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

Chapter 286 I'm so scared
"I hope it won't rain when that day comes."

Xu Zhongling looked at the somewhat gloomy sky and murmured softly.

The weather has been bad these past few days, with continuous rain.

He's been quite lucky since birth, and I suppose he'll continue to be lucky.

"Qian Yuan has dispatched troops. Ming Chen and Ling Yu are leading the army, intending to join forces with Da Qi to jointly attack us."

Xu Zhongling frowned upon hearing this: "Qian Yuan... Xiao Xinyue, Ming Chen..."

The mighty Qi dynasty launched a northern expedition that annihilated the Chen kingdom, with hundreds of thousands of soldiers in blood-stained uniforms occupying most of the country, a truly awe-inspiring feat.

However, in reality, the most noteworthy thing in the territory of Qian Yuan was the Xin Dynasty, which remained inactive in the southwest.

No one knows how much power that naturally noble empress accumulated during this period of rapid development.

Moreover, she has a huge advantage that no one else has.

Her lineage is that of the Xiao family, and the Xiao royal court has existed for five hundred years, making her legitimate status unshakeable.

If she is wise, then her background will become her best weapon to embrace the world.

The most important thing Xiao Xinyue needs to do now is to figure out how to reclaim lost territory and make use of the Blood-Clad Army's gifts.

However, at this moment, they sent pillars of the nation like Mingchen and Lingyu, together with the Blood-Clad Army, just to attack them.

This was completely unexpected by Xu Zhongling.

He did indeed disgust Xiao Xinyue by falsely conveying an imperial edict, fabricating a contract, and absorbing a portion of her power.

However, personal feelings should not be brought up to the level of the nation.

In his view, from the perspective of interests alone, he did not pose such a high level of threat to Qian Yuan.

They sent troops to fight, and they even joined forces with the Blood-Clad Army, which had a bad reputation.

While this wasn't exactly a thankless task for Qian Yuan, it was still a pure waste of military resources.

Qi Yuan asked, "Aren't you worried?"

Xu Zhongling nodded matter-of-factly: "I am worried."

Qian Yuan and Da Qi are different.

Daqi may seem fierce, but it is riddled with problems internally. Wang Huai has already played all the cards in his hand.

Although his punches were fierce, he had little defense and could always find a way to defeat his opponent.

But Qian Yuan would be in danger; it's an impenetrable fortress, offering no chance of infiltration.

"I'm not just worried, I'm scared!"

"I'm so scared."

Although she said she was 'afraid', Xu Zhongling's expression remained completely calm.

It is impossible for ordinary people to see what he is thinking.

He scratched his hair, his voice growing increasingly urgent: "That's Ling Yu, that's Ming Chen, that's Wang Huai..."

“These people all came out together, just to beat me, Xu Zhongling.”

"You overestimate me. How can my tens of thousands of men possibly stop these opponents?"

"What if they win? What if they wipe out my army? What if they cut off my head and hang it on the city wall? Hehehe... Hehehe..."

"What to do? What to do? What to do?"

"Would it be worth it for me to die like this?"

"I am scared……"

……

The north wind howled, and dark clouds covered the sky.

The river is wide, and the surging Shenjiang River flows from north to south, with no end in sight.

Before the military camp, banners fluttered in the wind, rustling loudly.

The soldiers stood in neat rows, their faces solemn, clad in uniform black armor, gazing ahead with imposing presence.

An ordinary person, upon catching a glimpse of it from afar, would feel as if a strong wind were blowing through the room, their mind would tremble, and they would feel a chill run down their spine.

Eight thousand elite Qian Yuan Xuanjia soldiers are fully equipped and ready to go, awaiting their commander's orders.

"General, the Xuanjia Battalion of 8,000 men has completed its reorganization."

Under the gaze of these soldiers, at the very front of the column, several generals stood on their horses, one of whom bowed respectfully to Ling Yu at the very front and called out.

Eight thousand soldiers may sound like a small number, but these eight thousand men are the elite of the elite.

Many of them were soldiers who had followed Ling Yu and Ming Chen into battle. During this time, they had undergone rigorous training, resulting in a stable morale and fierce fighting spirit.

They were well-equipped, with armor and weapons acquired through countless sums of money, and were also equipped with the latest firearms.

