Chapter 1190: Reunion with Classmates (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]

"Does the lord intend to appoint Qian Shuhe as commander-in-chief this time?"

Court assemblies weren't held every day; on days without them, a small group of people would be summoned for discussions. After years of experience, Shen Tang could handle the political affairs that had once troubled him with ease. If he performed exceptionally well, he could even get a few hours of rest a day. Shen Tang didn't have any particular hobbies; planting flowers and trees, fishing, horseback riding, and archery were all ways to pass the time.

After the special court assembly, the emperor achieved his goal of giving a warning.

Qi Shan came to see her; she was tidying up a small flower garden.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw an unannounced imperial edict on a stone table in the small pavilion next to her. Qi Shan knew what it contained.

Shen Tang put down the small shovel and took the cloth handed to her by a palace maid to carefully wipe her hands: "Yes, Uncle Qian has also done his best these past few years. He's been envious of the commander-in-chief for so many years, this time it's like fulfilling his dream. But if we lose this battle, he'll have to take all the blame..."

Qian Yong was definitely the most cunning of all the military generals.

They're always criticizing others, yet they always manage to escape unscathed. Compared to Qian Yong, Da Yi and his ilk aren't nearly as astute and tactful.

Speaking of Zhao Feng and the others, Shen Tang couldn't help but sigh.

“I never expected that Dayi would also cause trouble. He used to be an extremely steady person. Gongsu was so frightened that he came to me overnight.”

She knew these people harbored no ill intentions, nor did they intend to test her limits. Their desire to conquer Zhen Kingdom was purely driven by their instinct to expand their territory, but this trend couldn't be encouraged, and the door couldn't be opened recklessly. If she didn't curb this trend this time, who knew what these energetic fellows would do in their pursuit of war once Kang Kingdom grew stronger. A disciplined and capable army is called an elite force; those who act impulsively are nothing more than a rabble, or even mad dogs.

“Zhao Dayi was never very steady, but Qin Gongsu kept a close eye on him and didn’t give him a chance to make a mistake. Qin Gongsu has been too busy these past few years and hasn’t been able to take care of him, so it’s normal for him to lose his mind for a moment.” Qi Shan suppressed a smile, “It’s good that he still knows to be afraid.”

The most troublesome ones are the reckless, fearless types.

To put it in Gu Wangchao's nonsense—

Those who are favored are fearless.

Zhao Feng clearly felt the trust his lord placed in him, and for a moment he became carried away and blurred the lines between ruler and subject. Fortunately, it was just a small sign, and it was nipped in the bud. Shen Tang pushed a plate of cherries toward Qi Shan, who said, "Actually, the lord should also bear some responsibility."

A sage is one who remains calm and composed in the face of great favor and disgrace.

"Are you also trying to say that doting mothers spoil their sons?"

"also?"

"Wang Chao was telling me yesterday that 'a loving mother spoils her son' and 'a benevolent ruler has many treacherous ministers'..." Shen Tang was speechless. She seriously suspected that the court and its officials were a large-scale SM game. If the monarch wasn't strict and domineering, the ministers would feel itchy and uncomfortable, and they would only feel satisfied after being whipped a few times.

Qi Shan: "...He really said all sorts of nonsense."

Shen Tang chuckled and said, "He also said you have a lot of tricks up your sleeve."

Qi Shan already had many political enemies, and this time they deliberately set a trap, with the emperor and his minister working in concert. Aren't they afraid of overplaying their hand? Shen Tang won't be affected, but the number of memorials impeaching Qi Shan will definitely be more than snowflakes.

Qi Shan remained silent and devoured a whole plate of cherries by himself.

Throughout Kang State, the palace had the most abundant fruits and vegetables. Qi Shan lingered until dark before returning, not forgetting to eat and take some home. Just as he arrived at his lodgings, someone announced that a guest had arrived. Qi Shan knew without guessing who it was: "A guest? Is it Qin Gongsu?"

