Volume 3: Heroes Fade in the Silence of Time, 8: Undercurrent II

Guan Duo did not dispatch Deng She to lead the vanguard in the attack on Liaonan, nor did he order him to mobilize the troops from Pyongyang to coordinate in the campaign. He only demanded that Deng She deploy his army to the banks of the Yalu River within half a month.

Among the three defensive fronts, the one tasked with holding Shenyang was even more critical than those at Shuosijian and Liaoxi, as it sat closer to Liaoyang and was nearest to Liaonan. Given such strategic importance, Guan Duo clearly would not entrust this responsibility solely to Deng She’s forces; the primary containment role still fell to Liaoyang. In other words, the command post for the Shenyang front was not established along the Yalu River, but within Liaoyang itself.

With the command post located in Liaoyang, Deng She, as the nominal commander, was naturally and openly kept behind by Guan Duo.

Once the commanders for the four armies were set, the distribution of specific troop numbers followed. Each general present stepped forward in turn to receive his orders, while the officials in charge of logistics and provisions verified the troop counts and demarcated areas of responsibility. Guan Duo did not specify a date for the campaign, only insisting that all armies prepare as quickly as possible.

The details were complex, and the military council did not conclude until late into the night.

Before closing, Guan Duo did something that deeply impressed Deng She. He had the portraits of the Young Ming King and Liu Futong brought out, washed his hands, burned incense, and led a hundred generals in a line across the courtyard. They knelt on the ground, pointing toward the night sky to swear an oath: they would never coexist with Chaghan Temur; if they failed to rescue their lord, Guan Duo would die.

As he spoke, he became so emotional that tears welled in his eyes. Reflecting on the hardships of the Young Ming King, he nearly broke into wails. Such loyalty, witnessed by the sun and moon, was truly earth-shattering and moving. Many were moved to tears, and Deng She could not help but join in the weeping.

Once the farce ended, the council was dismissed.

Deng She rubbed his reddened eyes and stepped out of the mansion. The guards had prepared torches, and the generals retrieved their weapons, bustling off to their respective residences. Deng She waited outside for a while but did not see Fang Buzhen. Being a civil official, he likely disdained the jostling of the military men and had left later.

Deng She looked up at the sky. The moonlight that night was exquisite, pouring down like water. The breeze against his face was warm with a hint of coolness. Several stars were embedded in the azure sky like diamonds on goose down, glittering brilliantly. The countless swaying torches reddened the bluestone road, and the mansions along the way flickered in and out of shadow, much like Deng She’s current mood—a mix of relief that everything was under control and a lingering worry about when things might shift.

Guan Duo was a man of immense fame, and through their interactions over the past few days, Deng She found his schemes even deeper. Although Guan Duo’s steps—wooing him, attacking Liaonan, and holding Shenyang—were all within his expectations so far, Deng She did not believe it would remain that way forever. It was like a chess match; one might be a master for anticipating the opponent’s first three moves, but Deng She had a premonition that his foresight would end here, and Guan Duo would eventually make a move that jumped off the board.

The ancients said: "One with too much wisdom acts like a demon." Whether it was himself or Hong Jixun, who compared himself to Zhuge Liang, neither was truly a demon. It was foreseeable that sooner or later, Guan Duo would unleash an unexpected move, catching him off guard.

When that day came, how should he respond? Deng She muttered to himself, "I must pick up the pace." The crowd at the mansion gate thinned, and the generals gradually departed, yet Fang Buzhen remained nowhere to be seen. Two or three civil officials walked past, one of whom wore a scarlet official robe. He was short, with a small head and large ears—"ears that could reach the shoulders" to put it politely, or "wind-catching ears" in common parlance.

This man had spoken at the military council, and Deng She remembered him as the husband of Li Aguan—the Left and Right Division Langzhong, Li Dunru. Forgetting about Fang Buzhen, he quickly caught up and bowed, saying, "Master Li."

Li Dunru turned, paused, and returned the bow, saying, "Chief Commander Deng." His companions, all officials of the Left and Right Division, exchanged greetings and left first. Li Dunru, while bidding farewell to his colleagues, kept walking and asked, "Chief Commander Deng, why haven't you left yet? Waiting for someone?"

Deng She walked beside him, smiling, "I visited your mansion this morning, but you were busy with official duties, so I failed to see you."

