She pulled Si Xitong along, completely unaware that she had been watching her the whole time.
"Xie Guang, what is the situation in the army?" Xie Lanzhi asked.
Xie Guang immediately reported: "Grand Marshal, the army is as usual, but the situation has been turbulent recently. Although the Southern Region is renowned, the Shi Kingdom has repeatedly provoked us."
"They are clearly dissatisfied with the reparations for the ceded territory. This year they have started to stir again, but most of their actions are minor border skirmishes, and they dare not launch a direct attack. This kind of half-hearted behavior is despised by everyone in the Xie family."
Xie Lanzhi knew about the Shi Kingdom Prefecture, which was located in the western part of the Southern Region. It was originally called Xiyu, but it was occupied by Shi Yang and 100,000 men for 20 years, almost the same amount of time that the Xie family had ruled the Southern Region.
However, the descendants of Shi Yang were not as capable as the Xie family. The Xie family produced a military genius, Xie Ying, within twenty years. Under her leadership, the Southern Region occupied twenty-three counties in just five years and also seized ninety-one ports of varying sizes in neighboring states, engaging in maritime trade. As a result, the fishing industry in the Southern Region was very developed.
Meanwhile, the southern region is naturally fertile, yielding three harvests a year, and its population is also dominant. The twenty-three counties even became major granaries in the rear.
Now that the region has been stable for two years, the population of the southern region has increased significantly.
The Shi family mentioned by Xie Guang seems to have been at odds with the Xie family throughout the first half of the story, repeatedly provoking them and suffering repeated beatings.
If she could, she would wish for world peace.
Xie Lanzhi couldn't help but ask the Empress, who had been silently waiting beside her, "Qitong, what do you think of the current situation?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Xie Guang couldn't help but show a look of disdain. What did a woman know? She wasn't some genius like the Grand Marshal.
Si Xitong was slightly startled. Did the Marshal want her to interfere in the military affairs of the Southern Region? She immediately reminded him, "Marshal, one should not interfere in politics in the inner quarters. I dare not say anything more."
Xie Guang nodded in agreement: "Madam Si is absolutely right."
Xie Lanzhi raised an eyebrow and said to Xie Guang, "Is there such a rule in the backyard that, as the head of the household, my wife has an obligation to answer whatever question I ask?"
"This..." Xie Guang was afraid of displeasing the Grand Marshal. He had no choice but to change his words and say, "Madam Si, what is your opinion?"
Xie Lanzhi nodded in satisfaction. The Empress was no ordinary person; she was destined to be the ruler who would unify the world. Her opinion was certainly important.
After hesitating for a moment, Si Xitong began to try to explain her views to Xie Lanzhi: "I believe that the Shi State government has a strong army. However, the chieftains under the State government retain the right to co-govern. In name, the chieftains obey the State government, but in reality, the State government does not have the power to mobilize the chieftains' troops. Orders from above are not issued to those below, so there has always been friction between the two."
Xie Guang thought she might have something new to say, but it was nothing special. He added, "The feud between the chieftain and the government is common knowledge. It wouldn't be surprising if they fought one day, but that would be a good opportunity for the Southern Region to attack the government."
“In this way, the Si family believes that the National Government and the Tusi will not only not conflict, but will depend on each other. The Tusi rely on the National Government’s money and grain to survive, and the National Government relies on the Tusi to maintain the stability of the border. Each has its own interests, and the relationship is more stable.” Si Xitong analyzed: “The root cause is the existence of the Southern Region in the surrounding area, which makes them work together.”
Xie Lanzhi agreed, saying, "Once Shi Yang dies, regardless of whether his successors are mediocre or not, as long as the existing system is maintained, the Shi Kingdom will have several decades of development ahead of it."
In time, many warlords will simply outlast them.
Si Xitong nodded: "Marshal, you are absolutely right. I believe that the Shi Kingdom will become the biggest rival in the Southern Region."
Upon hearing this, Xie Lanzhi secretly praised her, saying that she truly deserved to be called the Empress, as she immediately recognized that the most threatening enemy in the Southern Region was the Shi Kingdom.
