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

Chapter 317 A Storm is Brewing~
Today is a beautiful day; the sun is shining brightly and the sky is cloudless.

Outside Yueyang City, banners fluttered, and black armor gleamed in the sunlight.

The soldiers had stern faces and an imposing aura.

At the very front of them stood the esteemed leader, dressed in magnificent imperial robes, holding a jar of wine.

Under everyone's gaze, she stood tall and proud, exuding a powerful aura.

No one considered her a beautiful woman.

In everyone's eyes, she is a leader, a queen.

This was the first time Xiao Xinyue had ever done something like sending off soldiers.

She stood on the high platform, looking down at the soldiers, and let out a soft breath.

She knew that these people would be the vanguard who would be the first to face the formidable enemy of Beilie.

Their success or failure will greatly influence the morale of armies in future wars.

She felt that this send-off was necessary.

"My lords and soldiers, the northern frontier has suffered a bitter war for too long. The treacherous and wicked have brought ruin to the country and its people. You are a righteous army; this war is to reclaim our lost lands and restore peace to the land. Behind you lie the millions of women and children of Yueyang, the very foundation of our Qian Yuan dynasty for centuries. I have decreed: for every head taken, a reward of ten acres of land shall be given; the elders of those who die in battle shall be offered sacrifices in the Imperial Ancestral Temple..."

Xiao Xinyue raised her wine cup, her eyes shining as she looked at the fierce soldiers, and proclaimed loudly, "Soldiers, Qian Yuan..."

"Please, everyone!"

She was a woman, and her voice did not seem as strong and robust as a man's.

But at this moment, it was also loud and clear, resounding through the heavens and spreading far and wide.

As soon as she finished speaking, she drank the wine in the jar in one gulp with great gusto, flicked her robes, and elegantly wiped away the wine stains.

"Snapped!"

He slammed the wine jar in his hand to the ground, shattering it into pieces.

"Your Majesty is mighty!"

"Qian Yuan is mighty!"

With such a leader, death is the only outcome.

The soldiers also drank their fill of wine, their eyes like those of wolves and tigers, shouting loudly.

"kill!!!"

"kill!!!"

"kill!!!"

Their roar shook the heavens, and the morale of the army was high.

In such a scene, it's hard not to be moved, hard not to feel a surge of excitement.

General Song Mingzhe, who was leading the army, widened his eyes, knelt down on one knee before Xiao Xinyue, and shouted loudly, "Your Majesty, this humble general will definitely take Xingyue. If we do not take the northern border, we will not return."

"We will not return until we have taken the northern border!"

"We will not return until we have taken the northern border!"

The soldiers' loud shouts echoed through the sky.

The wind picked up.

……

"Your Majesty, Qian Yuan reports that Emperor Qian held a grand ceremony to worship Heaven in Yueyang, rewarding those who had rendered meritorious service. Four dukes were enfeoffed, and a strange phenomenon occurred: golden scales leaping through the Heavenly Gate. Later, during court discussions, there seemed to be an intention to move the capital to Yueyang. Emperor Qian intends to recover the northern border, and has dispatched Song Mingzhe as general, leading 8,000 guards, to personally see the army off outside Yueyang, intending to march north and recover lost territory..."

In the Tiger Palace of the Imperial Palace in Beilie, Qingcang City.

Qin Lou was discussing matters with his team when the messenger strode over and handed him a letter, reporting on the intelligence that had arrived recently.

He had a lot of information, and after summarizing some key points, he told Qin Lou about them first.

"Offering sacrifices to Heaven, golden scales leap through the Heavenly Gate..."

It really is Qian Yuan.

Even without the intelligence coming, Qin Lou could have guessed it.

Qin Lou narrowed his eyes as he looked at the densely packed intelligence reports and asked, "Who are the four dukes?"

"Duke of Ningguo Feng Xiaozhong, Duke of Wei Xiaoling, Duke of Yingguo Ling Yu, and Duke of Anguo Mingchen."

All four were extremely trusted confidants, making it highly unlikely that they could be poached or bribed.

Qin Lou gently shook his head.

Just then, a civil official from the surrounding staff stepped forward. His eyes were sharp, as if he had found a loophole: "Your Majesty, as far as I know, Ling Yu and Ming Chen are from the same family, aren't they?"

"Two dukes from one family, their achievements are so great that they threaten the emperor! This is against common sense, and perhaps the emperor intends to use this to his advantage."

"We might as well send spies to spread this matter widely in Yueyang City, sowing discord between the emperor and his ministers, causing them to become disloyal."

"If we can bring down Mingchen and Lingyu, we will sever Qianyuan's two arms, which will be more beneficial to our dynasty's great cause."

