But how could a group of grown men possibly reach an agreement? So they sought out their daughters to ask what Marshal Xie was worried about at his age.
The results invariably led to speculations about a beautiful woman and a talented man, or vice versa. This reminded the generals of the scene two years ago when Marshal Xie used a cannon to blow up three Xianbei generals; at that time, she was only twenty-three and had already accomplished something that ordinary people could not. Therefore, Marshal Xie could not be judged by her gender at all.
For the generals, comparing Marshal Xie to an ordinary woman was an insult, and comparing him to a man was even more humiliating, as few in this chaotic world could achieve what the marshal had accomplished.
So the generals were at their wits' end and decided to send an outside official who wanted to curry favor with the marshal to try and appease him.
The official who happened to be trying to curry favor with the Xie clan in the southern region was a prince from one of the eight remaining Jin states, known as Lord Sibo.
Si Bo Gong was a member of the royal family of the seventh Jin dynasty. His territory was the size of a prefecture, with a population of two million. In addition, the seven kings of the seventh Jin dynasty were considered to be wise rulers. Therefore, after the Jin dynasty existed in name only, the seventh Jin dynasty was actually the one that fared the best.
The territory of Qi Jin is close to the Southern Region, and there is an inland river that is very popular with the Xie family merchants in the Southern Region. Trade between the two sides has become more frequent, bringing a lot of economic development to the Southern Region. Qi Jin has also made a fortune. So, although Qi Jin is not exactly favored by Xie Ying, it is still considered important because of trade.
Si Bo Gong came up and gently knocked on the door to greet the person inside: "Marshal, your humble servant Si Bo Gong of Qi Jin has come to pay you a visit."
Xie Lanzhi heard the noise outside. She had been lying under the covers, intending to take a nap, as she had stayed up all night worrying and was now sleepy. But then she heard that familiar name: Si Bogong.
In the History of Empress Jin, Sibo Gong was a member of the royal family of the Seven Jin states and was currently an official stationed in the southern region of the Seven Jin states. His job was to be in charge of trade with Xie Ying on the inland river.
He was also the Empress's cousin. When the Empress was in trouble, Si Bogong secretly helped her and even considered bringing her to the territory of the Seven Jin, but the Seven Kings refused.
Since the Seven Kings are currently vying with the other Seven Jin states for the right to the legitimate line of succession, how could they possibly move the actual legitimate heir to their own territory?
"So it's Master Si." Xie Lanzhi's tone softened slightly, after all, he was the Empress's cousin, and a member of the Si family who valued family ties.
When Si Bogong heard that Marshal Xie's voice had softened considerably, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Then, he cautiously asked, "I wonder if I could delay Marshal for a quarter of an hour so that I can say a few words?"
"Wait a moment, I, this Marshal will get up immediately." Xie Lanzhi immediately got out of bed and put on a red robe from the clothes rack. She originally wanted to go out directly, but then she thought that she was now the brutal Xie Ying, and not having a weapon by her side would not fit her image at all. It would also easily arouse suspicion.
Xie Lanzhi came to the sword rack and looked at the three swords that were stuck diagonally in the rack, each with a scabbard in red, white and black with dark gilding patterns.
She chose the red sword, which matched the outer robe better.
The moment she stepped out the door, her already depressed mood lessened somewhat because of her contact with people related to the Empress. However, when she saw a group of generals lined up on both sides of the outer courtyard, all of them waiting cautiously for her to come out, she was immediately relieved.
Seeing Xie Ying's fierce-looking generals, she wanted to go back inside.
Upon seeing the tall hat, refined-looking, and fair-skinned Si Bogong, she held back: "I've come out, what do you have to say?"
Si Bogong bowed slightly, his eyes subtly sweeping over the red sword at Xie Lanzhi's waist, indicating that she would not be going to war today. Reassured, he said, "I heard that you have been quiet and withdrawn since your return. Is something troubling you?"
"If you tell me, I will definitely find a way to solve this for you."
Upon hearing this, the surrounding generals all expressed their concern, saying, "Marshal, what Master Sibo said is absolutely right. Why not speak your mind? We will do anything for you, even risk our lives."
These people were fine when they didn't speak, but once they opened their mouths, they were filled with the smell of gunpowder from war. They were indeed Xie Ying's soldiers. They had fought many battles over the years, and their killing intent had naturally increased.
Xie Lanzhi couldn't help but feel a headache coming on at the thought. She rubbed her forehead and said, "I should be fine."
"It's good that you're alright. You absolutely can't be alright," the generals said happily. It was as if Xie Lanzhi's words of relief meant she was truly alright.
"That means there's nothing our Grand Marshal can't do."
