The commanding general was surprised that Second Master Liang intended to present his document.

He watched as Liang’s attendant was already walking quickly over with the scroll.

If this bookworm Second Master Liang dared to present it, how could he not dare to accept it?

The general reached out to take it, immediately opening it to read, and laughed: “Scholars are indeed impressive. While all of you are just shouting nonsense, he can write it down—”

An officer leaned back in his chair and laughed: “Sir, I hope you can understand what he’s written.”

Though they were superior and subordinate, they were brothers who had faced death together, so their speech could be quite casual. The general took no offense and spat: “I am a man who has studied—” He looked at Second Master Liang again, “If I don’t understand, I’ll just ask directly. Liang Ji will surely explain it clearly.”

Laughter erupted in the tent again. Second Master Liang sat in his place, showing neither pleasure nor displeasure, and nodded: “This humble official will certainly explain.”

The general continued to smile as he read, but gradually his smile faded. He no longer joked, his eyes focused, his expression thoughtful.

The other joking officers noticed this and all stopped their laughter, exchanging glances—

Was the writing good or not?

An officer couldn’t help but ask: “Sir, what do you think?”

The general came back to his senses, his gaze sweeping across everyone before finally landing on Second Master Liang.

“Indeed, a scholar is a scholar. You can make military tactics bloom in such unusual ways,” he said.

Was this—praise? Everyone couldn’t help but look at Second Master Liang.

Second Master Liang sat upright, clasping his hands in salute: “You flatter me, sir. I am merely theorizing on paper. Whether it can succeed still depends on you to implement it.”

The general gave him a deep look, then turned his gaze back to everyone else, clearing his throat.

“Everyone, I now have a new idea, ahem—” he said, then pointed to Second Master Liang at the end, “—inspired by Liang Ji, let’s all listen—”

……

……

Liang Qiang didn’t see his father again. With tasks being so heavy now, after their brief meeting in the military camp, he was assigned another task—to be a sentry at another location.

Liang Qiang lay prone in the wind-howling ravine for three days. On the fourth day, they finally withdrew and returned to camp, where there was a wild celebration.

“Great victory, great victory!”

“Western Liang has retreated a hundred li!”

Soldiers with blood-stained bodies galloped wildly, raising swords and spears as they cheered.

Liang Qiang watched impassively. What did this great victory have to do with him?

“Liang Qiang.” An officer who normally wouldn’t spare him a glance suddenly called his name after listening to several soldiers whispering in his ear.

Liang Qiang looked over.

“Is Liang Ji your father?” the officer asked with a surprised expression.

Liang Qiang clenched the weapon in his hand, his spine suddenly turning cold. Although he hadn’t yet fought against the Western Liang soldiers or established any merit, he knew that a great victory was often built upon the flesh and blood of many soldiers—

His father hadn’t become a piece of flesh and blood in this great victory, had he?

“Yes,” he heard his hoarse voice say.

“Impressive!” The officer clapped his hands and said, “One of the battles in this great victory was commanded by your father. His brilliant tactics made our forces unstoppable. He’s achieved great merit!”

The cold feeling in his spine shot up to his head. Liang Qiang felt a fire ignite at the top of his head. His father had achieved merit!

Military achievements were the best identity cards in the army.

Although it wasn’t his achievement, in an instant, everyone recognized him. Those companions who knew him before but never gave him a second glance now stared at him continuously.

“Scholars are different. Who knew they could fight in the war?”

The discussions around him had turned into admiration, rather than the previous mockery.

It would be a lie for Liang Qiang to say he wasn’t happy, but to say he was happy also didn’t seem quite right. The achievement belonged to his father, not to him. Just like before, when the illustrious name of Young Master Liang came from his uncle’s family, not his own, and could be taken away at any time.

“Liang Qiang,” an officer standing to the side suddenly called out, “do you dare to join my vanguard?”

Liang Qiang raised his head without hesitation: “I am willing.”

The officer laughed heartily and said to Liang Qiang’s commanding officer: “Give him to us. Let me see if it’s true that a tiger father has no dog sons.”

The commanding officer smiled and raised his hand: “Take him, take him. Polish him up, and perhaps he’ll truly be a good blade.”

Things were indeed different now. Before, the commanding officer couldn’t be bothered with him, let alone care whether he was a good blade or not. Now he so generously let him go. Liang Qiang saluted with clasped hands: “Liang Qiang will not disappoint you, sir.”

