Chapter 1095: Southwest Strategy (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]

Chu Yao said, "It's alright."

The intelligence sent back from Shangnan said this.

However, judging from the casualties, the claim of "unharmed" is questionable. Luan Gongyi is known for reporting good news and concealing bad news; he's reserved and patient, and unless someone's life is in danger, he probably won't report the truth. Chu Yao's words relieved Shen Tang. She quickly skimmed through the intelligence report and said, "It's good that everyone's alright. I was just afraid that old geezer Wei Lou's jinx would come true..."

When Shen Tang saw some of the data, she suddenly looked up.

Are you sure you're really okay?

Shen Tang recalled the layout of Shangnan.

The fall of the second inner city wall is no different from being stabbed in the heart. A large number of ordinary people live in the second inner city, which contains numerous residential buildings. To martial arts masters, these residential buildings are truly more fragile than paper.

Chu Yao knew what she was worried about.

"This battle has dragged on for quite some time. Before the fall of the second inner city, most of the common people had already been evacuated. As long as people are still alive, the damaged buildings can be rebuilt sooner or later." In this world of explosive military power, it is truly rare for a city siege to drag on for so long. This also indirectly proves that Wu Xian has really gone all out in Shangnan. It's just a pity that the main battlefront was a complete disaster, otherwise Shangnan might have really become his breakthrough point.

Shen Tang read the intelligence report over and over again, more than a dozen times.

In a fit of frustration, he snapped it away.

The more I think about it, the more upset I get...

When I'm in a bad mood, I want to find someone to vent my anger on.

"Has the Kingdom of Gao sent any envoys to negotiate?" With their king captured by a hostile force, any minister who wants to project an image of loyalty would rush over to test the waters. Regardless of whether they can get the king back, they'll certainly put on a good show.

Chu Yao said, "Not yet."

Judging by the estimated time, he should arrive around tomorrow.

She closed her eyes to calm herself: "Has Wu Xian made a decision?"

Now, Chu Yao could also see that Shen Tang was hiding something, no wonder he was in a bad mood: "After the King of Wu returned, he locked himself in his tent and did not allow anyone to enter. He did not touch his chopsticks for dinner tonight. This matter is not good for him."

Wu Xian was never a decisive person.

It's too difficult for him to decide whether to abdicate or not in half a day.

Shen Tang pouted: "I don't have time to wait for him for ten days or half a month."

She has always lacked patience.

That night, Shen Tang tossed and turned, only managing to fall asleep as dawn broke. In his half-awake state, he kept seeing terrifying scenes of thunder roaring above an unfamiliar city. Each time he tried to get a closer look, his eyelids would flutter and slowly open.

The familiar tent ceiling, a hazy dream.

The two alternate in a cycle within two hours.

Shen Tang rarely gets to sleep.

She sat on the bed, disheveled and lost in thought, feeling as if the events of her dream were real, mirroring what had just happened. The more she thought about it, the more panicked she became. She kicked away her beloved silk quilt, jumped up, and ordered her guards to find Ji Moqiu; she had important questions to ask!

Thus, Ji Moqiu saw the prince himself, who hadn't washed up yet, and two of his literary avatars, who had stayed up all night without rest. The literary avatars were resting their chins on their hands, yawning incessantly. All three looked dejected and listless.

"Should Qiu go outside the tent and wait for His Highness to wash up?"

At this moment, Her Highness had casually draped an outer robe over herself, and through the disheveled fabric, it was clear that she was only wearing a thin nightgown, which was really inappropriate for others to see. Shen Tang waved her hand dismissively: "No need, I asked you to come here so I could interpret your dream."

"Dream interpretation?"

Ji Moqiu seemed confused.

Shen Tang asked, "What, is this beyond the scope of business?"

Ji Moqiu truthfully replied, "I'm not very proficient."

"Not very proficient is just a little bit? I barely managed to get by..." Shen Tang rubbed his throbbing temples, recalling the jumbled fragments of his dream, and said, "Yun Da and the others have said more than once that I am a 'god,' and you also said that I am a 'god' worshipped by the Gongxi tribe... So, is my dream connected to reality? Could it be a warning of the future? Or could it be a replay of things that have already happened?"

"That's not all. As far as I know, there are countless universes in the world. As long as there is even a tiny handful of soil in that world, your avatar can go there. Your Highness's dream may be a journey through a small world, or it may be helping a small world come into being."

Shen Tang was stunned for a moment: "That amazing?"

That does sound pretty sophisticated.

But this wasn't the answer she wanted.

Ji Moqiu: "You are impressive, but you are not up to par now."

She is now human in every sense of the word, possessing neither the ability to enter dreams and travel to smaller worlds, nor the power to create a world from a dream. Her dream is just an ordinary dream. Ji Moqiu looked at the two avatars of literary energy and sighed, offering advice: "What you think about during the day, you dream about at night. Your Highness is too anxious. I suggest you drink some calming and soothing medicine to help you sleep."

