Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 117 The dead are not entitled to eat meat

The next day, noon.

On the training ground of the Hundred Cavalry Division.

The two neatly standing teams stared longingly at the large pot placed in front of them.

Lamb was simmering in a pot, emitting a rich aroma.

Those ragged riders, who looked exactly like refugees fleeing famine, stared wide-eyed at the pot of mutton.

"You must be craving it."

Wen He walked to the big pot, picked up a large ladle and scooped up a piece of mutton.

"This has been carefully cooked by me. Smell it, can you smell a lot of spices? You can't get this kind of mutton anywhere else, no matter how much money you spend."

Not to mention the starving cavalry, even Xu Jingzong couldn't help but tilt his head back and stare intently.

He was completely oblivious to the disdain in Huang Chun's eyes beside him.

"Would you like to eat meat?"

Wen He scooped up a piece of mutton and put it in the bowl, asking loudly.

"miss you!"

One hundred people shouted in unison without hesitation.

Wen He turned to look at the other team and chuckled, "Don't even think about it this time. Tomorrow, we'll switch roles. You'll be the prey, and they'll be the hunters. We'll go to the Forbidden Garden to survive in the wild."

The other team of a hundred riders' eyes widened in surprise.

Just a few days ago they were gloating, but they never expected it would be their turn so soon.

Wen He ignored their wails and turned to look at the other team.

"Who is Zhang Wenxiao?"

He gave a name.

Within the group, a young man in a light blue long robe walked out with his hand raised high and a beaming smile.

"Is his name on the list?" Wen He asked Zhao Qin, who was standing next to him.

Zhao Qin flipped through the list, looked at it, and shook his head.

Wen He nodded in satisfaction and looked at Zhang Wenxiao, asking, "I remember seeing you at my door before, you didn't bring any 'Bo Tuo'?"

"Reporting to the young master, the bid was not taken."

He chuckled twice, looking rather simple and honest.

Many people in the queue changed their expressions upon hearing this.

"Why?" Wen He ignored the others and continued to ask.

"Young master, you said that we are enemies from the start of the game. So how can we eat the enemy's food when we are facing the enemy? Don't you think so?"

Zhang Wenxiao smiled awkwardly.

"So you left Chang'an."

"Yes."

"Good, this piece of mutton is yours."

Wen He gestured for him to come forward and take it. Zhang Wenxiao was overjoyed and went over with a smile, taking the mutton from Wen He's hand. He even gave Wen He a military salute at the end.

Wen He told him to rest aside, then turned to look at the people in the queue.

"I know some of you were lucky enough not to get caught, but I believe you should understand why you lost now, right?"

"To actually trust your enemy? If I had poisoned it, you would all be corpses by now. And some of you are so self-righteous that you didn't even sign your names. How ridiculous."

"Those who didn't eat the ba tuo before, step forward!"

Wen He called out.

More than a dozen out of the fifty people stood up.

"Six of them were captured by the scoundrels, but the rest escaped," Zhao Qin reported.

Wen He raised an eyebrow slightly, glanced at the mutton beside her, and clicked her tongue twice: "What a pity. She's smart, but she's just unlucky. But there's nothing we can do. Luck is also part of strength. Those who weren't caught, come and eat the meat."

Of the dozen or so people, only six remained standing, looking resentfully at the people who went to collect the mutton.

Wen He noticed their expressions and sneered, "There's nothing to see, and you have no right to be indignant."

"In the future, you will be going to foreign lands and foreign countries to work as spies and agents. Each of you will face a life-or-death situation. Do you think this time you have only lost one game?"

Wen He's face grew increasingly stern.

Despite his childlike appearance, his voice was deafening. No one dared to argue with him, for they knew they had lost.

"What you've lost is your own life. The dead have no right to eat meat. To be precise, the dead can even be eaten by others. But I can give you dead people a chance to crawl out of hell. Do you see that group of people over there?"

Wen He pointed to the fifty people on the other side.

