In this battle, Zhang Shi and Wang Ming share equal credit

Wang Ming was still thinking about Zhang Shi, but the clamor before him quickly pulled his thoughts back.

After meeting Chen Song, he reached out and patted him on the shoulder, giving him an approving look before asking, “Where is Marquis Jingyi Pei Wugou?”

“On the prisoner cart!”

“Bring him here. Let me have a look.”

Wang Ming waited on horseback. Before long, he saw Marquis Jingyi Pei Wugou being brought over, and for a moment, his mind went blank.

During the battle outside Pukou City, he had been away on another mission and had not witnessed Pei Wugou’s prowess firsthand. Still, he had heard about it afterward—especially from Wu Xingzhou.

Pei Wugou was frighteningly strong.

Even more astonishingly, he was always immaculate, like a refined young gentleman untouched by the dust of the mortal world.

That had given Wang Ming a great deal of interest in him.

But the Pei Wugou before his eyes… what difference was there between him and an ordinary prisoner?

If there was any difference, it was that after being tormented by the soldiers together, he looked even more disheveled and wretched than an ordinary convict!

Wang Ming shook his head. “Seeing him like this, I’m truly disappointed.”

“Men!”

“Here!”

“Take Pei Wugou and that woman back and deliver them to the Duke. The Duke still has important uses for them.”

“Yes!”

One of Chen Song’s personal guards answered on his behalf, then spoke in a low voice. “General Wang Ming, well… I have considerable experience escorting prisoners.”

“Why not let me take them this time?”

“I guarantee that I’ll personally deliver him into the Duke’s hands without the slightest delay.”

Wang Ming shot Chen Song a glance. He had not expected the young man to be so shrewd. He did not know whether this was simply his nature, or whether Pei Wugou had driven him to become this way.

Still, it was a minor matter, and Wang Ming had no reason to refuse.

“Very well. Since you’re so willing, you may go.”

“However, you must leave several men familiar with military affairs here in Zhenjiang City, so that I can take over smoothly.”

“Rest assured, General Wang Ming.”

Chen Song’s grin nearly split his face. “I’ll arrange for clerks to handle everything in Zhenjiang City. I certainly won’t give General Wang Ming any trouble.”

“Then, once I’ve made the arrangements, may I take Pei Wugou and Wen He away?”

When Wang Ming nodded, Chen Song was overjoyed. He quickly finished making the necessary arrangements, then immediately set off with Pei Wugou and Wen He, hurrying toward the rear.

When they reached Iron Gate Pass, he saw Ren Tianye’s great standard and knew that the Duke had already taken up residence there. After announcing himself at the city gate, he was soon escorted inside.

There, he finally saw the man he had been longing to meet day and night—Ren Tianye.

“You’re Chen Song?”

“Yes, yes! Your Grace, I’m Chen Song!”

“Very good. I’m greatly pleased that you were able to abandon the darkness and turn to the light.” Ren Tianye smiled. “Wang Ming has already recorded your achievements and sent them to me. I have always been fair when handling military affairs, and I certainly won’t disappoint you.”

Chen Song repeatedly insisted that he did not deserve such praise, but his heart had already soared.

This was the Duke!

The moment he opened his mouth, he spoke of military matters and made it clear that rewards and punishments would be fairly assigned.

If only Pei Wugou had even a tenth of the Duke’s qualities—would he have ended up in his current state?

“Where is Pei Wugou?”

“Your Grace, he’s outside.”

“Bring him in!”

When Pei Wugou was brought inside, Ren Tianye looked him up and down. He almost failed to recognize him. What had they done to the man?

Still, it was clear just how deeply the soldiers of Zhenjiang City hated Pei Wugou.

Ren Tianye shook his head and did not bother dwelling on it. He said mildly, “Pei Wugou, do you still remember me?”

“Of course I do!”