"Our Southern Region has a strong and powerful army, the best in the world. Sooner or later we will launch a northern expedition and wipe out all those who are splitting the Central Plains."
Xie Lanzhi felt her head buzzing again; her headache was partly due to this group of people.
These people constantly shout about war, as if it's become a habit. Although it's a chaotic world where war is commonplace, she's barely survived once, and although her body isn't in good condition, she hears these ominous words every day.
She was worried that her body would also develop heart disease.
Xie Lanzhi couldn't help but say, "All of you, shut up!"
The noise quickly subsided, and no one dared to speak loudly anymore.
Xie Lanzhi looked at Si Bogong, who was also good at reading people. He immediately advised the generals around him, "Gentlemen, the Marshal seems to want some peace and quiet."
The leader of the generals was General Xie, a man with a thick beard that covered his chin, named Xie Guang.
Xie Guang glanced at Si Bogong with disdain, and when he turned back, he almost pleaded with Xie Lanzhi in a low voice, "Marshal, please take care of your health."
Xie Lanzhi waved her hand at him somewhat irritably: "I understand."
Xie Guang then led the others away from the outer courtyard.
As soon as they left, General Zuo, who was beside Xie Guang, couldn't help but ask with concern, "Marshal, are you at the age where you've finally come to your senses?"
"A sudden realization?" Xie Guang's face was full of solemnity: "You mean the Grand Marshal would be interested in Master Sibo?"
General Zuo said, "Perhaps so. I can sense that the Grand Marshal has been in a bad mood, as if he is troubled by something. Maybe he has some kind of trouble."
Xie Guang thought about it and then felt it was impossible: "The marshal has been following the old marshal in battles since she was a child. She has long since lost her girlishness and would not be interested in ordinary men."
Not to mention those roughnecks like them. So Xie Guang had a vague guess in his mind: could it be that the Grand Marshal might like women?
It's perfectly normal for the Grand Marshal to have a penchant for women. After all, she's in a high position and can do whatever she wants. Her subordinates will unconditionally support her, and might even be eager to send their own daughters to the Grand Marshal's room.
Xie Lanzhi, who remained in the inner courtyard, sat on a chair that had been brought over and poured a cup of tea for Master Si: "Please."
Si Bogong was somewhat flattered and presented the tea with both hands, saying, "Thank you, Marshal, for the tea."
Xie Lanzhi carefully examined his handsome appearance, her mind wandering as she imagined whether the Empress was even more beautiful and valiant.
After drinking his tea, Si Bogong said, "Grand Marshal, although I don't know what you're worried about, there is something I'm sure you'll be very interested in."
Xie Lanzhi had seen everything in modern times, so what could possibly interest her in ancient times? Therefore, she asked with little interest, "What is it that you are talking about, Master Si?"
Seeing that she responded, Si Bogong immediately said, "In the capital of my humble country, there once came the most beautiful woman in the western city."
She was the concubine most beloved by the Emperor of the Western City, the beauty who had an affair with Huang Mang and was dragged into the blame by him.
Indeed, in chaotic times, women's lives are truly miserable, and the lives of beautiful women are even more miserable.
Xie Lanzhi then said, "I have heard of the most beautiful woman in the West City, with an unparalleled beauty and an ethereal appearance. Those who possess her are all..."
She paused, then finally realized why Master Si had brought this up.
She immediately raised an eyebrow and asked, "What does Master Si mean by this?"
Si Bogong quickly stood up, bowed, and said, "Your subject has no other intention than to convey a matter to the Grand Marshal. The day after tomorrow, Huang Mang will accompany the Crown Prince of the Northern Region to visit the Southern Region."
"I heard that they also brought a gift of unparalleled wonder to present to you."
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Chapter 3 Some people say it's a pet
Huang Mang and the Crown Prince of the Northern Region—isn't Huang Mang the guy who just destroyed Tianjing and the Jin Dynasty last year? The Empress's homeland was destroyed by this guy.
Xie Lanzhi simply dislikes fighting and killing. Having lived in modern society for over twenty years, she has been exposed to positive values such as obeying the law and loving peace.
Now she finally realized that she had to accept not only Xie Ying's identity, but also her power and the entire chaotic world of the late Western City.
Seeing that Marshal Xie remained silent for a long time, Si Bogong cautiously asked, "I wonder if the Grand Marshal is interested in rare pets?"
"A rare pet?" Xie Lanzhi glanced at him, her mood somewhat complicated.
This Sibo Gong was the Empress's cousin.
As for the history of Empress Jin that she had come across, although she knew the ending, she died before she could read the sequel.
It was truly a disappointment to her. Therefore, she wasn't entirely sure what happened next.
