BLHO Chapter 66

Chapter 66: Fed it to the Dogs

Han Mao’s attempt to sow discord was too obvious, and Lin Shuangxu, besides being annoyed, found it extremely laughable.

However, having just cautioned He Yuncheng not to break ties with him, he naturally wouldn’t start a feud himself.

He allowed him to say whatever he wanted, at will.

“I’ll take that as General Han praising me. The rumors are too boring, so I won’t offer many explanations. Farewell.”

He was gentle but with barbs, seeing Han Mao off with a final remark, and didn’t linger.

After he returned to his tent, Han Mao stood there for a while, watching until the candle light in the tent was gone and he could no longer see any figure, before leaving with a lingering sense of dissatisfaction.

The first night of the journey was relatively peaceful.

The next day, the wind was much gentler. To speed up the journey, the soldiers rose and packed their tents before dawn.

The He and Han armies’ camps were set up separately, and rations were also distributed separately. The military pay that Han Mao was escorting from Fengdu City had not yet been distributed to the He family army, so they were still consuming their own stored food.

The cooks, according to the usual standards, distributed the dry rations to everyone. In the morning light, the soldiers gathered in groups of twos and threes, quickly eating to fill their stomachs.

Lin Shuangxu usually ate in a slow and methodical manner, but in the military camp, he had to swallow the dry rations in large mouthfuls to avoid slowing everyone down.

He Yuncheng unscrewed his water pouch and handed it to him, considerately saying, “Take a sip, eat slowly, there’s no rush.”

Lin Shuangxu took it and took a small sip, which made it much easier to swallow the dry rations stuck in his throat.

“Conditions are limited on the march. Bear with it. Once we enter the city, you’ll be able to eat something more palatable.”

He Yuncheng gently comforted him, feeling that he was making him suffer by bringing him along.

Lin Shuangxu finished drinking and handed the water pouch back to him. “I’m not that delicate. Everyone is eating the same thing. I’m not more precious than anyone else.”

He Yuncheng smiled apologetically and leaned close to his ear, saying, “You are precious.”

Lin Shuangxu dodged the warm breath and glared at him, reminding him to be mindful in front of others.

The two found a unique kind of joy in making the best of their bitter situation.

However, Deputy General Qin Yue, who was also gnawing on dry rations, wasn’t so content.

“This is really fucking frustrating.” Deputy General Qin sat down on the ground, starting off with an angry curse.

He Yuncheng looked over, puzzled. Before he could ask, the other party couldn’t hold back and began to complain, “The Han family army over there is eating meat. Isn’t it too greasy so early in the morning? Are we out here fighting a war or sightseeing? General, Han Mao is holding onto the military pay and treating us so differently. Isn’t that too much?!”

He Yuncheng took a bite of his dry rations, thought for a moment, and said, “Easy. You can go be Deputy General to Han Mao, then you can eat meat.”

Deputy General Qin’s eyes widened, choked. “That’s not what I meant! I’m standing up for you, General!”

“If you’re standing up for me, then focus your energy on the Yan Zhao people. Don’t waste your energy on insignificant people.”

That was true. What was Han Mao anyway, to be worthy of going against their general?

Deputy General Qin felt a little better. Right now, he’d let that Han fellow act arrogantly with his imperial decree. Once the war was stable and the He family army returned victorious, they’d see how much meat he could still eat.

He stopped complaining and lowered his head to continue gnawing on his dry rations.

Just then, they heard footsteps approaching from behind.

He thought it was one of his brothers coming over, but when he looked back, he saw a soldier with an unfamiliar face, wearing a Han family scarf around his neck.

One of Han Mao’s men.

The man was carrying a bowl of fragrant stewed meat. After arriving, he didn’t even look at He Yuncheng, but walked past everyone directly to Lin Shuangxu.

“Young Master, General Han said that the food in the army is hard to swallow and is afraid you won’t eat well and it will harm your health, so he specially sent me to bring you a bowl of meat soup.”

Lin Shuangxu was startled, his expression changing subtly, almost imperceptibly.

