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

Chapter 374 Brother, let's part ways here.
"General... there are no garrisons in the city ahead..."

"A large number of the garrison troops have withdrawn."

"Should we advance?"

On the southern front, Xiao Ling frowned slightly upon hearing the report from his scouts, unsure of the enemy's intentions.

Although the Qian Yuan army did indeed hold an absolute advantage, they could always achieve victory by following the established procedures.

However, the enemy forces were also numerous, and by holding the city, they were able to put up a stubborn resistance for some time.

However, suddenly, the southern rebels seemed to have retreated like a receding tide.

They marched rapidly forward and have already occupied two states.

If we continue forward, we will be approaching Xinhe City, the capital of the Great Qi Dynasty.

What happened?
Is there some internal conflict within the Great Qi?

The regime collapsed and internal chaos led to the withdrawal of troops?

Or is it a trap?

The world today is not what it used to be.

When cultivators with special abilities enter the world, their chaotic and unpredictable abilities are impossible to guard against, and they cannot be dealt with using the conventional methods of military formations based on historical reasoning.

He lowered his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Continue the advance!"

The situation in the north is precarious. He needs to resolve the internal strife as quickly as possible, then lead his army north to support General Ling and fight a decisive battle against the Northern Lie.

No matter what happens, he will not stop.

"Yes!"

The guards had just left.

Just then, another person walked briskly over.

"General, rebels are requesting an audience."

Xiao Ling was taken aback upon hearing this: "Huh?"

The guard reported, "He said he was Ming Chen, sent by Lord Ming, and he also had a token."

Xiao Ling was completely stunned.

Didn't Mingchen go north?

Didn't he just defeat Tian Hong's army and head north without even returning to the capital to report?
How come news of him has come from the rebels in the south again?

Where is this thing?

Why is it like it's teleported, running around everywhere?

If it were anyone else, Xiao Ling might have had some doubts.

But Mingchen... anything is possible. Even if he were to bring down the sun, Xiao Ling would still believe him.

He deserves respect for this name.

Moreover, there are tokens of affection.

"Let him in quickly!"

Immediately afterwards, the guards led in two soldiers dressed in blood.

"General Xiao, hello."

The newcomer had a rather composed demeanor. He cupped his hands in greeting to Xiao Ling and respectfully presented her with an item: "This is a jade token given to me by Lord Ming."

The jade plaque is crystal clear, with the two characters "安国" (Anguo) printed on it in a dragon and phoenix pattern.

Xiao Ling: ...

Of course he recognized it.

Because he also has one that's similar.

Xiao Xinyue issued this plaque to all four Dukes of Qian Yuan.

This jade pendant is made of top-grade chalcedony and is extremely rare. Its sedimentary patterns can reveal the shadow of a dragon when the sunlight shines on it.

Not to mention the important symbolic meaning behind it.

Xiao Ling's plaque was carefully placed in the house and kept safe.

However, Mingchen just casually tossed it out as a token.

"Why did Lord Ming send you here?"

The other person, equally respectful, passed a letter to Xiao Ling: "General, this is a letter that Lord Ming ordered me to deliver to you."

Xiao Ling took it, opened it, and glanced at it briefly, but his eyes suddenly shrank.

With Du Yun'an dead, the leadership of the Great Qi collapsed, and the army disbanded...

This news was completely unexpected.

In this way, the unusual reaction of the Qi army and the retreat of the defending troops can be explained.

Mingchen is like a jinx; wherever he goes, he causes a whole host of trouble.

Of course, this is a good thing for Qian Yuan.

After all that, he ended up winning by doing nothing again.

He didn't believe that Mingchen was involved in Du Yun'an's death or the collapse of the Daqi leadership.

He shook his head and sighed repeatedly, "Lord Ming..."

He is truly a man of God.

He lowered his eyes and carefully examined the Duke of Anguo's jade plaque twice more, pondering the whole story, and after confirming that there were no problems, he...

Then he summoned his soldiers: "Liu Mosheng, from this moment on, you will lead a thousand troops straight to Xiaosha City."

"Zheng Chi, you shall lead your troops south to attack Baixin and take Xinhe directly."

"We will divide our forces into three groups. General Zhang, you will lead eight hundred men to capture Luojing City."

"..."

Before anyone had received the news, they were all stunned when they heard Xiao Ling's arrangements: "Huh?"

Daqi is indeed no match for Qianyuan now.