Xie Guang fell into deep thought, and after that he rarely interrupted the Empress.
After listening to the Empress's insights, Xie Lanzhi happened to arrive at the shooting range and saw the archers training. When the young archer spotted her, he excitedly rushed to her from a hundred meters away.
"Marshal, did you come here to teach me archery? I want to be able to hit a target from a hundred paces away, just like the Grand Marshal."
It seems to be something Xie Ying had promised.
Xie Lanzhi's face stiffened.
Xie Guang also seized the opportunity to say, "Xie Shangguang has been waiting for you at the archery range. Why don't you teach him today so he won't bother you later?"
The problem is, she's never shot an arrow before!
The shooting games she played most often in modern times were 4399 mini-games. These programs all came with a scope, so she didn't need to measure anything or put in any effort; she could just click the mouse.
Xie Lanzhi felt embarrassed, but she didn't show it on her face.
The little boy kneeling on the ground looked only fifteen. His innocent face was full of fervent admiration, and he was also looking forward to her teaching him a skill.
The words she had just prepared to refuse stuck in her throat. She hesitated for a moment, then suddenly caught a whiff of the empress's unique fragrance.
Suddenly, Si Xitong leaned close to her affectionately and took her arm, saying, "My foot hurts a little."
Xie Lanzhi looked at her with a face full of gratitude. As expected of the Empress, she was so good at reading people's expressions and then gave herself a way out.
But she underestimated the boy named Xie Shangguang.
Xie Shangguang brought a bamboo rattan chair from somewhere and placed it behind Si Xitong. He said respectfully, "Madam Marshal, please sit down."
"Thump." He knelt down before Si Xitong, his voice almost pleading, "Madam, could you please wait a moment and let the Marshal finish teaching the boy before returning to the manor? Just a little while, please, Madam."
Si Xitong was completely stunned.
Xie Lanzhi was also trapped.
That kid is terrifying; he actually found her weakness.
Even Si Xitong's expression became hesitant: "Marshal?"
She was caught in a dilemma, struggling with her decision, when she suddenly remembered that the Empress's archery skills were also quite good. Although she wasn't a crack shot, her skills were still far superior to her own.
She whispered in the Empress's ear, "I've been resting for a while and I'm afraid I won't perform well and spoil the children's fun, so I'm asking you for help."
Si Xitong replied without hesitation, "Yes, Your Majesty."
"Thank you." Xie Lanzhi was secretly touched; the Empress was truly a considerate and kind girl!
Then, at the white line of the shooting range, two figures appeared standing on top of each other.
Xie Lanzhi stood behind Si Xitong, her hands supporting the bow and arrow. Si Xitong followed her movements, seemingly gentle but actually exerting considerable strength in secret. Especially when she picked up the bow and arrow, her whole demeanor was dashing and imposing, as if a thousand troops would be unstoppable in her hands.
This made her constantly marvel inwardly.
The Empress is indeed very cool.
Si Xitong felt a strong gaze behind her.
She had long since adapted. She always wore a gaze that she couldn't trace the source of.
Also, Xie Lanzhi doesn't know how to shoot arrows? A question flashed through my mind, but quickly disappeared.
"Marshal," Si Xitong said softly, "you only need to cooperate with me."
Xie Lanzhi replied, "Go ahead and do it."
As soon as she finished speaking, she felt a soft hand covering the back of her hand. Her five fingers gripped hers, taking control of the situation and seizing the initiative. Her hand was suddenly empty, and the arrow swiftly pierced the air, striking the tiger's forehead on the target.
The target soldier immediately waved a flag in the distance: "First Middle School!!"
Xie Shangguang exclaimed excitedly, "The Marshal can hit the bullseye even while holding his wife! His superb archery skills are indeed beyond my reach!"
Xie Guangze, standing nearby, sensed something was amiss.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!" With three simultaneous sounds, Xie Lanzhi, under Si Xitong's control, hit the tiger's forehead.
