Le charme d'une femme puissante se répand à travers le monde

Chapitre 114

“This isn’t like Third Brother at all,” Erlinzi suddenly said, and he even called me “Third Brother.”

I shuddered, wishing I could slap him flat. I gritted my teeth and said, "Erlinzi, don't think you can bully me just because I'm on your turf now."

"Since that's the case, Qianqian, just say what you have to say." He looked at me with the warmth of an older brother, but there was a hint of longing in his eyes.

"Uh, never mind, I won't argue with Erlinzi." I plopped down in the chair opposite him and said seriously, "Second Brother, although the war drums haven't sounded yet, the war has already begun. Ye Cang is the most powerful of the six kingdoms. I don't know how to fight, nor can I analyze the current situation. I only know that if we want to destroy Ye Cang, we can't provoke public resentment and cause a nationwide rebellion. Therefore, I suggest that you use all means to collect all the crimes and evil deeds of the Ye Cang royal family and spread them through various channels. Not only the royal family, but also the crimes and evil deeds of all officials in office should be collected and spread. We need the people of Ye Cang to lose faith in the Ye Cang royal family and the entire court. In conjunction with this, we also need to vigorously publicize the wisdom and benevolent policies of the two kings, Long Yao and Tian Qing."

To be honest, the people of this era weren't very conscious of their beliefs, and they lacked patriotic education. So, for them, as long as they lost faith in the court, changing dynasties would be much easier. Although Ye Cang started the rebellion first, the fact is that we are currently invading Ye Cang's territory.

As I spoke, I kept an eye on his expression. He remained calm, showing little surprise, but a hint of appreciation flashed in his eyes as he looked at me, and then he nodded knowingly.

"There's one more thing, Second Brother," I continued. "I wonder what method you will use to break through Cangqi Pass outside Cangzhou City. There is something that is very powerful and effective in warfare, and none of the six kingdoms have it yet. However, I only know the general idea and don't have the specific and accurate proportions. Why don't you send someone to research and experiment with it? Even if it can't be used in this battle, it will still be useful in the future."

"What is it? Tell me quickly, Qianqian." Clearly, people are always particularly perceptive and interested in things related to their profession.

Uh, just before speaking, I suddenly hesitated. If it were actually created, would it be a good thing or a bad thing? Would it be too destructive? Then I thought, since things have come to this point, ending the war as soon as possible is the most important thing. So I felt a little relieved, thought for a moment, and said, "It's called gunpowder. It's an explosive. When ignited, it burns rapidly and explodes. It has a very strong destructive power and is very effective for breaking through city gates or killing enemies."

"Gunpowder?" he repeated softly, his eyes holding emotions and a light I couldn't understand.

"Gunpowder is mainly composed of saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal." I scratched my head. I must be right, right? Oh no, it wouldn't be fun if I was wrong. "The approximate ratio is one part saltpeter, two parts sulfur, and three parts charcoal. The exact ratio needs to be constantly tested and refined. Remember, everyone must pay attention to safety during the experiment, because gunpowder is extremely lethal. It's common to lose your life if you're not careful, so you must be very cautious."

"How could Qianqian know these things?" He frowned and pondered my words carefully. After a while, he looked at me with a re-examination in his eyes, which seemed to be a mixture of surprise, disbelief, and curiosity.

"Uh, how would I know? I'm smart, what, are you jealous of me?" I can't stand Erlinzi's expression. Anyone can investigate me, but not him. "Heavens!" I slammed my hand on the table and yelled.

But then again, it's one thing to have outstanding political achievements, but if I also have such knowledge of military matters, wouldn't that seem a bit unbelievable? Ugh, I need to be more reserved, more discreet, more profound, and hide my true abilities!

He laughed heartily upon hearing this, his expression delighted, as if he had instantly returned to the relaxed atmosphere of the time when the three of them—me, him, and the fox—had spent time together. This kind of feeling was rare to experience during a march.

"Yes, Qianqian is very smart." He stopped smiling and said seriously.

I glanced at him suspiciously. I felt there was something off about his serious and earnest praise of my intelligence. It felt like an adult praising a child, full of indulgence and pampering. Ugh, when did Erlinzi become so mature? This isn't funny at all. Anyway, I've said what I needed to say. Qinglin will handle everything. I don't know anything about military strategy; I just need to take care of my own life. Thinking this, I immediately got up, ready to run outside to play. But then, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed something strange about the corner of the map. Unable to resist my curiosity, I reached out and lifted the map on the table. To my horror, I saw a piece of paper underneath—not paper, but a scroll of a letter of repair.