At the very back of the line were a few large, dark, gaping machines.

These eight thousand men are equivalent to tens of thousands of troops.

Xiao Xinyue has really gone all out.

It's not just about preserving the reputation of Ling Yu and Ming Chen as the twin pillars of the nation, but also about protecting Qian Yuan's reputation.

This is the first time Qian Yuan has emerged from seclusion since he began his period of development.

This battle must be fought beautifully.

It is used to demonstrate the overwhelming power of Qian Yuan Qi.

If they lose even when dealing with a mere warlord separatist force, the people of the world will be disappointed in Qian Yuan.

It attracts people's attention.

The beautiful woman, clad in armor and wearing a silver helmet, with a sword at her waist, had lost her usual gentleness at home, and instead exuded a heroic and capable air.

It was only after joining the army that her true charm was fully revealed.

Marquis Zhongyong, Lingyu.

She was not tall, had a fair complexion, and did not seem particularly intimidating.

But no one dared to underestimate her; on the contrary, all the soldiers looked at her with awe.

A general who can lead his soldiers to victory, lead them to kill the enemy and win, gain military merit, protect the country and protect his family... that is enough.

Ling Yu was able to do all of that, and she became famous in the Northern War. To this day, she has never lost.

She earned her reputation step by step.

Xiao Xinyue appointed Ling Yu as the Grand General for this battle, responsible for commanding the entire army.

Mingchen was appointed as the military governor and several generals were also sent to assist him.

"it is good!"

Ling Yu is now a general with a stable position, and naturally he is no longer as constrained as he was when he first started out.

He glanced at the group of imposing soldiers and nodded to himself: "Form ranks and set off."

"Yes!"

The general stepped down.

Ling Yu unconsciously looked to her side.

The man, clad in armor, sat atop a majestic white wolf, smiling at her.

Surprisingly, this man also toned down his usual dissolute demeanor, wearing the armor befitting a soldier and doing nothing out of the ordinary. Apart from the white wolf he rode, he seemed no different from any other general.

This was their first time going on a campaign together.

Ling Yu felt something was amiss; the battlefield was a place of slaughter, and the way of war was the way of killing.

There was no guarantee that they would return alive from each expedition.

But this time, with Mingchen by her side, she felt a sense of security.

The two were perfectly in sync; a single glance between them spoke volumes.

She drew her longsword, the red tassel on her silver helmet fluttering in the wind, and shouted loudly, "Soldiers, follow me into battle!"

"I will lead you to kill the enemy, and I will lead you to victory!"

Her pre-battle mobilization was simple, practical, and reassuring.

"kill!"

"kill!"

"kill!"

The soldiers raised their weapons and shouted loudly, their voices piercing the heavens.

The first battle of the eastward expedition saw the vast army set off on its expedition.

However, the army had not gone very far.

Mingchen, however, received a special piece of intelligence.

"Wang Liu...is dead?"

He frowned slightly, quietly watching the soldier delivering the message.

The white wolf beneath him whimpered incessantly, while the ancestor on his back unconsciously plucked out a large tuft of its white fur.

However, it was clear that Mingchen's thoughts were not on it at all.

Life is fragile; no one can guarantee they'll see tomorrow forever. Before you know it, you may never see your loved ones again.

Upon hearing the news, Mingchen was momentarily dazed.

In this era without the internet, information is scarce, making it impossible to be comprehensive and to know everything immediately after something happens.

He is good at calculations, and he can make many correct guesses based on the general trend.

However, he was not omniscient or omnipotent, and he could not foresee every moment of death.

He didn't know that the wicked old man would draw his sword and commit suicide when the blood-stained clothes invaded.

Similarly, he had no idea that the brother he had met and had tea with just a few days ago had died so mysteriously.

Mingchen's expression was calm, devoid of his usual nonchalance.

He wasn't happy, and kept asking again as if to confirm, "Really? Is the intelligence accurate?"

When Wang Liu was leaving, he called him "Brother Ming".

This meeting was also the last.

He was not mentally prepared.

"really."

Mingchen narrowed his eyes and asked again, "Who did it? Bandits? Xu Zhongling? Or one of the Blood-Clad Army members?"

"Unknown".