From the perspective of ordinary people, according to conventional thinking and logic...

That seems to be true.

Mingchen and Lingyu are both Dukes, and their achievements are so great that they have threatened the imperial power.

Normal emperors and normal ministers would not like this development.

This place is very complicated, full of intrigue and scheming; a slight misstep could lead to utter destruction.

However... Qian Yuan's situation is special.

Upon hearing this, Qin Lou gently shook his head: "This is a waste of effort."

"There's no need for these underhanded schemes anymore."

He knew the significance of Mingchen to Qian Yuan and Xiao Xinyue.

Unless Xiao Xinyue is an idiot, she won't listen to these instigations.

Even omens don't work...

The most basic requirement for a wise ruler is to be close to virtuous people and keep away from wicked ones. Xiao Xinyue couldn't get involved in his core team, and similarly... he basically couldn't get involved in the important ministers of Qian Yuan either.

"Yes!"

Hearing Qin Lou say this, the minister did not insist, bowed in agreement, and returned to his original seat.

"Move the capital to Yueyang..."

Compared to the events surrounding the sacrificial ceremony, the intelligence that followed was clearly more of a concern for Qin Lou.

He looked at the map and murmured softly.

Is Xiao Xinyue planning to move the capital back to Yueyang again?

This is good news for Bei Lie.

By heading south from the three passes, one can cross a vast plain and directly attack Yueyang City.

If Xiao Xinyue doesn't leave, then she will have to live and die with Yueyang City.

Yueyang City is quite fortified, but it is just a city.

The Blood-Clad Army had already taken it down, so how could the Northern Fierce Army not be able to take it down?

If Xiao Xinyue and Qian Yuan's ministers were arrested...

Then the Qian Yuan dynasty of Zhongxing was doomed.

Xiao Xinyue wasn't stupid; Mingchen was still by her side.

Logically speaking, it would be better to establish the capital at Jiqu than at Yueyang.

What was she thinking?

Is it really because it's the capital city for five hundred years, the location of the ancestral temples... that people are unwilling to leave?

Under such circumstances, they still sent out all eight thousand guards.

It is indeed reasonable to reclaim the northern border, after all, the three passes have fallen into the hands of Bei Lie. If Qin Lou were Xiao Xin Yue, he would also seize the time to reclaim the northern border.

However, the garrison in Yueyang now numbers less than five thousand.

Isn't this empress afraid of unexpected events?

What is Mingchen thinking?
When the good news arrived, Qin Lou showed no joy on his face. Instead, he carefully considered the matter from the other party's perspective.

"Your Majesty, this is a golden opportunity!"

"Emperor Qian has not left and is still lingering in Yueyang. I am willing to lead five thousand cavalry south to cut off her retreat and trap her in Yueyang City."

"Why don't we send troops now?"

One of the military officers spoke to Qin Lou with some excitement.

This is your chance!

Xiao Xinyue's decision not to leave was a huge temptation for Bei Lie.

Bei Lie Zhuguo, whose status was second only to the emperor and who was also the Protector General, Tian Hong remained calm and kept asking Qin Lou, "Your Majesty, I would like to know, where are Ling Yu and Ming Chen?"

Let's not even talk about Mingchen.

But that Ling Yu truly lives up to her reputation as the descendant of a military genius.

As fellow military strategists, Tian Hong suffered a great loss at the very beginning against the inexperienced Ling Yu.

Later, he began to stand out and gradually became known to the world.

Tian Hong had been keeping an eye on her. This woman was unpredictable in her military tactics, always coming up with ingenious strategies in battle, and her army was well-organized and highly skilled in training and commanding troops.

In her hands, large armies can leverage their numerical advantage, small armies can maneuver flexibly, weak armies can grow strong in a short time, and strong armies can become even stronger.

They can mobilize troops at any time, influencing the enemy's movements, making it difficult to discern their true intentions.

In terms of being a general, he was a well-rounded, all-around warrior.

The higher a person is, the more talented they are, the less they will underestimate their opponents, and the more they will value them.

Tian Hong fully acknowledged Ling Yu's talent; the only way to suppress him was through overwhelming force, with several times the military strength. Alternatively, one could resort to unorthodox methods to cause him to lose power.

It is an unavoidable obstacle in the battle between Bei Lie and Qian Yuan.

If this person remains in Yueyang, everything will need to be carefully considered.

The messenger reported again: "Your Majesty, in the southeast of Qian Yuan, there is a bandit leader named Xiang Cunyi who has gathered three thousand bandits, seized Yizhou, declared himself king, and committed all sorts of evil deeds. Emperor Qian has already dispatched Ling Yu with one thousand troops to suppress him."

“Mingchen…this person is elusive and there is no news of him.”

