Chapter 1236: Waiting for a Rabbit to Fall into the Trap—Who is the Rabbit? (Part 1) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
It's not difficult to deduce the enemy's true movements from intelligence; the challenge lies in using that intelligence to strike at the heart of the enemy!
After much discussion, nothing was truly decided.
Shen Tang suggested a break to allow everyone to relax, and that other matters could be discussed in the afternoon. She went outside the tent to breathe in some fresh air, which cleared her slightly sleepy mind considerably. A cup of tea appeared before her; she took it and drank it all in one gulp.
A strong, refreshing sensation shot straight from the lungs to the top of the head.
It refreshes the mind and leaves you feeling invigorated.
"What kind of tea is this?"
"This early spring, we unexpectedly discovered that several ancient tea trees in our clan had sprouted, so we picked a few and processed them into tea cakes." Ji Moqiu couldn't identify what kind of tea tree it was; the tea trees recorded in ancient books had long since mutated completely over the millennia. As long as it was drinkable and tasted good, that was enough. "We made slight adjustments to the flavor..."
Upon hearing this, Shen Tang drank again in a big gulp: "It's really good, as long as it wasn't taken from those ancestors in the clan."
He finished the whole pot in just a few sips.
When she wanted a refill, Gong Xichou jumped out and intercepted her tea.
He complained that Ji Moqiu was biased, giving all the good things to Mama and not caring about his own brothers. He had never experienced such obvious favoritism before. Ji Moqiu looked at Gong Xichou in surprise and said, "I thought Anian had self-awareness."
Gong Xichou spat out a mouthful of tea.
She hurriedly raised her hand to stop Shen Tang from refilling the cup, and her words made everyone present nervous: "There's something wrong with the tea!"
Was someone poisoning him?
This thought popped into Shen Tang's mind.
A Gu worm flicked from Ji Moqiu's sleeve and flew into Gong Xichou's bowl. Even the slightest residue at the bottom of the bowl was enough to determine whether it was poisonous or not. Shen Tang calmly watched this scene, as if the poisoning had nothing to do with her. Since the Gu worm didn't reveal any toxins, Ji Moqiu had to test it herself, carefully identifying its components, her brows relaxing.
"There's nothing wrong with this tea."
Gong Xichou, refusing to believe in superstition, also took a sip.
Finally, turning his back, he blurted out, "How come there's no problem?"
Gong Xichou couldn't doubt Mama and his elder brother's professional judgment, so the problem must lie with him? Shen Tang also noticed that his tongue was an abnormal color, with the tip tinged with indigo. Ji Moqiu breathed a sigh of relief: "No problem, you've been poisoned."
Gong Xichou: "..."
This news doesn't seem like good news either.
Another question arises: when did I get poisoned?
He tilted his head to allow a green toad to rest on his neck as an antidote, while recalling where he had been poisoned. Ji Moqiu deduced the time of poisoning from the severity of the poisoning. Gong Xichou gritted his teeth and said, "It was that old bastard with the knife!"
Ji Moqiu put the toad, which had finished its work, into its sleeve.
"Let General Yun come and take a look as well."
As expected, Yun Ce was also poisoned.
The poisoning itself isn't the key issue; the crucial point is that neither Gong Xichou nor Yun Ce, despite their considerable strength, realized they were poisoned. It was only after Gong Xichou accidentally drank tea with antidote properties that they discovered it. This is alarming. The person who poisoned them is quite skilled!
“It’s normal that it wasn’t detected. This kind of poison itself doesn’t harm the body.” Ji Moqiu analyzed the poison with the Gu worm and quickly came to an answer. “Not only does it not cause harm, it also helps with the circulation of martial energy. During combat, the meridians are relaxed, and the speed of martial energy flow is more than a hundred times that of normal. You can’t detect even the slightest benefit.”
"Won't harm your health?"
Ji Moqiu: "But it's different for others."
