knife

Chapter 323 Only by Following Step by Step
Stepping into the vast military tent, a slight chill immediately greeted me.

Inside the large tent, there were several basins of ice.

Among tens of thousands of troops, only Linghuye's place could enjoy such a privilege.

However, Linghu Zhishu was soaked in sweat and was still sweating profusely. As soon as he entered the tent, the cold air made him feel even more uncomfortable.

Fortunately, his martial arts skills were also quite advanced, so he wasn't afraid of falling ill because of it.

Linghu Ye was busy grading documents and did not look up when Linghu Zhishu entered. He continued writing diligently.

Linghu Zhishu stood with his hands clasped at the entrance, silently watching his uncle.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Linghu Ye finally raised his head and looked at Linghu Zhishu with a smile: "You've improved. It seems that sending you to be a local prefect for a year to temper your temperament was the right move."

"It's all thanks to my uncle's love and care!" Linghu Zhishu walked over.

“If this were when we were outside the Great Wall, you would have taken off your armor and changed clothes as soon as you entered the tent, and then sat down in front of me and started complaining about this and that!” Linghu Ye put down his pen on the inkstone and laughed, “It’s not pleasant, is it? Take off your armor!”

Upon hearing Linghu Ye's instructions, Linghu Zhishu removed his helmet and armor, revealing that his inner clothes were already soaked through.

"Take them off. There's nothing wrong with being naked in front of your uncle."

Linghu Zhishu smiled and took off his underwear, revealing a muscular, dark physique.

"Hand out!"

Linghu Zhishu did as he was told and extended both palms.

Looking at the calluses on his palms, Linghu Ye laughed and said, "It seems that what you did in Boling wasn't just for show, but something you were genuinely doing. Otherwise, you wouldn't have developed these calluses!"

The calluses from holding a hoe are naturally different from those from using weapons.

"My uncle wants me to serve as a people's official, so naturally I must sincerely try my best," Linghu Zhishu said. "This year has been very rewarding, and I have many feelings to share!"

“However, your actions in Boling have caused dissatisfaction among many people!” Linghuye said, “Many people have filed complaints with me.”

"For my uncle's great cause, I think we can try any path. The path they took is one, and the path I'm trying now is another. Actually, I don't think it matters at all which path we take. What matters is that it's effective!"

"Don't you realize that what you're doing is actually undermining the foundation of our Linghu family?" Linghu Ye said. "If we follow your approach, I'm afraid we won't be accepted by other powerful families, and even within the family, no one will support you."

Linghu Zhishu paused for a moment before saying, "But Uncle, in just one year, I have trained three thousand strong soldiers in Boling using these policies, and raised 500,000 jin of grain. This was while ensuring that the people of Boling had enough to eat and wear. If we were to extend these policies to our entire controlled area..."

“Before the policy is even implemented, we will already be deserted by everyone!” Linghuye shook his head and said, “The most effective is not necessarily the best, nor is it necessarily the most suitable for us. You must understand this.”

Linghu Zhishu was somewhat disappointed: "So, this time, the reason I was transferred back to serve as the General of the Central Army is not as a reward, but because they are afraid that if I continue to work in Boling, I will be even more resented and become an outcast in the family?"

"That's not true!" Linghuye laughed. "Look, your true nature is showing again, isn't it? Merit should be rewarded and mistakes should be punished. You did a good job in Boling. These three thousand strong soldiers and five hundred thousand catties of grain are proof of that. So, transferring you back is naturally a reward."

"Uncle, I have a request!"

"explain."

"I'm leaving, but I hope that the government doesn't just die with me. Let Boling continue to operate naturally and see what it will be like in the end!"

“Boling, just as you wish!” Linghuye laughed. “Actually, you’re still competing with Li Dachui, aren’t you?”

"It's not about competing, but about learning. I want to see what magic his methods in Helan Plain and Baoping Prefecture possess!" Linghu Zhishu said earnestly. "Taian City is just his backing; Helan Plain is the foundation of Li Dachui's rise, and Baoping Prefecture is the key to his takeoff. I've collected all the policies and laws he implemented in these places, and then implemented them one by one in Boling County. Without going deep into anything, just glancing at it from the outside will only ever give you a partial understanding, making it difficult to grasp the essence."

"So, you've gained something?" Linghu Ye asked. "Uncle, if we can't quickly establish an advantage within the pass and seize the high ground, then in ten years, no, perhaps less than ten years, Li Dachui will establish an unshakeable advantage outside the pass. I only used one year in Boling to achieve initial results with his approach. If we have another two or three years, Boling County will be equivalent to the rest of Hexi."

"I understand what you mean!" Linghu Ye said, "What's your take on the Crown Prince's death?"

There's nothing more to say about the emperor's death.

The Linghu family naturally had their own channels, and they knew that Emperor Li Anmin, due to his cultivation of the Heaven-Slaying Technique, eventually lost control and was besieged by thousands of troops within the Forbidden City, where he was ultimately killed.

However, the death of the crown prince is shrouded in mystery.

“With innate cultivation and mastery of disguise, who else could it be but Li Dachui?” Linghu Zhishu shook his head and said, “But I just don’t understand why he would do this. I can’t figure it out.”

