Chapter 814: A Grand Gift (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
"Our lord has returned!"
"It's a resounding victory—"
Chaoli Pass, city wall, watchtower.
The guards spotted Shen Tang leading the returning troops from afar and quickly relayed the news, which spread like wildfire. Shen Tang had already seen Chu Wu Hui guarding the city gate, and her anger subsided somewhat when she saw his face.
"Wu Hui, is everything alright?"
Chu Yao smiled and asked, "How was the battle, my lord?"
He naturally took the reins of the motorcycle, and Shen Tang followed suit, jumping off the mule's back. He said angrily, "Although I knew that Huang Xiguang would do inhuman things when food was scarce, such as using dried meat to make up for military rations, this is the first time I've actually seen it."
The impact of seeing something with your own eyes is different from that of hearing it.
Upon hearing this, Chu Yao's expression remained largely unchanged. He had witnessed the scene his lord described countless times; while not numb to it, he was quite accustomed to it. He was more concerned about his lord's next move: "What does my lord intend to do?"
Shen Tang said, "Send a proclamation of condemnation."
She originally planned to wait until Huang Lie ran out of ammunition and supplies and had no choice but to launch a general offensive against her forces, then she would remain unchanged and wait for the situation to change.
From a rational point of view, this plan is also the safest.
Firstly, the bigger the move, the bigger the opening. Secondly, without a continuous and stable supply of food, the enemy has plenty of opportunities to plant spies within their ranks, secretly spreading rumors of food shortages and undermining their morale from within. Thirdly, an enemy suffering from hunger and exhaustion is much easier to defeat than a well-fed and well-trained elite force. If Shen Tang can endure, he can reap the benefits.
But the key thing is that she can't hold back anymore.
Huang Lie's army's large-scale capture of refugees to use as military rations completely exceeded Shen Tang's initial plans. The only thing she hadn't anticipated was that these people's bottom line was even lower than she had expected. If she continued to tolerate it, was she really going to sit idly by and watch them devour the two prefectures of Yan and Gan?
When it comes to lower limits, Shen Tang can't compete with these people.
Chu Yao nodded, without trying to persuade Shen Tang to stay rational, and smiled, "Very good, should we hand this matter over to Wang Chao?"
Shen Tang said, "Wang Chao? He is indeed suitable."
The pen name 【五行缺德】 (Wu Xing Que De) is very rich in literary content.
If you don't have some literary talent, how can your works become popular among the troops?
The rest were all trivial matters, such as arranging a large morning meeting tomorrow to finalize the battle plan, holding a small victory banquet to reward the soldiers who had fought this operation, arranging for the prisoners of war that had been captured, and settling the refugees who had escaped death...
Chu Yao can handle all of these matters perfectly on his own.
After entering the city, Shen Tang remembered someone.
"Where is Wu Hui now, who knows where Shan Xiao is?"
Regardless of how shocking Qin Li's "gift" was to her, Shen Tang still glimpsed a sliver of truth from the surface—wasn't Qin Gongsu currently sidelined? How could he know enemy intelligence that even Wu Xian's vanguard scouts couldn't find?
She didn't doubt that top strategists possessed the ability to achieve decisive victories, but this all depended on ample intelligence or a keen understanding of human nature. Generally, this ability was more about controlling the overall situation. How could such detailed micro-management, like "Huang Lie has a granary somewhere; Shen Jun may gain something by passing through," be accomplished without detailed intelligence support?
Either Qin Li is truly a "prodigy," or—
He avoided Wu Xian as his source of intelligence, ensuring that even when he was sidelined, his information would not fall behind the overall situation.
Compared to the former, Shen Tang believed the latter more.
Don't forget Qin Li's way of the scholar. His way of the scholar is really just to create fog and interfere with the enemy's vision.
Who knows if there aren't other, unrevealed, wonderful uses?
The generous gift presented by Qin Li has been received. Now it's time for negotiations. Let's see what this scholar with a literary mind is after.
Chu Yao said, "Let's go to the experimental field to check on the growth of the corn."
