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

Chapter 398 Too Much Bloodlust, Hurting Others and Oneself
"Have you heard? We've won a great victory in the North!"

"Putting everything else aside, I've only heard that General Ling single-handedly held off 100,000 Northern Lie troops! The fighting was so fierce that the Northern Lie people were terrified!"

"Really? General Ling is indeed powerful, but isn't it a bit of an exaggeration to say he can take on 100,000 people by himself?"

"How could it be false? It's an official announcement from the court; you can see for yourself!"

"I heard that a phoenix has also descended!"

"We've utterly thrashed the Northern Lie's great general!"

"Duke Anguo also led a surprise attack with his warships and recaptured our Zhenling Pass!"

……

In Yueyang City, people came and went, and the people were talking about it. Their faces seemed to be filled with excitement and joy.

Qian Yuan won a great victory.

News from the North traveled on the wind and reached Yueyang.

In contrast to the gloomy and desolate atmosphere in Bei Lie, the courtiers felt insecure.

The situation in the court during the Qian Yuan era was quite different.

The court officials showered Mingchen and Lingyu with praise, and Xiao Xinyue was overjoyed, bestowing numerous rewards upon them.

Bei Lie must find a way to block the news and spread as little information about the defeat as possible, so as not to cause panic and despair among the people.

However, the situation was clearly the opposite for Qian Yuan.

The news spread quickly, greatly boosting the public's confidence.

In particular, Ling Yu's heroic feat of single-handedly holding off 100,000 people was hailed as the greatest achievement by the people.

It's practically a god of war descending to earth.

Mingchen's capture of Zhenling Pass was equally impressive, but it couldn't compare to the legendary general who single-handedly defeated ten thousand men.

The civilians were not soldiers on the border, and they did not witness the horrific battlefield of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Without seeing it with your own eyes, you can't have a truly profound and unforgettable concept.

Unlike the soldiers who witnessed it firsthand, they wouldn't be filled with fear at the sight of lives fading away, or feel terrified by Ling Yu's single-handed killing of tens of thousands.

They can only marvel at the heroic legends that made history.

They would only praise Ling Yu as a god descended to earth, slaying tens of thousands of enemy soldiers and protecting the land and people of Qian Yuan.

With such people stationed on the front lines, the thousands of homes behind them feel especially at ease.

……

In the North, time flows slowly.

The three passes of the northern border, which had been lost for a long time, have finally returned to the embrace of Qian Yuan, or perhaps they should be called two passes.

Only Xingtai Pass and Zhenling Pass remain; Libu Pass has been completely destroyed.

Time flies, and another seven days have passed.

During this period, Qian Yuan allocated troops to the two passes, cleaned up the battlefield, strengthened defensive fortifications, and consolidated the gains of the war without taking any major actions.

Bei Lie did not send troops to attack.

Mingchen was unaware of Bei Lie and the Jing Lan Alliance's plans, nor did he know that Qin Lou intended to personally lead the expedition.

Having completely taken control of the North can be considered a milestone, allowing us to catch our breath a little.

After experiencing a series of battles, the soldiers also need rest.

Logically speaking, Mingchen's level is no longer confined to the struggles of human armies. Someone should appear to make an agreement with him, divide the interests, and negotiate for mutual concessions.

To prevent him from continuing to break the rules.

If the war continues like this, things will get out of control and chaos will ensue.

Surprisingly, the opponent seems to be quite calm, and so far no one has come to see Mingchen.

The praise and admiration for Ling Yu from the outside world did not reach the ears of the person in question.

The man who single-handedly held off 100,000 men, achieving legendary feats and leaving a significant mark on history, lay quietly in his bed.

That day's madness had squandered all her strength.

She still hasn't woken up.

"Give me back my life..."

"Give me back my life..."

"You killer!!!"

"Daddy... Waaah, Daddy~"

"Husband...you jinx, give me back my husband's life!"

"No...no, spare my life..."

……

Ling Yu lay quietly on the bed, the hideous scar across her face not diminishing her beauty.

Everything was quiet and peaceful.

Suddenly, she frowned slightly.

Faces flashed before my eyes, some filled with fear, some with anger, some with resentment...

Some of them she recognized; as the blade passed, blood splattered, and lives slipped from her grasp. Occasionally, she could catch a glimpse of their terrified faces.