Why can't you understand?

“We are now the Wei clan’s biggest rival. The Wei clan, sitting in the center, holds a naturally high position and has the emperor in their hands. Even if heroes rise up across the land, they probably won’t have much of an advantage over the Wei clan in the short term,” Linghu Zhishu analyzed. “If I were Li Dachui, I would naturally hope that the heroes within the pass are evenly matched, fighting to the death until both sides are exhausted. The longer the battle drags on, the more advantageous it would be for him. But now he has actually impersonated Hong Zhan to kill Li Tai and framed the Wei clan, leaving them surrounded and deserted, giving us a huge advantage all at once. What is his purpose in doing this?”

“Li Dachui is a man who always plans carefully before acting. He’s the kind of guy who won’t do anything without a profit. Why would he do something that loses money?” Linghuye laughed.

“Please teach me, Uncle!” Linghu Zhishu said earnestly.

“Li Dachui’s previous focus was entirely on the area outside the pass and on the Northern Yuan. His goal was to overthrow the Northern Yuan first. Perhaps at that time, he didn’t expect the Qin Dynasty to collapse so quickly, nor did he expect his plan to dismantle the Northern Yuan to proceed so smoothly!” Linghu Ye laughed. “Originally, he should have thought that after accomplishing these two things, he would then make his move inside the pass. Unexpectedly, things went too smoothly, which caught him off guard!”

"So it's already a bit late for him to start making moves inside the pass, and he has no choice but to take a risky approach."

Linghu Ye nodded: "He needs to make arrangements within the pass, and he should have chosen the Wei family. But the Wei family is too strong, and he lacks the leverage to bargain with them. Although the Northern Protectorate's army is strong, it is far outside the pass. Firstly, it is involved with the Northern Yuan, and secondly, we are in between, so Wei Zhengdao really doesn't need to pay too much attention to him."

"So he wants to make the Wei family besieged on all sides, to weaken them infinitely, so that it will be easier for his own forces to enter." Linghu Zhishu suddenly realized: "Uncle, Li Dachui must have a partner in Guanzhong, and this person is the key person Li Dachui is supporting. Who is this person?"

“Zhang Songlin returned to Sichuan not long ago!” Linghu Ye said. “And this man should have been in cahoots with Li Dachui many years ago. Through smuggling with the area outside the Great Wall, Zhang Songlin made a lot of money.”

"Li Dachui might collaborate with Zhang Songlin to make money, but it's unlikely he'd be entrusted with any important responsibilities, right?"

"Then we'll see who will be the next to cooperate with Zhang Songlin to plot against Shu," Linghu Ye said with a smile. "This person will soon emerge."

"Take over Shu?" Linghu Zhishu was somewhat shocked. "Prince Ji, Li Shen, and the Tang family have built up Shu into an impregnable fortress over the years. With Jianmen Pass blocking the way, it will be extremely difficult to conquer Shu!"

“Li Dachui wants Sichuan. If the Wei family can't hold Chang'an, they'll have no choice but to retreat to Sichuan. Once they enter Sichuan, they'll be trapped in Li Dachui's clutches. The power the Wei family holds will inevitably be seized by Li Dachui in Sichuan!” Linghu Ye shook his head and sighed, “What a brilliant plan, what a vicious scheme! From having nothing, he suddenly possesses a powerful force, supporting both the north and south of the pass, thus laying the foundation for his grand scheme to seize the world. Sometimes I just don't understand how Li Dachui, who's only in his twenties, can be so powerful. From the pass to Sichuan, every step is unexpected, leaving us only able to follow him step by step and react passively!”

After listening to Linghu Ye's meticulous analysis, Linghu Zhishu was speechless for a long time before saying, "Uncle, now that you have seen through Li Dachui's conspiracy, do we have a way to break it?"

“There’s no solution!” Linghu Ye said, “I just figured it out myself, but what good will it do? Will we stop attacking Chang’an? Will the weakening of the Wei clan change anything? Will the Wei clan be forced to retreat into Shu if they can’t withstand the attack? No, they will all follow this kid’s physiognomy step by step.”

"Immediately notify Sichuan. As long as Sichuan is not lost, all of Li Dachui's plans will be nipped in the bud!"

“My messenger set off three days ago; hopefully, he'll make it in time!” Linghu Ye said.

Suddenly, the curtain was lifted, and Linghu Shili appeared at the tent entrance, saying, "General, a report from the front camp says that a group of people are coming from the direction of Chang'an. The leader claims to be Scholar Zhou Zili, saying that he is an old friend of yours and has come to seek refuge with you!"

"Scholar Zhou?" Linghu Zhishu was astonished: "Wei Zhengdao actually allowed him to come out?"

“Zhou Zili isn’t that important!” Linghu Ye laughed. “But you’re right, I’d like to see who has the ability to make Wei Zhengdao let Zhou Zili go.”

Linghu Zhishu pondered for a moment and said, "Uncle, do you think this guy who could get Wei Zhengdao to release the man might be Li Dachui's partner?"

(End of this chapter)