Chapter 1189: Reunion with Classmates (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
Qian Yong's enthusiasm made Li Wan feel particularly uncomfortable.
She humbly declined, how could she dare to claim all the credit?
If it weren't for Qi Zhongshu giving her the opportunity, the emperor appointing her, the support of her colleagues, and the backing of Kangguo's national strength, she wouldn't have had the courage to act so arrogantly towards other countries. Although she seemed to be enjoying herself at the time, she was actually quite uneasy inside.
She was afraid that things wouldn't go as she expected.
Qian Yong frowned and said, "Look at you, so young, why do you talk like an old hand? All this thanking and thanking, you don't stand up straight, you're not bold enough, even if I teach you step by step you won't succeed. What's yours is yours."
Despite his own keen understanding of the ways of officialdom, Old Qian admired more those young people with the youthful vigor and passion to "change the world." A little recklessness was one thing, but in war, one must either be utterly ruthless or fiercely brave to the death; pretense and hypocrisy were the least appealing. Li Wan was embarrassed when Qian Yong exposed his scheme.
Zhao Wei was clearly not afraid of Qian Yong's approach.
She bluntly joked, "I'm afraid that 'it's better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early,' as there are quite a few people eyeing Zheng Guo's credit."
Zhenguo was merely a small country used as a test.
Taking it down won't take much effort.
Generals of average or above-average ability can all compete for the position of commander-in-chief.
When the pressure of war is not high, the emperor prefers to promote young generals. Qian Shuhe is a seasoned veteran, and the emperor may not give him a chance. Even if he does, he probably won't let him take the lion's share. He will definitely appoint a few young men and then arrange for veteran generals to keep things in order.
At this moment, Qian Yong grinned and revealed a wicked smile.
He held up a finger and swayed it from side to side, feigning profundity: "No, no, this time it's definitely Old Qian who will dominate."
Zhao Wei didn't know where his courage came from.
If the veterans can compete for this prize, who can Qian Yong beat?
Qian Yong's eyes were sharp; he saw right through Zhao Wei's thoughts: "Dawei, don't you believe me? Do you dare make a bet with me? This time, even your father will be banned from fighting..."
Zhao Wei hadn't heard a word about it.
All attention was focused on the last half of the sentence: "What happened to Father? Why is there a ban on war? Could it be that he has committed some grave error?"
Qian Yong chuckled and said, "Your father and the others are just being foolish. I just received a message from my connections that the Emperor invited a group of people to a special court meeting yesterday, and your father was there too."
This morning assembly was held offline.
The invitation list only included a portion of the participants.
All other court officials were given a day off.
Those who attended the court assembly returned and each secluded themselves to reflect on their actions. When they first arrived, they hadn't actually known the emperor's intentions. Zhao Feng looked around but didn't see Qin Gongsu, nor were Chu Yao and Ning Yan from the three provinces; only Qi Shan was present.
Before the court assembly began, Zhao Feng leaned closer to Qi Shan to inquire about what had happened that day: "Did everyone else take sick leave?"
Even a raging plague couldn't possibly have made so many people sick, could it?
Qi Shan said: [I probably overslept.]
It wasn't that I overslept; the people hadn't arrived by the start of the morning assembly.
The Emperor had informed them in advance that today's court sessions would be busy and might take a long time, so he instructed the palace servants to prepare tables and chairs, as well as tea and snacks. The officials dared not eat them. It wasn't that they disliked them, but rather that the court sessions were solemn occasions, and officials arrived early for court, fearing that they might urinate or get an upset stomach during the sessions, thus causing them to lose their decorum in front of the Emperor. They basically came to court on an empty stomach.
Breakfast should be eaten after the morning assembly ends.
Those with iron stomachs are an exception.
They remained reserved and did not touch their chopsticks, but the palace servants proactively poured them tea, bowing and saying, "Please have some tea."
Official: [...]
The palace servants' actions left them no choice but to drink.
If it's added specifically, it's usually at the behest of the ruler.
The official had no choice but to drink the tea in one gulp, then ate two pieces of pastry with restraint before continuing to wait for the court assembly. A short while later, the palace attendant returned and refilled all the teacups. One cup, one refill; another cup, another refill… and so on.
Even the slowest-witted person would notice the problem.
Those with good relationships exchange glances, while those with less close relationships chat privately to exchange information—wait, what exactly happened today? This behavior from the Lord is very strange!
The clever ones have already noticed something amiss, while the others are still searching for clues.
During this time, the palace servants continued to add tea.
The Lord, who should have appeared on time, was nowhere to be seen.
Before half an hour had passed, someone couldn't hold back their bladder any longer, their face turning blue from holding it in. They had no choice but to ask a palace attendant when the Emperor would arrive. The attendant simply said they didn't know, but noticing the person's uncomfortable posture, smiled and suggested they could relieve themselves in the meantime.
The official awkwardly smiled and declined.
