The Empress Kneels in Her Palace to Admit Her Mistakes After Slaying Her Ways in the Female-Oriented

Zhang Shi forced himself to stay alert and rushed over. He soon saw Ren Tianye, but Ren Tianye was busy at the time.

He was talking to Gu Qing about something.

Ren Tianye sat in the hall, while Gu Qing was given a seat and sat to one side. It was clear that they were not avoiding Zhang Shi, and Zhang Shi was aware of this, so he just stood aside and listened.

"My lord, the sweet potato yield is astonishing, and it is almost time for a bumper harvest. I am grateful for your kindness. Not only have you not punished me, but you have also given me an opportunity to make a name for myself. I dare not fail to cherish this opportunity."

"We will certainly take good care of these sweet potatoes to provide the army with ample supplies."

Ren Tianye nodded and smiled, "I am very pleased that you have this idea. From now on, you will be in full charge of purchasing sweet potatoes from the people in Yunjing."

"At the same time, I will also provide you with an assistant."

"Zhang Shi!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

"The matter of sweet potatoes is of great importance. You must work with Gu Qing to collect them. This is related to the army's food supply. If the war becomes too intense, these sweet potatoes will be enough for our army to get through the crisis."

"Yes, Your subordinate obeys."

"It's not just the sweet potatoes from Gu Qing Manor..." Ren Tianye carefully explained, "There are many sweet potato producing areas around Yun Jing. I will ask for an imperial edict for you later. You will take the edict with you and manage all the sweet potatoes in a unified manner. During this period, all producing areas must be under the unified command of the army."

Zhang Shi was somewhat taken aback.

Unexpectedly, the Duke valued these sweet potatoes so highly, and immediately replied, "Rest assured, Your Excellency, this humble general will certainly handle this matter well."

"Hmm." Ren Tianye nodded, then instructed, "Sweet potatoes are said to be a popular food in Yunjing. In other places where they are produced, there are probably many bewitching monsters, but they are not as abundant as in Yunjing. Perfect, bring them here..."

Ren Tianye originally wanted to say "practice," but considering that Gu Qing was there and he didn't want to embarrass Zhang Shi in front of others, he changed the subject and said, "Perfect, you can deal with them one by one."

Ren Tianye didn't say it explicitly, but Zhang Shi already understood. A touch of emotion welled up in his heart, and he knelt on one knee: "Lord Duke, please rest assured."

"I will gather these sweet potatoes and prepare them properly."

"Yes, I believe in you," Ren Tianye said earnestly. "As long as you think more, observe more, and practice more, one day you will succeed!"

"yes!"

After Zhang Shizhong nodded solemnly in agreement, he made up his mind to reflect on his mistakes.

The Duke has given him countless chances; he must make a change.

Back then, he was just a guerrilla general, an insignificant figure in the entire Chifeng Army. But when he arrived on the grasslands, leading only five thousand light cavalry, didn't he gradually emerge from hardship and sweep across the grasslands?

The battlefield is changing, the situation is changing, and he must also change. Only by adapting to various different battlefield situations can he become a truly top-notch general!

He has already accomplished the task of thoroughly eliminating corruption and entrapment.

He has essentially achieved his goal of leaving a lasting mark on history.

But what he wants to achieve now is... to become the sharpest and strongest general under the Duke!

So Zhang Shi repeatedly tried to comfort himself.

"Be sensitive, be perceptive, actively engage, and make good use of..."

With this mindset, Zhang Shi and Gu Qing quickly set out to take action, carrying out a unified collection and management of sweet potatoes from the surrounding areas.

Ren Tianye also personally led a large army, leaving Yuancheng and heading straight for Pukoucheng, intending to capture this important city.

……

Pukou City, General's Mansion!

White banners fluttered at the gate of the mansion, and white silks hung throughout the courtyard. The courtyard was deserted and quiet, with mournful music playing softly and continuously, and the scene was desolate and bleak.

The entire general's mansion was filled with a somber and desolate atmosphere.

The garrison commander, Zhou Xiong, knelt on one knee, with two coffins placed in front of him. One was his master's, who had taught him for many years and whose relationship with him was like that of a father and son. The master had recently passed away peacefully, and Zhou Xiong was already wailing in grief.

Suddenly, his wife, Wanqing, slipped and fell into the water. Everyone jumped in desperately to save her, but they couldn't pull her out. It wasn't until three days later that they found Wanqing's body. She had been washed away by the river, swollen and unrecognizable.

In a short period of time, two of his closest relatives passed away one after another. No matter how resolute and strong Zhou Xiong was, he cried his heart out. For more than a month, he lost his appetite and spent every day in tears.

He felt particularly guilty towards his wife, Wanqing.

After all, his master's death could be considered a happy one, but his wife Wanqing died young for no reason. While keeping vigil for his wife, he couldn't help but think of the mistreatment he had caused her.

Over the past year, he has been busy with city defense affairs, making the entire Pukou city as solid as a rock. He even used cement produced in Yunjing, along with cannon emplacements, to transform the entire Pukou city into the most magnificent city in the world.

Its sturdiness and strength surpass even that of the once mighty Shanhe City.

He was preoccupied with city defenses but neglected to spend time with his wife, causing her to become dissatisfied with him, often throwing tantrums and gradually straining their relationship, which he continued to ignore.

Whenever Zhou Xiong thinks of these things, he feels heartbroken, and the image of his wife's gentle and graceful smiling face involuntarily appears in his mind.

That beautiful smiling face was ruined by him. Thinking of this, Zhou Xiong wished he could go back to the past and say a word to the Zhou Xiong of that time.

Why are you so impatient with your wife?

Just as they were indulging in their pleasure, a soldier suddenly came to report.

"Report!"

"General, something terrible has happened! Someone is challenging us!"

Upon hearing the words "challenge," Zhou Xiong almost jumped up in shock: "What? Challenge? Ren Tianye's army is already pressing in?"

"General, Ren Tianye's army is quite far from here. However, there is a force of about three thousand men. Judging from their uniforms, they are all from Ren Tianye's army. They have been rushing here and have now reached the city gate of Pukou."

"Leading the charge was a young general, wielding a halberd, riding a black steed, and wearing black armor. He claimed to be a general under the Duke and challenged the enemy at the pass!"

A ruthless glint gradually appeared in Zhou Xiong's eyes.

"A general under Ren Tianye?"

"How dare you be so insolent before my gates?"

"snort!"

"Then stay!"

Zhou Xiong coldly ordered, "Bring me my horse, armor, and weapons. Today, I will show Ren Tianye what my power is!"

Soon, Zhou Xiong, spear in hand and mounted on horseback, led an elite force out in a triumphant and imposing manner, and immediately spotted Ren Tianye's general.

Upon closer inspection, Zhou Xiong, already furious, exploded even more.

"Wu Xingzhou, is that you?"

"General Zhou Xiong knows me?" Wu Xingzhou was surprised for a moment, but only for a moment. After all, he had become the garrison commander of Pinglingji and belonged to the Yunjing camp. It was not surprising that the generals on the Yunjing side knew about him.

"Of course I know you. Not only do I know you, but I also know your master." Zhou Xiong said coldly, "Your master and my master were once in the same school, as close as brothers. It's a pity he passed away early. I never imagined that such a benevolent man would teach such a treacherous person as you!"

"Yun Jing supported you and provided you with a salary, yet instead of repaying Yun Jing, you led Ren Tianye's men to attack my Pukou City. How can a traitor like you still have the face to live in this world?"

……