For the past month or so, Li Jun has been enjoying a blissful relationship with his two newlywed wives, a private pleasure that is best left unsaid to outsiders.
This led to quite a few laughable situations that left Mo Rong and Ji Su speechless. If Lu Shang, Su Bai, and the other busybodies hadn't left the day after the wedding, Li Jun's reputation as the Blood Sea Mad Dragon would likely have been ruined long ago. Under the combined influence of his two beloved wives, even his hardened steel had to be melted into a gentle touch.
"Yes, sister, what have you discovered this time?"
Ji Su hurriedly pushed Li Jun's hand away and turned to look into the grass. Although spring had already arrived at Yuhu Lake in Chen State, the north wind was still blowing fiercely on the Qionglu Grassland. The grasses everywhere were gathering their life force, waiting for the warm wind to come and respond to the call of spring. Only in this place near the western mountains of the Qionglu Grassland did spring seem to have come early. The wild grass was waist-high, and Mo Rong, who was already petite, was even harder to spot as she squatted in the grass.
"Yes, now I understand why the grass is so lush here even in winter."
True to her reputation as the foremost craftswoman of the Yue people, Mo Rong was not one to patiently while away the long hours in a tent with Li Jun. Li Jun, meanwhile, was quite annoyed by his repeated failures to persuade Hulei Khan to build a post road on the grasslands. Therefore, for the past ten days or so, Ji Su had led the two of them across the vast grasslands, tracing the footsteps of Ji Su's childhood.
“There is a hot spring about two feet underground. The spring water slowly seeps from the ground, so wild grass grows around here all year round.” Mo Rong stood up, smoothed her long braid, and smiled at the two of them, “Come and take a look.”
Li Jun wasn't particularly interested in this, but seeing her high spirits, he quickly walked over. Ji Su, on the other hand, had already run over to Mo Rong's side and bent down to examine the ground.
"Li Jun, dig a hole here," Mo Rong ordered bluntly.
"You're making me do hard labor again. Yesterday I picked up some stones for you, and today I have to dig a hole..." Li Jun said with a bitter face, but his hands kept moving. His famous flying chain short sword had become a tool for digging.
He forcefully plunged the short sword into the ground, drew a circle, and then used his spiritual power to lift the clump of soil. Ji Su curiously peered into the pit and, sure enough, water was slowly seeping from the walls, pooling together and emitting rising white steam. Ji Su reached out and touched the water, feeling a warmth spread through his hand.
“There are crystals in the water. Look over there.” Mo Rong pointed to a small hill next to her. The grassland was no longer as flat as it was in the middle of the grassland. There were not only small hills, but also ravines and cliffs in the vicinity.
"how?"
“There must be ruthenium ore there. If it were developed, there would be quite a lot of it, which would be perfect for making gunpowder.” Mo Rong glanced at Li Jun. “This grassland is rich in minerals. The Qionglu Grassland should be called the Qionglu Treasure Plain.”
“Our ancestors have been begging for food while guarding this treasure for generations,” Ji Su said with a bitter smile. “If we had known this would happen, we should have invited the Yue people to explore it for us long ago.”
“Firstly, you Rong people may not trust us Yue people, and secondly, the Yue people may not be truly willing to search for treasure for you.” Mo Rong replied casually, while marking a map on a piece of parchment with a charcoal pencil. The parchment was a rough map of the Qionglu Grassland, and many mineral deposits were already marked on it.
Li Jun smiled wryly. Even the construction of the post road was opposed; gaining the Rong people's sincere trust was truly no easy feat. Thanks to the Bureau of Natural Resources under Mo Rong's leadership over the past two years, novel machines such as water-powered spinning wheels had been constantly developed, and the industrial and commercial development of Yu Prefecture could almost be described as rapid as a leap forward. The flourishing of industry and commerce spurred shipping, which in turn propelled the advancement of catering and tourism. Centered on Kuanglan City, a silent revolution spread outwards, with the Peace Trading Company, controlled by the Peace Army, and major merchants in Kuanglan City being the main forces driving this transformation. Consequently, the demand for furs and various minerals increased daily, urgently requiring the integration of the Qionglu Grassland into the Peace Army's territory. Although industry, commerce, and armed smuggling brought huge profits to the Peace Army, these incomes were still insufficient to cover Li Jun's ever-expanding expenditures.
"What's wrong?" Although Mo Rong was doing her own thing, she was very sensitive to the abnormality in Li Jun's expression and asked.
