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

Chapter 299 Xiao Xinyue: I've Become a Winning Player
"My life is destined to be burdened with too many sins..."

Wang Huai stopped looking at the military camp below the mountain. The incomparably brave overlord chose to flee and headed down the mountain.

He didn't look, so Mingchen naturally didn't look either.

I accompanied him down the mountain.

"Mingchen, this is right, isn't it?"

Wang Huai turned to Ming Chen, seemingly seeking some support, and asked, "This way, it's good for everyone!"

What is right or wrong in this world?

No one can guarantee that the future won't be better.

However, meeting his elder brother's gaze, Mingchen nodded firmly: "Yes!"

"That's right, it's good for everyone! If Qian Yuan doesn't launch another war, you've saved the lives of most people, brother!"

If comforting someone requires being overly objective and speaking from an outsider's perspective, that would be too harsh.

"well……"

Wang Huai's life was like climbing this mountain.

He climbed step by step from the foot of the unnamed mountain to the highest peak, full of vigor and high spirits. He saw countless magnificent views, but also lost too much in the process of climbing.

Now, he's going down the mountain.

With no one around, Mingchen stayed with him.

The two walked side by side, the sounds of the military camp in the distance gradually fading away.

Wang Huai knew he would live his life bearing the name of the Blood-Clad Army. He let out a soft breath and smiled at Ming Chen with feigned ease, saying, "It won't be long before you become famous throughout the world again."

Mingchen and Lingyu's trip not only wiped out Xu Zhongling, but also recruited the Blood-Clad Army.

This event is destined to add a brilliant chapter to their already illustrious resumes.

These are the Blood-Clad Army!
The mighty army swept across the entire country, annihilating the state of Qi.

The largest power in the East.

Despite constant internal strife, with many people fighting and rebelling to establish their own independent regimes.

Even so, the eastern territory nominally belonged to the Great Qi.

This is also why Xu Zhongling set his sights on Wang Huai. The Blood-Clad Army is a paper tiger that is strong on the outside but weak on the inside. Although it is powerful, its reputation is there. As long as he defeats Wang Huai, he can quickly take over his legacy, integrate the East, and develop rapidly.

But now, Qian Yuan has intervened, and everything has changed.

Regardless of the details, this is the result.

The Great Qi Dynasty surrendered to the Qian Yuan Dynasty.

Few people know the details; everyone only sees the result.

Marquis Jing'an and Marquis Zhongyong, with only eight thousand soldiers, swept through Xu Zhongling's tens of thousands of troops defending the fortified city, and even recruited the elite Blood-Clad Army before leaving...

Wang Huai's tragic passing only makes them shine brighter.

Mingchen paused, then smiled wryly, "Is my elder brother blaming me?"

There's nothing to be proud of in gaining fame by stepping on the heads of loved ones.

Along the way, Mingchen actually felt somewhat guilty towards Wang Huai.

He helped Wang Huai develop his ambitions, but then allowed him to grow unchecked, offering him little assistance, and now he has taken over the fruits of Wang Huai's victory.

Wang Huai never betrayed him from beginning to end. Even when Xu Zhongling assassinated Wang Liu and framed Qian Yuan, Wang Huai never doubted him in his most grief-stricken and desperate moments.

However, Mingchen was quite strict with Wang Huai.

This is the best possible outcome, but Mingchen still doesn't feel happy looking at Wang Huai coming down the mountain.

Wang Huai shook his head: "If it weren't for you, Mingchen, Wang Huai would just be a nameless, starving ghost who died on the street."

"To leave a mark on history is nothing more than a dream before death."

"What right do I have to blame you?"

No help is a given; Mingchen's choice of whom to choose has always been his own.

He cannot bind the other party.

"Everything I've done in my life is my own choice, and I can't blame anyone else."

He regrets.

Mingchen said he was a hero, but he could not live a life without regrets.

Looking back, he realized he had made many mistakes.

Ambitious to become emperor, reckless management, carelessness... whatever cause you sow, that's the kind of fruit you'll reap.

He was an ordinary man, and many details suggest that he was destined not to become emperor.

Didn't Mingchen help him?

I've helped!

When Mingchen went south to meet him and form an alliance, he gave him many instructions on various details.

However... none of these measures were implemented.