The new batch of corn grains are in excellent condition, plump and glossy, and the yield of the finished product may break previous records. Given that corn has already been replanted in large quantities in Yanzhou and is growing well, this autumn harvest is guaranteed, which to some extent prevents a second famine. This batch of new seeds is not needed for the time being, so it will be stored up for promotion in other places next year.
With ample grain supplies, farmers in the area can feel at ease.
"Send someone to bring him here. Oh, and also, Gongyi." Shen Tang sought out Cui Xiao to understand Qin Li's thoughts, and Luan Xin to know her enemy and herself, ensuring victory in every battle. As the lord, it wasn't unreasonable for her to look at the answers before taking the test, was it?
Chu Yao wrote them down one by one.
The experimental fields were far away, so Luan Xin arrived first.
How much did Gongyi know about Qin Gongsu?
It was right at mealtime, and Shen Tang invited him to eat at the canteen together. Since Luan Xin had a limp and couldn't queue, she simply got two portions for herself. Luan Xin looked at the noisy canteen, listening to the clattering of chopsticks and spoons, and the smacking sounds from the soldiers' mouths… My lord, you don't really think the canteen is a good place to discuss things, do you?
"Is the lord referring to Qin Li, who served under Duke Zhaode?"
"Who else could it be but him?"
Luan Xin: "A man of unfathomable depth."
Shen Tang, whose mind was always filled with lewd thoughts, couldn't help but have impure ideas. She secretly slapped herself twice to dismiss the inappropriate images, and nodded in agreement: "Yes, yes, what else? For example—his literati way? How much does he know about justice?"
Luan Xin did not answer immediately, but instead took out a miniature scroll from his sleeve. This scroll was only the size of a palm, and each bamboo strip was very thin. Therefore, although the scroll was small, its unfolded length was quite considerable. Luan Xin read ten lines at a glance.
Finally, I closed the book and put it away.
"You actually failed to preserve the scholar's way of Qin Li?"
Shen Tang didn't quite understand; she thought Qin Li's way of the scholar was about as precious as the rare, out-of-print way of the scholar.
Luan Xin said, "He is still alive."
The implication is that there's no need to keep the scholar's way of life permanently copied from a living, breathing person who can be contacted in the short term.
Of course, there is another reason.
"Qin Gongsu's way of the scholar has two states—one is before it is perfected, and the other is after it is perfected. Xin's strength is insufficient, and his way of the scholar is not yet perfected. Even if we use his way of the scholar, we can only use the unperfected state."
Qin Li's technique lacks the full effect of the scholar's way, but it shares a similar principle with Miao Shu's "Silent Nourishment." One uses fog to obstruct the enemy's vision, while the other relies on rain to gather intelligence on enemy movements. Although they seem different, their usage is actually quite similar.
There's no need for such a scholarly path to occupy their two spots.
One is enough.
That one can only be a limited edition of "Silent Nurturing".
Shen Tang quickly figured out the relationship.
In layman's terms, for Luan Xin, Qin Gongsu has two skills that can be copied—the unfulfilled state is lit up and can be copied, while the perfected state is locked because Luan Xin's level is not high enough and is not open to the public, so it cannot be copied.
Luan Xin continued, "The one that is not perfect can generate fog, as our lord also knows, while the information about the perfect one is incomplete."
Shen Tang: "...You don't know either?"
"I only know his real name, and his way of the scholar—[Clouds and Mist]!" He will only know the specific details of the ability after copying it and using it. The perfect way of the scholar is beyond his limit. Why would Luan Xin make things difficult for himself?
"【Cloudy Sky and Foggy Earth】? That's a grand name."
Taken literally, the word describes someone who is ignorant and confused. But taking it literally—she couldn't help but look up at the sky, where the white clouds were dyed with dazzlingly beautiful colors by the sunset...
Luan Xin frowned and said, "This person is not simple."
Shen Tang smiled and said, "Of course, which scholar who has perfected the way of the scholar is simple?"
She considered herself to have many powerful subordinates, but only Jiang Sheng had truly mastered the ways of the scholar, which showed how difficult this hurdle was. Qin Li, on the other hand, had secured a spot all to himself; how could it be simple?
Luan Xin: "It's not entirely because of that."
Shen Tang asked, puzzled, "Does he have any other information?"
