Chapter 150 Heaven and Earth are Unkind, Treating All Things as Straw Dogs
The situation was chaotic, and some provincial governors simply stayed in their cities and refused to go out, refusing to listen to the imperial court's orders, as if they had never received any orders. After all, the world was in chaos, and it was common for the messengers to die on the way.
They are watching. In troubled times, there are garrisons. Who doesn't want to compete with others and become the king?
Those ruffians still want to fight their way to the top.
How could they not want to?
Most of those who can become local governors are capable people from humble backgrounds who have the support of large clans. The clan's direct descendants have always been at the center of power. Only people like them, who marry the clan's concubines through intermarriage and become tied to them as a hub of interests, have the opportunity to reach their current positions.
After all, they are shackled by others. If they can really compete for the world and achieve great things, do they still need to rely on the clan?
No, within a hundred years, they themselves will be able to become a first-class clan!
Perhaps, I can even become a royal family...
Let's wait and see.
Let's see how the battle goes. If there are capable people, they will bow down to them and accept the credit for following the dragon.
If they are incompetent, it is not a bad idea for them to seize the world themselves!
…
As news reached the Gyeonggi Camp, the four camp commanders blocked and concealed the news and continued training smoothly.
Zhou Jiang heard some rumors and went to ask General Du about it.
General Du kept his mouth shut. After all, the imperial court was still covering up the matter. He just kept giving orders and sending troops to fight.
But the transfer orders sent down were like a stone falling on the sea.
General Du estimated that if things didn't work, he would have to send troops from the capital camp.
Zhou Jiang, who was sent out perfunctorily, came to Xiao Ning's camp.
Seeing him coming, Xiao Ning signaled Li Yuan to take over his work.
She walked over to Zhou Jiang and asked with a smile, "Who has offended our General Zhou? Why does he look so bad?"
Zhou Jiang didn't say anything. He took Xiao Ning's shoulder and led him to a secluded place. He glanced around and then said, "I think the world is going to be in chaos."
Xiao Ning frowned, "What do you mean you think the world is going to be in chaos?"
"My eldest brother-in-law has a friend whose family is in business. He just came back from outside a few days ago and said that Yuzhou and Bingzhou were suffering from severe drought and bandits were rampant. He was robbed by bandits on his way home and his entire cart of goods and money was seized. Luckily, he escaped with his life."
"There were starving people everywhere along the way, and even cannibalism was witnessed."
Xiao Ning found it hard to believe for a moment.
When she was on her way back from vacation last month, she saw that Shengjing City was peaceful. How long has it been since then, and the situation outside has become like this?
But Zhou Jiang would not joke with her about such things.
Xiao Ning asked, "Doesn't the court know about this?"
Zhou Jiang said, "I heard that they allocated money for disaster relief, but the officials in Dayong are so greedy that they even embezzle military pay. I don't think there will be much left after the money reaches the disaster area."
Xiao Ning frowned even more tightly.
"I just went to check with General Du. He didn't say anything, but I think the situation might be more serious than I imagined."
Xiao Ning looked at him, and obviously thought about how serious the situation Zhou Jiang said would be.
Zhou Jiang patted her shoulder and said, "Practice well. Maybe one day we will go out. This is also our chance."
Xiao Ning frowned, "It's just pitiful for the people."
Zhou Jiang sighed, "Heaven and earth are unkind and treat all things as straw dogs."
After Zhou Jiang left, Xiao Ning did not return to the camp. He stood there for a long time until the sun set, then he went back.
Seeing that she came back so late and looked unwell, Li Yuan asked worriedly, "But what bad news did General Zhou bring? I saw that General Zhou looked unwell earlier. Why did your face become just as unwell after you went out with him?"
Xiao Ning waved his hands and smiled: "What could be the problem? Stop thinking about all sorts of things all day long. The most important thing is to train well."
Li Yuan: “…”
Since Lang Jiang was unwilling to say, he didn't dare to ask any more.
The day's training was over. On this hot day, Li Yuan went to the well with the soldiers to take a shower.
In the past, although Xiao Ning didn’t take a shower, he would watch from a distance.
At the beginning, everyone was very shy and embarrassed, after all, their Lang Jiang had a bad reputation.
However, after a long time they found that Lang Jiang just looked around, said nothing and did nothing, so much so that they even gradually got used to Lang Jiang's gaze.
Occasionally they would ask Lang Jiang to join them in the shower, but Lang Jiang would usually refuse, his eyes wandering ambiguously over their bare chests. "You believe in my determination so much, but I don't dare to gamble on my own, otherwise our brotherhood will deteriorate."
Today, Lang Jiang did not stand aside and watch, which was rare.
Xu Chong was taking a shower, and he wondered, "Lang Jiang isn't coming today, I'm still a little uncomfortable with it."
A fellow soldier beside him laughed and said, "Brother Scar, don't you think you can be defeated by Lang Jiang..."
He was halfway through his joking remarks when he met Xu Chong's wide-open eyes and hurriedly admitted his mistake with a smile: "Scar brother, don't be angry. I was wrong, I was wrong..."
Xu Chong snorted, "What a dirty heart!"
Comrades: “…”
It was just a joke, why are you so upset?
While Li Yuan scooped water and poured it on himself, he looked in the direction of Xiao Ning's barracks. He felt heavy in his heart, as if something big was going to happen.
A few more days passed and it was time for the day off.
This time, Xiao Ning didn't feel awkward and went straight to the princess's mansion.
"Your Highness, the Prince Consort has returned and said he wanted to greet you."
The maid came to the study door to report.
Shang Xi stood up hurriedly upon hearing this, knocking over some documents.
According to the time calculation, she came directly to the princess's residence after finishing her shift, without even stopping for a moment on the way.
She was in a hurry to come back to see him. Was there something wrong?
He didn't dare to guess that she hurried home because she missed him.
But deep down in his heart, there were still some expectations that he himself was not aware of.
Furong: “…”
She walked forward silently, bent down, picked up the documents that Shang Xi had knocked over, and placed them neatly on the desk.
By this time Shang Xi had regained his composure.
He spoke in a steady voice: "Please come in, Prince Consort."
Not long after, the maid led Xiao Ning to the study.
I train under the scorching sun every day, and my skin, which had been bleached white in the winter, has become even darker, showing a healthy wheat color.
Xiao Ning walked in and bowed to Shang Xi with full courtesy: "Your Highness the Princess."
Shang Xi said, "No need to be so polite."
As he said that, he walked towards her.
Xiao Ning stood up and the two looked at each other.
Shang Xi's eyes were filled with uncontrollable heartache. He said, "It must be very hard."
Xiao Ning: “…”
What hard work?
Xiao Ning shook his head in confusion and said solemnly, "Your Highness, I have something to ask you."
Seeing her serious expression, Shang Xi signaled Furong to take her people away.
The study door was closed. Xiao Ning said, "I know that Her Highness has been paying close attention to the court and the situation in various places. Does Her Highness know about the disaster in Yuzhou and Bingzhou?"
Shang Xi heard this, and the emotion in his eyes faded. He lowered his head and nodded lightly, "I know."
He did not hide it from Xiao Ning. He walked to the desk, took out a few books from the pile of books, and handed them to Xiao Ning.
Xiao Ning flipped through the books one by one, his expression becoming increasingly grim.
Shang Xi looked at Xiao Ning's expression and rubbed his fingers on the table twice. He thought that it was a good thing that she didn't know when the document would be delivered, otherwise she would definitely blame him for being cruel.
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