Chapter 1325: Want to Steal My Skills? (Part 1) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
"This matter is of great importance, and we must inform the Lord about it."
The strength of the Qu Kingdom is greater and more troublesome than expected.
If the two countries could remain allies forever, the strength or weakness of the Qu Kingdom would not affect the outcome. However, the two countries are destined to turn against each other, and the Qu Kingdom is a potential enemy. Without understanding the Qu Kingdom's strength, one might suffer a setback. Investigating the Qu Kingdom's strength is also the purpose of Lin Feng's trip.
Why has Zhai Le's skill improved so rapidly?
Who was the 20th-rank Marquis who guarded him?
"The Qu Kingdom has never had a Marquis like this lead the charge in its foreign wars." Lin Feng wasn't just focused on getting on the journey; he also sent people to gather public opinion about the Qu Kingdom's royal court. Judging from the current information, public opinion is quite supportive of their ruler, Zhai Le. He knows how to win people's hearts. "There's no word from the people, and the royal court has no record of him."
This little bit of information reveals a lot of interesting details.
For example, the relationship between this Marquis Che and Zhai Le.
It's highly likely that it's not loyalty but a transaction.
For example, this Marquis Che is either a reclusive master like Gongyang Yongye, or he comes from another country. Does he have any connection with the Gods? What role does Yu Guilong, the branch leader, play here? Is he a middleman connecting them? Are there more trump cards hidden within the territory of Qu State? Countless speculations flooded my mind.
She circulated her internal energy to accelerate the breakdown of alcohol and remain calm.
"Quguo is a land of hidden dragons and crouching tigers; we fear we will find it difficult to come and go freely."
"What's there to be afraid of? Killing someone isn't easy, so how hard can it be to escape?" Gong Xi Chou was quite relaxed, not worried at all about the possible fierce battles to come. His tone was still the familiar arrogant confidence, "A mere rank 20 Marquis, if he's blind, I'll kill him anyway!"
Lin Feng joked, "The General is right."
Gong Xichou: "...Don't laugh."
Lin Feng touched the corner of his mouth: "I wasn't smiling."
Gong Xichou added, "You can't even laugh in your heart."
I'm a little frustrated, to be honest.
Except for the few years when he had to swallow his pride and endure under the command of his enemies during the extermination of his clan, Gongxi Chou was usually arrogant and domineering. He could not meet those stronger than him and could kill those weaker than him at will. He always had a smooth and successful time in battles. It seemed that God could not bear to see him so smug. The longer he was arrogant in the past, the longer he had to suffer in the future to pay the price.
The opponents they encountered were increasingly formidable.
If his will were as fragile as glass as Gongyang Yongye's, how could he still have the ambition to reach the pinnacle after several setbacks?
Since Zhai Le dared to hand over the Imperial Guard's private seal to Lin Feng, Lin Feng naturally dared to use it openly as well. Whoever can't handle it will get angry.
Qu Guo's ministers broke through the defenses first.
While Lin Feng was selecting free laborers, the Qu Kingdom court assembly was in complete chaos. The main issue was Zhai Le's recklessness in giving such an important item to an unknown outsider. In addition, the Kang Kingdom envoy's claim that they wanted to grow their own grain was absurd!
Even if we harvest two crops a year, or three, it won't make a difference.
The ministers who had opposed the alliance between Qu and Kang seized the opportunity to speak out, hoping that Zhai Le could stop the fighting, focus on recuperation, and then negotiate peace with the central states, letting them fight with Shen Tang so that they could reap the benefits.
These ministers' suggestions were also for the good of Qu State, so Zhai Le did not reprimand them. He let the ministers argue until they were all hoarse before he slowly spoke: "Firstly, whether this private seal can mobilize the Imperial Guard is up to me; secondly, Kang State does have its unique aspects in agriculture. If we can learn its essence, it will be a blessing for all the people. There is no need for you gentlemen to mention it again."