This is a poison similar to that of Gu worms. When it merges with blood and martial energy, it produces a hallucinogenic toxin. These toxins are gradually expelled from the body through the host's activities, silently and imperceptibly. Even if detected, it would be mistaken for miasma caused by unfamiliar surroundings or malaria caused by snakes, insects, or rodents. By then, the poison in Gong Xichou and Yun Ce's bodies had also been completely eliminated.
The dead have no way to prove it!
Upon hearing this, Shen Tang became serious: "Is it as if Gong Xichou and Yuan Mou unknowingly became mobile sources of infection?"
Ji Moqiu agreed with her judgment.
"Martial artists and scholars are unaffected; this applies to ordinary people. The foul air originates in late spring and subsides in late autumn. Right now is the season when miasma is frequent, and our soldiers are from the Northwest. If they are poisoned, we will only assume it is a common case of acclimatization issues."
It's perfectly normal to experience acclimatization issues when going to war.
There's absolutely no reason to suspect poisoning.
“Even if we hadn’t discovered it by accident, once the soldiers became widely unwell, the military doctors could still prescribe the right medicine and resolve the crisis,” Ji Moqiu reassured her. These medical professionals from Kangguo were no pushovers; few problems could stump them. However, there was one thing to be wary of: “If the poisoner was indeed Gongyang Yongye, his status was far more than just a nineteenth-rank Marquis within the Passes; he was most likely also a medical professional, and a skilled poisoner at that!”
Shen Tang: "..."
According to her intelligence, this point was not revealed at all.
On second thought, it's not impossible.
Gongyang Yongye himself learned medicine on his own when he reached a point where he could no longer make any progress in martial arts. Someone who has cultivated expertise in a particular field will find it much more efficient to switch to another than a beginner.
Who can guarantee that this guy didn't pass the Medical Temple's assessment?
Gongyang Yongye could not possibly reveal his true intentions.
Shen Tang exhaled a breath of stale air.
He said, "Write this down."
Having a skilled healer who knows poison on the other side makes a world of difference compared to not having one. Poison is something that's impossible to defend against.
Once precautions are taken, the effectiveness is greatly reduced.
Regardless of whether it was Gongyang Yongye's doing or not, it's always good to be cautious: "Send someone to check on the ordinary soldiers who have been in contact with you two, and have the military doctor keep an eye on them. If any of them have health problems, treat them immediately."
She also wanted to see the destructive power of the other party's poison.
The matter was nipped in the bud before it could cause any ripples.
But it also served as a reminder to Shen Tang.
"It is impolite not to reciprocate..."
Shen Tang also has physicians who are skilled in using poisons, and even if he doesn't, Ji Moqiu can fill in, as he is an expert in using Gu poisons.
She glanced at her, and Ji Moqiu knew what she was planning.
What does Your Highness desire?
Shen Tang gestured as if slitting his throat: "A single drop of blood can seal a person's life!"
Ji Moqiu was in a dilemma. She asked, "Is there no such poison?"
That can't be right, can it?
Ji Moqiu said, "Yes, we do have them. We can prepare both poison and Gu, but is Your Highness sure you really want to use them?"
"Are there any taboos associated with using this kind of thing?"
Warfare is essentially a large-scale, unrestrained brawl; there are no taboos. At most, excessive cruelty might draw criticism and leave an indelible mark on posterity. Only those with a sense of shame consider this. If one is shameless or thick-skinned enough to not fear eternal infamy, then there are no taboos. Shen Tang didn't think secretly poisoning the enemy was any better than smearing gold ink on weapons!
Golden sauce with rust is like an infection plus tetanus combo.
Physical attacks and psychological abuse are rampant.
Poisoning alone is a physical attack.
Ji Moqiu said, "Expensive!"
Shen Tang was stunned for a moment: "...Expensive???"
