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

Chapter 306 The Destined War

Mingchen was a little caught off guard when Xiao Xinyue suddenly brought it up.

I subconsciously moved back a little, making room for her.

Immediately afterwards, the Empress braced herself on the saddle with one hand, flipped over and leaped, her figure as light as a swallow, directly onto the white wolf's back and landed in Mingchen's arms.

Everything happened very quickly.

The surrounding guards were somewhat taken aback, their hands trembled, and they paused for a moment.

Seeing the Empress and the Marquis of Jing'an riding together, he kept his eyes down, not uttering a single word.

The ministers watched the emperor from afar, and upon seeing her actions, their expressions varied, each pondering and speculating in their hearts.

"Your Majesty's horsemanship is superb!"

Mingchen was surprised that Xiao Xinyue would pull such a stunt, and couldn't help but sigh.

Of course, he was shameless and would marry the emperor sooner or later, so he didn't care what others thought.

This woman is truly exceptionally talented. She sits on the throne every day, handling political affairs, yet her skills remain so refined.

"Humph."

"He is indeed a bit stronger than you."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xinyue slightly raised her head and gave a soft hum.

This was a rather bold and inappropriate move, and a slight blush appeared on her earlobes.

But today she's going to indulge herself a little.

She was a restorer of the dynasty, and she built her own team, unlike an emperor controlled by his ministers.

This is also sending a signal.

He probed the people below little by little, revealing his true feelings.

The mutual affection between the two was conveyed to others, and when the matter was truly revealed, the courtiers gradually accepted it.

Throughout history, emperors have had numerous concubines and women, and many of them were lustful. If they found one they liked, they would simply pack her up and take her back to the palace.

As long as one is exceptionally talented and does not become obsessed with it, one will possess a heroic spirit, and even being fond of women can be a virtue.

Conversely, what about the Empress?
What if she rides a horse with a man?

Mingchen: ...

Mingchen has always been an unconventional and unrestrained person.

If Xiao Xinyue didn't care, then he cared even less.

Hearing Xiao Xinyue's sarcastic remarks, he said somewhat helplessly, "It's not the behavior of a gentleman to praise one and belittle another. Why is Your Majesty bringing up Chen?"

It's just that we teamed up to play polo together at the event and didn't win a single game!

She still hasn't let me go.

The emperor's competitive spirit is the strongest; Xiao Xinyue will never play polo with Mingchen again, no matter what.

Hmm... I could be his opponent.

"Speaking of which, Your Majesty, this hairpin, wasn't it the one I bought for you back when we were in Qingcang City?"

Xiao Xinyue sat in front of Mingchen, so Mingchen could see the back of her head.

I also noticed a green wooden hairpin in her hair that seemed completely out of place with her noble demeanor.

Things bought for a few coins at a street stall are unlikely to be very good.

You just realized that?!
Even now, Xiao Xinyue occasionally recalls the scene of Mingchen taking her through the streets when she was down on her luck and needed as a bargaining chip. It is her most precious memory, and she smiles whenever she thinks of it.

She has met someone who has amazed her life.

The other ministers were constantly urging her to choose a concubine and have a son, so how could she possibly be of any interest?

This hairpin was also something she treasured.

She would tie her hair up when attending important occasions, even though it seemed inappropriate for a noble emperor.

When Mingchen brought it up, she nodded repeatedly and said in a sarcastic tone, "I bought it!"

This scoundrel has no backbone whatsoever; he's shameless.

When we went out shopping, I made her pay the bill right in front of the vendors.

There is no one more dissolute and rude person in the world than him.

There has never been another person she misses so much.

Mingchen scratched the back of his head and chuckled dryly, "Uh... hahaha, back then I was just a low-ranking official of the sixth grade, I was just short of money~"

"Your Majesty, this shows that we are thrifty and hardworking, so you should be secretly happy!"

Putting everything else aside, let's just talk about whether we've left a deep impression on the girl.

"Humph!"

Listen to this, listen to this! Which word that poor bastard is even remotely related to him?

Xiao Xinyue's ears turned red, and she let out a soft hum.

Whether she was a little shy and wanted to change the subject, or her workaholic tendencies were acting up again, she remembered what Mingchen had just said and asked, "You said the new type of ship is finished? Tell me about it..."

"I heard that Engineer Zhang named it the Invincible Starry Sky and Ocean?"

"Nice name."

She had read some reports and memorials and had some understanding of the matter.