The person who truly had the power to mobilize the Imperial Guards was Zhai Le.
What is this so-called private seal?
He said whichever is useful, then it is useful.
As long as he speaks, even pointing to a stone by the roadside can imbue it with the added value of mobilizing the Imperial Guards. Giving Lin Feng his personal seal is more about winning his heart than anything else. Unfortunately, Lin Feng isn't very receptive to this and shows no interest in Zhai Le's overtures.
The minister also wanted to offer advice: "If Your Majesty wishes to acquire the agricultural techniques of Kang, you might as well send someone to bribe them with high-ranking positions and generous salaries. This will surely be effective. Crops take several months from sowing to maturity. Perhaps this is Kang's treacherous scheme, designed to delay the process."
The Kang Kingdom first dominated the Northwest, and now it has brought the Southwest under its control; its size is simply too vast! Rather than helping the Kang Kingdom deal with the central states, it would be better to join forces with them to suppress the Kang Kingdom—the Kang Kingdom clearly intends to emulate the Wu Kingdom and unify the continent, and the Qu Kingdom is also within the scope of that unification. They feel that the Kang Kingdom poses a greater threat than the central states!
Zhai Ledao said, "It won't take several months."
The minister was taken aback: "How long will it take?"
"Half a month will be fine."
Lin Feng sent someone to deliver a message to him that morning, which could be considered a military order: "With the people and land in place, I will deliver the first batch of grain in just half a month. King Zhai can rest assured and wait for the inspection."
Zhai Le and Yu Hai were both terrified.
Half a month?
The first batch of grain?
Lin Feng meant that from sowing to maturity, the first batch would only take half a month? Every word was tempting his greed.
If what Lin Feng said is true, then her value is immense!
Even Zhai Le was considering whether to break ties with Shen Tang prematurely! This greed was barely sprouted when Zhai Le forcefully suppressed it with reason. Reason told him that now was not the time.
With instructions from Zhai Le and Yu Hai, Lin Feng selected laborers on the first day, received more than a dozen kinds of crops unique to the southeast on the second day, and had thirty hectares of fertile land ready by the third day. These lands were under the name of the Qu Kingdom's royal family, and the original crops had been cleared away.
"Time is of the essence, and this is all we can mobilize for now."
The royal estates of the Qu Kingdom are scattered, and these are the only ones in the local area.
Lin Feng frowned, looking somewhat troubled: "This is probably far from enough. The soil fertility needs time to recover, and we can't keep up with continuous cultivation. If the fertility doesn't keep up, even the best seeds won't yield a high harvest."
Zhai Le naturally understood this principle.
He has already ordered people to discuss borrowing land with officials from various powerful families.
Transferring royal lands requires no formalities; all it takes is Zhai Le's approval. Other lands are different; these require time to allocate. Incidentally, he can also use this opportunity to assess everyone's financial situation. When the Qu Kingdom was established, Zhai Huan used an iron fist to carry out three rounds of land redistribution, also taking the opportunity to eliminate several major threats. Unfortunately, he died young.
Zhai Le naturally wanted to implement his brother's policies, but the situation in the court had become more complicated after Zhai Huan's death, and the resistance he encountered was also unprecedented, leaving him overwhelmed with more problems.
How much of the land allocated back then is still preserved?
Zhai Le wasn't entirely sure either.
Perfect, let's use Lin Feng as an excuse to investigate.
Zhai Le, having ruled for many years, was well aware of the principle that "things are accomplished in secrecy and ruined by leaks." Therefore, he showed no prior indication that he intended to borrow land, but instead announced this bombshell news abruptly, leaving no opportunity for anyone to rectify the situation or falsify accounts.
Some are happy, some are sad.
Some remained calm and composed, while others looked pale and lifeless.