"Sent out?"

At this critical juncture, why was Ling Yu transferred out of the capital?
The Emperor Qianlong was far too audacious.

Is it really not afraid of losing everything by dancing on the edge of a knife?

Upon hearing this, Tian Hong paused, and his hand trembled involuntarily.

Despite the eeriness of the news, he was still tempted.

This is an opportunity.

Yizhou is located in the southeast of Qianyuan, far from the northern border. If a war suddenly breaks out, Ling Yu will not have time to return.

Moreover, Ling Yu only has a thousand soldiers at her disposal, so no matter how she plays them, her potential is limited.

"His Majesty……"

Unconsciously, he raised his head and looked at Qin Lou.

They awaited Qin Lou's next decree.

Qin Lou narrowed his eyes and asked, "What is the current situation at the Three Passes of Qian Yuan? What are the movements of the Jing Lan Alliance?"

Tian Hong replied, "Your Majesty, General Deng has taken full control of the three passes and built a secondary city at Zhenling Pass. With fortified defenses and a scorched-earth policy, no army can withstand him."

"The Jinglan Alliance... has not made any moves recently."

If things proceed step by step, Bei Lie will always be one step ahead of Qian Yuan.

Qian Yuan is still dealing with the mess left by successive internal conflicts!
Bei Lie currently holds the advantage.

Qin Lou glanced at the map and said to Tian Hong, "General Tian, ​​you shall personally lead our 30,000 troops to garrison at Lian Gao City on the banks of the Lie River. We shall not cross the river southward for the time being, but wait for the right opportunity."

Should we wait any longer?

Tian Hong lowered his eyes, but still cupped his hands and said, "This subordinate obeys the order."

"Send orders to the three generals Deng, Liu, and Bai at the front lines: no matter what, they must hold the Qian Yuan Pass."

"As long as they hold the three passes of Qian Yuan, they will be the heroes of Bei Lie."

"Yes!"

War is imminent.

The ministers present all turned solemn.

They knew that this war would determine the future of history.

Whether they were ministers who helped unify the country or ministers who contributed to the downfall of the dynasty... it all depends on this.

"Your Majesty, if we were to go to war with Qian Yuan, what grounds would we have?"

There always needs to be a reason to start a war.

In chaotic times, the principle is that whoever has the bigger fist is right, and the strong can bully the weak without any justification.

Benevolence, righteousness, friendship... these are all excuses.

Everyone knows perfectly well what they are truly fighting for.

However, everyone here is a respectable person and pays attention to etiquette.

At the very least, you need to have a solid reason to spread the word so that people will feel comfortable doing things that way.

In previous years, when war broke out, didn't they also send an envoy to Yueyang, provoke him to commit suicide, and then find a reason to start the war?
It's the same now.

We had just signed an alliance with Qian Yuan a few years ago, and we would need an excuse to break it so abruptly.

Qin Lou thought for a moment and casually said, "Just say that Duke Mingchen of Qianyuan Anguo deceived me, wasting the country's resources to build canals and deceiving my Beilie territory. In reality, he was trying to weaken my country. Fortunately, I have divine protection, and Beilie is the one destined by heaven. That's how I turned misfortune into blessing."

"I am furious and order Qian Yuan to hand over this sorcerer."

"Otherwise, I will send troops to attack Qian Yuan."

There are plenty of excuses; this one is readily available.

Emperor Qian could not possibly hand over Mingchen, and war was inevitable.

The pretext for the last war may have had a provocative and deliberately provocative tone.

But this time, what Qin Lou said was absolutely true. It was all true. He was just covering up one aspect of it.

It can fully incite public hatred and put Mingchen in a rather awkward position, making him feel disgusted.

This is Qin Lou's perverse sense of humor.

They were indeed friends, but also rivals.

Once at the card table, everyone has something to carry on their shoulders, and they'll stop at nothing to achieve it.

All personal matters can be discussed privately.

"The minister obeys the order."

……

"A storm is brewing."

In Yueyang City, Mingchen sat on the eaves. A gentle breeze blew, ruffling a few strands of hair at his temples. He gazed at the Qianyuan banner fluttering on the distant city tower and sighed repeatedly.

The lazybones had no idea what he was about to experience.

Eight thousand troops marched away in a grand procession, leaving the city's defenses somewhat weak.

But on the surface, everything seems quite peaceful.

This country is busy, and this city seems somewhat mediocre.

He seemed like a hermit, watching the clouds drift by, as if he were somewhat out of place in this era.

But in reality, he is one of the core figures behind all the mundane busyness.

In chaotic times, everything happens too fast.

The turbulent times pushed people forward, one thing after another, making it hard to breathe.

