Chapter 112: A Clash of Women

Watching the formation collapse yet again, Li Yi covered his face, unable to bear the sight.

This was the third day of training for the Suijin Army, yet every time the Ganquan recruits exerted themselves to maintain their ranks and marched forward under the command of their platoon leaders, the formation would immediately dissolve into chaos. Some of the garrison soldiers would even wander into other squads; no matter how hard their leaders whipped them, these simple-minded men would not fall back into line.

Although such scenes discouraged Li Yi, who had grown accustomed to the orderly discipline of the Ganquan militia, he kept telling himself that he needed to give these garrison soldiers more time. Unlike the blank slates of the militia, the garrison soldiers had received some military education, but it came with its own set of ingrained flaws. Regardless, what Li Yi sought to build was a professional army with strict discipline and specialized training, not a collection of garrison troops who carried muskets in war but spent their peacetime farming for profit.

He summoned his squad leaders to discuss how to handle these emerging problems. This was one of Li Yi’s habits; whether it was the Farmers' Association or the Suijin Army, whenever an issue arose, he liked to hold a meeting. A group of them would squat together, gnawing on flatbread and sipping soup, going over the matter until they could pool their wisdom for a solution, which they would then implement individually.

When the meeting ended, Gao Jie, driven mad by a few thick-headed recruits, was waving his whip, intent on imposing harsh corporal punishment on the disobedient soldiers. Li Yi glared at him, and only then did Gao Jie cool down.

"Commander, our three hundred men have just been formed and are not yet familiar with one another. I believe we should have the veteran militiamen step in and lead them in extra training."

The "veteran militiamen" referred to the original Ganquan militia. They had started as simple village men, learning to march and fight step by step until they became elite soldiers. They possessed ample experience; having them instruct the garrison soldiers was indeed a sound idea.

After brainstorming, the group quickly drafted a plan. Finally, Li Yi proposed increasing their daily rations from two meals to three, and insisted on slaughtering sheep for meat to ensure the soldiers received proper nutrition during training.

As the meeting concluded, Li Yi was surprised to see a woman standing before him.

"Why are you here?"

Hong Yuying laughed daintily. "What, is Suijin Town some sort of dragon’s den or tiger’s lair? Why can I not come?"

Looking at Hong Yuying, who wore a magnificent cloud-patterned brocade robe with a horse whip in one hand and her other hand on her hip, Li Yi said helplessly, "That is not what I meant. The times are chaotic; you should be more careful."

"Are you worried about me?" Hong Yuying’s eyes brightened.

Li Yi shook his head and offered a bitter smile. "You are the daughter of Commissioner Hong; it is not my place to worry."

Hong Yuying’s smile faded, and she stared at Li Yi with a sneer. "So, you only said that because you are afraid of my father’s blame?"

Li Yi found himself at a loss when dealing with the temperamental Hong Yuying. "What exactly have you come here to do?"

Li Yi’s mood was irritable, and his tone reflected it. Yet, this was exactly the kind of treatment Hong Yuying seemed to respond to. She put away her willfulness and said in a slightly aggrieved, low voice, "My father sent someone to bring you a message, and since I was feeling stifled in Mizhi County, I decided to come along and see you."

Just then, a personal attendant of Hong Chengchou handed over a letter. Li Yi opened it to find that the bandit leader Wang Zuogua was preparing to attack Yaozhou. Hong Chengchou would be marching south in five days to lift the siege, and he required Li Yi to follow with his troops. Li Yi had already been aware of this matter.

He set the letter aside, looked at Hong Yuying, who was gazing at him expectantly, and sighed. "Since that is the case, I will accompany you as you look around Suijin Town."

Hong Yuying nodded with a smile. Suijin Town was not large, and Li Yi finished showing her around in a quarter of an hour. Hong Yuying then suggested visiting his residence. Since she was already there, it was only proper to invite her in for a cup of tea.

As Li Yi led her back to his small courtyard, he bumped into Xiuniang. Upon seeing Li Yi, she blushed deeply and ducked her head, hurrying out the door. Li Yi, accustomed to this, walked straight inside. Hong Yuying, however, kept a wary eye on Xiuniang’s retreating figure, harboring a sense of hostility toward this woman who still possessed a lingering charm.

"Oh, Brother Yi, why are you back so early? Did you forget something?" Yunniang walked out of the room holding an arithmetic booklet, only to see Hong Yuying following behind Li Yi.

"Who is this young lady?"

Before Li Yi could answer, Hong Yuying stepped forward with elegant composure. "If I am not mistaken, you must be Yunniang, Li Yi’s fiancée."

Yunniang nodded, looking puzzled. "And you are...?"

Hong Yuying replied with a touch of cold indifference, "Yunniang may call me Yuying. My father is Hong Chengchou, the Commissioner of Grain for Shaanxi."

Upon hearing that the young woman before her was the daughter of Hong Chengchou, Yunniang looked at Li Yi in surprise. Li Yi stepped to Yunniang’s side and smiled. "Lady Yuying was feeling stifled in Mizhi County, so she came to Suijin Town with the messenger."

Yunniang nodded and said softly, "In that case, Brother Yi, remember to personally escort Lady Yuying back to Mizhi County later."

Li Yi smiled and agreed. Seeing the intimacy between the two, Hong Yuying’s gaze grew cold.

"Do not worry. Ever since Li Yi saved me from bandits, I have had guards with me whenever I go out." As she spoke, Hong Yuying stepped forward, positioning herself between Li Yi and Yunniang.

Li Yi frowned. Seeming to sense his mood, Hong Yuying huffed and walked into the house. She looked around as if she were the mistress of the manor, then walked over and sat in the main seat.

Watching Hong Yuying, dressed in an orange-red brocade jacket, a dark purple fur-lined robe with gold trim, and a white rabbit-fur cloak, Yunniang looked at Li Yi with visible nervousness.

"Why so formal, Yunniang? You are the host and I am the guest; your behavior makes it seem as though I am bullying you," Hong Yuying said flatly. "Go and pour some tea."

Li Yi patted Yunniang’s hand, gesturing for her to go and prepare it.