Damn it, I'm in the garbage book I wrote

Chapter 898 The World Has No Logic
As night fell, the city was rapidly resuming its production and daily life. The Crown Prince, who had taken the lead and won the honor of being the first to ascend the city, was admired by all the people.

Meanwhile, Xia Lin was making beggar's chicken out of yellow clay in the courtyard and eating it, seemingly oblivious to everything else.

Zhang Jianzhi accompanied Li Zhi on his visit, leaving only Xiao Wu by his side. Xiao Wu hesitated several times beside Xia Lin, seemingly wanting to say something, but ultimately failed to speak.

"Just speak your mind. Why are you being so cautious around your master?" Xia Lin glanced at Xiao Wu and then smiled, "Looks like you've really grown up."

"No... Master, that's not true." Xiao Wu quickly waved his hand.

After a long while, she finally spoke with a puzzled look: "Master, there is something I don't understand. Before we came, you said that His Highness should handle the matter himself, and you would only intervene if he couldn't solve it. But why did you intervene at this time?"

“Because he chose the path of a benevolent ruler.” Xia Lin smiled and handed a lotus leaf and a chicken to Xiao Wu: “Tie it up tightly, and seal it with yellow mud after you’re done.”

Xiao Wu did as instructed, while Xia Lin said, "The tyrant route is very simple, but he can't follow the benevolent ruler route right now because he doesn't have the prestige for it. So I'm going to set an example for him."

"But that's the second thing I don't understand." Xiao Wu glanced at Xia Lin somewhat embarrassedly: "They clearly knew that Master was there, so why did they choose to rebel at this time?"

Xia Lin stopped what she was doing, looked up at Xiao Wu, pondered for a moment, then suddenly laughed, before continuing to tie up the chicken: "Xiao Wu, do you know the term 'first impression'? You've already fallen into the trap of first impressions."

"Why?"

"First of all, this rebellion isn't really a rebellion, but a protest. As for this guy surnamed Liu, he's just a pawn pushed up. They're protesting the military reforms of the Tang Dynasty. Whether I'm here or not, this rebellion will happen and eventually be quelled. The only outcome is that if the Tang Dynasty is really hurt, the military reforms will be put on hold due to pressure." Xia Lin gestured on the ground with a small stick. "Secondly, you need to understand one thing: most people are short-sighted, and everyone has a gambling instinct to some extent. These military reform measures are very strict. Given Liu Ren's level of corruption, he definitely won't survive. He's going to face the consequences whether he sticks his neck out or not, so why doesn't he take a gamble? What if he wins?"

Xiao Wu suddenly seemed to understand, while Xia Lin continued, "Finally, many people were actually hoping to see Li Zhi make a fool of himself, so they must have already contacted Liu Ren beforehand. Therefore, this rebellion was inevitable. Of course, this is the result of our rational analysis. In fact, most of the time, things that happen in the world cannot be predicted by common sense. Coincidentally, I have nothing to do now, so I'll tell you a story."

Xiao Wu immediately became happy...

"One year, a powerful ruler emerged from among the various tribes of India. He traveled among many countries, feeling that his army was strong and well-equipped. One year, without any warning, he declared war on our Central Plains..."

Xiao Wu's eyes widened after hearing this: "Is that Nehru an idiot? I really can't understand why he would do this."

"Yes, back then, very few people in the world could understand it. Even your master's teacher pondered it for three days and three nights and still couldn't figure it out. So, many things happen without any logic..."

As night deepened, the hustle and bustle of Luzhou City gradually subsided, leaving only sporadic barking of dogs and the long, drawn-out sound of the night watchman's clapper. In Xia Lin's courtyard, the beggar's chicken, wrapped in yellow mud, had been buried in the embers of the stove, waiting for the appointed time to break open and release its fragrance.

Xiao Wu carefully washed her hands and sat on the small stool opposite Xia Lin, her brows still furrowed in thought. Xia Lin's earlier argument that "the world is illogical," especially the strange story of the "Indian ruler," had left her unsettled.

"Master, if this is the case, then isn't the person behind Liu Ren also doing something foolish that even they themselves might not be able to understand?"