Those who wanted to refuse swallowed their words after seeing Zhai Le's meaningful gaze—what excuse could they possibly have? The royal family had prepared thirty acres of fertile land and taken out all the land they had planted to fully support the Kang Kingdom envoy's half-month agreement. What excuse could they, as subjects, possibly have to refuse?
Is it that you really don't want to lend it, or are you too guilty to lend it?
Under the sympathetic gazes of his colleagues, the aggrieved party reluctantly agreed.
Seeing this, Zhai Le was furious but laughed instead.
I am furious that my cousin's legacy has been so ruined.
"You are all my trusted lieutenants. I will remember this sacrifice and will make sure you suffer the slightest loss."
I pray he doesn't find anything that crosses the line.
After all, it's not a respectable thing for three clans to go to jail.
When Lin Feng heard about the turmoil in the Qu Kingdom's court these past few days, it was already three days later—she and the others were in seclusion selecting and breeding seeds, and had no energy to pay attention to anything else. In the end, she sighed, "King Zhai is using us as a weapon. He's using this as an excuse to eliminate the malignant tumor and get away with it all, while we've made so many enemies for no reason."
The job of a king can really be a good training ground for people.
Was Zhai Xiaofang always very straightforward?
Now you can use someone else to do your dirty work even with your eyes closed.
Lin Feng and the others went into seclusion for several days, while Luo Sha guarded the door for just as long, fearing that the Qu Kingdom might make a move. Seeing her come out, his tense nerves finally relaxed: "That guy surnamed Zhai is no good. There have been a few suspicious fellows loitering around here these past few days."
"Killed?"
"We didn't alert them; we had our own people keeping an eye on them."
Lin Feng had given specific instructions before going into seclusion.
After all, when you're on someone else's turf, as long as you're not pushed to the point of no return, you can turn a blind eye to some conflicts.
Lin Feng nodded: "Thank you for your hard work, General."
Luo Sha's temperament was indeed much gentler than Gongxi Chou's.
However, they did not see any trace of Gongxi Chou for half a day.
He said he wouldn't stand being treated like this and went to do other things.
Knowing someone is frolicking right under your nose but not being able to slap them dead is no different from letting lice crawl all over your body. Luo Sha could ignore it, but Gong Xichou couldn't. He used the excuse of going out to investigate, saying he would be back to report in two days at the earliest…
Lin Feng knew immediately what Gong Xichou wanted to investigate.
"Is that Marquis Che nearby?" she asked, writing on Luo Sha's palm with her finger. Only after receiving a negative answer did she dare to speak frankly, "Did our letter get out of the country safely?"
Luo Sha also helped to oversee this matter.
The people killed by Luo were skilled swimmers, and among them were individuals with extremely special martial prowess totems, capable of smuggling themselves across the border undetected.
Gongxi Chou and his group are too conspicuous and easily discovered by the Qu Kingdom.
Luo Sha nodded: "It's safe for now."
Similar to the life lamp of the Gongxi tribe, Luo Sha also possesses a special means of sensing his people. This method was originally used by the tribe for location and search during their hunting and navigation activities at sea. Once ashore, this sensing also proves useful. Judging by the distance traveled, the messenger had already left the borders of the Qu Kingdom and was heading towards his destination.
As long as the person is alive, the faith is safe.
Lin Feng thought it over again and again, and only felt at ease when he was sure that he had not missed anything.
She focused all her energy on delivering on time.
Unfortunately, this was Qu State, not Kang State, and the people he usually used were not his own people. Less than half a day later, another setback occurred.
Lin Feng rushed over upon hearing the news: "What's going on this time?"
To make fieldwork easier, she had long since changed out of her usual attire, replacing it with a simple cloth dress. Without makeup, her natural beauty was still undeniable. The imperial guards who had been causing trouble were momentarily stunned by her appearance.
Realizing what had happened, he showed a dismissive and disdainful expression.
