Chapter 1223: Come on, you little brat (Part 1) [Requesting monthly votes]
"Greetings, Ancestor."
Outside the tent, the young man was gloating over his successful attempt to win over a military officer without spending a single penny. But before his joy could even spread, the officer opposite him suddenly clasped his hands in a salute behind him, as if he had seen something terrifying.
The boy suddenly realized what was happening.
He instantly composed himself, bowed deeply to the herb gatherer, his posture respectful and humble. When he looked up again, his eyes held only filial devotion. As a fallen nobleman, he knew that everything he had before him was thanks to this adopted ancestor; how could he dare to be disrespectful?
The herb gatherer raised his hand to indicate that he didn't need to be so polite.
"What were you talking about just now? It sounded quite amusing?"
The young man, though shrewd, hadn't quite mastered the art of cunning. He couldn't discern the true emotions in the herb gatherer's words, and wondered if the man had genuinelyn't heard him or was feigning ignorance. The general beside him, however, reacted quickly, saying, "Young master, you were just asking me for guidance."
The herb gatherer glanced at the other person casually.
"Oh? What did he ask you for advice about?"
The implication is that there's something perplexing that can't be discussed with his ancestor, and why one has to bow down to a half-baked outsider.
A single glance was enough to send shivers down the general's spine, sending shivers down his spine as if hundreds or thousands of ants were crawling on his scalp. The general nervously swallowed several times, suppressing the urge to channel his martial energy to resist the herb gatherer's oppressive aura, and said, "It is...it is to ask how to settle the group of female captives bestowed upon us by our lord...I am young and kind-hearted, and cannot bear to see women and children being bullied..."
The young man didn't understand, but the military general did.
In the era when herb gatherers lived, killing was rampant and far more brutal than it is today. At its most ruthless, warlords fought each other, and revenge was commonplace. The more they fought, the more insane they became. Every battle involved rape, plunder, and even the massacre of entire cities, to the point that every household wore mourning clothes.
At that time, the number of able-bodied men was rapidly declining, and women not only had to work hard to bear children, but also had to shoulder the majority of the livelihood. Even so, the rate of childbirth and child rearing still could not keep up with the warlords' slaughter.
The population has been halved repeatedly, and all forces have also suffered setbacks.
Faced with the pressure of a sharp decline in population, the various warlord factions had to reach a tacit agreement: whether fighting or looting, they should try their best not to harm female prisoners. The herb gatherer, who had lived through that era, might have disapproved of using female prisoners as military prostitutes to reward soldiers. The general wasn't sure if his speculation was right or wrong, but fortunately, the herb gatherer's reaction reassured him.
He lifted his eyelids: "Oh? What do you want to do?"
The boy listened from the side, his face turning pale.
He dared not interrupt, inwardly praying that the general would not answer incorrectly.
Fortunately, the general, quick-witted and eloquent, said: "These female prisoners were bestowed by the Lord and are noblewomen of the You Kingdom. Their status is special and they cannot be released casually. I plan to send someone to inquire around and see if there are any eligible soldiers in the camp who have made meritorious contributions but are not yet married. I can help them get together and establish a marriage, which will also show the Lord's benevolence in pitying the weak and vulnerable."
"Pity the weak and vulnerable? Ha, that's somewhat humane."
The herb gatherer left with his hands behind his back.
The boy opened his mouth, as if to say something.
He inadvertently met his ancestor's dark pupils, and his pores on his body instantly opened up, his mind went blank, and he almost lost the ability to think. When he came to his senses, he was shocked to realize that his inner lining had been soaked with sweat, and the soft silk clung stickily to his skin.
The other person's slightly playful words reached my ears.
"...A person must not forget their roots. I remember that your ancestors also had a difficult time. As their descendant, you should not only not bring glory to your ancestors, but at least you should not rub salt into their wounds." The herb gatherer said this before leaving, his tone sounding impatient.
The boy didn't dare to move until long after the herb gatherer had left.
His cheeks burned, a mix of embarrassment welling up inside him. He didn't know if it was because the herb gatherer had interfered with his right to dispose of the things he'd given him, or because he'd been forced to take back the "gift" he'd promised to someone else, or because he'd learned that his ancestors had also suffered such a fate, and that it had been stated so bluntly in front of outsiders. The young man, confident in his noble lineage and impeccable reputation, believed that even in his current state of decline, his bloodline would surely propel him back to his former glory…
The appearance of Cui Zhi and the herb gatherer made him believe it without a doubt.
But to his surprise, his ancestor personally exposed his true colors.
The military officer could tell at a glance that the boy was uncomfortable, so he made up an excuse to leave. Staying there would only annoy people.
The herb gatherer was completely unaware of the boy's inner thoughts.
Even if you know, you still can't understand what the other person is thinking.
In his youth, let alone ordinary people, even noble families and royalty couldn't always afford to eat their fill, let alone wear fine silks and satins to cover their bodies. Survival was a struggle; who would care about such trivial matters as sex?
