Chapter 156: Returning in Triumph with Banners Unfurled-Marquis Wu of Wei(Falling petals chase after drifting leaves.)

Wei Wuji had a great deal on his mind that he wished to express, yet no matter how much one has to say, it must eventually come to an end.

Reluctant though he was, he still had to conclude his speech, for words, when spoken excessively, become as bland and unremarkable as water. Furthermore, Wei Wuji had already accomplished his objective; he had made a striking impression among the elite Wei Wu Soldiers and established a reasonably harmonious rapport with them.

Aside from Chen Xu and Zhao Jun, Wei Wuji could be virtually certain that the others bore no resentment toward him. As for the two he had already offended, Wei Wuji harbored no delusional hopes of reconciliation. The human heart is unfathomable; how could one ever truly know if another's reconciliation was sincere?

*As long as I remain sufficiently strong, they will never be able to straighten their backs in my presence, exactly as it was today,* Wei Wuji thought to himself, glancing sideways at Chen Xu.

"Lord Chen, I hope you will forgive any offense given today..." Wei Wuji turned his head slightly and said in a soft voice.

While he did not intend to meticulously placate them, he was not foolish enough to deliberately make enemies either; offering someone a graceful way out cost him nothing.

Seeing Wei Wuji afford him such face, Chen Xu naturally knew better than to be unappreciative. He hastily bowed and said, "Your Highness jests. It was this subject who overstepped; I beg Your Highness's forgiveness!"

*This fellow's attitude isn't half bad,* Wei Wuji mused inwardly. Only such slick and adaptable individuals could navigate officialdom with ease.

"From now on, we are brothers in the same trench; where is there any talk of blame or forgiveness!" Wei Wuji waved his hand casually. His acting skills were not inferior either, and he spoke such polite nonsense with complete conviction.

Throughout this exchange, Chen Xu had also been quietly observing Wei Wuji, a profound sense of vigilance taking root within him toward the young man before him.

A mere brute was never terrifying; what was terrifying was a brute who possessed intellect, and even more terrifying still was one whose status was loftier than one's own.

"If Your Highness would be so kind as to step aside with me for a moment..." Chen Xu made a gesture of invitation, guiding Wei Wuji down from the sparring platform.

In his own words, this was certainly not an appropriate place for a conversation.

Initially, Wei Wuji had figured that once the misunderstanding was clarified, he could take his leave, since his primary purpose had already been fulfilled. Who could have foreseen that Chen Xu would be so enthusiastic, momentarily dispelling his thoughts of returning? Since an opportunity to build connections had presented itself, it was best not to let it slip away.

"In that case... Lord Chen, please lead the way!" Wei Wuji said.

This response left Chen Xu somewhat astonished; despite the young prince's tender years, his mind was remarkably active and astute.

Even Zheng Dali nearby stared in utter bewilderment. Just moments ago, these two men had been ready to fight to the death, yet now they were as thick as thieves?

The group proceeded toward the area below the platform.

Originally, Wei Wuji had toyed with the idea of playing the role of the benevolent commander deeply bonded with his troops, but upon second thought, he decided against it. Standing out far too prominently was rarely a good thing.

Upon being led into the military tent by Chen Xu, Wei Wuji unhesitatingly took the seat of honor.

It must be said that the disparities between people could be quite remarkable; the blocks of ice that Wei Wuji had been craving were readily available right here in the Wei Wu camp.

Clutching a bowl of iced sour plum soup that still drifted with wisps of chill, Wei Wuji was practically moved to tears. As a dignified prince, he did not even enjoy such luxuries in his own residence.

"Captain Chen, your army truly lives up to its reputation of being deeply favored by my father. Even these logistical supplies are far better equipped than those of other armies!" Wei Wuji looked at Chen Xu, his face filled with exclamation.

Though the taste of the sour plum soup was not extraordinarily astonishing, the piercing, chilling sensation that rushed through him upon drinking it made Wei Wuji feel so thoroughly refreshed he felt as though he might float away.

"Your Highness flatters us. Although the Sovereign favors our division, such luxuries are not something we consume casually. Today, with Your Highness's arrival, it is only fitting that we use them for our hospitality," Chen Xu explained.

His words were indeed the truth. The Wei Wu Soldiers were the sharp sword of the State of Wei, and a sharp sword required whetting rather than being allowed to steep in soft indulgence. If an army could not even endure the hardships of summer, how could one ever expect them to achieve great feats on the battlefield?

