If you don't give up, I'd like to be your adoptive father.

Chapter 1036 Han Xin's Discussion on Military Strategy
Han Xin looked at her with eyes full of longing and trepidation, his voice trembling as he asked, "Mother-in-law, is there any way to save my great Azure Dragon?"

Xiao Yu shook his head and said, "The Great Azure Dragon has flown away, and its dragon energy has dissipated across the land of Huaiyin."

It's like a person whose body has died and whose soul has also perished; how can you possibly save them?
"If it weren't for the dragon's aura of death, wailing in agony across the earth, I wouldn't have found your ancestral graves so soon after arriving in Huaiyin."

Han Xin looked gloomy, sighed, and asked again, "Grandma said someone was plotting against me, but it wasn't the Taoist priest from Changchun Temple, so who could it be?"
As the mother-in-law saw it, the boy had a bad reputation and was not well-liked in Huaiyin.

Nobody wants to associate with me, and I haven't met anyone who's actively trying to befriend me lately.

—Apart from you, who tested me several times.

He muttered to himself, but did not suspect that it was "Old Mother Qiushan" who had harmed him.

She really did it. She won't come looking for him again, nor will she try to answer his questions.

Moreover, he was extremely adept at understanding people's hearts and nature, and he could see the regret and remorse on his mother-in-law's face, which was very sincere and not feigned.

"If someone wants to harm me, they should at least make contact with me, right?" he wondered.

Xiao Yu sneered, "You underestimate the methods of the celestial divination masters."

I'll ask you again, what happened half a month ago that caused such a strong emotional fluctuation in you, prompting you to make the decision to move the grave?

Think carefully, recall thoroughly.

It would be absolutely impossible to raise a large green dragon in less than ten or eight years using the sewage from Changchun Temple.

Sewage has been flowing into your family's cemetery for many years.

If I'm not mistaken, this vegetable garden has been abandoned since your mother died, hasn't it?

Han Xin pondered for a long time before hesitatingly saying, "When I walk down the street, people will inevitably point and whisper behind my back."

Before the grave was moved, the boy overheard the neighbors talking about it.

They said the boy was extremely unfilial, polluting the ancestral graves with excrement and remaining indifferent.

They even said that my ancestors are crying and cursing in the afterlife, believing that the Han family's decline and ruin were due to the feng shui of their ancestral graves being ruined by excrement.

He sighed helplessly, "This kid can crawl between other people's legs and accept all kinds of bad reputation."

The only thing I cannot bear is the word 'unfilial'.

First, the boy has never been unfilial.

While his parents were still alive, the son would serve them medicine and soup by their bedside.

He exhausted his family's wealth to buy medicine to treat his mother's illness, and even sold his ancestral home to purchase a high-quality coffin for her.

The boy himself could not tolerate the insult of being 'unfilial'.

Secondly, if a young man has any ambition in his career or economic pursuits, he should not be branded as 'unfilial'.

In this world, a person can be bad in many ways, but they must never lose their filial piety.

How can a bastard who is not filial to his parents be loyal to his lord?
Who would dare trust or employ someone whose loyalty cannot be guaranteed?

Xiaoyu remarked, "This is an extremely insidious yet highly effective scheme."

If you are truly found guilty of being unfilial, you will certainly lose your future.

At that time, even if you don't dig up your ancestral graves or unearth the Azure Dragon, the Azure Dragon, which is connected to your vital energy, will wither and die.

If you move the grave, you will surely release the Azure Dragon.

Given your personality, you wouldn't make a third choice—to diligently manage your own vegetable garden.

Sigh, back then you couldn't even diligently farm.

The fact that excrement has contaminated the grave is now a fact; the news of it has spread is also a fact.

You have no choice but to fall into their trap.

Han Xin asked, "Does Mother-in-law know who is trying to harm me?"

Xiaoyu said, "With your intelligence, even after being reminded by this old woman, you still can't figure it out?"

