The Demon-Slaying Grandmaster

Chapter 103 Whimsical
Afterwards, Zhao Junming pondered over it over and over again, and after figuring out the hidden truth of Zhang Hua's case, he subconsciously shrank his neck.

I thought to myself that the Lord is really mean.

He can even come up with such a sinister trick. From now on, I'd better behave myself in front of adults.

Otherwise, even if he was plotted to death, he might still be grateful to the adults in the end.

But then I thought, the Lord is both civil and military, and if I follow him, I don't have to worry about being plotted against by the enemy.

After that, he played under Li Jingxiao and became more active and cautious.
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A few days later, in the Zuo Zhenfusi Yamen.

After practicing for a day, Li Jingxiao looked at his watch and saw that it was almost 4 o'clock. He took Erfu and others to Zhenwu Temple for consultation.

After seeing five or six patients, Jia Heng took advantage of the moment when the previous patient left Zhen's room and came in with a cup of hot tea and said, "Master, Master Zhen is here."

Li Jingxiao nodded and signaled Jia Heng to let the next patient wait.

He got up and left the clinic, taking Jia Zhen to the central courtyard.

While drinking tea, I listened to Jia Zhen talking about Zhang Hua.

You Erjie has already broken off the engagement, and after the breakup, no neighbor thought that You Lao Niang was wrong.

It is inevitable that Zhang Hua will go to jail. His delicate daughter will waste five, six, or even more than ten years waiting for someone like Zhang Hua.

This time, Jia Zhen really admired Li Jingxiao.

Of course, I was also secretly afraid of him.

With his great martial arts skills and sharp brain, Jia Zhen was really afraid of offending Li Jingxiao and getting himself killed without even knowing that he was harming him.

He clasped his fists towards Li Jingxiao and said, "My dear brother, you are just like what the old lady said these days, just like the old masters of the East and West Mansions back then.

In wartime, he can both charge into battle and plan strategically, and he truly has the ability to lead an army."

Li Jingxiao smiled and waved his hand.

In terms of intelligence and talent, Li Jingxiao asked himself, he was not necessarily better than the ancient Jinshi.

Not to mention those famous officials and generals who were recorded in history books.

Those who can pass the imperial examination are only one in ten thousand.

Among the hundreds of thousands of scholars in the Great Zhou Dynasty, only 300 were selected as Jinshi every three years.

It is more difficult than the national examination in China.

Probably only those who pass the national examination and get into ministry-level units can be compared with Jinshi.

In Li Jingxiao's view, those provincial champions in the college entrance examination were at most the top scorers in the provincial examination.

Of course, in terms of intelligence, Li Jingxiao felt that the top scorers in the college entrance examinations in later generations were more powerful.

But in terms of vision and adaptability, the scholars who focus on studying the Four Books and Five Classics are definitely not as good as me.

As for Jia Zhen's specific mention of "commanding an army", it was probably because the Jia family knew that they were not capable of reoccupying the position of Jiedushi of the Beijing Camp, which was passed down from their ancestors.

If he had to choose between Wang Ziteng, the second uncle of the Rongguo Mansion, and himself, his grandson-in-law.

The Jia family would most likely favor their grandson-in-law, who is younger, has a title, and is more powerful.

Li Jingxiao frowned and thought for a long time, thinking that Jia Zhen specifically mentioned that Lady Jia praised him several times, could it be a hint?
Jia Zhen didn't disturb him, but he couldn't help feeling nervous.

After a while, Li Jingxiao's heart moved, and he smiled and said, "Brother Zhen, is it that Uncle Wang of the Wang family is planning to be transferred back to the capital from the local area?"

Jia Zhen was stunned and nodded subconsciously.

Li Jingxiao now had a clue in his mind, and he smiled and said, "By the way, Uncle Wang is also planning on the position of Jiedushi of the Beijing Camp?
Could you please help the Jia family run it?"

Jia Zhen was so frightened that he almost jumped up. He didn't expect that Li Jingxiao would think so much about it just from his test.

And he actually guessed it right.

I admire Li Jingxiao, but at the same time I feel a sense of powerlessness as if he has seen through me, and a fear of being crushed by me in terms of intelligence.

If Li Jingxiao knew what Jia Zhen was thinking, he would definitely laugh.

It’s not that my IQ is almost monstrous, but that I know many endings.

Once you have the result, it is actually very easy to reason further.

It took Jia Zhen a long time to calm down.

He sighed and said, "My dear brother, you know that the Ning and Rong mansions have been following the path of civil service examinations since my father's generation.

It's not that my Jia family doesn't know that the imperial examination is even more difficult, it's just that none of us unworthy children have the talent for martial arts or can endure the hardships of practicing martial arts.

Moreover, although the family business built by the ancestors was huge, the old masters of the East and West Mansions were very clear about it.

When the world is at peace, how can there be any military achievements?

And to be honest, I couldn't bear to let my children and grandchildren go to the battlefield.

It would be better to seek a change and take the path of the imperial examination."

Li Jingxiao didn't believe that the Jia family had no sense of crisis.

Jia Jing passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi, and Jia Zhu became a scholar when he was in his teens.

