As an official, what's wrong with raising a few monsters?

Chapter 283 It's time to let the world see the might of Qian Yuan's army!

I wonder if it lives in Mingchen's heart.

Mingchen had just reminisced about the past of the Blood-Clad Army.

The next day, the current incumbent came to the door.

"Mingchen, what are you thinking about?"

Golden fish swam slowly in the pond.

The dignified and majestic Empress, dressed in casual clothes, stood quietly beside the man. A gentle breeze blew, creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere.

In public, everyone fawns over her and obeys her.

But here, she seemed to have shed all her airs and was quite peaceful.

Mingchen turned around, his eyes narrowed as he smiled, his expression roguish and charming: "I'm wondering when my Emperor will be able to enter my arms?"

In this world, only he would dare to say such inappropriate things in front of Xiao Xinyue.

"you!"

Xiao Xinyue understood this person's character.

She just glared at him and said, "How dare you!"

I don't know how many times I've called him bold since we met.

Mingchen, without any restraint, toyed with the supreme emperor's hair and laughed, "Heh, to die beneath a peony is to die a romantic death, even as a ghost~"

"Humph~"

The two have already made their feelings for each other clear.

Xiao Xinyue allowed her beloved to indulge in his little romantic gestures, even if it meant overstepping boundaries.

Xiao Xinyue raised an eyebrow and asked him, "Did Wang Liu come looking for you yesterday?"

"kindness."

Mingchen didn't deny it: "We were in the same year of the exam back then. If he doesn't come to see me, I'll be angry."

Xiao Xinyue trusted Mingchen from beginning to end.

Therefore, he didn't care what Wang Liu said to Ming Chen when she came to him.

"You probably already know why Wang Liu came to this season. What do you think?"

Mingchen simply shrugged: "To refuse a gift from Heaven is to suffer the consequences. Why should we refuse a free benefit? Doesn't His Majesty want to return to Yueyang City? Doesn't your Xiao Clan's royal court want to see its foundations there?"

"kindness."

Xiao Xinyue thought this unconventional person would offer some other opinion.

After all, he always manages to think about problems from unexpected angles that others wouldn't think of, and he's always right.

This time, it's rare that my opinion aligns with everyone's.

Xiao Xinyue pursed her lips: "Mingchen, if we can return to Yueyang, then tell me, should we stay here or go back to the old capital of Yueyang?"

Xiao Xinyue really missed Yueyang, the home where she had lived for twenty years and the legacy of the old dynasty.

However, Ji Qu has a special meaning for her.

She ascended the throne here, she ruled here, and she grew step by step into a majestic emperor here.

All of this transformation was accomplished by Kito.

Yueyang was merely her hometown, the place where she was a 'princess'.

Ji Qu, however, was the place where she became the 'Emperor Qian'.

If she were to return to Yueyang, she would feel as if she had abandoned her wife, with whom she had shared hardships, and instead turned to the embrace of the white moonlight who had looked down on her in her youth.

Mingchen thought for a moment and said, "Either way is fine. From a strategic and political perspective, both places have their advantages and disadvantages. Your Majesty can choose either one without making a mistake."

Chang'an or Luoyang, either can be the capital.

Each region has its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of food supply, geographical location, and topographic features.

Yueyang is also a very good choice.

I believe that the Xiao family ancestors had good foresight over the past few hundred years, and there must be a reason why Yueyang City became the capital for so many years.

Moreover, Yueyang has the added appeal of being cherished by people all over the country. As everyone's ideal city for hundreds of years, even though Yueyang has been ruined by several big men, there are still many people who want it.

Xiao Xinyue wanted to return to Yueyang to take charge, and Mingchen had no objection.

No one can stop a wanderer from returning to his hometown.

Xiao Xinyue disliked such ambiguous answers. She frowned and looked into Mingchen's eyes: "Don't you have even the slightest bias? Not even a tiny bit?"

When faced with a difficult choice, she only needs Mingchen to add a little bit of leverage to help her convince herself.

She wasn't an incompetent ruler who relied on Mingchen for everything, but she also wouldn't go to the extreme of ignoring Mingchen completely.

Meeting Xiao Xinyue's gaze, Mingchen smiled and said, "From a personal point of view, I still prefer Ji Qu."

"After all, it's quite close to my home, so it's convenient for my parents, brother, and sister to come and visit me."

"The people here like me too."

