Chapter 1491: 10 Billion Merits (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]

Forget it, it's hopeless anyway.

Knowing them as Ji Moqiu did, they were more cunning than a beehive, their hearts blacker than ink, and they were particularly adept at betraying their own people. Given this rare opportunity to strike at His Highness, how could they let it slip by? Their goal was to exploit His Highness's weaknesses and drain his merits dry.

After all, His Highness has done the same thing before.

Alas, when will this cycle of revenge end?

The account will definitely be reset to zero.

Ji Moqiu sighed with relief.

Your Highness cannot easily make a wish to Heaven, nor will Heaven easily accept it. Once the Heavenly Lord is willing to accept a wish, it means that all desires will be fulfilled and all requests will be granted. Although Ji Moqiu does not yet know what wish Your Highness has unintentionally made, she is certain that it must be a strong desire from the bottom of her heart at this moment. As long as it is something Your Highness wants, Ji Moqiu hopes that it will be granted.

He carried the poison into the room.

Just then, they heard the messenger deliver the news of victory.

Kang Shi led 5,000 troops to ambush 22,000 elite enemy soldiers, capturing and killing more than half of them. The remaining 10,000-plus allied troops were demoralized and suffered a complete rout. General Yang Ying killed 12 enemy generals and assisted General Qian Yong in killing four more. The army then pursued the enemy for more than 70 li.

Shen Tang asked, "What are our casualties?"

The messenger's face, hidden beneath the blood, revealed a look of grief.

He said, his voice slightly choked with emotion, "More than half."

I don't know whether to say Kang Shi was lucky or unlucky.

Fortunately, the Allied reinforcements from the central region arrived first, colliding with Kang Shi's rapidly pursuing troops. The disparity in strength between the two armies made resistance nearly impossible. However, the terrain at the time was unsuitable for large-scale troop deployment. Without proper formation, the effectiveness of attacks would be greatly reduced. As soon as the two armies clashed, even with the disparity in troop strength, the tide did not immediately turn in favor of the Allied forces from the outset. Instead, Kang Shi employed his strategist tactics, boosting the morale of his entire army and constructing a strong and solid defensive barrier.

The barrier did not last long.

Because the Allied reinforcements included high-ranking military officers.

He's also a master of armor penetration.

For a time, the battleground resembled a meat grinder running at full speed, until Yang Ying arrived and successfully launched a surprise attack with an arrow, barely stabilizing the situation. After another half hour of stalemate, Qian Yong's reinforcements arrived from both sides of the mountain, greatly narrowing the gap in overall troop strength between the two armies. From this point on, the Kang Kingdom began to gain a slight advantage.

The two armies fought for nearly six hours.

The Allied forces suffered nearly 40% losses before finally giving way and revealing their weakness. Only then did they relentlessly pursue the Allied forces for over 70 miles.

The messenger's message was brief, but Shen Tang immediately sensed danger in it.

"...You're saying the Allied forces held out until they lost 40%?"

This ratio is quite alarming.

When ordinary elite troops suffer losses of 20%, morale begins to waver. Wavering morale leads to a sharp decline in fighting spirit, causing a significant drop in both defensive and offensive capabilities, creating a vicious cycle. The advantage of the stronger side grows larger, and the disadvantage of the weaker side grows larger. Prolonging the battle and pulling losses to 30-40% leaves the losing side with virtually no chance of recovery. Those who only begin to falter at this point are undoubtedly the elite of the elite. Has Kang Jishou encountered a formidable opponent?

Not just tough, but extremely tough.

Shen Tang then asked, "Why didn't Qian Yong arrive in time?"

She not only arranged for Qian Yong to act as the stalker, but also assigned two surrendered generals of the seventeenth rank (equivalent to a high-ranking officer in the imperial guard) to accompany him. Even if things got urgent, these two generals could lead the charge and buy some time. Judging from the messenger's report, Qian Yong arrived late.

The messenger had clearly been instructed by Kang Shi beforehand.

He guessed that Shen Tang would ask this question.