But Mingchen is right here beside me, and hearing him say it himself is always better than seeing it for myself.

Mingchen: ...

He had wanted to flirt with his own emperor, but instead, she flirted with him instead.

He had indeed used phrases like "the vast universe" in his vocabulary, but he couldn't quite understand why Zhang Ruier was so fond of the word "invincible," a word that elementary school students liked.

The empty space is almost too big to fit all the bizarre names this guy came up with.

Mingchen glared at her: "Your Majesty has a really good memory!"

"The new steamship uses steam power, which makes it faster than traditional sailing ships. It is also more predictable and reliable, and its sailing is far less affected by weather conditions than that of sailing ships. Its cargo capacity still needs to be improved, and it is only slightly higher than that of large sailing ships. However, this is in the initial stage, and it will continue to be improved and refined in the future. This is definitely the trend of shipping development in the new era."

"It can not only be used in future wars against the North, but also be widely developed for civilian use. Based on the Yangtze River transportation, its annual cargo capacity can be dozens of times that of ordinary sailboats."

Xiao Xinyue nodded repeatedly upon hearing this: "Okay...okay...okay!"

"I've noted this credit for you and Engineer Zhang."

Technological advancement represents the advancement of civilization.

It appears that the mainstream of the world was characterized by wars of conquest and fragmentation among various states.

But in reality, these seemingly mundane and insignificant advancements are the true signs of a strong nation and progress in the times.

The cannons blasted open the gates of Xiaoyao City, crushing the morale of the army with unstoppable force.

This is the significance of their development.

If you fall behind, you will be beaten.

Xiao Xinyue has come to a deep understanding of why Mingchen attaches so much importance to these matters.

Mingchen laughed and said, "Haha~ Don't just remember! His Majesty will reward Chen with more gold and silver treasures."

He had this particular fondness for greed and power, typical of treacherous officials.

Xiao Xinyue: ...

After a moment of silence, Xiao Xinyue continued, "Do you know about the completion of the Beilie Canal? It was on the day the fierce tiger roared to the sky..."

Wang Huai withdrew, and Xu Zhongling died.

Only a few cats and dogs remained in the east, a motley crew that Xiao Xinyue had never taken seriously.

The nomadic tribes to the west are in chaos, and the three southern kingdoms are weak and conservative, so they are not a concern for the time being.

What she truly cared about were the two countries to the north.

The mysterious Jinglan Alliance from overseas, and the ambitious Beilie, who are preparing for war.

Anyone with eyes can see that a storm is brewing.

The treaty signed between the previous dynasty and the Northern Lie is nothing but a piece of paper; the two countries will inevitably go to war sooner or later.

Xiao Xinyue has been working hard to develop her forces and stockpile food over the years, all for this war that will determine the fate of the world.

Qian Yuan had spies from Bei Lie, and Bei Lie also had spies from Qian Yuan.

She already knew that the Beilie Canal had been completed.

This is clearly not good news.

There was also the strange phenomenon of a tiger roaring to the sky.

Xiao Xinyue had experienced something similar, which is why she understood it more deeply.

Perhaps Qin Lou is no ordinary person either, and has a similar situation to her.

"I know."

Mingchen could have guessed it, and the little bird even went there in person to confirm it.

To be honest, this project was completed later than he had expected.

Xiao Xinyue leaned gently against Mingchen, relaxing a bit and seemingly quite content. She asked softly, "When do you think they will send troops?"

Qian Yuan is still cleaning up the mess in the east!
If Bei Lie were to resolutely march south immediately, it would be truly difficult to defend against him.

Mingchen shook his head: "There's no rush to send troops. Before they do, they need to resolve two things."

Xiao Xinyue replied, "One is the Jinglan Alliance, and the other is the Three Passes of the Northern Border? These can also be considered as one thing."

The Jinglan Alliance is positioned between the two countries. Whoever wants to make the first move must first find Hong Ling Shuang to open a passage between them.

The Three Passes of the Northern Border are the northern barrier of the Qian Yuan Dynasty and the most important passes. They once defended the Northern Lie for three years and stopped thousands of troops.

Having these three barriers and losing them are two completely different concepts.

Dong Zhuo usurped the throne, and the chaos caused by Chen Guo and the Blood-Clad Army led to the complete collapse of the Northern Border. Half of the garrison in the Northern Border fled to Qian Yuan, while the other half was murdered by Chen Guo, resulting in the loss of the three passes. The Jing Lan Alliance seized the opportunity and took them over without lifting a finger.

