Chapter 1324: Better to Plant a Seed Now than Give One Away [Seeking Monthly Tickets]
When Zhai Le called out her name, Lin Feng was momentarily taken aback, seemingly not expecting that the other party would still remember him, an "unknown person." Her expression softened, and a warmth appeared in her eyes: "It's been many years since we last met. How has Your Majesty been?"
Zhai Le did not respond.
He stared blankly at the mature woman before him, whose figure and demeanor were already those of a woman, and suddenly sighed, "I didn't feel this strongly when I saw Lady Shen before. It turns out that so many years have really passed."
When they first met, Lin Feng was a helpless orphan girl who had suffered a major tragedy and was cowering in a trunk, barely surviving. She willingly followed Shen Tang as a maid, abandoning her old name. Zhai Le remembered saying at the time that the name "Lin Xia Zhi Feng" (meaning "Wind Under the Forest") was unsuitable; it was too grand, and she feared the orphan girl wouldn't be able to bear such a tragic fate. Looking back now, Lin Feng has lived up to expectations, possessing both talent and grace.
The little girl from back then is now quite capable of handling things on her own.
His demeanor and bearing were no less impressive than those of Chu Yao in his prime.
No, it's even worse.
"When I look at the ruler of the Di Kingdom, I only see that time has passed as before."
Lin Feng had grown into a mature woman, while Zhai Le hadn't changed much compared to back then, except that she looked more solid and imposing, with a dignified and imposing presence, resembling a powerful and valiant general. However, Lin Feng still preferred the Zhai Xiaofang of yesteryear.
The ruler of Zhai Kingdom lacked the youthful vigor of a chivalrous young knight.
"Time remains the same... If only time could remain the same..." Zhai Le sighed, suppressing his desire for reminiscing. Seeing Lin Feng come in person, Zhai Le dispelled his suspicions about Shen Tang. Based on his understanding of the latter, she wouldn't disregard Lin Feng's safety; the transported grain must exist. "Lady Lin, do you know which army intercepted the grain?"
Sending troops might be able to take it back.
Even if we can't take it back, we can't let the enemy benefit from it.
Lin Feng was taken aback by his question and was momentarily confused, but quickly realized that he had misunderstood something. She didn't rush to explain, but instead took out a letter written by Shen Tang himself. Once Zhai Le read the letter, he would understand the whole story and the truth would come to light.
Zhai Le took it with suspicion.
Shen Tang's writing style is quite unique.
Aside from the rather pointless "seeing the letter is like seeing you in person" phrase, everything else was practical. It immediately told Zhai Le not to be surprised that Lin Feng's group only numbered two or three hundred people—Zhai Le silently added that it was clearly "around a thousand people"—nor to be surprised that the grain team didn't have any grain transport vehicles, because the grain needed to be planted on the spot, and Zhai Le only needed to cooperate with Lin Feng's work.
"The... kind?"
Zhai Le almost tore up the letter.
He would rather the grain supplies had been robbed by warlords along the way, at least he could send troops to retrieve them. But his unreliable ally actually said that the grain hadn't even been planted yet? Zhai Le almost couldn't catch his breath, suspecting that Shen Tang was playing a trick on him.
Lin Feng cupped his hands and said, "Yes."
Zhai Le used immense self-control to prevent himself from crushing the secret letter.
He rubbed his throbbing temples, enduring the headache: "I know that Kangguo is far ahead of other countries in agriculture, with bumper harvests every year, but nowadays... Our country only asked the ruler of Shenguo to borrow grain because we were short of grain. What we need is grain, not grain cultivation technology."
If we were to introduce technology, we would directly ask for its guidance.
Technical exchanges are something for the future.
Lin Feng smiled confidently and said, "Your Majesty Zhai, you misunderstand. This batch of grain will be delivered within a specified time, and there will be absolutely no delay."
Having ruled for so many years, Zhai Le was no longer the naive young man he once was. Looking at Lin Feng's confident assertion, he couldn't help but think of other things: [A deadline for delivery? Yes, Lin Lingde and her entourage arrived ahead of schedule, far from the estimated due date. If what she said is true, doesn't that mean she can grow so much grain in such a short time? The agricultural techniques of Kang Kingdom…]
In an era when every nation depended on the whims of nature, Kang Kingdom's consecutive years of bumper harvests seemed particularly striking. For the first two years, other nations assumed Kang Kingdom's success was a result of the royal court's emphasis on agriculture, and all national policies were geared towards this goal. If they had followed suit, prioritizing agriculture over military affairs, they could have achieved the same. Their refusal, of course, stemmed from their understanding that this path was not the right way in chaotic times.
