Chapter 292 Sister's Thoughts
The north entrance of Xiaogang Village.
On the busy construction site, Xiao Zhuo was discussing the city wall construction plan with Feng Zhang when Yang Cong ran over and said, "My lord, there's news from the capital. His Majesty is on an incognito tour and I heard he'll be here in two days."
Feng Zhang said to Xiao Zhuo, "My Lord, His Majesty is most likely here to see you."
It had been more than half a month since the Qi prince's army withdrew. It was now the beginning of July, and Emperor Ming of Qi had made no public appearances. Who else could he be looking for but his son?
Xiao Zhuo did not respond. He pondered for a moment and said to Yang Cong, "You and Feng Zhang will supervise the construction of the city. I will be away for a while."
Yang Cong was puzzled and asked, rubbing the back of his head, "My Lord, His Majesty wants to see you, why don't you come?"
"My adoptive father died because of him. If I meet him, it would be disrespectful to my dead adoptive father." Xiao Zhuo replied indifferently.
"Hasn't Your Majesty already announced to the world that he didn't force Emperor Yongde to commit suicide? He was completely unaware of Emperor Yongde's self-immolation..."
Yang Cong was about to try to persuade them, but Feng Zhang pulled her aside and whispered, "Sister Cong, can't you see the Lord is in a difficult situation? Let's not talk nonsense. This is the Lord's family affair. When His Majesty arrives, we'll just say the Lord is away."
Xiao Zhuo returned to the city mansion and saw a group of women gathered in the hall, chattering non-stop. Shen Yuexi's cries could be heard from the crowd. The surrounding secret guards all had their heads down, listless.
"It's just that it's inexperienced," said Mrs. Li, the loudest voice in the crowd. "Open the two cage doors and face them together. Once you scare it, it will fly to the cage on the other side."
After Mrs. Li finished speaking, Shen Yuexi cried even louder in the crowd.
Xiao Zhuo didn't know what was going on. He looked at Qiang Lin, who was standing upright beside him and asked, "What happened?"
Qiang Lin came up to Xiao Zhuo and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Prince An."
Xiao Zhuo turned his head and looked at the two empty bird cages on the table next to him and asked, "Thrush..."
Qiang Lin didn't dare to say anything and pointed his finger into the air.
At this time, Shen Yuexi ran out from the crowd, cried and hugged him, saying: "Baby flew away."
"You're crying like this," Xiao Zhuo smiled and gently wiped the tears from her face with the back of his fingers, "It's okay, we'll buy another one."
"But it's the one that makes the most beautiful noise," Shen Yuexi said sadly. "I just made a new cage for it."
"I'll take you to Xiliang," Xiao Zhuo touched the top of her head, "Didn't you say you wanted to find Sister Ji? She's in Yongwei now, and the Queen of Xiliang is also here."
"Okay...ok." Shen Yuexi raised her sleeves to wipe away her tears.
She really wanted to go to Xiliang to find Mei Dai and Ji Yunyan. But she had just returned from Shengzhou and had planned to rest at home for a while before going. Since Xiao Zhuo mentioned it, she might as well go.
Everyone nearby heard this and came over. Chen Lan said, "If my brother-in-law goes to Xiliang, I want to go with him."
Shen Yuexi turned around and asked, "Sister is going too?"
Chen Lan said, "I heard that the Queen of Xiliang is at war with the Xirong. I have learned some military tactics, so maybe I can help her a little. It's also a way to repay her for helping us so many times."
Xiao Zhuo said to Shen Yuexi, "When the Second Prince besieged the city, the Queen personally led the cavalry to help. We should show some appreciation."
Shen Yuexi asked, "In that case, shall we lead the light cavalry?"
"Well, let's take 5,000 cavalry," Xiao Zhuo thought for a moment, "The four counties of Xiliang are the Mei family's fiefdom. If we have too many troops, it might arouse the Queen's suspicion."
"Okay, then I'll go write a letter to Sister Mei to say hello." After Shen Yuexi finished speaking, she turned around and walked back to the back hall.
Qiang Lin followed her into the corridor and said, "Please stay, my lord. I have something to tell you."
