Can't a girl be a traitor like Cao Cao?

They talked about how tax reduction policies will be implemented in various regions next year after this year ends.

The tax revenue of the Southern Kingdom was of paramount importance, accounting for the vast majority of the entire Great Zheng Dynasty's revenue.

How to reduce it, and to what extent, is a question worth considering.

If policies are not implemented effectively, they will instead enrich local officials and undermine the credibility of the imperial court.

After pondering for a long time, Wan Zhaoji felt that she couldn't explain her plans in just a few words.

So he made up his mind.

I've decided to personally travel to the South to resolve this matter once and for all.

-

At the same time, in the barracks of the Southern Capital Garrison.

As was customary, Military Governor Jiang Mao inspected the camp for a while, reprimanded a few soldiers who were slacking off on the watchtowers, and then returned to his own military governor's tent.

As he came in, he muttered under his breath, "Damn it. It hasn't snowed in the South for years, and this is so heavy all of a sudden. I'm trudging through the snow, my knees are practically soaked."

This awful weather! The sun's out, the snow's melted, and it's colder than when it was snowing!

At this moment, Jiang Mao was not the only one in the tent; Zheng Gaoda and Lou Lifei were also present.

Inside the tent, a brazier was lit, and on top of the brazier was an iron pot, in which wine was being warmed.

Upon seeing Jiang Mao enter, Zheng Gaoda picked up a wine jug and tossed it at Jiang Mao, laughing, "Patrolling the camp is a tough job, Brother Jiang, why do you insist on going yourself? Wouldn't it be just as good to have your men do it?"

Jiang Mao took a sip of hot wine and waved for his two personal guards to leave.

Then he took off his armor, sat down by the brazier, and casually said, "My men are a bunch of lazy dogs! Don't I know them well?"

When they go out for drinks and entertainment, they run as fast as the stars.

Send them to patrol the camp? They'd probably just turn around and sneak into the girls' rooms to seduce them!

He then burst into laughter with Zheng Gaoda.

Lou Lifei sat down beside him somewhat timidly, and upon seeing this, he quickly smiled a few times ingratiatingly.

Clearly, as a hostage of the Lou family here, he was somewhat restrained.

Jiang Mao glanced at him, casually handed him the wine jug, and said, "Kid, have a couple of sips."

Lou Lifei was a little nervous and wanted to refuse, but Jiang Mao frowned, so he could only reluctantly take the wine pot and take a small sip.

The alcohol was so strong that it immediately made him cough.

Seeing this, Jiang Mao couldn't help but show a disdainful expression and said, "As a member of the Lou family, how come you have no manly spirit at all?"

When I was your age, I was already carrying a sword and fighting alongside my father.

Look at yourself, so effeminate. How can you be as weak as a woman?

Chapter 153 Where Old Friends Are

Lou Lifei looked bitter upon hearing Jiang Mao's words.

But they couldn't refute it.

After all, he had never seen his father since he was a child, and it was the maids and servants around Consort Lou who took care of him and raised him.

How can a man develop masculinity if he grows up surrounded by women?

Jiang Mao only mentioned it briefly and had no interest in discussing it further with Lou Lifei.

He immediately turned around and started drinking and chatting happily with Zheng Gaoda.

The two drank heartily by the campfire for a while, then Jiang Mao said with a smile, "In my life, I admire two people the most. One is our ancestor, the Emperor. He swept across the land and conquered the Central Plains. His mighty name was feared by all, both inside and outside the Great Wall!"

The other was His Highness the former Prince Zhenbei. He commanded eight hundred li of troops, fought his entire life, and died on the battlefield! That's true heroism!

Of course, the Commander-in-Chief is one now! I've long heard that the Commander-in-Chief has practiced martial arts since childhood and grew up on horseback. Since the Northern Expedition, he has participated in countless battles, large and small, and even has the merit of destroying a country.

He's probably no less impressive than His Highness the Prince of Zhenbei!

