Chapter 1238: Waiting for a Rabbit to Fall into the Trap, Who is the Rabbit? (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]

One of our own?

Qin Li had no idea when or where she had planted the plant.

Shen Tang noticed his curiosity and took the initiative to say, "You should have some impression of this person. On the eve of the war with Gao, a grandfather and granddaughter fled from the southwest and passed through Gao to enter our territory. The granddaughter even said that I have the aura of an emperor."

Qin Li remembered this detail.

"I have indeed heard others mention it."

He was deeply impressed, not only by the girl's naturally white eyes, but also by her sharp insight, which hit the nail on the head—that the lord was the true Son of Heaven with the aura of an emperor!

"Is it her? I've heard that this grandfather and granddaughter used to run a fortune-telling stall at Wangduqiao Dam, and they seemed quite accurate." She could even predict the gender of a woman's unborn child, saying it was a boy or a girl. Many officials from the Ministry of Rites had patronized her stall.

During one court assembly, Qin Li was thoroughly angered by Qi Shan.

He wanted to see the other person as soon as he finished court.

What are you looking at?

Naturally, it depends on how many years of life Qi Yuanliang has left!

He counted on his fingers, tearing off pieces of the almanac, waiting for Qishan to go to the underworld, hoping for a better future. Unfortunately, when he arrived, the stalls at the bridge were empty. No one ever saw the grandfather and grandson again.

Some speculate that she died young because she revealed too many secrets of heaven.

Qin Li naturally didn't believe it.

Unexpectedly, I heard from the Lord about this person's whereabouts.

“They are originally from the southwest, from the Lu Kingdom. They couldn’t survive because the Eternal Life Sect was spreading its teachings everywhere, so they went to seek refuge elsewhere. I gave her a chance to do me a favor.” Shen Tang had nothing to hide about these things. “The former leader of the Eternal Life Sect, Wei Cheng, is on our side. Since Wei Cheng won’t help us fight, I asked him for something else.”

For example, a token that can prove identity.

Shen Tang gave the token to Bai Tongnu, instructing her to pretend to be the heir to Wei Cheng and successfully infiltrate the Eternal Life Cult. Without the management of Wei Cheng and his nephew, the Eternal Life Cult's followers in various regions became like headless flies, only able to obey the "followers" from aristocratic families in each region.

Right now, it's a muddy mess, perfect for catching fish by chance.

"The followers of the Eternal Life Cult are so large that almost no power would want to monopolize them. Wei Cheng has not clearly designated a successor, and the cult's higher-ups are all unwilling to submit to each other. She holds the token but has no real power, so isn't she the perfect puppet?"

A puppet is the least likely to arouse suspicion.

"Luo Yuan is still an elder of the Eternal Life Cult, and the southwestern countries launched this war by cutting into the Eternal Life Cult several times in order to raise enough troops. In other words, the southwestern countries' armies are not short of Eternal Life Cult followers, so it is not difficult to pass on Luo Yuan's whereabouts."

Qin Li was completely convinced by this.

"Like a snake in the grass, a hidden thread stretching a thousand miles! I am no match for it."

The ruler has it too easy, but the subjects are under a lot of pressure.

Shen Tang was amused by his praise, and she, who prided herself on being extremely thick-skinned, showed a rare hint of shyness: "When did Gong Su learn to use such sweet words to make people happy? What do you mean I'm not as good as him? Everyone has their own expertise. I don't think I can match Gong Su's skills at all."

Of all the ministers, Shen Tang was most worried about Qin Li asking for leave.

She took a few days off work, and the royal court still functioned well under the management of the officials. But if Qin Li were to take a few days off work, the sky would fall over the Kang Kingdom. How many people in the country depended on the Bureau of Astronomy for their livelihood? Weather forecasts and agricultural meteorology all depended on him.

Qin Li felt embarrassed by what was said.

"Does that queen have any other plans?"

"What other plans?"

"Strike the snake at its vital point! We can use this opportunity to launch an uprising from within and without. Even if we fail, we can still give the southwestern countries a hard time! Beset by internal and external troubles, the so-called allied forces are nothing to fear."

Qin Li's suggestion appealed to Shen Tang.

How could she not want that?

"It is theoretically feasible, but difficult to implement."

Stirring up trouble requires solid professional skills, and that grandfather and granddaughter were just ordinary commoners who came to Kang Kingdom to make a living. She risked becoming a "puppet" of the Eternal Life Cult to help Shen Tang pass on intelligence, not out of love, but because she had her own motives.

She had her own agenda, and Shen Tang could afford it, which is why they hit it off immediately.

Be careful not to scare people away by suddenly increasing the difficulty for them.

Qin Li said, "We can send someone to assist her."

After much thought, I still didn't want to miss such a great opportunity.

"Does Gong Su have any recommended candidates?"

Yun Da, that old man, didn't give Shen Tang much time left, so this time Shen Tang brought out all his resources and brought out everyone he could, determined to take on the tough challenge of the Southwest. With all the pieces already in place, it was difficult to spare anyone else capable of handling such a heavy responsibility.

