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Luzi did not distrust Ji Xi; the reason he called him over was to avoid discussing matters that could only be addressed privately in front of others. The law did not restrict the personal freedom of officials, and if one disliked the country or their appointed position, they could resign. As long as one did not violate the current laws of the country, they could come and go freely.
The concept of identity was even stranger. As long as the owner of an identity did not wish to disclose it, others had no compelling reason to investigate further. In an era without a unified household registration system, names could be changed at will. One could be called Zhang San today and Li Si tomorrow. Names were merely identification codes.
If this was true for the people of Central Plains, it was even more so for Ji Xi, whose family was not from there and thus did not have to adhere to certain old customs. In places where people from the Central Plains could come and go freely, Ji Xi naturally felt no psychological burden. After all this explanation, Luzi simply wanted to convey that personnel movement at that time was quite frequent.
At this moment, the Shangdang Region was undergoing drastic changes, all stemming from the injury of the planner Bai Qi. Various armies were operating in an orderly manner, but the only professional capable of managing this vast machine suddenly fell ill. A slight misoperation could lead to total defeat.
As a recent addition to the Qin State alliance, Ji Xi could choose to withdraw upon learning the truth. This had been Luzi's original intention; after all, Ji Xi had no obligation to stay and help anyone.
Luzi recounted the situation and then said, “General Ji! The current situation is as such, and it may worsen. I wanted to speak with you alone to inform you of this matter. Now take your troops and leave this place of turmoil immediately to continue your journey. If fate allows us to meet again, you are welcome back in Qin State!”
Ji Xi was excited because he thought General Lu would assign him a significant mission; however, he was surprised by what he heard next. Looking down at his Qin Army armor, he curiously asked, “General! I may not be talented, but I understand the significance of this military uniform. Does it mean I can only stay when Great Qin Kingdom is doing well and leave when things go awry?”
Luzi realized that Ji Xi misunderstood his good intentions and hurriedly explained that it was not so. “We have not signed any alliance agreement; therefore, there is no psychological burden in this regard. General Ji is still young and has much to learn from traveling through various states; how can you take risks here?”
Ji Xi clearly did not care about the risks and asked, “General! What would happen if I insisted on staying?”
Luzi smiled slightly. “It might lead to total annihilation!”
Ji Xi understood what he meant and quickly replied, “General! Although I am an outsider, I understand what it means to share both hardship and fortune. If Qin State is safe, as long as you show even a hint of annoyance, I will pack my things and leave. But right now, the Qin Army is in need of personnel; how can I leave with a clear conscience?”
Luzi certainly hoped Ji Xi would stay; his earlier words were meant to give Ji Xi the choice to stay or leave. Hearing Ji Xi insist on remaining, he nodded and asked, “Are you not afraid you may never return?”
Ji Xi knelt down and bowed. "General! I also hold an official position, and the Ji Family Army outside is wearing the uniforms of the Qin Army. I and all the brothers of the Ji Family Army are willing to live and die together with the Qin Army. Please allow us, General!"
Luzi hurried over to help Ji Xi up, laughing, "True friendship is revealed in times of trouble! Let us brothers join hands and march towards victory together!"
Due to Wuan Jun's situation, Luzi began to worry about the safety of the king who was recruiting troops in Hanoi. Although news had not leaked out yet, it did not mean that it would always remain safe. If Zhao Kuo were to learn that King Zhao of Qin was not far from Hanoi, Wuan Jun's fate could very well repeat itself.
At this moment, there were not many candidates in the military capable of taking on this heavy responsibility, as most of the accompanying troops were generals from the Qin State. This kind of delicate work required someone who was not a general.
After thinking it over, Luzi believed that only Ji Xi could handle this matter. Xiao Yu'er could also do it, but she tended to be reactive rather than proactive. If they were to engage in real combat, it would be better to have a skilled martial artist. However, there was a problem: they could not force the Ji Family Army to help. But if they voluntarily offered their assistance, that would be a different story.
Seeing that Ji Xi lived up to expectations, Luzi immediately ordered the Ji Family Army to head to Hanoi without delay. The mission was to secretly protect King Zhao of Qin there while ensuring their identities remained concealed throughout.
This was actually a trump card that Luzi had kept hidden; he planned to keep the Ji Family Army concealed among the troops without revealing their presence. Even if they were dispatched for a mission, it would be classified as a secret operation and not made public. The reason for this was to prevent outsiders from knowing that Ji Xi's unit had officially joined the ranks of the Qin Army.
For this trip to Hanoi for protection duties, operating from a hidden position would certainly be more effective than being in plain sight. Moreover, since outsiders were unaware of Ji Xi's current identity, they might proactively seek support from him during their arrangements. If that were the case, capturing enemy agents would become highly probable.
Ji Xi listened quietly as the general outlined the mission and confirmed details to ensure nothing was overlooked. "This operation should include two main tasks: the first task is to secretly enter Hanoi County and set up a perimeter defense to protect King Zhao of Qin; the second task is to use this opportunity to scout for enemy infiltrators. If we have a chance for contact during this time, we can follow leads directly to their stronghold..."
Luzi raised his hand to interrupt Ji Xi, clearly stating that he did not want that last part. "General Ji! Protecting the king's safety is entrusted to you; this is our first task. If we execute our mission in plain sight, it will be less effective than hiding in the shadows and identifying external threats. For this reason, consider this our second task. As for following leads and attacking their stronghold... which do you think is more important in relation to protecting the king?"
Ji Xi unhesitatingly stated that protecting the king was obviously more important since both tasks revolved around safeguarding him.
Luzi certainly wanted to follow leads and attack their stronghold but analyzed that given the current situation, such conditions were not permissible. No matter how delicious a meal may be, it must be eaten bite by bite; if one gulps it down too quickly, they risk choking! He then instructed Ji Xi never to act independently; all actions must prioritize protecting the king. If they lost sight of this premise, everything they did would lose its significance.
Seeing Ji Xi nod in agreement and indicate that he understood the importance of the situation, Luzi still wanted to find someone else to accompany them. However, at this moment, there was no extra manpower available. Sun Thirteen had already officially set out, and Li Xin needed to stay behind to assist in protecting Grand Commander Bai Qi. It is only when the troops are deployed that one realizes how few they are! Don't be fooled by the abundance of capable individuals usually around!
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