The Bodyguard King’s CEO Wife Chapter 1508: Burning Bridges After Crossing the River

Ye Shikai, orphaned at eighteen, found himself utterly alone. If his life had ended there, he might not have yearned to return, as nothing of value remained. Yet, the unexpected pregnancy of Chen Yuxin, carrying his own flesh and blood, presented a powerful reason to go back. Moreover, he couldn't abandon his friends and brothers.

"To claim I have no desire to go back would be dishonest," Ye Shikai admitted. He was hardly an unfeeling man, and many in Yanjing held a special place in his heart. When a mysterious beam of light inexplicably transported him to the Qin Dynasty, he lacked the opportunity to even explain himself.

"My husband, I will follow you wherever you go," He Linghan declared, her eyes gleaming with resolve. She clung tightly to Ye Shikai's arm, clearly unwilling to part ways.

"Very well, Ling'er, I shall always be by your side," Ye Shikai responded, drawing her into a warm embrace.

"Husband, if your heart truly yearns to return, then I shall accompany you."

"Do not trouble yourself with such thoughts," Ye Shikai soothed, gently stroking her forehead. The truth was, he had no inkling of how to travel back, and the investigation was proving exceedingly difficult. His immediate priority was to locate a cultivator, not just any, but one versed in 'strange arts,' akin to Xu Fu. However, Xu Fu was likely already on his way to Penglai, not present here. Even if he found Xu Fu, there was no guarantee of receiving honest assistance. Furthermore, revealing his origins from another era would undoubtedly draw unwanted attention and potentially place him in mortal danger. Thus, such inquiries could not be made lightly. In his mind, Hua Liandie was perhaps the only one who could offer aid... but how to broach the subject?

"Just remain here and live well. When I am not occupied with matters at the camp, I shall visit frequently. Be sure not to overexert yourself at home," Ye Shikai expressed with concern.

"You must also be cautious. The camp is a busy place; do not overwork yourself. Xue San mentioned you have been training the convict soldiers lately," she cautioned.

"You seem remarkably well-informed," Ye Shikai remarked, flicking her forehead playfully. "Alright, you must be hungry. Allow me to cook for you myself."

"Husband," He Linghan suddenly grasped his arm. "Let the servants handle the cooking. You are the master of this household now; it is not fitting for you to be in the kitchen. Or, perhaps I could cook instead?"

Ye Shikai nearly overlooked it – this was the Qin Dynasty, with customs vastly different from modern times. In his era, a husband cooking for his wife was commonplace, but here, in a feudal society, such domestic duties were not befitting the master of the house.

"Very well, let the servants attend to it."

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

The camp.

"Old Ye, the Commander's Mansion has sent the supply list. I've dispatched soldiers to collect them," Ye Shikai accepted the bamboo slip from Shangguan Jian and examined its contents with a discerning eye.

"Why is the quantity so drastically reduced? I am in command of ten thousand troops. Last month, we received twelve thousand *shi* of grain, yet this month we only get seven thousand. And armaments? They've provided only sixty percent of last month's allocation." Ye Shikai's brow furrowed after reading the list, a subtle anger brewing. Logistical support formed the bedrock of command; without adequate provisions, how could he lead his soldiers effectively?

"Shangguan, what explanation did the Commander's Mansion offer?" Ye Shikai pressed.

"Mr. Ma did not appear himself. The explanation came from the Prefecture Governor. He stated that the county's harvest was poor this month, so the supplies provided to us are merely in accordance with the standard allocation for the Qin Army."

"Damn it." Ye Shikai crumpled the bamboo slip and hurled it to the ground. This was an obvious fabrication. Currently, all counties were intensifying their grain collections from villages to prevent supplies from falling into the hands of rebel armies and bandits. How could the county possibly face a grain shortage? Ye Shikai was no naive child; he was not so easily deceived.

"Old Ye, if you ask me, the county was initially willing to provide such extensive resources to encourage our wholehearted training of these convict soldiers. Now that they see positive results, they wish to discard us. Should any unfortunate incidents arise from this, we will be the ones to face the consequences," Shangguan Jian offered his perspective.

"You are correct. They do not wish for us to grow stronger," Ye Shikai concurred, nodding in agreement.

"Old Ye, currently, East County’s garrison forces are less than fifty thousand strong, with ten thousand elite soldiers under your direct command. Among the remaining generals, no one wields more military authority than you. Mr. Ma might be harboring secret intentions against us." Shangguan Jian’s concerns were understandable, given that history is replete with examples of subordinates overshadowing their superiors. Despite Ma Yao not being the Emperor, he holds the position of County Commander, responsible for leading the troops. His support for Ye Shikai appears primarily motivated by a desire to solidify his own standing and potentially secure a promotion. As long as Ye Shikai remains under his command, Ma Yao could claim credit for half of every victory achieved, attributing it to his effective "leadership."

Conversely, if Ye Shikai’s military influence were to expand significantly, it would pose a direct threat to Ma Yao’s official capacity, possibly leading to his eventual replacement. It is crucial to remember that Ye Shikai has garnered the favor of Meng Tian, the Great General of the court and the Emperor’s most trusted confidant. A few words from Meng Tian could indeed lead to Ye Shikai’s promotion to Commander, given his consistent success in battle.

"Not for the time being. The primary threats facing the Commander Mansion are still the rebel armies and the bandit groups within the county. Without my involvement, who among Ma Yao’s subordinates possesses the capability to handle them?" Ye Shikai gestured dismissively. Ma Yao is no simpleton; he is an ‘old fox’ and would not engage in the foolish act of ‘severing his own limb.’

"Then what course of action should we take now?"

"Are the provisions that were sent sufficient for our needs?" Ye Shikai inquired.

"Barely."

"Very well, we will maintain our position this month. I will personally address the matter with Ma Yao at a later date." Ye Shikai nodded, acknowledging the lack of alternatives. He is now a general and cannot simply ‘raid’ the county for grain as he might have done in the past; such reckless behavior is not something Ye Shikai would contemplate.

"Old Ye, I suspect you might not even get the chance to meet him. If Ma Yao truly intends to dismiss us, he will likely avoid a direct encounter, fabricating an excuse to evade you."

"Understood. You may depart for now; I require some time to deliberate."

"Very well, General."

"Reporting, Commander Wan Qi requests an audience." A guard entered the tent without warning to deliver the message.

"Wan Qi Yuan has arrived. Please escort him in." Ye Shikai instructed calmly. Although Wan Qi Yuan is a member of the Wolf Clan, Ye Shikai made a special exception, appointing him as the new commander of the cavalry unit. As one of Ye Shikai’s trusted confidantes from his former team, Wan Qi Yuan commands two thousand elite cavalry, a testament to the deep trust Ye Shikai places in him.

"Greetings, General Ye."

"Wan Qi Yuan, what brings you to my presence?" Ye Shikai knew him well; this man from the Wolf Clan typically spoke little, disliked socializing, and possessed a rather reclusive nature. For him to seek an audience voluntarily today indicated that something of significant importance must be the reason.