He looked calmly at the soldier, not taking the thing in his hand.

What was this act about? Several He family confidants nearby were confused and looked at He Yuncheng in unison.

He Yuncheng didn’t say a word, his eyes instantly covered with a layer of frost.

Who was it that said earlier that insignificant people weren’t worth getting angry about…

Deputy General Qin reacted and suddenly stood up. The anger that had just subsided was ignited again. He questioned the soldier, “What does this mean? Our young master isn’t familiar with you. What are you offering favors for? Trying to stir up trouble?”

The soldier explained, “General Han is just concerned about the young master.”

“Who needs his concern?!” Deputy General Qin roared, causing everyone to turn their heads to look over.

He quickly glanced at He Yuncheng.

The general didn’t show any intention of stopping him.

Then he could confidently and boldly start cursing.

“Thank you for your general’s unnecessary concern, but our He family army is a regular army with strict military discipline, and we strictly prohibit extravagance and waste! Please take your gang of ruffians and playboys’ style far away. Fighting a war isn’t about playing around. If you don’t know what it means to be a soldier, then go home and be young masters early!”

The soldier was only acting on orders and didn’t need to start a conflict with him. He ignored him after he finished cursing and said to Lin Shuangxu, “If the Young Master doesn’t accept it, this humble one won’t be able to report back.”

“Are you fucking deaf!” Deputy General Qin directly stepped forward to pull him. “I’m telling you to take it away!”

Seeing that he was about to make a move, the soldier no longer backed down. The free hand quickly reached for his waist, preparing to draw his saber.

Lin Shuangxu’s face lost its gentleness, and he raised his voice, “Stop!”

Deputy General Qin paused upon hearing this, and glanced at He Yuncheng again, but still couldn’t discern his attitude, not knowing what the general was thinking.

Lin Shuangxu secretly calmed his tone and said to the soldier, “Since it’s General Han’s kind intention, I’ll accept it. Thank him for me.”

He took the bowl of meat soup, the soldier’s mission was complete, and he didn’t linger, turning around and going back.

The deputy general stared in the direction he left, the fire in his heart unable to be vented, and he felt frustrated no matter how he thought about it.

Guo Yao tugged at his sleeve. “Sit down.”

Lin Shuangxu also sat back down next to He Yuncheng, turning to look at him.

He Yuncheng didn’t avoid his gaze, making it clear with his eyes that he was forcibly suppressing himself.

Lin Shuangxu wanted to coax and comfort him, but with so many people around, it wasn’t convenient. He could only smile wearily but gently, reminding him, “It’s getting light, eat quickly, and let’s get on the road.”

The army advanced at full speed. Yesterday, there was almost a conflict on the road. Today, Lin Shuangxu deliberately slowed his horse, keeping the He family and Han Mao at a distance.

Han Mao was deliberately trying to provoke them, wanting to make them explode with anger so that he would have an excuse to deduct their rations and suppress them in every way.

They would avoid him as much as possible.

But some troubles couldn’t be avoided, and even if they were avoided, they would come to the door.

After traveling for most of the day, everyone found a stream to water their horses and rest.

Lin Shuangxu sat on a rock by the stream drinking water, and saw the figure walking towards him out of the corner of his eye, arousing a little annoyance and a lot of vigilance.

“Shuangxu.”

A warm greeting, as if they were very familiar.

Lin Shuangxu smiled appropriately and stood up to respond, “General Han.”

“Why are you here alone? Where’s He Yuncheng?”

Han Mao crossed his arms, thinking he was suave, and spoke to Lin Shuangxu in a manner that teased at his heart.

Lin Shuangxu didn’t feel anything about this, and politely replied, “He’s discussing matters with the military advisor. Are you looking for him?”

“No.” Han Mao waved his hand. “Seeing you alone, I came over to talk to you. It’s good he’s not here, to avoid him always rolling his eyes at people, as if someone’s going to snatch away his precious darling.”

Lin Shuangxu raised the corners of his mouth slightly, taking it as agreement with his joke.

“How do you feel?” Han Mao asked him.

“About what?”