Mingchen pointed to the interior decoration of the mansion: "I got married here, and I carefully decorated this mansion."

“I have gradually settled down here.”

Mingchen knew that Yueyang City would inevitably descend into chaos sooner or later, so even though he was allocated housing, he didn't care at all.

Xiao Xinyue even complained to him about this.

However, the current Marquis's residence has clearly been carefully maintained and is full of life.

"Okay! Then we'll stay in Jiqu and not leave."

If this were to happen in the imperial court, the officials would probably be engaged in a heated debate that would last all morning.

However, after hearing Mingchen's words, Xiao Xinyue smiled and made the decision without hesitation.

Mingchen chuckled, "Your Majesty favors me so much, I'm afraid it will arouse jealousy!"

You'd better be genuinely scared!

It's already good enough that they're not afraid of you, yet you're still afraid.

Xiao Xinyue couldn't stand Mingchen's smug look and rolled her eyes: "It's not because of you!"

Mingchen said he has settled down here.

Xiao Xinyue herself has also taken root here.

The people here love and respect her, the soldiers here fight bravely for her, and the officials here all function smoothly.

What about Kyoto?
Mingchen's words added the final piece of leverage for her.

She dared not say that she would definitely not move the capital in the future, but for now, even if she gained control of Yueyang, she would only send officials, generals, and soldiers to manage it, and would not suddenly relocate it.

The two stood by the pond watching the fish. After a moment of silence, Xiao Xinyue asked repeatedly, "Mingchen, what do you think of Daqi now?"

Xiao Xinyue already knows about the relationship between Wang Huai and Ming Chen.

She also learned from the monk that Mingchen had secretly helped her during the Battle of Yueyang.

The situation in Daqi is not good right now, and she needs to test Mingchen's attitude.

Even raising a small dog would cause sadness in old age, let alone secretly building up such a powerful force. Xiao Xinyue could imagine how much effort Mingchen had put into this righteous army that swept the country.

Of course, she might have overestimated things.

"What do you think?"

Wang Liu asked him this question not long ago.

Now His Majesty has asked again.

Mingchen was also somewhat helpless.

He shrugged: "Stand and watch, but how can you watch that?"

"What, does His Majesty want to send me away and make me go to my elder brother's place?"

Before she could finish speaking, Xiao Xinyue suddenly raised her head, her eyebrows furrowed, and glared at him fiercely: "You dare!"

You can have as many women as you want, but you absolutely cannot defect to another power.

"Hahahaha~"

Mingchen chuckled, stretched, and then turned to Xiao Xinyue, asking, "Your Majesty, if I were to send three thousand troops eastward to aid the Great Qi and annihilate Xu Zhongling's army, would you agree?"

Three thousand? To aid the Great Qi?

Xiao Xinyue frowned slightly, staring intently into his eyes, as if trying to discern something from him.

What is this person really thinking?

They have already made an alliance with the Great Qi.

All they need to do is state their position.

That's enough to show our stance. The Blood-Clad Army, sweeping across the country, can't take down a small city like Xiaoyao? Can't they take down Xu Zhongling?

Why bother with Mingchen's unnecessary actions?
Starting a war is not a game; once it begins, it may not be able to stop.

Three thousand troops is indeed not many; given the current strength of the Qian Yuan dynasty, it's just a drop in the ocean. But no one knows what the future holds after the peace is broken.

Is Mingchen still thinking about the Blood-Clad Army? Does he still want to help Da Qi?
Even with enough trust, it's impossible to stop all sorts of thoughts from arising in one's mind.

Mingchen seemed to be able to see through Xiao Xinyue's thoughts, so he simply asked directly, "Does Your Majesty think that I am helping the Blood-Clad Army out of consideration for past relationships?"

Xiao Xinyue pursed her lips.

Mingchen usually seems carefree and irresponsible, not very warm-hearted, and quite indifferent. He doesn't like to help others.

However, Xiao Xinyue knew that this person cherished every relationship.

Before she could speak, Mingchen continued, "In Your Majesty's opinion, which is stronger, the Blood-Clad Army or the Liang Army established by Xu Zhongling?"

Xiao Xinyue replied matter-of-factly, "The Blood-Clad Army is naturally stronger."

The reason they joined Qian Yuan Union was simply to minimize their costs.

There are no winners in war, and the Great Qi cannot simply give up after killing Xu Zhongling.

Their focus wasn't on how to kill Xu Zhongling, but rather on how to kill him at a lower cost.