Li Dunru replied, "With the great war imminent, logistics and provisions require early preparation. I have been so busy these past few days that I haven't had a moment's rest. My wife mentioned your visit; I should have returned the favor, but I truly could not spare the time... May I ask what business you had with me?"

Deng She smiled, "Nothing major. I have long admired your mastery of both calligraphy and painting. Though I am a military man, I enjoy pretending to be refined. Since I am standing before a treasure mountain, I cannot return empty-handed. I wanted to request a piece of your work."

"Mastery of both" was pure flattery. Deng She had learned that Li Dunru had few hobbies other than writing and painting. To mend relations with the Li family, he had to touch upon what he liked.

Li Dunru showed no joy and frowned, "You are too kind, Chief Commander. I am unworthy of such praise. My meager skills are merely for personal amusement and not fit for display." Deng She laughed, "Why so modest? Every general I know speaks highly of your work."

Li Dunru glanced at Deng She and said, "Since you put it that way, when I have some leisure, I will mount a piece and send it to your mansion. How is that?" Deng She was delighted and bowed, "To receive your work is a great honor. I thank you in advance. I will come to retrieve it myself and take the opportunity to express my gratitude."

Li Dunru replied coolly, "There is no need for gratitude. You are a promising young man; it is my honor that you appreciate my painting." He gave a perfunctory bow and added, "Safe travels, Chief Commander. I have some matters to attend to, so I will take my leave. Farewell."

Deng She returned the salute and watched him walk away. Li Dunru’s attitude was neither cold nor warm—one could call it respectful yet distant, but it felt like there was a grudge. Deng She had long since accepted that while he could try to mend things, whether the other party accepted his gestures was their affair. He smiled and realized he had walked two streets away, with Bi Qianniu waiting not far ahead.

Deng She walked over, and Bi Qianniu greeted him, whispering, "General, news from the mansion. A letter has arrived from Shuangcheng." Deng She swung onto his horse and said, "We will talk when we return."

In the night, the group traveled slowly. They hadn't gone two steps when the sound of rapid hooves approached from behind. Before coming to Liaoyang, Chen Hu and Hong Jixun had repeatedly warned him, so Bi Qianniu did not let his guard down. He held the hilt of his saber, and the personal guards methodically surrounded Deng She.

Only after doing this did they turn to look back. Four or five riders caught up. The one in front wore bright armor and was clearly a general. He shouted, "Is that Brother Deng ahead?" It was an old friend of Deng San, a Lower Wanhu named Hu Zhong, who had visited Deng She and been visited in return a few days prior.

Deng She reined in his mount, signaled his guards to disperse, and smiled, "So it is Uncle Hu. I thought I was leaving the latest, but it seems you are even later."

"What do you mean, late?" Hu Zhong urged his horse forward, looking left and right. There were few people on the street. Far ahead, he saw Li Dunru disappearing. He said, "I was specifically waiting for you." Deng She smiled, "If there was something, you could have sent word. I would have visited you myself. Why wait?"

Hu Zhong gave a dry laugh, "This is not a place to talk. Brother Deng, come with me."

Bi Qianniu tugged at Deng She’s sleeve, his eyes darting toward the weapons carried by Hu Zhong and his riders. Though he didn't speak, his meaning was clear. Deng She ignored him, having vaguely guessed Hu Zhong's intention. Though it came a bit earlier than expected, he was prepared. He smiled, "Since Uncle Hu calls, how can I refuse?"

Hu Zhong led the way, taking back alleys and small paths. The roads were narrow, and dense houses blocked the moonlight, making it pitch black. Worse, Hu Zhong had them extinguish their torches, making the path even harder to see. Bi Qianniu was anxious, but unable to convince Deng She to turn back, he could only quietly order his guards to be on high alert.

Deng She didn't mind. They gradually veered off, the surroundings shifting from large mansions to small houses. They hadn't seen a single soul along the way. After wandering in the dark for a while, they arrived at a small residence. Two or three men stepped forward to take their horses. Hu Zhong said, "We are here. Brother Deng, please." He stopped Bi Qianniu, "Honored guard, please stay outside."

Bi Qianniu was reluctant, but Deng She nodded, "I am a guest, and I follow the host's arrangements." Bi Qianniu grew urgent, "General!" Deng She waved his hand, "You may not know Uncle Hu's reputation, but he is known for his valor and battle-hardened soldiers. This is a chance for you to learn from them."

