Chapter 166: Enough about rewards, what about punishment? (Three in one)
Fortunately, Xiao Ying had fought against the Qingman on the border for nearly fifteen years, and she was familiar with the current situation of the Qingman army. However, what was drawn on this map was somewhat different from what she knew.
She frowned and looked carefully, and the more she looked, the more frightened she became.
Because it not only drew a defense map, but also wrote the detailed situation of the opposing army, from the commander's cultivation level, age, hobbies, number of family members, to one of the scouts who liked to catch crickets for fun.
There are several other possible defensive changes that might arise from these situations...
Looking more closely, I saw that the top of the defense map was written with "A Nanny-Level Guide to the Qingman Route That Even a Baby Can Understand."
"?"
The eldest princess looked up and found that Gu Fangchen did not stop after giving her the picture. She concentrated her mind and drew a full seventy or eighty pictures in one breath.
She also suppressed the urge to scold the messy title, picked up the pages and flipped through them one by one, her heart gradually going from being trembling with fear to being somewhat numb.
These nearly one hundred defense maps deduced nearly one hundred possible scenarios that might occur when the two sides engaged in battle, especially the reactions that the Qingman side would make. They covered every detail, almost to the point that she had the illusion that the person standing opposite her was the Khan of Qingman!
Every change made her feel as if she was actually fighting against Qing Man.
Moreover, Xiao Yinghao combined the information she currently knew with her own experience and could be sure that at least 80% of the situation here was feasible!
Especially some of the information, Xiao Yinghao only obtained it recently, and there is absolutely no possibility that it could have been passed on to Gu Fangchen!
How did this guy know?
Xiao Yinghao narrowed his eyes, stroking the paper in his hand, and thought of Gu Fangchen still knowing his own White Dragon Army Formation...
Even compared to Qingman's defense map, this is actually the most puzzling thing, and it is difficult to explain with common sense.
The White Dragon Army Formation was her original creation. Whether she taught it to others or not, how could she not know it herself?
Gu Fangchen also knew that the princess was looking for him in the middle of the night, and she definitely didn't really want him to be her male concubine to relieve her boredom. He coughed dryly and said:
"The Princess is wondering how I knew this?"
Xiao Yinghao looked at him and said slowly:
"This princess is indeed curious. You grew up in the Great Wei and have never even been to the border. How come you know so much about the Qing Man?"
"Also, where did you learn this princess's White Dragon Army Formation?"
This is actually the question she wanted to know the most when she came to Gu Fangchen.
If it weren't for the White Dragon Army Formation, Gu Fangchen would never have been able to pretend to be her son-in-law and command her White Dragon Army.
There would have been no counterattack against Qing Man, allowing her to break out of the formation early.
Objectively speaking, the method he used in this matter was extremely evil and not worthy of being made public.
But from a subjective point of view, Xiao Yinghao was actually saved. The Blood River Repentance Formation was specifically used to trap her, and its power was truly impressive. If Gu Fangchen hadn't been there at the time, she would have been seriously injured if she had been trapped for a few more days.
Even if the situation is saved, Gu Yuye will take away control of Qiu Andao.
Xiao Yinghao was grateful for this.
But on the other hand, Xiao Yinghao has always been arrogant and never thought that anyone among her peers could compare with her in military attainments.
Suddenly, a Gu Fangchen appeared and actually knew the White Dragon Army Formation. Naturally, she was curious and competitive.
Gu Fangchen blinked and began to talk nonsense:
"Actually... when I was three years old, my master started teaching me miscellaneous knowledge, including some knowledge of formations and military tactics. Gu Yuye's study was always open to me, and I saw some information about the eldest princess, including the White Dragon Army Formation."
"As for these Qingman's defense maps, they are actually intelligence obtained by Master's secret agents. I have been deducing and compiling them over the years."
Well... that's right. Considering how useless Gu Fangchen was in the past, he could enter and exit freely and look at anything he wanted in such a confidential place as the study in the palace.
