Chapter 112: Rupture

  Rupture

  The staff who spoke was one of the twenty-eight guards, with good martial arts skills, but more inclined to strategy, and was left here by King Ze.

  His twenty-eight guards had watched Yin Ruofei grow up from a young age, and he was truly like his own younger brother, where could others tolerate being slandered.

  Although no names were mentioned, everyone present knew that the remark was directed at General Liu. Some people couldn't hold back their laughter and burst out laughing, causing General Liu's face to turn red and white with rage, almost to the point of fainting.

  "You...you..." General Liu's face turned red with rage, but he couldn't refute anything. If he had really cursed out loud, wouldn't that be admitting that the one being talked about was indeed him?

  "All right, be careful with your words in the army, don't speak carelessly." Yin Haicheng coughed heavily and said. Although this sentence seemed to be directed at several staff members, it was clear that it was a reprimand to General Liu since he spoke immediately after him.

  To say nothing of the fact that those attendants were not low-ranking officials, they also rebuked General Liu for being arrogant and looking down on Master Wang. Who would be so blind as to think they were talking about them? While everyone was secretly laughing, they were also deeply pleased in their hearts. In the past, General Liu had always acted as if he were superior, but in reality, he was narrow-minded and looked down on others. Now that he had gotten himself into trouble by offending someone he shouldn't have, everyone couldn't help but think it served him right.

  However, everyone gave Yin Haicheng face and pretended that they had not heard anything, leaving the main tent one after another. General Liu saw that no one paid attention to him and walked around him to leave, knowing that this matter had made a big fuss and lost face, with a humiliated expression he also came out, but in his heart he was furious and resentful.

  General Zhao has always been on good terms with General Liu, and even last time when General Liu had a falling out with General Long because of Yin Ruofei, he firmly stood on General Liu's side.

  But it's different now.

  Before, he had only exchanged a few words with Yin Ruofei, and their relationship was absolutely not harmonious. However, since the other day when Yin Ruofei put aside their past grievances to help him take his pulse and cure his toothache, he found that this young man was not as General Liu had said.

  How could a young man with such an ancient and passionate chivalrous spirit, yet also with the demeanor of a noble young master, be the kind of vulgar person that General Liu spoke of?

  For these reasons, General Zhao also had some views on General Liu, but overall, he still hoped that General Liu could turn his spear into a jade belt with Yin Xiaoxian and never have any more conflicts.

  General Zhao's thoughts were good, but things didn't develop according to his wishes. As soon as they left the main tent, General Liu had a fierce expression and pulled General Zhao back to his own tent, pouring two bowls of wine and gulping them down.

  Just having been ridiculed by those people, General Zhao also knew that his mood must be bad, so he accompanied him to drink a bowl, but then General Liu wanted to pour again and was stopped by General Zhao.

  It won't be a battle today, hiding in one's own place and secretly drinking a mouthful is also harmless. The military generals are basically good at wine, and it's not that they can't understand. But if you get drunk, this would be a violation of military discipline.

  Two countries are at war, who can anticipate whether the other will launch a surprise attack or not. If it's due to drunkenness, even if someone else is beheaded on the battlefield, there's nothing that can be said about it. That's why General Zhao intervened to stop him.

  General Liu's eyes rolled over, and his bad mood suddenly erupted on General Zhao. He looked at General Zhao with a cold smile and said, "What, can't I even have a drink?"

  "It's not that you can't, but don't drink too much, or else the marshal will find out..." General Zhao was speaking with a bitter tone, trying to persuade him, but before he could finish his sentence, he was ruthlessly interrupted by General Liu.

  "Marshal, Marshal, now you've actually defected to the Yin family's side?" General Liu coldly laughed again, shook off General Zhao's hand, and poured another large bowl of wine down his throat.

  "Lao Liu, what are you talking about?" General Zhao knew that General Liu was not pleased in his heart and didn't argue with him. Besides, this kind of talk wasn't something General Liu hadn't said before, and General Zhao also knew that he wasn't broad-minded.

  "I know, I'm being suppressed now, and you're all laughing at me." General Liu downed two large bowls of wine, and this statement was even more unpleasant to hear. "For the sake of a little brat, actually losing face for me, humph, isn't the Yin family just offering a male concubine to the prince? What's so impressive about that? In the future, I'll also offer two to the emperor, let's see who has the higher official rank!"

  "General Liu!" General Zhao slammed his hand on the table, "What are you talking about? Are you still a great general defending the borders?"

  What kind of dirty words are in his mind and mouth, listening to them makes me angry. Now General Zhao looks at Yin Ruofei with such a favorable eye, remembering the kindness he has shown him, if it were General Liu who said something else, it would be fine, but can this kind of thing be slandered casually?

  "What did I say? That young man is tender and delicate, aren't you curious?" General Liu seemed to be really drunk, his face actually showed a very lewd expression, "Not to mention that young man, even Ze Wang... tsk tsk..."

  General Zhao could no longer bear it, suddenly standing up, his palm smashing the table in General Liu's tent to pieces, his finger trembling as he pointed at him. "I never thought you were this kind of person, I was really blind! From now on, we are no longer brothers!"

  General Zhao put down his hand heavily and walked towards the door. General Liu was really drunk just now, so he inadvertently said what was hidden in his heart. If it were usual, he would not say so, even if he had this meaning, he would hide it in a righteous and stern speech.

  General Zhao slapped the table with one palm, shattering the wine jug and cups all over the floor, which suddenly sobered him up. He remembered what he had just said and his face turned pale instantly.

