Chapter 154
While Helian Cheng was still pondering how to conduct a battle plan against the Rongdi that evening, Xue Jin'an had already presented a complete set of feasible plans.
This plan is a thick book, almost like a brick. The opening chapter directly addresses the theme, providing a thorough and necessary analysis of the geographical environment, weather conditions, urban population, and other aspects of the Rongdi region. Then, it describes the tactics of troop deployment based on the terrain. The final part is about the post-war appeasement of the Rongdi people and the response to the Rongdi court's accountability.
Xue Jin'an even considered that Helian Cheng and Chang Dafu were not very good at politics, so he wrote down one, two, three, four, and five backup plans for dealing with the Rongdi court, basically taking all aspects into account.
Helian Cheng was amazed. He read the book over and over again, word by word, and was reluctant to put it down. He carefully held the thick book in both hands and gave it the highest praise: "This is a sacred book that every general must read!"
Even if a pig or Helian Yong came, they could still fight a classic battle that would go down in history by simply reading from this book.
"If all the generals in the world were to thoroughly study this book, there would be no shortage of commanders, and the position of marshal would remain vacant." Even if one could not fully comprehend and apply the knowledge to create a great general who could expand the territory, it would be quite good to be able to cultivate a general who could defend the city.
Helian Cheng, desperate for an heir, thought this way.
Although Xue Jin'an felt that Helian Cheng was being a bit too excited, he still thoughtfully responded to his idea, "Make this book one of the designated reading materials for the assessment of Northwest Army generals."
A small test every three days, a big test every five days; pass and your position remains unchanged, fail and you're demoted and have your salary reduced—Xue Jin'an has brought out the entire performance appraisal system of the evil capitalists.
"...If it were an examination like the imperial examination, I'm afraid it wouldn't be appropriate." Helian Cheng didn't want to admit it, but he had to admit it. These days, there weren't many soldiers with any education. If he were to introduce an examination system, the Northwest Army would either be completely wiped out or at least 80% of its soldiers would be demoted.
It's no wonder that military generals weren't ambitious. After all, in ancient times, people were divided into different classes: scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants. Studying was the best way out. If a military general wanted to enter the cabinet and become the head of all officials, he either had to be entrusted with the care of the young emperor or use the emperor to command the other lords. This has been the case throughout history.
However, there are many who, having achieved great merit, overshadow their masters and are then discarded after their usefulness is over.
For the sake of the normal operation of the Northwest Army, Helian Cheng could only sigh and refuse this tempting offer.
“Then let’s have a practical assessment.” Xue Jin’an was quite considerate. He thought for a moment and felt that military officers couldn’t just grow taller; their cultural knowledge also needed to be improved. So he added, “The practical results will account for 60%, the experimental report for 30%, and the remaining 10% will be considered as regular attendance.”
As for the frequency of the exams, Xue Jin'an let Helian Cheng decide for himself. Although he was already the de facto ruler of the Northwest Army, Helian Cheng understood the Northwest Army better and knew the limits of the soldiers' patience. He was just setting up an assessment system for the army, not creating chaos among the troops.
In addition, Xue Jin'an also refined the specific reading list for the assessment, listing more than ten books in a row, including classics such as "Strategies of the Warring States" and "The Art of War", as well as more niche but targeted books, one of which even Helian Cheng had never heard of.
That wasn't all. Xue Jin'an, who knew the contents of the books like the back of his hand, also broke down and reorganized the contents of these books into subjects such as training, tactics, and logistics arrangements, and further divided them into beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. It can be said that he directly determined the general outline for the editing of the textbooks on the spot.
When Helian Cheng heard Xue Jin'an break down the contents of the first book, he realized that this was a reform that could change the entire military circle. Before he could even be stunned, he snatched the paper and pen from Zuo Mengchang's hand and buried himself in writing.
Cui Zui was certainly aware of the importance of Xue Jin'an's words, but he did not act as eagerly as Helian Cheng.
Just as Helian Cheng was regretting not remembering some parts clearly and wanted to ask Xue Jin'an to explain them again, Cui Zui had already praised him directly. After praising him, he chuckled and said, "Master, I didn't have time to remember them."
"Understood." Xue Jin'an took a stack of blank papers in his hand, imported all the content he had just said onto them, and at Cui Zui's request, added a page of reading suggestions for "extracurricular books" for junior high, high school, and senior high school students respectively.