Hu Zhong chuckled, "Enough, Brother Deng. Are you flattering me or mocking me? Compared to your Huben troops, my men are nothing." He ordered his guards, "Take the Chief Commander's men to the opposite courtyard and treat them to good wine and meat."

Bi Qianniu had no choice but to follow. Even with the finest wine and meat, it tasted like wax to him. He kept his hand on his sword and, ignoring the hospitable toasts, strained his ears to hear any commotion from the other side.

In the courtyard, led by Hu Zhong, Deng She entered a side chamber. Inside, a single oil lamp cast a dim light, and three or four men were already waiting. Seeing Deng She enter, they rose. As expected, they were all leaders of miscellaneous, non-core factions—one Wanhu and three Qianhu.

"Greetings, Chief Commander." Including Hu Zhong, all five knelt.

Deng She feigned surprise and quickly helped them up, "Uncles, what is this for? Please, rise quickly. You are embarrassing me." They were all old friends of Deng San, so calling himself "nephew" was natural.

Hu Zhong changed his tone and said solemnly, "We asked for Chief Commander Deng today for official business; we cannot ignore the hierarchy." They insisted on kneeling, and since Deng She couldn't lift them, he knelt alongside them. After the formalities, they stood up.

Hu Zhong offered Deng She the seat of honor. Deng She declined repeatedly but eventually gave in and sat down. He looked around the room and said, "This place is quite unfamiliar. If Uncle Hu hadn't brought me, I never would have found it. Is this one of your private residences?"

In Liaoyang, officers were housed in designated zones based on their rank, with Wanhus living together and Qianhus together. There were clear regulations on location and mansion size based on rank. While some Wanhus lived in the Chief Commander's zone or Qianhus in the Wanhu zone, it was usually a special favor to direct cronies. There was no such thing as living outside the system at will.

Hu Zhong replied, "Exactly. Truth be told, this is one of my secondary residences. You know, I have a 'tigress' at home. The beauties gifted to me by the lads can't be brought home, so I keep them here." The others chuckled knowingly.

Deng She smiled, "Then, the Goryeo woman I sent you the other day must be here too?" Hu Zhong laughed heartily, "Having a strict wife means I must find ways to prosper. It’s no disgrace. The woman you sent is truly unique and quite enchanting."

After some idle chatter, Hu Zhong’s expression turned serious, "Chief Commander, do you know why we invited you here?"

Deng She remained calm, "I was just about to ask. Please, Uncle Hu."

Hu Zhong said, "In the past, your foster father and I were kindred spirits. Though we weren't sworn brothers, he respected me enough to call me brother. You are now in a high position, yet you haven't forgotten us like those arrogant upstarts. I will take the liberty of calling you nephew." He had originally been a bandit in Hebei, hence the "kindred spirits." Deng She replied, "As you should."

Hu Zhong stood and opened the door. Moonlight spilled in, dispelling some of the gloom. Outside, the shadows of the trees swayed, and the main entrance of the mansion was visible. The courtyard was silent and empty. Deng She thought, "A true veteran." Opening the door to talk was sometimes more secure than closing it.

Hu Zhong returned to his seat, looking grave, and said to Deng She, "Nephew, do you know you are on the brink of a great disaster?" Deng She feigned shock, "Why would you say that, Uncle Hu?" Hu Zhong replied, "At today's military council, why did Guan Pingzhang mobilize your Shuangcheng troops but keep you in Liaoyang?"

"What do you think?"

"Exactly! Nephew, this is a plan to lure the tiger from the mountain and use a borrowed knife to kill! Guan Pingzhang has coveted your Goryeo for more than a day. Why are you so foolish? Why aren't you ruling your own territory in Guanbei instead of coming to Liaoyang?" Hu Zhong slapped his thigh in distress, "Aren't you walking into a death trap? Sigh, how can I even talk to you?"

"My lord is in trouble, and the imperial decree reached Shuangcheng. Even if I didn't know, now that I do, how could I not come to help?" Deng She said dismissively, "Guan Pingzhang is my superior, and Goryeo is technically under Liaoyang's jurisdiction. Besides, Liaoyang and Goryeo are both lands of the Great Song, and we are all subjects of the Great Song. Uncle, you are overthinking this. Where is the 'luring the tiger' or the 'borrowed knife'?"

Hu Zhong was exasperated, "You! Nephew, you are too naive! Do you know? When I first joined the army, I had over five thousand men. Do you know how many are left now?" Deng She replied, "As a Lower Wanhu, you should have at least three or four thousand, right?"

