NINE BANNERS BATTALION
Translator: Sylph
Editor: Reki
Not only did He Yan fail to worship with Xiao Jue, but instead had to deal with his pestering nephew.
Cheng Lisu pulled He Yan into a room where he lived in the guardhouse. It was a separate room, just for him. Although it wasn’t decorated luxuriously, it was far better than where the recruits lived.
The room was even lit with the incense, held by an exquisite incense burner. Cheng Lisu noticed that He Yan was staring at it, and explained, “This is a good purchase I brought from the capital. Although Uncle doesn’t allow me to light it here, I do it secretly, so don’t tell him.”
He’s like a child who secretly did bad things behind his elder’s back.
Even if it was her, she wouldn’t let it slide, He Yan thought. It’s summer, and the weather was blistering hot, so who would like to be flustered by fragrance and smoke?
He Yan didn’t speak, Cheng Lisu once again misunderstood, and tentatively asked, “Do you like this very much? If you like it, I’ll give it to you!” He stuffed the incense burner into He Yan’s hand, “It’s okay, these are nothing in front of our relationship “
He Yan put it back in his hands, “…Thank you, but I have no place to put it.”
Cheng Lisu thought for a while, and nodded regretfully, “I will go back to my uncle, and ask him to give you another room, just like me.”
“…”
It would be strange if Xiao Jue agreed! If Cheng Lisu really can accomplish this, she can call him Big Brother Cheng Lisu if he wants!
“By the way, you don’t know who my uncle is, do you? My uncle is the current military governor, General Fengyun Second young master, your superior.” Cheng Lisu finished in one breath, then went to see He Yan’s expression. “Why are you not surprised at all?”
Is she supposed to be surprised? He Yan remarked, “I think that if the son is very handsome, unlike an ordinary person, then the uncle of the said son should be the same. Sure enough, as expected, a great uncle would have you as his nephew.”
This pleased Cheng Lisu. He gave a shy smile, scratched his head, and muttered embarrassedly, “That’s not true, I’m far behind my uncle. My uncle lives next door to me, but he’s out now… Otherwise, I would have taken you to see him.”
That’s not necessary.
“Come here, I’ve poured the tea.” Cheng Lisu was so busy that he stuffed a cup of tea into He Yan’s hand, “After drinking this cup of tea, we will worship each other as brothers!”
He Yan looked at the tea in his hand, hesitated, and put the cup back on the table.
Cheng Lisu was confused, “What’s the matter?”
“Master Cheng, I don’t think we can be called brothers. We are from different generations.” He Yan confessed.
She and Xiao Jue are of the same generation, but Cheng Lisu calls Xiao Jue ‘Uncle’. If she and Cheng Lisu worshipped each other, then wouldn’t she also have to call Xiao Jue ‘Uncle’ in the future?
Could she let Xiao Jue take advantage of this? You wish!
“Why do you say we’re from a different generation?” Cheng Lisu was puzzled. “I am fifteen this year and I heard from Instructor Liang that you are sixteen. We are not too far apart.”
“You call Xiao… General ‘Uncle’, right? He too is not old as well.” He Yan said. Xiao Jue was only one year older than her former self, and now she has just reached adulthood. She asked, “Is he your real uncle?”
“Well, we are related.” Cheng Lisu explained very seriously.
It turned out that Cheng Lisu’s mother, Mrs. Cheng, wife of superior Zhirang, and Xiao Jue were cousins. It’s just that Mrs. Cheng and Xiao Jue are too far apart in age. When Xiao Jue was born, Mrs. Cheng was already married, and there was very little contact between the two. However, when Cheng Lisu grew up, he loved to stick to his little uncle who was about his age.
He Yan thought, as she remembered the time when she was in Xianchang Hall, a white and chubby boy often came to Xiao Jue, but she had forgotten whether he called Xiao Jue “Uncle” or not.