"The envoy has arrived at the perfect time. I dare to ask what this means, why are we being made to do such lowly work?" Those who can enter the Imperial Guard are all from respectable families. Lin Feng has selected the best of the best this time, choosing only those with martial prowess and martial arts skills, which easily leads to the selection of people from good backgrounds. The martial arts soldier who led the riot was one of them.
He was already furious enough about being assigned to do farm work for a woman from out of town, and then he was mocked for his bad luck by his colleagues. To make matters worse, he heard that his family had suffered a calamity because of Lin Feng, which only fueled his anger. He finally snapped and, along with other disgruntled people, started causing trouble.
"You are acting on the king's orders! Even setting aside the fact that fieldwork is not lowly, even if you were truly ordered to do such menial tasks, would you obey the king's command or not?" Lin Feng placed her hand on the hilt of her sword, her words stern. Those who knew her well knew she was truly enraged.
Unfortunately, I don't understand these things.
Not only did they not understand, they also mocked Lin Feng for making a big deal out of nothing.
"Of course we must obey the king's orders, but who do you think you are to use them as a pretext?" He knew that Lin Feng had made a pledge to deliver the first batch of grain within half a month. While questioning her abilities, he also wanted to cause trouble and vent his anger for the undeserved disaster that had befallen his family!
He harbored resentment towards Lin Feng and also took his anger out on Zhai Le.
The whole family is devoted to serving the country, yet they are met with such suspicion.
I thought this was a great and lucrative job, and I even competed with my colleagues for it, but it turned out I was sent here to be a peasant!
Lin Feng let out a sneer.
"Not everything the King of Zhai says is effective."
If the instigator of the riot was an ordinary soldier, that would be normal. In His Lord's words, people's perceptions differ. Ordinary soldiers come from all walks of life; they can only see what's in front of them and make judgments based on their own understanding. It's not shameful to make a wrong judgment. But this person is different; his understanding doesn't match his background.
Too many people with intellectual disabilities who can take care of themselves are treated as normal until they cause a huge disaster and their true colors are revealed.
Lin Feng took two steps forward and smelled a faint scent of alcohol.
She sneered again: "Alcohol emboldens cowards."
Who are you calling a coward?
Lin Feng raised his gaze slightly, sweeping it over the other troublemakers, and said with a smile, "I don't like forcing people. If you don't want to work, there are plenty of others who are willing to. But may I ask your names?"
Is this a prelude to making false accusations?
The crowd remained calm, knowing that the law does not punish the masses and that at most they would be reprimanded.
Those who felt confident reported their home directly.
Lin Feng pondered and recalled carefully, then said something extremely infuriating: "Ah, why are they all from small, humble families?"
In any case, Zhai Le used himself as a weapon.
Why can't Lin Feng kill someone and make Zhai Le take the blame?
He casually waved his hand: "Disobey the king's order, kill."
They killed them, but not all of them.
As soon as a few fell, someone spoke up to stop them.
Lin Feng looked at Yu Hai, who had come upon hearing the news, and raised his hand to signal his men, who were carrying swords, to stop: "Prime Minister Yu, your arrival is just in time. These people who defy the king's orders will be left to you to deal with. There are some things that I, an outsider, should not say, but... the military is related to the safety of the king and is the bulwark of the country... such disobedient and disloyal people will probably be a black sheep and cause endless harm."
She made her sarcasm quite direct.
Yu Hai thought to himself that she was quite bold, but he also knew that his family had lost face first, so he took away several corpses and the remaining trembling, unlucky souls. Zhai Le didn't care about the deaths of these people, especially when he saw the small bag of grain seeds that Yu Hai had brought back; he was pleased rather than angry.
"The letter was intercepted?"
|ω`)
I bleached my hair pink before, but the color didn't look good, so I dyed it back. However, my hair was severely damaged, so I had to start over. Today I went to the hair salon and got another short haircut. I feel like by this time next year I'll have replaced all the bleached hair.
P.S.: I'm never drifting again.
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