  "Old Zhao..." General Liu hastily tried to persuade him, he also knew that if this got out, he would be finished. It was fortunate that the young man had only said so much, at most he would be ostracized, but he had also mentioned Prince Wang, who was the Emperor's own brother, a member of the imperial family and nobility. Just having such thoughts was a capital offense. Therefore, no matter what, even if he begged for mercy on his knees, General Zhao could not be allowed to reveal this matter.

  General Liu shouted this sentence, and General Zhao really stopped in his tracks, turned around and walked back to him.

  "Lao Zhao." General Liu was overjoyed and thought about how to stabilize the other side, "We've been friends for many years, you can't take back what you just said, ah——"

  General Liu never thought that what awaited him was not General Zhao's pardon, but his iron fist. This punch came crashing down on his face with great force, and even though he dodged slightly, he was still hit squarely, instantly leaving his face covered in bruises.

  "You——"

  "Hum, you shameless scoundrel! I won't spread the words you said everywhere, I'm afraid of dirtying my mouth. But let's settle this once and for all, a heroic Han man like me will never associate with a despicable person like you!"

  Speak, General Zhao has really left. He is a straightforward person, originally walked to the door, but in his heart he was not reconciled. He took Yin Ruifei as a friend, treated him equally, and how could he listen to others insulting his friends and brothers!

  He turned back, and unexpectedly saw General Liu with a flattering face, wanting to please him, to cover up what he had said. This time it really made him sick, previously only angry, now thoroughly became contemptuous, General Zhao even deeply despised himself, how could he become friends with such a shameless person!

  General Zhao walked out of the large tent and headed towards General Long's tent. Previously, because of this despicable person, he had a falling out with General Long. At that time, he didn't understand why he would break off relations with a friend of so many years for someone he had just met a few days ago.

  Only now did he realize that the one who was wrong was not General Long, but himself. He hurried to apologize to General Long, after all, they had been friends for many years and it wasn't worth cutting ties over a despicable person.

  On this side, it's chaotic, but Yin Ruofei and Rong Jingze are eating with relish, drinking delicious mutton soup, and savoring the tender and fragrant stewed mutton and mushrooms, until they're stuffed to bursting.

  The people outside are also eating well, and they have been holding back for so long. If Xiaofei didn't eat well, their food would be even more unbearable. This time it really relieved a lot of cravings.

  After eating and drinking enough, the group of people seemed to have sparked their enthusiasm and fought on the grassland for a while. When Rong Jingze woke up from his nap in the tent with his little flying creature, he suddenly found that there were many more prey outside.

  "Is that... a wolf?" Yin Ruofei was woken up by Rong Jingze, rubbed his eyes and took a look, and suddenly stared with wide eyes.

  These wolves are not easy to deal with, arrogant, unyielding, and skilled at group attacks, especially here, where lone wolves rarely exist. So many wolves, could it be that Brother Daguang and the others have destroyed their den?

  The two quickly got up and listened carefully, and indeed, this group of people went out hunting, encountered a few sheep, but did not know that there was also a pack of wolves eyeing these sheep.

  Relying on their artistic skills and boldness, they were not few in number, and they killed these wolves one by one. It was also their good luck that there were only more than 20 wolves in this wolf pack, basically one person per wolf to deal with. If it were a wolf pack of forty or fifty or even hundreds, they would have had to retreat as well.

  They had already eaten their fill, and Zongbao immediately decided to return to camp. These wolves and the few sheep they had caught would be used as an extra dish for the many generals in the army.

  These dozens of wolves and a few sheep immediately lifted the spirits of the military camp. Although most people had never eaten wolf meat, dog meat was delicious, so it was assumed that the taste of wolves would not be much different. Even if each person couldn't get more than a few bites, having meat to eat wasn't a bad thing after all.

  That night, wolf meat stewed with potatoes and radishes, braised wolf ribs satisfied everyone's cravings. Yin Ruofei even took half a roasted lamb to please his father, saying that he had run out today.

  Yin Haicheng saw that everyone was happy, and he himself was quite satisfied. He said a few words to Yin Ruofei, but they were not serious. All the generals were having dinner in Yin Haicheng's large tent, and with this half-roasted lamb, the atmosphere became even more lively.

  Yin Ruofei took a glance, Zhao Jiangjun and Long Jiangjun were sitting together, but Liu Jiangjun was nowhere to be seen. He had an idea in his mind. Suppressing the pain in his heart, he returned to Rong Ze's large tent with a smile on his face.

  "Just by looking at your expression, I can tell you've succeeded again."

  Before long, the twenty-eight guards who had been left to keep watch came over and told what they had seen. Although it was not clear what General Liu had said, that he and General Zhao had fallen out was beyond doubt.

  This day was all about making Yin Ruofei happy, and he was indeed delighted. However, when facing Rong Jingze, he couldn't help but feel a little shy, after all, their relationship had changed. When it was time to sleep at night, he even left one of his undershirts behind, leaving Rong Jingze crying with laughter, repeatedly saying that it was worth it.

  The army quieted down, and Yin Ruofei fell into a sweet sleep, unknowingly leaning into Rong Jingze's arms. Rong Jingze had long opened his arms, waiting for the daily performance of his little flying swallow's affectionate gestures. Meanwhile, a team of fast horses galloped along the road to the capital, carrying a letter that would make both Rong Jingze and Yin Ruofei extremely angry.