"Uh, what is this?"

"Ye Cang's negotiation document." Er Linzi didn't seem to mind Wei at all; instead, he handed the document to me.

I didn't answer, just glanced at it sideways, and then said with a look of disdain, "What does Ye Cang want to negotiate?"

"Qianqian, have you forgotten what banner we raised when we launched our attack?" He looked at me and smiled, his eyes bright and his handsome features giving off a warm, sunny feeling.

The reason for sending troops? Nothing much, just "besieging Ye to rescue Han"! "Besieging Ye to rescue Han," I murmured twice, a sudden thought flashing through my mind. Yes, we're launching this campaign under the banner of "besieging Ye to rescue Han." So how will Ye Cang view this war? Ye Cang's 200,000 elite troops had already joined forces with Xiu Ruo to attack Han Xing. Now that Ye Cang has learned that Long Yao and Tian Qing have sent troops, he'll firstly deploy his forces to defend Cang Qi Pass, and secondly, he'll try to avoid war if possible, otherwise it would be very disadvantageous for Ye Cang. Any reasonable King Ye Cang would make the most advantageous choice for Ye Cang and wouldn't put his country in a dilemma.

If Xiu Ruo had already broken off all pretense of civility, Ye Cang would have guessed the true nature of this battle, leaving him with no way out. The fact that he's still negotiating suggests that Xiu Ruo is still colluding with Ye Cang to feign an attack on Han Xing.

This wasn't a feigned attack; it was a genuine assault. Capturing Hanxing quickly would be the most advantageous outcome. Hanxing only realized the danger when the enemy was at their gates, and their repeated requests for help from Tianqing and Longyao, based on the timing of their troop deployments, suggest both countries were delaying. Furthermore, the time lag between Ye Cang's own country and the army attacking Hanxing created favorable conditions for the final, interconnected plan.

But when was the negotiation document delivered? I had no idea. Could it have been when I went for a stroll after breakfast this morning? Clearly, the negotiation document was left behind, but the envoy who delivered it had already returned. At this time, Ye Cang still maintained the airs of a great power, or perhaps it was arrogance!

I smiled at Erlinzi; our hearts were as clear as mirrors, and no further words were needed.

In the afternoon, the army marched for another half day and encamped a few miles from Cangqi Pass. Cangqi Pass was already tightly shut and heavily guarded. According to scouts, there were no fewer than 200,000 soldiers from Ye Cang inside. Everyone understood how important Cangqi Pass was. Meanwhile, on our side, Tianqing's army was already quite a distance away. Qinglin said that Longyao and Tianqing should attack separately, or rather, launch a two-pronged attack on Ye Cang. This would facilitate troop command and decision-making, and also allow for a faster capture of Ye Cang. The two armies would then meet outside Ye Cang's capital, Yezhou.

A wave of sorrow washed over me. I hadn't expected that seeing Xi Lan again outside the commander's camp this morning would be the true moment of parting. I didn't know why he remained silent, not even offering a goodbye. In truth, we had already formally said goodbye yesterday morning. But when would we meet again? Or perhaps we would never see each other again! My right hand gently caressed the protective charm coiled around my left little finger. Xi Lan, Xi Lan, how I long to ride a horse to you right now, to pull you away from this war, this politics, this power, all this right and wrong. But my reason tells me I cannot do that, Xi Lan…

For the next two days, neither side clashed. The soldiers guarding Cangqi Pass refused to come out of the city gates to meet our challenge. This was not a good sign. Time was of the essence for us. If Ye Cang held Cangqi Pass and did not move, we could wear down Long Yao's 200,000-strong army through attrition. Meanwhile, on Tianqing's side, Xi Lan had led her troops on a detour, heading south, intending to attack from the south of Cangzhou.

"Second Brother." I was still occupying General Mu's large bed, and then, utterly bored, I asked Er Linzi. Sigh, what a predicament! Ever since I came to the military camp, not only have I been sleeping in the same tent as Er Linzi, a lone man and woman, but since this great general went to the battlefield, I haven't been able to call him that weird name anymore. Back in peacetime, a great general was just someone who freeloaded, and that's how I treated Er Linzi—I could call him whatever I wanted and dismiss him without a second thought. But now, in this era of war, he's suddenly become incredibly important, and I can't treat him like a freeloader anymore. Sigh!

"What is it?" he replied, lying on his small floor mat, his voice calm.