If your fists aren't strong, you'll only become someone else's granary.
As a result, Kang Guo forged a unique path on this road.
While they prioritize agriculture, they also have a strong fist!
One tough battle after another, fought from before the founding of the People's Republic of China to after its founding.
The countries that were secretly observing Kang Kingdom quietly overturned their initial assumptions; Kang Kingdom must have some unknown agricultural methods!
To uncover this secret, countless undercover agents were dispatched.
Qu State was naturally one of them.
However, Qu Guo was one of the more friendly people to Kang Guo among this group, and his aim was more to learn from them. Over the years, he has also made some progress.
Firstly, the Kang Kingdom's court was intentionally controlling the timing of events.
Precisely control rainfall in various regions to ensure sufficient rainwater for irrigation.
Other countries can also achieve this through their national fortune, but none can be as precise as Kangguo. According to the undercover report, Kangguo can manage to control rainfall "just right" throughout its territory, while Quguo, by allocating its national fortune to the timing of events, can only reduce the probability of natural disasters in various regions. There must be a core secret here!
Yes, there really are.
During droughts, the various prefectures and counties of Kang Kingdom would even fight over cloud formations, with regions lacking cloud formations having to pay to buy them from areas with abundant cloud cover. The average cost between the two regions was barely enough to keep them above the drought threshold. Kang Kingdom unified the southwest region, and the prefectures and counties that consistently lacked cloud formations were the happiest, as the coastal southwest was perpetually wet, making their cost the lowest.
_(:з」∠)_
Secondly, the Kang Kingdom's royal court has been undergoing extensive construction projects.
This is something that Qu Guo has always emulated.
Third, farmers in Kangguo could buy high-quality grain seeds.
The grain seeds originated from the Kang Kingdom's royal court; the Northern Desert had also purchased large quantities from Kang Kingdom in the past. How to cultivate high-quality grain seeds remains unclear even to the undercover agents, but it's certain to be related to the power of words. Only the power of words in this world can create such a miracle…
Zhai Le had a premonition that this time the real answer would be revealed.
Thinking of Shen Tang's letter, he calmed his mind and asked Lin Feng, "Since that's the case, let's trust Lady Lin this once. Lady Lin, just tell us what you need, and the entire Qu Kingdom will cooperate fully."
On one's own turf, even the deepest secrets are laid bare.
If Lin Feng could truly create a miracle and deliver the amount of grain borrowed from Qu Guo on time, even if he didn't turn his back on them and detain them, he could still learn something from them and benefit immensely. Yu Hai had the same idea as him.
Lin Feng, a seasoned official, was highly skilled at reading people and did not miss any changes in Zhai Le's demeanor. She calmly replied, "I need a piece of land."
Zhai Le nodded: "Of course."
He didn't ask Lin Feng how much land he needed.
It was obvious that he could satisfy her anytime she asked.
Lin Feng continued, "We also need some grain seeds, any quality will do. The grain seeds from the Northwest region are probably not fully adapted to the soil and water of the Southeast region, so we didn't bring any. We also don't know much about the main crops in the Southeast region, so we need some time to learn about them."
"That's not a problem, what else?"
Lin Feng slowly shook his head: "That's all."
Zhai Leshan, understanding the situation, said, "Do you need manpower? It's not that we're looking for skills, but even with a large yield per mu, the thousand or so people that Your Majesty brought might not be enough. If Your Majesty is worried, you can recruit tenant farmers from the countryside. Once the task is completed, you can take them with you."
He used a feigned retreat to advance, and Lin Feng naturally couldn't refuse.
She cupped her hands and said, "King Zhai is upright and frank. How could I possibly judge a gentleman with my petty mind? It's not some secret that can't be told. Your Majesty can arrange for some quick and hardworking people, but not lazy ones, so as not to delay the delivery time."
"That's excellent."
Zhai Le took a private seal from his waist.
