Chapter 404: Lobbyist
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“I would like to request Lord Marquis to assign a few members of the Warfire team to me to act as instructors and help me form two or three special forces teams.
“Or, they can go to the existing special forces teams and be instructors there for a while, so that those special forces team members can improve their combat strength,” Chu Jin said with a smile.
He only had one special forces team under him, and it was not solely for his own benefit. Instead, he was working together for the benefit of all the special forces teams under Prince Huaiyin.
Although he was now under Marquis Xiaoyao, he still acknowledged Prince Huaiyin as his leader in his heart.
Qin Xiaoyao glanced at Chu Jin.
She knew what he was thinking, but she didn’t point it out.
She had no conflict with Prince Huaiyin, and now she was hoping that Prince Huaiyin would start a rebellion and allow her and her husband to help him.
“Sure. Among the three of us, if your guess is the most accurate, what harm is there in me agreeing to your request?” Qin Xiaoyao said with a laugh.
A trace of excitement flashed across Chu Jin’s eyes.
“Thank you, Lord Marquis!” He hurriedly cupped his fists and thanked Qin Xiaoyao.
Thereafter, he looked in the direction of the forest.
As his eyes flickered, he said, “1 guess six hours.”
Qin Xiaoyao nodded and looked at Huang Fei.
“I guess… four and a half hours.” Huang Fei hesitated for a moment before giving his answer and cupping his fists at Qin Xiaoyao.
Chu Jin had said six hours, but he had to accord the Warfire team some dignity by stating a shorter time.
However, there were a thousand soldiers on the mountain after all. If the time was too short, even if the members of the Warfire team were all experts, they would not be able to complete the mission.
As soon as Huang Fei gave his reply, Chu Jin looked at him.
He thought to himself, “This fellow is a little too confident, isn’t he?”
Qin Xiaoyao’s gaze swept across the two of them, but she was smiling.
“You two believe in the Warfire team so much.
“But 1 trust them more than you do.
“I guess four hours.”
Chu Jin and Huang Fei looked at Qin Xiaoyao in surprise when they heard her guess.
Qin Xiaoyao smiled and looked ahead.
Then, she shouted in the direction of the forest, “Members of Warfire, listen up. End this battle in the next three hours!”
“There’s a reward for completing this mission! If you can’t complete it, there won’t be lunch or dinner for you guys!”
Chu Jin and Huang Fei were dumbfounded instantly.
This was shameless cheating.
One had to know that the members of the Warfire team trained hard every day, and they eat a lot for every meal.
It would be strange if they didn’t risk their lives when their meals were threatened.
Sure enough, as soon as Qin Xiaoyao finished speaking, the wretched screams coming from the mountain became much louder and more frequent.
Soon, the crowd saw waves of soldiers coming down from the mountain, their whole bodies covered in grime.
Qin Xiaoyao was very pleased when she saw that.
She turned around and glanced at Chu Jin and Huang Fei before asking them to accompany her to the side to have some tea while they waited.
Huang Fei immediately followed in a fawning manner.
Chu Jin looked at the mountain in disappointment before following him.
It was not easy to have an opportunity to get Lord Marquis to agree to help raise the strength of the special forces team. Now, it seemed that his plan was ruined.
Next, Qin Xiaoyao brought the two of them to one side to wait leisurely.
When more and more people came down the mountain, she asked the chiliarch to get the returning soldiers to fall in before doing a headcount.
When the four hours was almost up, the last five soldiers finally left the mountain.
A look of satisfaction swept over Qin Xiaoyao’s face when she saw this.
She stood up and ordered, “Inform the members of the War fire Team on the mountain that they can retreat.
“Also, give them extra food when they get back!” As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyao looked at Huang Fei.
Huang Fei’s face lit up at once.
“Thank you, Lord Marquis!” He hurriedly cupped his fists at Qin Xiaoyao.
After he finished speaking, he did not forget to cast a smug look at Chu Jin beside him.
Chu Jin was somewhat speechless.
Qin Xiaoyao smiled and gave Chu Jin a side glance before leaving.
When he saw this, Chu Jin quickly went after her.
