176 – Lei Tie’s Intimidation

Out of the Second Prince Establishment, Qin Mian told Lei Tie about how to deal with Princess Yanqing. He never believed in the idea that “men should be gentle with women”. As long as people tried to destroy his relationship with Lei Tie, whether it was men or women, they all should be dealt with as cleanly as the autumn wind swept away the fallen leaves.

For Lei Tie’s previous experience, he was still worried. Back then, A-Tie ran away from home and wandered alone for more than a year. He suffered a lot. Due to predestined fate, he had a chance to save a dejected elderly man and began to practice Cultivation of Trueness. The elderly man taught him and left without a farewell six months later. Fortunately, A-Tie was very gifted in the Cultivation of Trueness. In just two years, he reached the Golden Elixir stage. A lone person’s journey was too solitary. At that time, A-Tie’s desire to become an Immortal was not particularly strong. He wanted to stand out and let Lei Daqiang and Du Shi regret it. As a result, A-Tie entered the military camp at the age of 16 and became famous at the age of 17. In the army, he was needed and found the motivation to survive. But what happened later gave him a heavy blow. The emperor and the empress dowager forced him to marry Princess Yanqing. The most excessive part was that Princess Yanqing not only uttered lies but went so far as to force him by a death threat. Because of Du Shi, A-Tie was disgusted with women – Princess Yanqing’s behavior made him even sick and disgusted. He had no choice but to ruin his appearance to save himself.

That’s right, Lei Tie made the scar on his face. He entered the military camp after he had the Cultivation of Trueness. How hard would it be for others to injure him, who had profound cultivation? Only he could do it to himself.

Qin Mian never thought of letting Princess Yanqing go. Today, he felt no guilt for what Princess Yanqing had done. If Princess Yanqing didn’t get better, he had plenty of means to deal with her. Emperor Xiaohui and Empress Dowager were not good in Qin Mian’s eyes. Shouldn’t loyal officers with outstanding military achievements be treated better? After Lei Tie ruined his appearance, Emperor Xiaohui and Empress Dowager still didn’t give up the idea of having him marry Princess Yanqing – really loathsome. If it wasn’t for Yuanyuan and Manman still needed to live in the secular world for a long time, even if Emperor Xiaohui promised to give the throne to A-Tie, Qin Mian and Lei Tie would not enter the Capital.

It wasn’t long before Qin Mian and Lei Tie left the Second Prince Establishment. What happened in there was written as a secret memorial by Emperor Xiaohui’s spy and sent to Emperor Xiaohui’s imperial table.

After Emperor Xiaohui read it, he burned it with a dull expression on his face. He couldn’t and wouldn’t do anything to Qin Mian. First of all, Qin Mian didn’t mention Princess Yanqing’s name directly from the beginning to the end – it was not a great disrespect to his betters. Secondly, he needed Defender Grand General of the State now. Thus, there was no need to annoy the Defender Grand General of the State because of some small things. However, Emperor Xiaohui doubted whether Qin Mian had seen through this second point to be so bold.

From the Second Prince Establishment back to the State Defender Duke Establishment and into the entrance, Qin Mian jumped off the horse. From the pocket inside of his clothes, Lei Tie took out two sheets of paper and gave them to Qin Mian.

“What’s that?” Qin Mian asked.

“Open up and look.”

As soon as he opened up the two sheets of paper, two bright red words of “Title Deed” had Qin Mian raise his eyebrows.

“These two buildings…”

Lei Tie looked attentively at him, “Don’t you want to open a medicine shop and a silverware shop?”

The two buildings were the same size, very suitable for opening a medicine shop and a silverware shop. Qin Mian so wanted to jump and kiss him. This guy quietly solved his big problem.

“Found a connection?”

Lei Tie said, “Left Grand General of the Imperial Guard. I’d saved him before.”

Qin Mian said, “Military officer? We’d better pay as much as they cost.”

Lei Tie nodded, “Of course.”

Qin Mian couldn’t wait to go to the buildings to have a look, but Lei Tie held him.

“Eat first.”

Qin Mian dryly laughed in embarrassment, “I almost forgot. Ruiqi and Ruilin even complained last night that I hadn’t cooked for a long time. Come, let’s cook.”

Lei Tie walked side by side with him. Even now that he was the highly respected State Defender Duke, he had not changed his habit of helping Qin Mian tend the kitchen fire.