And now, these faces keep swirling in her mind, pleading with her, roaring at her... constantly assaulting her spirit.

She killed far too many people!
I have lost count of them.

There were also some she didn't recognize, mostly women and children, their eyes filled with tears and resentment.

They hated her for taking away their husbands, fathers, and sons... they hated her for ruining their lives.

Ling Yu felt as if she could see her former self reflected in their eyes.

This feeling was not pleasant. Those gazes and resentment surged and crashed against her like a raging sea, and a heavy pressure, like a mountain, weighed on her shoulders, making it hard for her to breathe.

Within this dreamlike state of mind, she is not omnipotent and is unable to wield swords against these people.

She had no choice but to face it head-on and confront these grievances.

Faced with such a situation, an ordinary person might feel guilty, nervous, helpless, or fearful, and might reflect on their own actions.

However, killers are always special...

"So what if I kill him?!"

"Despite your resentment towards me!"

She frowned, sat up abruptly, and instinctively cried out.

She accepted all the resentment and hatred.

She wouldn't care if one day the relatives of the people she killed sought revenge and cut off her head.

She has no regrets about what she has come this far.

Killing and being killed is a vicious cycle; once she stepped in, she never intended to come out.

She slept for a long time and had a long dream.

My whole body aches and I feel mentally disoriented.

The hateful faces that had surrounded her in her dream vanished without a trace.

Instead, returning to reality, the blurry world before my eyes gradually becomes clear, and what comes into view is the person I've been longing for day and night.

Mingchen!

These days, Mingchen spends most of his time by Lingyu's side.

"Husband..."

In an instant, the gloom vanished.

All the resentment, chaos, and unbearable things in the world... were swept away.

Yes, it's just this person right in front of me.

Ling Yu ignored everything and buried herself in his arms, hugging him tightly.

"Madam~ be gentle, be gentle! It's hurting me!"

Despite being concerned about Ling Yu's seemingly delirious self-talk.

However, now, enjoying the rare moment of dependence from his older sister, Mingchen chuckled and patted her back.

……

Everything is real.

Feeling his embrace, listening to his playful words.

Ling Yu felt an overwhelming joy spreading and surging through her mind.

That's great, that's great, he's still alive. Ling Yu killed too many people; she hadn't thought about her own end, perhaps a tragic and filthy one.

However, she wanted to enjoy the present moment and immerse herself in it.

She reached out and gently traced Mingchen's face, carefully taking in every detail and imprinting it deep within her.

In a sense, the two of them had experienced life and death.

My heart is brimming with emotions, and I have countless words to say.

But for some reason, they seemed to get stuck here.

They stared at each other blankly, neither of them saying a word.

Perhaps... the tacit understanding between them doesn't need to be said.

As they drew closer, their eyes reflected only each other, their breaths mingling and gently touching each other's lips.

吻~
If you don't know what to say, then don't say anything.

Mingchen was charming but not a lecherous man; he simply spent some time being intimate with Sister Dai and did nothing more.

The diligent general seemed unwilling to go out and handle official business now. She reluctantly looked away from Mingchen, examining him from head to toe, and asked with some concern, "You've changed. Can you tell me what you went south for?"

That's just Ling Yu's personality.

She was already in bed, and instead of telling Mingchen what had happened, she was more concerned about Mingchen's sudden change of attitude and his hasty trip south.

Mingchen went south and experienced many things, but Lingyu was not by his side.

This was all blank for Ling Yu.

Mingchen pinched her nose and smiled helplessly: "Why does everyone say I'm different?"

He didn't hide anything from Ling Yu, and simply told her about the trip south: "This time, my elder brother..."

"That's it..."

Upon hearing this, Ling Yu gently touched Ming Chen's face and said, "After this war is over, let's go and pay our respects to him together."

The female general, who was regarded as a nightmare by countless Northern Lie people on the battlefield, was now extremely gentle and kind.

"Good~"

Mingchen pinched her cheek: "Don't talk about me, what's wrong with you?!"

"Are you going to put yourself through this much trouble when I'm not around?"

He glared at Ling Yu fiercely, pretending to be ruthless: "Let me tell you, this is my property. If anything is damaged, I will hold you accountable!"

Ling Yu stuck out her tongue, offering no explanation, and simply said, "I understand."

I dare you next time.

"How are you feeling now? Is there anything else that's bothering you?"

