The Prodigal Son

However, Qin Yu was clearly being overly cautious.

The next day at noon, Qin Yu received a message from Yuan Dingguo that he had been sent back.

The several thousand Chu troops at the Shanyang camp were retreating in panic.

Unfortunately, the Chu army burned the camp's supplies and provisions during their retreat.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have needed to plunder the people of Chu at all; they could have just gone to the Shanyang camp to collect grain and fodder.

Upon hearing this news, Qin Yu almost burst out laughing like a pig.

As long as they had enough food, their 16,000-plus men held the pass and were not afraid of Yu Wu and Liang Jingzhe leading their troops to attack.

After waving for the messenger to leave, Qin Yu's mind started racing again.

They really didn't have much to talk about with Yu Wu.

Should we send someone to negotiate with Liang Jingzhe?

If Liang Jingzhe chooses to surrender, he can spare the Chu army and have Chu redeem them with silver after the war ends.

In this way, they could reduce their own casualties and also obtain a large sum of money.

However, having killed so many Chu soldiers, Liang Jingzhe probably only wants to kill him now, right?

Okay, I'll give it a try!

If it works, great; if not, forget it!

Surrender or die!

As long as we have our own supplies, what do we have to fear from them?

In the following days, Yuan Dingguo and his men plundered large quantities of grain from the Chu Kingdom every day.

Whether the Chu army was plotting something or had simply given up and given up, they didn't see a trace of the Chu army even though they had already penetrated fifty miles into Chu territory to carry out their looting.

Under these circumstances, Yuan Dingguo and his men became increasingly daring, directly plundering the nearest county town and returning to Yuwang Pass with a large number of livestock and grain.

If you didn't know better, you'd think it was Chinese New Year!

During this period, Qin Yu also sent Qin Xiong with several experts and more than a dozen surrendered soldiers from Min State to act as scouts and keep an eye on Yu Wu and his group's movements.

Over the course of several days, the surrendered soldiers of the Min Kingdom witnessed firsthand the various atrocities committed by Yu Wu and his men.

Seeing that the time was almost right, Qin Yu gathered all the troops at Yuwang Pass and had a dozen or so surrendered soldiers from Min State publicly recount the various atrocities committed by Yu Wu and his men.

As expected, after hearing their tearful descriptions, the surrendered soldiers of Min Kingdom all had red eyes and faces full of grief and indignation, and some even burst into tears on the spot.

Standing on the command platform, Qin Yu, holding a makeshift megaphone, raised his hand to stop the crowd. Veins bulged on his forehead as he roared, "The rebel army is brutal and inhumane! You have shed blood and sacrificed your lives for the country, yet your brothers, sisters, and elders are treated like pigs and dogs! Your homeland is being wantonly trampled upon by the rebel army! Tell me, can you just stand by and watch all this?"

"cannot!"

All the soldiers glared angrily and roared.

Qin Yu clenched his fists and roared again, "Now, the bandit army is coming with the rations they stole from your brothers, sisters, and fellow villagers. Don't you want revenge?"

"think!"

"think……"

Everyone roared in unison, their angry shouts soaring into the sky.

Sensing the soldiers' anger, Nan Que'er couldn't help but smile.

That bastard knows how to shift the blame.

With just a few simple words, she felt that the morale of these soldiers had been greatly boosted.

Qin Yu took a deep breath and roared again, "I have never been a good person, but I will never mistreat my brothers!"

"I hereby promise you that after we eliminate the rebel army, each of you will receive at least three acres of tax-free fertile land as a reward, depending on your merit!"

"The greater the merit, the greater the reward!"

Even if you die on the battlefield, I will ensure that your parents, wives, and children have enough to eat and wear...

Hearing Qin Yu's words, many people turned their grief and indignation into motivation, and their gazes gradually became fervent.

Good farmland exempt from grain taxes!

Moreover, each one is at least three mu!

If you include the land they already owned, it would be enough to ensure the family's livelihood.

"General Qin, will His Highness the Crown Prince agree to your decision?"

Just then, a junior officer at the front suddenly spoke up and asked a question.

"This is what you deserve; he has to agree!"

Qin Yu said resolutely, "If His Highness the Crown Prince disagrees, I will first chop him up alive, then cut off my own head and give it to you to use as a chamber pot!"

Upon hearing Qin Yu's words, everyone was taken aback at first, and then burst into laughter.

"Stop fucking grinning like an idiot!"

Qin Yu raised his hand again to stop the crowd, roaring with a bandit-like air, "I have always been fair in my rewards and punishments! If any of you dare to be afraid of battle, forget about rewarding us with fertile land, you won't even get a hot toilet! And I'll cut off your head and use it as a chamber pot for everyone! Do you understand?"

"Listen carefully!"

Everyone roared in unison.

Just as Qin Yu was about to speak again, a familiar figure appeared on the side of the command platform.

Xu Wan?

What's going on?

Am I seeing things?

Why did she come here?

Standing next to Xu Wan was Zeng Guan.

Upon seeing Zeng Guan, Qin Yu breathed a sigh of relief.

This guy is finally back!

If he didn't come back soon, I would have thought something had happened to him.

After saying a few more words, Qin Yu ordered the group to disperse and brought Qi Dachui and Nan Que'er to Zeng Guan and Xu Wan.

Upon seeing Xu Wan, Nan Que'er immediately revealed a mischievous smile.

Feeling guilty, Xu Wan pointed at the tin tube in Qin Yu's hand and asked before Nan Que'er could even tease her, "What's this?"

"trumpet."

Qin Yu gave a simple answer, then looked at Xu Wan with great curiosity, "Why are you here?"

"Hey kid, aren't you just pretending you don't know the answer?"

Zeng Guan jokingly said, "If she didn't miss you, why would she come all the way to Yuwang Pass with me alone, crossing mountains and valleys?"

"Boss Zeng, what nonsense are you spouting!"

Xu Wan blushed and said guiltily, "I came here to..."

"Alright!"

Zeng Guan jokingly said, "Everyone knows the truth, why are you hiding it?"

"Uh-huh……"

Nan Que'er and Qi Dachui both nodded in deep agreement.

"I……"

Xu Wan was furious and stomped on Zeng Guan's instep, but Zeng Guan easily dodged it.

"You, Commander of the Precious Mirror Division, why do you always sound like a gossipy old woman!"

Qin Yu glanced at Zeng Guan speechlessly, "If you hadn't come back soon, I would have thought you'd been eaten by the wild beasts of Yuwang Mountain."

"Can't you fucking expect anything good from me?"

Zeng Guan glared at Qin Yu, no longer bothering to tease Qin Yu and Xu Wan, and said, "Hurry up and come with me, we've got something to show you!"

"What is it?"

Qin Yu, curious, teased, "What, you brought me back some wild game?"

Xu Wan gave him a reproachful look, her pretty face slightly bowed.

What are you thinking about!

And you even brought him wild game?

Zeng Guan pointed at Xu Wan beside him and said with a mischievous grin, "I didn't bring back any wild game, but I brought you some home-cooked food, didn't I?"

Hearing Zeng Guan's words, Xu Wan blushed even more. She glared at Zeng Guan angrily and quickly turned her burning cheeks to the side.

Seeing Xu Wan's appearance, Nan Que'er immediately giggled and gave Zeng Guan a thumbs up.

Qin Yu was speechless. "Boss Zeng, please allow me to call you the number one gossip in the Treasure Mirror Division!"

"Get lost!"

He once watched people laugh and scold.

Soon, the two entered the house.

Just as Qin Yu was about to ask, Xu Wan quickly took out an imperial edict and handed it to him...