"The color of his aura is among the most unpleasant I've ever seen," Luan Xin said bluntly. Because of the special nature of the scholar's way, the world he sees is different from others. The most obvious point is that he can see the colors of many things—the energy of heaven and earth has color, human emotions have color, literary spirit and martial courage, and even the way of the scholar has color.
"But this is just one person's preference. My lord can just listen to it, but there's no need to develop a prejudice against Qin Gongsu because of it. My lord's sudden interest in him, is there some kind of intention behind it?" If the lord suddenly becomes interested in someone, it's either because he wants to poach or get involved.
Luan Xin prefers the former.
Many rumors about Wu Xian's subordinates surfaced in his mind, and it seemed that Qin Gongsu's situation was indeed dire, so he wanted to find another way out.
Shen Tang smiled and said, "I still don't know your heart."
Luan Xin responded with an "Oh".
So, the truth hasn't been revealed yet.
The topic of Qin Li was temporarily set aside. It was the first time Shen Tang had known that Luan Xin could see so many colors, and she couldn't help but feel a little curious: "Huh, what color am I in the eyes of justice?"
No, you can see things even if your mind is full of pornographic material?
Luan Xin looked up at Shen Tang for a long time.
"My lord has no color on him."
As she spoke, she gracefully picked up a piece of meat and vegetables with her chopsticks.
Shen Tang: "...Huh?"
"My lord has no color on him."
Luan Xin repeated it again.
Shen Tang: "..."
Luan Xin wasn't lying to her; he genuinely couldn't see any color in Shen Tang. In Luan Xin's eyes, she was an unconventional being. Her emotions, literary aura, and martial spirit were all colorless, like the transparent monogram on her waist.
Shen Tang was a little confused, recalling a past event—when she first met Jiang Sheng, he had said something similar.
The lord's 'qi' is very special.
What makes it special?
[The special thing is that you may not have 'qi'.]
Under normal circumstances, Jiang Sheng can see the "qi" of others, but he cannot see Shen Tang's "qi," unless Kang Jishou uses the ways of the literati to harm her again. Now, Luan Xin says he can see the unique colors of everything, but he cannot see her.
Shen Tang asked worriedly, "Will it have any impact?"
Luan Xin took a sip of soup: "No."
Shen Tang smiled again, patted his chest and grinned: "Hey, that's good. Throughout history, those who achieve great things have always had characteristics that set them apart from others. Perhaps this is my unique feature."
In the future, historians won't need to fabricate material to make things up.
Shen Tang smiled, but inwardly she was sweating bullets.
This special status is definitely related to its status as a sacred object. After all, it's a Sleeping Beauty who's been lying underground for two hundred years; who knows if it's now a human or an old zombie? She skillfully changed the subject with jokes, eating and drinking her fill while waiting for Shan Xiao.
When Cui Xiaolai came, she used simple dental floss to clean her teeth.
"Shanxiao, will Qin Gongsu come tonight?"
If he comes, she'll be waiting for him; if he doesn't, she'll wash up and go to bed early, since there's a big morning meeting tomorrow.
Cui Xiaodao: "They will most likely come."
Shen Tang thought to himself, "This is a sure thing," and changed to a more comfortable sitting position: "Shanxiao, can you give me some advice? What are the chances of Qin Gongsu coming into my arms... no, I mean coming under my command? Don't be fooled by his ambiguous behavior; he hasn't said anything straightforward."
The ambiguous stage is when people are most suspicious.
Although Qin Li showed that she wanted to leave Wu Xian, she did not explicitly say that she wanted to be in her arms. It was possible that it was mutually beneficial for both of them—she tasted the sweetness with Qin Gongsu's help, and Qin Gongsu regained his freedom with her help.
Cui Xiaowei asked in surprise, "Does the lord intend to recruit Gong Su?"
Shen Tang was very straightforward: "Talented people, who wouldn't like them?"
Cui Xiao reminded Shen Tang: "Gong Su has great prestige among us. If he chooses our lord, the others will also choose our lord. This is not just about accepting Gong Su alone."
They're going to bundle them together and ship them all around.