The target soldier shouted, "Hit!!"
"Grand Marshal, you are amazing!" Xie Shangguang excitedly ran up to her, his eyes shining as if Xie Lanzhi was radiating a dazzling light behind him.
She released the Empress and encouraged the boy, "You must practice hard, and you will definitely be better than me in the future."
"Yes, Grand Marshal! I will definitely hone my archery skills. When I go to the battlefield, I will fight for the Xie family just like you!" Xie Shangguang said excitedly.
He immediately picked up a bow and arrow and shot three arrows in quick succession, hitting the tiger's forehead directly and ending Xie Lanzhi's smile.
Kid, are you naturally dark-skinned?
Xie Guang raised his bow and fired three arrows at random, all hitting the bullseye.
People in ancient times were truly terrifying; they could easily become master archers.
It seems she can't stay in the military camp any longer; she must take Si Xitong back to the manor as soon as possible.
She put down her bow and arrows and said, "Xie Guang, I'm tired."
"This humble general will arrange a carriage for you immediately," Xie Guang said.
Xie Shangguang said reluctantly, "Marshal, you must come next time too."
Xie Lanzhi promised, "Practice hard, and I'll come see you again later."
Si Xitong followed her silently.
As soon as the two left the military camp, cavalry charged into the camp gate, almost brushing past them. She shielded Si Xitong behind her.
He then asked with displeasure, "Xie Guang, what's going on?"
Xie Guanggang pulled the carriage out and explained, "Grand Marshal, the cavalry battalion should have been clearing out the miscellaneous troops that appeared in the village overnight before returning."
overnight?
She felt the person behind her suddenly tighten their grip on her robe, their emotions fluctuating, seemingly very concerned about the matter. Just as Xie Lanzhi was puzzled, Si Xitong took the initiative to ask Xie Guang for the first time, "General Xie, could you tell the Si family how the refugees from Nomura will be dealt with?"
Xie Guang said, "If we're lucky, we might survive; if we're unlucky, we'll probably be slaughtered by the miscellaneous troops before the cavalry arrive."
The nonchalant tone made Si Xitong very uncomfortable, and her emotions became even more uneasy: "Marshal, could you please, for my sake, save my benefactor!"
"Benefactor?!" Xie Lanzhi immediately lowered her eyes. Was it the village that gave the Empress a sip of water that saved her life?
It seems she can't just sit idly by.
Chapter 10: She Wants to Learn from Xie Ying?
"Xie Guang, send some men to follow us. We're going to Nomura to take a look," Xie Lanzhi ordered.
Xie Guang had a hesitant expression, but seeing Madam Si's pitiful appearance, he knew that the Grand Marshal would not stand idly by.
Xie Guang had no choice but to go to the military camp and summon more than two hundred cavalrymen.
Nomura is a gray area between the three places, and also the border area between Shiguo Prefecture, Runan County and Guide County.
The two counties are subordinate territories of the Southern Region. The Shi State Prefecture is located to the west. The population of displaced people here is complex and there is no one to manage them. Naturally, they are unregistered wild people.
Some lowly soldiers and bandits, seeking the thrill of slaughter, often targeted Nomura.
Apart from the Xie clan cavalry occasionally carrying out official duties and incidentally clearing out miscellaneous troops, other lords here were simply unwilling to spend the resources to manage it.
Xie Lanzhi led Si Xitong on horseback to Yecun.
The wild village she saw with her own eyes consisted entirely of low huts pieced together from firewood. In the nearby ravines were mole-like holes, inside which lay the skin and bones of starving villagers, their faces numb and lifeless, their bodies covered in a thick layer of mud, like walking clay sculptures.
The stove was just a makeshift stone, the bowls were broken tiles, and there wasn't a single thing to eat, but there was a large pile of tree bark and grass. The rest were basically just waiting to die.
The most shocking thing is that there are no women here. Not even an old woman.
Si Xitong said sadly, "There is a slave market in Shiguo Prefecture, where most women and children are sold to various places to be slaves and treated as lowly."