“Two days of marching. Can you handle it?” Han Mao said.

“I’m fine.”

Lin Shuangxu was being perfunctory, but Han Mao continued to chat enthusiastically, and said to Lin Shuangxu, “I really can’t figure it out. Military operations are the most arduous. How could He Yuncheng bear to let you come out and suffer? If I were him, I would definitely take great care of Young Master Shuangxu, not letting you suffer even a little bit.”

Han Mao’s words were sarcastic, deliberately making people uncomfortable.

Lin Shuangxu was still not annoyed, but he no longer responded to his words, smiling at him, a hint of warning in that smile.

If he was a sensible person, he would shut up and leave quickly.

But Han Mao came to provoke him, and was usually accustomed to getting whatever he wanted, never encountering someone who ignored him. So, while his original purpose was to anger He Yuncheng, as they talked, his competitive spirit was provoked by Lin Shuangxu.

He had to experience this taste.

He hung around, raising his eyebrows, and asked Lin Shuangxu, “Did you drink the meat soup I sent this morning? Was it palatable?”

This time, before Lin Shuangxu could speak, Han Mao heard someone answer from behind, “Fed it to the dogs.”

He was stunned, turning back to see He Yuncheng, not knowing how long he had been standing there.

The sky was azure blue, and the cold wind blew at the hem of his black clothes. He Yuncheng’s eyes were half-closed into a line in the sunlight, like a head wolf guarding its territory, ready to tear apart any invader.

He didn’t look at Han Mao directly, but walked straight to Lin Shuangxu, using his body to block half of his shoulder, his body language declaring his ownership.

Han Mao’s smile faded away. He wasn’t sure if he had misheard what He Yuncheng had said earlier, and he looked to Lin Shuangxu for confirmation.

Lin Shuangxu smiled leisurely, explaining for He Yuncheng, “I usually don’t like greasy food, and I didn’t want to waste General Han’s good intentions. It just so happened that I encountered an injured hyena in the forest. A bowl of meat soup saves a life. Consider it as accumulating virtue and doing good deeds for General Han.”

He said it so matter-of-factly that Han Mao’s face visibly darkened.

His anger was bound to shift to He Yuncheng. He stared fiercely at He Yuncheng, seeing the concealed provocation in his unkind eyes.

He was mocking him for overestimating himself.

Good, no rush.

Han Mao calmed his emotions slightly, saying to Lin Shuangxu, “It was originally that I was not careful enough. Next time, I will know Young Master Shuangxu’s tastes.”

“There doesn’t need to be a next time.” Lin Shuangxu said directly, “I don’t need it.”

Han Mao chuckled coldly, “Alright, then wait until you need it someday. You can come and find me. I’ll be waiting for you at any time.”

After he finished speaking, he didn’t give Lin Shuangxu a chance to refute him, and turned to leave, shouting to the resting soldiers, “Set off!”

After he walked away, Lin Shuangxu breathed a sigh of relief, glanced at He Yuncheng, and asked him, “What’s wrong? You look so melancholy. Did you finish checking the remaining stored food with Guo Yao? How much is left?”

He Yuncheng softened his expression slightly, and said to him, “There’s enough.”

Lin Shuangxu nodded. He Yuncheng didn’t want him to worry, so he didn’t ask too much.

The surrounding soldiers successively led their horses back to the team. The two stood where they were, neither of them speaking. Han Mao was gone, but the irritability in the atmosphere hadn’t dissipated.

“Prepare the army.” Lin Shuangxu reminded him.

“Yeah.” He Yuncheng responded in a low voice, without saying anything else, and turned to walk towards the team.

Lin Shuangxu followed closely behind him, and while they hadn’t yet rejoined the team, he quietly hooked He Yuncheng’s little finger.

The slightly cool temperature was faint, passing through the fingertips, just enough to soothe.

He Yuncheng looked back, “What’s wrong?”

Lin Shuangxu wasn’t a person who liked to act spoiled, but at this moment he smiled inscrutably.

“It’s nothing, just feeling bestial, wanted to touch you.”