Qian Yong was indeed late, but there was a reason for it, which could be attributed to Kang Shi's Schrödinger's cat-like luck. Because Shen Tang had instructed beforehand not to let Kang Shi's troops discover that there was a bird stalking them from behind, Qian Yong naturally couldn't follow too closely. Initially, everything was under Qian Yong's control, but who knew that at the crucial moment he would fall into the enemy's deceptive traps, wasting time, and still fall into twelve traps in one go.

Qi Shan and the others felt a pang of heartache upon hearing this.

At first, everyone was heartbroken over their own losses, but when they heard the messenger's report on Qian Yong's ordeal, they couldn't help but twitch at the corner of their mouths—they all tacitly thought of Kang Shi's luck and asked, "...Did Old Qian just roll around and trigger all the traps the enemy laid?"

Messenger: "..."

Chu Yao also spoke up to plead for Qian Yong.

"General Qian is really not to blame for this."

When it comes to the future of a gambler like Kang Shi, even Chu Yao's scholarly approach cannot provide a definitive answer. He only knows that Kang Shi will definitely win and won't lose his life, but he can't foresee the specific losses incurred along the way, let alone Qian Shuhe.

Shen Tang said, "I don't blame Shuhe either."

Even Ji Moqiu, an unofficial staff member, didn't believe this.

In just a few short sentences, His Highness's way of addressing Qian Yong—from Qian Yong, to General Qian, and finally to Uncle Qian—speaks volumes.

In other words, Qian Yong isn't here. If he were—

If they were there, it wouldn't be a big deal.

Qian Yong, Wei Shou, and Wu Xian were seasoned veterans among the military generals of Kang State, masters of shirking their duties. While not exactly cunning, they were also incredibly slippery. The other civil and military officials genuinely submitted to His Highness, but Qian Yong and the others were more pragmatic and opportunistic. Their loyalty was only shown when His Highness could absolutely control them.

Once the scales can no longer be completely tilted, it's hard to say there won't be disloyal intentions.

However, on the other hand, these kinds of people are actually more reliable. Because they are pragmatic enough not to use their cleverness to do stupid things, and they certainly won't do anything under the guise of loyalty to the boss. They are like the oxen and horses in the workplace who don't want to go to work but work diligently to make a living. If the company pays them a salary that is commensurate with their efforts, they don't mind working for the company until retirement.

The boss pays enough wages, and the soldiers receive enough pay when fighting a war.

If the boss/master likes to throw a tantrum, so be it.

They were very self-aware; they had all jumped ship from rival companies halfway through their careers, so how could they compare to the old guard from the company's early days? Even if they were confident in their abilities, they were not good-looking, unlike the veterans who were both competitive and attractive.

Ugh, I was talking about Gu Chikang and his ilk.

_(:з」∠)_

Shen Tang sighed, "We can only blame Ji Shou's bad luck."

Ah no, we can't blame Kang Shi's luck either.

Ultimately, we must blame the injustice of fate.

Kang Jishou has already racked up tens of millions of luck points and over six million merit points in one go, why can't he grind even more? If he had spent twenty million luck points or twelve million merit points, she didn't believe that Kang Shi wouldn't have good fortune, and perhaps Qian Yong could have arrived even earlier.

But deep down I knew it was impossible.

It's impossible to double it, let alone add another zero.

In chaotic times, fighting is not child's play. Once two armies are determined to kill each other, and weapons are drawn, it is impossible for people not to die.

"Immediately arrange for thirteen medical personnel to go there."

That is, 130 people including doctors and physicians.

Don't underestimate this small number. Remember, warlords used to lead 20,000 to 30,000 troops into battle, but their army doctors were often only two or three, plus a dozen or so assistants. In a makeshift operation, the size would likely be halved. After a battle, the number of people who died from infection or other illnesses far exceeded the number who died on the battlefield. And most likely, these doctors were just unlicensed, untrained practitioners.

From the very beginning of his business, Shen Tang placed great emphasis on logistics. Over the years, he has also vigorously supported the training of medical professionals, investing heavily in the medical department to encourage them to actively train medical personnel for the military. It is through more than a decade of diligent work that Shen Tang has built up his current wealth.

