Chapter 1275: One Battle Secures the Southwest (Part 12) [Happy National Day]
In an instant, everyone's eyes fell on Mei Meng.
Without changing her expression, she bent down and picked up the note.
The King of Qi, standing nearby, could clearly see the contents at a glance. A strange glint flashed in his eyes, and he hesitated, as if he wanted to speak but couldn't. Miao Ne, clad in a horse-riding armor and accompanying the king daily, also had an excellent view. As the king's confidante, she wouldn't miss the slightest change in his expression. What the king couldn't say, she could: "This handwriting seems somewhat familiar?"
Gongyang Yongye did not recognize Mei Meng's handwriting, but Miao Ne did.
Thanks to Miao Ne's tireless efforts, the King of Qi truly trusted her. He not only allowed Miao Ne to copy his calligraphy and write congratulatory messages for his subjects during festivals, but also personally taught her how to handle less important memorials, relieving his burdens. No matter how well Miao Ne performed, she would always respectfully consult him, which pleased the King but also left him with a slight sense of regret.
What's there to regret?
It's naturally a pity that such a promising talent isn't his own daughter.
If it were her own daughter, the choice of Mrs. Wang would be a foregone conclusion, and she wouldn't need to give birth repeatedly over several years in order to have a talented and qualified heir. Even though childbirth is not a difficult thing for her now, and she doesn't need to raise or worry about the child herself, having a fetus in her womb still requires some discretion and will inevitably cause some inconvenience to her private life.
At times like these, she regrets not being born a man. Men don't have to carry the child themselves; it's efficient, low-cost, and they don't feel heartbroken if one or two infants die. Her children are different; one a year, and if one dies, it means all the suffering of that year's pregnancy has been for nothing.
Because the heir was still too young, the King of Qi raised the young You Bao as a junior—this child was sweet-talking and capable, and came from the You clan, the heir's father's family. If he was properly trained, he could assist the heir for decades to come—You Bao had naturally seen Mei Meng's memorials and recognized the other party's handwriting: "It looks familiar?"
Miao Ne moved her lips, somewhat wary.
"...He looks somewhat familiar, a bit like Prime Minister Mei..."
"It's not just 'like,' it's clearly 'it is.' Kang Guo's attempt to sow discord is too obvious; who can he possibly fool?"
She wouldn't doubt Mei Meng's loyalty based on a single note. Disagreeing with Mei Meng's ideals was one thing, but publicly questioning and undermining Mei Meng's authority was quite another. This was the front line; no matter how big the conflict, it had to wait until this hurdle was overcome before considering anything else.
The King of Qi immediately characterized the fact that the note had Mei Meng's handwriting as merely a tactic by Kang to sow discord.
As for how Kang Guo managed to imitate Mei Meng's handwriting so closely?
The ruler of Qi then stopped questioning it.
Seeing the instant change in Mei Meng's expression upon seeing the note, she knew there might be more to the story—whatever it was, as long as Mei Meng didn't betray her or switch sides, she could pretend not to hear.
"Gentlemen, who can uphold the might of our army?"
The King of Qi gently patted Mei Meng's shoulder, then looked past her, his gaze fixed on the allied military and civilian officials. For the imperial banner to be threatened like this was akin to two beasts fighting, one baring its drooling fangs, its muscles bulging, ready to unleash primal force to suppress the other's momentum. If they couldn't retaliate, they would have already lost the battle in terms of sheer force, impacting morale.
The generals looked troubled.
In terms of archery skills, they were undoubtedly among the best; hitting a willow leaf from a hundred paces was nothing to them. The key issue lay in the distance between the two armies. To achieve a similar effect and retaliate, strength and accuracy alone were far from sufficient; a refined level of martial energy control and explosive power were also required. Only then could the large arrow travel a great distance and accurately threaten the central command's banner.
Their archery skills are good enough, but their martial spirit is lacking.
Someone was secretly observing Gongyang Yongye out of the corner of their eye.
Given the opponent's strength and level, this task is a piece of cake for them.
Unexpectedly, Gongyang Yongye feigned deafness and muteness, pretending not to understand the subtle cues in his eyes. Even the Queen of Qi couldn't directly command the other party; the 19th-rank Marquis of Guannei held far greater authority than she, the Queen. Just as the atmosphere reached a tense standoff, a dazzling arrow burst forth from the main camp, hurtling towards the Kang Kingdom's military camp. The surging air currents caused the flags to flutter wildly, and dust filled the sky.
Luo Yuan put down the large bow in his hand.
He glanced at the group of shameful people with a complicated expression.
They've already been slapped in the face, and they're still wondering if it's even possible? Putting aside whether it poses a threat to the Kangguo camp, shouldn't they just do it without thinking twice? Luo Yuan's already bad mood has been worsened by this.
He snorted, put away his arrows, and left.
He said nothing, yet it was as if he had said everything.
They don't even have the courage to fight back; they're a bunch of useless trash.