Shen Tang: "..."

The little bit of sophistication I had just built up has vanished.

Undeterred, she asked, "Is it really not a warning?"

Ji Moqiu pointed to the two literary avatars that were about to ascend to heaven: "The literary avatars are connected to the spirit of the main body. The length of time they are awake is equivalent to the length of time Your Highness has been without sleep. Even if the main body falls asleep for a short time, that time is not enough to recover its vitality."

The two avatars of literary energy can do the work of two people.

Can this being satisfy the sleep needs of three people with just one nap?

Previously, he could ignore the overdraft by relying on the vigorous energy of a martial artist, but His Highness recently played "Soul Crossing" repeatedly. The consumption of "Soul Crossing" was negligible for the original His Highness, but now that he is a mortal, he needs to consume a lot of literary energy and spirit. In addition, he is worried about the safety of his subordinates, so it is normal for his dreams to be chaotic.

Shen Tang: "..."

The embodiment of literary talent did indeed take a while to revert to its former state.

She herself couldn't remember exactly how long it took.

Ji Moqiu helped interpret the dream and concluded that Shen Tang needed to sleep. If she couldn't sleep, she could drink a bowl of highly concentrated calming soup; if one bowl wasn't enough, she could have two. She could relax her mind and sleep for a day or two. It was a good suggestion, but Shen Tang refused.

It wasn't that the camp was so busy that it couldn't function without her; rather, Wu Xian, who should have been agonizing over the decision for three to five days, or even ten to fifteen days, gave her an answer in just one day. He was willing to abdicate, since the matter seemed to be in the best interest of the Gao Kingdom. However, before writing the abdication edict, he wanted to see Shen Tang to understand her reasons for doing so.

Shen Tang frowned: "Didn't I tell you the reason?"

Wu Xian said, "That's not the truth."

He wanted to hear the truth and know what she was really up to.

Now that things have come to this, should we still expect him to remain a fool?

Shen Tang hesitated: "I'm doing this for the sake of the southwest, something that can kill two birds with one stone. Why would I need to shoot a second arrow?"

"A strategic move into the southwest?"

Wu Xian tossed and turned all night, unable to understand.

He considered a hundred and eighty possibilities, none of which concerned the southwest. His abdication to his son would at most affect the situation within the Gao Kingdom, and further afield, the central countries bordering Gao Kingdom... What could it possibly have to do with the southwest?

"Your son has someone from the Southwest branch of the Pantheon. I know her identity, I know her purpose, I know whose side she works for and which faction she serves. Making you abdicate is just to thwart her plans, to sow discord between her and her lord. If this succeeds, it will save a lot of trouble in the Southwest..."

Shen Tang wasn't lying to Wu Xian.

Mei Jinghe was not only a confidant of the Qi State ruler but also the deputy head of the Southwest branch. As deputy head, Mei Jinghe undoubtedly possessed considerable connections and resources, just as Qi Shan knew the prominent civil and military figures active in the Northwest. Qi Shan had previously offended the entire Southwest branch, and the conflicts between regional branches had a long history. The losses in Shangnan Commandery were also related to the power struggle between the two regional branches. If the conflict between Qi State and Kang State were made public, wouldn't Mei Jinghe seize the opportunity to mobilize these connections?

These short-lived connections, even if they belonged to the Qi state, would be a major problem.

Shen Tang then pondered how to solve it.

Actually, eliminating the problem at its root would be the easiest solution, but unfortunately, Mei Jinghe's security was excellent, and Shen Tang's attention was mostly focused on the Gao Kingdom battlefield, so they couldn't stop her last time. Better late than never. If force doesn't work, then they'll have to use their brains.

The first step is to disrupt Mei Jinghe's perfect ceremony.

Wu Xian's abdication edict was a crucial element.

The second step: sow discord!

Shen Tang didn't explain it too clearly, but Wu Xian, having risen to the position of ruler, wasn't entirely stupid and had guessed some of the truth. His face was ashen, and it took him a long time to suppress his anger: "Heh heh, tell me, who do you want me to pass the throne to?"

Because Shen Tang had clearly stated his intention to destroy the Gao Kingdom and refused any peace talks between the two countries, it didn't matter whose name was on the edict for Wu Xian. Looking at the pen and ink on the table, a self-deprecating smile crept across his face—with this edict, the Gao Kingdom wouldn't have perished in a single generation, and he wouldn't be a ruler of a fallen kingdom. Ha, should he be grateful?

Shen Tang asked, "How old is your youngest child?"

Wu Xian: "Six."

"Six years old?"

Wu Xian twitched the corner of his mouth: "Six months."

Warriors are known for their boundless energy and numerous wives and concubines. As the ruler of the country, Wu Xian had no need to mistreat himself; with so many wives and concubines, he also had many children. He had as many as three children under one year old, with his six-month-old son being the youngest of the three.

"Which of your children comes from the most powerful maternal clan?"