Han Xin's eyes turned cold. "Could it be the Imperial Observatory of Qin? They love to dig up the dragon veins of the land and eliminate any threat to the Ying Dynasty."

Xiao Yu nodded slightly and said, "That's a possibility, but besides digging up the dragon veins, the Great Qin is more concerned with eliminating the hidden dragons."

Especially for someone like you, a homeless and jobless "lone dragon".

Killing you doesn't require digging up dragon veins and adding to your own bad karma.

Without you, the Great Azure Dragon will perish on its own and will not transfer its fortune to another member of the Han family.

Have you been assassinated by anyone recently?

Han Xin thought for a moment, then hesitated and said, "Young man, could it be that you've been targeted by other 'hidden dragons'? But why don't they just kill me directly?"

Xiao Yu asked, "Are you willing to serve the Qin Dynasty?"

Han Xin shook his head repeatedly, “The Qin Dynasty is doomed to perish. What future is there in surrendering to the court? Besides, I haven’t even become a county clerk. Even if I wanted to surrender, I have no way to do so.”

Am I supposed to volunteer to join the army?
"My previous service as a retainer under the patronage of the head of the Nanchang Pavilion was partly due to his protection, which exempted me from corvée labor and military service."

Xiao Yu said, "That's right. You didn't even become a lowly clerk, yet you raised a dragon vein. You are destined to rebel against Qin in this life."

Since they oppose the Qin Dynasty, they can naturally be accepted and utilized by the anti-Qin forces.

Although the Qin Dynasty has lost its Mandate of Heaven, it still has hundreds of military commanders and a million iron cavalry.

Which ambitious young man wouldn't be intimidated by such a powerful military force?
The Qin Dynasty was not destroyed before it was embroiled in internal strife; this was not the act of a wise man.

However, if one desires to dominate the world, one must also consider what will happen after the Qin dynasty is destroyed.

Of course, there is the most important point.

If I hadn't reminded you, you would have remained completely in the dark, confused and bewildered, thinking that you had been careless and had unearthed your own dragon vein.

In this matter, you will not harbor any suspicion or hostility towards any potential dragon.

It should be known that all hidden dragons are destined by Heaven.

Those who forcibly kill those destined for greatness will inevitably be burdened with endless evil karma.

The one who plotted against you and forced you to sever your own dragon vein must not be the Hidden Dragon himself, but rather a Qi cultivator from the Dragon Supporting Court.

Those are the people who cherish their lives the most.

Or rather, the purpose of Fulongting was to cleanse itself of its karmic sins.

Even if someone tries to kill you, you are protected by destiny, so they might not succeed. They will also be entangled in karma and hated by 'God'. Isn't this going against their wishes?

"It's better to keep you around and let you serve Qianlong. It's very likely that the first Qianlong to extend an olive branch to you will be your greatest enemy!"

Han Xin was horrified, then his anger flared up, and he gritted his teeth and said, "You've severed my dragon vein, and you still want to take me as your subject and make me your lord?"

Xiao Yu said, "Compared to annihilation, this result is merciful, and everyone is happy."

Han Xin suppressed his urge to roar in anger and said resentfully, "But now I understand the reason."

Xiaoyu sighed, "Perhaps I shouldn't have come to see you today. Anyway, your family's dragon vein is broken, and the outcome is already decided."

"No, thank you, Granny, for telling me the truth. It prevented me from being fooled and manipulated by the thieves." Han Xin quickly bowed respectfully three times.

Xiao Yu looked him up and down and said, "I've been staring at you for a long time, and there are a few questions I still don't understand. Han Xin, would you be willing to answer my questions?"

"Please ask, Mother-in-law, I will answer to the best of my knowledge," Han Xin said.

"This military treatise in your hand seems unremarkable, so why are you so engrossed in reading it?" Xiaoyu asked.

The military treatise is simply titled "A Brief Account of Military Strategy," and it is quite mediocre.

The author is "anonymous," but it is not some kind of rare and secret book.