"During this period, the Queen may freely assign them to tasks."
This private seal allows him to mobilize his elite imperial guards.
In terms of speed and efficiency, no one is more diligent than these people. They are all his trusted confidants and his loyal followers, and they are absolutely tight-lipped.
The situation within Qu Kingdom is complex. Zhai Le holds most of the military power, but there are dissenting voices within the country. Zhai Le is also afraid that these voices might learn something from Lin Feng and turn against him. Rather than that, it's better to keep the secret to himself.
When Lin Feng realized the significance of this private seal, he gasped in shock. She knew all too well what the role of the Imperial Guards was.
Such magnanimity is rare in this world.
"Lin Feng will certainly not disappoint the King of Zhai."
Having finished discussing official business, it's natural to talk about personal matters as well.
Zhai Le warmly hosted a banquet for Lin Feng and his group, but his expression momentarily changed upon seeing Gong Xi Chou, who was accompanying them. No one would be happy to face the person who had brutally beaten them years ago. Seeing his face reminded him of his humiliating youth.
but--
After several rounds of drinks, Zhai Le invited Gongxi Chou to spar.
Gongxi Chou, who was staring at the realgar wine on the table with a bitter and resentful expression, raised his head and met the eagerness in the other's eyes. He grinned and said, "If Your Majesty has such a refined interest, I, Chou, will gladly play along."
Don't ask why I call myself Qiu Mou; Gong Xi Mou is also a mouthful.
"Hahaha, good! General Gongxi is as straightforward as ever!" Zhai Le downed his wine cup in one gulp, waved away the entertaining singing and dancing, and the officials at the banquet, hearing this, also became interested, craning their necks to watch the spectacle. Since ascending the throne, although Zhai Le had personally led troops into battle, he had not engaged in any true one-on-one duels on the battlefield. Firstly, the enemy could not reach him, and secondly, his strength was too great.
No one knows what level he has reached now.
No one doubted that Zhai Le had neglected his martial arts skills, because he had faced many assassination attempts during his years on the throne. No matter how strong his opponents were, he was always unharmed. Several times, even the Imperial Guards couldn't get there before the assassins had their heads kicked off by him.
[Chop it up finely and feed it to the dog!]
I never expected that the king would take the initiative to challenge a general from another country to a duel.
Seeing the awkward situation, Lin Feng tried to politely decline, but Gong Xi Chou had already swung his arm and removed his cumbersome shirt, revealing his well-defined, muscular physique amidst the low gasps of the socialites and wealthy women. His muscles were like bronze veins and iron bones, broad back and thick waist, the clearly defined lines of which made people blush.
Two shirtless young military men faced off on the field.
Those around him were unaware of Zhai Le's cultivation level, but Gongxi Chou, who was confronting him, vaguely noticed something amiss and secretly raised an eyebrow. He had said years ago that Zhai Le was a menace if he lived. He asked Zhai Le, "Today's joyous occasion is not a time for bloodshed. How does Your Majesty intend to conduct the competition?"
They couldn't fight freely either.
The entire capital city wasn't enough for the two of them to wreak havoc, let alone the people at the banquet. If Gongxi Chou won, he would only bring hatred to Kang State; if he lost, he would lose face for Kang State. The same applied to Zhai Le. Ideally, the fight would end in a draw, so that others could enjoy the spectacle while they themselves would only have a brief taste. Zhai Le shared the same thought: "Let's have a wrestling match."
In an instant, dragons soared and tigers leaped.
Seeing this, the musicians in the audience also began to beat their drums loudly to add to the excitement.
Onlookers gasped in astonishment. The women, who had initially managed to remain seated, were immediately drawn to the visual impact of the clash of muscles and the collision of forces, a display of brute strength rather than skill. For a moment, they all tried to push forward to get a closer look.
Lin Feng's smile deepened as he noticed this detail.
My impression of Zhai Le has improved considerably.
Yu Hai shook his head as he drank: "Childlike mentality."
He was also pleased to see Zhai Le so relaxed; the throne was no ordinary position. Ever since Zhai Le took this hot potato from Zhai Huan, Yu Hai had watched Zhai Le suppress his true nature and gradually gravitate towards Zhai Huan's ways…
He was qualified to be the ruler, but it also wronged "Zhai Le".