However, when the Jia family was seeking change, they forgot that the royal family might not be willing to see a noble family with military backgrounds not learn military tactics or practice martial arts.

Run to compete with the poor for the places in the imperial examinations.

By the way, the nobles who took the imperial examinations also offended the civil service and scholar-official group.

If everyone did this, how could the local landlords and gentry compete with the nobles for places in the imperial examinations?

Moreover, if there are wars in the future, the people who will lead the charge cannot be civil servants, right?
The Great Zhou was not the Song and Ming dynasties. The civil officials never completely suppressed the military generals in the Great Zhou.

However, in peaceful times, the military generals' voice is indeed not as strong as that of the civil officials.

But for the emperor and the court, there were plenty of scholars and no shortage of children from noble families to serve as civil servants.

On the contrary, it is more rare to find a military general who can lead troops to fight.

Therefore, the retired emperor directly rewarded Jia Zheng with the official position of sixth-rank official in the Ministry of Works.

After so many years, Jia Zheng was promoted from the sixth rank to the fifth rank Yuanwailang.

In Li Jingxiao's view, this was actually a warning to the Jia family.

Besides, you are a nobleman, and a member of a prestigious family with two dukes.

They already occupy so many resources, but they still compete with the farming and scholarly families and the children from poor families for resources and positions.

If Li Jingxiao were a civil servant in the court, they would also unite and kick the Jia family a few times.

This is called sitting on the wrong side of the fence and angering everyone.

When the Jia family was ransacked and lost their former power and glory, Jia Lan became a fallen aristocrat and became a banner for the emperor to win over the people.

Not only did he successfully embark on the path of imperial examinations.

As a result, Jia Lan did pass the imperial examination and became a Jinshi, holding a high official position, which enabled him to obtain an imperial title for his biological mother Li Wan.

Thinking about it this way, Li Jingxiao suddenly felt that the Jia family was doomed to decline since the second generation when they decided to send their children to take the imperial examination.

Even other nobles were unwilling to see the Jia family change their position and go to the side of the civil officials.

What's more, they don't want the Jia family to really rely on the imperial examination to live a better life than them in the future.

Li Jingxiao thought about so much and suddenly felt the complexity of human nature.

But since the Jia family’s resources are not available to the Jia family’s children, then as their son-in-law, he certainly cannot just sit there and watch Wang Ziteng take advantage of the Jia family’s connections.

He picked up the tea bowl and took a few sips, then glanced at Jia Zhen, thinking that he wanted the Jia family's connections, but he couldn't say it out loud.

Pretending to be helpless, he sighed and said, "Brother Zhen, I'm only 16 after the New Year. No matter how hard I try, it's basically impossible for me to sit on the position of Jiedushi of the Beijing Camp within 10 years."

"That's not necessarily true." Since Jia Zhen had discussed with Rongguo Mansion before coming, he naturally thought about how to pave the way for Li Jingxiao.

"There's already talk in the capital that the Tatars are very likely to march south next year. With Jingyou's abilities, it won't be difficult for him to accomplish something remarkable.

If you succeed in assassinating the Tatar commander, you might even be granted a title of nobility. At worst, with your medical skills, you can join the army and treat the middle and lower-ranking officers and those fierce soldiers.

Stabilize the military spirit and morale. If the war is won, your contribution will not be small.

With this solid qualification, the future will be much easier.”

After thinking about it, Li Jingxiao felt that it was indeed worth a try to go to Liaodong.

It would be foolish to attack the Tatar camp directly.

But when the coach arrives at the designated battlefield, most of them will take their men to see the surrounding terrain.

Once the enemy commander comes to a high place and looks over, it will be a great opportunity for you.

Even if they don't come out, we will ambush the Tatars on their southward march.

For a force of tens of thousands of people, a length of dozens of miles is normal.

There are certainly good places to start along the way.

At worst, you have your inventory, and burning the food and supplies will be a great achievement.

There is a chance to wait for the Tatars to retreat in panic and kill a few thousand households, ten thousand households, or even princes.

Seeing him nod, Jia Zhen's face lit up with joy and he continued, "If your assassination is successful and you escape successfully, you can lead 3,000 cavalrymen to charge at us.

After repelling the Tatars, he followed the example of Huo Qubing of the Han Dynasty and made a long-distance raid into the grassland to pursue or intercept the retreating Tatars.

Once you defeat the Tatar army heading south, even if you are only sixteen or seventeen years old, you will be eligible to be awarded the title of "Hereditary Marquis".

Moreover, in order to maintain balance, the Saint and Your Majesty will definitely let you return to Beijing to take up your post.

Either the deputy commander of the Palace Front Department or the commander of the Imperial Guards.

After lying dormant for a few years, the Tatars restarted the war. If the imperial army could stabilize the situation, it would be fine.

Otherwise, I will definitely order you to lead the troops north, fight and make new achievements, and the position of Jiedushi of the Beijing Camp will be yours with a 99% probability."

Li Jingxiao rolled his eyes after hearing this. Nothing in the world is that easy.

There shouldn't be too many examples of talking about war on paper. When you really get to the battlefield, it's good enough if you don't lose your nerve.