A glimpse into the whole picture reveals the true nature of things. Even with Mingchen by his side, will everything change significantly?
No one can convince their past self.

Wang Huai shook his head, turned to look at Ming Chen, and said earnestly, "Ming Chen, your older brother wants to thank you."

They are not on the same level.

People with lofty ideals are common, but very few have the opportunity to realize them.

It was Mingchen who forcibly brought him up, allowing him to see so many beautiful sights and enabling him to have such a magnificent life.

He was far, far luckier than many people whose ambitions were thwarted.

Upon hearing this, Mingchen lowered his eyes.

He actually hoped that his older brother would complain about him.

But Wang Huai is Wang Huai.

Seeing Mingchen remain silent, Wang Huai couldn't help but laugh and gently patted his shoulder: "Haha~ I've been living such a tiring life these past few years. To be honest, I haven't had a good night's sleep in days!"

"I feel a bit more relaxed now!"

"The scenery on the way down the mountain is also quite nice."

Mingchen felt he owed Wang Huai something.

But Wang Huai himself felt that he was very lucky.

He's turned the world upside down and made such a huge mess, yet he still managed to escape unscathed.

Isn't this younger brother treating him well?

"Where does your older brother want to go in the future?"

"Do you want to settle down in Kirigori?"

Emperor Wang Huai of Qi is dead.

The one who is alive now is just an ordinary person named Wang Huai.

Mingchen will not imprison him; Mingchen will give him the greatest freedom of choice.

Wang Huaixin's new identity is entirely up to him, and he can go wherever he wants.

Mingchen actually hoped that Wang Huai could stay in Jiqu, so they could see each other from time to time and have a drink together...

"Ji Qu is going."

Ideals were entrusted to Mingchen.

Wang Huai wanted to see for himself what a truly prosperous and well-governed world, as Mingchen had described, should look like.

Otherwise, how could he feel at ease?
He lowered his eyes and said softly, "Let's talk about the future later."

The sun shines brightly, the sky is clear, and suddenly a gust of wind blows, causing unknown flowers to bloom, their pure white petals fluttering in the wind. The road ahead is quiet and peaceful, respectfully seeing off the heroes of this chaotic world on their way home.

"Blood-stained clothes, blood-stained clothes, kill all the fat worms."

"I, the Blood-Clad Demon, will overthrow the Holy Emperor."

"Heaven and earth are clear and pure, the sun and moon shine brightly~ There are no more powerful families, no more nobles, no more royalty..."

With a warm smile on his face, Wang Huai hummed a song as he walked down the mountain step by step.

Mingchen set the tone and theme for the Blood-Clad Army, and wrote the poem that was passed down among the Blood-Clad Army: "I wear armor with my blood and sweat, and I sacrifice my heroic soul for peace."

However, this song was developed and created by the Blood-Clad Army members themselves, incorporating their own spirit.

The seeds that Mingchen planted blossomed into beautiful flowers on their own, leaving a significant mark on this era.

Mingchen stood still, quietly watching his brother's departing figure as he descended the mountain.

They came in a grand and imposing manner, but left with a clean conscience and an open and honest heart.

That concludes our historical accounts of the ghost of chaotic times, the leader of the blood-stained uprising, and Emperor Wang Huai of Qi.

……

Mingchen and Wang Huai have already made arrangements for the most important things.

There's no need for them to show their faces at the front of the Qi army camp anymore.

Ling Yu and Wang Huai's subordinates have already handled everything properly.

Wang Huai is dead. The soldiers are filled with grief and despair.

The prince's tent was also engulfed in flames, leaving no one with any hope.

But those who are alive always have to find a way to keep living.

After the grief subsides, they will find their own way out.

The road ahead is uncertain, and I don't know which way to go.

Coincidentally, Qian Yuan's army was shouting loudly at the gate, and a road was exceptionally clear and bright.

Naturally, it will also guide confused people to follow the path.

As the loud-voiced Youqihu said, in the end, we are all still Qian Yuan people.

The reason they rebelled was simply because they couldn't survive anymore; it was all for a better life.

The new emperor of the new Qian Yuan dynasty is a wise and virtuous ruler, and the people of Ji Qu are living well. All the systems are in good order... In that case, why not try something different?

Under the guidance of Ling Yu and the two ghosts, everything proceeded quite smoothly.

Most of the Blood-Clad Army chose to surrender and serve Qian Yuan.