Mingchen let out a soft breath: "Really?"

Based on apparent strength, this seems to be the case.

“Your Majesty, in my opinion, it is impossible for Xu Zhongling to have fled to Xiaoyao City. He should have been caught up with and wiped out by my elder brother several months ago.”

"However, he has not only survived, but has also accumulated considerable power and occupied the tortoise shell of Xiaoyao City, which cannot be conquered in a short time."

"He has clear goals, a strong strategic vision, and shrewd methods."

Mingchen turned to Xiao Xinyue and asked, "When Your Majesty was stranded in the capital and traveled south, did you imagine that the old dynasty would collapse like a landslide, or that the Qian Yuan dynasty would rise to power so strongly now?"

“It’s a miracle.”

"Similarly, Xu Zhongling is also turning the impossible into the possible, which is the act of a hero."

"The Blood-Clad Army is currently facing huge internal problems, and its logistics are also in a state of disarray." He looked at the fish swimming in the pond and gently shook his head: "I don't think the Blood-Clad Army is stronger; I think it's at least evenly matched."

“I have never met Xu Zhongling, and I don’t know anything about him.”

"Ants that eat an elephant will evolve into a giant."

“We’ll just watch from the sidelines. It would be great if the Blood-Clad Army could go to great lengths to eliminate Xu Zhongling, but I don’t want Xu Zhongling to win and absorb the Blood-Clad Army’s power.”

“Your Majesty, I would rather our Eastern opponent be my elder brother, even if the Blood-Clad Army were stronger. But I do not wish it to be this clever man whom I have never even met.”

"This man is shameless and ruthless. If he gains power, he will be difficult to deal with. We should take advantage of his current weakness and kill him directly."

Mingchen didn't actually want to protect the Blood-Clad Army; he wanted to get rid of Xu Zhongling.

Xu Zhongling's perceived threat level has risen sharply.

This all began long before Xu Zhongling falsely established the alliance.

Mingchen wanted to get rid of him from a personal perspective.

Even now, this thing is still alive and well; on the contrary, it's grown stronger and stronger.

All of this has proven that Xu Zhongling is no ordinary person, possessing both talent and wisdom.

Xu Zhongling is different from Hong Lingshuang and Qin Lou.

Hong Ling Shuang has established overseas influence and can escape at any time.

Qin Lou is a long-term enemy and cannot be eliminated in the short term.

Xu Zhongling, on the other hand, currently occupies the neighboring territory of Qian Yuan and is using the alliance as a pretext to expand his power.

Rather than letting it grow unchecked, it's better to kill it quickly, even if it means losing some benefits.

"I'll give you eight thousand elite soldiers. Who do you want? When do you want to depart?"

Those chaotic thoughts vanished in an instant.

Xiao Xinyue's expression also became more serious. She stared at Mingchen intently, without uttering another question. Her words were crisp, and her eyes were full of trust.

Mingchen was talking about low-probability events. If he said it in the imperial court, he would be condemned by others. No one would believe that a warlord who only occupies a city could become a major threat.

However, Xiao Xinyue trusts Mingchen unconditionally as long as he speaks earnestly.

He accompanied me all the way from a fugitive wanted criminal to a high-ranking official.

Their relationship only grew closer; it never became distant.

Meeting Xiao Xinyue's sincere gaze, Mingchen smiled unconsciously: "I want to go with my wife to lead the troops... the sooner the better."

Xiao Xinyue rolled her eyes at him: "Going to war with your wife?"

This person rarely speaks anything meaningful.

Bringing women to war makes it sound like he's a spoiled brat.

"Who can blame me when my wife is the best general?"

"Humph!"

Xiao Xinyue snorted, but still lowered her eyes slightly and said, "Then let's go!"

"It's time to let the world see the might of Qian Yuan's army..."

……

"Sir, how many brothers did we lose in Yueyang City? Did we really send them all away?"

"Is it worth it for Qian Yuan not to even send troops?"

After reaching an agreement and meeting Mingchen.

Wang Liu then embarked on his journey home with his subordinates.

His life wasn't as easy as Mingchen's; time was very precious to him.

He needs to go back to help his brother and go together.

After crossing the Shenjiang River and leaving the Qianyuan territory, the carriage sped along the mountain road. Wang Liu opened the carriage curtain and quietly looked at the scenery outside, her mind racing as she continued to plan for the future.