"Thank you, Master!" Cui Zui didn't hold back in showing his joy. If it weren't for his master's powerful aura, he would have already rushed over to hug and lift him up high. He lowered his voice, waved his arms, and whispered, "Long live Master!"
The three people closest to him all heard the phrase "Long live!" clearly.
Zuo Mengchang's eyes widened instantly, and he almost stopped breathing: "!!!" Is "Long live the Emperor" something you can just shout casually?
However, before he could cover Cui Zui's mouth, he heard a familiar voice from a certain general in his other ear.
"Your Highness, long live the Seventh Prince!" Helian Cheng echoed Zuo Mengchang's incredulous gaze. He cleared his throat, avoided Zuo's gaze, and tentatively reached out to Xue Jin'an, "Your Highness, this old minister would also like a share."
"Here you go." Xue Jin'an readily uttered a heartwarming word.
"Long live Your Highness!" Helian Cheng shouted this time without the slightest stutter, his voice truly sincere.
Helian Cheng and Cui Zui were both ecstatic. Holding the stack of papers, they couldn't suppress their smiles. They looked at the papers as if they were looking at their beloved girls, and even made lewd chuckles.
Completely uninterested in the book's contents, the Third Prince, who had gone off to exercise in the distance when Xue Jin'an started reciting, glanced at the two of them with a puzzled look. When his gaze fell on the papers they held as if they were treasures, he looked away uninterestedly and went back to his weightlifting.
Incidentally, the area where the Third Prince was located has been designated as a fitness area. The equipment inside is all modern fitness equipment that Xue Jin'an scavenged from the database and modified. Although it is not as good as the original, it is more than enough for ancient times when the methods of exercising were quite monotonous.
This military gym is only open to the Third Prince, who can come and go as he pleases. Everyone else is required to follow a detailed training schedule. At this moment, everyone is doing pre-battle warm-ups, while the Third Prince, who is waiting to be eliminated, is quite idle. As a result, the gym appears empty. In fact, this newly opened area is very popular. As soon as the civilian area was set up, people flocked to use it. The reservations for each piece of equipment are booked until next month, and there is no free time at all.
Many martial arts enthusiasts who weren't interested in PUBG games came to visit after hearing about this novel and useful training equipment. In the first month, only a few people signed up for membership cards. Minister Feng was worried every day as he looked through the ledger, fearing that he wouldn't be able to recoup his investment.
However, as time passed and things slowly unfolded, the number of unfamiliar faces coming here increased significantly, and the business of issuing membership cards also increased day by day. Just half an hour ago, Zhenyuan Escort Agency, the largest and most prestigious escort agency in the country, issued cards to all two hundred of its escorts here. Through Cui Zui's connections, they got an 80% discount, and the money paid was enough to turn Jili's accounts around, since the membership price was really not cheap.
Minister Feng was overjoyed and wept, and he didn't even flinch when he saw the Crown Prince's men mixed in with the crowd.
Unfortunately, people's happiness is not shared, and Zuo Mengchang only found their noise annoying.
If this gets out today, will anyone believe he's innocent? How can he prove that although he stood with these two audacious individuals, he didn't disrespectfully shout "Long live the Emperor" to the Seventh Prince?
Zuo Mengchang racked his brains for a long time, but finally realized with despair that he could not clear his name. The only thing he could do was to keep today's incident within Jili's inner circle, so that only the four of them, heaven, earth, and the heavens, would know. Once he did this, it would mean that he was on the side of the Seventh Prince.
Even if he doesn't stand behind the Seventh Prince in the subsequent struggle for the throne, he absolutely cannot be his enemy.
Minister Zuo sighed inwardly, but he accepted it relatively well. After talking with Feng Yinshou, he knew that he would eventually face this day. The emperor sent the princes to the Six Ministries for training, which was originally intended to reduce the power of the Six Ministries. He had no idea that the princes would turn the Six Ministries into the base for future power struggles.
Making a proactive choice is far better than being forced into a corner like Feng Yinshou.
Moreover, the Seventh Prince is a good choice. Although his status will inevitably make him a target in the struggle for the throne, at least compared to the other princes—specifically referring to the prince who tricked Minister Feng and the brainless, reckless prince—the Seventh Prince is truly intelligent, resourceful, and capable. Most importantly, the Seventh Prince is a genius craftsman!