“That’s why,” Xia Lin said, bending down and poking at the ashes in the stove with a twig, “Many people do things not based on whether they are right or wrong, but on whether they think it’s worth it. Liu Ren probably thought he was going to die anyway, so he might as well take a gamble. The people behind him probably thought that if he succeeded, great; if he failed, he could at least cause trouble for the court, or at the very least, they could see what the Crown Prince was capable of.”

He raised his eyelids and looked at Xiao Wu: "Zhi'er has chosen the path of a benevolent ruler. This path looks bright, but it is the most difficult to walk. He must endure what ordinary people cannot endure and tolerate what ordinary people cannot tolerate. My intervention today is not to pave the way for him, but to build a bridge for him. Relying solely on benevolence to influence people will not quell the chaos. You must make people fear you, respect you, and make them unable to figure out your true strength."

As they were talking, a faint crackling sound came from the stove, and a strange aroma, a blend of the fragrance of lotus leaves and the rich aroma of chicken, began to waft out.

"It's almost time."

Xia Lin dropped the branch, picked up the fire tongs, and carefully pulled the hardened lump of yellow clay from the ashes. The surface of the clay was covered with cracks, and steam rose from it.

He gently tapped the hardened yellow mud with the tongs, and it crumbled, revealing lotus leaves that had turned a deep brown. Peeling back the layers of lotus leaves, an even richer and more overpowering aroma exploded out, filling the entire courtyard and making mouths water.

Xia Lin tore off a plump chicken leg and handed it to Xiao Wu: "Try it, it's cooked just right."

Xiao Wu took it, not caring that it was hot, carefully blew on it, took a small bite, and her eyes were full of smiles. She especially liked being with Xia Lin; that feeling of security was just like when her father was still alive, a sense of security that even Li Zhi couldn't give her.

Just then, footsteps and Li Zhi's slightly tired but excited voice came from outside the courtyard gate: "Father, Senior Sister, we're back!"

Li Zhi and Zhang Jianzhi strode in, both looking travel-worn. Li Zhi's face was still flushed from the fierce battle, and the bloodstains on his silver armor had turned dark brown. He immediately noticed the fragrant beggar's chicken in Xia Lin's hand, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

"Is everything settled?" Xia Lin asked without looking up, tearing off another chicken leg and handing it to his son. "Mostly settled." Li Zhi took the chicken leg, taking a large bite without regard for appearances, and mumbled, "The remaining enemy forces stubbornly resisting within the city have been eliminated, and the four gates and key locations such as the treasury are all under our control. Your son has issued a proclamation to reassure the people, ordering the granaries to be opened and food distributed to relieve the people affected by the war. The compensation for the fallen soldiers and the identification and resettlement of prisoners of war have also been instructed."

Zhang Jianzhi added, "His Highness also personally visited the wounded soldiers, and the people in the city gradually calmed down after seeing His Highness like this. However... Liu Ren is like a stone that has sunk into the sea. The guards at all the gates all say that they have not seen him, and the search within the city has yielded no results."

Xia Lin hummed in agreement, seemingly unsurprised by Liu Ren's escape. She focused on dissecting the chicken in her hands, handing the plumpest part of the chicken wing to Zhang Jianzhi: "Little Jianzhi, you've worked hard too. Here, have some to eat."

Zhang Jianzhi thanked him and accepted the gift.

Li Zhi finished the chicken leg in a few bites, wiped his hands and mouth with a handkerchief, and his expression turned solemn: "Father, although Luzhou was swiftly pacified this time, Liu Ren is still at large, and it is likely that he is not backed by the power of just one person or family. The provinces of Hedong are deeply connected with Guanzhong and Longxi, and the military reform has affected many interests. I fear that... although Luzhou has fallen, the aftershocks have not yet subsided."

"Scared?"

“It’s not out of fear.” Li Zhi shook his head, his eyes clear and firm. “Your subject just feels that this suppression of the rebellion, though seemingly a victory, has only cleaned up the surface. The real troubles are probably just beginning to surface. I would like to ask Father for guidance on how to proceed next.”