“Lord Marquis…” he shouted as he ran after her.
Qin Xiaoyao didn’t stop and let Chu Jin run after her.
Chu Jin quickly caught up to Qin Xiaoyao.
“Lord Marquis…” He called out to Qin Xiaoyao with a fawning expression.
“Is something the matter?” Qin Xiaoyao asked with a smile, pretending not to see through Chu Jin’s thoughts. Her feet did not stop moving.
“Yes,” Chu Jin hurriedly answered.
When Qin Xiaoyao looked at him, he smiled ingratiatingly again.
“The matter of the Warfire members acting as instructors…”
Qin Xiaoyao looked at Chu Jin.
“I was the one who guessed the time most accurately.” In other words, she was hinting to Chu Jin that his guess was off.
Chu Jin smiled awkwardly.
“Lord Marquis, indeed you won.
“But, that doesn’t stop Lord Marquis from giving the order to help me, right?” he said shamelessly.
Qin Xiaoyao was amused.
“What benefits do I get from helping you?” she asked.
Chu Jin was surprised.
“Benefits?” He looked very troubled.
Lord Marquis’s military position was higher than his, and she was also richer than him. What benefits could he possibly give her?
Qin Xiaoyao’s eyes flickered when she saw his reaction.
Then, she smiled and patted Chu Jin’s shoulder.
“I’ll tell you. Why don’t you see if you can help me achieve it?” she said.
Chu Jin’s face lit up at once.
“Lord Marquis, please speak,” he quickly said.
“Help me persuade His Highness. Get him to start the big thing quickly, and I will do my best to help,” Qin Xiaoyao said in a teasing fashion.
She had taken the initiative to cast her lot with him, but Prince Huaiyin was indecisive.
Perhaps, if Prince Huaiyin’s trusted aide tried to persuade him, the effect would be better?
Chu Jin’s expression changed at once.
“Lord Marquis, such things mustn’t be said so carelessly,” he said nervously.
After he finished speaking, he looked left and right, afraid that Qin Xiaoyao’s words might have been overheard.
Qin Xiaoyao didn’t take it seriously, however.
She continued to smile at Chu Jin and added, “You know very well whether I’m saying these things carelessly or not.
“In short, you think of a way to persuade His Highness.
“If His Highness agrees to let me serve him, get him to arrange some tasks for me. 1 will then agree to your request regarding getting the Warfire members to be instructors.”
Chu Jin frowned. He did not dare to answer.
Nonetheless, Qin Xiaoyao was not annoyed.
“Alright. 1’11 be leaving first.” After saying that, she turned and left.
Chu Jin was left flapping helplessly in the wind.
What was going on?
Marquis Xiaoyao took the initiative to join His Highness and wanted to help him, but His Highness didn’t agree?
And then Marquis Xiaoyao came to look for him and asked him to persuade His Highness to fight for the throne?
Didn’t she know that His Highness had been working hard for the throne all along?
Oh, she definitely didn’t know.
If she knew, she wouldn’t have asked him to persuade His Highness.
His Highness was also weird. He had always wanted to rope in Marquis Xiaoyao for his own use.
Now, Marquis Xiaoyao was already in a high position and held great power. She even took the initiative to offer to serve him but he didn’t want her?
Why did this matter feel stranger the more he thought about it?
No, he had to ask His Highness about this.
It was better to rope in a talent like Marquis Xiaoyao! He couldn’t bear to see His Highness lose such a formidable general.
With this thought in mind, Chu Jin immediately went to Prince Huaiyin’s tent.
Prince Huaiyin listened to Chu Jin’s presentation and frowned.
“Your Highness, Marquis Xiaoyao is a valiant warrior and has many elite soldiers under her. If we can get her help, it will be of great help to Your Highness’s plan!” Chu Jin advised earnestly.
Prince Huaiyin couldn’t help pinching the spot between his eyebrows.
Did this Chu Jin really think that he didn’t know all these things? What he said was all nonsense.
And Marquis Xiaoyao was too much too. Why was she in such a hurry to get someone to plead for her?
And when she spoke, her words were totally indiscreet.
If certain people were to overhear…