The man who came was Qin Li. As soon as Qi Shan entered the study, he saw the man holding a book under the warm orange candlelight: "Gong Su, you've come at an inopportune time. I've already eaten dinner outside. The kitchen won't be cooking today. If you're hungry, you might as well have some tea to fill your stomach."

Qin Li didn't even bother to get up and give his host face. He turned a page and retorted sarcastically, "Knowing that your household is poor, even rats avoid it to make a living. I prepared a table early to save you the trouble of a meal."

Qi Shan pouted: "Your words are getting more and more sarcastic and mean."

Qin Li sneered, "Isn't this a case of being influenced by one's surroundings?"

If anyone is to blame, it's that puddle of ink.

Qi Shan was too lazy to argue with him. She sat down, lifting the hem of her clothes. Sure enough, there was an exquisite food box on the table, from which the aroma of food wafted. At the bottom of the food box was a pair of wine vessels: "You've prepared so well. Young Master Qin really knows how to enjoy life."

One minute they'd said they'd eaten, the next they'd picked up their chopsticks and started feasting.

In the time it takes Qin Li to eat one chopstick, he can eat three bites.

Why the rush?

This is also something Qin Li can't understand.

Last year, there was a battle with the Northern Desert, and at the beginning of this year, a bloody battle with the Gao Kingdom. In the blink of an eye, two major battles have been fought in two years. Just when it seemed that a peaceful New Year was in sight, the lord provoked the Zhen Kingdom again. It wasn't that Qin Li didn't advocate for war, but he felt that the signs of war had come too quickly.

Shouldn't we wait until at least spring?

He hadn't initially considered Qi Shan, who was also among those receiving training today. But upon reflection, Qin Li realized the connection: it wasn't a charade orchestrated by the master and Qi Shan, one openly and the other covertly!

Qi Shan buried herself in her food, thinking, "It's better to eat sooner rather than later."

We're going to have to fight sooner or later, so let's just fight now.

Qin Li had to remind him: "What do you mean by 'better sooner rather than later'? Our four newly acquired prefectures have only just stabilized! Most of the former Gao Kingdom rebels have been wiped out, and some have been expelled from the country. They are eyeing us covetously, so we cannot afford to be careless!"

Qi Shan held chopsticks in one hand and a bowl in the other.

I was enjoying my meal just now, but now I have no appetite.

Qin Li said, "If we move against Zhenguo now, we will alert the enemy."

This is very disadvantageous for future strategic deployments in the central mainland.

Qi Shan said, "Therefore, we must fight a quick battle. As long as we fight fast enough, the countries in the central continent will not dare to have any intention of fighting."

Kangguo has unified the northwestern continent, and whether they like it or not, they have become a thorn in the side of neighboring countries. A good neighbor should never be a large, imposing entity; ideally, they should be as thin and weak as oneself, so that one can rest easy. Rather than waiting for them to react and take action, it's better to make an example of them first to deter them.

Please use your chopsticks to gently tap the edge of the plate.

The two objects clashed lightly, producing a crisp, ringing sound that seemed to capture everyone's attention: "Gong Su, I know you want to proceed cautiously, conserve your strength, and then seize the opportunity to gradually annex and conquer. However, you've forgotten where we are. Every single nation on this continent is a ruthless beast that devours people without spitting out the bones! Do you know how to make a beast fear you?"

“Kill their accomplices in front of them.”

"A thunderous strike, a single, fatal blow!"

"Only then will they be afraid, only then will they abandon the idea of ​​working together to kill you, and only then will they dare not easily step forward to test your strength!"

Zhenguo was an unlucky guy who came to their doorstep.

Qin Li's approach isn't flawed, it's just unsuitable.

Qi Shan revealed some startling news: "The Lord appointed Qian Shuhe as commander-in-chief because he made a pledge to the army."