Hu Zhong shook his head repeatedly, "Three or four thousand? Nephew, you don't know..." He held up two fingers and smiled bitterly, "Less than two thousand."

Deng She was truly shocked. Before leaving Fengzhou, he had seen Hu Zhong; he had at least three thousand then. How could he have lost so many in just two or three months? No wonder they were so urgent to meet, and why they were the vanguard for the Liaonan attack. He feared that after this battle, Hu Zhong might not even have a thousand left.

Hu Zhong continued, "After the great defeat at Fengzhou, Guan Pingzhang fled west, and only his core loyalists followed. I was left behind as the rearguard. That brute Bolo was ruthless, chasing us relentlessly. In one battle, hundreds of my brothers died. We barely escaped to Liaoyang, and on the way, we fought several more times. Each time, I was either the vanguard or the rearguard, losing men and horses. To keep the remaining two thousand is a miracle." He gnashed his teeth, cursing, though it wasn't clear if he meant the Tatars or Guan Duo.

Deng She fell silent. Hu Zhong pointed to the others and said, "I’m one of the lucky ones. Look at these uncles of yours: Liu Daqing, who holds a higher rank than me—a Senior Wanhu. Back in the day, the Shanxi Willow Camp was so illustrious; he had nearly ten thousand men when he joined. Now? Less than three thousand. If we are like this, let alone these Qianhu officers." His words carried a mocking tone, a way to find amusement in their misery.

The Qianhu officers started cursing. One said, "Don't laugh, nephew. Look at my title: a damn Senior Qianhu. My seven or eight hundred brothers are down to less than four hundred. I’m not even as well-off as a core Lower Qianhu under Old Guan!"

They were all from the bandit backgrounds of Henan, Hebei, and Shanxi. While their connection to Deng San was distant, they were closer to each other as outsiders. Before joining the army, Liu Daqing had been a highwayman, then followed the tide to revolt, becoming famous as the "Willow Camp." Guan Duo had absorbed him while passing through Shanxi—or rather, annexed him. He hadn't joined willingly, but who could resist Guan Duo’s power?

Deng She said, "I see. You have all served with great merit. Once the siege of Liaoyang is lifted, Guan Pingzhang will surely reward you handsomely. No need to worry. When that time comes, surely you can replenish your ranks?"

Liu Daqing, a man in his forties with a face full of scars, leaped up, spat on the floor, and cursed, "Replenish my ass! I joined with over six thousand men. Last year at Chuzhou, I was the vanguard, and that waste Guan had his camp raided by Chaghan Temur. I lost over a thousand men in Iron Cavalry Valley. In October, attacking Datong, again I was the vanguard. By the end of the year, attacking Shangdu, they saw the profit and stopped using me as vanguard, turning me over to that bastard Mao Jujing to attack Danning! That dog Mao Jujing had hundreds of supervisors holding blades to our necks, forcing us to attack. Does he treat us like human beings? Are my men just cannon fodder? Fuck, fuck..." He was so agitated that he choked on phlegm, coughing for a long time before spitting and finishing, "Motherfucker!"

Hu Zhong said, "Calm down. I told you not to lose your temper. It leads to internal heat, mouth sores, bad breath, and phlegm!" Liu Daqing glared at him, sat down resentfully, and said, "If the road south weren't blocked, I would have bailed long ago!"

"Bailed" was a cant term Deng She hadn't heard in a long time. He sighed, "Listening to Uncle Liu, it reminds me of what my foster father said: the longer the war drags on, the fewer the old brothers remain."

Hu Zhong said, "Exactly! Nephew, think about your old horse-thief days. How grand you were then, and how many are left now? You are just too foolish, can't you see it? Guan Pingzhang clearly treats us as pawns. We are the first to die in dangerous tasks, and the last to share in the spoils. Don't look at his incense tables and oaths today—bullshit saving the lord! If he wanted to save him, he would have done it already. It’s all a show for us, to fool naive, hot-blooded kids like you! Why does he woo you? Why the constant banquets since you arrived in Liaoyang? Isn't it because he wants your territory? The cat is out of the bag now, isn't it? He’s mobilizing your men and keeping you under house arrest, and you’re still speaking up for him."

Hu Zhong sighed repeatedly, "We are just too honest! Learn from experience, nephew. You need to get smarter."