"It's nothing." Li Jun glanced at Ji Su, then hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but didn't.
“Li Jun, now that the three of us are all in this together, just say what you want to say. Do you think Ji Su will treat you like an outsider?” Mo Rong patted Li Jun gently, encouraging him.
"It's not that I'm afraid of what Sister Ji Su might do, but it concerns the relationship between the Rong people and the Peace Army. If I tell Sister Ji Su about it, I'm afraid it will cause misunderstandings."
Ji Su's expression changed slightly, but she quickly returned to normal and smiled, "Brother Li Jun, I remember you often saying that judging right and wrong should not be based on personal likes and dislikes, but on whether it benefits the people, right?"
Li Jun nodded and said, "Although the words 'seeking happiness for all people' may seem like deceitful and self-serving, I always hope that my actions can make life easier for the people."
"So, whether a matter is right or wrong for the Rong people should be judged by whether it can bring benefits to the Rong people."
So just tell me straight. If it benefits the Rong people, I will naturally do my best for you. If it doesn't, don't blame me for not supporting you.
Li Jun scratched his head and chuckled, "It seems that Sister Ji Su is more magnanimous, which makes me, a dignified man, feel ashamed. I have repeatedly tried to persuade Father Khan to build a post road on this grassland a few days ago, but he refused each time. I was just thinking that if Father Khan can't even build a post road, let alone mine?"
Ji Su lowered her head. She knew perfectly well why Hulei Khan was so stubborn. This matter was of great importance. If Li Jun truly cared about the Rong people, that would be the best outcome. But if Li Jun had ulterior motives, wouldn't this project of building the post road be like inviting a wolf into the house?
But is Li Jun truly wholeheartedly devoted to the Rong people? Her husband may be a peerless hero or an unparalleled strategist, but he is by no means someone who would wholeheartedly dedicate himself to the Rong people. His primary concern is probably still the interests of the Peace Army.
Mo Rong sensed a hint of danger in the silence between the two. If it were for the sake of vying for favor, she should make good use of this danger. However, she was not the kind of person who would be jealous and scheming, nor would she ever do anything against her own beliefs just to possess Li Jun exclusively, even though she was also unhappy about sharing the affection of her beloved with others. Therefore, she took Ji Su's hand in one hand and Li Jun's hand in the other, and the warmth of their hands merged together.
"I swear, I will never do anything to harm my husband Li Jun and my sister Ji Su for all eternity, and I will love my husband and sister Ji Su with all my might, even if I am killed by an axe and the gods are angry with me, I will not change my mind," she said slowly.
"I swear, I will never do anything to harm my wife Mo Rong and Ji Su for all eternity, and I will do everything in my power to protect them and make them happy, even if it means facing death and divine wrath," Li Jun said slowly.
"I swear, I will never do anything to harm my husband Li Jun and Sister Mo Rong, and I will do everything in my power to support them, even if it means facing death and divine wrath," Ji Su said.
These were originally whispered words between the three in their boudoir on the second night of their wedding. At that time, their love was deep, and they made this vow. As they reaffirmed their vows, a surge of warmth welled up in their hearts. Li Jun took the hands of his two virtuous wives, kissed them deeply, and said, "Please rest assured."
Ji Su nodded vigorously: "Mm."
Looking at the two of them, Mo Rong smiled slightly.
Wei Huang looked back and saw that the gates of Chiling Pass were wide open, and his own troops had indeed rushed out as he had ordered. He was invigorated. If he could pursue them relentlessly, catch up with Liu Guang, and defeat him in victory, then he would have achieved a military feat no less than that of General Ma Jiyou, and His Majesty would surely treat him with new respect.
The murky torrent of brown armor formed by the Hong Kingdom army surged forth like a collapsing mountain, unstoppable, following the banner of Wei Huang and rushing towards the rising sun. Meanwhile, the Chen Kingdom army, mostly clad in green armor, scattered and fled, their numbers gradually diminishing and disappearing as they were broken up by this brown torrent.
Those fleeing for their lives often unleash a much stronger force than usual. They abandon flags, weapons, and even their armor as they run. Even soldiers often carry loads of over ten pounds, which they discard entirely in their escape. The pursuers, however, are different. They cannot abandon their own weapons and equipment, and they are also greedy for the items left behind by the enemy. According to the unwritten rules of the Shenzhou battlefield, whoever captures the spoils keeps them. Therefore, as the Hong Kingdom army continuously clears the battlefield, their ranks are spread out. The fastest-moving cavalry chases the fleeing Chen Kingdom soldiers head-to-head, while soldiers conscripted from various regions, taking advantage of their lighter loads, follow closely behind, followed by armored soldiers.