Qin Li's purpose in coming here was to seek an answer. Since his lord had made up his mind, as a subject, he had no choice but to fully support this path—even if he didn't understand, he would carry it out! He hadn't expected Qian Yong to issue a military order! Qin Li asked, "What military order did Uncle Qian issue?"

"Three days. The master has only given Uncle Qian three days."

"Three days?"

"Yes, there will be no more Zhenguo after three days."

If we're going to be exciting, let's go all the way and go for something big!

A country can be wiped out in three days.

Qin Li gasped, "How is this possible?"

Even if this country is just a tiny place, it still has a national name. Is it too unrealistic to wipe the other side off the mainland map in three days? Anyone who hears this will think that the military order is a deliberate attempt to make things difficult.

Qi Shan said, "The Lord has given us seven days."

Zhen Kingdom is resource-poor, unable to support a large army, let alone modify its terrain for defense. Zhen Kingdom lacks both geographical advantage and popular support; as for the opportune moment, it depends on whether its neighboring countries are willing to send troops to help defend it. Seven days is a bit short, but it's not impossible for the lord to provide sufficient troops.

"How could it be three days?"

Qi Shan snorted, "What else could it be?"

It was Uncle Qian who brought it up with me.

Qian Yong: [No need for seven days. Give me three days. From sending troops to attack the city to setting foot in their capital, three days is enough!]

Shen Tang was shocked by Lao Qian's words.

I really want to ask Uncle Qian what's wrong with him? Does he even know what the consequences would be if he failed to fulfill his pledge?

Qian Yong had served in the military for so many years, so of course he knew.

Shen Tang also asked the same question as Zhao Wei.

[Qian Shuhe, is the Queen of Zhen your mortal enemy?]

Given Qi Shan's precedent of making enemies everywhere, Shen Tang wasn't surprised who the others under his command might have grudges against. Qian Yong had initially wanted to keep it a secret, but since Shen Tang wanted to know, he said: "They're not any major enemies. It's just a matter of fortunes changing. When I was young, studying and traveling, I had some dealings with the ruler of Zhen Kingdom."

Were they classmates?

Qian Yong wore a ferocious expression, as if recalling his glorious past.

Yeah, I'd say it's a close call.

Don't let his constant sassiness and nonchalance fool you; his early life was actually quite bumpy. He came from a poor background, but who doesn't want to be successful? He had lofty ambitions in his early years, but he had to bow down to the realities of life for a living.

Because they had no place to call their own, they could only wander around.

They shamelessly sought refuge with their pitiful connections.

He once sought help from the ruler of Zhen State, but his classmate showed no mercy and didn't care about Qian Yong's small, makeshift troupe. Instead, he assumed Qian Yong was just a thug trying to freeload and kicked him out. Afterward, Qian Yong moved around to several other places before finally settling down in the territory of his classmate Zhang He.

As for me, I just like to settle personal scores while on duty.

Shen Tang's lips twitched: [Settling personal scores?]

Qian Yong respectfully volunteered for battle: "I earnestly request Your Majesty's permission."

In order to settle personal scores in a legitimate and legal manner, he dared to compress seven days into three, giving his former classmates a little shock!

Helpless, Shen Tang grabbed the national seal and stamped it.

I didn't realize you were so vengeful!

Qian Yong said in a somber tone, "You can't kick the bowl of a stray dog. If you don't even leave it that bowl, don't blame the dog for going mad and biting people to death. He smashed my bowl back then, and now I'm going back to desecrate his ancestral grave. This is what they call 'what goes around comes around'!"

The suffering of living under someone else's roof, the shame of being driven away.

Qian Yong could swallow his pride, but his stomach was too weak to digest it! Now that he had the chance to repay it, how frustrating it would be if he didn't!

[To be rich and not return home is like wearing fine clothes at night; similarly, to become wealthy and not seek revenge against one's enemies is to have lived in vain.] Others are broad-minded and don't bother with trivial matters with their enemies; that's the mark of a gentleman with good manners. But Lao Qian is different; he's a petty person!