As Jiang Mao's boasting became increasingly exaggerated, Zheng Gaoda couldn't help but shake his head and laugh.

Lou Lifei listened attentively, a look of longing on his face.

As they were talking, they suddenly heard the sound of horses' hooves outside, accompanied by a loud announcement from near the camp gate.

The two men inside the tent were very experienced and immediately realized that a military order had been issued.

Sure enough, not long after, a soldier walked in and delivered a report to Jiang Mao.

Jiang Mao opened it and immediately showed a look of ecstatic joy.

Zheng Gaoda then laughed and said, "Judging from Brother Jiang's appearance, it must be that the Central Secretariat has issued a transfer order, right?"

Jiang Mao nodded repeatedly, laughing heartily, "Brother Zheng is truly a prophet! It really is an imperial decree. The decree says that I should prepare for the handover of the garrison."

"Once the official document from the court arrives next spring, I will be able to go to the capital and assume the post of Minister of War!"

Then he couldn't help but sigh, "Alas, if it weren't for the commander-in-chief's appointment, I might still be leading troops in the South."

Of course, there's nothing wrong with leading troops into battle, but the imperial court offers me a much wider scope for action!

As Jiang Mao spoke, his face was full of confidence, and he couldn't help but start reciting poetry aloud.

His mouth was full of incomprehensible phrases like "You should know that in your youth you had the ambition to reach the clouds, and once promised to be the best in the world," and "A man wields a Wu hook with one hand, and his spirit is higher than a hundred-foot tower."

It's truly enviable.

Seeing this scene, Lou Lifei suddenly made up his mind.

He suddenly knelt down in front of Jiang Mao and said loudly, "Lord Jiang, I... I also want to learn from you how to lead troops into battle! I also want to join the army and serve my country!"

Jiang Mao and Zheng Gaoda were both stunned when they heard this.

However, Jiang Mao was in a good mood at the time, so he didn't say anything to him. Instead, he chuckled and said, "You've got some ambition, kid. I take back what I said before. You're still a man."

However, you shouldn't have told me you wanted to join the army. My only task is to keep you here. When the time comes, I'll send you back to Madam Lou.

"If you want to join the army, you'll have to ask this General Zheng for help."

Upon hearing this, Lou Lifei immediately turned to Zheng Gaoda and knelt down, saying, "General Zheng, please... please accept me!"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Gaoda gave a wry smile and said to Jiang Mao, "Brother Jiang has given me a difficult problem."

Lou Lifei still looked at Zheng Gaoda with anticipation.

After thinking for a moment, he said to Lou Lifei, "I can't make a decision on this matter for now. You can see your mother again in a few days. If she agrees, it's not impossible for her to take you in as a personal guard of the commander-in-chief."

Lou Lifei immediately beamed with joy and said to Zheng Gaoda, "Thank you, General!"

Jiang Mao was a little puzzled and asked Zheng Gaoda, "Does this matter need to be reported to Lou Xiangfei? Isn't it enough for the Commander-in-Chief to just nod?"

Zheng Gaoda said helplessly, "What you said is indeed true. However, the problem is that the commander-in-chief just left Nandu these past two days."

"what?"

Jiang Mao's eyes widened in surprise. "It's freezing cold, and the year is almost over. Why did the Commander-in-Chief choose this time to leave the city?"

Zheng Gaoda also sighed helplessly.

"you do not say."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Mao became slightly worried about the situation in the Southern Kingdom, and asked, "Will this departure last long?"

"Not necessarily. We're traveling light this time and don't have many people with us. We'll probably be back in a few days."

-

As Zheng Gaoda said, at this time, Chi Junlin had already left the city of Nandu.

Her destination was Dupang Ridge, one of the Five Ridges, and the Hidden Sword Manor.

To understand why Chi Junlin went to Cangjian Manor, we need to start with Tong Yan's position as the leader of the martial arts alliance.

Everyone knows that the position of the leader of the alliance is extremely prestigious, but no one knows where its honor and power come from.

