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Why are both civil and military affairs indispensable in governing a country? Perhaps Yu Baizhou didn't know this before.
Regardless of what others say, scholars in the imperial court have always looked down on the crudeness of military generals, and military generals have also looked down on the refined and frail appearance of civil officials.
But right now, Song Ling simply used the usual tone of a scholar to slowly say a few words, and he was able to easily inspire the soldiers below the stage.
Were they brainless? Of course not. Perhaps many of these soldiers were illiterate and didn't know many words, but those who rose through the ranks from the lowest ranks were not mostly fools.
He listened as the woman before him spoke eloquently, recounting the origins of the people below the platform, their homesickness when far from home, their suffering and fear in battle... and mentioning their bravery and their numerous military exploits...
I don't know when it started, but the audience had already become completely absorbed.
"If the general hadn't stopped him in time, the old man might have died unjustly. He still has a wife, children, grandchildren, and his son should be about your age."
Song Ling paused for a moment, then said with a sigh, "Think about it, everyone. If it weren't this old man who was stopped today, but your own parents, what would have happened if the general hadn't saved them?"
Many people in the audience lowered their heads.
Most of them were conscripted into the army by the imperial court when they were seventeen or eighteen years old.
Some of the older soldiers hadn't been home for years, and couldn't help but think of their wives, children, and parents whom they missed day and night. Others, who had only been in the army for less than two years, were tormented by the fear and longing for home caused by the battles...
They couldn't even imagine their own parents encountering such a situation.
Those three people deserve to die.
"Cut them down!"
Someone shouted something, and everyone joined in.
The situation escalated further. The three men had their mouths gagged and couldn't even beg for mercy. They could only shake their heads, trembling. One of them even wet himself in fear.
How could they have imagined that stealing just a bag of grain would lead to their deaths?
The rest is up to the general.
They had discussed this on the way, intending to use these three as a warning to others, to calm people's hearts, and hopefully to expose a few spies.
Then, a series of military orders were issued, first with strict investigations at all levels, showing zero tolerance for acts of looting and killing civilians... then with the gradual suspension of training for soldiers to assist the prefectural government in disaster relief...
Song Ling stood below the platform for a while, then stopped listening and returned to her tent alone.
Shi Qing glanced at it out of the corner of his eye, paused, looked down at what was in his palm, hesitated for a moment, and then followed.
"military adviser."
Song Ling stopped in her tracks, somewhat surprised to see the newcomer. "Vice General Shi?"
Shi Qing stopped about three feet away from her, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes before he stretched out his hand again, revealing what was in his hand: "Is this something from the strategist's sword?"
A warm white jade pendant about an inch long, its patterns resemble fine bamboo.
"Yes, it's on the sword." Song Ling smiled gently and raised her hand to thank him. "I didn't even notice. It should have been tied to the sword tassel, but perhaps the rope loosened over the years and it fell off."
But Song Ling did not take it, raising an eyebrow and smiling: "Since it has abandoned me, I cannot force it."
"I do have some connection with Deputy General Shi."
"Fate, destiny?" Shi Qing scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly: "Do objects have this kind of significance?"
"So... what should we do with it now?"
"How about I give it to you?" Song Ling looked at him seriously. "If you don't mind."
What would a rough, unrefined guy like him need such a sophisticated gadget for when he's on the battlefield killing enemies?
Shi Qing opened his mouth, but his hands clenched tightly against his will.
Then, realizing something, he let his strength go to waste.
Don't break it.
"I thank you, strategist."
He blurted it out and just accepted it.
Shi Qing stared at Song Ling's retreating figure, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back. Then, as if struck by a thought, he walked to a corner, took out a handkerchief from his chest, and carefully wrapped the jade pendant inside.
What if Song Ling changes her mind later? He can just return it.
It's just for saving.
But when he finished doing all this and put the handkerchief back in his arms, he suddenly felt his ear tips getting hot.
*
"General, what brings you here? Have you finished making arrangements?"
Song Ling had just finished pouring water when she saw the man barge in. She asked softly from the side, "Would you like some water?"
"Yes, I still have to thank you, young lady, otherwise things wouldn't have gone so smoothly." Yu Baizhou paused for a moment, then seemed unsure what to say next: "I just ran into Shi Qing, did he have something important to discuss with you, young lady?"
"It's nothing," Song Ling said with a smile. "I just need to ask Vice General Shi for a favor."
That's clearly not how it is. Yu Baizhou recalled the scene he had just witnessed from the side, and felt as if a mountain was pressing down on his heart, leaving him feeling neither up nor down.
Yu Baizhou saw everything clearly: her gentle questions and the things she gave him.
But why should he care so much? What right does he have to care? What grounds does he have to care?
I haven't made up my mind yet, so I shouldn't bother her with anything else.
But when he saw her standing with Shi Qing, he couldn't help but feel jealous and even wanted to rush up and pull Shi Qing away to snatch the jade to his side.