However, Xie Ying occupies a significant portion of the plot in this book, and these scenes involve her either harming others or in the process of harming others.
It completely extinguished her interest.
Xie Lanzhi then stood up and said, "You'll find out what the gift is when you see it."
Si Bogong quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "Respectfully seeing off the Grand Marshal."
After saying this, Si Bogong lowered his head and walked out of the inner courtyard. Just as he left, General Xie Guangda pushed open the door and came in.
Xie Lanzhi noticed that this man's attitude towards her contained a deeper, more genuine concern than that of other generals. Most others, however, showed awe and admiration—admiration for a murderer? Truly a madman in Xie Ying's camp.
Xie Guang seems to be the person who caused her the most emotional distress while she was in a coma. But this person probably has nothing to do with her, right?
Xie Ying had no interest in men; on the contrary, the Empress was more interested in women.
Thinking of the Empress, Xie Lanzhi calculated the time again. For example, this year is the fifth year of the Xie family, which is also the end of the Western City. That is to say, the current Empress, as the eldest princess, has been temporarily sent to a safe temple to live in seclusion.
The empress should be safe now.
Xie Lanzhi breathed a sigh of relief. She felt that she should not make any rash moves to go to the Empress before she had fully adapted to everything about Xie Ying.
After weighing her options, Xie Lanzhi finally took the first step and began to make contact with Xie Ying's generals.
She asked, "What do you need?"
When Xie Guang saw that the marshal was finally willing to look at him properly, he did not bow and be humble like Si Bogong. Instead, his eyes reddened first, and then he rudely wiped the corner of his eyes with his hand.
"It's good that you're awake. As long as the Grand Marshal is here, no one will dare to invade the Southern Region! Even if they wanted to, they wouldn't dare to act rashly!"
"Also, Grand Marshal, you can't stay indoors all day anymore. There's a lot of stuff to deal with in the barracks. If you don't deal with it soon, I'm afraid those bastards under your command will cause trouble again, leaving you to clean up their messes."
Xie Lanzhi was sweating profusely as she listened. It seemed that Xie Ying's gang of wolves and tigers was very difficult to manage. She wondered if she could handle it.
Then, she hesitated for a moment and said, "If there are any urgent matters in the army that need to be dealt with, please report them first."
Xie Guang said, "This year's rising star general, Huang Mang, has colluded with the Crown Prince of the Northern Region."
She'd heard about this from Master Si. It seemed Master Si wasn't exactly an honest man; he'd deliberately revealed this to her, probably to test her reaction. In Xie Ying's eyes, this behavior would have been overstepping his bounds, meddling in her affairs.
Thinking of this, Xie Lanzhi felt she needed to be more careful and should avoid meeting Si Bogong alone again next time.
Then Xie Guang's report came through his ear: "Grand Marshal, Huang Mang once said that he wanted to conquer the Central Plains. His ambition is obvious. We must be on guard."
"Furthermore, although the Crown Prince of the Northern Region has a strained relationship with the three generals you have killed, they are still uncle and nephew. It's hard to guarantee that the Northern Region won't take this opportunity to confront the Southern Region in the future."
"Between the Southern Region and the Northern Region are two prefectures, both of which were independent states of the former Jin nobles and are currently vassal states of my Southern Region. The territory behind these two prefectures is the former Jin capital, Tianjing. Tianjing is now under the control of Huang Mang, who is now colluding with the First Prince. In my opinion, they will soon make other moves."
Xie Guang kept reporting military intelligence, which made Xie Lanzhi dizzy. At first, she was a little uncomfortable, but after listening for a while, she felt that there were hidden dangers all around her. It seems that even as a major villain, she couldn't do whatever she wanted. If she wasn't careful, she might be overthrown and end up dying without a burial place.
She felt she wasn't cut out for military affairs. She figured she'd have to rely on Xie Guang to manage those wolves and tigers under her command.
She was just thinking about whether Xie Guang could handle these military troubles so she could save herself some trouble, when she heard Xie Guang's next words: "This humble general really misses the days of fighting on the battlefield. General, we haven't fought for two years. The brothers under us are looking forward to fighting and dividing the land every day. They're so eager that their eyes are blurry."
Xie Lanzhi turned around, rubbing her forehead to try and calm herself down, and said, "What could be worse than not having a strategist by my side?"
Upon hearing this, Xie Guang's expression changed immediately. He quickly reminded him, "Marshal, you once said that you could take on the role of strategist yourself and didn't need one at all. Besides, most scholars are just lowly butchers."
Xie Lanzhi was even more troubled; she didn't even have a strategist. However, Xie Ying herself was a military genius, and she was also quite arrogant. She was capable of doing things like not needing a strategist by her side, but her other subordinates should have one or two strategists, right?