Successive Marquises of Wei understood this principle well, which was why they never excessively pampered the Wei Wu Soldiers in terms of daily provisions.

"Heh..." Wei Wuji let out a dry chuckle and began to drink with a rather unpretentious lack of decorum.

Yet the more he drank this concoction, the thirstier he became, and within moments, Wei Wuji had finished the contents of his bowl.

Now it was Chen Xu's turn to feel awkward. Should he offer Wei Wuji another bowl? Or should he proceed according to the conventional script and engage in a formal discussion first...

"Your Highness, this subordinate is also rather thirsty..." Zheng Dali scratched his head from the side and chimed in.

Because of his status as a subordinate, Chen Xu had not prepared a serving for him.

This provided Wei Wuji with a flawless pretext. He immediately turned to Chen Xu and said, "Captain Chen, as you can see, my guard is also thirsty. Why don't you have them bring some more of this sour plum soup?"

Chen Xu snapped to attention, nodding hastily as he said, "Yes, yes, indeed... I shall have someone prepare it immediately!"

Do not assume Chen Xu was unhappy at the moment; in truth, he felt immensely relieved. His original intention in inviting Wei Wuji over had been precisely to smooth things over. In particular, he needed assurance from Wei Wuji that today's "misunderstanding" would not be reported to the Marquis of Wei, thereby threatening his official post.

Although nothing substantial had been discussed yet, Wei Wuji's gesture of asking for sour plum soup on behalf of his subordinate naturally led Chen Xu to interpret it as a sign of goodwill from the prince.

Under such circumstances, how could Chen Xu possibly not rejoice?

Before long, a freshly prepared batch of sour plum soup was brought in, accompanied by several other individuals. The remaining four commandants of the elite troops, along with a military magistrate, had all gathered here.

As a prince, it was both proper and expected for them to come and pay their respects; this was also a manifestation of loyalty to the ruling house.

"Greetings, Your Highness!" A chorus of military officers bowed in unison.

"Rise, all of you... rise!" Wei Wuji raised a hand. This kind of harmonious relationship was precisely what he desired most.

The sour plum soup was served once more. Wei Wuji picked up his bowl and took another sip, deciding this time to savor it slowly.

Lest the atmosphere grow cold, Chen Xu proactively broke the silence: "Your Highness's demeanor today has truly opened our eyes!"

*Such bureaucratic flattery!* Wei Wuji thought with an inner sigh, before casually replying, "Not at all! The elite nature of the Wei Wu Soldiers is what has truly opened my eyes, Your Highness."

Since the other party was flattering him, Wei Wuji returned the compliment. As the saying went, people lift each other up on a sedan chair; officialdom thrived entirely on this sort of mutual praise.

At that moment, the military magistrate stepped forward at the opportune time, bowed to Wei Wuji, and said, "This subject once heard that when Your Highness fought against the State of Chen, you relied on a mere two thousand infantrymen to successfully hold off the offensive of ten thousand Chen cavalry."

This statement nearly caused Wei Wuji to choke on his drink. On the banks of the Ling River, when had he ever faced ten thousand cavalry? He had clearly been fighting nothing more than a small vanguard force of the Chen State.

Before Wei Wuji could even offer a clarification, another commandant nearby sighed in admiration, "Your Highness is truly a hero of our generation!"

Whether this was spoken with genuine sincerity remained unknown.

Regarding this, Wei Wuji felt a mixture of gratification and apprehension. While spreading a good reputation was beneficial, if such exaggerated tales continued to circulate, he might eventually become the butt of a grand joke.

Amidst this complex state of mind, Wei Wuji exchanged idle chatter with the gathering of military officers. Naturally, Zheng Dali was also there gulping down his sour plum soup, while Wei Wuji occasionally licked his lips, mindful to maintain the solemn dignity expected of a prince.

"Good news... Triumphant news..." Just as everyone was beginning to drift into a state of drowsy chatter, a loud shout echoed from outside the military tent.

"The Sovereign has triumphed in his campaign and is returning in victory! In three days' time, he shall grace Wu'an with his presence!"

...

The resounding cries rippled across the military camp, igniting waves of fervent cheers.

The Marquis of Wei was returning; their supreme sovereign was coming back. How could they possibly refrain from cheering?

Upon hearing these words, Wei Wuji abruptly stood up from his seat.

"Honored Generals, my father has returned victorious, and I must immediately hasten back to Wu'an!" Wei Wuji declared in a deep, resolute voice.