Ji Moqiu told her sincerely, "The ingredients for making them are too expensive, some even more expensive than gold. To achieve the effect of killing on sight, the dosage must be sufficient! Moreover, there is no guarantee that every drop of poison will be swallowed by the enemy, so it's better to use gold juice."
Shen Tang: "..."
Ji Moqiu's answer instantly silenced her anger.
Even warfare is about cost-effectiveness.
Warlords all knew that well-equipped elite troops were powerful, but why were their numbers still so small? Did they not want them?
It's because we can't afford to raise them!
One fully armed elite soldier can support dozens of ordinary soldiers.
Similarly, a deadly poison that draws blood is less cost-effective than a cheap and satisfying "golden juice." The more potent and lethal the poison, the more expensive and time-consuming it is to produce. Shen Tang was forced to abandon this idea, but Ji Moqiu's next words gave her a glimmer of hope: "If Your Highness merely wishes to repay kindness with kindness, I also have cheap and plentiful options here..."
"Really?"
"some."
However, it requires the help of the natural environment.
The southwestern continent is hot and humid, and miasma is prevalent during certain seasons. Ji Moqiu can source materials locally to blend incense. Combined with the environment, this dulls the senses and induces hallucinations. Of course, this only works on ordinary people; those with vigorous blood and strong will are unlikely to be affected. The final effect was quite different from what His Highness had imagined.
Shen Tang made the decision: "That's enough."
If you're hoping poison will work, you might as well make more "golden juice".
It would be impossible to gather so many materials in a short time by collecting them alone, so Shen Tang transferred Lin Feng to work with Ji Moqiu.
Mentioning Lin Feng reminded Shen Tang that Lin Feng hadn't come to the meeting.
No one was sent to ask for leave.
"...But is Lingde injured?"
Shen Tang sent people to look for Lin Feng, but they couldn't find him.
Gong Xichou, being impatient, took the initiative to go and search: "I'll go!"
Locking onto Lin Feng's aura wasn't difficult; Gong Xichou easily located him. Lin Feng wasn't in her own tent, but with Tan Ting. When Gong Xichou arrived, he noticed that the two looked unwell, as if they had had an argument: "What caused the conflict?"
Lin Feng is a benefactor, but Gong Xi Chou is siding with his own people and ignoring the truth.
If these two were to fight, he would definitely stand up for his benefactor.
Lin Feng could tell from his expression that he had misunderstood, so he explained, "It's not a contradiction. I admire Tan Jun's strength and would like to ask for his guidance."
Gong Xiqiu asked curiously, "What's there to learn from him? In terms of the cultivation of the power of words, Chu Xiangyuan far surpasses Tan Mengyuan!"
There weren't many scholars who could convince him, but Chu Yao was one of them.
"If Prime Minister Chu is no good, there's still Prime Minister Shan... that is, Prime Minister Qi." Gong Xichou and Qi Shan also had some childhood friendship, and Gong Xichou could step in to plead for Lin Feng, so there was no need for Tan Mengyuan.
Lin Feng said, "It's different."
Gong Xichou and General Yun joined forces yesterday to delay Gongyang Yongye. The battlefield was in the enemy camp, so how could they know what happened at the granary? What she wanted to ask was not the usual scholar's words of wisdom, but the special words of wisdom that Tan Ting used to deal with Luo Yuan yesterday.
Gong Xichou asked, puzzled, "What's wrong with that?"
Lin Feng said, "That's very important."
If Tan Ting had been on the opposite side yesterday, facing Gong Shuwu, Gong Shuwu would likely have been seriously injured. In Lin Feng's understanding, scholars of the literary arts either support a single general or the entire army, boosting morale, invigorating health, accelerating marches… or adapting their tactics to the enemy's moves. Tan Ting, however, directly attacked the opposing general last night, and the results were astonishing.
Gong Xichou asked, puzzled, "What's wrong with that? Every time your teacher intervenes, isn't it aimed at the enemy troops?"