If a petty person doesn't rely on power to bully others, what else can they rely on?

What else would a petty person do if not kick someone when they're down?

Qi Shan whispered, "The Lord has specifically sent Gong Xi Chou to oversee Qian Shu He's campaign. As you know, when Gong Xi Chou goes, that mysterious and unpredictable High Priest will also accompany him. Yun Yuan Mou has always been aloof and only associates with his junior brother, disdaining officialdom. He wasn't banned from fighting this time either. The Lord will most likely make him the vanguard!"

Qin Li paused for a moment: "Just attack Zhenguo?"

Isn't this giving Jeongguk too much face?

While even a martial artist of Gongxi Chou's caliber couldn't sway the outcome of a war, it's still relative. Zhen Kingdom, a tiny place, has a regular military force of only around ten thousand men. Even with wartime conscription, the number would hardly exceed thirty thousand, and their fighting strength is uncertain. Gongxi Chou, disregarding the cost, can indeed come and go freely.

As for Yun Ce?

I heard that his cultivation level has increased significantly in the past year.

Martial arts practitioners typically progress steadily in their cultivation, but Yun Ce is different; his cultivation speed is like ascending to heaven on the spot.

Da Yi said more than once that his aura was becoming more and more terrifying.

The rapid progress led to imperfect control of breath control.

Occasionally, a burst of martial energy would escape, instantly causing someone to catch a cold.

Qi Shan tried hard to suppress the corners of her mouth that were twitching up: "...Ahem, the Lord is more worried than Uncle Qian about the military order not being fulfilled."

They showered Qian Yong with all sorts of powerful figures to help him.

Qin Li: "..."

I initially thought the emperor disliked Qian Yong, especially considering Qian Yong's early allegiance to a warlord. To maintain appearances, the emperor felt compelled to treat the old man favorably, to win over the people and save face. But now, it seems the emperor actually dotes on Qian Yong.

Sometimes it's really not the fault of a subject overstepping their bounds.

Qin Li asked, "How many troops?"

Qi Shan made a gesture: "This number."

Qin Li fell silent once again: "I'll ask one last question. Did you conspire with the Lord to pull this stunt because you were afraid that Uncle Qian wouldn't be able to compete with the others, so you deliberately made up an excuse to imprison the others?"

Qi Shan: "..."

Very good, very good, Young Master Qin has gone mad too.

Why would Qin Gongsu make such an outrageous guess?

He said with difficulty, "It's not that exaggerated."

It's a perfectly normal thing, but in Qin Li's mouth it sounds like a farce comparable to "lighting the beacon fires to amuse the feudal lords." How could Uncle Qian, that stubborn bastard, have such great charm? Even if the lord were to one day fly into a rage for his beloved, it shouldn't be Uncle Qian's old face.

The ruler is not the kind of incompetent ruler.

Qin Li rested his elbow on the food table and sighed deeply.

How did I get led astray?

Shen Tang immediately allocated troops to Qian Yong from nearby areas, half of which were elite soldiers who had participated in the wars against the Northern Desert and the Gao Kingdom. This fierce and battle-hardened army possessed an extraordinary aura. The resulting cloud of morale faintly tinged with red, its oppressive force almost suffocating.

"Isn't the size of this army a bit off?"

Li Wan did not return to report on his duties, but stayed to participate in the war.

She had served as an envoy to the Zhen Kingdom, so she could lead the way.

Li Wan was quite capable; he noticed something amiss just from the daily logistical consumption. Based on this consumption, the army would need to be at least 30,000 strong. Mobilizing 30,000 troops to attack Zhenguo?

|ω`)

Nothing happened today. My driving practice went smoothly, and my reverse parking was also perfect – no scratches, no rear-end collisions, and no misjudging traffic lights. Congratulations! (My two younger cousins ​​are also being urged to take their driving tests; sigh, it's 37 or 38 degrees Celsius!)