Military achievements were indeed powerful. He finally had a chance to fight for glory.

……

……

When night fell deeply, Second Master Liang returned to his quarters, the smell of alcohol still lingering on him.

Although officers couldn’t drink during wartime, this battle had dealt a heavy blow to Western Liang, and General Chu Wei had personally sent a cart of wine and meat as a reward.

This time, Second Master Liang hadn’t sat at the end, but beside the commanding general, the center of attention, thoroughly enjoying himself.

“Sir, please apply this to your face,” his attendant smiled as he handed over a steaming hot towel.

Second Master Liang took it and placed it on his face, exhaling: “These people can drink. It’s not called drinking, it’s called pouring. I shouldn’t have sat beside the commanding general.”

The attendant helped him remove his outer robe, smiling: “The wine was specially granted for you, sir, so of course you should sit in the main position. That’s how simple it is in the military. And besides the wine, your meritorious service will also be reported to the court. With promotion and titles, the next time, even if it’s not for drinking, you’ll still be able to sit beside the commanding general.”

Second Master Liang, with the hot towel covering his face, didn’t speak, as if he had fallen asleep.

The attendant went to fetch a sobering soup, calling softly: “Sir, drink this sobering soup before resting, otherwise you’ll still have a headache tomorrow.”

From behind the towel, Second Master Liang’s voice emerged: “I’m not drunk.”

That’s what all drunk people say, the attendant smiled.

“I am very clear-headed,” Second Master Liang said, removing the hot towel and looking at the attendant, his eyes clear. “You, who are you?”

The attendant was in his thirties, unremarkable in appearance, like all the menial servants beside officers. Now, holding the sobering soup, he was stunned for a moment, then smiled again.

“Sir is truly drunk,” he smiled. “I am Li Fang.”

Second, Master Liang, of course, knew his name. His old friend Cai had secured this minor official position for him and, fearing he would be lost in the military, had also provided an attendant.

“Li Fang, who sent you to help me?” he asked, and seeing Cui Zhen about to speak, raised his hand to stop him. “Don’t say it was Master Cai.”

At this, he smiled.

“Even if Master Cai were standing in front of me, I would ask him, Who is he?”

“I’m not drunk; I’m more clear-headed. This military achievement, the planning for this battle, I couldn’t have written it, you couldn’t have written it, and Master Cai couldn’t have written it either—”

“So, who was it?”

Attendant Li Fang smiled and said: “Sir, although you don’t know anything, your mention of the word ‘help’ shows you understand everything.”

Though this statement said nothing directly, it confirmed all of Second Master Liang’s suspicions. Second Master Liang rubbed his face heavily. So there was no such thing as fortune turning when one had nowhere to go; the path had been arranged by others all along.

“Who is it?” he asked again.

Li Fang smiled and shook his head: “Forgive me, I cannot say.”

Second, Master Liang understood this type of person. If he wouldn’t tell, no one could extract the information from him.

“Then what does he want?” Second Master Liang asked, staring fixedly at Li Fang. “My Liang family has nothing.”

Except for a heart full of resentment.

Was it the Liang family’s resentment that the person behind this wanted? If so, the person behind this must have the same enemies as they did.

Who were the Liang family’s enemies? The heartless former Crown Prince who had discarded Liang Siqing like an old shoe, the Xie clan, who wanted to uproot them completely because of a failed marriage alliance, and the Chu clan, whose verbal dispute had led to all this.

Li Fang smiled and shook his head: “That person only wishes for Second Master Liang to kill enemies for the country and the people, to achieve merit and establish a career.”

Second Master Liang smiled self-mockingly. He understood now. What that person wanted wasn’t the current Second Master Liang, but the Second Master Liang after he had achieved merit and established a career.

As for what he wanted?

He wanted everything from the Liang family.

Because everything the Liang family had was obtained with his help.

This was not a worthwhile trade, but could anyone refuse such temptation?

Tonight was just a minor victory, yet the congratulations that made him the center of attention had intoxicated him without alcohol—how long had it been since he enjoyed such a feeling?

Even during the Liang family’s prosperous times, the second master of the Liang family had never enjoyed such glory; he was merely Liang Siqing’s brother.

Li Fang stood to the side, watching Second Master Liang’s changing expressions, and put down the sobering soup: “Sir, please drink the sobering soup first. Don’t torment yourself.”

Second Master Liang didn’t speak, remained silent for a moment, then reached out to pick up the sobering soup, saying: “Thank you.”

After saying this, thank you, he lowered his gaze.

What he accepted wasn’t just the sobering soup, and what he was thanking wasn’t just for the sobering soup. This was an acceptance.

Li Fang stood up straight, smiling as he said: “And sir’s achievements here can also help young master A-Qiang.”

A-Qiang! Second Master Liang raised his head again, his expression tense.

“Is A-Qiang going to battle to kill enemies?” he asked.

His position as an officer relied on writing and speaking to achieve merit, but A-Qiang was different. A-Qiang had to personally go into battle to kill enemies to earn merit.

Going into battle to kill enemies inevitably meant risking being killed.

Second Master Liang asked this question and then smiled bitterly.

Hadn’t they left the labor camp that night precisely to go into battle and kill enemies?

Why was he worried now?

Second Master Liang finally lowered his gaze again, sighing softly.

“Second Master doesn’t need to worry,” Li Fang smiled. “A tiger father has no dog son. Young Master A-Qiang will surely become famous in a single battle.”

……

……

The battle came unexpectedly.

Unlike being a sentry, where, upon seeing the enemy, they were responsible for raising the alarm but not required to meet them in battle.

Being a scout was different. They needed to track the enemy’s movements and then rush forward to engage them in fierce combat.

In his ears were roars and screams. Whether it was the horse’s jolting or because he was dodging a long spear, Liang Qiang felt the world spinning. He barely managed not to fall from his horse. Just as he sat up, there was a splashing sound, and hot blood sprayed all over his face.

The companion beside him screamed in agony and fell. Liang Qiang found himself facing the ferocious face of a Western Liang soldier.

The Western Liang soldier swung his blood-stained long sword toward him.

At this moment, Liang Qiang should have raised his sword to block it, then followed with a counterattack to cut down the Western Liang soldier from his horse.

This was a scene he had practiced many times and imagined many times.

However, when everything happened before his eyes, his hand seemed out of his control. The sword felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, and the horse beneath him was jerking wildly, about to throw him off—

Life and death happened in an instant. In this moment of distraction, the Western Liang soldier’s long sword had already reached him.

It’s over.

Liang Qiang thought.

The next moment, blood splattered again. There was the harsh sound of weapons clashing, and he even saw sparks, but it wasn’t he who fell, but the Western Liang soldier.

The Western Liang soldier’s long sword had been blocked, and at the same time, another long sword had cut through the Western Liang soldier’s neck.

The ferocious face of the Western Liang soldier disappeared from his sight. Liang Qiang looked to his side and saw that, at some point, two companions had approached, one on the left and one on the right, protecting him.

“Kill!” they shouted.

With this shout, the two men, flanking Liang Qiang and his horse, charged toward another Western Liang soldier.

Amid the fighting, Liang Qiang followed them, raising and swinging his sword, changing formations, charging and killing—

It seemed like a long time had passed, yet also like a blink of an eye. A ground full of corpses announced the end of the battle, and not far away, a large contingent of troops galloped toward them.

When they saw that only three people were alive among the corpses, the leading officer’s expression was both grief-stricken and overjoyed.

“Good, good,” he shouted. “Ten of you defeated dozens of Western Liang soldiers. This can be called a great victory.”

His gaze fell on the three men. The two were familiar faces, the most valiant soldiers in the army. It was no surprise they had survived. What caught his attention was the other person, a young officer covered in blood, whose young, handsome, and fair face was particularly eye-catching—

“Liang Qiang!” the officer shouted.

The young officer seemed lost in thought and was startled by this shout, his gaze focusing. He squeezed his horse’s flank, and the horse let out a neigh.

“Indeed, a tiger father has no dog son. Impressive!” the officer laughed heartily. “You deserve to be a fierce general under my command!”

A fierce general? Liang Qiang gripped his long sword, feeling the trembling of his hands. He couldn’t help but look at the two companions beside him. The two companions had wooden expressions and didn’t look at him, only raising their long swords following the officer’s laughter.

“Fearless in the face of death!” they shouted. “Kill the enemy!”

Liang Qiang slowly raised his long sword, listening to his hoarse voice: “Kill the enemy!” “Fearless!”