Tang Dynasty Bandits

Chapter 43 Military Advisor
Lan Suting had no mount, so Zhu Wen pulled Lan Suting to his horse, picked her up and mounted her, then flipped over. The two of them squeezed in the narrow saddle, as if Zhu Wen was holding each other in his arms.

A hint of uneasiness appeared in Lan Suting's eyes.

"My luggage is still in the caravan." Lan Suting said to Zhu Wen.

"Is there anything important?" Zhu Wen asked while riding his horse at full speed.

"No." Lan Suting shook his head: "The important things are all in the bag I carry with me."

"That's all right. I'll buy you some miscellaneous stuff when we get to the barracks."

Zhu Wen changed the subject: "Little brother, you are actually a girl, right?"

Lan Suting's body trembled like a mimosa.

"No... not..."

She wanted to lie, but Zhu Wen grabbed her hair scarf and turned her face around so that she could look into his eyes.

Such a close distance and the man's gaze that seemed to penetrate deep into her heart made her speechless.

For such a serious girl, lying is not an easy thing.

She could only let out a helpless sigh as a sign of agreement.

Zhu Wen smiled and let go.

Lan Suting's makeup was not bad. The boy, who was only sixteen or seventeen years old, did look and sound very much like a woman.

Therefore, even an old hand like Yan Jingming could not realize that Lan Suting was a real beauty.

He just intuitively felt that the other party should be a young lady, so he tried to test her, and it turned out to be as he expected.

"In fact, the caravan leader also noticed it." Lan Suting sighed, "But he didn't tell anyone else. Women are not allowed to do the job of checking accounts."

"I've beaten women quite a bit, because my second brother told me there's no need to be polite to women," Zhu Wen said frankly, reminiscing about the feeling of beating up Chen Liqing not long ago. "But beating up a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl was definitely a bit much."

Lan Suting didn't answer, but just gently rubbed the bruises on her face with her hands.

Her slender body pressed against Zhu Wen's chest, and she exuded a faint girlish fragrance.

It is not as strong as the fragrance of Junior Sister Duan Hongyan, but it has a kind of peace of mind.

"Is 'Su Ting' your real name? Not the 'Ting' in 'Ping Ting'?" Zhu Wen asked.

"Yes." Lan Suting nodded. "My father was very fond of the calligraphy of the calligrapher Wang Xizhi, but I prefer to learn from Madam Wei's hairpin flower small regular script."

Wang Xizhi was the most famous figure of the Wang clan of Langya during the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Wang Xianzhi, the leader of the Wang clan, whose family had completely lost its Confucian tradition, was also said to be a direct descendant of Wang Xizhi.

"So it's an allusion to the 'Preface to the Lanting Collection'." Zhu Wen nodded. "It's a good name, suitable for both men and women."

Lan Suting hummed, then continued, "You said you wanted me to be your Wei Zheng. Do you mean I should give you advice? Your current status doesn't seem to require such a position."

Although Zhu Wen is now the strategist of Huang Chao's army, he is only a battalion commander with 500 soldiers, and there is really no need to appoint a special censor.

"Then be my military advisor and help me with strategies and things like that."

"Su Ting has read the Spring and Autumn Annals, and it contains many military strategies, but I'm afraid they are not suitable for today." Lan Su Ting said softly: "Besides, I'm not very smart..."

The Spring and Autumn Annals is one of the Five Classics. Zhu Wen's father, Zhu Cheng, was known as "Zhu Wujing" (Zhu Wujing), who was well-versed in all five. However, Zhu Cheng passed away when Zhu Wen was five, and Zhu Wen only memorized the Book of Songs before continuing his study. "I think you're very reliable," Zhu Wen said, pulling out a gold ingot and placing it in Lan Suting's hand. "This ingot is worth ten strings of copper coins. It's an advance on your salary this month. If you don't work, don't blame me for beating you again."

The gold ingots came from the spoils of Huang Chao's army when they killed Xue Chong, the governor of Tianping. They were recast by melting the horseshoe gold that Xue Chong had obtained from tomb robbing.

Lan Suting was stunned: "So much? No way, I'm an accountant and only make two hundred yuan a month..."

Zhu Wen couldn't help but think that this girl was a little cute because of her naiveté. But then he realized that she was just a child. "How can a military advisor's salary compare to that of an accountant?"

"But Su Ting is not yet a good military advisor." Lan Su Ting sighed softly and took the gold. "Do you have any accounts in your army for me to manage?"

Zhu Wen scratched his head and said, "It seems that my second brother has always been in charge of this matter."

Zhu Cun looks like a big fool, but he is actually a very meticulous person who is not afraid of trouble.

"Then I'll just use the title of military advisor and find out what else I can do." Lan Suting said seriously.

She was obviously worried that she wasn't getting paid enough.

"So, will you hire me for life?"

The girl slowly turned her head and cast a gentle gaze on Zhu Wen's face.

She had a delicate, pretty face, but not the most beautiful. Straight eyebrows, delicate features, a small mouth—Zhu Wen instantly imagined her wiping away the bruises and donning women's clothing—the quintessential little girl.

But her calm gaze is purer and clearer than the water of the Li River in Guilin, making people want to protect her and unable to bear to deceive such a serious and simple girl.

Lan Suting's question made Zhu Wen stunned for a moment.

His hands were so loose on the reins that the galloping horse lost control and seemed on the verge of running headfirst into the river.

This was actually impossible, as horses are living creatures with eyes. Before charging down, the bay horse turned around and continued galloping along the road back to the military camp.

"I didn't work for long before," Lan Suting said softly. "Many people don't trust a girl to manage accounts. When enough people find out I'm a girl, I'll have to find another place to make a living."

When Zhu Wen heard this, Ti Lao Gao's worry suddenly came to his mind.

What a silly girl who can't speak.

Zhu Wen also felt that being a scholar and a woman was not an easy task.

If they were warriors, things would be much easier. Whether they were fighting in battle, acting as a porter or escorting convoys, or hunting wild animals, as long as they could prove their skills were no less than a man's, their group would be grateful to have an extra fighter.

But for girls, many men think that being illiterate and being honest and dutiful is the greatest virtue.

At the same time, these men would go to brothels to seek pleasure from prostitutes who were talented but not virtuous.

"Don't worry, as long as I'm alive, you can work for me for a long time." Zhu Wen smiled and said, "I think that before I turn thirty, I can get a position at the level of Jiedushi. By then, you will be worthy of the title of military advisor."

For a young man who dares to compare himself to Li Shimin, it is not surprising that he wants to be a governor.

As for who would become the emperor after overthrowing the Tang Dynasty? Would it be Wang Xianzhi, the leader of the alliance, or Huang Chao, his teacher? Zhu Wen did not want to dwell on this question.

But no matter what, climbing above the clouds would make him feel more refreshed.

(End of this chapter)