Xia Lin stuffed the last piece of chicken breast into his mouth, chewed it slowly, then picked up the water pouch next to him and took a sip before letting out a satisfied sigh.

"Zhi'er, do you know why beggar's chicken is sealed with yellow mud before roasting?" he suddenly asked a seemingly unrelated question.

Li Zhi was taken aback, thought for a moment and replied, "Sealing it with yellow mud can retain heat, making the inside and outside heat evenly, locking in the juices, so the meat is tender."

“Not bad.” Xia Lin nodded. “Sometimes, to deal with a tangled mess, you can’t just pull it apart from the outside; you have to let it fall into chaos from within first. My decision to have you retreat for five days was to cover Luzhou City in a layer of mud. The conflicts between Liu Ren’s direct subordinates and others, the struggle for grain, and the fear of death are the internal heat. When the time is right, it will naturally burst open from within, saving us so much effort.”

He stood up, dusting off his hands. "Liu Ren running away might not be a bad thing. A panicked person will instinctively flee to the place they trust most. Guess who he'll go to?"

A glint flashed in Li Zhi's eyes: "Father means... to play hard to get?"

“The trail has been laid.” Xia Lin walked to the water vat, scooped water to wash his hands, and said, “Next, what you need to do is not rush to chase after that person, but stabilize Luzhou and appease Hedong. Let everyone see the magnanimity and benevolence of the imperial court. At the same time, keep a close eye on those places that may be hiding corruption, and wait for him to stumble into them or for those places to reveal their true colors.”

Xiao Wu chimed in softly, "Master's plan is to observe the situation. Your Highness's most important task right now is to stabilize the people's hearts, rectify official corruption, and thoroughly consolidate Hedong, making it a model for military reform. In this way, the rebels' foundation will crumble on its own."

Zhang Jianzhi pondered for a moment and said, "We still need to be wary of a cornered beast fighting. The person behind Liu Ren might take a desperate gamble if things turn bad."

“They wouldn’t dare.” Xia Lin shook the water droplets off his hands, his tone calm yet undeniably confident: “At least not now. I’m still standing here.”

He walked up to Li Zhi, looked at his son who was almost as tall as himself, and reached out to brush away a speck of dust from his shoulder armor: "Zhi'er, you did very well this time. You showed compassion, you showed responsibility, and you fought the battle with great skill. But a ruler cannot only have compassion; he must also have ruthless methods and keen insight. The road ahead is long; learn slowly."

Li Zhi looked at his father, a warm feeling welling up in his heart, yet also a heavy sense of responsibility. He nodded emphatically, "Your son understands."

As night deepened, the lingering aroma of beggar's chicken filled the courtyard. Xia Lin yawned and waved his hand, "Alright, everyone go to sleep. We'll be busy tomorrow."

Li Zhi, Xiao Wu, and Zhang Jianzhi bowed and withdrew.

Stepping out of the courtyard, a night breeze caressed his face, carrying the slight coolness of early summer. Li Zhi looked up at the starry sky; the starry sky of Luzhou City seemed no different from that of Chang'an, yet it was as if separated by an invisible veil.

"Jianzhi, Senior Sister," he said softly, "Can you understand the complexities behind this?"

Xiao Wu remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Although the situation is complicated, the underlying logic can be followed. As long as the person in charge keeps it in mind and proceeds step by step, the clouds will eventually part and the sun will shine through."

Zhang Jianzhi smiled, his tone carrying the sharpness of youth: "What do we care about open or covert attacks, Your Highness? We'll just deal with whatever comes our way! Let's take Luzhou firmly first, and proceed step by step!"

Inside the small courtyard, Xia Lin did not go inside, but instead leaned back in a recliner, listening to the news brought by Sun Jiuzhen.

"Liu Ren galloped north, his whereabouts still unknown." Sun Jiuzhen couldn't help but laugh out loud in this serious setting: "And he was riding a donkey..."

"Oh my, the donkey cart god of war!" Xia Lin laughed. "Alright, keep a close watch. You go and rest too. Remember to give the brothers on the lookout a little extra pay."

(End of this chapter)