Pei Wugou still bore wounds all over his body. He clenched his teeth as he forced out those few words, pain making sweat break out across his entire body. Even so, he remained unyielding.

“Ren Tianye, I’m a defeated soldier. I ask for nothing. If you have the courage, then kill me.”

“Oh? You’re not afraid of death?” Ren Tianye chuckled. “I just wonder whether that woman named Wen He is afraid of dying.”

“Su Jin!”

“Here!”

“Go and have a little talk with that Wen He.”

“Yes!”

“Wait!”

Pei Wugou instantly reacted as though someone had stepped on a cat’s tail. If he had not been bound and injured, he would certainly have leapt to his feet.

“Ren Tianye, what exactly are you planning to do?”

“Nothing much. I’m merely somewhat interested in the Yangtze. I’d like to cross it and take a little trip while I’m still young, but I don’t know much about the situation on the other side. So I thought I’d ask Miss Wen He to explain it to me.”

He paused, then continued, “Su Jin, make sure you question Miss Wen He properly. She’s so compassionate and so willing to help others—she certainly won’t disappoint me.”

Su Jin was about to acknowledge the order, but Pei Wugou shouted first.

“Ren Tianye, don’t go to Wen He! I—I’ll write it! I know more than Little He does. I’ll write down everything I know. I guarantee I won’t leave out a single word!”

“Is that so?” Ren Tianye said with a smile. “In that case, let Pei Wugou write first. Once he’s finished, if I’m not satisfied, I’ll go to Wen He.”

“I’ll definitely satisfy you!”

Pei Wugou’s shout echoed through the heavens.

Ren Tianye was delighted inwardly.

On this southern campaign, he had first captured the Prince of Love of Yunjing. He had originally thought that he could obtain plenty of intelligence from him, or at the very least use him as a hostage.

Unfortunately, the Prince of Love of Yunjing was all show and no substance—a prince in name only. He was practically useless, and had since been thrown into the Demon Suppression Office to “enjoy” their hospitality.

Fortunately, he now had Pei Wugou, an admirer of the Prince of Love of Yunjing. With Pei Wugou’s status as Marquis Jingyi, he would undoubtedly be able to provide considerable assistance when Ren Tianye crossed the Yangtze in the days ahead.

Ren Tianye waved his hand and had Pei Wugou taken away. He then picked up the battle report concerning the capture of the fortress cluster north of the Yangtze.

What he was mainly interested in was the distribution of credit.

As always, Wang Ming had not disappointed him.

First, he had captured Iron Gate Pass without losing a single soldier. Then Pei Wugou had crippled himself, allowing Wang Ming to seize Zhenjiang City as well. His achievements were truly outstanding!

But what Ren Tianye had not expected was…

Zhang Shi had performed just as brilliantly.

Before launching the attack on the fortress cluster north of the Yangtze, Ren Tianye had deliberately intended to give Zhang Shi a share of the credit and bolster his confidence. Yet Zhang Shi had relied entirely on his own abilities and, in one breath, captured Wolfsmoke Fort, Locking River Dock, Transverse River Fortress, and Linjiang Ferry Fortress!

It had completely exceeded Ren Tianye’s expectations!

“Zhang Shi has truly grown.”

“He hasn’t disappointed the hopes I placed in him.”

“If a general capable of sweeping across the northern frontier and rooting out every enemy stronghold can do that, then why couldn’t he capture the fragile city of Yunjing?”

“I look forward to Zhang Shi giving me an even greater surprise.”

With these thoughts, Ren Tianye personally recorded Zhang Shi’s achievements in the merit register. He explicitly stated that, in the capture of the fortress cluster north of the Yangtze, Zhang Shi and Wang Ming were to receive equal credit.

Setting down his brush, he raised his head and asked, “By the way, what is Zhang Shi doing now?”

“Reporting to Your Grace, General Zhang Shi has already found a suitable place to train a naval force. He is currently arranging the search for ships to cross the river and has already gathered several thousand of them!”