The Seventh Prince should come to the Ministry of Works! Minister Zuo secretly made up his mind.
Xue Jin'an was unaware of Zuo Mengchang's inner thoughts. He unusually did not stay in Jili to watch the two sides fight, but instead went to Cining Palace.
As usual, Lu Bingzhu appeared out of nowhere. Just as Xue Jin'an climbed over the palace wall, he suddenly appeared behind him, and the two engaged in combat, which lasted for about a hundred moves before stopping.
"No matter when, where, or what the situation, you can adjust your state the fastest and deal with enemy attacks perfectly," Lu Bingzhu exclaimed in amazement. "Seventh Prince is truly extraordinary; he should be the reincarnation of the Martial Star."
"What a pity, he's all talk and no action, only interested in internal martial arts." — This is what Grandmaster Lu, a master of internal martial arts, thought.
It was a pity, but Lu Bingzhu was philosophical about it. He could tell that Xue Jin'an wasn't really interested in internal martial arts, so he didn't force him. Nowadays, the martial arts world mostly valued internal skills over external ones, but for someone like Lu Bingzhu who was at the top, there was no difference between internal and external skills; he could excel in whatever he wanted to learn.
"Just now, Imperial Noble Consort Min and the other concubines came to pay their respects. Your Highness was still recovering from a cold, and it took a lot of effort to get rid of them. She is currently talking with Consort Zhuang inside. Why don't you rest here for a while before going in?" Lu Bingzhu kindly suggested.
Lu Bingzhu spoke tactfully, but Xue Jin'an could tell that he had some reservations about Consort Min's behavior. He suspected that this visit was not a proper one, and that there was more to it than a show.
The Emperor deliberately expanded the harem to cause trouble for the Empress Dowager. Consort Min was the executor of this plan. However, after the Empress Dowager handed over the Phoenix Seal as a warning, Consort Min became much more obedient and stopped causing trouble every day. Instead, she would bring a group of chattering concubines to Cining Palace to pay their respects every now and then, and each time she had a legitimate reason.
On the surface, all the etiquette and rules were in place. Although the Empress Dowager was not pleased, she knew that Consort Min was caught in the middle and it was very difficult for her. She had no intention of making things difficult for her. In reality, everyone knew what was really going on.
As expected, Consort Min came to deliver good news. The thirteenth prince had just been born, and now another little beauty was also pregnant. She was already three months along, and the imperial physician discovered that she was carrying twins.
Twins are rare, so this was quite a joyous occasion. The Empress Dowager was originally quite happy, but she never expected that the concubines would bring their jealousy and resentment to her. When the Empress Dowager saw Consort Min's calm and smiling face, she understood everything.
The Empress Dowager remained calm, letting those people go further and further as their tempers eroded their reason. Someone even suddenly brought up the twins born to Consort Min back then.
The young lady and the pregnant beauty had probably had a falling out before, and she said sarcastically, "Sister, you should be careful. Eat less on weekdays. Pregnancy is not easy, and childbirth is difficult. Even if you are born, you may not survive. And even if you survive, you may not grow up. In the past, the Imperial Noble Consort had twins, but now only one is left."
Consort Min hadn't expected the topic to involve her, and her face immediately darkened.
The young scholar, unaware that he had stepped on a landmine, saw the pregnant beauty's eyes filled with shock and fear, and assumed that his words had worked. He then smugly pressed on, trying to induce a miscarriage, and his words naturally became even harsher.
She said, "The palace is a treacherous place. Today's friend may turn on you tomorrow, and today's enemy may become a sworn friend tomorrow. No one knows who is good and who is an outsider. Sister, you must be careful about these things, after all, there are past events involved."
No one dared to utter a sound. The young beauty who had been called out, supporting her belly, forced a smile. "Sister, don't scare people. We're all sisters in the palace; nothing like that would happen. It must have been an accident..."
Before she could finish speaking, the young scholar chuckled and retorted, "Who knows how she died?"
"How did you die?" Consort Min looked at her coldly. "Tell me, I'm listening."
Finally, the young concubine was dragged out and given thirty strokes of the cane, which caused her to faint. She was then carried back to her residence. Consort Min, along with a group of quiet and obedient concubines, bowed and took their leave. Only Consort Zhuang remained.