“My uncle is excellent in everything. He’s one of the best in the world in terms of his skills in writing and martial arts. I have to follow him so that others don’t dare to scold me again as a ‘waste of a gentleman’ anymore.” Cheng Lisu was not ashamed of his nickname, “Now that I’m friends with you, and you are as good as my uncle, I’m amazing!”
He Yan, “…” I don’t know where to talk about this greatness.
Speaking of He Yan, Cheng Lisu thought of something and asked her, “By the way, you are so good, Brother He, what does your family do?”
She didn’t drink the tea, but he already started to call her “Brother He”. He Yan didn’t know whether to answer his question or correct his statement first. “My family is quite ordinary.”
She didn’t want to say more. Her appearance fell into Cheng Lisu’s eyes. Cheng Lisu solemnly said, “I understand. Experts like you do not want to reveal their whereabouts.”
He Yan moaned in her heart, I’m afraid, is this child brain-dead?
“You are so capable, why come to Liangzhou?” Cheng Lisu asked, “With this body like yours, why bother to join the army?”
He Yan repeated what she had said to his uncle to the nephew again, “To make meritorious deeds, to be rewarded, build a house, marry a wife, and have children. Life should not be lived in vain.”
The nephew was not as impulsive as his uncle. The red-faced and white-toothed teenager looked at her for a while and nodded in praise, “The idea of yours is very good, very… practical. But, Brother He, isn’t it too late for you to join the army and make achievements? There is no war to fight in these years? Wars can be fought, and it’s said that heroes emerge in troubled times. We are in a peaceful and prosperous world. You have nowhere to use your martial arts. What a waste.”
He Yan, “…” This kid was quite thoughtful.
“Why don’t I point out a clear path for you?” Cheng Lisu approached her and whispered, “You know the Nanfu soldiers under my uncle, right?”
He Yan nodded, “I’ve heard of it.” The Nanfu Soldiers were established by General Xiao, they are invincible in the battles.
“In the Nanfu Soldiers, there is an assault cavalry, the Nine Banners Battalion.”
Nine Banners Battalion, He Yan knew that this was a trusted force that Xiao Jue had cultivated for himself after he took over the soldiers from the Nanfu. They mostly did raiding and charging with strange means.
“Uncle came to Liangzhou this time. Among other things, he has to pick some people from this batch of recruits and bring them back to join the Nine Banners Battalion.”
He Yan was startled, “Isn’t the Nine Banners Battalion no longer accepting people?”
“That’s only what is known to the outside world. The rarest thing in the world is talent. Everyone in the Nine Banners Battalion is well accomplished. Last time, an elder brother was injured and broke a hand. He was not able to fight anymore, so now he is an official in the court. To make meritorious service, get promoted, and make a fortune, you must first find the right place. You are very skilled and are already one of our own. You should go to the Nine Banners Battalion.” The young man uttered slowly and methodically.
He Yan gradually put away her smile. After a while, she frowned and said coldly, “Did you tell anyone what you said just now?”
Her eyes were cold and severe. Cheng Lisu was taken aback, and whispered, “No…”
“Then remember, others must not know of this.”
Cheng Lisu immediately bobbed his head up and down, “…Ok.”
He Yan was satisfied. She bent her eyebrows and eyes, and the corners of her lips curled up, “But what you just said was right.”
“Huh?” Cheng Lisu was dazed.
The fastest possible promotion, this was the next best thing. If she fought hard on the battlefield, it would be too slow, even if she was actually promoted, she might not come into contact with the He family. But to be together with Xiao Jue is different. General Feng Yun and General Fei Hong are deadly arch-rivals. Based on this alone, she could achieve countless things.
What’s more, it would be much simpler to inquire about the affairs of the court with Xiao Jue by her side. She had never thought of any entanglements with Xiao Jue in her previous life, but now she has to rack her brains to become his confidant. This was incredible, but could just be a coincidence.
He Yan drank all the tea in her teacup, stood up, and announced, “I want to enter the Nine Banners Battalion.”