my heart.

As for Duan Hongyan, this two-faced woman, she probably has no chance of winning over Zhu Wen.

(End of this chapter)