"However, one of the surviving guards said that he heard the assassin say that it was us, Qian Yuan, who did it."

"Oh……"

Alright, the answer is obvious. This Xu Zhongling really has some tricks up his sleeve.

If Wang Liu could be intercepted and killed like this, then the eldest brother's headquarters is already riddled with holes.

Mingchen waved his hand, signaling him to leave: "You've worked hard, go and rest."

"Yes!"

After the other party left.

Mingchen attracted the little birds.

Mingchen did not bring any demons with him on this trip, and he let the new little fox do whatever it wanted at home.

Only Fuyao'er, who had always been by his side, did not fall behind.

"Fuyao, we..."

However, he stopped speaking as soon as he said it.

"Sir, what's wrong?"

Mingchen shook his head and let out a soft sigh: "It's nothing, let it go."

He knew this older brother's personality very well.

He wasn't worried that Wang Huai would misunderstand or be used as a pawn.

He was just a little worried about Wang Huai's mental state.

"Sir?"

The clever little bird perched on Mingchen's shoulder and asked, "Are you going to find Brother Wang?"

Mingchen didn't answer her, but simply said, "We'll meet again eventually. Let him have some peace and quiet."

He had previously stated resolutely that the next time they met, they would be rivals.

Mingchen did nothing during Wang Liu's attack.

Given this position, he didn't know how to face this older brother, nor what to say when they met.

"Oh……"

The little bird perched on Mingchen's shoulder and gently nuzzled his face: "I think Brother Wang might be happier to see the young master..."

It will be hard to see them then, for the little bird that usually only knows how to fight and dip beans said such a thing.

Sometimes, isn't Mingchen also an involved player in this situation?
……

"Have you heard? His Majesty's younger brother, Lord Wang Liu, is dead. I heard he was assassinated by Qian Yuan."

"I have heard that His Majesty has sent Lord Wang to the west to reach out to the Qian Yuan Alliance and promised to send Yueyang City away."

"What?! Send him to Yueyang! Why?! That's Yueyang!"

"We fought so hard to conquer Yueyang, losing countless brothers along the way, and Your Majesty is just sending it away like this? What is Your Majesty thinking?!"

"I think His Majesty is afraid. He can't defeat Xu Zhongling, so he wants to give the country to Qian Yuan in exchange for wealth and glory."

"Impossible! His Majesty is invincible, His Majesty fears no one! His Majesty is certainly not the kind of person you describe."

"Hmph, don't you know how many people His Majesty killed in Yueyang City before?"

"What?! What about us? What are we going to do?!"

"Don't talk nonsense! Who are you?! Who gave you permission to spread rumors here?!"

"Come with me!"

"Why are you arresting me? I fought to the death and killed three enemy soldiers during the Battle of Yueyang!"

……

Recently, dark clouds have covered the sky, casting a shadow over the entire Blood-Clad Army.

The invincible Emperor Qi seemed to be tripped up by this former capital.

At the same time, all sorts of voices began to circulate as the soldiers rested and chatted during their meals.

Yueyang City was handed over to Qian Yuan, Wang Liu was killed on his mission, and the Great Qi was riddled with problems, facing a dire situation...

These messages shouldn't be known to these lowest-ranking soldiers.

However, it was leaked to people during their breaks and meals.

Some of these things are true, but with the embellishment of certain individuals, they have been taken to a deeper level, with some dubious modifications and conjectures.

Even the smallest things done by those in power are magnified infinitely when they reach those below.

Panic and anxiety began to spread.

Why did the Qi Emperor give away the empire that his brothers had fought so hard to conquer to Qian Yuan?
Does he lack confidence in defeating Xu Zhongling?

Does he want to submit to Qian Yuan?
What was Emperor Qi thinking?
Does he still remember the vow he made?
These are just speculations, just casual conversations.

You can't take it too seriously and say it's true, but you can't read people's minds, and no one knows what that high-ranking leader is really thinking.

You can't say that this is completely unfounded.

After all, they were all rebels who rose from the bottom up, and they had never seen the upper-class buildings or had a broader perspective.

Even Wang Huaidu wouldn't let go of Kyoto, let alone these people!

All people know is that at that time, the center of the regime represented their legitimacy, orthodoxy, and wealth and glory.