The origin of this position as the leader of the alliance is that when the demonic path was rampant, the righteous sects were scattered and had no intention of uniting.

Faced with the rampant evil cult at the time, the major righteous sects fought each other, and as a result, they were unable to resist and were defeated separately.

Therefore, in order to resist the invasion of the demonic sect, the righteous martial arts world elected the most powerful and skilled leader.

With the establishment of a leader, the martial arts world of the South reunited under his authority, ultimately thwarting the Demonic Sect's plot to take over the Central Plains.

Thus, from then on, a legend was passed down in the martial arts world: "When the leader issues an order, he commands the world, and none dare disobey."

Although the position of the martial arts alliance leader is not as prominent as it was when the demonic sect was rampant, the major sects in the Southern Kingdom still acknowledge his authority.

To ensure that the leader of the alliance acts swiftly upon issuing orders, the leaders of the Five Great Sects will forge an iron book and a golden list for the leader, and the leaders of the various sects will be named on the iron book.

In this way, when the leader issues his command, everyone in the martial arts world will obey.

Those who do not comply will be besieged and punished by all the sects in the world.

Currently, four of the five most important sect leaders in the Southern Kingdom, including Tong Yan, have been nominated.

However, the name of the master of Hidden Sword Manor is missing.

It's not because Du Pangzangjian and the other five masters are not of one mind.

The reason is that the person representing Hidden Sword Manor at the martial arts tournament this time is the manor lord's younger brother.

As for the true master of Cangjian Manor, whose strength is recognized by many in the martial arts world, he did not come this time due to matters in the mountains.

According to procedure, Tong Yan could directly write a letter to the manor lord and receive a letter of consent signed by the manor lord's personal guards.

But after thinking it over, Tong Yan felt that this was not respectful enough.

I still intend to go there in person and have a talk with the owner of the estate.

Moreover, there was another purpose for this trip to Cangjian Manor.

There, in the manor, was an old friend of Tong Yan's who was temporarily staying. Tong Yan wanted to meet her and had something important to give her.

This person was none other than Yan Chunyu's wife, who was an old acquaintance of Tong Yan—the other one of the "Peerless Beauties".

Wei Ziqing.

Having heard about this matter, Chi Junlin naturally did not want to miss out.

He then planned to accompany his "master" to visit the renowned Hidden Sword Manor.

Chapter 154 Glassy Lips, Just as Cold as You

For Chi Junlin, going to Cangjian Manor was just a minor episode in the process.

She estimated that she wouldn't stay there for more than a few days. Perhaps after Tong Yan met with the manor owner, she would see what the stunning beauty Wei Ziqing looked like, and then she would have to go back.

If you're lucky, you'll arrive and return just in time for the New Year.

Therefore, both Chi Junlin and Tong Yan traveled light for this trip.

Apart from the carriage attendants, he didn't even bring a single maid.

When Liuli heard that they were going out, she insisted on going with them.

Unfortunately, the weather was really bad, and Cangjian Manor is located in the high mountains. Tong Yan was afraid that Liuli would catch a cold, so she didn't bring her along.

However, before leaving, Chi Junlin felt sorry for her, so he made some arrangements.

Liuli, Beidou, and Fu Ruiying, along with several other young girls from the bamboo houses, moved into Lou Xiangfei's courtyard.

There are underfloor heating systems there, so it's like spring all year round. There's no need to worry about catching a cold.

Tong Yan did mention Chi Junlin, feeling that she spoiled the girls a bit too much.

After all, where did the Sword Harmony Sect have these things in the past?

In the past, they all relied on circulating their internal energy and their righteous spirit to get through it all.

But Chi Junlin thought otherwise.

After all, girls are born to be pampered.

Especially a cute girl like Ruri.

And besides that, there's another thing.

That is because Chi Junlin has observed that Lou Xiangfei's performance these past few days has been quite impressive.

His skills in serving others have improved considerably, which greatly pleased Chi Junlin.