But surely it's not necessary to send such a small number of people to launch a full-scale attack on cities and territories?

Xiao Ling only said, "The Great Qi has collapsed. Du Yun'an is dead, the court has been destroyed, and the army has been disbanded."

"Before any new rebels rise up, you should quickly send troops to reclaim the lost territory."

Everyone trembled upon hearing this, their eyes widening in utter shock.

Then, his face lit up with joy, and he quickly said, "This humble general obeys!"

This credit came to us on our own initiative!

The enemy country is already in chaos. If we don't attack and seize territory now to gain merit, when will we ever get another chance?
Several generals rubbed their hands together, excitedly setting off.

The general who wasn't named felt somewhat disappointed.

Xiao Ling didn't care and continued to order, "General He, you should first lead the 40,000 troops stationed in Xiaoyao City back to the city and hand them over to His Majesty for deployment to support the northern border."

Now that the southern rebels have collapsed, Xiao Ling no longer needs a large military force.

The troops he sent out were enough to conquer these southern cities.

Time is of the essence, and we can now begin sending some people back to the city to support the North.

"Yes!"

"General Qi, you..."

The military orders were carried out in an orderly manner.

After everyone had left, Xiao Ling finally let out a soft sigh.

His gaze turned south, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of emotions. How much influence can one person truly wield?
How much can one person accomplish?
History is full of legends of heroes and great men...

But it seems impossible to find anyone who can do that.

It can be said that he single-handedly changed this country.

His involvement and leadership can be seen in every major change and every turning point.

Xiao Ling believed that as time went on, in their era, he would witness firsthand how that legend would become a legend within a legend.

He was like a god descending to earth, unparalleled in his brilliance, making everyone else pale in comparison.

To live in the same era as such a person, I don't know whether to consider it a blessing or a curse.

……

The sun was obscured by dark clouds, and the air felt heavy, as if an invisible lid was covering people's heads, making it hard to breathe.

A gentle breeze blows, causing the grass to sway, and glistening dewdrops drip from the tips of the blades.

Mingchen, dressed in plain clothes, stood quietly in front of someone, his expression no longer as carefree as usual, but somewhat dazed.

Everything has settled down.

The entire leadership team of Daqi was killed.

The Blood-Clad Army was disbanded, and the remaining money and provisions were distributed.

This chaotic period, which lasted for more than a decade and swept across the country, saw the rebel army experience glory, slaughter, and decay... but it has finally come to an end.

The ending was not perfect, but the magnificent rise, the heroic and tragic songs that shone through it, and the spirit of resistance will always be remembered by history.

When time stretches out to infinity, history will give new meaning to the losers.

Wang Huai was very tired.

He never had a proper rest in his entire life.

At this moment, he lay in front of Mingchen, peacefully closing his eyes, and remained silent.

He seemed extremely relaxed, as if he had encountered something wonderful. A light smile graced his face, and he looked as if a great burden had been lifted. The furrowed brows that had been tightly knit all along relaxed at this moment.

Perhaps, those who are listed in the Immortal Jade Record will be no exception.

On the day the Blood-Clad Army disbanded and everything settled down, Wang Huai fell backward, his life extinguished.

Wang Huai's magic might be incredibly powerful, but Mingchen would rather not have it.

The tall, imposing monk stood beside Mingchen like a bodyguard, his face somewhat stiff.

He pursed his lips, unsure how to begin.

They had confidently pledged to help Wang Huai clear all obstacles in his path.

At this moment, he felt even more embarrassed and ashamed, as if he had been slapped in the face.

He failed to keep his promise.

Time passed slowly, and he finally said to Mingchen, "Mingchen, this is a letter that Brother Wang asked me to pass on to you."

Mingchen wasn't angry with him; he simply accepted the gift with a calm expression.

"My dear brother Mingchen, seeing this letter is like seeing you again."

"I am probably dead. I died the very night you came. There was no hope of saving me. I don't know why I am still alive. Perhaps it is my obsession, or perhaps Heaven took pity on me and let me finish my business. Lately, I have been getting weaker and weaker and my senses have faded. I think my days are numbered."

"What does it matter if I live or die? Do not grieve. I am content to see you one last time before I depart."

"In my old age, I often recall the day we first met, those spirited children seeming as if they were right before my eyes. Unbeknownst to me, you have become a pillar of the nation, changing the world, so radiant and majestic. Seeing you in such a state fills me with immense pride. Look... the Duke of Anguo of Qianyuan is my younger brother, Wang Huai. Who has the ability to be Mingchen's elder brother? I, Wang Huai, am!"