Because he couldn't understand it at all!
Xiao Yinghao was stunned for a moment: "Master...Senior Ding?"
Although the news of Gu Fangchen becoming Ding Xingfeng's apprentice has not spread, not many people know about it.
However, when Gu Fangchen gained the trust of the White Dragon Army, his initial identity was that of a disciple who followed Ding Xingfeng to practice in seclusion.
Xiao Yinghao naturally knew about this.
but……
The eldest princess looked a little suspicious:
"And you relied on that little bit of information to learn the White Dragon Army Formation?"
Gu Fangchen said with a serious expression:
"The princess can question me, but she can't question the Marquis of Yizhou, right? I have been secretly training with my master since I was young, and he has personally certified me as a genius in the art of war. If you don't believe me, you can go ask him."
Lao Ding is really useful as a scapegoat!
No matter from which perspective, Ding Xingfeng is the perfect person to shift the blame.
Firstly, he was famous enough and had a high reputation back then, so no one would question his cultivation and ability. Even though he had never accepted any disciples, no one would doubt his teaching ability.
Secondly, he has been in seclusion for a long time, resulting in not many masters in the world who truly understand him.
My impression of the name Ding Xingfeng is that of the legendary martial saint who killed countless people, and I feel absolute awe for him.
What's more, although Ding Xingfeng was famous for his invincible martial arts back then, he did know a little about military tactics, otherwise how could he lead troops to fight.
But...his level, to put it simply, is like nine out of ten orifices are open--
I know nothing about it.
Relying purely on personal strength, first a charge and then a beheading.
After this, the enemy troops were all frightened out of their wits, and without anyone to lead them, they naturally collapsed...
He could only not get rid of the blame in front of Emperor Yong'an or the Confucian sage. At other times, he was always right.
Fortunately, Gu Fangchen's cultivation level is now high. Once the cultivation level of the gods is high, the most convenient thing is that the mind is more stable and powerful, and he can lie without changing his expression or heart beating.
It is not difficult to hide things from others, especially martial artists.
Unlike the beginning, he had to be very careful with what he said and use tricks to cover up his lies. Otherwise, the other party could tell the truth from the falsehood just by sensing his physical condition.
At this moment, Xiao Yinghao saw that he was so confident, even a little serious and angry. Thinking of Ding Xingfeng's past reputation, she believed him 60% in her heart.
However, the statement of this military genius... is still a bit outrageous.
The eldest princess narrowed her eyes:
"This princess knows that some people can draw inferences from one instance and apply them to other cases, but how can one understand military formation deductions at a glance?"
In her opinion, the guy in front of her was indeed a genius, but he must have exaggerated his abilities.
Working hard behind the scenes, claiming to have learned it in one day...
Young boys of this age love to do this kind of thing.
But it's strange that Xiao Yinghao used to hate people who were smooth talkers the most, but when she saw that Gu Fangchen was so concerned about her reputation, she didn't feel disgusted.
On the contrary, I think this guy is a bit youthful and likes to show off, which makes him cute.
Well... maybe it's because Gu Fangchen really has something in his stomach.
Unlike those guys who are just good at talking but are actually useless.
What Gu Fangchen feared least was theoretical debates on paper, so he didn't back down and raised his eyebrows.
"If you don't believe me, Princess, you can give it a try."
Xiao Yinghao glanced at him, and with a smile in her cold and arrogant Danfeng eyes, she said:
"Okay, let's play a match, best two out of three."
Among the younger generation, there was no one who could compete with her in military formations. Seeing Gu Fangchen taking the initiative to provoke her, she also became interested.
Xiao Yinghao waved his hand, and a battlefield illusion appeared before his eyes. The army was deployed, and the two of them stood on both sides, each "holding a chess piece".
Gu Fangchen knew that this was a simplified version of the military formation sand table, used for daily simulation and practice.
The actual military formation is actually quite different from that in the game.
But this simplified version of the military formation is almost exactly the same as the one in the game.
