The Bodyguard King’s CEO Wife Chapter 1477: The Secret Between Two People

With the "renowned general" Ye Shikai now in his service, Ma Yao felt as though he had grasped a lifeline. The most troublesome elements within Pu Yang’s jurisdiction were undoubtedly the insurgents lurking in the mountains. Now, with a mere one or two hundred casualties, Ye Shikai had completely eradicated the mountain-dwelling rebel forces, rendering all other tasks insignificant in comparison. Despite his inner displeasure at Ye Shikai’s display of "meritorious service that astonished the ruler," Ma Yao decisively chose to "believe" him rather than risk losing his official position and incurring the emperor’s displeasure.

"We now have eight thousand men in total, with an additional three thousand added," Ye Shikai stated calmly.

"Ma Yao acted before reporting, sending us men, resources, weapons, and provisions without even consulting us, clearly leaving us no option to refuse," Shangguan Jian lamented. His "vision" was not as expansive; he focused solely on leading soldiers and achieving victory. However, Ye Shikai was acutely aware of the brewing crisis. Within a year or two, these scattered insurgent groups could very well become the "vanguard" of an anti-Qin uprising. With nearly ten thousand troops under his command, he had to consider his own standing.

"No issue, all who come are welcome." Ye Shikai recalled the tale of "Han Xin’s Soldiers." While he might not possess such grand strategic genius, his extensive experience in the Qin Army convinced him that managing tens of thousands of soldiers was well within his capabilities. Thus, receiving more soldiers from Ma Yao was a "the more, the merrier" situation for him.

"Old Ye, I think you've changed," Shangguan Jian remarked playfully as he walked behind Ye Shikai.

"In what way?"

"Before, you would have grumbled a bit about something like this, but now you accept it with apparent delight," Shangguan Jian replied.

"Shangguan, you are my brother, and I have something important to confide in you," Ye Shikai sighed softly. "The Qin Dynasty may not survive for many more years."

"What did you just say?" Shangguan Jian exclaimed, glancing around cautiously to ensure no one else had overheard, before quickly shutting the windows and doors.

"Old Ye, what exactly do you mean by that? If word gets out, it could lead to our execution." Shangguan Jian’s expression shifted dramatically. He couldn’t fathom why Ye Shikai would suddenly utter such a perilous statement, yet he knew Ye Shikai would never engage in such risky "jests."

"In a few years, the Emperor will pass away, and by then, the empire’s foundations will crumble. Countless insurgent forces will emerge like bamboo after a spring rain. At that point, no matter how capable we are, we won’t be able to prop up a collapsing structure," Ye Shikai sighed heavily, tapping his fist gently on the table.

"How is that even possible? We possess hundreds of thousands of troops, with General Meng’s border defense corps in the north and the army conquering Bai Yue in the south," Shangguan Jian countered, arguing that the insurgent forces were still in their nascent stages and lacked significant strength, finding Ye Shikai’s outlook excessively pessimistic.

"The Qin Army’s might appears formidable, but it is only on the surface. Compared to the army that conquered the six kingdoms, today's Qin Army falls far short. Now that we wield military power, we must look beyond the immediate circumstances."

"Old Ye, while I may not fully agree with your assessment, I understand your character, and I am prepared to follow your command." Shangguan Jian suddenly knelt on one knee, a gesture of profound "allegiance."

"Very well, let us go out and assess the situation. These newly recruited soldiers have not yet undergone proper training, and our time is limited."

Unbeknownst to him, another month had slipped by. Ye Shikai reckoned he had been in the Qin Dynasty for over half a year. Time truly did fly; through numerous battles, he had gradually grown accustomed to this era. However... those he had left behind in the modern world still awaited him, causing him increasing disquiet.

In reality, he had no idea that in the modern world, he had only been missing for slightly over a month...

"Old Ye, we have been stationed in East County for some time now, successfully eliminating numerous insurgent forces. Since peace has been restored, can we not grant the soldiers a period of rest?" Shangguan Jian presented a bamboo slip to Ye Shikai’s desk; the majority of the soldiers were not natives of Pu Yang and had been engaged in constant combat against insurgents throughout the month without a single day of respite. Many soldiers had begun to voice their complaints.

"Since you are also in favor of it, I naturally have no objections. However, I must first report to Commander Ma. Please ask the brothers to wait a moment." Ye Shikai nodded in agreement; they were soldiers, not unfeeling machines, and the desire to return home was a natural human sentiment. Furthermore, he understood the necessity of consistently maintaining control over the army’s morale to ensure the soldiers' "absolute obedience."

"No need to report, I completely agree." Suddenly, Ma Yao’s laughter came from the barracks door as he walked in.

"Commander, how come you’ve come here?"

"Haha, of course, to see our great hero. You’ve endured hardships, so a break is deserved." Ma Yao lightly patted Ye Shikai’s shoulder in encouragement.

"Someone, bring up what I brought." Ma Yao called, and the soldiers beside him immediately moved several large chests over, which, upon opening, were all filled with silver.

"Commander came to reward the soldiers laboring tirelessly against the insurgents," explained the official beside Ma Yao. "These silvers are all rewards for the soldiers."

"Since that’s the case, on behalf of the soldiers, I thank Commander for his kindness." Ye Shikai bowed, signaling the guards to store the silver.

"Haha, Ye, I hope you continue your efforts and establish more military achievements."

.................................

"Old Ye, shouldn’t we also visit Shangshui Village?" With a rare break, Shangguan Jian naturally wanted to go back. Here, Ye Shikai suddenly remembered the promise made before bidding farewell to He Linghan.

Next time they meet, Ye Shikai was to marry her.

Thinking of this, Ye Shikai felt both nervous and excited; since it was a promise, he couldn’t break it. In fact, they had long understood each other’s feelings, only lacking those few words.

"Shangguan, last time I promised Miss He that I would marry her upon returning." Ye Shikai’s words shocked Shangguan Jian, causing him to drop his sword to the ground.

"What did you say? You want to marry Miss He? That’s wonderful news. Why didn’t you say so earlier?"

"This is a secret between her and me."

"Haha, that’s fantastic. I’ll immediately have soldiers purchase gold and silver jewelry, as well as brocade silk; since a dignified general is getting married, it must be grand."