After circling the issue for so long, Deng She was tired. He had been thinking hard all day. Sensing the time was right, he frowned and asked, "What is Uncle Hu's suggestion?"

"Nephew, my misfortune is your warning. I have no other motive, just advising you to be more careful. Find a way to return to Goryeo quickly." Hu Zhong looked at Deng She, "I am not alarmist. If you don't hurry, within a month, half of your men will be wasted by Guan Pingzhang! Have you thought about that?"

"Shenyang... war there seems unlikely."

"It's unlikely now, but what about after Liaonan? Once Liaonan and Liaoyang are linked, can Guan Pingzhang leave Shenyang alone? Do you think he mobilized you just to surround Shenyang? Sooner or later, he will act, and your men will definitely be the vanguard!"

Guan Duo wouldn't let Deng She interfere in the attack on Liaonan, and it was unlikely he would let him interfere in the attack on Shenyang either. Both locations connected to Goryeo, and Guan Duo was too busy suppressing him to let him roam free. Deng She’s heart skipped a beat as he considered another possibility—the worst-case scenario that he and Hong Jixun had discussed.

It seemed Guan Duo was "boiling the frog in warm water." Deng She couldn't afford to be optimistic. He looked at the few men before him. Together, they had six or seven thousand men, and their combat effectiveness was low, but this was the first step toward the best-case scenario.

"Knowledge on paper is shallow, one must act to truly understand." The best and worst cases were still just "on paper." Whether they became reality depended on action. To survive in the cracks, one must act.

Deng She said, "Had Uncle Hu not mentioned this, I truly would not have thought of it. But even if I am used as the vanguard for Shenyang, I have no choice but to obey the orders. As for you uncles, from what you've said, it seems..." He paused, then asked with concern, "What are your plans?"

Hu Zhong and Liu Daqing exchanged glances. Hu Zhong cleared his throat, checked outside, and said, "Let's put our plans aside for a moment. May I ask, nephew, do you have plans to return to Goryeo?"

Deng She remained silent. Hu Zhong, thinking he had guessed Deng She's intent, whispered, "Are you afraid you can't leave? Don't worry. Even though our forces are small, we can play a role at the critical moment. There are many generals in the army who have suffered like us. One word from you, and they will follow. If you are willing, I am prepared to be your vanguard and sound them out tomorrow."

Liu Daqing added, "We may be miscellaneous, unwanted goods, but we can scrape together ten or twenty thousand men. If you want to leave, whoever dares to block your path, we’ll kill our way out. One way or another, we’ll ensure you leave safely."

Hu Zhong said, "Exactly. Nephew, what do you think? Decide now!"

At this point, he couldn't play dumb. They had laid their cards on the table. Was it a test from Guan Duo? Deng She didn't trust Liu Daqing, but he trusted Hu Zhong. Hu Zhong’s son had died in the Iron Cavalry Valley battle—not by the enemy, but executed by Guan Duo for fleeing his post.

Hu Zhong was nearly fifty, and that son was his only child. He had no brothers, and his line was ending. He had a "lioness" at home but was desperately taking concubines, hoping for another son.

Deng She could bet that this group was organized by Hu Zhong. The idea of defecting to him must have been Hu Zhong’s. The Qianhus were too low-ranking, and Liu Daqing was too hot-headed. It had to be Hu Zhong.

Deng She said gratefully, "You have thought this through for me, and I am deeply grateful. If there is anything I can do, please speak."

Hu Zhong said selflessly, "We do this first for the friendship with your foster father, and second, to help you conquer Goryeo and win dignity for our miscellaneous factions. Why should others be arrogant while we have to be subservient?" Deng She nodded in agreement, but Hu Zhong changed the tone, "As for personal motives, we have those too."

He paused, observing Deng She. Deng She braced himself, "Please, Uncle, tell me. If I can do it, I will not refuse." He was nervous, hoping they wouldn't ask him to lead his main army to kill Guan Duo. That was impossible.

Hu Zhong sighed, "As your foster father said, the longer we fight, the fewer old brothers we have. We have only one request: when you return to Goryeo, take us with you. Save the lives of our remaining brothers, and our wish will be fulfilled."

Deng She breathed a sigh of relief, "You cherish your brothers and value loyalty—I am impressed. Rest assured, this is a small matter. If you want to go to Goryeo, I would welcome you. I am willing to share the land of Shuangcheng with you."