"If it weren't for you, Wang Huai would probably be starving to death on the street long ago. It's all thanks to you that I've met so many people and seen so many things. My life has been so exciting and wonderful, and it's been worth the trip."

"You are always right. You are a person of exceptional talent, a genius who does everything perfectly without fault. I, your foolish brother, envy you immensely. I am but a mediocre mortal who has made too many mistakes, committed too many sins, and wronged too many people... My talents are indeed insufficient for an emperor. However, you allowed me to fake my death and escape, but now I feel it is inappropriate. You rose up in rebellion, attracting millions to follow you, and countless loyal and righteous men shed their blood. You failed at the last moment, yet you escaped like a cicada shedding its shell, living in seclusion. How can I face those millions who died for me? Those surviving loyal and righteous men have not even received a proper ending, driven by villains. Some calamities cannot be avoided, some blood cannot be shed. The long night is endless, and I toss and turn every night, always feeling that those brothers, those righteous men, are all resenting me. Now... perhaps it is time."

“Lately, I keep hearing Kaifeng and Xing Yong calling me. I miss them.”

"Brother, I'm a little tired. I want to go find them. I hope you won't blame me."

"Brother, I have wronged many people in my life. The only ones I truly care about in this world are you, and my wife and children, whom I can no longer repay. If possible, I hope you can help me take care of them. Your sister-in-law is a virtuous and kind woman. If she wishes to find another good man, so be it. As for your nephew, you know him well. He is a gentle and kind man with some ambition, but he has suppressed it because of my seclusion. Now that he is no longer hindered by me, he will surely soar like a roc and achieve great things. Rest assured, I have taught him to be grateful since he was a child, and he will never let you down."

“There was something I wanted to tell you but hesitated to say before. It was that I had built a monument to a loyal and righteous man in Yueyang City. I know you are very powerful. If it still exists, I would like you to erect it at the place where I was buried when you have some free time. Thank you very much.”

"I don't know why, my brother, a man of such strong character, has become so sentimental and has written so much."

"Hahahaha!"

"Brother, let's part ways here."

"In the future, when the world is prosperous and golden, if you still remember your dull and uncouth elder brother, don't forget to share a pot of wine with me and tell me about it."

Mingchen showed no joy or sorrow, quietly looking at the unattractive words on the letter.

Wang Huai was a rough and uncultured man who was completely illiterate before he started the uprising.

He put in a lot of effort and studied hard to become a leader.

As time passed, on the eve of parting, he left Mingchen with a lengthy letter.

It's not overly literary; rather, it reads like a casual, everyday account, yet the rich and sincere emotions expressed are vividly conveyed on the page.

Wang Huai was full of emotion and very humane throughout.

Has Wang Huai been happy during his time in seclusion?

Perhaps... he himself doesn't even know what he's really feeling.

He always had a frown on his face, and he always had a knot in his heart, often tossing and turning in the middle of the night.

Turning back to embrace the past, and to embrace those who have always waited for him, admired him, and supported him, may not be a bad thing for him.

There are always some things that are more important than life and death.

Mingchen dislikes taking on responsibilities, so he cannot empathize with Wang Huai's feelings.

He simply held onto the sand, with the most basic thought: to preserve Wang Huai as a person.

The Blood-Clad Army was a failure, and failure is failure.

He did not experience the kind of relationship that Wang Huai had.

Once Wang Huai reached that position, it was like putting on a shackle; he could never truly step down.

His feigned death and escape only removed his physical body; his soul was already bound to the Blood-Clad Army.

For him, remaining in the world is nothing more than an empty shell.

They just carry shackles every day.

Now, it seems he can finally shed everything and embrace those who left him.

Now he lies on the ground, lifeless, but with a smile on his face and a peaceful expression.

Having fought for most of his life, he was exhausted, both mentally and physically, and he wanted to rest.

for a long time,

"Tick!"

"Tick tock~"

The rain that had been gathering in the dark clouds slowly fell, leaving a droplet on the letter.

Mingchen swayed his body, carefully hiding it under his sleeve.

He turned to Buchen and said, "Monk, let's go."

Bu Chen immediately agreed: "Okay!"

He then touched his bald head and asked, "Um...where to? The North?"

"Let's kill a few gods and Buddhas for fun."

"Oh ah?"

(End of this chapter)