Chapter 1363: Killing a Former Lord on the Battlefield [Seeking Monthly Tickets]
Shen Tang felt that Luo San's words were insulting her, but she had no evidence: "Gong Xi Chou and I are naturally close friends."
Can true friends be called friends if they don't have a certain understanding between them?
Unexpectedly, Luo San gave a "young man doesn't know anything" look: "There are no true friends between men and women."
Shen Tang felt like she was being attacked indiscriminately: "You can't be so absolute. Aren't we an exception? You can't use your narrow experience to measure our pure friendship."
At first, she thought Gong Xiqiu preferred being single, but later she discovered that wasn't the case; he was single simply because his standards were too demanding and eccentric. As long as Gong Xiqiu didn't lower his standards, he could maintain a purely platonic relationship with any woman.
Shen Tang also asked Ji Moqiu out of curiosity.
What if his brother lives like this for the rest of his life?
Ji Moqiu's reply was very much in the style of the Gongxi tribe: "The continuation of the tribe doesn't depend on Anian, so it doesn't matter. A person's life is but a hundred years, enough to harvest wheat twice a year a hundred times. Life is short, why go against your conscience?"
There are also many ancestors in the clan who remained single their entire lives.
Love is a shackle; let him decide when he wants to wear it.
Shen Tang thought of Gong Xi Chou's usual words and actions, and couldn't help but twitch her lips: [Wearing shackles? Him? Completely unimaginable.]
The high priest's understanding of emotions is also quite interesting.
She joked, "If it's shackles, then I'm doomed. Wouldn't I end up like Gong Xichou, a bachelor for life?"
The high priest said calmly, "One person is enough to keep him locked up."
This person is certainly not His Highness. God sits enthroned on the altar, and it is an immense honor for believers to be able to nestle at her feet and keep her company.
Shen Tang subconsciously looked at the high priest's neck.
For some reason, when Shen Tang heard the High Priest say those words, her first thought was of the black restriction around the neck of the Martial Courage Totem, while Ji Moqiu's neck was clean and white, like flawless warm jade, with a slightly lustrous sheen: [It's a pity to wear it.]
What's a pity?
Shen Tang: [Whether it's Gongxi Chou or the High Priest, it's a pity they're both wearing shackles. Love shouldn't be a constraint.]
If shackles are a burden, freedom is far more enjoyable.
At times, Shen Tang even felt like a saint.
It should be known that the Ji Mo Qiu brothers have always taken pride in serving the gods. This service includes, but is not limited to, bowing down and submitting. It can be a wise helper to a man or a wise wife. They would not even have any objection to Shen Tang Na's two colors... Gods are supposed to be benevolent.
In their minds, she was equivalent to a deity.
_(:з」∠)_
Faced with the readily available blessing of having multiple wives, she felt no interest whatsoever. Various beauties, both male and female, secretly offered their favors by powerful families, but she remained uninterested. This made Shen Tang wonder if something was missing from her factory settings.
Gong Xichou like this and her like this...
Isn't their friendship pure enough?
Shen Tang clearly misunderstood Luo San's meaning. He said leisurely, "It's a good thing that the Queen is ambitious and not bound by petty love. How can the pleasures of love between men and women compare to the allure of power? However, fleeting romances between men and women are just that. As long as the Queen remains calm and self-controlled, it will be someone else who gets caught up in the mire. Gong Xi Chou has some power, why not use 'love' as a net to bind him?"
Shen Tang: "???"
“Affection without a trace of sincerity is the cheapest yet strongest bond in the world. Perhaps the Lady could use this method to win over Gongxi Chou.” There are many heroes in this world who gain alliance benefits through marriage. If Xiahou Li wants to, she can do it too.
Shen Tang: "???"
Seeing that she still didn't get it, Luo San could only put it more clearly: "Sleep with him! Give him the illusion that he can reach power through you, just like a donkey seeing a red root will obediently pull the millstone."
How can a person in a high position not have guests who will patronize them?
The norm is to extract the greatest profit with the least cost.
What a great shortcut! Why can't you see it clearly?
Shen Tang: "...So wild?"
"What do you mean by 'wild'? Do you know how the ancestors of the Qi Kingdom's royal family caught the eye of the former officials of the Wu Kingdom? At first, he was just a lowly soldier guarding the city gate, so poor that he was practically naked in the dead of winter, and his whole family couldn't even afford a decent pair of trousers. He relied on his good looks to marry into several families, and that's how he rose through the ranks, gaining a foothold among the powerful and influential. Heroes and great men don't ask about origins; people only look at the results! Gongxi Chou is a bit arrogant and not very bright, but that's precisely why he's easy to control. You can tell at a glance that he's stubborn and inflexible. If we can win him over, it will be one less obstacle and one more ally on the Queen's path to the throne!"
He was, after all, a high-ranking commoner of the eighteenth rank.
If they are brought to their side, the ruler of Kang will have one less ally.
Or is it—
"Has the King of Kangguo gotten there first?"