Although you can't buy military books in street bookstores, well-to-do families have libraries filled with military books and martial arts manuals. The "Brief Explanation of Military Strategy" in Han Xin's possession is rather brief; it really is just a brief overview.

It only explains the basic methods of troop deployment and simple applications of the Thirty-Six Stratagems.

Before going to Xianyang, Xiaoyu also taught his apprentice Xi Juan military strategy.

Even though she hadn't studied military strategy much at the time, with the "Bai Qi's Military Treatise" and the military theories of Meng Yi and Li Xin as her guide, her own level far exceeded that of a mere "A Brief Account of Military Strategy".

How could Han Xin become a "military genius" by relying on such common military books?
Han Xin glanced down at the bamboo slips in his hand and said, "This book seems ordinary, but it contains the general outline of military strategy. I read it every day and learn something new every day."

Xiaoyu asked again, "I've noticed that besides reading, you often stare blankly at the sky and the river. What are you thinking about then? Are you just letting your mind wander?"

Han Xin was somewhat embarrassed and shook his head, saying, "I'm not daydreaming. I've been observing the heavens and earth and have suddenly come to understand the principles of military strategy."

Xiaoyu looked incredulous.

Han Xin hung his sword at his waist, opened the bamboo scroll, pointed to a sentence, and said, "Grandma, please look at this sentence: 'Military tactics are not constant, just as water has no constant shape. One should not stick to old rules, but adapt to the enemy's changes.'"

This sentence sounds like something from "The Art of War," but it's not the original quote.

There are many similar sentences in "A Brief Account of Military Strategy".

The authors read various famous works on military strategy, gained insights, and then combined different theories together.

Like a "beginner's notebook".

While seemingly containing numerous classic quotes, it lacks the "general outline" representing the soul of thought—the military philosophy of the "Sage of War."

For example, the opening of "Wei Liao Zi" expounds on the main idea of ​​the State Military Command: "to punish the violent and rebellious and to prohibit the unjust."

Guowei Liao believed that war should serve "justice," and that cities without fault should not be attacked, and innocent people should not be killed.

Anyone who kills another's father or brother, takes another's goods or property, or takes another's children as servants is a thief, not a "soldier".

Of course, the "justice" that Guowei Liao, the "tyrannical Qin" Grand Commandant, believed in was not the Confucian concept of benevolence and righteousness.

His "justice" was merely a reason to instill fighting spirit in his soldiers.

Soldiers fight for their beliefs, not for money or women.

The reasons that can inspire soldiers to have faith can be unifying the six kingdoms and dominating the land, or suppressing dissent and pledging allegiance to Qin Shi Huang.

Wei Liaozi's definition of "soldier" is the core idea of ​​the entire military treatise.

Under this idea, the strategies and techniques in military treatises can be integrated into an organic whole.

Han Xin's "A Brief Account of Military Strategy" lacks any real thought; it's just a collection of various "tricksters," pieced together haphazardly, resulting in a disorganized mess.

He's just like Frankenstein from the military strategy.

Xiaoyu looked down on him and wondered how someone who read such trashy Han Xin could become a "military genius".
“Simply reading military books won’t give me a deep understanding. But the Huai River before me is constantly showing me what it means for water to have no fixed shape.”

Han Xin pointed to the river, quite proudly, and said, "The Huai River is my teacher. I am not in a daze, but rather trying to understand the power of the water."

The power of water is the power of an army; in my eyes, the river is like thousands of troops fighting each other.

The boy was so engrossed in what he was watching that he appeared somewhat dazed to outsiders.

If someone else had said that, Xiaoyu would have thought he was showing off.

But Han Xin, the military genius, didn't need to show off.

His brilliance is just waiting for time and opportunity to be proven.

Xiao Yu pondered for a moment and said, "You should understand that the military books you have read are very unsystematic."

Today, China is not lacking in famous generals, such as Meng Tian and Meng Yi, Bai Qi and Wang Jian.