"For the next three days, it's your turn to catch them. Whoever catches them gets to eat meat and get paid. Whoever fails will either have to run a lap around the Forbidden Garden or quit!"

"Did you hear me, you dead people!"

"heard it!"

The thirty-odd people shouted in unison.

The sound startled the group of people standing next to them.

“Very well, then you will witness your future enemy eating meat with your own eyes, remember it, and then take revenge in your own way.”

After Wen He finished speaking, he gestured for people to carry the mutton away and place it in front of the other fifty people.

There were about thirty people watching over there.

"Wenxianzi, won't this cause conflicts between them in the future?" Xu Jingzong asked with some concern.

What if the Hundred Cavalry Division falls into internal strife later?

Upon hearing this, Wen He chuckled and asked in return.

"Is Lord Xu afraid that he will be unable to control them in the future? Lord Xu, you are the military advisor of the Hundred Cavalry Commandery. The real decision-makers are not you and Huang Zhongguan."

Wen He felt it was necessary to remind Xu Jingzong of something.

Otherwise, if he becomes arrogant and reckless, he will drag the Hundred Cavalry Division into the abyss.

Upon hearing this, Xu Jingzong chuckled dryly twice, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Wen He, and said, "What you say, County Magistrate Wen, is truly well-known. These hundred riders are His Highness's hundred riders. With them here, there will be no conflict."

His words sounded like flattery.

But Wen He liked to hear it, so she decided to give him a big gift.

"Then I'll leave the rest to you, Master Xu. I must take my leave now."

"What?" Xu Jingzong's expression changed, and he stared at Wen He in astonishment.

To avoid being grabbed by his sleeve, Wen He had already taken a few steps back and distanced herself from him.

"The matter that Vice Minister Yan asked me about yesterday was at His Highness's behest. I had no choice but to hurry up and get it done. Moreover, I have already handed over the training method for the Hundred Cavalry to you. I can now resign from my post."

It was agreed that he was there to instruct the Hundred Riders, which is why he received the position of Inspector General.

Now that the training is over, Xu Jingzong and Huang Chun can take over. Does he really want to stay in this position of Inspector General forever?

Without waiting for Xu Jingzong to stop him, he hurriedly went to Lizheng Hall.

Li Shimin seemed to have known he would come, so he had someone wait for him outside the Gaoyue Hall.

"Young master, His Highness just said: if that brat Wen He comes over, tell him to stand here. I'm in a good mood today, don't let that brat spoil my fun!"

"Uh, Your Highness, are you treating me like a plague god?" Wen He asked in astonishment.

Gao Yue smiled without saying a word.

Feeling bored, Wen He said, "Since Your Highness is not in the mood to see me, then I'll be leaving."

He deliberately tilted his head back and shouted into the Lizheng Hall, but after a long while, he still didn't see Li Shimin reply.

He was somewhat indignant and continued to shout, "Your Highness's training with the Hundred Cavalry is over, so I can step down as Inspector General, right? If you don't say anything, I'll take that as your agreement!"

"roll!"

A loud shout came from inside.

Wen He immediately beamed with joy and bowed towards Lizheng Hall: "Thank you, Your Highness."

As soon as he finished speaking, he seemed worried that Li Shimin would change his mind, so he quickly turned and ran away.

Unbeknownst to him, no sooner had he left than Li Shimin emerged from the Lizheng Hall, watching his retreating figure and laughingly cursing, "This brat, does he really dislike being an official, or does he truly believe that I lack the ability to tolerate others?"

"Hmph, he wants to resign, but I haven't agreed. After he finishes his work at the Ministry of Works, you go and urge him to go to the Hundred Cavalry Office."

Li Shimin waved his hand, a smug smile playing on his lips.

'Don't even think about slacking off, you brat!'

Gao Yue, who was standing to the side, was dumbfounded upon hearing this.

This was the first time he had ever seen the Crown Prince scheme to get someone a government position.

'No wonder Huang Chun was so close to Wen Xianzi before; this young man is indeed extraordinary.'

(End of this chapter)