Li Shishi exclaimed in surprise, "I didn't hear you write a will last time!"
“I left this after I rescued you from Jin Wuzhu,” Jin Shaoyan said to Li Shishi with a smile. “I had long anticipated that as long as I was with you, I might mysteriously disappear at any time—I was prepared for that.”
Li Shishi gently rested her head in Jin Shaoyan's arms and sobbed, "Aren't we being too selfish? Is this fair to your family?"
Jin Shaoyan said bitterly, "My son will eventually grow up. He needs to have his own happiness and life. If they truly love me, they will understand."
I couldn't take it anymore, and wiping away my tears, I said, "How about I send you two to the late Qing Dynasty? If you work hard, you might even be able to see Shao Yan's grandmother again."
Li Shishi finally couldn't help but burst out laughing, saying, "Cousin is too naughty."
I pressed her head into Jin Shaoyan's arms again: "You two keep eating—cheer up, nobody can say for sure what will happen in three months."
This time, we'll have to go through a timeline, connecting the military routes of each dynasty—it's a massive undertaking. Liu Laoliu and He Tiandou don't have the energy to create a fast track for me anymore. I can understand that. Let alone such an exaggerated workload, even setting up a LAN for an internet cafe takes a day or two, right?
Fortunately, the journey from Qin to Ming wasn't too long, so I started calling the emperors on the way. Zhao Kuangyin's phone was out of battery, and Genghis Khan's was out of credit—the old man was probably chatting with someone else. My clients could contact each other, so no one knew who was talking to whom. I finally got through to Li Shimin. Li Shimin answered, "Xiao Qiang?"
I laughed and said, "Brother Li, busy?"
Li Shimin: "Yes, I'm reviewing memorials. Are you planning to come and have some fun?"
I said, "I'll come pick you up in a bit and then we'll leave. Wait for me at the door of your house; we can talk about it."
Li Shimin said, "Is it important? Why don't you come to my house first, and I'll find a few princesses to accompany you hunting or something?"
"It's important, and it won't wait for anyone."
Li Shimin said, "But what am I going to do with all these memorials?" He truly was a wise and virtuous ruler, always putting the people first.
I said dismissively, "Why don't you put it aside for now? You can just write a burst of code to make up for it tomorrow, right?"
Li Shimin asked, "Will you give me the perfect attendance bonus and the monthly pass?"
"...Did you guys like this back then?"
"Yes, the censors are all watching you. If you can't give a reason for taking a day off, they'll mark it as an attendance violation."
Uh... the above comments are just for your amusement and should be taken with a grain of salt. Any resemblance to actual events is purely coincidental and is simply wishful thinking.
Chapter 191 The Journey to Find the Emperor
After contacting Li Shimin, I drove directly to Zhu Yuanzhang's location. Although I was also a Grand Tutor in the Ming Dynasty, unlike in the Qin and Han dynasties where everyone knew me, seeing Zhu Yuanzhang was quite difficult. So, I first went to the Shenji Camp, pretending to be Wang Basan's cousin, and casually told the messenger my name. Before long, a dozen fast horses hurriedly came to pick me up, speaking very politely. I followed them to a desolate mountain area, where I saw a dozen cannons set up in an open space, with targets standing in the distance; the Ming army was conducting exercises.
Wang Basan, dressed in military uniform, hurriedly stepped forward and saluted when he saw me: "Grand Tutor Xiao!"
I said with a grin, "They're firing cannons right now."
Wang Basan: "...Uh, yes, if I weren't on official business, I would have gone to pick up the Grand Tutor myself. Look, we have now developed the Type 85."
I laughed and said, "Just call me Xiaoqiang. Is Your Majesty free right now?"
Wang Ba San said, "Since you've come, you must have something."
I chuckled and went with Wang Ba San to see Zhu Yuanzhang. On the way, I asked him, "How is General Hu Yi Er Yi doing lately?"
Just then, a group of soldiers ran past us, chanting: "One, two, one, one, two, one."
Wang Basan laughed and said, "See? His name has already been promoted throughout the entire army."
Zhu Yuanzhang was currently reviewing memorials. Being an emperor wasn't like what's portrayed on TV, where one could stroll around in commoner's clothes every day or hold grand banquets for officials. He was busy with work all day, and the only times he could relax were during ancestral worship and the Lantern Festival. And Zhu Yuanzhang, as the founding emperor, didn't have much to worship anyway…
When Zhu Yuanzhang saw me arrive, he held his vermilion brush and said, "Wait a moment, I'll finish reading this quarterly report, and then I'll personally roast a duck for you. I've even figured out the sweet bean sauce..."
I put down his pen, pulled him up, and said, "Come with me quickly, something's happened."
Zhu Yuanzhang said, "No, I've only checked half of these accounts, and I've already discovered a few more corrupt officials."
I continued pulling him along as we walked, saying, "We can check it when we get back. What's a little extra time? Wouldn't it be better to use the time you spend researching sweet bean sauce on reviewing memorials?" It's really despicable that such a great emperor doesn't even have an accountant.
Zhu Yuanzhang asked helplessly, "Where are we going?"
"First, go find Genghis Khan. Finally, go to see Qin Shi Huang."
"You've brought together so many of our senior executives, who are you trying to acquire?"
Without saying much, I dragged him into the car and headed straight for Genghis Khan.
Before long, they arrived at the grassland, where the scenery stretched as far as the eye could see. Zhu Yuanzhang exclaimed with delight, "This place is perfect for a vacation!"
Ahead lay Genghis Khan's great banner. Local herders, seeing my carriage approach, rode alongside, cheering. Genghis Khan, already informed, waited for us outside his tent, a golden sword at his waist, eyes narrowed. Upon seeing Zhu Yuanzhang emerge from the carriage, he smiled and said to those around him, "Our enemy has arrived."
Zhu Yuanzhang grabbed his hand and said, "Don't say that. You've come all this way to see me, and this is all you say?"
Genghis Khan laughed heartily and said, "Just kidding. With you here tonight's bonfire party, who knows who will benefit from those 200 slaves."
Zhu Yuanzhang asked, "What do you mean?"
I quickly said to Genghis Khan, "Brother, let's postpone the bonfire party for later. We have important business to attend to today."
Genghis Khan said, "Even if you borrow more troops, there's no rush. Stay one more night before you leave, and tomorrow your elder brother will personally accompany you on your expedition—who will it be this time?"
I chuckled and said, "There's no fighting this time, so you can just come with me."
"Then I'll go with you." Genghis Khan looked back; Muqali and the others had arrived by then. Genghis Khan laughed, "Remember, I'm going with Xiao Qiang. If he doesn't come back, go to him for me. Ah, in this world, I'm afraid only he can lure your Great Khan away with just a few words." Everyone laughed. After exchanging pleasantries with Muqali and the others, I took the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty and the eagle of the grasslands with me and we set off again.
As soon as the car started moving, I suddenly slapped my thigh: "Oh no!"
Zhu Yuanzhang hurriedly asked, "What's wrong?"