As soon as he saw it, he knew he was safe.
So he couldn't help but raise his head and look at the eldest princess opposite him.
At this moment, the eldest princess had bathed again and was wearing a very casual peony-colored long skirt and white thin pants.
The long skirt and thin pants are mainly made of gauze, which is soft and close-fitting, outlining the eldest princess's proud figure in every detail, and the difference in the amount of fabric hanging down is huge.
As for how big it was, Gu Fangchen, who had just experienced the pressure of a mountain, could only say that he couldn't bear it.
In addition, she had just rewarded Gu Fangchen, so her extremely beautiful face seemed to be slightly flushed, and the way she looked at people was as arrogant as a Persian cat.
Above the snow-white and slender collarbone, there is a small mole that is particularly eye-catching and very attractive.
Gu Fangchen licked his lips and said:
"Since there are wins and losses, there must be some stakes, right?"
Xiao Yinghao could tell that he was hinting at something, and said with a smile:
"So what do you want to bet on?"
Gu Fangchen also knew that what happened just now was just an accident. Xiao Yinghao was a little too excited by him, so she rewarded him. The favorability was not enough. If she went any further, it would inevitably go beyond the limit and become offensive. So she said again:
"I don't know either. Let the princess decide..."
Xiao Yinghao was a little surprised, but when she looked at him, she found that the young man's eyes were wandering, passing over her but not daring to stay.
It seemed that he had tasted the sweetness and spoke impulsively, but then he backed off because he was afraid that she would not agree.
The eldest princess felt a stir in her heart and felt like playing.
Humph, you were so arrogant and confident when you mentioned the military formation just now, why don’t you even dare to look at her now?
Sure enough, I am still young...
Xiao Yinghao narrowed his eyes, smiled even deeper, and said:
"Everyone knows that I, the princess, am known as the 'Goddess of War'. My forte is military formations. Even if it's just a deduction, this is a battle between two armies, and it's not something to be trifled with. If you win, I will naturally be your captive. You can do whatever you please with me."
She really can... even role-play.
This character is so fucking real, and the damn sense of immersion is maxed out.
Gu Fangchen's imagination began to run wild when he thought of the arrogant General Princess losing the battle and becoming his prisoner. If he were to be hung up and whipped, the General Princess would probably still bite her lip with a look of pride, disdain and stubbornness...
But it is obvious that if he really made such a request, he would be the one to be hung up and beaten.
Gu Fangchen pondered and said:
"What if I lose? Leave it to the princess to decide?"
"nature."
"Well... we've talked about rewards, but what about punishment?"
"?"
"Ahem...nothing."
Gu Fangchen's face turned serious and he said:
"In that case, please."
He stretched out his hand, allowing Xiao Ying to take the initiative.
Xiao Yinghao narrowed her eyes, feeling that Gu Fangchen was really brave enough to let her go first...
Whether it was because she underestimated the enemy or because of the ambiguity just now, the eldest princess could only snort coldly, feeling a little dissatisfied.
She is the "God of War" and not an ordinary girl. How could she be fond of such behavior?
She didn't care why Gu Fangchen did this. She just wanted to make him understand that doing so would not only not make her feel considerate, but would also make him lose badly in front of her.
Xiao Yinghao didn't hesitate and made his move directly.
Gu Fangchen thought about it and then went on.
It's not that he wants Xiao Ying to be better, but the strategies he learned to fight Xiao Ying are all about winning by playing second fiddle.
Because Xiao Yinghao's style is too obvious, too radical, and too changeable, the start is often uncertain.
You have to take a few more steps to determine your response strategy...
At first, Xiao Yinghao watched Gu Fangchen retreating step by step with a smile on his face, but soon the smile on his face disappeared.
After about a quarter of an hour, she no longer made her moves as casually as she did at the beginning. She would think for thirty seconds before each move.
As time went by, Xiao Yinghao's expression turned completely serious and he was immersed in the game.
Gu Fangchen continued to proceed steadily, recalling the strategy and following the procedures.