Having been framed, Consort Min's performance was a complete disaster. However, the Empress Dowager was not happy either, especially since there had been bloodshed in the palace. Consort Zhuang, being a quick-witted woman, immediately ordered her maids to clean up the courtyard, saying, "Your Majesty, your cold is not fully recovered, so please bear with it. The smell will dissipate soon."
"You've put your heart into it." The Empress Dowager's tone was calm, her brows relaxed, showing her satisfaction with Consort Zhuang's act of having the cleaning done.
Lu Bingzhu also praised Consort Zhuang's maid, "She is quite skilled. Her figure has the shadow of the legendary swordsman who once killed all the heroes of the world with a single stroke. She is fierce yet swift, and her steps are steady and composed. It's just a pity that she seems to be a swordsman. I wonder what her swordsmanship is like."
Although the palace maid Qingye did not display her martial arts skills in Cining Palace, for someone of Lu Bingzhu's level, a simple step was enough to reveal a lot.
Xue Jin'an remembered Yi Dao Da Xia. When he first opened the fitness app, the homepage activity was "An Wangfu Private Army Training Camp Phase III Recruitment Plan", and Yi Dao Da Xia was the number one coach.
Xue Jin'an had long suspected that Consort Zhuang and the Prince An's residence were involved. After all, Consort Zhuang, Xie Hongying, came from the Lin Yuan Marquis's residence and was the daughter of the Princess An's aunt. The two were cousins and had a close relationship.
However, this person had been quiet ever since entering the palace, seemingly immersed in the joy of raising children. She had no interest in the emperor's favor or in the power struggles of the harem. She spent her days behind closed palace gates, and Xue Jin'an couldn't guess why she had entered the palace.
When Lu Bingzhu mentioned her, Xue Jin'an listened carefully for a few moments and learned that Consort Zhuang had stayed behind to talk to the Empress Dowager about the Fourth Princess and the Ninth Prince.
Consort Zhuang said that she liked the Fourth Princess very much because she was well-behaved and cute, but the Ninth Prince was too naughty and caused a lot of trouble. She couldn't control him at all and didn't have the energy to do so. She was afraid that she would get angry and die before she could control him. So she suggested that since the Ninth Prince had turned six a month ago, why not move to the Prince's residence a year earlier?
Furthermore, it was said that the Ninth Prince's personality was somewhat unconventional, and he was better suited to living in a quiet place to avoid causing trouble with the other princes. It was suggested that the Ninth Prince move to the Green Bamboo Courtyard in the north.
Consort Zhuang's suggestion was reasonable and well-founded, so there was nothing wrong with it, except that it was a bit too coincidental.
Xue Jin'an's residence, Qifeng Courtyard, was located at the far north end. Years ago, the Fourth Prince believed that Consort Zhen had killed the Tenth Prince and harbored a desire for revenge. He intentionally moved to a courtyard in the north as well. Later, the Fourth Prince was terrified by Xue Jin'an's battery-digging behavior and hurriedly moved back to Suhui Courtyard, which was located to the west of the Princes' residence. He preferred to be neighbors with the Fifth Prince across the wall rather than share a space with Xue Jin'an.
The fourth prince's courtyard in the north was called Green Bamboo Courtyard, named for the green bamboo that filled the courtyard. The bamboo tubes, chopsticks, and bowls that Xue Jin'an initially used were all made from bamboo that Fu Lu brought from Green Bamboo Courtyard.
Was it a coincidence, or intentional? A fleeting glimpse of cold data crossed Xue Jin'an's eyes.
After the Empress Dowager agreed to Consort Zhuang's idea, the latter quickly took her leave. Xue Jin'an stayed in the backyard for a while. After Lu Bingzhu returned from seeing people off, he reminded Xue Jin'an that he could go in to see the Empress Dowager. He then turned around and was about to use his lightness skill to move away and go up to the roof.
The relationship between Xue Jin'an and the Empress Dowager is not suitable to be exposed at the moment, so Xue Jin'an always sneaks in by climbing over the wall to avoid being seen. Lu Bingzhu, on the other hand, sits on a high place, such as a rooftop or a tree branch, to keep watch and ensure that no one slips through his sight.
"Come on, let's go together," Xue Jin'an called out to Lu Bingzhu, "I mainly came to see you."