There was still an hour before the afternoon recess of Dongyang Academy. Qin Mian cooked a large wok of mixed fried rice and a pot of white gourd and spare ribs soup. After he packed Yuanyuan and Manman’s portions, he and Lei Tie wiped out the rest.

They rested for a while after lunch. Qin Mian planned to visit the shop buildings.

Lei Tie was going to accompany him, but Lei-Qin Zhong came to report in a hurry, “My Lord, something happened in the army camp!”

Lei Tie frowned, “Wife, I…”

“One’s proper duty is important.” Qin Mian fully understood and said, “Be careful. Lei-Qin Zhong, you and Lei-Qin Shun have to keep your eyes open.”

“Please rest assured, my Lady.”

Qin Mian took Lei-Qin Le to see the shop buildings.

Lei Tie puts on his combat uniform and rushed to the army camp. Along the way, Lei-Qin Zhong told him the whole story in detail.

The army under the command of Lei Tie included the front army of 30000, the center army of 30000, and the rear army of 30000. The front was the vanguard force; the center army was under the command of the commander-in-chief and also the main force; the rear was mainly responsible for covering and guarding. The front army, center army, and rear army each had a commanding general from the second rank, respectively: General of the Front Dragon Army, General of the Center Supervision Army, and General of the Rear Militant Army. These three people had certain abilities and connections to climb to such a high level. Long before Lei Tie entered the Capital, they knew that the commander-in-chief of the army would be replaced. It was unknown who spread the news that there was a good chance that one of the three would be promoted to command the three armies. Little did they know that in the end, this position actually fell in the hand of Lei Tie. Many veterans in the army camp had heard of Lei Tianren’s prestige, and many new recruits and new generals were full of awe for Lei Tianren. However, Lei Tianren had been out of the army for eight years. Tong Dibao, General of the Front Dragon Army, Fang Shoujiang, General of the Center Supervision Army, and Ding Wenchang, General of the Rear Militant Army, all believed that Lei Tianren belonged to the past and were unconvinced of him. Today, this kind of contradiction completely broke out.

Lei Tie had led the army for many years that he wasn’t surprised this thing happened. If everyone showed deference and reverence to him, he would be suspicious.

The horse galloped into the army camp. From a distance, Lei Tie saw that the drill ground was in chaos. The soldiers who were convinced of Lei Tianren fought with those who were not – it was like a hornet’s nest had been stirred.

Tong Dibao, Fang Shoujiang, and Ding Wenchang were like provocateurs. They stood aside and didn’t stop the soldiers. When they saw Lei Tie, they didn’t show any panic. Instead, they boldly looked at him and even expected him to get angry.

Yet, Lei Tie did not – he was still calm. The rhythm of the horse’s hooves did not change.

The gallant horse galloped and stopped in front of Tong Dibao’s group of three. Lei Tie looked down at them and lightly said, “For indulging your subordinates creating a disturbance, each of the commanding generals shall be flogged 30 times. Do you obey?”

Tong Dibao was born with a loud voice and said aloud, “Obey! But we obey the military law, not you!”

His one word “obey” made Lei Tie look at him with a different look. Tong Dibao was nearly 40 years old. He had a strong-built and a rough face and was forthright in a naïve fashion. But from that pair of eyes with sharp glints from time to time, one could see that he was not so careless as the surface, otherwise, he would not be able to climb the high position of the General of the Front Dragon Army.

“What do you want?” Lei Tie’s eyes swept over the three men’s faces.

“Simple. Take on our challenge to battle.” Fang Shoujiang, General of the Central Supervision Army, had a bear’s loin and a tiger’s back¹, and a head of grey hair. He was nearly 50 years old and could still fight for another two years on the battlefield at most. Due to his age, he was the most eager for the position of the Defender Grand General of the State. If he couldn’t be promoted to another level within two years, it was impossible to be promoted to another level in the future.

General of the Rear Militant Army, Ding Wenchang, was also over 40 years old. He was wiry, capable, and experienced. Lei Tie was only 30 years old, that in which he considered just weaned. He had won no fewer battles than Lei Tie. Therefore, he had no problem with it. He stepped forward and expressed the same position as Tong Dibao and Fang Shoujiang. If they could defeat Lei Tie in front of so many soldiers, even if the emperor intended to defend Lei Tie, Lei Tie would lose his prestige in the army. At that time, the emperor would be forced to replace him even if he did not want to. This was his plan with Fang Shoujiang and Tong Dibao.

Lei Tie slightly nodded, “Restrain your subordinates. Come to the appointing platform.”