Mingchen gently stroked her back and asked with some concern, "What did you mean by what you just shouted?"

Ling Yu simply shook her head slightly: "I feel fine."

"I just had a nightmare."

"Is it?"

Ling Yu was completely open with Ming Chen. Seeing that Ming Chen cared, she simply told him about what she had just dreamed about: "I dreamed about..."

Upon hearing this, Mingchen narrowed his eyes slightly: "I see..."

He felt this was no small matter.

Perhaps he needs to go back and ask the old tree.

……

Ling Yu had just woken up, feeling dazed and weak. After eating a large meal, she rested again.

This put Mingchen's mind at ease a little.

To be honest, the chaos at Xingtai Pass was completely beyond his control and expectations.

With the previously agreed-upon agreement broken and his power displayed recklessly, he had essentially smashed the chessboard.

Fortunately, so far, the outcome is still within an acceptable range.

"My lord, the reinforcements from the southwest will arrive at Xingtai Pass within three days."

After Ling Yu fell into a coma, Ming Chen handled all the affairs of the Northern Territory during this period.

He was somewhat lazy and delegated most of the tasks, big and small, to the various generals below him.

At most, there are some important matters that require him to report back.

Mingchen raised an eyebrow: "Is that so?"

"How many people are there? Who is leading them?"

With the turmoil of the Qian Yuan era resolved, a large number of military forces will inevitably be deployed to the northern battlefield.

This sparked a life-or-death battle between the two nations.

This is just the first wave; more and more reinforcements will follow.

but……

More people don't necessarily mean better things. Too many people mean too many factions. After the three missions were completed, the internal strife was quelled, and the external crisis was largely over.

You have to understand that the Qian Yuan dynasty has been this large for five hundred years. Most people's only wish is to revive the Qian Yuan dynasty and reclaim the lost territories... that's enough.

Few have the ambition to explore further.

In this way, one can ensure safety while gaining status and merit... and some people will start to have ulterior motives.

As people gradually climb to higher positions, few remain uncorrupted by power.

They may have forgotten their original intentions. Those who bind ministers and generals are mostly bound by chains of interest and military intimidation.

Wealth and honor are tempting, money is alluring, and power is alluring.

As the number of people on the front lines increases, some people may gradually stray from their original goals. People's hearts are fickle, and it's difficult to lead a team.

There aren't many people who can fool Mingchen, but there are always fools who will try.

Their strength was thus depleted through internal conflict during the probing.

Mingchen was very self-aware; he was not a military genius and could not command as many troops as possible. He was already at his limit with an army of 30,000 to 40,000.

With the increase in the number of people, people's hearts become unpredictable, and the difficulty of military command, personnel deployment, and other tasks will increase exponentially.

We can only hope that Sister Dai can handle it.

Zheng Yong, unaware of Ming Chen's thoughts, simply answered honestly, "There are approximately 30,000 men, led by General Zhang Yuesheng, known for his Tiger Might."

After returning from undercover work.

Zheng Yong's loyalty, wisdom, and talent have all been tested.

Naturally, his position rose steadily.

Although the official documents from the imperial court have not yet been issued, both Mingchen and Lingyu regard him as a trusted confidant.

"Oh……"

Mingchen didn't know this person.

Zheng Yong continued his report: "Intelligence has come from Zhenling Pass, saying that Beilie seems to be making some moves..."

"Go and go..."

As the two were talking, a commotion arose outside the tent.

The guard inquired, "Lord Ming, General Liu requests an audience."

Mingchen lowered his eyes slightly: "Let him in."

Immediately afterwards, a general led several soldiers in strange behavior into the camp.

The rather rough-looking general bowed respectfully to Ming Chen: "This humble general, Liu Changli, greets Lord Ming."

"No gift."

Mingchen waved his hand, but looked at the soldiers with interest: "What brings you here?"

The soldiers didn't even bother to greet him, showing absolutely no respect.

His expression was blank, and his mind was wandering.

Liu Changli cupped his hands and said, "Reporting to the general, strange things have happened recently. These people are spreading rumors in the army, saying..."

Before he could finish speaking, the soldiers who were acting strangely chimed in, shaking their heads and saying, "Ling Yu is ill, and there is no cure."

"Ling Yu is ill, and there is no cure."

"Too much bloodlust will harm both others and oneself."

"Too much bloodlust will harm both others and oneself."

(End of this chapter)