Ever since learning he had a bloodline, the herb gatherer has been uncontrollably recalling details from the past. As the saying goes, what you think about during the day, you dream about at night; lately, he's been dreaming about certain details. He vaguely remembers that the other person was a young widowed woman, and even her surname.
Born into a prominent family, life was not easy.
She was captured when the city fell, but luckily she was assigned to a decent man who sheltered her and a few of her family members for two years. However, the man was unlucky and was killed by a stray arrow during one of the sieges. The washerwoman and her few remaining relatives wandered from place to place until they found other tribesmen who were kind-hearted and willing to take her in, giving her a place to stay.
The washerwoman in his dream had hands covered in thick calluses. She lived under someone else's roof and had to do everything herself, including all the rough and tiring work. That day, when they were entangled by the stream, he was only filled with curiosity and the novelty of experiencing love for the first time, and paid little attention to anything else.
Compared to most ordinary women of that time, the laundry woman was fortunate; at least she lived to a ripe old age, surrounded by her children and grandchildren at her deathbed. But this cannot erase the hardships she endured in her early years. As her descendants, we should not pity our ancestor, nor should we feel ashamed of her.
Since the herb gatherer hadn't watched the boy being born or raised, he wasn't particularly close to him, and his guidance was only superficial. It would be best if the boy understood, but it didn't matter if he didn't…
The bloodline he craved was one that could inherit everything from him.
It's not like he's indiscriminate in choosing just anything.
Knowing he had displeased his powerful backer, the young man immediately sought advice from the head of the Cui family. Cui Zhi was a family friend and uncle, and the other man would certainly not abandon him. If he could cultivate a good relationship with Cui Zhi, he would become a great asset in the future, helping him rebuild his family's glory!
The news of what happened here soon reached the ears of Queen Qi. She puffed out a cloud of smoke, staring with interest at the white jade cigarette holder in her hand: "...I thought he was a ruthless killer, but I didn't expect him to be a person who cherishes flowers. He is rough but meticulous."
"My lord, what about the prisoners?"
The ruler of Qi said, "Do it the way it should be done."
Aside from the female captives targeted by the herb gatherer, all other captives, regardless of gender, were dealt with according to the old custom: those who deserved to be killed were killed, and those who deserved to be rewarded were rewarded. She noticed that Qi Cang was sitting in the corner, lost in thought, and deliberately called him out to ask for his opinion on the matter.
What are Qi Cang's opinions?
He's just passing the time by watching other people's antics.
When the excitement wasn't enough, he would deliberately stir up trouble: "This humble general doesn't care about these things, but I'm just thinking that if Lady Mei finds out about this, she'll probably do her best to petition for an end..."
In Qi Cang's view, Mei Meng was a woman who knew how to survive. She knew very well that it was impossible to survive in a dangerous environment by one person alone. Two fists can't fight four hands. Even a 20th-rank Marquis could be beaten to death by a group of people.
The right thing to do is to win over as many allies as possible.
Not only did she win over every woman capable of cultivation within the country, but she also made her stance clear to the outside world. After Mei Meng took power, the captured women in every war that Qi State won could no longer be freely given as rewards or gifts to the soldiers as before. In order to appease the soldiers' discontent, Mei Meng compensated them materially, giving the bulk of the spoils of war to the soldiers and providing them with ample pay, which had a fairly good effect.
Although this move offended some people, the compensation was adequate, and the resistance was not as great as expected. It also helped Mei Meng gain a group of allies. These allies started too late and have too short a time to mature; to see any benefits from them, patience is still needed. Mei Meng has this patience, but the King of Qi does not.
Mei Meng's efforts to win over allies will first and foremost harm her own interests.
The lion's share of the spoils should have belonged to her.
The loss of profit is visible to the naked eye, but the benefits are decades or even decades later. Who knows what the situation will be like then? Will she still be the owner of this land?
Upon hearing Qi Cang mention Mei Meng, the king's expression visibly darkened, and he said, "Jing He will understand my predicament."
Military generals are not so easy to command.
These are all wolves and tigers that won't give up until they see meat.
Motivate them to fight, to be willing to risk their lives to conquer cities and territories. Gold, silver, jewels, beautiful women, and power are the most direct and effective incentives! War requires money, and governance requires money. Rather than spending our own money, we should use the enemy's money to do our own thing.
She wasn't unaware of Mei Meng's intentions.
I just think it's too stupid, a thankless task.
She is the ruler, a ruler with the power of life and death. Those who benefit her power are her allies! Power is her only ally! The women of her enemies are merely resources for achieving her goals! Why pity them? Why risk offending her own people to treat them kindly? Throughout history, which ruler hasn't risen to power over mountains of corpses and seas of blood? They are just stepping stones; what difference does gender make?
She only cares about immediate gains and losses.
Qi Cang shrugged inwardly and said aloud, "Perhaps."
Not long after, Cui Zhi came to see him.
Qi Cang, being perceptive, tactfully excused himself, leaving the space clear. Stepping outside the tent, he came face to face with Cui Zhi, narrowing his eyes slightly to try and discern the man's thoughts. His first words were sarcastic: "Whom does Lord Cui intend to recommend to the lord this time?"