Qin Li answered without hesitation: "There is one!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Tang had no doubt.

Entrusting this matter entirely to Qin Li was a sign of complete trust in him, but in another person's eyes, Qin Li was just looking for trouble. He almost lost all composure and pointed his finger at Qin Li, yelling, "...Qin Gongsu, shouldn't I thank you for thinking of sharing such a great achievement with your brother? What are you laughing at? Do you think I'm praising you?"

Qin Li wrapped his palm around the other person's hand, pulled back the raised fingers, and solemnly said, "This matter cannot be left to anyone but you."

The two stared at each other for a long time, neither willing to give in.

The unfortunate scholar, who had been fleeced, finally couldn't take it anymore and asked, "Master Qin, just how much bewitching potion did she give you?"

Qin Li chuckled: "You don't know how good the master is."

The unfortunate scholar sat down in a huff, and several bowls of tea did nothing to quell his anger.

Qin Li bent down, personally filled his teacup, and then presented it with both hands. This gesture startled the scholar so much he nearly jumped up, waving his hands and saying, "Qin Gongsu, put it down! How can I accept such treatment? If Zhao Dayi and the others find out, won't they come knocking on my door to settle accounts? I have hands, I can do it myself!"

The teacup that hadn't been handed over fell over in mid-air.

Qin Li sipped his drink with an elegant and leisurely air.

The scholar stared wide-eyed, his anger rising again. He stamped his foot and said, "Qin Gongsu, your temperament has become increasingly cunning and mischievous these past two years! Who taught you to do this? It's infuriating!"

Qin Li chuckled and sipped his tea, awaiting the outcome.

The scholar had no choice but to compromise.

"Young Master Qin, there's nothing I can do to you..."

Years ago, to repay Qin Li's kindness, he agreed to stay by Wu Xian's eldest son's side and assist him, which exacerbated the conflict between Wu Xian's sons and caused them to drift apart. Time has passed, but he still remembers that Wu family's eldest son, who wasn't particularly clever but was still quite sincere.

If he hadn't been Wu Xian's son, he probably would have had a peaceful end.

When the operation was finally completed, the other party spared his life.

Because of this guilt, he originally intended to remain a commoner for the rest of his life, and perhaps open a private school to teach students when the time was right. In any case, he did not want to enter officialdom and serve Shen Tang. However, Zhao Feng and several others took turns coming to persuade him, and Qin Li was so busy every day that he desperately needed a helper to share the pressure.

He acted as if he would work himself to death if he didn't agree to Qin Li's request.

He naturally didn't believe it, but he was too soft-hearted and believed the lies.

Now he is filled with deep regret.

Qin Li was truly afraid that he wouldn't die.

He was indignant and resentful: "Wouldn't it be more reliable to hand this over to Cui Shanxiao? Who can compare to him?"

Qin Li said, "Shanxiao cannot get away."

Scholars, unwilling to stand out, even if persuaded by Zhao Feng and a few others to reluctantly enter officialdom, would only fulfill their assigned duties and avoid anything beyond that. The Ministry of Rites was also a leisurely department, making it difficult for scholars to gain a foothold with Shen Tang. Qin Li and the others also understood their old acquaintance's temperament; since he had no ambition, they wouldn't rashly recommend him, lest they end up pleasing neither side.

"Alright, leave this to me."

The scholar could only accept the task with a wry smile.

Qin Li was also aware of the great risks involved in this trip.

May your journey be filled with literary success!

The scholar said, "I've heard the wine by the Autumn Sounds River is quite good, ten gold coins a jar, comparable to divine wine. If you have the chance, you should treat us!"

I can definitely outdrink Qin Gongsu!

The Qiulai River is located near the southern edge of the southwestern continent. If one drinks wine here, it won't be long before the Kang Kingdom conquers the entire southwestern region. Qin Li understood the implied meaning and replied, "Not to mention ten gold pieces, even a hundred would be worth it!"

"Okay, I've got it!"

Without delay, he set off that very day.

The allied forces of the southwestern nations suffered a crushing defeat in their first battle. Under the guise of a dragon-slaying campaign, they nearly met their end at the hands of the dragon, a humiliating defeat that became a laughingstock. The allied forces were furious and determined to get their revenge.

Naturally, nothing could prove strength and boost morale more than breaking through the border of Kang State in one fell swoop! In order to keep the traitors who had not yet been exposed from within, Luo Yuan marched with the third army for two days. On the night of the third day, he secretly led his elite troops to turn around and take another route.

They hurried along, catching up with Gongyang Yongye.

Luo Yuan's banners remained on the original route.

Gongyang Yongye sneered: "Fancy and frivolous!"

Ultimately, it was because the southwestern states were afraid of Kang.

If he weren't afraid, he and Luo Yuan's two armies would advance simultaneously, attacking the border of Kang State at the same time. With the two armies working together to exert pressure, it wouldn't be long before they overwhelmed the enemy, leaving them unable to attend to both ends. The allied forces of the various countries chose the most aggressive and risky approach, secretly withdrawing the elite troops from the third army, leaving only a bunch of inexperienced recruits who had numbers but no fighting power.