The palace attendant smiled and refilled the teacup, uttering words that would leave a lasting psychological scar on the official: "Please have some tea."
Official: [...]
His face was practically splitting open.
A group of people were holding in their urine, feeling restless and uncomfortable.
After waiting and waiting, the emperor still hadn't appeared, so he had no choice but to succumb to his physical instincts. He asked a palace servant for directions, slowly rose, and as he straightened his back, a jolt of electricity seemed to run through his bloated abdomen, causing a tingling sensation. Even his normally upright gait became strange.
The palace maid led the people to take care of their physiological needs.
People came and went one after another, and people came and went one after another.
People in the past had furrowed brows.
The person who returned had a relaxed expression on their face.
Just as I sat down, another palace servant came to refill my tea.
Official: "..."
This tea is something you can't refuse, but you can't drink it either.
Even the most obtuse person should know that the Lord is deliberately messing with them! The question is, what did they do wrong? If it was a big mistake, it couldn't have been something as simple as pouring tea; if it was a small mistake, how could so many people present have made the exact same small mistake?
Following this line of thought, the more I thought about it, the more guilty I felt.
Zhao Feng, who had been sipping his tea slowly to prolong the time, drank it all in one gulp, covered his face with one hand, and wished he could bury his head in the table.
The others gradually realized what was happening as well.
The tea ceremony lasted the entire morning, with even Zhao Feng making three trips. It wasn't until the sun was directly overhead that their lord finally arrived, his smile unchanged: "I've kept you all waiting. Yesterday, I entered a profound state of cultivation and unknowingly walked several Great Zhou stages before stopping. I was only informed by the palace servants that it was this time to finish. You won't be angry with me for being late, will you?"
In an instant, Zhao Feng's scalp tingled.
The other officials silently cast glances at Qi Shan ahead.
Who doesn't know, who isn't aware of the Emperor's trust and favoritism towards Qi Zhongshu? The fact that even Qi Zhongshu has been dragged into this mess shows that the Emperor is truly enraged. Even more terrifying is that she actually used an unprecedentedly sweet and cloying voice, and an extremely rare self-reference—"I am alone." It should be noted that at the annual banquet in the first year of Yuanhuang's reign, the Imperial Censorate corrected the Emperor's self-reference, and she publicly stated that she disliked it. She has the love and respect of the common people and the support of her ministers; how could she be a "lonely and isolated person"?
She rarely uses this self-designation.
There are basically only two occasions: one is when she receives foreign envoys, and the other is when she's angry but won't say it outright. Those who anger her should reflect on their actions and figure out where they went wrong. Correct your mistakes before she points them out in public.
Upon receiving the signal, the officials all lowered their heads in embarrassment.
Shen Tang seemed oblivious to this scene, continuing the court proceedings with an atmosphere almost identical to a regular court session. With few matters to attend to, the entire session lasted less than half its usual duration. However, Shen Tang did not adjourn the court, instead discussing how to take over Zhen Kingdom as quickly as possible.
[Don't be shy, let's talk. You are all seasoned veterans, skilled in battle. Taking over the mere Zhen Kingdom will be as easy as taking candy from a baby. Even if we haven't thought of a strategy beforehand, we can brainstorm and share our ideas to come up with a decent plan.]
The hall was quiet, and no one spoke.
It's alright if they don't speak; Shen Tang will call on people. Whoever's name is called will stand up and say a few words: [Don't be nervous, I'm not some vicious person. Will I eat you if you answer incorrectly?]
The person whose name was called carefully stood up.
He was clearly a burly warrior, a demon who could twist heads and crush eyes on the battlefield without batting an eye, but now he was as timid and cowardly as a primary school student being called on by his teacher. His usually booming voice, loud enough to shake earwax out, was now as faint as a mosquito's buzz.
If Shen Tang hadn't had amazing hearing, he really wouldn't have been able to hear it clearly.
Shen Tang: [Did the cat steal your voice?]
Indicate that the other person can sit down, and then select the next person.
Point by point, answer one by one.
Shen Tang asked in surprise: "The preparations aren't very thorough, are they?"
Everyone: [...]
It wasn't that they were unprepared; they were clearly afraid to answer. The first few managed to offer some points, but the latter few resorted to empty rhetoric. The Emperor was clearly giving them a warning for instigating Li Wan. If they gave a satisfactory answer, wouldn't that be an admission of premeditation? It was better to submit a blank answer, readily admit their mistake, learn their lesson, and save face.
Looking back calmly at my actions, I was indeed terrified.
Looking around again, his lips twitched.
If they were the Lord, they would only be more furious.
If it were just a few individuals instigating Li Wan, that would be one thing; given the Emperor's long-standing desire to deal with Jeongguk, he would at most let the matter slide, subtly hint at it later, and make sure it didn't happen again. That's what they thought too. Little did they know, they weren't the only ones thinking this way; their colleagues thought the same thing!
Goodness, so many people have gotten involved to some extent?