Wu Xian nearly gasped at the question.

Shen Youli's shamelessness is not concealed at all?

He said with a dark face, "The fifth son."

Shen Tang then asked, "I remember you had a concubine surnamed Mi who was quite favored and whose status in the inner court was second only to the Queen, right?"

Wu Xian's face showed a hint of reluctance.

He softened his tone: "She won't do. She has no maternal clan to rely on, and her personality is too humble and gentle. If you want to incite a power struggle among your children for the throne, she and her children are no match for the others. Even if you're going to set up a target, find someone more solid."

Although Lady Mi was a dancer he had bought, she had borne him children over the years and was not only a gentle and understanding woman but also a virtuous and capable assistant in managing the inner court. The power struggles among women in the inner court were always brutal, and the premature death of many children was common, as Wu Xian had heard. But Lady Mi was different; she was kind and had never harmed a child, and she diligently cared for every pregnant woman.

Every year, the inner court has three to five newborns. Except for one or two who are born weak and cannot be saved, the others grow up healthy.

Shen Tang: "..."

Wu Xian is truly a scumbag.

What does it mean to find a sturdier target?

No matter how Shen Tang tries to find a target, it's always his concubines' children.

and--

"Brother Zhaode, your judgment of women has truly not improved. A woman who, apart from being a concubine in name, wields real power equivalent to a queen, and you describe her as humble and gentle? Do you think that everything she has achieved is something that humility and gentleness could accomplish?"

If you believe it, it's basically equivalent to accepting the idea that "as long as you behave yourself, you'll get something for nothing." Power is earned, not to mention that Lady Mi was originally a dancer, and her status among Wu Xian's concubines was extremely low. How could she control the other women without some skill? Isn't that just ridiculous?

“A woman whose conduct is exemplary will naturally win people over with her virtue.”

Shen Tang: "..."

It's fine if others say this, but it's ridiculous when Wu Xian says it. If Wu Xian really believes in the power of "role models," then what about his killing of his brothers as a teenager? Was it a boomerang from decades ago?

Shen Tang tapped the table: "For the youngest son."

Wu Xian let out a sigh.

I don't know if it's a relief to have put my mind at ease, or a reflection on myself.

After finishing one copy, Wu Xian thought it was over, but Shen Tang ordered someone to spread out a new sheet of paper: "Here are five for you."

Wu Xian: "..."

Shen Tang said, "Don't rush, write another one for Mi Shi Zi."

Wu Xian finally lost his temper and snapped the brush in half with one hand.

"Shen Youli! Don't push your luck!"

Shen Tang lifted her eyelids, calmly meeting Wu Xian's bloodshot, bell-like eyes, and said, "Wu Zhaode, you'd better not disobey me! We can still discuss this now because I'm thinking of our past relationship. I'm certainly not a bloodthirsty butcher, and I have no interest in slaughtering the entire royal family of the previous dynasty, but no interest doesn't mean I won't do it. If necessary, I'm capable of anything! Only by eliminating the root of the problem can we prevent future troubles! Do you want me to pull up a few seedlings from your fence, or do you want me to uproot all the seedlings in your fenced area? Think about it!"

Even just sitting there, Shen Tang could exert immense pressure on Wu Xian.

The two faced off for several breaths before Wu Xianxian lost his composure and retreated. This retreat caused his momentum to collapse like a dam breaking, flowing out in a torrent.

He had no choice but to write three copies.

After writing the last word, he could barely hold the pen.

"Shen Youli, you've changed. You've become too ruthless."

“Brother Zhaode, it’s not that I’ve changed, it’s that your judgment of women has never been right. If you treated me as an equal male like yourself, you would only find that I’m not ruthless enough, not that I’m too ruthless.” Shen Tang took the three abdication edicts in a good mood. They were identical except for the names, and all three had Wu Xian’s personal seal on them, so they were all legal.

Coincidentally, the envoy from the Kingdom of Gao had already been there for half an hour.

Shen Tang didn't bother to see them, and simply sent someone to deliver a message.

"No peace talks, I won't release the people, but take the goods back with me."

Although the envoy had carefully prepared himself before his arrival, the dejection and unease of a defeated man were still evident in his eyes. After identifying himself, he was led into the Kang Kingdom's camp. The patrolling soldiers were all full of energy and high spirits, shrouded in an invisible, chilling killing intent, which made the envoy's aura even more subdued. He felt bitter inside, but he was also mentally prepared to be left waiting for three to five days.

What loser doesn't get ridiculed?

Unexpectedly, the result was obtained in just half an hour.

The messenger was prepared to be rejected and was not surprised by the previous two relays, but he did not understand what the "thing" was.

"What... what is this?"

The messenger nervously opened the package, his eyes widening upon seeing the contents.

"The abdication edict of the King of Wu".

|ω`)

As a staunch Huawei enthusiast, I never imagined my first car would be a Xiaomi... but I haven't even registered for my driving test yet.

(End of this chapter)