He achieved this achievement today and will gain new military merit tomorrow.

It's even less reliable than bragging.

Moreover, Huo Qubing was not only a relative of Emperor Wu of Han, but also was personally trained by Emperor Wu of Han since childhood.

Not only is it safe to use, it is also a substitute when Emperor Wu of Han is unable to go to the battlefield himself.

The more powerful Huo Qubing was, the better he was taught by Emperor Wu of Han, which in turn meant that Emperor Wu of Han was also more powerful.

But if it were me, I was granted a title of nobility before I was 20 years old, and the emperor did not guard against me as he would a thief. That shows that I am broad-minded and a wise ruler.

Based on what Li Jingxiao had heard from others over the past few months and his few contacts with Emperor Longde, he knew that Emperor Longde was not an emperor with a big heart.

Not to mention that Emperor Longde was able to ascend to the throne because the former crown prince's rebellion failed.

It is normal for an emperor who has had such an experience to doubt everything.

Maybe when he sits on the dragon throne, he will become extreme as he thinks about it.

I always feel like someone will rebel.

Li Jingxiao looked at Jia Zhen, who was getting all excited because of what he said, and said unhappily, "Alright, you're not even 20 yet and you've already been made a marquis.

I don't even know how to set up camp, how to deploy troops, or how to march.

So much talk, it’s all nonsense.”

"No," Jia Zhen said anxiously, standing up and speaking quickly, "I'm doing this for your own good. This step-by-step plan, combined with your skills and the Jia family's connections in the military, has an 80% chance of success."

Li Jingxiao said nothing, but pointed at the door of the living room, then picked up the tea bowl, but didn't put it down even though he didn't want to drink it.

The so-called serving tea to see off guests refers to Li Jingxiao's current appearance.

Jia Zhen opened his mouth and wanted to say a few words of advice, but Li Jingxiao simply closed his eyes. Jia Zhen could only sigh helplessly.

He clasped his fists towards Li Jingxiao and said, "Well, it's really useless to think so far ahead.

If the Tatars don't come south next spring, we don't know how many years we'll have to wait."

After saying that, he shook his head and walked away with a disappointed look on his face.

Li Jingxiao looked at Jia Zhen's back and couldn't help cursing.

You want to use me as a chess piece, but you don’t even think about how your Jia family has the qualifications and capital to be a chess player.

Even if I have to risk my life, won’t I go to the emperor?
Moreover, if you have really made a contribution, the emperor will reward you. Why would you need to run around in the Jia family and use connections?

Perhaps, the more happily she danced, the more wary the emperor would be.

There are many such examples from ancient times to the present.

Besides, if you want to use your connections, you can just use money to get them done.

Li Jingxiao couldn't help but curse, "What a family of whimsical, brainless idiots."

Do you really think the Jia family is still the same as it was during the days of Ningguo Duke Jia Daihua and Rongguo Duke Jia Daishan?

Therefore, it is important for people to know themselves.

He failed to see the situation clearly and continued to dream of having two dukes. He deserved to have his property confiscated.

Li Jingxiao cursed for a long time before he calmed down and continued to see patients.

I felt unhappy, and my face looked a little bad when I got home.

Qin Keqing was the first to notice that her man's face looked strange, and she quickly winked at Jing Xi.

Then he walked forward with a smile, helped to untie the cloak, and took Li Jingxiao's hand and sat on the Arhat couch.

Jing Xi was reminded and saw that his elder brother was in a bad mood. He pulled Jing Yue and Jing Rong, and winked at Qin Zhong.

The three sisters and Qin Zhong suddenly didn't dare to speak.

Fortunately, although Li Jingxiao was unhappy, he did not get angry at his wife, sister, or brother-in-law.

After sitting down and drinking tea, I suddenly found that the room was too quiet.

He looked up at Jingrong and saw the little girl shrinking timidly, then he reacted.

He smiled and said, "Well, the tedious matters in the government office have delayed my cultivation, so I'm in a bad mood. It has nothing to do with you."

When Jingrong saw his elder brother smile, he immediately became happy again.

He walked over to Li Jingxiao, climbed onto the Arhat couch, and said flatteringly, "Brother, you are tired. Can I give you a back massage?"

After saying that, without waiting for Li Jingxiao's agreement, he started tapping him on the back.

After a while, Jingrong even forgot about massaging his back, and Li Jingxiao told him several times that his strength was not strong enough.

He simply started using the Zhenwu Long Fist on Li Jingxiao's back.

He kicked and hammered, and in the end he was laughing non-stop while playing.

Li Jingxiao turned around and grabbed the little girl into his arms and tickled her until Jingrong begged for mercy, and then he let her go.

When everyone saw that he was happy, they felt relieved.

In the evening, Baozhu and Ruizhu were so gentle and considerate.

Li Jingxiao's mood finally recovered.

Get 100 experience points.

He hugged the two maids and waited until they fell asleep. Then he got up carefully, went to the bedroom, hugged his wife to sleep, and practiced the Lightning Thunder Fist.

But although Li Jingxiao's side had settled down, the atmosphere at the Jia family was not very good.

(End of this chapter)