The group of people who hadn't blushed at all after being humiliated by Kang Guo's arrows turned bright red at Luo Yuan's single glance. Qi Cang, having watched this farce, chuckled inwardly and prepared to slip away quietly. Shen Wuyou Tang, seeing this, followed: "Strange, aren't you going to watch the fun?"
"There are good and bad shows when it comes to entertainment. Good shows bring joy, but watching too many bad shows can make you lose your mind." Qi Cang said that he likes to watch entertainment, but he is not picky about all kinds of entertainment. "This kind of show is bad. Watching it every day will make you have illusions and think that everyone in the world is stupid. I won't watch it."
He's not a person who likes to use his brain, so what if he gets corrupted by this group and his brain deteriorates even more?
Chen Wuyou Tang curled his lip.
When it comes to being sharp-tongued and sarcastic, Qi Cang is unparalleled.
"Are we going night fishing again tonight? My men said they found a secluded island with lots of fish, not too far from here. With our skills, it should only take half an hour to go there and back." Fishing is addictive. Qi Cang used to take her night fishing every day, and she'd gotten into the habit. She felt uncomfortable if she didn't cast her line at least once a day. The main body of the main body was also affected, staring blankly at the water all day.
Alas, Qi Cang has truly committed a terrible sin.
Qi Cang paused: "With our strength, it will take us half an hour? What place is this? Even if you kill someone and dump the body, you don't need to go to such a remote place."
Highly skilled martial artists can travel more easily.
Take the empty road between two points, avoiding traffic jams and detours throughout the entire journey.
"Just tell me if you're going or not?"
"Yes, I will go."
What's more important than going out fishing?
We cannot miss the opportunity to return with a full harvest because of war.
Not only that, he also wanted to show off to Shen Tang the fishing rod he had just acquired yesterday. This wasn't an ordinary fishing rod; it was the rod used by the most skilled fishermen in the surrounding area, specially collected by Qi Cang's men. Shen Tang was skeptical of this.
"Students with poor grades have a lot of stationery."
Not being able to catch fish may not have anything to do with the fishing rod.
Unfortunately, plans can't keep up with changes, and this night fishing trip was disrupted by the sudden outbreak of war. He had already prepared to take out his fishing rod when news from the central army disrupted his plans. Qi Cang glanced down at the fishing rod and clicked his tongue in regret.
The subordinates watched their boss with trepidation, his mood swings unpredictable.
"General, this... should we still keep it...?"
Qi Cang retorted irritably, "What do you mean, 'want' or 'don't want'? The war broke out suddenly, do you really think I'd abandon the battlefield to go fishing? Damn it, this is on Kang Guo's head. If I can't catch fish, I'll fish for people!"
Just as they stepped out of the tent, they encountered a surprised-looking Shen Tang: "If we can't fish tonight, you and I can have a killing contest!"
Shen Tang dropped his fishing rod and basket, and transformed into a martial armor.
He took a few steps forward to catch up: "Why did the fight suddenly start?"
The situation was chaotic at Qi State's camp, and it was just as chaotic on my side.
Did they start the war without even giving us a heads-up? Even if the winds were favorable for a river crossing and a surprise attack tonight, it shouldn't have happened this fast. Shen Tang asked Qi Cang, but who could Qi Cang ask? What's the point of asking so many questions? Just kill them!
Shen Wuyou Tang secretly contacted the original owner.
She refreshed her memory and, combining it with the information, understood.
This story begins with a third party.
The time was around noon.
The vanguard scouts discovered over forty small boats and sailboats near the waters, their sails flying unfamiliar flags, and they did not appear to belong to the Southwest Allied forces. Their direction of travel was not towards the Southwest Allied forces, but rather seemed to be heading towards the "besieged" main force of the Kang Kingdom. As a warning, one of the Kang Kingdom scouts chopped off a section of diabolo with one hand, threw it into the water, and lightly stepped onto the bamboo.
With a slap of his palm, he broke through the water and moved forward.
"Halt at the camp ahead!"
Having said that, he made a gesture as if to draw back the bowstring and release a long arrow.
"If you don't stop now, it will be considered a declaration of war!"
The fleet spotted the scout on the water and immediately ordered the sailors to stop rowing. The leader of the fleet rode the waves, the water splashing but not touching his clothes, his movements graceful and nimble. As he drew closer, they saw that the man looked young, appearing to be in his early twenties.
"May I ask if you, sir, are from Kangguo?"
This was the first time the scout had been addressed as "soldier," and she thought to herself that this person was unusually polite and perceptive. She herself needed the bamboo pole to stand on the water, yet the other's feet were practically touching the surface, indicating a strength and cultivation level far exceeding her own. Her expression softened. She said, "Indeed."
The young man said, "We have come to seek refuge."
The scout was stunned when he heard this.
They seemed not to have expected the other party to have this purpose.
It wasn't that no one from Kangguo defected along the way, but they were all small fry, bringing their entire fortunes to seek self-preservation. Once Kangguo's war effort faltered, these people would flee faster than rabbits. The young man before them was different. Look at the forty-odd small warships behind him; setting aside the strategic value of these ships, there were nearly a thousand people on board alone…
Could it be a feigned surrender arranged by the enemy?