Shen Yuexi stopped and turned to Qiang Lin, "What's the matter?"
Qiang Lin showed an embarrassment and said, "Master, this time you are going to Xiliang, I am afraid I cannot accompany you."
"Do you have something important?" Shen Yuexi looked at Qiang Lin.
Qiang Lin was her most trusted confidant, and she had become accustomed to having him by her side. Now that Qiang Lin suddenly said he couldn't go with her, she knew something extremely important must have happened.
The master and servant opened their hearts to each other, and Qiang Lin didn't hide anything, telling her the truth directly, "King Duo Ma has been attacking Xiliang and has repeatedly asked my king to borrow troops. The king has refused. The two armies clashed a few days ago, and the king was seriously injured. I only recently received the news and wanted to return to visit the king before he died."
Shen Yuexi understood what had happened and said to Qiang Lin, "It's okay, go ahead. I'm with my husband, and we have the cavalry to protect us, so nothing will happen."
Qiang Lin had sworn his loyalty to her before the gods, and if she insisted on not letting him leave, he would have no choice but to stay. Now that she readily agreed, Qiang Lin was deeply moved and knelt down, saying, "Master, Qiang Lin will return as soon as possible."
"No need. You've been following me all this time, and you've done a lot of good things," Shen Yuexi said. "I'm going north to see your king this time, so consider it a collective holiday for everyone. I'll give you two thousand taels of gold and one hundred pieces of silk. Don't refuse, share them among everyone."
Now she had plenty of money and was confident. Qiang Lin was her subordinate, so she had to come in person to give out the rewards. Since she was too busy to give out the rewards one by one, she would just give them all to Qiang Lin and have him distribute them to the secret guards.
Qiang Lin thanked him repeatedly and went back to his room to make arrangements.
The next morning, after Shen Yuexi and Xiao Zhuo had their meal, they reorganized their troops and horses and led 5,000 cavalrymen westward, with Shen Lan accompanying them.
The five thousand light cavalry moved at a very fast speed and arrived at Leshan County in just two days.
The commander of Leshan was Geng Hong, who was responsible for transporting food to them. When he saw the cavalry coming, he opened the city gate to welcome them.
When Shen Yuexi asked about the recent war, Geng Hong said, "The Queen fought several battles with the Western Rong people in Zhangwu and barely managed to hold on to Zhangwu. The Western Rong people still occupy Nanping City. The Queen told us to defend Leshan and Zhangwu. She's going back to Yongwei now."
Yongwei was originally occupied by Lin Kui, but now Lin Kui has led his troops away and returned Yongwei to Xiliang.
Xiao Zhuo said, "In that case, let's go to Yongwei to see the Queen and discuss the strategy for attacking Nanping."
Geng Hong sighed and said, "Although the Queen is strong, she can't handle everything alone. She often has to handle all military affairs by herself, and we generals can't help. It would be great if there was a military advisor who could assist the Queen."
Shen Yuexi thought of the counselors that served Xiliang King Mei Cheng before and asked, "Where are the counselors that served Xiliang King before?"
"Those people?" Geng Hong smiled. "They were just working for the late king, earning a living. They couldn't be called advisors. There were some men who approached the Queen seeking positions, but she declined, citing gender differences."
Shen Lan said beside him, "I wonder if I can offer some advice to the Queen."
Geng Hong looked at Chen Lan in surprise, and at the metal prosthetic hand exposed from under her left sleeve.
He knew that Chen Lan was the wife of Xiao Kai, the prince of Jing. Xiao Kai was the one who killed Mei Dai's mother, so he didn't know what Mei Dai would think.
He said vaguely: "If Madam Shen understands military books and strategies, the Queen might... probably agree. We warriors actually don't know what the Queen thinks."
Shen Yuexi said to Shen Lan, "Sister, let's go to Yongwei to see Sister Mei first."
She could now vaguely guess what Chen Lan was thinking.
When Chen Lan said she had nowhere to go, she asked her to live with her, but she said that was impossible. Since then, Chen Lan has been thinking about her own way out.
But she didn't expect that Chen Lan's idea was to become a military strategist who could give advice and make plans.
It really surprised her.
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