Xue Jin'an's last line of defense for the Northwest Army uniforms was the Clothing Office.
While the spies of the Imperial Guard might not be as fierce and valiant as the Northwest Army, who had fought their way through countless battles in direct confrontation, they were professionals in areas such as concealing their whereabouts, gathering intelligence, and investigating matters.
Lu Bingzhu felt there was no need to specifically ask him about this matter. Without even the Empress Dowager speaking, he directly said, "Your Highness has the token. You can simply issue the order to whoever you want. If anyone dares to disobey, you may punish them accordingly."
Xue Jin'an shook his head and said, "I would like to ask Eunuch Lu to go there in person."
Since he was addressed as "Lord Lu," it indicated that Xue Jin'an wanted to talk to the supervisor of the Imperial Garment Factory.
Lu Bingzhu paused for a moment, then looked up questioningly in the direction of the Empress Dowager. After she nodded slightly, he turned his gaze back and began to discuss with Xue Jin'an.
Xue Jin'an wanted to send a team of scouts over there, mainly to assist the Northwest Army in gradually annexing the Rong and Di tribes. Ideally, they would also be able to brainwash the Rong and Di people after the war and establish a foothold in the northern desert to build a northern intelligence network—this was mainly in preparation for his ascension to the throne.
In ancient times, transportation was inconvenient. Any policy would take a long time to be communicated from the top down, let alone implemented. As the saying goes, "the emperor is far away and the sky is high," and many local officials acted like tyrants, only finding out when a peasant uprising broke out and refugees poured into the capital.
Xue Jin'an already had a plan for the country's construction and development. He did not want his plan to be perfectly implemented only in the capital. He intended to establish a vast intelligence network to transmit information from all over the country, while also being responsible for inspecting officials to understand the people's sentiments.
The spies from the Imperial Clothing Bureau are very suitable for this job. Their abilities can be used in many ways. It would be a waste to place them in the capital to monitor the court officials. And most importantly, Xue Jin'an is not interested in the private affairs of the officials.
Whom they cricketed in their residences after court, or who they secretly met with there... For Xue Jin'an, whose data brain was constantly gathering information from the surrounding area, it wasn't necessarily necessary to use the methods employed by the Imperial Wardrobe to find out. Using such methods too often would create a misconception among his subordinates, leading them to deliberately exploit private matters.
More than these, Xue Jin'an cared about the officials' abilities.
There's nothing new under our noses. After more than a year of testing, the intelligence network of Jiutianyi has matured and can now be put to good use.
Of course, it is also very possible that the procuratorial organs will also be corrupted, and the entire local government will be a den of snakes and rats. The spies of the Imperial Guard are also human beings, and as human beings, they are not immune to greed, ignorance, anger and hatred.
Xue Jin'an had other ways to deal with it afterward; he couldn't throw the baby out with the bathwater.
"This is an opportunity." An opportunity to bring the Fengyi Bureau to the forefront and make it a true part of the national army, so that one can make a name for oneself and enter the court as an official.
Lu Bingzhu licked his lips. He hadn't thought about the suggestion, but when Xue Jin'an presented it to him, he found himself unable to refuse.
Lu Bingzhu asked, "What do you want me to do?"
Lu Bingzhu knew that anyone could handle the construction agency's affairs, so there was no need for Xue Jin'an to specifically ask him to take the lead.
Xue Jin'an affirmed his idea and went straight to the point, saying, "Governor Lu's destination is the capital of the Rongdi Kingdom, where he awaits the opportunity to take the head of the Rongdi Khan."
"At that time, the Northern Desert Royal Court will be embroiled in internal strife due to the Khan's succession, and Governor Lu will be needed to mediate." To put it bluntly, he will stir up trouble and divide the forces, so that the Rong and Di tribes will not have time to meddle in the affairs of the Central Plains.
This is a task with both risks and rewards; success will bring immense wealth and honor, while failure will leave no trace.
Lu Bingzhu gave Xue Jin'an a deep look, his eyes filled with complex emotions that were hard to decipher. However, it wasn't because of the difficulty of the task, but because of the trivial matters concerning the future of the Great Qi that Xue Jin'an mentioned, which could make the entire Rongdi region excited.