Seeing that he took the challenge, Tong Dibao’s group of three immediately spurred the horses to the drill ground to stop their subordinates.

In accordance with the superiors’ instructions, the soldiers quickly dispersed and returned to their ranks. The speed of their action could reflect that the prestige of Tong Dibao’s group of three in the army was not low.

Lei Tie stood on a high place. His eyes absorbed all of it without a change of expression.

Tong Dibao’s group of three rode to the appointing platform and saluted Lei Tie.

“Reporting, Grand General. The soldiers have assembled.”

Lei Tie motioned them to get on the appointing platform.

Tong Dibao’s group of three intended to frighten Lei Tie – they nimbly leaped from the horses directly to the front of the appointing platform.

Lei Tie lightly said, “You three come up together.”

The expressions of Tong Dibao’s group of three greatly changed.

“Grand General underestimates us!” Ding Wenchang said in a glum voice.

Lei Tie asked, “Aren’t you underestimating this General?”

Ding Wenchang was taken aback and had nothing to say in reply.

Tong Dibao hastened to mediate, “Grand General, General Ding didn’t mean it. He was just a little impatient. Please don’t mind it, Grand General.”

Lei Tie was noncommittal and repeated, “Come up together.”

Insult the man to excess! This thought flashed through the minds of Tong Dibao’s group of three at the same time. They looked at each other and surrounded Lei Tie in the middle.

“Grand General, [we’ll] offend you.” Fang Shoujiang took the lead.

Lei Tie signaled that they could start.

Tong Dibao was the most hot-tempered one. He leaped to Lei Tie and quickly and fiercely kicked toward Lei Tie’s right armpit with his right foot.

Lei Tie folded his left arm into an elbow, agilely rammed down, and ruthlessly struck the opponent’s instep.

The entire of Tong Dibao’s right leg felt pain, so much so that it shook slightly. He was greatly alarmed. Knowing that there was no need to continue to probe, he cast a warning look to Fang Shoujiang with a grave expression.

Fang Shoujiang was a veteran – how could he miss Tong Dibao’s reaction? Even if Tong Dibao didn’t say it, he also realized that Lei Tie really was not an easy opponent. He nodded to Tong Dibao slightly behind Lei Tie.

The soldiers below saw the situation on the appointing platform. They all restrained their excitement and kept their eyes glued on the match.

Ding Wenchang stood aside and did not put on an offensive stand. When Lei Tie, Tong Dibao, and Fang Shoujiang fought again, he quietly changed his pace and always kept the position on the left behind Lei Tie. What he was going to do was obvious. No one would think that his sneak attack was despicable because on the battlefield, every soldier had only one goal: to kill the enemy and save himself by all means.

However, until more than 20 moves later, Ding Wenchang was shocked to realize that he had never found a chance to start! Lei Tie seemed to be careless, but in fact, he had a tight defense.

He did not hesitate to give up the plan of sneak attack and joined the battle.

Some of the soldiers could not help muttering, “The generals are going too far. They are three against one.”

Others had no idea that Fang Shoujiang’s group of three were more and more frightened. When they exerted 30% of strength, Lei Tie used 40% of strength to suppress them; when they exerted 40% of strength, Lei Tie used 50% of strength to suppress them².…… In any case, he was always 10% higher than them. He was not just suppressing them so they didn’t have the strength to fight back, but also made them completely unable to find out his limitation.

Until nearly an hour later, Ding Wenchang was the first to let go of the idea of resistance and convinced of Lei Tie [strength]. If they continued to fight, he, Fang Shoujiang, and Tong Dibao would only be disgraced.

Fang Shoujiang was still not resigned, but Ding Wenchang’s opinion wavered his thoughts, which also affected Tong Dibao.

Ultimately, Fang Shoujiang and Tong Dibao could only look at each other and stopped at the same time.

Not all of the soldiers below were able to discern the profound mystery within this [battle]. When they saw Tong Dibao’s group of three knelt respectfully to salute Lei Tie, they all understood.

Lei Tie raised his hand to the three people and made a “please get up” gesture. He sank the qi to his dantian and said in a deep voice, “Continue to drill.”

It was just three words, but it was like thunder in everyone’s ears. From this, they could see the depth of Lei Tie’s skills.

None of the soldiers was not wearing a look of awe and veneration as they landed on one knee in unison, and uniformly shouted “Grand General is mighty”, imbued with a spirit that could conquer mountains and rivers.

Footnotes