Chapter 108: Shaking Hearts

The man opened his mouth but said nothing in protest; yet, he was unwilling to be deprived of a month's military pay. That was pure silver, after all. As a deputy general, he controlled the distribution of soldiers' wages under his command. How much was given out depended entirely on his discretion. The soldiers under him dared to be angry but not to speak out—they could only endure it.

He had just received benefits yesterday; there was no way he would hand them over now.

“General, military pay has only just returned to normal. The soldiers have only just begun to live with enough to eat and wear. I beg you, General, to consider the hardships the soldiers have endured and revoke this order.”

With that, he knelt before Shen Zhao. Though it is said that a man's knees are worth gold, compared to real silver, they meant nothing.

As soon as he knelt, the soldiers behind him immediately followed suit, creating a vast sea of kneeling men—a truly magnificent sight.

“Please, General, revoke this order.”

Not only did his soldiers kneel, but the other deputy generals, seeing this, imitated them and all knelt before Shen Zhao.

The scene grew even more grand and overwhelming.

For a moment, the cries of “Please, General, revoke this order” echoed incessantly above the camp, deafening.

Shen Zhao looked at nearly half of the capital’s army, who disregarded her as their commander-in-chief and only obeyed the deputies’ commands.

Very well.

“It seems that as the commander-in-chief, I am not as highly regarded in the hearts of the soldiers as the deputy generals. Since that is the case, from now on I will no longer interfere in your affairs. Each deputy general shall command their own soldiers. Whether it is military pay or daily sustenance, you shall handle it yourselves. The court's allotments will be distributed to you fully and without deduction. How you manage it is up to you.”

Shen Zhao had her own plans. Why should she bother with those who were not her people?

These men could not be easily won over. Why trouble herself unnecessarily?

People yearn for the good life. Rather than forcing them to submit, it was better to let them come willingly.

Upon hearing this, the eyes of the deputy generals flickered with surprise.

Had this stubborn Chu been driven mad by anger to voluntarily relinquish power?

Each was overjoyed, eager to fly to their lords and report this wonderful news immediately.

Shen Zhao paid no attention to those lost in ecstatic delight.

She led Chu Mu’s troops and the northwest army in another direction.

“Zhang Liang, send several men to Qihuang Street to invite some doctors. Ensure they bring ample medicinal supplies to tend to the wounded soldiers of the northwest army.”

A trace of difficulty flickered across Zhang Liang’s face. Had the General forgotten how impoverished they truly were?

Given the number of wounded in the northwest army, the cost of hiring doctors to treat them would be astronomical—not to mention the ongoing expense of medicinal decoctions.

But the General’s orders must be obeyed, and indeed the northwest army needed physicians.

“Yes, I will dispatch men immediately.”

Shen Zhao watched Zhang Liang depart, her eyes glinting slightly. The reason she sent Zhang Liang to invite doctors was because she did not trust the capital’s military medics. Moreover, the army lacked medicines; even if the medics came, they would be of no use.

To sway the hearts of men, the first step was comparison.

She was confident that those idle and indulgent officers, intoxicated by power, had long forgotten the soldiers who had suffered hardship alongside them.

Even if they remembered, they would not spend their silver to hire doctors. At best, they would send medics to offer cursory care.

The medics, lacking medicines, could do nothing but offer empty gestures.

She had clearly seen that most of the leading deputy generals cowered behind the troops, not a single one bearing a trace of bloodstain, let alone injury.

In contrast, many of the soldiers under them were wounded, some seriously.

If she, like Chu Mu before her, ignored the northwest army, the soldiers would not resent their commanders, even if gravely injured.

But if she took the initiative to summon doctors for the northwest army, it would be different.

Turning to the remaining northwest soldiers, she ordered, “All wounded soldiers, return and rest well. Those uninjured shall stay behind to collect and bury our fallen brothers. The rest of you, return to care for the severely wounded. Rest assured, I will never let any brother die in vain.”

The eyes of the northwest soldiers changed as they looked at Shen Zhao.

Having arranged for the care of the wounded, Shen Zhao returned alone to her tent.

She said quietly, “You two, reveal yourselves.”

Chu One and Chu Two, long concealed in the shadows, appeared before her.

“What orders does the master have?”

Shen Zhao picked up a brush from the tent and began writing. After a moment, she handed a letter to the sharper-looking Chu One.

“You will deliver this letter to Lord Du, the newly appointed Vice Minister of Revenue who has just arrived in the capital. He will provide what I request in the letter. Remember, do not let anyone discover this.”

Chu One took the secret letter and vanished instantly within the tent.

He was delighted; the master had finally remembered his existence.

For two days, he and Chu Two had been hidden near the master, who seemed to have forgotten them entirely.

It had been nearly two days since she had assigned them any tasks.

Chu Two, a simple soul, had lost his appetite over these days, eating only two large chicken legs, a packet of dried beef, and a paper bag of scallion and pork buns at midday.

He looked at the master eagerly, his eyes shining brightly. What was his mission? Was it also to deliver a secret letter? He loved such high-stakes assignments; they gave him great satisfaction.

These days, he had only eaten without contributing, which tortured his conscience and made him feel he had let the master down.

Especially as the money for his food was given by the master.

He had no confidence to eat properly these two days.

Shen Zhao felt uneasy under Chu Two’s gaze.

Yet, the orders had to be given.

“You will return swiftly to the manor and inform the lady of everything that happened in the camp today. Also, tell her that I will spend the night here.”

Chu Two was taken aback. Was that his mission? Just that? Why not deliver a secret letter? Why merely deliver a message to the lady of the house? Had the General lost faith in him? A faint disappointment welled up in his heart.

“Yes, I obey.”

Shen Zhao was puzzled. Was something wrong with these shadow guards? Before she gave orders, they were so excited they almost jumped for joy. But once she did, they looked utterly downcast. What was that about? Had she offended him?

At that moment, a hesitant voice sounded outside the tent.

“Chu, sir… I have something to report.”

“Come in,” Shen Zhao replied wearily. Hadn’t she told Shen Tianci to rest here and await the doctor? Had his wounds suddenly ceased to hurt?

Shen Tianci limped in, striving to maintain a dignified and imposing posture.

But the wounds ached terribly.

His body had been crudely bandaged; each step was agony.

Why hadn’t he felt such pain during the fighting?

Shen Zhao glanced at his comical figure and felt a pang of pity.

Who was he trying to impress with such stubbornness? Was it her?

Though he was in agony, barely able to bear it, he still held his back straight and lifted his chin high, as if afraid to appear weak.

“Sit down. Didn’t I tell you to stay in the tent and wait for the doctor? What urgent matter brings you here now?”

Shen Tianci limped toward a nearby cushion. Damn it, he really couldn’t stand any longer.

Upon hearing her question, he hesitated, then replied shyly: