C34. The People Who Grab the Credit.

C34. The People Who Grab the Credit.

It is really uncomfortable to sleep on the chair, and Yuan Li could hear the constant squeaking and rocking of the chair beneath Chu Hechao whenever he closed his eyes to try to doze off.

The sound was irritating, causing Yuan Li's temples to throb. When the sound continued, Yuan Li abruptly sat up, gritting his teeth, and exclaimed, "General!"

The chair stopped moving, followed by the fake snoring.

"..."

Yueli's mouth twitched, "General, can't you sleep?"

In the darkness, the fake snoring stopped, and Chu Hechao's voice sounded tired and slightly annoyed, "The chair is too cramped, I can't sleep comfortably."

"Well, how about this," Yueli said kindly, "General, you still have injuries on your back, why don't you sleep on the bed with me? We can lie on our sides and make some room."

Unexpectedly, his offer was rejected. The man said, "No, it's not appropriate."

Yuan Li forced a smile, "Oh, so the General knows what's appropriate now?"

Chu Hechao responded affirmatively.

Yuan Li felt exasperated but proceeded to get off the bed decisively, "Fine, General, you can sleep on the bed, I'll sleep on the chair."

Chu Hechao frowned. Yuan Li was his sister-in-law, still young, and it was not right for a man to sleep on the bed while his sister-in-law slept on the chair.

Without hesitation, he said, "No, you sleep on the bed."

Yuan Li was already fumbling in the dark for his shoes, making noise. "Forget it, I'm much thinner than the General, the chair is just fine for me."

Chu Hechao raised his voice slightly, sounding impatient, almost scolding, "You better lie down on the bed properly!"

This stern tone was enough to make anyone tremble.

Yuan Li was taken aback by the scolding and felt his anger rising. He scoffed as he kicked off his shoes, turned around, and lay on the bed, pulling the quilt over his ears, refusing to pay any attention to Chu Hechao.

Anyone who cared too much was treated like a dog by Chu Hechao.

Perhaps due to the good sound insulation of the quilt, Yuan Li didn't hear the squeaking of the chair after covering his ears, and soon drifted off to sleep without realizing it.

The next day, as Yuan Li slowly opened his eyes, he saw Chuhe 'Chao' awkwardly rubbing his shoulders.

Yuan Li blinked, his vision clearing, and he saw Chu Hechao wrinkled robe on his back.

He wanted to speak, but remembering Chu Hechao harsh words from the previous night, he lost his urge to say anything and kept quiet.

Alright, Chu Hechao didn't like being cared for, so Yuan Li decided not to bother him anymore.

He walked towards the water basins in the room.

Upon waking up, the ice in the basin had melted into water. Yuan Li got off the bed, put on his shoes, passed by Chu Hechao, and squatted down by the basin to closely inspect the melted ice.

Chu Hechao glanced at Yuan Li's back with the corner of his eye, then continued to stretch his body.

Feeling the soreness throughout his body, his handsome features momentarily twisted, quickly turning cold and stern.

The night before, Chu Hechao noticed that Yuan Li was disturbed, so after scolding him, he didn't move again, maintaining the same posture until morning. When he woke up, Chu Hechao whole body felt stiff, and any movement produced a cracking sound from his bones, making his back and waist ache more than from a night of fighting.

After his bones relaxed, a tingling sensation spread through his body. Chu Hechao took a moment to relax before walking behind Yuan Li and asked, "How are the ice blocks in the basin holding up overnight?"

Yuan Li fiddled with the basin and found palm-sized ice blocks. The water still held a bone-chilling coldness, turning his fingertips slightly red, resembling the blooming wintersweet flowers.

Wiping his hands, Yueli replied matter-of-factly, "It's hard to tell. Last night, there were five or six basins of ice with varying degrees of freeze. The coolness in the tent depends on the amount of ice. I can't give you an answer just by checking one basin."

Chu Hechao decisively said, "Then we'll try again tonight."

Yuan Li went to get his handmade toothbrush and toothpaste for washing up, and casually suggested to Chu Hechao, "General, you can make your own ice blocks tonight and test them in your tent."

There was emphasis on certain words in that sentence.

Chu Hechao was puzzled.

Pouring out the water from the basin, Yuan Li fetched a basin of clean water to brush his teeth and wash his face.

As Chu Hechao stood by, he found Yueli's attitude towards him subtly intriguing. Slowly, he walked to Yueli and asked casually, "Sister-in-law, what are these?"

Yuan Li was still brushing his teeth with a willow twig, and he briefly explained, "A toothbrush and toothpaste."

Watching the action, Chu Hechao understood the purpose of "toothbrush and toothpaste" and caught a whiff of a faint lotus and Poria flavor from the toothpaste, different from the usual mouth rinse ingredients like salt, vinegar, or tea, with a pleasant fragrance.

Curious, Chu Hechao asked, "May I borrow some toothpaste?"

Yuan Li silently eyed Chu Hechao, and the words "charity of autumn" came to mind as he handed over the toothpaste.

Chu Hechao rinsed his mouth after brushing his teeth, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. "Are there... soapberries in this toothpaste?"

Yuan Li, chuckled and nodded. "If you enjoy it, General, I can give you a bottle."

Chu Hechao's face lit up. "Thank you! That would be wonderful."

Yuan Li smiled back warmly. "You're most welcome, General."

After finishing their morning meal, Chu Hechao brought his trusted men to Zhuolu County, personally chose a location downstream of the Sanggan River, set up a forbidden area guarded by soldiers, and quickly built a large house as an ice-making workshop.

At the same time, soldiers were sent to gather saltpeter from Zhuolu County, bringing it all to the workshop, where hundreds of his trusted men assisted Yuan Li.

Yuan Li's trusted allies were all in Jixian County, and Chu Hechao made good use of his men. After demonstrating how to make ice with saltpeter, he had his men follow suit.

In a few days, batches of ice blocks were transported to the military camp.

When the clear ice blocks were presented to everyone, they were amazed.

Chu Hechao stood in front of the vehicles with his officers, appearing calm and composed, except for his slightly open mouth and almost bulging eyes.

The murmurs and astonishment filled the air, and Yang Zhongfa couldn't take his eyes off the ice blocks, stuttering as he said, "G-General, where did you get these ice blocks?"

As the wind blew, the coolness from the ice blocks brushed their faces, and Yang Zhongfa muttered, "It's really refreshing…."

Chu Hechao smirked, "Yuan Li made them."

Yang Zhongfa was not surprised, but deeply admired and exclaimed, "Young Master Yuan is truly a rare talent of the century."

It's a blessing for the old Chu family to have found such talent to marry into the family. In contrast, our Yang family doesn't have this luck; even the youngest son is already married, and the youngest is only five years old!

Yang Zhongfa clenched his fists in regret, cursing himself for not having more sons earlier.

When asked how the ice blocks would be distributed, Chu Hechao said, "Everyone who contributes will receive ice, from generals to soldiers. Those who perform well will get ice."

Upon hearing this, several people were overjoyed and quickly spread the news to their subordinates.

After distributing the ice blocks based on ranks and merit, Chu Hechao set aside some rewards for his trusted men to show appreciation. Once the ice blocks were distributed, the whole military camp became ecstatic.

Many officers followed Chu Hechao example and shared their ice blocks with their subordinates.

In the summer, there is always a bitter heat that is especially pronounced on the front lines of the battlefield, where these blocks of ice are more welcomed than treasures of gold and silver.

The soldiers are grateful. Besides them, Liu Jixin and Wu Kai unexpectedly received a lot of ice blocks as well.

The ice blocks they received were even higher in value than those of the typical military captains, comparable to the expenses of Generals Yang and He. Both of them were somewhat surprised and flattered. Wu Kai felt undeserving and wanted to return the ice blocks, but Liu Jixin stopped him, deep in thought.

"Do you know why it is just the two of us, without any military achievements or positions, who are receiving these ice blocks?" Wu Kai hesitated before suggesting, "Is it because of our work in the infirmary, or because we are public officials?"

Liu Jixin, with a sudden revelation, chuckled as he stroked his beard, dropped a bombshell, "It is because we have something to do with the ice being here."

Wu Kai's eyes widened in shock.

Liu Jixin continued, "If it was only because of our work in the infirmary, we wouldn't have received this much ice. Look around, have any other generals complained about the ice the General has given us?"

Wu Kai shook his head, "I haven't heard any complaints from the other generals."

"Exactly," Liu Jixin nodded contently, "The General must have mentioned that the ice is a result of our efforts. Not only have they not criticized us for receiving undeserved rewards, but you wait and see, in the coming days, they will surely treat us with more warmth."

Wu Kai nodded involuntarily.

Liu Jixin chuckled as he looked at the ice blocks in front of them, "We truly are fortunate to have the favor of the General…"

He sighed, "It's a pity that my wife and children are far away in Ji County. Even with all this ice, I can't send it to them to help them endure the heat of summer."

When they returned to Ji County after pacifying the rebellion in Shanggu, it was already autumn, and there was no longer a need for ice to cool off.

However, Liu Jixin was mistaken. In the future, when the scouts rushed over with urgent news from the enemy's camp, they brought unexpected information.

On that day, Yuan Li was having lunch when Chu He's man arrived and informed him that the General needed to see him urgently.

Yuan Li hurried over to the command tent and found several high-ranking officers waiting for him.

These officers were all imposing figures, and they all bowed respectfully to Yuan Li, greeting him in unison, "Greetings, Young Master Yuan."

Yuan Li returned the gesture, "Greetings, gentlemen."

Chu Hechao sat at the head of the table and gestured towards a chair beside him, "Please, have a seat, brother's wife."

After Yuan Li sat down, Chu He addressed him, "You are all my trusted subordinates, and I will not deceive you. Although Yuan Li has not yet been granted a title, his achievements are sufficient to warrant a military position of at least captain level in the army.

His sharp gaze swept over the group, "It is not just about military achievements when determining status. Yuan Li has been responsible for managing the military funds for my northern army of 130,000 soldiers, overseeing the city of Ji as the governor of Youzhou, temporarily in control of the Youzhou official seal. Once Yuan Li is titled, I will petition the court to appoint him as a Military Advisor of the Center."

A Military Advisor of the Center is a higher rank than some random generals. They can provide advice on military matters.

Chu He did not inform Yuan Li of these words in advance; now they were not just for his subordinates but also for Yuan Li.

Yuan Li was slightly surprised but quickly composed himself.

Chu Hechao understood that the longest-lasting relationship in the world is based on mutual interests. If Yuan Li continued to work in the rear without benefits, he would likely start to resent it.

After all, who has ever heard of a horse running without being fed?

Therefore, Chu Hechao decided to grant Yuan Li a military position within the army, binding him completely to the military.

This approach suited Yuan Li's preferences perfectly.

Those present were not foolish and understood Chu Hechao's intentions. As Chu Hechao's trusted confidants, they naturally did not question his decision.

Moreover, befriending Yuan Li would be beneficial to them, and no one was foolish enough to offend their benefactor. They nodded in unison, "Yes, we will remember the General's words."

Afterwards, they smiled at Yuan Li and addressed him as "Military Advisor."

The imperial decree had not been issued yet, and Yuan Li had not received his title, but they had already changed their address. From this small incident, Yuan Li could see their attitudes towards the court.

After the pleasantries were exchanged, Chu Hechao tapped the table, silencing everyone as they turned towards him.

Chu Hechao looked at Yuan Li, asking, "Do you know why I summoned you here, brother's wife?"

Yuan Li thought it was a pointless question but maintained a smile, "I naturally do not know. I was about to ask the General, when did this happen?"

Chu He clapped his hands and casually said, "Come in."

A scout entered the tent.

The scout had taken advantage of a brief break to have a meal and replenish his water, making his speech more coherent. He reported, "General, esteemed gentlemen, the Wuhuan Lord Dadan has pacified the Bai Mi tribes in Pan County and Xia Luo County with ten thousand cavalry. He asked me to deliver a message to the General, saying that by helping to pacify these two counties, he will come to meet the General in Zhuolu County in a few days and hopes the General will reward them with spoils of war."

The other officers had just been called and were hearing this news for the first time.

Upon hearing this, a one-eyed captain named Zuo Xiangrong gnashed his teeth in frustration, "Damn Wuhuan people! They have looted two counties already and still have the audacity to come asking for rewards from the General?! Did the General order them to do so?"

The others also had grim expressions. He Lang scoffed, "Their face is shamelessly thick."

Pacifying the Bai Mi tribes was not a difficult task; in fact, it was a good thing in many ways. Pacifying them not only earned rewards and recognition from the court but also yielded significant spoils of war.

For example, the territories of Bei Xincheng, Wei County, and Zhuolu County, which Chu Hechao's men had recaptured, provided substantial spoils of war. These spoils were taken from the Bai Mi tribes' possessions, which had looted the local wealth and estates of the nobility.

When Chu Hechao's army regained control, these items naturally became Chu Hechao's possessions.

Moreover, each reclaimed territory not only brought spoils of war but also prisoners from the Bai Mi tribes.

The Wuhuan people would not have the same care for the land and people of Youzhou as Chu Hechao's forces, as they had already ravaged the two counties. Except for the land that nobles had fled from, the Bai Mi tribes had taken everything they could.

The damage done to the cities was blamed on the Bai Mi tribes, making it pointless to protest further.

The officers were visibly upset.

"These Wuhuan people are shameless! They have taken all the benefits and still dare to ask for rewards?" Yang Zhongfa chuckled bitterly, his eyes fierce, "Damn it, the people in these two counties don't even know how they have been mistreated! These Wuhuan people are causing trouble in the General's territory — not punishing them is bad enough — they have been in the Central Plains for so long that they have forgotten the wailing and lamentation evoked by the General when this all started!"

Chu Hechao smirked without a trace of amusement, "The Bai Mi tribes are in a state of chaos now, and the Emperor has called for troops to suppress them. The Wuhuan people are following the court's orders. By pacifying Pan County and Xia Luo County, they have made a contribution, and they have the right to request rewards from me."

After this, the others fell silent. This was the reason they were disgusted but unable to show it. They were forced to maintain a friendly facade, despite their disdain.

The silence in the tent weighed heavily on everyone's spirits.

Yuan Li pondered quietly, and Chu Hechao suddenly asked, "Brother's wife, what do you think?"

All eyes turned to Yuan Li.

Yuan Li looked up, contemplating his response, and said, "General, don't forget that defeating the Bai Mi tribes was done on behalf of the court, not just for your own benefit. Even though Youzhou is your domain, rewards should be requested from the court, not from you."

With a faint smile and a subtle hint, Yuan Li continued, "The Wuhuan people now reside in Youzhou under your control. Their accomplishments should also be reported by you to the court."

The others suddenly understood, and Yang Zhong slapped his thigh, "Of course, how could I forget! General, Dadan should ask the court for rewards, not trouble us with the Bai Mi tribes!"

Chu Hechao nodded in agreement, "What brother's wife said is absolutely right."

He Lang sighed and remained irked, "So are we going to let the Wuhuan people off the hook for the incidents in Pan County and Xia Luo County? These areas have surely suffered greatly, and we may end up having to fund the reconstruction of the cities and support the residents afterward."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Li suddenly laughed.

Although his smile was radiant and warm, his eyes held a coldness as he replied, "General, please rest assured. I will have them pay for this themselves."