Now it's become a middle ground. This pass can defend Qian Yuan, but it doesn't have much strategic significance for the Jinglan Alliance, since the alliance doesn't have much land within the three passes. Hong Ling Shuang is an unpredictable person; it's hard to know what she's thinking.

Essentially, it's all the same thing.

That is, who can win the favor of the Jinglan Alliance.

"kindness."

Mingchen nodded slightly.

With the world situation laid bare before them, Xiao Xinyue was no fool; everyone's brainwaves matched.

Xiao Xinyue looked north with a calm expression: "I received news that Bei Lie has sent someone to Jing Lan, but I don't know what the outcome will be."

Upon hearing this, Mingchen sighed softly, "The Northern Emperor is really quick."

Sitting at the card table, we're evenly matched. You're busy developing your character, and I'm not idle either.

Qian Yuan was busy moving eastward, busy returning to the old capital, and busy inventing and creating.

Bei Lie was also busy with canal construction, research, military training, and diplomatic missions.

No one had a chance to catch their breath.

Xiao Xinyue then asked, "In your opinion, what will the outcome be? Will the alliance side with Bei Lie?"

Mingchen shook his head: "The alliance leader is not easy to deal with. Bei Lie will not gain any advantage in her hands."

The leader of the alliance, who possessed a heavenly singing voice yet was as wild and savage as a whale shark, left a deep impression on Mingchen.

Like Mingchen, she is a very special and contradictory person.

Confident and high-spirited, exceptionally intelligent, and unpredictable.

They can dance on the edge of a knife, manipulating and playing with everyone without restraint.

But he would also feel remorse and regret for his deceased confidants in the middle of the night.

It's been a year since I last saw her. I wonder how she's been doing this year.
Mingchen did miss this extraordinary woman.

Xiao Xinyue's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and she said, "Oh? If things don't turn out well, Bei Lie will send troops. Qin Lou can't tolerate an unstable element behind the scenes."

“We can send an alliance of envoys to fight against the Northern Fierce forces together with her.”

A triangle is a very stable shape.

The stalemate among the three forces inevitably leads to a two-against-one situation.

If you can be two, then don't be one.

Upon hearing this, Mingchen shook his head: "You haven't met her. She's not that simple. Qin Lou isn't stupid either; he can see this coming."

Once you sit on the throne, everyone is like a layered cake.

Everyone is guessing what you're thinking, what your plans and goals are, and simulating various possible choices in their minds.

Xiao Xinyue had never met Hong Ling Shuang, only Qin Lou, and even then, it was only a fleeting glimpse when she was weak.

Her understanding of these two monarchs was not as clear as Mingchen's.

"Oh?"

"What do you mean?"

Mingchen shook his head: "Fighting against the Bei Lie and Jing Lan Alliance is a thankless task with too high a cost. Qin Lou will not do it unless absolutely necessary."

“Hong Ling Shuang can’t completely enrage Bei Lie and leave no room for maneuver by setting up the battlefield on the territory of the Jing Lan Alliance. That’s a bad strategy. Do you think she just wants to be a local warlord? Do you think she just wants to wait for a good price to be offered a title and a fief? She wants to see Qian Yuan and Bei Lie fight each other.”

"The Jinglan Alliance will definitely bring about this war. If necessary, Hong Ling Shuang will even temporarily withdraw from the mainland."

Everyone actually wants to see the other two sides start fighting first, so they can reap the benefits.

However, the Jinglan Alliance is a troublemaker, and it is the smallest and most flexible in terms of power. If it really encounters a predicament of being attacked by a large army, it can take a ship to leave the mainland and return to the archipelago.

Even if Mingchen were to go all out now, his navigation skills probably wouldn't be up to par with those who make a living at sea.

The conflict between Qian Yuan and Bei Lie is irreconcilable, and both sides have been preparing for war for a long time.

Therefore, it was destined that neither side would start a war with the Jinglan Alliance first. It was destined that the two behemoths, Qian Yuan and Bei Lie, would start the war, while the Jinglan Alliance would watch from the sidelines, waiting for an opportunity to act.

This is a clear trend with clearly defined interests; it is the way.

Those schemes and tricks are minor paths, mere tactics.

If one is clear-headed and intelligent enough, one will not be blinded by treacherous rhetoric and stray from the right path.