Xu Zhongling had just been wiped out, the Great Qi had just collapsed, and the Qian Yuan had just moved east...

Before everything was even settled, they were already preparing to head north to confront Bei Lie.

Things happened so fast that even he was somewhat overwhelmed and out of control.

He can determine the development trend and trajectory of his own side, but he cannot control the actions of an equally powerful enemy.

Bei Lie is a formidable enemy, with a powerful nation, a formidable army, and the assistance of extraordinary beings and deities behind the scenes.

Qian Yuan's large ship was about to plunge into the deep sea, where the currents were surging and the horizon seemed endless.

Xiao Xinyue is taking a risk, and so is Qian Yuan.

However, Mingchen did not think this was wrong.

Opportunities are fleeting, and not everything can be done only after thorough preparation.

On the contrary, waiting to be prepared might mean it's too late.

Fate cannot always put you in the best possible condition to handle everything.

Although it is thriving and has a very high development potential.

However, having experienced successive wars and with its territory fragmented, Qian Yuan was weaker than Bei Lie in terms of combat strength alone.

If we don't take the risk to seize the opportunity and take the initiative, we may never have another chance.

Now that the country is operating smoothly, Mingchen fully recognizes and supports Xiao Xinyue's decisions regarding domestic and foreign policies.

"Meow..."

As his thoughts raced, the black cat leaped onto the rooftop, gently nuzzled Mingchen's hand, and found a safe spot in his arms before lying down obediently.

"Mo Xing, I originally wanted to be as lazy as you, but how did I end up like this?"

Their positions are getting higher and higher.

Mingchen felt that he had lost his original aspirations.

How come he's becoming more and more diligent in his work, and more and more fussy and like a loyal minister saving the country and its people?
This is not good. Why doesn't anyone try to bribe him?

Sitting in the seat of the renowned Duke of Anguo, Mingchen felt none of the thrill of wielding absolute power. He stroked the lazy cat and sighed softly.

His Majesty trusts him too much; they even sleep in the same bed, so there's no fun in outwitting each other anymore.

This time when he returned to Beijing, he brought along all the monsters and ghosts from his home, except for Yaoyao, whom he couldn't leave with him. The children also came.

Having moved to a new home, Long Lian had never seen the capital before and stayed at home like a shut-in.

The little fox said it hadn't been here in a long time and wanted to go out for a stroll, so it ran around everywhere and disappeared.

The others, on the other hand, were simply revisiting the place and going about their business.

The 'Lord Wang Su,' who had never made a public appearance, even received a nominal earldom from Xiao Xinyue to highlight his achievements.

Today, Little Bird took White Wolf to the restaurant to listen to storytelling, instead of staying with Mingchen.

This naughty, unruly girl, Mingchen spoiled her rotten, raised her to be corrupted, and then gave up on struggling.

"Meow~"

Mingchen's words were not very polite.

The cat gave him a light, defiant bite.

But she still nestled in his arms, enjoying a moment of peace with him.

It seems like it's been a very, very long time... I haven't been able to quietly pet cats like I did when I first arrived in Yueyang City and bought the restaurant.

"Speaking of which, I wonder how far you are from your goal?"

The monsters' wishes were all over the place, and Mingchen didn't care much about them. He hadn't completed a decent task in a long time, and he had almost forgotten about his unique cheat ability.

He is not someone who likes to be tied down by game quests.

If it succeeds, it succeeds; if it doesn't, it doesn't.

Even without those strange and unusual vows, he can live a good life now.

The cat wasn't idle in Jiqu either; it often went out to wander around and meet people.

Mingchen has lost count of how many displaced hairs he has in his hand.

My own cat has definitely inherited the characteristic of shedding fur.

He left even the most inconspicuous cat hair at home, in the old tree, in Beilie, in Yueyang, in Xiaoyao City... in all sorts of random places.

He now has multiple lives; with a mere thought, he can roam the world.

It's a pity that he can only use this himself, otherwise he would share it with his friends.

It shouldn't lead to an unexpected situation like what happened with Wang Liu.

The cat turned its head and looked at Mingchen with its heterochromatic eyes.

Mingchen also met its gaze.

Time flies. At first, the cat only had a simple white mark on its forehead, but now there seems to be more white fur.

A gentle breeze blew by, and Mingchen shuddered, his pupils dilating.

He seemed to become somewhat dazed.

The world before him seemed somewhat distorted, and in a daze, he thought he saw an eye on the cat's forehead, a pitch-black eye.

Their eyes are completely different from those of strangers; the whites of their eyes are black, while the irises are white.

Through those eerie eyes, life and death were separated, and Mingchen felt as if his soul had left his body, as if he had traveled through space and glimpsed another world.

(End of this chapter)