“Captain, please hear me out.” That squad leader was clearly still unwilling to give up. “In night battles, I, Thomas Harris…”

“I don’t want to hear it!” The captain was truly infuriated, and blurted out another curse. “But Thomas Harris, you’re my subordinate, so you’d better listen to me!”

“Yes, sir!” Thomas Harris had no choice.

“George Harris, I naturally know your abilities, and I also know that as a man from a humble family, you dream of making a name for yourself. But is today really the time for you to play tricks and act unruly? The nobles of the two commanderies are right above us in the Lulong Tower, observing the enemy. If you disturb them and are charged with inciting disorder in the army, you could be executed just like that—don’t drag me down with you!”

At these words, the young squad leader’s momentum faltered again, and the dozen or so cavalrymen behind him all lost their spirit.

“All right,” David Turner saw his unruly soldiers looking a bit discouraged, and couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. “If you’ve all eaten and drunk your fill and have nowhere to vent your energy, then go take care of the horses under the corridor, and stop causing trouble here for no reason.”

However, although the dozen cavalrymen were deflated, they looked at each other, and not a single one left. In the end, they all turned their eyes to that squad leader. Seeing this, Edward Benson couldn’t help but click his tongue in amazement, because according to Charles Benson, this Thomas Harris had only joined the army for half a year, yet as a mere squad leader, he had managed to win over more than a dozen cavalrymen. It seemed that this Thomas HarrisGeorge Harris was indeed the very Thomas Harris his mother had mentioned.

On the other side, supported by his companions, Thomas Harris mustered his courage and stepped forward again: “Captain, I’m really not causing trouble for no reason. I truly have a clever plan to repel the enemy.”

Upon hearing this, David Turner was furious, and was about to come down from the city tower himself to argue with him, when suddenly, from the staircase of the tall building opposite, a head popped out:

“That Thomas HarrisGeorge Harris with the clever plan, the Chief Clerk wants you to come up.”

Sure enough, they had alarmed the nobles!

The captain was utterly shocked, while Thomas Harris beamed with joy, winking at his captain, then immediately gripped his sword hilt and quickly ascended the fifty-foot-high city tower. At the top of the stairs, he saw a young man, eight feet tall, dressed in brocade and a white robe, smiling as he waited for him—this was, of course, Edward Benson.

Thomas Harris didn’t recognize him, but from his attire and bearing, he could tell the man was from a noble family, either wealthy or powerful, so he hurriedly saluted.

“No need for such formality, Brother Yigong.” Edward Benson was eager to make his acquaintance, so he quickly helped him up. “Come upstairs with me, let’s go find Mr. Benson.”

Hearing this, Thomas Harris was overjoyed.

Now, the Mr. Benson that Edward Benson mentioned also bore the compound surname Gongsun, with the given name Zhao. He was the clan uncle of Edward Benson, Charles Benson, and that William Benson… Well, what could you do? The Gongsun clan was a renowned family throughout all the commanderies around Bohai, with a flourishing lineage and smooth official careers.

In short, this James Benson, hailing from the foremost noble family of Liaoxi, had been recommended for filial piety and integrity, served as a court official, and… was precisely on the path that Edward Benson aspired to follow. Now, he was the Chief Clerk of Right Beiping, a high-ranking official with real authority over six hundred bushels.

Furthermore, the Lulong Fortress spanned both Liaoxi and Right Beiping commanderies. Liaoxi itself was vast—on a modern map, it would stretch from present-day Fuxin in Liaoning all the way to Qian’an in Hebei. Of the five major cities in the commandery, four were on the Hebei plain, protected by the Lulong Fortress, while only the capital, Yangle City, was far beyond the pass. So, whenever the Xianbei invaded, Liaoxi was naturally split in two.

Given this, with the Liaoxi governor unable to control the situation here, as the Chief Clerk of Right Beiping and a member of the Liaoxi Gongsun clan, James Benson was naturally the most authoritative figure in Lulong Fortress.

How could Thomas Harris not be delighted to meet such a person?

However, as soon as he reached the top of the tower, the previously beaming young squad leader immediately became a bit timid—for good reason. As soon as they set foot on Lulong Tower, they were met head-on by a group of fortress mid-level officers with dark faces. At the front were eight garrison commanders, four company commanders, and even a military adjutant!

You should know, according to Han dynasty military organization, two squads make a section, five sections a squad, two squads a garrison, two garrisons a company. Not to mention, these four company commanders were already three ranks above his lowly squad leader position, and were also six-hundred-bushel court officials. Now, during wartime, if they were angered, any one of them could execute him for inciting a disturbance and demoralizing the troops… and outsiders would only praise their strict discipline.

But these people only glared at him, then suddenly turned to the nobleman leading the way with smiles, and stepped aside, actively making way… A true noble, surrounded by clerks, officers, and aristocrats, stood before them.

This man was in his thirties, with a slightly ruddy complexion, fine brows and large eyes, wearing a beam crown and a grand cloak, with a bronze seal and black ribbon at his waist marking his status—this was, of course, James Benson.

“Greetings, my lord.” The difference in status was too great, so Thomas Harris hurriedly knelt.

“You are Thomas Harris?” James Benson frowned slightly, first glancing at Charles Benson, who had brought the message, then looking helplessly at Edward Benson, who had led the way, before finally restraining himself and questioning the newcomer. “I hear you have a clever plan to repel the enemy? Speak, let’s hear it.”