With a wave of his hand, he dispatched more than a hundred people.

Shen Tang saw Kang Shi again three days later.

This was only discovered when Shen Tang sensed something was wrong and went to visit him personally. The simple tent was filled with a complicated smell, and Kang Shi and Qian Yong had become fellow patients. When Shen Tang arrived, Qian Yong was lying on his back, his right knee bent, and his left hand reaching for his toes and picking at his feet.

Don't ask why your left leg and right hand aren't moving; they can't move.

Qian Yong picked at it for a while, but still felt uneasy.

"Old Fang, could you find someone to help me pick out a couple of..." Spending too much time in the workplace inevitably leads to some occupational ailments. Besides the various hidden injuries, military officers also suffer from some embarrassing little problems. For example, smelly feet.

When marching in the wild, you can easily get bitten by all sorts of insects.

Warriors with courage and valor are a little better off; they can be fully armed with a thought. However, in order to suffer less and to prepare for battles that may break out at any time, many generals will cover themselves up tightly even if they don't remove their armor. They would never expose their chests or be completely honest with each other.

Combat boots are a must, and trouser legs must be tucked into them. It's fine in autumn and winter, but in spring and summer, after a battle and lots of sweat, the sweat gets trapped inside. If your feet aren't aired out regularly and are constantly wrapped in combat boots, they're bound to smell.

Not only does it have a smell, but it also easily causes peeling and blisters.

Applying herbal remedies can relieve itching.

But Qian Yong is very itchy now.

Military officers generally do not have the habit of keeping long fingernails. They need to trim their nails regularly to ensure that the scale armor they wear is comfortable and more convenient for combat. This also explains why Qian Yong couldn't break the blisters between his toes no matter how hard he tried, and the more he scratched, the itchier they became, which was quite frustrating.

The problem is that it smells really bad.

Fang Yan tossed him a tube of ointment: "Just rub it on yourself."

Qian Yong opened his mouth and took the ointment in his mouth, grumbling and complaining as he scraped off a little and applied it to his toes. Fang Yan's ointment also had a strong smell, making the odor in the air even more pungent.

"It's not like I'm asking you, Fang Laoliu, to personally remove the blisters."

He was, after all, a hero who saved Kang Jishou's life, wasn't he?

Is this the treatment you're getting?

Qian Yong expressed his strong dissatisfaction.

Fang Yan cleaned Kang Shi's chest with a clean cloth and reapplied the medicine. The latter would occasionally gasp in pain. Seeing the wound reddening and the flesh peeling outward, Fang Yan said, "If Minister Kang finds the smell unbearable, I'll arrange for you to change tents."

Military officers don't have good sleeping habits.

While he was on night watch, Qian Yong snored loudly, but Kang Shi, due to his serious injuries, slept soundly and didn't wake up. Fortunately, his high fever subsided before dawn, and thanks to Wenxin Wenshi's good physique, he survived the most dangerous period.

Kang Shi, that plague god, even harmed himself when he got going.

The attack depleted his spiritual energy, causing his literary palace to collapse and his spiritual heart to crack. Not only was he unable to refine his spiritual energy, but his body also became resistant to external forces, including the healing spells of the medical practitioners. The army doctors could only use ordinary medical skills to try and save him.

Fortunately, these military doctors were all trained by Dong Dao himself, possessing excellent medical skills and high ethical standards, and managed to hold out until Fang Yan arrived. With the high fever subsiding and Kang Shi regaining consciousness, he was finally able to cooperate with the treatment. Wen Gong and Wen Xin made some minor repairs, barely managing to refine their literary energy to protect his heart meridian. Only a day had passed, and his spirits had already greatly improved.

However, it will take two more days for him to recover to the point where he can walk again.

The lord has already issued three military orders urging us to hurry.

Kang Shi said, "Fortunately, I can't smell it."

