Chapter 246: 246, Qing clan camp

Daping Mountain and Xianlin Mountain, already host countless Qing family troops. In the valleys, where there are open spaces, one can see rows upon rows of black tents. This place must be the vital transportation hub within the entire mountain range.

The roads in the mountains are not dirt paths but cement roads built by the Qing family long ago. Even the roadbed reveals how long they have been operating here.

This is the only route southward for the Li family. To attack the Li family, one cannot avoid this place.

The contradictions among the three southwestern consortiums have not arisen overnight, and the Qing family's preparations are particularly thorough. Both forward bases and mountain fortifications were constructed long ago.

At this moment, two off-road vehicles approach from the northeast, outside the mountains. Qing Zhen and Luo Yan sit inside, gazing at the scenery outside the window. Qing Zhen smiles and says, "We must hold this place well. If this position is lost, the road will be repaired by others, allowing them to advance unimpeded."

"Don't worry, it won't be lost," says Zhou Secretary, sitting in the passenger seat coldly. "Qing Zhen, letting you serve as a military advisor is meant to give you a chance to redeem your sins. I hope you seriously consider the decision of the Qing family's chairman group and stop acting recklessly."

Qing Zhen replies calmly with a smile, "Redemption? What crime have I committed?"

The soldier driving the vehicle acts as if deaf, focusing solely on driving without any reaction. Zhou Secretary frowns, lost in thought.

After driving dozens of kilometers through the mountains, they finally arrive at a vast camp. Only after Zhou Secretary presents his credentials at the checkpoint are they allowed to pass.

Qing Zhen surveys the camp's layout and remarks, "A bit lax."

"Here we are. Get out," Zhou Secretary glances at Qing Zhen. "The commanding officer here is someone you know—it's your younger brother, Qing Yun."

"Oh," Qing Zhen nods. "That snot-nosed brat who used to cry all the time as a child."

It was Qing Yun who had discovered the missing test subjects at the 113 stronghold.

After getting out of the vehicle, Qing Zhen walks toward the command tent. "Since I'm here as a military advisor, what if Qing Yun refuses to listen? Have you considered that? If he acts stubbornly, will I have to take the blame too?"

Zhou Secretary's frown deepens. "Qing Zhen, don't play games. He's the commanding officer; if mistakes occur, he bears the primary responsibility. But as a military advisor, if the war goes badly, can you truly say you're blameless? We're all doing this for the Qing family's cause. Please take it seriously and don't deliberately slack off."

This is precisely what the chairman group fears most. They don't trust Qing Yun to face the other two consortiums alone, for his combat experience is far less than Qing Zhen's, and in terms of strategic wisdom, no one in the Qing family surpasses him.

Many believe that with such a vast consortium and so many people, selecting elite soldiers and commanders is only natural. Yet throughout history, true renowned generals are few. Sometimes, there are those born with innate talent.

But they worry even more that Qing Zhen, after being so thoroughly humiliated recently, might slack off at the front lines, affecting the overall situation.

It's not that the chairman group is foolish in suppressing talent, but they've grown accustomed to talents bowing before the consortium's massive machinery. There were once proud figures who sought to rise above the consortium, but in the end, they all bowed and became its tools.

Yet the Qing family's chairman group never expected Qing Zhen to be so defiant!

Qing Zhen smiles as he walks into the tent. Inside, officers move back and forth, some holding the latest military intelligence, others carrying Qing Yun's orders to execute.

When everyone sees Qing Zhen enter, they all freeze for a moment, as if the very air in the command center has solidified.

Qing Zhen greets them. "Relax, relax. Do what you need to do. Luo Yan and I are just here to take a look."

Qing Yun, standing by the sand table in the command tent, darkens in expression. He glares at Zhou Secretary. "Why did you bring him here?"

Zhou Secretary speaks calmly. "Your second uncle sent him to assist you."

"Assist me?" Qing Yun sneers. "I don't need a prisoner to assist me."

Luo Yan laughs. "Qing Yun, do you remember when you used to follow us around playing in the mud as a child? When your master fought, you didn't even know where to find the mud to pee in."

Zhou Secretary snaps angrily. "Enough! The southwest is about to change drastically, and you still have the mood to argue like children. Qing Yun, these two will serve as your military advisors. Report the current situation and convene a military meeting."

Qing Yun shoots them a glance and tells the adjutant beside him, "Notify all the operational sequence commanders to attend the meeting!"

In the end, Qing Yun dares not defy the chairman group's orders. Since they've assigned Qing Zhen as a military advisor, he must cooperate for the sake of face. That way, even if mistakes occur, no one will blame him.

During the meeting, Qing Zhen sits by the table with his eyes closed, seemingly not listening to the reports from the operational sequence commanders. Luo Yan, meanwhile, has already fallen asleep with his head on the table.

An officer says, "Currently, we are stationed along the Daping and Xianlin mountain line. The Li and Yang families probably won't attack easily. This war is mainly due to their mutual conflicts..."

Qing Zhen suddenly opens his eyes and interrupts, "Foolish."

The command tent falls silent. Qing Zhen continues, "The philosophy of this battlefield is that everyone here besides our own people is an enemy. Why do you assume the Li and Yang families have a grudge, so they won't attack us proactively?"

Qing Yun says coldly, "The Li family was robbed by the Yang family of..."

Qing Zhen laughs. "It wasn't the Yang family who took it—it was I who took it and gave it to them. Remember my words: since the Qing family has come here, we will inevitably become the Li family's target. If we neglect our defenses, we might even become the priority target for the other two families. For this, they might even set aside their mutual hatred, because swallowing the Qing family's interests is enough to move them."

Qing Yun glares at Qing Zhen. He has lived in Qing Zhen's shadow for over twenty years. In kindergarten, people said there was someone even better than him—Qing Zhen. In elementary school, middle school, university, it was the same. Even when he entered the military, people still said Qing Zhen fought better than all the Qing family members.

Yet despite his hatred for Qing Zhen, he still has to sit at the same table discussing the war situation, because he wants the chairman group to know he is more obedient than Qing Zhen.