…
An hour later.
"I lost."
Xiao Ying remained silent for a long time, and finally put down her hands and admitted defeat. Her forehead was covered with a thick layer of sweat, and she was in a trance for a moment.
She raised her head and saw Gu Fangchen in front of her with a calm expression, as if everything was as expected.
In fact, in the game just now, the situation was indeed like this.
Xiao Yinghao felt like a prey caught in a spider web. Everything was going according to plan, but he fell into the trap unknowingly.
All her actions were completely seen through by the other party.
Now she really believes it...
This guy has definitely studied himself thoroughly from the inside out.
No wonder he was able to learn the White Dragon Army Formation!
"Fortunately, you are not a Green Barbarian..."
Xiao Yinghao looked at Gu Fangchen deeply.
Gu Fangchen's eyes widened. "The Princess isn't trying to cheat, is she? If I lose, you'll label me a Qingman spy, arrest me, lock me up in the basement of the Princess's Mansion, and torture me severely..."
Xiao Yinghao snorted: "There is no basement in the Princess's Mansion."
Gu Fangchen breathed a sigh of relief, and then heard Xiao Yinghao continue:
"But we can build one specifically for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Gu Fangchen: “…”
Xiao Yinghao was just trying to scare him. His tense expression lasted for two seconds before turning into a cold snort.
"Do you think this princess is so stingy? Can't even afford to lose?"
Gu Fangchen chuckled and said:
"The Princess's military formations are unparalleled. This deduction technique is just theoretical. I can only counter their moves based on theory... If I were to go into battle, I would definitely be no match for the Princess."
Xiao Ying crossed her arms across her chest in annoyance and said:
"You can command my White Dragon Army like an arm, so stop with the pedantic flattery."
Gu Fangchen sighed:
"I'm telling the truth. If it weren't for my lack of cultivation that day at Qiu'an Dao, why would I have borrowed the power of the mining protection formation?"
Xiao Yinghao glanced at him and said with a forced smile:
"In other words, if you have enough cultivation, you can still turn theory into practice and defeat me easily?"
Gu Fangchen could only blink and stop talking.
Xiao Yinghao, who had never lost before, was indeed unwilling to accept it, but after being teased by Gu Fangchen, she did not find it difficult to accept it.
If you lose, you lose.
What can I say if my skills are inferior to others... This evildoer started learning at the age of three, and even learned secretly under the nose of King Zhenbei, but he could reach such a high level, it's unbelievable!
Xiao Yinghao's understanding of Gu Fangchen was refreshed once again.
Gu Fangchen's command on Qiu'an Road at that time was indeed plain and simple, without any particularly sophisticated techniques, and he also relied on the sudden surge in the combat effectiveness of the White Dragon Army.
It's easy to feel that his real level is just so-so, a bit forced.
But now Xiao Yinghao discovered that this was Gu Fangchen's style.
There are no fancy military formation techniques, it’s just pure prediction, placement of pieces, and then winning.
But it was precisely because of this that Xiao Yinghao could feel the terror of this man even more...
It's like a ruthless deduction machine!
The princess could afford to lose. With a wave of her hand, the deduction illusion disappeared and she looked at Gu Fangchen:
"Okay, now I am His Royal Highness's prisoner. What is His Royal Highness going to do to me?"
She even stretched out her hand, indicating that Gu Fangchen could tie her up, but at the same time, she raised her chin with a proud look.
The eldest princess really understands...
Gu Fangchen sighed again in his heart, whether it was forced or being forced, the eldest princess was very suitable for either side.
But obviously, the more it is at this time, the more we cannot expose it.
Otherwise, the image he had established in Ziji Palace at that time would have collapsed... His purpose of interfering that day would have been completely shattered, and the eldest princess, whose truth was discovered, would have been hung up and beaten.
Gu Fangchen thought about it, stretched out his hand, and gently held the eldest princess's slightly cold hand.
He rubbed her clenched fingers loose, took them in his hand and pulled her over.