Luo Sha wasn't initially interested; what was so interesting about two grown men battling it out? But he quickly noticed something different. What seemed like brute force without any skill actually contained subtle techniques. As he watched, he became somewhat captivated: "This King of Zhai isn't very old, less than a twelve years younger than General Gongxi, is he?"
Lin Feng said, "More or less."
As soon as she finished speaking, Luo Sha gasped.
He asked suspiciously, "But something's not right?"
Luo Sha whispered in her ear, "There are many things that are not right. This Lord Zhai's cultivation level is probably above mine."
Lin Feng suddenly gripped the wine cup in his hand, incredulous.
First, he looked at the two men on the sidelines, their skin bruised from the fight, then at Luo Sha's expression, confirming that the other party was not joking: "How is this possible? In terms of talent, General Gongxi is unmatched, and he has not encountered any bottlenecks in recent years. They are also much older than each other."
Lin Feng also learned some secrets from the High Priest of Jimo: Gongxi Chou not only had various opportunities, but for a long time he was also a single seedling in the vast land of the Gongxi clan, enjoying all the divine favor and protection, and his cultivation speed was already at its maximum! With advantages in both talent and age, how could Zhai Le overtake him? Because he was the ruler of the country and enjoyed the nation's fortune? But, his own lord was also the ruler of the country!
Lin Feng could only think of one possibility.
Could this also be a case of 'a sudden enlightenment'?
She quickly dismissed the guess.
Zhai Le's aura was exactly the same as when they first met. If it were a "sudden enlightenment," even if the person who transferred their cultivation to Zhai Le was of the same lineage, Zhai Le's aura would change and could not retain its original flavor. As she was thinking, Luo Sha said with a surprised look: "General Gongxi's talent is indeed high. There are few geniuses in the world. I am ashamed to admit that I am not as good as this King Zhai."
Lin Feng: "..."
She didn't know how to respond for a moment.
I felt somewhat lost and confused—isn't talent something that's predetermined at birth? Can it be changed later in life?
Until Gongxi Chou returned, baring his teeth.
To save face, there was neither a win nor a loss.
On the surface, Gong Xiqiu appeared unharmed, with only a few noticeable bruises on his exposed skin. Only the person involved knew that Zhai Le had used underhanded tactics. Gong Xiqiu wasn't one to be trifled with; he immediately retaliated, guaranteeing Zhai Le would be able to remain celibate for the next few days!
In his delight, Zhai Le offered him wine.
Gong Xichou leaned closer to the wine pot and twitched his nose.
He cursed inwardly, realizing it was clearly a large amount of realgar mixed with a small amount of alcohol!
After the banquet, Lin Feng privately asked Gong Xichou, "If you were to face off against the King of Zhai, how confident would you be?"
"You want me to assassinate him?"
"……no."
Gong Xichou rolled his eyes: "I'm not sure."
Instead of answering the percentage, directly say you're not sure.
Lin Feng gasped: "Could it be Marquis Che?"
Even if Gong Xichou was overtaken on a curve, he shouldn't have been left this far behind, right?
Now it was Gong Xi Chou's turn to be surprised: "You knew he had Marquis Che guarding him? Although Lin Xiao Ma Ma is a scholar, her vigilance is admirable. If we don't mention that cowardly Marquis Che, we'd have a 50% chance of taking him down one-on-one. With Luo Shen Lu involved, it should be a piece of cake. However, he's a bit strange. He reminds me a bit of my elder brother. I'll investigate him again later."
"Like the High Priest of Jimo?"
"Hmm, his martial energy seems to be mixed with some divine power, but it's not as pure as my elder brother's; it's as if he accidentally picked it up."
Lin Feng was completely confused.
"You mean he has Gongxi people around him?"
Those with divine power are exclusively from the lineage of the High Priest.
Are there still living high priests in this world?
“Impossible.” Gong Xichou shook his head at first, then, as if remembering something, said with some uncertainty, “I’ll find a chance to go and take a look at the sealing site later. There’s another one in the southeast that was sealed back then. His divine power might also originate from this place…”
|ω`)
Is Zhai Le's part not considered foreshadowing?
I ate too much cake and hot pot, and the weight I lost last year has all come back. Sigh.
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