Wei Huang led the charge for over ten li, when several mounted generals desperately tried to stop him by pulling on the reins. Wei Huang roared, "I was just about to press my advantage! Why are you blocking my way?"
“How can we risk our lives to protect the nation’s pillars?” one general said. “It would be better to wait until our main force arrives before launching a full-scale pursuit.”
Wei Huang sneered, "Although I am the General of the Palace Guard, I always lead from the front in battle and never lag behind others. Only in this way can the soldiers fight to the death without feeling tired. If we were all as timid and hesitant as you, how could our army have achieved such a great victory?"
That general was speechless. He had strongly advocated against launching an attack while he was in the city, but the attack resulted in a great victory. Now he was asking Wei Huang to wait for him, so it was no wonder that Wei Huang was giving him a cold shoulder.
Although his words sounded impressive, Wei Huang felt a pang of anxiety seeing that he only had a few thousand soldiers around him, and the main army had not yet caught up. While it was common practice in Shenzhou wars to inflate troop numbers—for example, the Hong Kingdom army that had amassed less than 60,000 at Chiling Pass was claimed to be 100,000, and the Hong Kingdom's entire army, though only 300,000, was claimed to be 500,000—he suspected Liu Guang was doing the same, bringing at most 50,000 or 60,000 men but claiming 100,000. However, relying solely on these few thousand cavalry to defeat Liu Guang seemed truly risky.
But having already made his boast, Wei Huang couldn't immediately change his mind. So he continued eastward, but only slowly, letting his horse run its course. Only when the army behind him grew larger did he spur his horse to gallop again, this time at a much slower pace than before.
Unfortunately, the defeated Chen army, having fled for some time, saw that the Hong army was not following behind. Their will to survive vanished, and they collapsed and rested on the spot. Although some officers ordered them to get up and reorganize the troops, the remaining force of less than six thousand men remained in disarray. Therefore, although Wei Huang was not pursuing them in a hurry, he still caught up with them and launched another unstoppable attack. The Chen army left behind hundreds of corpses and scattered again.
Wei Huang, having chased after them with great enthusiasm, cast aside his fear and gave chase again with all his might. They were now fifty li from Chiling Pass, in a place called Xialin, flanked by gently rolling hills covered in shrubs, with paddy fields and a post road running through the middle. Wei Huang had just caught up with an enemy soldier and cleaved him in two when suddenly he heard thunderous war drums from the hills, and a hail of arrows wove a vast net of death, engulfing the Hong Kingdom army, which had lost its formation in the pursuit.
"What a vicious heart!" Wei Huang felt a chill in his heart. Those attacked by this rain of arrows included not only the troops pursuing Hong, but also the fleeing soldiers of Chen! Little did he know that most of these soldiers were either defeated soldiers of Zhongxing or private soldiers of local powerful families in Chen. It was only natural for Liu Guang to sacrifice them as pawns.
Before the drums had ceased beating, the sounds of battle rose again. Wei Huang looked around and saw many figures moving about in the forest, the number of troops hidden in the shadows unknown. Wei Huang was already terrified by Liu Guang's ruthlessness, and in his haste, he couldn't make a clear judgment. He mistook the mountain wind rustling the treetops for Liu Guang's army. He heard the deafening battle cries echoing through the mountains. He didn't believe it was just a mountain echo, but rather the main force of Liu Guang. Now, there was only one plan: a full-scale charge. Judging from the momentum, Liu Guang's main ambush force should be nearby. If he could break through and escape, he could at least save his life. Conversely, if he retreated in defeat, his front and rear troops would be crushed and trampled, leading to certain death.
Without hesitation, Wei Huang wielded his broadsword swiftly and shouted, "Charge with me!" He then charged forward. Although he was merely a brave warrior, his martial prowess was extraordinary. Despite the dense barrage of crossbow bolts raining down on him, the officer, he dodged and parried, emerging unscathed.
Because the mountains on both sides were low and gentle, it was not originally suitable for an ambush, so Wei Huang managed to break through the encirclement with his courage and strength. At this moment, he looked back and saw that only a thousand soldiers were still closely following him, while the cries from the forest were deafening, making everyone who heard them feel sad.