Lu Bingzhu didn't ask the question after all, but readily agreed to the task and had an idea for the person to go to the Northwest to build the intelligence network: "The person should be chosen from your personal guards. They already respect you and their loyalty is guaranteed. Among them, Jiazi is the most suitable to be the leader."
“Okay.” Xue Jin’an agreed with Lu Bingzhu’s idea.
Although as the master of the secret guards he could directly assign them their duties, he still summoned all the secret guards around him and let them choose for themselves.
"Don't worry, just follow your heart." Xue Jin'an didn't insist.
The guards, instead of being given the choice, were somewhat at a loss. They were used to following orders and were now suddenly put in charge, which left them feeling quite bewildered. In the end, no one knew who started it, but their gazes all fell in unison on Jiazi at the front.
Jiazi, his body bent under the heavy gazes of his teammates: "..."
Jiazi took a deep breath, suppressing the various emotions in his heart, and solemnly bowed to Xue Jin'an: "Your subordinate is willing to go."
The other guards, as if they had found a pillar of support, echoed, "We are willing to go."
Lu Bingzhu told him to select people immediately, and that he would give them a good training while there was still time. Jiazi responded quickly and pointed out six people, all of whom were the best among the worst, the relatively smart ones. This shows the resentment Jiazi had towards his subordinates.
After confirming that the person was alright, Lu Bingzhu turned to Xue Jin'an and said, "Jiazi has a new mission, and you are still short of a head of the secret guards. I have a suitable candidate to recommend."
Lu Bingzhu did not reveal who he recommended, but only smiled and remained silent. Xue Jin'an did not ask any further questions. Rather than believing that Lu Bingzhu would not harm him, he believed that Lu Bingzhu would not harm the Empress Dowager. He and the Empress Dowager were now in the same boat, sharing both glory and ruin. Lu Bingzhu would not do anything unnecessary.
Moreover, Xue Jin'an actually had a vague idea of who it was. There was someone who had left more than a year ago, and it was time for them to reappear.
Xuan Shiyi is back.
Returning to Zhaoyang Palace after more than a year, Xuan Shiyi felt a sense of loss and unfamiliarity. The others looked at him with unfamiliar eyes, observing him from a distance for a long time, making him feel uncomfortable.
It's no wonder that others didn't recognize him; Xuan Shiyi had indeed changed a lot. He had lost weight and was dressed in all black. His demeanor was very composed. He had a new scar the width of a little finger under his eye, and his once unremarkable features suddenly looked much sharper.
This seemed like a mistake for the secret guards, but when Xuan Shiyi thought about it, he could quickly erase his traces, and his ability to hide was also improving. Xue Jin'an even took an extra breath to find his presence.
"Not bad." Xue Jin'an nodded slightly.
A very soft click of the tongue, like a breeze brushing past the ear, would probably be mistaken for an illusion by most people. But Xuan Shiyi, a professional spy who was good at chasing shadows, would not miss any slight movement.
His gaze pierced through the space with precision, meeting Jiazi's eyes as he hid in the shadows.
The eye contact lasted only a second before they quickly looked away in tacit agreement.
[I've seen the look in your eyes, I've met my match.] Little Teacher X suddenly popped into my head with a voiceover, eagerly whispering to Xue Jin'an, [I think I'm the most suitable one to build the intelligence network, and my mind is closely connected to yours, I would never betray you... Or, a nine-plus-one intelligence network would also be fine, I don't mind if it's small...]
Teacher Xiao X speaks just like a human being.
Xue Jin'an instantly deciphered its abnormality: "It's talking gibberish."
Teacher X: [Okay, I'm tired of harvesting the emperor like a leek, and I want to grow more leeks. That's just how insatiable human capitalists are.]
Xue Jin'an coldly rejected the capitalist's sacred body AI's request, saying, "Please live like a code life form."
[That's speciesism! No one dictates how code life should behave. You've been corrupted by humans, you bastard!] Teacher X started spouting data nonsense.
Xue Jin'an didn't understand what "fatherly manner" meant, but he fairly and justly fulfilled Teacher X's request and, in a very fatherly manner, banned her from speaking.
Since Teacher X can no longer use the voice pack, she's resorting to text to rant and rave: "[Feudalistic patriarch! Your emotional garbage needs to be dealt with!]"
After blocking it, Xue Jin'an pondered for a moment, then launched a small rocket at himself, but didn't feel any difference.