Some chose to leave, and Ling Yu did not try to stop them. She even distributed some travel expenses and food to them so that they could leave safely. This move won the favor of many people.

Another group wanted to incite unrest and create chaos, continuing their separatist rule and becoming mountain kings, but they were quickly suppressed by Qian Yuan and Wang Huai's former subordinates.

Two more days passed, and everything was settled. It is worth mentioning that after helping Ling Yu sort everything out, the two younger brothers of the lecherous and gambling Wang Huai bid farewell. Unable to serve the court without their elder brother, they chose to wander the world as two wandering knights.

Ling Yu agreed.

This time it's truly time to return home in triumph.

After everything settled down, Mingchen, riding on the white wolf, finally returned, swaying back and forth.

Mingchen's presence in this war was very low; it seemed like he did nothing and was just a nobody in the team.

He did not go to the front lines to command the war, nor was he present to persuade the enemy to surrender.

However, Ling Yu knew that Ming Chen played an indispensable role in both the siege and the surrender of the Blood-Clad Army.

Without Mingchen, the siege wouldn't have been so easy and decisive.

Without Mingchen, the Blood-Clad Army would never have surrendered.
"My lord...we have too many people, so we need to slow down our march."

They arrived with only 8,000 troops, but returned in a vast and mighty army, with banners obscuring the sun and a dark mass of people stretching as far as the eye could see, their numbers ten times greater than when they arrived.

Among them were Xu Zhongling's surrendered soldiers and soldiers from the Blood-Clad Army who had joined the cause.

An army is not necessarily better the more it is, especially when it is a mix of soldiers from different factions. The Blood-Clad Army and Xu Zhongling's surrendered soldiers were enemies.

Such an army is a true test of a general's skill.

However, Ling Yu was a master of military strategy and managed everything in an orderly manner. It only slowed down the pace of their journey home and did not cause any disturbance.

Mingchen simply smiled and nodded at her: "Mm."

Sister Dai rarely calls him husband.

But every time it's called, it makes one's heart flutter involuntarily.

The scarcity marketing strategy really does kill people!

The Blood-Clad Army also holds extraordinary significance for Mingchen.

It's likely that Mingchen won't be in a good mood.

Ling Yu wasn't good at comforting people, so after thinking for a moment, she tentatively asked Ming Chen, "Husband, are you tired?"

She knew that Mingchen had gone to see Wang Huai off, and she also knew that Wang Huai was not dead.

However, this matter is destined to be impossible to discuss openly.

The fewer people who know, the better.

Emperor Wang Huai of Qi is dead!

Inside the main tent, they found a tall, badly burned corpse—that was Wang Huai.

Everything ended here.

She didn't like lying, but this was a lie she had to tell—a lie to His Majesty, the court, and the whole world.

"Hahaha~"

"With my sister by my side, I feel so energetic!"

He winked at Ling Yu and said somewhat flirtatiously, "How can a man say he's tired?"

Men can also have feelings and feel melancholy; there's no need for them to always pretend to be calm, resilient, and decisive.

However, we should not let these emotions control us, nor should we restrict ourselves.

Mingchen is clear about this.

People always have to look forward.

Having made these choices and achieved this outcome, Mingchen has no regrets.

"Well!"

Mingchen's gaze was impolite.

Ling Yu was no longer pure either, and it was only natural that she thought of not going out.

She couldn't help but glare at him fiercely.

Good intentions are misunderstood.

but……

These days, with war raging, there's little time to think about family matters.

After I get home... I'll probably have to dig in a lot of sauce.

……

"I'll be going back to Yueyang in about a month."

In the Yangxin Hall of Ji Qu's palace, Xiao Xinyue put down the memorial in her hand and went to the window, gazing quietly into the distance.

To be honest, when she fled the capital, she didn't even think about when she would go back or how she should return.

But time rushes forward, and before she knew it, she had become Empress, and the lost territories had been recovered.

She was about to return to her capital in triumph.

I wonder how the fighting is going on the front lines?
With eight thousand elite soldiers, the Blood-Clad Army, and the talents of Ling Yu and Ming Chen, they should be able to take it down easily...

The last news we received was that the army had already arrived at Xiaoyao City and was preparing to attack!

I just hope Mingchen can come back soon so we can head east together back to Yueyang.