He's completely insane.
Yu Baizhou remained silent for a while, clutching the small porcelain cup in his hand, and tentatively said, "If you have any unspeakable difficulties, you can tell me."
"It's Jinghe; he's often asked me for help. As the commander, it's only right that I care about my subordinates."
Song Ling thought he was going to say something, and not wanting to embarrass him, she said, "Is that so? Well, there really is a favor I need to ask of the General."
"I want to see someone, is that okay?"
Yu Baizhou looked up at the opportune moment: "Who is it?"
...
"Eat slowly, aren't you given meals in the military camp?"
Song Ling stared disdainfully at the person wolfing down their food in front of her, then looked suspiciously at Yu Baizhou, who was also hesitant to speak.
Seeing Song Ling's look, he quickly clarified, "There's food."
"Oh, Seventeen, don't blame the general." Chu Yan let out a burp, sitting there casually, not at all intimidated by the general sitting next to him.
"I'm mainly worried about not having enough to eat next, so I've been saving up all my dry rations."
What he didn't say was that he had already given away all the provisions he had saved up. If he had known he would be able to see Song Ling face-to-face like this, would he have bothered bribing them one by one?
"You're saving up all that money so you can come here and freeload?" Song Ling poured him a glass of water, looking him up and down. "Are you alright?"
Before Chu Yan could respond, she nodded to herself: "It's alright, nothing's missing an arm or a leg."
"That goes without saying, just look who taught me this martial art."
Chu Yan finished eating quickly, circled around Song Ling several times, first ruffling her hair, then lifting her arm to check her over, blinking his eyes and saying, "I'm relieved to see you're doing well. Don't work so hard every day. I'm going to train now, I'll come see you another day."
"Hey you!"
Song Ling clenched her fists and tried to kick him, but she was too late and missed her footing.
Fortunately, Yu Baizhou pulled her up so she didn't fall.
"He was afraid that if he stayed out too long, people would gossip about you," Yu Baizhou explained.
Song Ling: "I know."
Yu Baizhou: "Why do they all call you Seventeen?"
"Isn't it hard to guess?" Song Ling seemed unconcerned: "Because I'm the seventeenth child."
Yu Baizhou asked, "Is it inside your gate?"
"Of course not."
But then nothing more was said until Song Ling sat down again and slowly said, "This is the seniority of the sect leader."
“So, you have more than a dozen predecessors above you.” Yu Baizhou sighed, somewhat incredulous: “That is indeed a very long time ago.”
For someone her age to become the sect leader of Huailai, it's an understatement to say she's exceptionally intelligent; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say she's almost supernaturally intelligent.
Song Ling neither affirmed nor denied his sentiments, but simply smiled gently.
“If you say that, it does seem to make some sense. My master is the sixteenth in line, and perhaps some people used to call him that.”
Yu Baizhou remembered how Song Ling unconsciously relied on her master when she was drunk, and he also sensed the melancholy in her voice: "He..."
"Him?"
"Dead."
It was a casual remark, as if the person who said it didn't care at all.
But do they really not care?
Song Ling lowered her long eyelashes and saw the scars on her wrists that were fading with age. She sighed and said, "He is a ruthless man. In the past, when I made a mistake, he would always hit my palms with a bamboo stick and then lock me up to reflect on my actions."
Song Ling smiled as she tried to recall something, but after all, the man had been dead for so many years, and his face had almost disappeared from her memory.
Yu Baizhou didn't quite understand: "Is it because you're not doing your proper job?"
"What constitutes neglecting one's proper duties?" Song Ling asked, somewhat puzzled. "Back then, we didn't even have those kinds of ideas."
“My grades have always been excellent, but I’m occasionally a bit mischievous, like when I go with Chu Yan to steal his brewed wine. Every time, Chu Yan runs the fastest, leaving me to be punished alone.”
"That's why Chu Yan and I have never gotten along since we were kids."
"But he's the one who understands me best."
Given their childhood friendship, it's no wonder she still misses Chu Yan in the military. Yu Baizhou smiled helplessly: "How old were you back then?"
"Five years old? Or six? I can't quite remember, but the wine my master brewed was excellent; I still remember it vividly." Song Ling put down the cup in his hand: "After the war is over, I will also brew some wine, and then I will invite the general and his lieutenants to try it."
Yu Baizhou: "That's great, the girl's cooking skills must be excellent."
Song Ling thought that this was probably the purpose of the dead: to be brought up from time to time for recollection and mourning, and then stored away in one's mind.
I wonder if I'll just forget about them one day.
But at least for now, the word "master" is still unique to her, even though she hates him in her heart.
The two chatted casually, but Yu Baizhou ultimately didn't ask her about her relationship with Shi Qing.
Keep telling yourself to let go... let go, and then hide those thoughts away?
However, those without experience don't know that some emotions, the more suppressed they are, the more they will rebound... until they collapse completely.
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