Chapter Eleven: Underlying Stakes

Lu Xiaoyuan couldn’t help but show a hint of a mocking smile when he saw Xue Chengqian hastily agree.

“No wonder Luo Fang praises your cleverness—it’s well deserved.”

“I hereby appoint Luo Fang as the acting commander of the Zhenyi Battalion, and Xue Chengqian as the captain, to organize militia training outside the city. At the same time, I will submit a report to the court. Once the decree arrives, you will officially become the commander of the Zhenyi Battalion, holding the eighth-rank military title of Dewei Captain.”

Even an eighth-rank military post was something Luo Fang had never dared to dream of before.

Not to mention he could now independently command a battalion.

However, the “Zhenyi Battalion” was originally part of the auxiliary forces, barely better than a civilian militia.

The Dewei Captain rank was not an official imperial military rank and was essentially an empty promise.

Lu Xiaoyuan’s insincerity was almost written all over his face.

Xue Chengqian understood that obtaining such an official title was nearly the highest stake they could bargain for, and he turned to look at Luo Fang.

Luo Fang, aware of the situation, sighed helplessly and saluted again in acceptance.

Liu Yueting cast a cold glance at Xue Chengqian. He no longer questioned Lu Xiaoyuan’s decision but made a mental note to deal with it back at Zhongzhou Prefecture.

...

After sending Lu Xiaoyuan away, Luo Fang and the others gathered around the campfire.

No one was excited about their official recognition; everyone understood that their situation had become even more precarious.

“Damn it, it’s all that brat’s fault! What kind of status do you have, daring to promise such a hot potato on behalf of the boss!”

“I’ve disliked you from the start, and now you’re dragging us all to our deaths!”

Wang Huzi was the first to lose his temper and stepped forward to challenge Xue Chengqian.

To him and a few impulsive brothers, all the blame lay squarely on Xue Chengqian.

He had given their leader a plan that seemed beneficial to all, and many had started to treat Xue Chengqian as a brother.

But when crisis struck, the lines of closeness and distance among them were revealed instantly.

All the others were military households bound together by their frontier army ties, supporting each other during their southern wanderings.

Only Xue Chengqian was an exception—always an outsider, and now a suspicious one at that.

“Everyone, stop!” Luo Fang suddenly exploded in anger, standing and shouting.

---

Wang Huzi, rarely seeing his leader so furious, shrank back and quickly took cover behind Kang Yu, looking utterly humiliated.

Xue Chengqian met Luo Fang’s gaze calmly, without evasion.

His mind was racing with calculations.

Though Luo Fang’s acceptance of Lu Xiaoyuan’s coercion was a reluctant move, once made, there was no room for regret—only constant strategizing.

No matter what choices Luo Fang made, the challenges Xue Chengqian faced were daunting.

The difference was that without Luo Fang’s influence to rely on, his own position would be even more perilous.

Unexpectedly, Luo Fang did not scold him but instead gave his shoulder a heavy pat.

“Don’t blame yourself. It was me, wanting to climb the social ladder in the city, focused solely on changing our status, neglecting the possible consequences.”

Xue Chengqian was somewhat surprised.

Regardless of Luo Fang’s temperament or intelligence, he was at least a true “hero.”

He smiled faintly and reassured Luo Fang, “This is not your fault. None of us expected Lu Xiaoyuan to behave this way.”

Luo Fang replied bitterly, “Exactly. We even helped stabilize the situation for Lu Xiaoyuan, yet why does he treat me like this?”

To be honest, a minor figure like Luo Fang was hardly someone Lu Xiaoyuan would care about; there had been no grudges before.

But Lu Xiaoyuan’s treatment of him—surely even his enemies were not dealt with so harshly.

Kang Yu, seeing Luo Fang did not truly blame Xue Chengqian, relaxed and stepped forward, angrily cursing Lu Xiaoyuan.

“Hmph! Such high officials are never good people! It’s the classic ‘no official without corruption.’ Brother, you’re straightforward; you can’t understand their twisted minds.”

Xue Chengqian glanced around and shook his head in resignation.

Not even Luo Fang fully grasped Lu Xiaoyuan’s concerns and intentions. Perhaps only he could understand.

“Lu Xiaoyuan has never regarded us refugees as anything more than tools to calculate profit and loss. He only cares about his past achievements; our lives mean nothing to him in Wangjiang City.”

“But we have made some progress here, offering the refugees a glimmer of hope. And through your contacts, Luo, word has reached Wangjiang, with supervising censors watching and the gentry pressing. He must make a show of some action.”

What Luo Fang lacked most was a clear mind to analyze these matters.

Hearing Xue Chengqian’s well-reasoned words, combined with his earlier ingenious brick-burning strategy, Luo Fang nodded repeatedly as if listening to a lecture.

“To Lu Xiaoyuan, the most important thing is to secure Wangjiang—that’s his foundation. Everything else is insignificant!”

“The northern border fell too quickly; the northern barbarians are terrifying. From top to bottom, the Great Liang Court was shocked, especially Wangjiang, facing the northern crisis head-on.”

---

“Lu Xiaoyuan is uncertain inside. His only reliance is this well-fortified city that the court has nurtured for generations. Now, boss, you taking in refugees is like burdening him with a heavy load.”

“He refuses to let refugees into the city, fearing greater trouble. But if he sends the imperial troops to protect those outside, that means abandoning the fortress and fighting the fearsome northern cavalry in open battle.”

Luo Fang slapped his thigh sharply.

“So that’s it! No wonder I always felt something off when those officials said the refugees were ‘people of Wangjiang’!”

Kang Yu and the others understood as well, exchanging uneasy glances, a chill rising in their hearts.

Living among the refugees under such harsh conditions, no one’s hands were clean—not even Kang Yu, a young woman who had shed blood.

Yet, they were never people who treated human life lightly.

But Lu Xiaoyuan regarded all these refugees purely as pawns in a game of cost and benefit.

If he could gain so many people freely to boost Wangjiang’s population, he might reluctantly accept.

But to have the imperial army protect these refugees? He would rather see these lowly people die!

With a few words, Xue Chengqian finally made everyone understand their predicament.

He looked firmly at Luo Fang and asked the crucial question.

“Lu Xiaoyuan controls fifty or sixty thousand elite imperial troops, yet he dares not protect these refugees nor face the northern barbarian cavalry head-on.”

“Luo boss, what would you choose?”

This time, Xue Chengqian deliberately called him “Luo boss,” not just “boss.”

Kang Yu frowned. “Xue boy, what do you mean by that? Our boss naturally…”

But she stopped mid-sentence, not daring to meet her leader’s expression.

Indeed, Lu Xiaoyuan did not want to protect these refugees, passing an empty title to Luo Fang and sending him to his death.

What about Luo Fang and the brothers?

Once they understood the stakes, how would they plan?

Were they truly any different from Lu Xiaoyuan?