This possibility cannot be ruled out.
"...Can't it just be a proper relationship between ruler and subject?"
It truly evokes a sense of helplessness, like a nun in a Buddhist nunnery being the target of smear campaigns.
Old Deng still wants her to be crowned emperor? Even if she were to become interested, it wouldn't be against Gongxi Chou; that guy's cost-effectiveness is too low. If anyone's going to be targeted, it should be his elder brother; he's just an afterthought.
Luo San countered, "What kind of proper relationship exists between ruler and subject?"
Shen Tang was almost speechless.
"...Ah, is this something I can say?"
Is Luo San implying that ditch literature is ubiquitous?
I'm completely convinced now; the older generation in those chaotic times really knew how to play the game.
Having confirmed that Lady Xiahou had no interest in this shortcut, Luo San said with some surprise, "Lady Xiahou is truly of noble character."
Given their close personal relationship, it wouldn't be unreasonable for Gong Xichou to force himself on her under such circumstances. Most people couldn't resist such temptation, yet she chose the long and arduous path instead of taking the easy way out. Just how much willpower and self-control does that require?
What a great shortcut, but unfortunately the person involved refused to take it.
Shen Tang: "..."
So this makes one of high moral character?
Not only Luo San thought this way, but even the two fat rabbits that were caught today came to a similar conclusion after some reflection.
To repay Shen Tang, he volunteered to be the persuader.
As mentioned before, Shen Tang chose an extremely clever location, as most warlord forces outside the capital region would use this route to reach the capital and rescue the emperor. The two fat rabbits she caught today are also prominent figures in the Qi Kingdom's social circles.
It's not as good as the best, but it's better than the worst.
With their guarantees, it's not necessary to play every game.
If it really comes down to a fight, they can't beat Shen Tang.
Some of the faction leaders they were trying to persuade hesitated, ultimately choosing to remain inactive and observe the situation from a distance. Others, however, refused to believe in such a thing. Not only were they unmoved, but they also pointed at the two men and cursed them: "Cowards! How could I be as cowardly and afraid of death as you? No matter what kind of monster Xiahou Li is, or what kind of hell he sets up, I will risk my life to go through it! Out of consideration for our past service in the same court, I will spare your lives. Get out of here and don't dirty my place!"
The two fat rabbits sighed, clasped their hands in farewell, and took their leave.
I just hope the other party doesn't get beaten too badly.
The outcome was predictable.
He made some tough remarks in the morning, and became a prisoner in the afternoon.
Upon receiving news that their persuasion efforts had failed, Shen Tang immediately grabbed his weapon and attacked the enemy camp as soon as they left.
There's no talk of troop deployment; it's all about who can kill whom.
In just two or three days, she had amassed a fortune in this place, slaughtering the other late-arriving stragglers who dared not advance. Her army had expanded eight or nine times in size; any larger and it would be difficult to control. With such a diverse and numerous force, what if these men outwardly submitted but secretly conspired to stab her in the back…
Shen Tang narrowed her eyes and decided to stop while she was ahead.
"Let's go to the capital of Qi Kingdom and join forces with the main force."
We got so caught up in hunting rabbits that we almost forgot about our main task.
With the main force stationed there to deter them, Shen Tang had nothing to worry about, even if these prisoners had other intentions. The group led their troops towards the capital, and the most conflicted among them were undoubtedly the fat rabbits (prisoners).
Where was their original destination again?
Royal Capital.
Where are we headed now?
It was also the capital city.
However, their purpose in going to the capital was completely different.
Thinking of this, the generals and prisoners who had surrendered were all in low spirits and listless. The closer they got to the capital, the heavier their mood became. Not all of them were willing to switch sides; some had chosen to "endure the humiliation for a while."
Once they reach the capital, they should try to contact the main force of the loyalist army and coordinate an attack from within and without, which might inflict heavy damage on the enemy.
The idea was wonderful, but reality was too cruel.
Shen Tang led his troops in a rapid advance, encountering no obstacles along the way.
what does that mean?
This meant that the main force defending the capital region might have already been wiped out, and even if they were still alive, they were likely tied down by the rebel army and had no time to attend to the safety of their own rear. After marching for another half day, the majestic city wall came into view, with unfamiliar flags flying over it.
"Looking for death again?" When Gong Xichou arrived, he immediately saw a large but colorful army gathered at the foot of the city wall, with all sorts of flags and a variety of signal flags on the soldiers. "Mama, why are you only arriving now?"
He immediately jumped off the city wall.
Amidst the vigilance of the surrendered generals, they headed straight for Shen Tang.
Shen Tang also jumped off his horse: "You're done fighting?"
"The fight was over the day before yesterday. I don't know what happened. They said it was a big event, but only a few people showed up."
Shen Tang glanced at him sideways: "You're quite disappointed?"
"That's too little. None of those people could satisfy me..."
Gong Xichou only warmed up slightly in the end.
Shen Tang: "...Where are those people?"