Encountering the enemy's main force is tantamount to suicide.

Or rather, this force was used by the Dragon Slayer Bureau's allies as a sacrifice to lull the enemy into a false sense of security! They were ruthless, willing to sacrifice their prey. Luo Yuan coldly replied, "Those who achieve great things don't concern themselves with trifles; this has always been true."

Gongyang Yongye remained noncommittal.

The person who is abandoned will not know that they have been abandoned.

The third corps advanced according to military orders, traveling day and night.

To ensure a successful surprise attack and avoid detection by enemy scouts, this troop chose to take a shortcut. This shortcut would halve the distance and was well-hidden, leaving little trace of their movements. The only drawback of this route was its extreme treacherousness.

An ordinary person could easily fall off a cliff and be smashed to pieces.

With the assistance of a martial artist, the safety level can be significantly increased.

Layer upon layer of mountains, thousands of cliffs and valleys.

Rolling hills, high and low, overlapping.

This region served as a buffer zone between Kangguo and its southwestern neighbor, remaining sparsely populated and thus preserving its beautiful scenery. Lush greenery filled the landscape, with eagles occasionally soaring through the air. Beside a mountain stream, strong men, their chests and bellies exposed, held hiking sticks in their hands.

Upon closer inspection, this is hardly a "hiking pole" at all.

It's clearly a double-headed mace that's more than half a person's height!

Both ends of the stem are pumpkin heads.

The man wiped the sweat from his face, slightly out of breath, then handed over his "hiking pole" to the girl who was standing on a boulder, too afraid to come over. Besides these two, there were dozens of imposing, burly men accompanying them. Their muscles filled out their clothes, and their eyes gleamed with a sharp light; they were undoubtedly the elite troops of some important figure! They crossed the mountain stream one after another.

"Let's rest here and have some lunch."

The man holding the "hiking pole" made the suggestion.

The group skinned and deboned their prey, washed it clean, and lit a fire. Finding the fire too slow, some of them even used their martial arts skills, and soon the aroma of the meat filled the air. A sprinkle of seasoning made the flavor so enticing and appetizing. The men cut off the tenderest, most fragrant piece of meat for the young woman. While enjoying this rare delicacy, they looked up and admired the wonders of nature.

A fellow young man was in a bad mood.

"I heard that these mountains were formed by a great battle more than a hundred years ago..." How can it be considered a masterpiece of nature?

They are clearly all traces of artificial carving.

The young man deliberately spoiled the mood, but the man didn't get angry.

After a satisfying meal, we continued our hike and enjoy the spring scenery.

Along the way, the man also caught a litter of cunning rabbits.

Among them were skilled individuals, but they had to slow down to accommodate the ordinary members of the group. After more than two hours, they finally made their way up the winding mountainside along the dilapidated plank road, which had been abandoned for a century. At this rate, they would have to spend the night on the mountain.

They walked and stopped, taking a few bites of dry rations.

The man stared greedily at the rabbit inside his collar, muttering, "I won't be able to get down the mountain tonight, so I'll roast it and let your whole family reunite."

The girl bit her lower lip lightly: "Didn't Father say he was giving his daughter away?"

Black and white rabbits with their heads split in half are quite rare.

The man chuckled awkwardly, "I was just joking."

Just then, the man who had been leading the way returned and told him some bad news. He had just spotted a suspicious group of people acting furtively. They seemed to be someone's scouts.

Why is he so sure?

Because he was an elite scout before he retired and changed careers!

That's how they discovered their trail before the other side did.

The man picked his ear: "What scout? Whose scout?"

Did he hear wrong?

How far is this place from the border of Kang Kingdom?

Who has the audacity to come and test and provoke us?

The former scout said, "I vaguely heard that the southwestern kingdoms are gathering troops to attack the King of Shen? Could they have gotten here?"

The man stroked the head of the mace.

His thick eyebrows furrowed tightly: "...When was this news received?"

It seems like it's been two months.

Why don't you speak?

"Didn't your parents forbid you from mentioning it?"

His lord's original words were that all matters concerning Kangguo's internal and external military and political affairs should not be relayed to him, as they annoyed him. As a defeated opponent of Shen Tang, he knew the importance of keeping a low profile. However, Shen Youli was going too far. What about Tangzhou, Dizhou, Shenzhou, and Wuzhou... if these four places were connected, wouldn't it sound like "Shen, Wu, Tang, and Di are deeply in love"?

The people hailed this as a beautiful story.

The man felt like he was about to vomit blood.

What's most infuriating is that as these commoners, who'll kowtow to anything, spread their clamor everywhere, a strange trend swept through the land. They unearthed long-out-of-print picture books from who-knows-where and began rampant piracy. The contents of the picture books made his vision go black again and again; he wanted nothing more than to smash the bookstore owner's head in!

(灬°ω°灬)

Double drop rates are a lie!

That's a lie!

What a blatant liar!