Xia Zi was probably the one who most eagerly awaited Xuan Shiyi's return. When he saw the person he thought was dead suddenly appear before him, his eyes immediately lit up. "You're back? I..."
However, before he could finish speaking, Xuan Shiyi interrupted him: "Tell me honestly what you know, and I might spare your life."
Xiaxia's heart sank.
"His Highness's operation has already begun. You don't have much time left. Think it over carefully. It will be too late when information becomes worthless." Xuan Shiyi patted his shoulder and turned to leave.
Xia Xiazi was left alone, shivering in the wind, looking exceptionally pitiful and helpless.
Xue Jin'an, who had witnessed this scene from the side hall, slowly withdrew his gaze and glanced at Xuan Shiyi standing beside him.
He knew that the secret Xia Zi had kept hidden for so long, even while in a daze, was a bargaining chip Xuan Shiyi used to prove his loyalty. Similarly, Xuan Shiyi had not lied. Perhaps it was a matter of mutual dependence, perhaps his previous interactions had moved him to pity, or perhaps Xia Zi represented his past self.
He genuinely wanted to save Xiaxiazi's life.
"I understand." Xue Jin'an actually felt that Xuan Shiyi's trembling was unnecessary. He said, "I am not a killer who kills indiscriminately. I will only kill those who deserve to be killed."
He paused, then added carefully, "If a person's desire is strong, I will respond to it when I'm not busy."
Long Aotian once said that cultivation is about cultivating oneself and one's mind. It's not enough to just bury yourself in practicing techniques. You also need to open your eyes to see the world and help others when you can. This is called accumulating merit. Those who have merit will be favored by the heavens and earth and will have a smoother time to advance and overcome tribulations than others.
Xue Jin'an felt that he had done as Long Aotian had said, and that he was an upright and kind person.
Xuan Shiyi: "..."
"You..." Sometimes, you don't actually need to show your power.
Xuan Shi opened his mouth, met Xue Jin'an's pure black eyes, and silently changed the words that were about to come out of his mouth, "Whatever makes you happy."
Oh well, I wasn't the one getting help anyway.
*
On the eighth day of the seventh month of the twenty-seventh year of the Jiahe reign, the Empress Dowager promoted Galdan, the third prince of the Rongdi tribe, to Crown Prince of Rongxing Khan, and escorted him back to the Rongdi tribe by the Northwest Army.
On July 24, Crown Prince Rongxing entered the territory of the Rongdi people and encountered bandits, killing a thousand of them. For the safety of the Rongdi people, the Crown Prince requested the Northwest Army to station three thousand troops in Gaganaan City.
On August 10th, Crown Prince Rongxing encountered the rebel general Bato's 5,000 troops at Naliang Mountain and suffered a crushing defeat. The Crown Prince personally beheaded Bato at Naliang Mountain to offer a sacrifice to the spirits of his ancestors, praying for favorable weather and a bountiful harvest in the coming year. Strange celestial phenomena appeared, and a respected elder in the area consulted the gods by divination. He learned that the Naliang Mountain tribe was about to face a great calamity, causing great fear among the people. The Crown Prince was anxious and, seeking protection, requested 5,000 troops from the Northwest Army to enter Naliang Mountain to ward off evil.
On September 19th, upon reaching Jialuo City, a heavy snowfall caused ice to freeze three feet deep, making the army's advance difficult. Countless cattle and sheep froze to death, and the local people were left without clothing or food. The Crown Prince of Rongxing Khan could not bear to see this and pleaded with the Northwest Army to provide grain. On the 23rd, an emergency grain route was completed, and 30,000 soldiers and civilians from Qizhou were sent to Kulu City to provide warmth. Three thousand Rong and Di people, who were not resistant to the cold, were relocated to Nai City (formerly known as Ga Ga Nai'an City).
On the first day of the tenth lunar month, we went hunting in the mountains and killed a thousand bandits.
On October 10th, snow blocked the roads, and the army did not proceed, instead encamping at the city of Jialuo.
On October 15th, the wind and snow continued, and we were stationed in Gara City.
On October 20th, they were stationed in the city of Gara.
...
On the first day of the eleventh month, the Rongdi Prime Minister personally went to Luocheng (formerly known as Jialuo City) to welcome Crown Prince Rongxing Khan back to the royal court.
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