They knew that the officials of Kang were full of martial spirit, and whether civil or military, they all preferred to fight if they disagreed with someone, even if the enemy was innocent, they would still use entrapment to carry out their plan. But they didn't expect that everyone's thought process was so consistent! This matter was undoubtedly something that their lord could not tolerate.
If this is tolerated, even more people will go back to doing it.
The officials in the royal court all have their own ideas and pace, leaving the emperor in a difficult position. Over time, this will inevitably lead to conflict between the two sides.
The same thing would have resulted in a bloodbath elsewhere. The Lord only offered them tea for the morning, not poisoned tea. He was already being very lenient.
Shen Tang called out Zhao Feng's name.
Zhao Feng got up with a bitter face, thinking to himself, "Gong Su, Gong Su, where are you? Old Zhao needs you!"
Her longing for Young Master Qin reached its peak.
Shen Tang still favored Zhao Feng and didn't want to make things difficult for him, so she simply asked: "I heard that Dayi recently promoted some new people?"
Zhao Fengdao: [Yes, he was originally a cook.]
Shen Tang then asked, "How is your cultivation talent?"
Zhao Feng said with some regret: "His talent is slightly below average, not outstanding, but he has his own understanding of troop deployment. If properly trained, he could become a great commander."
If one is a vanguard general, strength is essential. But for a commander, the ability to command, deploy, and arrange troops is even more important.
With a few exceptions, in a battle between two armies, the commander-in-chief is rarely allowed to engage in one-on-one combat, because it's not uncommon for a warrior to be killed by a sneak attack. While a common general can be replaced if he dies, if the commander-in-chief is killed by a sneak attack, the situation becomes dire.
Of course, it would be even better if the individual's abilities were also strong.
The stronger you are, the better you can protect yourself on the battlefield!
Shen Tang's eyes lit up with a hint of surprise: "Da Yi rarely praises people like this. In that case, let him try in the Zhen Kingdom battle."
Zhao Feng and the others were nearly paralyzed with fear: [Commander?]
Shen Tang said: "That's naturally impossible."
A commander needs not only ability, but also prestige to command the respect of the soldiers. The man Zhao Feng promoted was originally just a lowly cook with no authority or prestige. If he were made commander, how could our morale be maintained? He was simply sent to study with the army.
Practice makes perfect; gain experience and broaden your horizons.
Zhao Fengchang breathed a sigh of relief; he had been terrified.
The others seemed to sense something was amiss, and those who had been called out then proactively recommended some people they thought were promising and had decent abilities and potential. Shen Tang was quite satisfied with this and finally stopped referring to himself as "I" in a sarcastic way.
The alarm was lifted, and the atmosphere returned to normal.
The anxiety that had been hanging over everyone finally subsided.
After the court assembly concluded, everyone returned home and secluded themselves, saying they had gained some insights and wished to take a few days off to retreat into seclusion.
Well-informed people found out more details.
These people are all forbidden from fighting, and cannot participate in this battle for Zhenguo.
The punishment wasn't too severe; the salary deduction and suspension hadn't even been announced yet, it was just a ban from fighting. They were indeed banned, but seven or eight out of ten of the people they recommended were adopted by the lord, gaining experience and merits in the army, so it wasn't a huge loss in the end.
Hehe, this is a good deal for Qian Yong.
"I am undoubtedly the commander this time."
With battle achievements practically handed to him, how could Qian Yong not be happy?
If the battle is won, the commander-in-chief will take the lion's share of the military credit.
Thank you for your generous gifts, colleagues! Zhao Wei poured cold water on his enthusiasm: "Even a lion needs to go all out to catch a rabbit. General Qian, you shouldn't underestimate Zhenguo. If a sure victory turns out unexpectedly, we'll be in deep trouble."
Qian Yong waved his hand dismissively, but his words were enough to make the prospective imperial son-in-law outside furious: "Arrogance leads to defeat. The old lady knew this even before she had advanced weapons, but you have to consider the situation. As for that piece of trash Zhenguo, I'm not exaggerating, even a dog could beat them!"
The prospective imperial son-in-law, in a fit of rage, broke through the [silence ban].
The voice was rough as it said, "How dare you!"
Qian Yong said sarcastically, "Did you hear that? The dog is barking."
Zhao Wei finally realized what was going on and asked cautiously, "...General Qian, do you...have a grudge against Zhen Guo?"
Qian Yong's face was stern.
He glared at him and said, "How could I not be the kind of person who kicks someone when they're down?"
Zhao Wei: "..."
Did she mishear?
Is there an extra "no"?
ヽ(ー_ー)ノ
Poor little pineapple is back, continuing to practice driving every night. The passenger in the front seat is telling people to sit down. It would be better if he didn't keep telling them to step on the gas.
If the speed limit is 80, why insist on driving at 70? Why yell 88?
P.S.: I made plans with a friend at the beginning of the month to go to Xi'an at the end of the month. I wonder if it will be hot.
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