As a side effect of his severe injuries, he had lost his sense of smell and taste. He couldn't taste how bitter the medicine was, nor could he smell how smelly Qian Yong's feet were. Could this be considered a blessing in disguise? When he woke up, he was worried about Shen Tang's situation and was afraid that he would hear Fang Yan say that the emperor had passed away.

That day, he initially managed to restrain himself.

Yang Ying's Time Arrow is highly effective against skilled opponents, catching them off guard and hitting them with deadly accuracy. However, this tactic cannot be used indefinitely; after one arrow, the enemy becomes wary, and missing the target renders the attack useless. Seeing the balance of power continue to tilt, Kang Shi, his eyes bloodshot with rage, also joined the fray.

The string of reason in my mind snapped completely.

He still finds that memory somewhat hazy, and seeing himself displaying such power from a third-person perspective terrifies him.

Will the Lord be able to withstand it?

Fang Yan said that the master was still alive and kicking. Ji Moqiu had given her two bowls of Gu medicine, so even if she died, she could crawl back from the underworld.

Kang Shi had heard how awful the poison was.

He was relieved to hear that his lord had not been killed.

I lay flat, staring blankly at the top of the tent.

Putting everything else aside, the Lord's fortune is truly profound.

The birth chart is indeed exceptionally strong!

He was a little scared this time, but next time... he would still dare to do it.

"...Did the Lord ask me anything?"

Fang Yan wanted to roll his eyes when he heard this. If Shen Youli found out that he had concealed part of the truth for Kang Shi, he would definitely be punished later: "General Shengmei said that the central army has issued three military orders, and I guess the fourth one is already on its way. The truth will eventually come out."

Kang Shi said, "Let's keep it a secret for two more days."

The central army has many affairs to attend to, and the other two routes also have their own situations. The emperor cannot be in two places at once, and it will take some effort to handle them all.

He'll be much better in a couple of days, so it shouldn't be a problem.

Fang Yan said, "You'll just become arrogant because you're favored."

Are you determined to collect all twelve military orders to unlock the new achievement?

"Why are you also imitating Gu Wangchao's spoiled attitude?"

Qian Yong chimed in, "Exactly! How can you call it taking advantage of favor? Kang Jishou's behavior certainly qualifies as taking advantage of favor!"

Fang Yan: "..."

Is there any difference between these two words?

Is Qian Yong, this roughneck, here to show off his literary talent?

Gu Chi, who was being watched by crickets through the tent: "..."

Whom did Kang Jishou refer to as "darling"?

He carefully observed his lord, whose face was ashen, out of the corner of his eye.

Oh ho, it's already aiming for the bottom soot.

Just as Gu Chi was thinking about how Kang Shi would be dealt with, the Emperor remained silent, only raising his hand to give Ji Moqiu a meaningful look. The latter understood and brought in a bowl of hot Gu medicine. Kang Shi was startled at first, but then felt relieved when he heard Ji Moqiu lying through his teeth: "Minister Kang, don't worry. It was Minister Chu who asked me to come and see you privately. If you get well soon, the Emperor will be at ease, and so will he."

Put aside whether your colleague is alive or dead.

We must not cause our lord too much worry.

Kang Shi finally relaxed his tense back.

"Chu Wuhui... at least he has a conscience..."

Kang Shi refused to believe that Chu Yao couldn't see how miserable he was.

As for this bowl of poison—

Kang Shi's entire face was contorted in resistance; he dared not drink, stalling for time: "...What if I die?"

Ji Moqiu said calmly, "No, it won't happen."

Even if Her Highness hadn't made the vow, Kang Jishou wouldn't die. A small portion of the merit Her Highness earned in this world was misrepresented by them, but the majority went to Kang Shi and his ilk. This merit will ensure their safety.

Kang Shi, unaware of the details, asked, "So certain?"

"Yes, that's how certain I am."

Ji Moqiu's gaze fell on Kang Jishou's neck.

There is a glittering amulet, invisible to the naked eye, which is connected to the merits of the King of Kang.

()

Shiitake also put little amulets, obtained from a temple, on her two cats, but unfortunately, they didn't like wearing them. She's prayed for them every year, and thankfully, neither of them has gotten sick.