Shen Tang raised an eyebrow: "And then?"
Cui Xiao: "Isn't my lord afraid that the old story of Duke Zhaode will repeat itself?"
Shen Tang was speechless. What a failure Wu Xian was as a person! This person hadn't even left yet, and he was already "past his prime." Considering the relationship between Cui Xiao and Qin Li, Shen Tang didn't take his concerns lightly, but rather saw them as Qin Gongsu's thoughts.
Is it a struggle between two factions?
Cui Xiao nodded: "Mm."
Shen Tang rested his chin on his hand, thinking about the people under his command, and sighed deeply: "A gentleman is inclusive but not sociable, while a petty person is sociable but not inclusive. Wherever there are people, there will be disputes. This is human nature, and no one can avoid it. Even the most famous rulers throughout history could not make their ministers united and without any discord. This goes against human nature and is unrealistic. Take Yuan Liang, for example; his enemies are everywhere. As his lord, all I can do is maintain a bottom line—disputes are acceptable, but they cannot cross the line."
Healthy competition is acceptable.
Vicious competition and workplace bullying, damn it!
Cui Xiao asked, "Crossing the boundary? For example?"
Shen Tang smiled and said, "Take Yuan Liang as an example. Any accusations or impeachments must be based on facts and evidence, and cannot be fabricated out of thin air. Most importantly, he can die, but only because he has committed an unforgivable serious mistake. He must die by my hand, not by someone else's!"
Cui Xiao then asked, "Is it only Qi Yuanliang?"
Shen Tang said, "No, it's everyone."
Cui Xiao seemed dissatisfied with this question and asked a rather subtle one: "If our lord were Duke Zhaode, how would you deal with the infighting among your subordinates? Would you maintain a balance?"
“I am not him. Our backgrounds and personalities are different, so we are destined to be unable to truly empathize. In fact, the safest and most suitable approach for Tianhai is to balance the three parties without bias. To be honest, Wu Zhaode did not do anything wrong at the beginning, but he accepted investments from various Tianhai companies. He was indebted to them and destined to be controlled by them. In this situation, it is too difficult to be impartial. But if it were me, I would have wiped out the insects that threatened me long ago.”
No one can force me to be biased!
"If you dare to do that, you'd better think twice before you lose your head!"
Cui Xiao seemed somewhat surprised.
He joined the party the latest, and his understanding of Shen Tang's ruthless methods of killing was still not deep enough—his subordinates were all over 100 pounds in physique and 200 pounds in rebellious spirit, so how could their lord be a law-abiding person?
Shen Tang softened her tone.
Looking up at Cui Xiao, he asked, "Does Qin Gongsu have this concern?"
Cui Xiao gave a bitter smile: "Once bitten by a snake, always found."
Wu Xian has left everyone with psychological trauma.
If the next lord is the same, given Qin Li and his ilk's temperament, they would rather live in seclusion in the mountains than continue working here.
Shen Tang spread his hands: "Actually, it's not a big problem. I only have two factions under my command. One faction is called 'Qi Yuanliang and his friends,' and the other faction is called 'Qi Yuanliang's enemies.' Yuanliang has been with me for so many years and is still alive and kicking, which shows how good I am at managing my subordinates! Of course, it's also related to the fact that everyone feels guilty towards me. Xian Deng and the others have wronged me, so they are particularly lenient towards Yuanliang..."
She sacrificed a great deal for Qi Yuanliang, the sixth son.
Cui Xiao: "..."
When will Qin Gongsu arrive?
Cui Xiao turned his head to look outside the tent.
Shen Tang also pretended to be curious and puzzled as she looked over.
Qin Li's smiling voice came from outside the tent, followed by a slender, well-proportioned right hand with distinct knuckles lifting the curtain, and a person bent down to enter. As he entered, the tent was filled with the faint fragrance of grass and leaves, and he said, "I've come."
"Did Gong Su hear that?"
Her voice carried a barely perceptible hint of tension and surprise.
Qin Li's eyes were clear and bright, and his voice was like water: "Were Shen Jun's words just now specifically meant for me to hear?"
There's no need to pretend when you know the truth.
|ω`)
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(End of this chapter)
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