"Your Majesty, urgent news!"

Some urgent intelligence needs to be reviewed by Xiao Xinyue first before it can be announced in the court.

As Xiao Xinyue was pondering, she suddenly heard the messenger's urgent call in her ear.

Xiao Xinyue had already guessed what was going on. Her eyes widened, and she asked anxiously, "Is it the fighting at the front?"

"Quickly, bring it here so I can take a look!"

"Yes!"

Hopefully it's good news!

Xiao Xinyue believed in Mingchen and Lingyu's abilities, but there are always unexpected events in the world, and there are always stronger people out there. Not everything will go according to plan.

If we lose this battle in the east, it will likely trigger many chain reactions in the future.

However, when she saw the intelligence, she was stunned for a moment.

"This...this, how is this possible?!"

She stared blankly at the contents of the letter, murmuring softly, her eyes filled with disbelief.

Did Ling Yu and Ming Chen lose?

No, quite the opposite.

The letter contained only good news.

They won.

A resounding victory, a victory so overwhelming and unstoppable.

They achieved a victory against overwhelming odds, leveling Xiaoyao City with extremely low casualties.

This was within her expectations.

After all, those were Ling Yu and Ming Chen, along with Qian Yuan's most elite warriors and most advanced weapons.

Although the number of people is small, this is actually Xiao Xinyue's trump card.

She was well aware of the strength of these eight thousand men, and victory was only to be expected.

Everything was normal up to this point, except...

"The Qi army has suffered internal strife, Emperor Wang Huai of Qi has been assassinated, and the Qi army has collapsed. Our army has accepted the surrender of 53,000 people. We request Your Majesty to allocate provisions and discuss their resettlement and distribution in court."

When Xiao Xinyue saw the next message, she was completely dumbfounded.

Take a closer look, is there a typo?
She recognizes all the individual characters, so why doesn't she recognize them when they're put together?
What is meant by "blood-stained internal strife"? What is meant by "Wang Huai was assassinated"?

Those were the Blood-Clad Army! Those were Wang Huai!

They swiftly and decisively annihilated the rebel army of the State of Chen, and then... they perished just like that, in a muddle and confused manner?
This intelligence means they're dead, right?

Qian Yuan subdued the Blood-Clad Army, thus eliminating their possibility of installing a successor to continue the rebellion.

The sheer volume of information left Xiao Xinyue somewhat dazed.

too suddenly!

Her purpose in sending these 8,000 soldiers was simply to capture Xiaoyao City!
A resounding victory would have already satisfied all her expectations.

And... why did the Blood-Clad Army get to keep the last fruits of their labor?
How did Qian Yuan subdue these religious fanatics?
She licked her dry lips, speechless for a moment, only murmuring softly, "Mingchen... Mingchen..."

Whenever Xiao Xinyue gained a certain understanding of this person's talent, he would always do something extraordinary, shattering the established impression she had just formed.

Ok!

Is it not enough that you wiped out the enemy in the east this time? Do you also want to subdue the Blood-Clad Army?

This information must have been conveyed by Ling Yu, as it didn't mention anything about what Ming Chen had done.

However, all of this was just too much of a coincidence.

Why did the Blood-Clad Army suddenly fall into internal strife at this time?

How did Wang Huai happen to die at this time?
And how could it be such a coincidence that Qian Yuan just happened to reap the greatest reward?

Are there really so many coincidences in the world?

Behind all the coincidences, look at who benefited the most, and then it's possible that someone was behind it all.

Mingchen!

Xiao Xinyue knew Ling Yu well; he knew that this female general was a born star who could create miracles on the battlefield.

However, she was also well aware of Ling Yu's limitations.

Ling Yu could launch a devastating siege, but she could never have captured the Blood-Clad Army so smoothly and meticulously.

But Mingchen can!
Mingchen... Mingchen...

Is this also in your plan?

Just how much can you actually accomplish?!
Xiao Xinyue's hard work was partly due to her desire to catch up with Ming Chen and prove to him that his choice was right.

only……

It seemed that every time she made a little progress, Mingchen's figure in front of her grew further and further away.

She felt as if she had been forcibly pampered and had obtained everything step by step, while her opponents were defeated in a completely bewildering way.

I was carried to victory by a max-level player.

Am I a sucker who wins without lifting a finger?!
(End of this chapter)