The scout hesitated to agree, telling the men to state their origins and wait there while she went back to report. The young man showed no sign of disrespect, instead clasping his hands in a respectful gesture and saying, "Thank you for your trouble."
The message was sent to the Lord as quickly as possible to await a decision.
Shen Tang was also puzzled: "Seek refuge? At this time?"
It sounds like something the enemy is up to.
Wu You hadn't heard anything at the Southwest Allied camp, but that didn't mean it was impossible. Wu You's intelligence could only be used as a supplement, not relied upon excessively. Shen Tang asked, "Did they explain his background?"
"They said their family name is Luo."
"Luo?"
Shen Tang flipped through her memories.
There are several well-known Luo clans in the Southwest Continent, but they are either too far away to travel to join them, or they are staunch allies of the Southwest Kingdoms and would never betray them. The more she listened, the more she felt that these people had come to feign surrender. She abandoned the place she had just set up: "Bring them over, let's meet them and have some fun."
"Also, go and inform Wangchao that he needs to work overtime temporarily."
Gu Chi sensed an unfamiliar presence inside the tent as soon as he arrived.
As you pull back the curtain, a tall, straight back comes into view.
Looking at his face from the front, even the most discerning person would have a positive first impression. The young man has extremely fair skin, and unlike men and women today who grow their hair long because "our bodies and hair are given to us by our parents," this person has messy and unruly short hair.
That's not all; the young people's clothing is also rebellious.
The collar of his shirt slid down to his waist, exposing a large expanse of his fair and full chest. His waistband was rather low, almost reaching his hips. In other words, if this man had more body hair, he would probably have exposed something indecent.
Gu Chi frowned.
This behavior is practically harassment.
Ji Moqiu clearly thought so too.
He stood between the young man and His Highness, his face displeased.
Gu Chi said, "Could the righteous man please tidy his appearance?"
The young man looked down and asked, "What's wrong with this?"
Ji Moqiu: "One must not be improperly dressed when meeting the emperor."
The young man scratched his short hair, smiled brightly to reveal a set of white teeth, and pulled his clothes tighter as he explained, "Oh, I'm wearing this so it's easier to go in the water. I'm used to it. Please forgive me."
Gu Chi felt that his explanation was somewhat perfunctory.
Gong Xichou tilted his head and leaned closer to his elder brother.
"Why does it smell fishy?" It wasn't the young man's body odor, but rather the other party's martial aura. Gong Xi Chou was quite knowledgeable, but this was the first time he had ever smelled martial aura with a fishy smell.
Ordinary people can't smell it, but he has the ability to detect it.
Ji Moqiu answered in a low voice, "It's a mermaid."
"Um?"
"Mermaid, the opponent's martial spirit totem."
Gong Xichou: "???"
Shen Tang, who wasn't particularly interested to begin with, was like: "???"
Gong Xichou: "Dugong?"
"Not a dugong."
If traced back carefully, it could be traced back to at least the end of the last human civilization. Ji Moqiu's memories were incomplete, but he gradually gained some knowledge from the inheritance, knowing certain secrets. At the end of the last human civilization, humanity tried almost every method to perpetuate the race. One of these was to accelerate evolution and integrate into the ocean.
The land is uncultivable and unproductive; it seems like a dead end.
The ocean is dangerous, but at least there is a glimmer of hope.
Of course, all of these plans failed.
However, traces of these genetic experiments have remained with the descendants. For example, the young man before us has a martial arts totem, which is one such trace. Of course, to others, the young man's martial arts totem is not even considered bizarre; in fact, it seems rather useless.
Gu Chi glanced at him frequently.
Ji Moqiu noticed his gaze and smiled faintly.
Gu Chi: "..."
I definitely said it on purpose for him to hear.
Shen Tang also asked the mermaid, or rather, the young man surnamed Luo, why he wanted to join her. The Southwest Allied Forces were the local power in the Southwest, and it was obviously more cost-effective and safer to join them than to join her.
The mermaid was quite honest: "Shen Jun beat Luo Yuan."
He'll side with whoever attacks Luo Yuan, it's that simple!
Shen Tang was stunned for a moment before realizing who Luo Yuan was. Wasn't he one of the two nineteenth-rank Marquises of Guannei in the Southwest Allied Army?
"Do you have a grudge against Luo Yuan?"
The mermaid frankly said, "My ancestors were my enemies."
Upon hearing that Luo Yuan had escaped, he rallied his clansmen and rushed to seek revenge. However, Luo Yuan was backed by the Southwest Allied Army, and his own forty-odd small boats were of little use, so he had no choice but to seek refuge with Luo Yuan's rival. Thus, this defection took place.
Shen Tang: "..."
Judging from her expression, does she seem to believe it?
(ゝω)
In his early years, Luo Yuan sent his wife away to study martial arts under a master. After mastering his skills, he secretly met with his wife and sent her a child. When Luo Yuan was no match for his wife in battle, he used this incident to provoke her, thus creating an enemy.
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