Several guards who had been holding back their complaints all the way finally couldn't help but voice them.

In their view, giving up the capital that they had painstakingly captured in exchange for a vague promise was simply outrageous.

"Don't ask what you shouldn't ask."

Wang Liu merely glanced at him with her eyes lowered: "As long as it achieves results and buys time, it's worth it."

In Wang Liu's view, sending the capital city was a mutually beneficial deal.

The capital city is a hot potato. Although it smells sweet, it's too hot to handle right now, and it's not something that Daqi can manage.

It would be better to make a tough decision and gain some benefits in return.

But now, looking at the reluctant expressions on his subordinates' faces, he suddenly realized something that was disadvantageous to his side.

Not everyone has the foresight to see things clearly.

Even his elder brother couldn't see through this, let alone his soldiers.

Giving up the capital, which had been captured with great difficulty, was another blow to the already chaotic morale of the army.

He was so focused on pursuing tangible benefits that he overlooked this point.

He lowered the curtain, sat in the carriage with a furrowed brow and clenched fists, and kept shouting to the coachman, "Hurry, hurry back."

Hurry, go back quickly!

He needs to prepare in advance.

But then, at that moment...

"Whoosh!"

"Forehead……"

The arrow pierced the air and arrived, but the coachman outside the carriage only let out a muffled groan and did not respond.

"Zhi!"

"Zhi!"

The soldiers guarding the area suddenly narrowed their eyes and drew their swords.

They kept shouting, "Enemy attack!"

"Enemy attack!"

"My lord, go!"

"Let's go quickly!"

The guards stood in the middle, shouting loudly.

"Quick, let's go!"

Wang Liu scrambled somewhat awkwardly out of the carriage and, with the protection of the surrounding guards, mounted his horse. He was not one to fear death, but he knew he absolutely could not lose his life here.

He wants to go back!

"Whoosh!"

"Whoosh!"

Arrows pierced the air from all directions, and guards fell one by one.

"Hey~"

Wang Liu was not a 'weak scholar' like Ming Chen; he genuinely did not know martial arts.

I'm not particularly good at horseback riding, and I had just mounted the horse and was about to leave.

Just then, a stray arrow shot out and struck the neck of the horse beneath him with pinpoint accuracy.

Before the horse could even run, it was startled and threw Wang Liu to the ground.

"grown ups!"

Several guards rushed over to protect him.

at the same time,

A group of thieves dressed in black, fully prepared, rushed forward.

Forty or fifty men surrounded the dozen or so guards.

"Who are you?!"

Wang Liu, looking disheveled, observed the current situation and repeatedly asked loudly.

These people were neatly dressed and moved in unison, clearly indicating that they had undergone rigorous training.

The bows they carried and the swords they held... were not equipment that ordinary mountain bandits could possess.

"kill!"

But all he got in response was a cold whisper.

A large group of people rushed up and slaughtered Wang Liu's men indiscriminately.

Clearly, none of Wang Liu's men were as capable of fighting a hundred men as Ling Yu. Blood Warriors could not be too far from Wang Huai, nor could they be sent out to perform guard duties.

With their overwhelming numerical advantage, Wang Liu and his men were quickly wiped out.

"Puch!"

The blade pierced straight through the heart.

A sharp pain shot through Wang Liu, and her pupils suddenly contracted.

At that moment, he knew it was all over.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment, everything moved very slowly, and the sounds of the surrounding chaos gradually faded away.

Various scenarios swirled in my mind.

The helplessness of being exploited by an impoverished family, the death of both parents and the brothers relying on each other for survival, the despair of being seriously ill and about to die, the relief of recovering, the heroic spirit of rising up in rebellion with the eldest brother, the excitement of fighting for ideals, the tension and fear of being an undercover agent in the capital, the excitement of a long-awaited reunion, and now the confusion of an uncertain future...

Rising from humble beginnings, they have gradually reached their current position.

His life must have been quite remarkable.

But... he still has too many regrets, and there are still many things he wants to do.

Life was rapidly fading, and the world before my eyes seemed to grow increasingly hazy.

"thump."

His body fell to the ground, and blood stained the muddy ground.

He kept his eyes open, gripping the soil, trying to move forward, unwilling to leave.

He gazed at the East, a place he could never return to, his eyes seemingly reflecting the person he could never see again.

His lips moved, and he murmured incessantly, trembling, "Big brother...big brother..."

(End of this chapter)