Xiao Yinghao was slightly startled. As Gu Fangchen moved, the distance between them became much closer, almost sticking together.
Gu Fangchen's hands were a size larger than hers, but because they were pampered, they were fair and beautiful. However, if you touched them in person, you would find that their joints were more distinct than those of a woman.
The unfamiliar feeling of her palms pressed against each other came over her, vivid and numb. Xiao Yinghao actually had an urge to pull her hand back, but she forcibly suppressed it.
She boasted that she would be able to ascend the throne in the future and had the courage and bearing of an empress, but from childhood to adulthood... she had indeed never held a man's hand.
If she simply regarded Gu Fangchen as a tool for entertainment, she would naturally have no obstacles in her heart and would not feel shy.
But the current situation is obviously far from using "tools".
Xiao Ying was very close to Gu Fangchen. She raised her head slightly and saw Gu Fangchen's burning gaze. She felt the hot temperature on her palm and suddenly felt a subtle throbbing in her heart.
Gu Fangchen lowered his head, looked at Xiao Ying's red, tender and pink lips, and whispered:
"Princess, is it okay?"
Xiao Yinghao naturally understood what he meant, but she felt inexplicably angry in her heart and bit her lip.
It was obvious that the contact between the two people just now was far more intimate than this. In theory, this request was definitely a step back, but for some reason, Xiao Yinghao had a feeling that the other party was taking advantage of the situation.
But when she saw Gu Fangchen's straightforward and passionate eyes, she couldn't say no.
Admit defeat... She is not the kind of person who would cheat.
Xiao Ying nodded and said unhappily:
"You were so brave just now, weren't you? I'm your captive, and you still need to ask my opinion on everything you do... Ugh!"
Before she could finish her words, Gu Fangchen embraced her and put his hand on her waist.
Xiao Yinghao's cold and arrogant phoenix eyes instantly turned into a watery mist, and the red at the corner of her eyes became even more vivid and tempting.
Gu Fangchen stopped for a moment, trying to taste the eldest princess.
But unfortunately... the eldest princess was extremely powerful, more than ten times stronger than him, and under her tight defense, she could not be shaken at all.
Gu Fangchen had no choice but to give up and retreat.
Xiao Yinghao's eyes were full of smiles, and she looked a little dazed.
Gu Fangchen was afraid that she would realize her mistake and get angry and regret it, so he immediately coughed dryly and slipped out of the window.
Of course, Gu Fangchen did not forget to remind:
"Princess, remember to try my strategy. It's very effective against the Qing Man!"
This is his strategy, he has absolutely nothing to hide.
The demonstration of the army's strength just now was also intended to gain the trust of the eldest princess.
In this way, the Qingman defense line will definitely collapse, and they will retreat at least a thousand miles. By then, the Qingman's attention will be fully diverted to the front line, and it will be easier to penetrate into the heart of the Qingman...
…
Xiao Ying, who stayed where she was, finally came to her senses and was about to put on a stern face when she found that Gu Fangchen had already slipped away.
The eldest princess: “…”
She looked at the creaking window in silence, and the feigned anger on her face disappeared.
She reached out her hand and touched her lips in a daze. She couldn't help but licked them with her tongue, and tasted a little wetness...
Just now, this guy wanted to reach in, right?
Humph, you are really getting more and more greedy!
Xiao Yinghao had a cold face, waved his hand, and slammed the window shut.
But he turned around, picked up the seventy or eighty drawings, sat down, lowered his head and sorted them out carefully.
…
The next day.
When Gu Fangchen opened his eyes, he saw Xuexiang, who was supposed to stay by his bedside, standing by the window.
Xuexiang was standing with her hands behind her back, looking out the window with a calm expression. When she heard him waking up, she wanted to turn around.
"Hey, wait a minute!"
Gu Fangchen quickly bent over and pulled up the quilt.
————
ps: 5,800... count it as three in one orz, ask for a monthly ticket, and try harder tomorrow
(End of this chapter)
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