Chapter Thirty-Six: The Praying Mantis Seizes the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind.

Even with injuries, not a single soldier stopped to rest; they all joined in the task of hauling the money. The men had joined the army to kill the enemy, earn merit, and bring back enough wealth for their families to live well. For the sake of money, they would risk their lives, let alone endure these minor wounds.

Just as they were working feverishly, soldiers in the distance began waving red flags. Lin Shize immediately commanded, "Quick, quick, take cover!"

The soldiers carrying the silver scrambled away, while the remaining men frantically cleared the traces of their presence in the warehouse and locked the heavy doors.

Zhang Jiawen arrived with Sun Zheng and five thousand soldiers to take over the defense of Qier Mountain. Seeing Lin Shize hurrying over from a distance, he laughed, "Did you find the enemy's treasury?"

Lin Shize scratched his head, his face flushing, and said, "No... I didn't find it."

"Hahahaha! I came here without stopping the moment I heard you had taken Qier Mountain. I knew you couldn't have finished clearing the battlefield so quickly, let alone find the enemy's treasury. If you can't find it, let me do it. There will be no shortage of rewards for you." Sun Zheng laughed aloud, looking at Lin Shize, curious to see his expression after suffering a setback.

Lin Shize looked sullen. He bowed to Zhang Jiawen and then stood to the side, silent. Seeing Lin Shize’s apparent resentment, Zhang Jiawen was even more pleased.

"What? Unconvinced? My boy, I’ve crossed more bridges than you’ve walked roads, and eaten more salt than you’ve eaten rice. You wanted to take advantage of my absence to secure some benefits for your men? I specifically placed an observer in your ranks; I know every move you make. This time, your Sky Wolf Battalion has achieved the greatest merit, and your reward will certainly not be small."

Zhang Jiawen was in high spirits. It was no easy feat to outmaneuver this little fox. He had prepared for this for a long time, knowing that this greedy kid would surely take the bait.

Lin Shize walked over, wearing a cheeky grin, and said, "Assistant General, my brothers risked their lives to take Qier Mountain. If you treat them unfairly, I’ll be forced to throw a tantrum right at the camp gates."

Zhang Jiawen laughed until he was breathless. He said to Sun Zheng, "Do you see this? He’s a rogue little monkey. After failing to steal it himself, he’s now threatening me."

Sun Zheng watched as Lin Shize flattered Zhang Jiawen with a fawning smile, and interjected, "Assistant General, we haven't found the treasury yet, so it’s too early to discuss these things."

Zhang Jiawen nodded. "Indeed, we must find the treasury first."

Lin Shize muttered from the side, "I searched all around, but there wasn't a shadow of a warehouse to be found."

Zhang Jiawen watched Lin Shize’s dejected expression and laughed again. The boy must have searched like a madman to find the treasury and failed. Now, he would certainly not give him another chance.

Zhang Jiawen commanded, "Since Battalion Commander Lin has already searched the perimeter once, Sun Zheng, we needn't waste more time there. Take the men and search the city center carefully. I am certain the warehouse must be in the vicinity."

Lin Shize’s downcast expression made Zhang Jiawen even happier. The boy simply didn't understand that the critical supplies of a large city would always be kept in the very center for protection. Zhang Jiawen stood with his fellow officers, beaming, waiting for Sun Zheng’s good news.

Before long, Sun Zheng returned with his men, announcing that they had found the location of the warehouse. Zhang Jiawen cast a triumphant glance at Lin Shize and approached the warehouse door.

Lin Shize followed, wearing a look of disbelief. Upon seeing the vast amount of gold, silver, and copper coins remaining inside, he slapped his thigh in frustration—there was so much money left that even if he had taken another ten percent, no one would have noticed.

Zhang Jiawen misinterpreted Lin Shize’s reaction, thinking he was regretting his failure to identify the building as the warehouse, especially since two Mongol corpses were lying right at the entrance. Clearly, he had missed his chance to get rich.

On the open ground, corpses were piled like mountains. "Sky Wolf Battalion Commander Lin Shize led five hundred soldiers to raid Qier Mountain, decapitating 518 men, capturing 83, and taking the Mongol general Chaoketu and the Third Prince Hesuer alive."

The recording officer noted Lin Shize’s achievements in the ledger. Even Zhang Jiawen, after seeing the terrain of Qier Mountain, looked at this reckless fool with newfound respect. This was an act of heaven; the entire mountain was a natural fortress. Outside of this surprise raid, even a force of fifty thousand would struggle to capture it against ten thousand defenders. The morning fog had played into their hands; Lin Shize’s success was pure luck, catching the enemy completely off guard.

As the gold, silver, and copper were registered, the entire Qier Mountain fell into a deathly silence, broken only by the clinking of coins. Chest after chest of gold and jewelry sat in the clearing, stirring great excitement—the most anticipated part of any campaign was the awarding of merit.

Qier Mountain was a critical military stronghold for the Mongols, even wealthier than Zhang Jiawen’s own base. Looking at the hoard, Zhang Jiawen let out a long sigh. "Little of this belongs to the Mongols; it is all the blood and sweat of the people of Great Qi. Lin Shize, did you really think I was just scheming over this money and grain?"

"The people on the border have suffered for years, and the imperial court is at its wit's end. The commander-in-chief has tried many times to provide relief, but lacked the grain. With these supplies, not only will it benefit the border folk, but your name, Lin Shize, will spread across the Nine Provinces. Not just the commander, but the lords in the imperial court will know of your achievements. This will be extremely favorable for your future career."

He was truly looking out for Lin Shize. To be a battalion commander or a thousand-man commander only required a nod from Zhang Jiawen, but to become an Assistant General or higher required imperial investiture. At that point, military merit alone would not be enough; the inner workings of the bureaucracy were far from simple.

Lin Shize stepped forward and bowed solemnly to Zhang Jiawen. Seeing that Lin realized his good intentions, Zhang Jiawen added, "Take your share of the rewards back with you. Drill your troops well. A great war between us and the Mongols is inevitable, and that will be your best chance to make a name for yourself and earn a title."

Zhang Jiawen turned to the accountant and said, "Set aside twenty percent as a reward for the Sky Wolf Battalion."

Though it was called a twenty percent reward, in reality, they would receive less than fifteen percent—and that was only because of Lin Shize’s status as a favorite of the Assistant General. In the past, soldiers from the old camps were lucky to get a decent meal after a battle; military merit and rewards had nothing to do with them.

Facing this situation, Zhang Jiawen showed no concern, but Sun Zheng noticed a flash of cold light in Lin Shize’s eyes.

After collecting the money, Lin Shize immediately led his men away from Qier Mountain; the place was too dangerous now. Disregarding the strange looks from others, Lin Shize carried a wounded soldier on his back and began the descent.

Zhang Jiawen nodded involuntarily. Based on his recent performance, his men would surely be fiercely loyal to him. With a group of loyal subordinates, could glory and success be far behind?