Lin Feng followed suit, using a scholar as a military general.
"It's different. When my teacher and I fight, we can only injure ordinary soldiers and affect low-level martial artists with weak martial spirit. Yesterday's opponent, according to the lord, was a 19th-rank Marquis within the Pass. Martial artists of that level are basically unaffected by the negative influence of scholars' words..." Lin Feng couldn't help but feel envious. She had also reached a bottleneck and desperately wanted to make real progress!
The Way of the Scholar?
The path to a successful ceremony seems endless.
The teacher herself was stuck in a rut and couldn't offer much help, but Tan Ting gave her hope of finding another way.
She has always been incredibly proactive and dares to think and act.
When he found an opportunity, he personally visited Tan Ting to ask for clarification.
Unfortunately, the answer was no.
After hearing the whole story, Gong Xichou thought it was a big deal and immediately assured Lin Feng, "What's so difficult about that? If he doesn't know what's good for him, I'll find a way to make him understand."
There is nothing that force cannot solve.
Lin Feng was almost frightened by him and quickly stopped Gong Xichou.
"No need, no need, this matter cannot be forced." Even if Tan Ting weren't on the same side, Lin Feng wouldn't do something like forcibly taking something from someone else, let alone being a colleague of Tan Ting who is now loyal to their lord. "It's not that he's unwilling to teach, but it involves family tradition..."
"What family tradition is there?"
Gong Xiqiu scoffed at this argument.
These Words of Power were all brought out by Thief Star and the Holy Land of Mountains and Seas. They do not belong to anyone alone, and no one has the right to possess them alone!
He wasn't familiar with Tan Ting, so he wouldn't indulge her.
Lin Feng had known Gong Xi Chou for many years and understood his temperament to some extent. If he wasn't dissuaded, Gong Xi Chou might actually ask Tan Ting for it: "He said that for the power of words to have the same effect, it would be necessary to use his scholar's way to assist. Even if he abandoned his social status and taught me how to use it, I still wouldn't be able to do it like him."
The hard requirements cannot be met by Lin Feng.
Gong Xi Chou finally stopped, but he still wouldn't let it go: "What kind of broken Word Spirit is this? Why can he learn it but you can't? In terms of talent and comprehension, there are definitely no more than two people in the world who can compete with you, let alone him."
If Lin Feng learns this, he'll only get stronger, not weaker!
However, on the other hand, Gongxi Chou couldn't imagine how Tan Ting could restrain a nineteenth-rank Marquis within the Pass. As frail as Wenxin Wenshi, he could kill several of them with a single slap. Tan Ting's tall, slender frame didn't seem particularly resilient.
Lin Feng didn't know much about it either.
But she knew that General Gongshu was very wary of Tanting.
After returning from the front lines, General Gongshu's eyes would blaze with an unnatural intensity whenever he saw Tan Ting, his wariness visibly palpable. In all these years, she had never seen a scholar receive such treatment, not even her fierce teacher.
Gong Xichou's curiosity was piqued.
Curiosity can kill a cat and make a snake itch with envy.
Since Lin Feng didn't give a definite answer, Gong Xichou focused his efforts on Gong Shuwu. Gong Shuwu seemed to have thought of something, his eyes twitching with flames: "Tan Mengyuan's words caused yesterday's opponent to generate martial energy of a counteracting attribute in his dantian."
Generally speaking, there are only one or two martial arts attributes.
Most of the time, attributes are pretty useless, at most providing a boost in specific environments. For example, Yun Ce and Yun Da, master and apprentice, gain a buff in icy and snowy conditions, dealing more damage and consuming less energy. Gong Shu Wu also performs exceptionally well in places with many dead people and heavy resentment.
Just as there is mutual generation, there is also mutual restraint.
ヽ(.ゝω.)
P.S.: The extra chapter I owed yesterday has been a few years in the making; I'll try my best to finish it with this book.
(End of this chapter)
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