They didn't consider whether the city or the people of the world would accept them.

People couldn't understand why the central authority of the world would be handed over to someone else.

The thing Wang Liu was worried about on the way finally happened.

Xu Zhongling is a treacherous and ruthless villain, but undeniably, he is an extremely intelligent and formidable opponent.

He would see and exploit any lapse in concentration or any opportunity.

The means to defeat the enemy and strengthen oneself are irrelevant.

That just so happens that what he excels at is using spies.

In an instant, the already unstable morale of the troops became even more shaken.

Initially, the ones who lit the fire and relayed the message were just a few low-ranking spies.

As the news spread, some veterans gradually became confused.

The situation is increasingly spiraling out of control.

When you keep winning, you have no weaknesses, no problems.

However, once you stop moving forward and fall into a slump, all your weaknesses will be magnified, all your mistakes will be exposed, and your momentum will collapse like a mountain, leaving you unable to recover.

Just like the Blood-Clad Army now.

They were once a fearsome rebel army, winning battle after battle and swiftly ending the old dynasty.

But now... after the storm has passed, after the blazing flames have burned out, after the passion has cooled, all that seems to remain is ashes.

"Your Majesty, we arrested twelve more people for talking nonsense today."

Inside the commander's tent, a general strode in, his brow furrowed, and reported to Wang Huai: "Five of them have been in the army for several years and have made meritorious contributions."

"What do we do? This can't go on!"

"Xu Zhongling is truly a scoundrel and a villain, resorting to such despicable tricks."

A burly man, his face contorted with rage, roared, "If you've got the guts, fight us head-on on the battlefield!"

The rumors circulating in the military are being deliberately spread, suggesting that spies have been planted to stir up trouble.

They had already captured several of Xu Zhongling's spies at the beginning.

But now the wind has already picked up and can no longer be stopped.

It's one thing to be killed while fighting for one's life on the battlefield; if you're simply outmatched, it's only natural.

But now, the Blood-Clad Army is blocked outside the fortified city, and Xu Zhongling is using spies to undermine their morale. This is like being slowly tormented by a knife, and it's incredibly frustrating.

"Stop talking about these useless things."

"If you've given others something to talk about, don't blame them for gossiping."

The initial mistakes, like dominoes, eventually triggered a chain reaction.

Every seed sown bears fruit.

After a long silence, Wang Huai stood up, expressionless, and said in a deep voice.

He had a white headband, his face was pale, and his eyes were bloodshot.

To the surprise of his subordinates, after the day of grief and wailing, Wang Huai was not controlled by anger and did nothing irrational.

On the contrary, it was quite calm.

No one knows what he has been going through these past few days, and no one knows what he is thinking.

"His Majesty……"

Under the gaze of everyone, his eyes were cold and stern as he said in a calm voice, "Prepare the troops. Tomorrow, follow me to attack the city!"

"what?!"

The generals present trembled instantly.

As expected, after suppressing his anger for so long, His Majesty finally erupted.

Emperor Qi was never a gentle ruler.

He was a powerful ruler, and he had fought his way to the top. A single glance from him made everyone feel tense.

Even so, they swallowed hard and said, "Your Majesty, forcibly attacking the city under these circumstances will be disadvantageous for us!"

The Blood-Clad Army's debuffs are now fully stacked.

Xiaoyao City was easy to defend but difficult to attack, with unfavorable terrain and bad weather. Rumors spread among the troops, causing panic and unrest among the soldiers.

Now, neither the opportune moment, the favorable location, nor the popular support are on the side of Great Qi.

If we force an attack on the city.

Regardless of success or failure, the Great Qi will pay a heavy price. The Great Qi they painstakingly built up may soon perish.

The situation was already very unclear.

A Pyrrhic victory for them meant certain death.

"Your Majesty, why don't we wait for Qian Yuan's reinforcements to arrive so we can join forces and attack the city together?"

"Your Majesty, please wait a little longer!"

"Blindly attacking the city is a poor strategy, Your Majesty!"

"Xu Zhongling is not someone to be trifled with. If he gets the chance, we're finished."

Several generals chimed in, offering their advice to Wang Huai.

Wang Huai simply watched them quietly, without saying a word, and remained unchanged in his opinion.

(End of this chapter)