Chapter 272 Shen Lanxi's base camp in the Northwest!
Although Sun Miaoling and Chen Mianmian did not know each other, they had one thing in common: they both came with a purpose.
After they met, they had a few disagreements. Later, they realized that they had the same goal, so they tacitly reached an agreement to remain outwardly calm and unite against a common enemy.
"Could it be that Shen Lanxi has three heads and six arms? The Second Prince seems to be quite wary of her?" Sun Miaoling thought, her mind full of scheming.
Chen Mianmian said softly and disdainfully, "A woman who hangs out in the military camp is either ugly and fanged, or she uses tricks to seduce military officers and make them fall at her feet." She knew women better than anyone.
Sun Miaoling looked down on Chen Mianmian's petty behavior, but she couldn't deny that what she said was quite right.
Women are naturally delicate, and they rarely leave their own homes, let alone military camps. A respectable woman wouldn't dare show herself in front of so many men.
Shen Lanxi is either an ugly woman or a slut.
“We’ve already followed the Second Prince, so naturally we should regard him as the most important person. Whatever the Second Prince does in the future, that’s what we’ll do,” Sun Miaoling advised Chen Mianmian.
Chen Mianmian was clearly a lowly concubine's daughter, unlike her. She was a legitimate daughter registered under her stepmother's name, and had been educated alongside legitimate sons and daughters since childhood. Chen Mianmian looked like a spoiled brat; she couldn't even stand up straight, and she walked with a swaying gait—she was obviously a vixen.
Chen Mianmian replied sweetly, "Sister Sun is so clever. The Second Prince is of such high status that he would never stoop to the level of a woman like Shen Lanxi. We must do our best to assist him."
Seeing that Chen Mianmian had taken it to heart, Sun Miaoling didn't bother to say anything more.
Teaching Chen Mianmian not only brought her no benefit, but also gave her another despicable person to compete for her favor.
“This place is too shabby. How could they arrange for the Second Prince to live in such a place?” Sun Miaoling’s eyes gleamed.
Chen Mianmian also looked down on this place, which was far inferior to Hailing City, with dirt not even cleaned up in the corners.
“They’ve treated the Second Prince so poorly, let’s go find the steward and get some justice!” Sun Miaoling stood up and said.
Chen Mianmian immediately stood up: "Let's go!"
After entering the city, Shen Lanxi first went to the military camp, where she only saw Zhou Ruan.
"Second Prince, I have successfully fulfilled my mission and driven the three Turkic tribes out of Qinglong Lake!"
Seeing that Shen Lanxi hadn't shed a single drop of blood, Zhou Ruan felt disdain, but said aloud, "General Shen, you've worked hard."
Shen Lanxi: "It's not hard work. Expelling foreign tribes is the duty of the Zhenbei Army!"
Without much small talk, Zhou Ruan immediately assigned her the task of delivering a message to Liang Shao.
"You angered Father Emperor last time by acting on your own initiative. Consider this a chance to make amends. If you succeed, I'll put in a good word for you with Father Emperor. If you fail, Father Emperor will surely punish you again, and the grain will definitely have to be sent to Dongchuan again. Whether our Zhenbei Army can get the grain depends entirely on General Chen!" Zhou Ru'an sneered inwardly.
If Liang Shao doesn't know what's good for him, he can just push the blame onto Shen Lanxi.
At that time, the Zhenbei Army will complain that she caused the loss of supplies, and the court will blame Shen Lanxi for making enemies of the Great Zhou. It's like killing two birds with one stone!
A cold glint flashed in Shen Lanxi's eyes, and she said with a defiant tone, "Don't worry, I will definitely take down Liang Shao. I won't come back until I've taken down Liang Shao!"
A glint flashed in Zhou Ru'an's eyes, and he immediately said, "Good, as expected of General Shen, you have ambition! Then I'll wait for your good news in the army!"
Shen Lanxi: "I'll go muster the troops right now and set off immediately!" After she finished speaking, she turned and left briskly.
Zhou Ruan was somewhat surprised that Shen Lanxi would leave so easily. Wasn't this tantamount to handing over the huge Zhenbei Army to her?
"Women are just women, indeed narrow-minded. A few words of provocation and they don't know what to do." With such a temperament, at most they can only be jealous and scheming against the women in the inner quarters.
As for leading troops?
It's not that he looks down on her, it's just that women are inherently inadequate!
Shen Lanxi left Wei Dong behind, and led Qian Feng and Xiao Fang with two thousand men, heading straight for Liang Shao's location.
Zhou Ru'an had been kept under surveillance, and as soon as she left the city, scouts immediately went to report back.
"Shen Lanxi has mustered a thousand men and headed towards Liang Shao's direction!"
"Second Prince, shall we?" The strategist gestured across his neck.
Zhou Ruan shook his head: "There are many ways to kill Shen Lanxi, now is not the time."
Liang Shao's appearance, whatever his purpose, means someone needs to take the blame. Shen Lanxi is the perfect candidate!
Another advisor thought the same thing.
"We'll take action after we figure out Liang Shao's intentions!"
Zhou Ru'an nodded, his eyes darkening, and said, "Now that Shen Lanxi has left the camp, it's the best time for us to take control of the Zhenbei Army. We'll place our people in the Zhenbei Army, and I'll investigate Wei Dongzhu's situation further."
He brought back two beauties, ready to go. Other conditions are negotiable!
...
Ten miles outside the city, Shen Lanxi changed course and went to Qinglong Lake.
It's the crucial time for irrigation, and she needs to go and supervise the farming!
Che Mingyuan: "There are about 600 households and 3,500 people who have moved to Qinglong Lake. 4,500 mu of land has been reclaimed, and for the time being, the land is allocated at two mu per person..."
Shen Lanxi inspected the farmland while listening to Che Mingyuan's report.
With Che Mingyuan on her left and Sang Guo on her right, the two of them tacitly followed Shen Lanxi by half a step.
Shen Lanxi: "Land reclaimed in the first five years will be exempt from taxes; the rest is yet to be determined!"
Sang immediately wrote it down.
Sang Guo handed Che Mingyuan a notebook, and he continued reading: "About 500 mu of land has already been irrigated, and the remaining land can be irrigated within half a month!"
Shen Lanxi: "There shouldn't be any idle labor; make sure everyone has something to do. Strictly supervise them!"
Che Mingyuan: "Don't worry, we have people reading military law to them every day, they won't dare."
Shen Lanxi received a letter halfway there; Liu Yan had returned from the salt lake.
"Reply to him and tell him to come directly to Qinglong Lake!"
Sang Guo immediately began writing a letter.
The Qinglong Lake of today is no longer the desolate place it once was.
With the Zhenbei Army stationed here, this place is so peaceful that it doesn't feel like a border region, much less like a place where war is imminent.
Not far away, a huge military fortress had already been built. The craftsmen had not stopped and were still continuing to build.
The land along the shore of Qinglong Lake has been divided into many plots, where some people farm, some graze livestock, some raise animals, and some fish and hunt.
After inspecting the area, Shen Lanxi entered the military fortress, which was her main base in the Northwest!
"General..."
"General..."
The soldiers and craftsmen in the military fortress bowed and paid their respects upon seeing Shen Lanxi's return.
Shen Lanxi nodded in acknowledgment and headed straight for the very center of the military fortress.
The students of Qinglan Academy were engrossed in their abacuses, carefully checking the ledgers. Boxes of silver notes were piled up in the corner, and each box contained an account book.
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