Cui Zhi smiled but remained silent.
Qi Cang deliberately used a high-pitched voice: "Lord Cui is now a favorite of the emperor, but there is something I must tell you: serving a ruler is like serving a tiger, let alone a tigress."
Cui Zhi cut to the chase: "General, you may speak frankly."
"Mei Jinghe was framed by you?"
Cui Zhi looked directly at Qi Cang's scrutiny with a calm expression: "General, you are wronging me. Isn't she just digging her own grave?"
How come the guilty party is the one who filed the first complaint?
Why not mention that his wife, Cui Hui, almost died at the hands of Mei Meng?
Qi Cang snorted and rolled his eyes as he walked away.
Cui Zhi did not regard Qi Cang as a threat.
Qi Cang is a treacherous wretch, a heartless traitor ready to betray at any moment. If he has any genuine feelings for anyone, it's only towards Zheng Qiao from back then. After all, Zheng Qiao was truly generous to Qi Cang, and the two were kindred spirits, making it difficult for them not to get along. Does the current ruler really think he can subdue Qi Cang in the same way Zheng Qiao did? The chances are slim.
Who knows when Qi Cang might betray him?
The Queen paid no attention to the conversation between Qi Cang and Cui Zhi outside the tent; she was only concerned with how Cui Zhi's work was progressing. Cui Zhi was somewhat surprised by the Queen's urgency: "...As far as I know, Gongyang Yongye severely injured a renowned general of Kang with overwhelming superiority, returning in triumph. There is no warrior in Kang more formidable than Gongxi Chou..."
As for Shen Youli, she is slightly better than Gong Xichou.
This news is from several years ago.
With the ruler of Shen Kingdom focused on managing state affairs and handling national politics, he didn't have much time for cultivation, and was likely left behind by Gongxi Chou.
Taking down Gongxi Chou would be a blow to the morale of the Kang state.
The king was still not satisfied and actually urged Cui to stop.
The King of Qi could only recount a small detail from not long ago, and sighed: "...As the saying goes, one can see the big picture from small details. I feel that Gongyang Yongye is not the same kind of person. Even if we use his kindness to gain his submission and assistance for a while, he is still an external force and cannot be relied on for long."
The herb gatherer wouldn't help her for long.
However, if Kang Guo is not killed, he will always be a hidden danger.
She would naturally be anxious.
Before that, she had one more thing to do.
"...The heads of all the royal family members of You Kingdom that could be found have been obtained. You Kingdom has been completely destroyed. Have a proclamation written to announce this to the world and see how Shen Youli responds. Will she shamelessly continue to make trouble, or will she wisely retreat?"
Gongxi Chou suffered a great loss and his fate is unknown.
Since the woman surnamed Shen still has some sense, she should reconsider.
Just because a battle is inevitable sooner or later doesn't mean it has to start now.
Not long after it was sent, Shen Tang responded swiftly, and the response was quite impolite. Ignoring the infuriating insults and lengthy ramblings, the King of Qi succinctly summarized the core message: The King of You had anticipated Qi's prediction and guessed their ruthless nature, thus taking precautions by sending the You Kingdom's princess to Kang territory ahead of time!
This princess is the last bloodline of the You Kingdom's royal family!
If she doesn't die, who can say that the Kingdom of You has been destroyed? If she doesn't shed her last drop of blood, who can say that the Kingdom of You has no hope of restoration?
The King of Qi almost broke his pipe.
The sharp teeth scraped together, squeezing out a few curses in dialect.
"...Does that woman surnamed Chen have any shame?"
Who can prove that this princess of You Kingdom is genuine? Could it be someone hired by the man surnamed Shen to impersonate her? The Qi Kingdom questioned the princess's identity, producing the You Kingdom's royal family genealogy. They slaughtered the You Kingdom's royal family according to the genealogy; where did any escape?
The royal woman from You Kingdom was so angry that she vomited blood.
A mouthful of blood splattered all over the ground, and his face turned deathly pale.
When the devastating news of the destruction of the You Kingdom and the massacre of its royal family arrived, she was utterly devastated. She knew the Qi Kingdom was ruthless, but she never imagined they would be this ruthless! After the grief came an overwhelming hatred! The world was stained with blood, and her mind was filled with nothing but the thought of revenge.
Revenge is easier said than done.
He had no relatives or friends, and was all alone.
How can she take revenge on the powerful nation in the southwest?
unless--
她孤注一掷，将所有希望寄托于沈棠。
仿佛溺死之人抓住唯一的稻草，她抓着沈棠衣摆，仰首哀求：“草民无所求，只求她——千！刀！万！剐！我只要她不得好死！”
|ω`)
哎，叹气，说起来我买车，不是其他人请客恭喜我么？为什么是我请客？买小车车掏空钱包了（口袋翻出，一个钢镚儿都没了JPG）现在好了，两桌酒席许诺出去了，恰逢家里堂兄表弟参军回来探亲一趟，干脆一起庆祝（我得敞开肚子吃个够本，能吃多少吃多少！）
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