Thinking back to when I was in a room with the fox, he was always groping and restless; while when I was in a room with Xi Lan, the atmosphere was always eerily quiet, and the two of us would not say a word all night; but now, when I am in a room with Qing Lin, I feel quite relaxed, and I am not afraid that he may have any ulterior motives or make a romantic confession.

"Has Second Brother come up with a plan for tackling this issue?" I pulled the blanket tighter around myself and continued, "I just think that since everyone is somewhat indifferent to negotiations, and issuing a normal challenge isn't effective, then it wouldn't hurt for us to provoke them a bit. Da Ye Cang, which has been recognized for hundreds of years as the most prosperous of the six kingdoms, will always be more proud than the average person."

"The commander in charge of defending Cangzhou this time is General Wang, the ever-victorious general of Ye Cang. He is nearly sixty years old. I heard that he was brave enough to be the best in the army when he was twenty years old. He was personally mentored and bestowed the title of general by the late King Ye Cang. His record is outstanding and he has never been defeated."

"So what? This time, Second Brother will teach him his first lesson in failure." Well, although the six kingdoms generally coexist peacefully, there are occasional border disputes and small wars. However, things escalating to the point of conquering cities and destroying kingdoms is a recent phenomenon. So the so-called "constant victory" is somewhat of an exaggeration. Besides, Qinglin's performance in the previous campaign against Wangyue alongside Tianqing Hanxing was a real, major battle, and he performed exceptionally well, so I have high hopes for him. However, judging from Qinglin's words, this General Wang has had a smooth career without any setbacks. Now that he's advanced in years, his great reputation must have made him somewhat arrogant and complacent, or perhaps not arrogant and complacent, but certainly not one to tolerate provocation from younger generations.

"Qianqian, go to sleep. Tomorrow won't be easy." He didn't say much, just gestured for me to go to bed early.

I gestured with my lip towards the sky, then reluctantly replied with an "Mmm," before turning over to go to sleep. Qinglin reacted the same way I said that; he probably already had my idea. Let's see what happens tomorrow.

Clouds Drunk and Moon Slightly Asleep (Revised Edition) Volume Four: A Hidden Melancholy and Resentment Brew Provocation

Chapter word count: 7931 Update time: 08-12-24 13:00

provocative

The next morning, I noticed everyone was busier than usual. I sat outside the command post watching them bustle about, then pulled Ye Feng aside and asked him to fetch me a pipa. The kid gave me a strange look, as if I were an alien, then vanished without a word, not even a "yes" or "okay." Sigh, I've figured him out. If you ask him to do something he understands, he'll respectfully agree; but if you ask him to do something he doesn't, that's his attitude. I wonder how Fox trained him, or maybe this kid only dares to give me attitude, taking advantage of my kindness? Otherwise, I really can't imagine anyone daring to give Fox attitude, except for me, of course, hehe.

Although this was a no-man's-land, there were still traces of people to be found beyond the small earthen town on one side. Ye Feng's efficiency was always exceptionally high, and in about an hour, he indeed came back carrying a pipa, and judging from the pipa's patterns, it was exquisite and elegant.

"Xiao Ye, you didn't steal this from a young lady's boudoir, did you?" It's very suspicious. The quality of this pipa is too good, especially in this military camp. Compared to the rest of the environment, it's too strange.

"I put out the silver." His lips twitched slightly, but his expression and voice remained calm.

"Xiao Ye, thank you." I took the pipa from his hands and thanked him sincerely. For someone like Ye Feng, asking him to do these things was not a matter of whether he felt wronged or not, but rather a psychological barrier for him. After all, he had all his martial arts skills, and the thought of using them to steal was something he never dared to imagine before.

Uh, it wasn't stealing; he had money in it, so it was more like a clandestine forced purchase!

He remained calm, saying nothing, only glancing at me before looking away and stepping behind me. The weather was still pleasant; the sun was quite warm by now. I carried my pipa out of the camp and walked to the front, watching a troop of soldiers run towards the gate of Cangzhou City. There were about a hundred of them, with no formation whatsoever. They stopped right in the middle of the city gate and the main army, and surprisingly, they sat down in small groups, basking in the sun, chatting, and playing dice, completely at ease.

Haha, this is blatant contempt and disdain for the other party! Erlinzi really knows how to think. The soldiers on the Cangzhou city gates, seeing this scene, have probably already run to report to their superiors.

The nearly one hundred soldiers laughed and joked for a while, but there was still no movement at the city gate or on the city wall. Qinglin was already standing beside me, and together we watched the scene unfold. This tactic might work, but it would take time, and it might ultimately fail. Everything depended on the reaction of the enemy marshal.