"They've all been beaten into submission and are locked up."
He was only half-knowledgeable about domestic affairs.
The longer the old capital of Qi was besieged, the more chaotic the lives of the people within the city became, and Gong Xichou couldn't release those he had captured to manage the situation. After much deliberation, he chose a swift and decisive victory. Once the enemy was completely eliminated, the city gates could be reopened, allowing the common people to return to normal life. His idea was good, but the results differed from his expectations. Shen Tang paused: "What difference?"
Gong Xiqiu said, "Many commoners have fled."
The streets and alleys look so desolate.
"...The battle has reached the capital, how can the common people not flee?" This matter is easy to resolve. As long as the situation stabilizes, the common people who have fled will return. It is the dead of winter now, and ordinary people cannot hide in the mountains for long. Shen Tang said, "Order people to post notices everywhere, telling them that the battle is over and those who should go home should go home."
Gong Xichou said, "That's not necessary."
He has already ordered his men to bring back all those who escaped.
Shen Tang: "...Zi Kuan didn't get angry?"
I can't even imagine how much trouble Xiahou Yu will have to clean up after the other party.
Gong Xiqiu frowned slightly. To outsiders, he appeared to be earnestly reflecting and repenting, but in reality, he was pondering, "Mama, who is Zikuan?"
Shen Tang: "..."
Xiahou Yu was about to cry when he heard this.
The men Shen Tang brought were all new recruits who had only surrendered a few days ago and were still under observation. She instructed Luo San to keep an eye on them and kill them without reporting if they showed any signs of disloyalty. She would deal with the mess that Gong Xi Chou had created recently, such as the King of Qi.
"You're not still keeping that old Deng alive, are you?"
Shen Tang lowered his voice, and Gong Xi Chou followed suit, lowering his voice as well.
No, he's dead.
"How did he die? Did you kill him?"
“No, killing this person would dirty my hands.” Gong Xi Chou’s face showed undisguised disgust when he mentioned the King of Qi, which made Shen Tang turn her head to look at him. Although Gong Xi Chou was clear about his likes and dislikes, not everyone could make him show his emotions on the surface.
Most people who offend him get a slap in the face.
If you can kill someone with a slap, there's no need to get angry again.
What did the ruler of Qi do to offend him?
"How did he die?"
"Oh, he got shot through the head by one of his own men."
Shen Tang was surprised: "...Die at the hands of our own people???"
Gong Xichou nodded in agreement.
The details are not very complicated to explain.
That day, the troops sent to protect the king gathered and surrounded the capital. Gongxi Chou, itching for a fight, went down and dealt with a few people, not killing them, just to amuse them. But they couldn't take the game and secretly shot them.
"Xiahou Yu sent men to infiltrate their army beforehand. With a single arrow, right in front of both armies, he killed the King of Qi, who was hanging on the banner. In the chaos of war, no one knew who shot the arrow, so they blamed it on them."
Xiahou Yu's move was quite insidious.
It's even more venomous than a viper!
From the outside, the troops under the city walls were all sent out under the pretext of protecting the emperor, and were considered a loyal and righteous army! Seeing that the battle was going badly, they actually took matters into their own hands and shot the rescue target dead! With the target dead, they had a reason to retreat.
Doesn't this turn a loyal and righteous army into a farce?
Gong Xiqiu gloated, "The morale collapsed instantly."
The battlefield instantly became as quiet as a funeral parlor.
Everyone stared dumbfounded at the corpse swaying in the wind atop the banner. The man's eyes were wide open, and disbelief still lingered on his face. He clearly hadn't expected that those who came to protect the emperor would take his life, unaware that those below the city walls were even more astonished.
They were complaining about why their king hadn't died for his country...
I also hope this worthless thing dies with some dignity...
But I really never had any murderous intent!
Whose arrow was that? Who fired that sneak attack? Step forward!
Some people broke down on the spot.
Gong Xichou scoffed: "Is that even a question? Didn't it fly out from your ranks? Hiding arrows in the shadows is despicable, but to shoot down a former lord in front of both armies… you truly open the eyes of the world!"
The drama of this story is so dramatic it will go down in history.
At this point, Gongxi Chou was unaware that the arrow was "sabotaged" by his own people, and he showed no mercy when he was being sarcastic.
(￣ェ￣;)
Ah, the battle to maintain perfect attendance this month is over...
See how many leave slips you can use.
P.S.: I reckon I'll be able to start the new book in March (I definitely won't be finished by then, so both books will probably be serialized simultaneously for a while, and I have a lot of side stories for "Retreat the Emperor," so I hope I don't break my promise~).
PPS: Regarding the pairing of Gong Xi Chou, I thought the hints in the whole text were quite clear. The two brothers... cough cough cough, roughly speaking, Ji Mo Qiu is equivalent to the will of the high priest in ancient times, and Gong Xi Chou is equivalent to Jiang Zhao who was reincarnated into the mortal world after Tang Mei took away his emotional threads.
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