Mingchen believed that Hong Ling Shuang was extremely intelligent and had reached the limit of her ability to seize opportunities; she couldn't possibly be blind to this.

Therefore, he was too lazy to bother with any underhanded tactics.

"That's it..."

Mingchen rarely misjudges people.

Xu Zhongling is an example.

Hearing his high praise for Hong Ling Shuang, Xiao Xin Yue couldn't help but increase her support for the Jing Lan Alliance.

She hadn't actually considered the Jinglan Alliance a troublesome opponent before.

There's nothing we can do about it; the other side occupies a small area, has limited intelligence, and lacks historical depth.

It is a very powerful force, at most comparable to the Great Qi and Xu Zhongling.

It's difficult to elevate her to the same level as Bei Lie.

At most, he would regard her as a heroine in troubled times, someone he wanted to sell to a higher price, someone he could use to achieve great things, become a nobleman, or a high-ranking official when necessary. She was the kind of beauty this libertine man liked, nothing more.

But now, after hearing Mingchen say this, my understanding of her has reached a new level.

Opponents that can be placed in the same position.

Xiao Xinyue asked, "So, what do you think we should do next?"

"Why don't we send envoys to Jinglan as well?"

Qian Yuan is indeed quite busy right now.

The task of reclaiming lost territory in the east presents a whole host of headaches.

Material losses, troop deployment, administration of conquered lands, resettlement of officials, and pacification of personnel... these are all issues that need to be addressed.

There was also the matter of returning to the old capital.

Now there's trouble in the North.

Even Xiao Xinyue was finding it somewhat difficult.

Qian Yuan was not yet capable of handling so many things at the same time.

She seems to have little leverage to reclaim the three passes in the North, so sending envoys to probe the alliance's attitude is a good idea.

Mingchen was silent for a moment, then shook his head: "I don't know."

Let's wait and see.

"Dispose of them as you see them."

"We can send someone to take a look, but it won't make much difference. The Jinglan Alliance is unlikely to be truly loyal to us or the Beilie Alliance."

"It's all just talk."

The future situation is still unclear, and we can only make contingency plans for all possibilities.

Make a decision only after the intelligence is clear and comprehensive.

"The most important thing now is to sort out our own internal affairs as quickly as possible."

"Only after recovering lost territory can the complete Qian Yuan be served."

"Our capital is not in Yueyang now. It would be best if we could win over the three passes, but if we can't... it's alright."

Mingchen spoke calmly and eloquently.

This man is extremely lazy, neglecting his duties and never attending court.

But listening to him speak is inexplicably reassuring.

Even though he didn't give any definite answer.

Xiao Xinyue leaned against Mingchen, gazing quietly into the distance: "Hmm..."

The king is the support of all people, yet there is no one to rely on.

However, Xiao Xinyue was a special monarch; she had someone she could rely on.

In the distance, the sky is clear and bright, with blue skies and drifting clouds, creating a peaceful scene.

Looking into the distance, the clear sky merges with the endless mountain range; such a view seems to bring a sense of peace to one's heart.

Xiao Xinyue felt her eyelids grow heavy for no apparent reason. She had been carrying too much on her shoulders for a long time, and she felt tired and sleepy, with a languid feeling all over.

She actually had a lot more to say to Mingchen.

Let's talk about our country, our future, and all sorts of complicated things...

My vision grew increasingly blurry, and my will grew increasingly weak.

The breeze gently caressed her face, and she could hear the clear heartbeat of the man. Before she knew it, she closed her eyes and began to breathe softly.

She wants to rest.

"His Majesty……"

Not long after, Xiao Ling rode up on horseback, seemingly with something to report.

However, after seeing the situation clearly, he was stunned for a moment, and his voice couldn't help but be lowered.

In the center of the group, a majestic white giant wolf stood out conspicuously as it strode forward.

On his back, a handsome young man dressed in a blue robe with flowing water patterns lowered his eyes slightly, his gaze gentle.

In his arms, the most honored man on this land leaned against him simply, without any restraint or concealment.

Like a child returning to its mother's embrace, most relaxed and at ease, breathing softly, a faint smile curving at the corners of its lips.

For some reason, this harmonious scene, with the man and woman embracing, evoked no sense of romantic desire whatsoever.

Upon seeing him approach, the young man turned around, put his index finger to his lips, and said, "Shh~"

(End of this chapter)