Hu Zhong and the others were overjoyed and knelt again. Hu Zhong led them, "General, please accept our allegiance." "General" was a more personal title than "Chief Commander," signifying they were now his subordinates.

Deng She helped them up. The dynamic had changed. He said, "Uncle Wen and Uncle Chen are in Goryeo. They would be so happy to know you are coming."

Hu Zhong said, "Back in the day, when I drank with your foster father, Wen and Chen were always there. General Wen’s capacity for liquor was truly something—he always drank me under the table! Haha."

Deng She laughed and chatted about old times before returning to the topic, "What are the chances of rallying our old friends, Uncle Hu?"

Hu Zhong boasted, "I have no other talents, but I am good at making friends. I won't speak for the three Pingzhang’s core men, but I have many dealings with the ordinary miscellaneous factions. I know their situation well—they are all full of complaints." He promised, "Within ten days, I can rally at least twenty thousand troops for you."

That was the limit. The miscellaneous factions barely totaled thirty thousand. Their combat effectiveness, discounted, might match ten thousand of Guan Duo’s core men. But in a sudden mutiny, the odds were much better.

Deng She said, "Excellent. I will not hide from you that I have another purpose in coming to Liaoyang beyond the imperial decree." Hu Zhong asked, "Oh? Please tell me." Deng She replied, "When the lips are gone, the teeth are cold. The Tatars are powerful and approaching Liaoyang. If Liaoyang falls, Uncle, our Shuangcheng will be under immense pressure."

Hu Zhong nodded. Shuangcheng and Liaoyang flew the same banner; they shared the same fate against external enemies.

Deng She said, "Therefore, I do not intend to return to Goryeo until the crisis in Liaoyang is resolved." Hu Zhong stayed calm, but Liu Daqing grew impatient and almost jumped up again. Hu Zhong pulled him down, shouting, "No rudeness before the General!"

Deng She said, "Uncle Liu, don't worry. Let me finish. I understand your concerns. We won't return yet, but we will eventually." Liu Daqing couldn't help but ask, "What about the attack on Liaonan?"

Deng She smiled, "Go ahead and be the vanguard for Liaonan. Gao Jianu only has ten or twenty thousand men; he is not hard to beat." Knowing Liu Daqing feared further losses, he analyzed, "The focus of the Liaonan attack isn't actually Liaonan, but the other three fronts. If there is a fierce battle, it won't be there, but at Shuosijian, Liaoxi, or even Shenyang."

"Why would Guan Pingzhang be willing to send his core troops to Liaonan while leaving Pan and Liu’s men to defend? He sees this too. Pan and Liu agreed because their main forces are at Shuosijian and Liaoxi, and because Guan Pingzhang is also responsible for containing Shenyang. Who knows where the main battle will be? Before it appears, no one knows, so it’s considered fair."

"Therefore, do not worry. The attack on Liaonan may not be easy, but there will be no 'hard bones' to chew."

Hu Zhong nodded repeatedly. Liu Daqing and the others remained skeptical. Deng She said firmly, "Even so, war means casualties. Do not worry; if Guan Pingzhang doesn't replenish your losses, I will."

Liu Daqing curled his lip, clearly not believing him. Deng She said, "Do you know Luo Guoqi, Li Heshang, and Guan Shirong?" They knew Li Heshang—the famous "Monk Brigade." Deng She continued, "Li Heshang is now under my command. You must have heard. General Li is brave and has been repeatedly decorated since Yongping. He is now one of my top generals. A messenger from Shuangcheng mentioned recently that he was complaining about the new recruits—a centurion under him is almost as strong as a Qianhu."

The implication was that one of Deng She’s Qianhus commanded nearly ten thousand men. This was an exaggeration, but not far from the truth. Old hands like Li Heshang, nominally Qianhus, had over two thousand men. It wasn't downsizing; it was severe over-staffing. There was no choice—there weren't enough officers, and even fewer great generals.

Hu Zhong and the others exchanged looks. They had heard rumors about Shuangcheng—that it was booming—but they also knew Li Heshang wasn't Deng She’s original crony. Believing his promise on empty words was hard.

Deng She knew their thoughts. Without immediate benefits, he couldn't harden their resolve. If they grew suspicious and discouraged, they might even report him to Guan Duo.

He sat leisurely, and in the flickering lamplight, once they had finished their silent exchange, he slowly revealed his trump card.