Even if you can't find their military treatises, you can still find out the details of the battles they experienced.

Isn't analyzing their military strategies more practical than seeking enlightenment by the river?

Han Xin nodded and said, "I have indeed studied their battles and reviewed almost every single one."

But the boy couldn't learn anything from them.
If there's anything to learn, it's only to take it as a warning and never become like them.

Xiao Yu asked curiously, "You look down on these legendary generals?"

Han Xin hesitated for a moment, then said, "I admire them, but I feel that the generals of Qin are all cut from the same mold. They all rely on military force to intimidate others, lacking skill, intelligence, and are extremely dull."

For example, when Wang Jian destroyed Chu, he insisted on having 600,000 elite troops.

Before even conquering Chu, they nearly exhausted the Qin state to death.

Whether it was Bai Qi's victory at the Battle of Changping, Wang Jian's conquest of Chu, or Li Xin's later conquest of Yan, Dai, and Qi, all involved hundreds of thousands of troops, with the entire nation's resources supporting their supplies. They marched in a mighty, overwhelming force, like a raging torrent.

Don't seek tricks, and don't aim for quick victories.

With just the fertile land of Guanzhong and the more robust system of the Qin Dynasty, they exhausted the other countries' food supplies and patience.

This is not a contest of military strategy between commanders; it is purely a contest of national strength.

The Qin Dynasty was powerful enough to drag the enemy down with it, causing them to bleed. When the enemy couldn't hold on and died first, Qin would win.

Xiaoyu said, "What's wrong with using your own strengths to attack the enemy's weaknesses?"

"I admit that they are all renowned generals of their time. But they are not role models for us to learn from."

Who can guarantee that the troops under their command will always be supported by the strongest national power?
Or, if we are in an unfavorable situation, does that mean we can't win a battle?
"They can't do it, but I can!" Han Xin said proudly.

Xiaoyu said, "From what you're saying, their fighting style lacks technical sophistication and they're easily replaced?"

"If you put other leaders in their positions, wouldn't it be easy to use force to intimidate others and exhaust the enemy through national power?"

Han Xin shook his head slightly and said, "In the world today, there are very few who can command 50,000 troops with ease."

A commander of 100,000 troops, capable of advancing and retreating at will, is sufficient to become a pillar of the nation.

Wang Jian, Bai Qi, Meng Tian, ​​and Li Xin could all easily command armies of four or five hundred thousand. I feel that four or five hundred thousand was not their limit, but rather the limit of the Qin Dynasty's national strength.

Such a renowned general is a rare find, even if only one appears in a lifetime.

The emergence of so many famous generals from the Qin Dynasty is unprecedented in human history.

But the boy felt as if they were all chosen by the same teacher and then sculpted from the same mold.

They are able to command hundreds of thousands of troops not because of talent, but because of their learning and training.

I'm not sure if the Qin Dynasty's merit-based military system can mass-produce such famous generals.

If they could be trained in large numbers, the status of Wang Jian and Bai Qi among the sages of military strategy throughout history would be further reduced.

The King of Qin, who established this system of military merit, was even more awe-inspiring.

Xiao Yu asked curiously, "How many soldiers do you think you can command?"

Han Xin smiled confidently, "The more the merrier, there's no limit."

However, I do not pursue having a large number of soldiers and powerful generals.

There are tactics for fighting with fewer troops, and there are advantages to having more troops.

Just like the Huai River before us, with its abundant spring and summer rains, the river almost overflows its banks, its turbid waves rolling in, destroying everything in their path, an unstoppable force.

During the dry season in autumn and winter, it is as tranquil and serene as a maiden, yet it harbors deadly dangers beneath the water.

The icy river water robbed the body of its warmth, making it even more deadly than usual.

Xiaoyu said, "There's no point in saying more. Let's give it a try."

Han Xin asked curiously, "How do we test it?"

“I have a method that allows me to command a million troops in my dreams. Let’s have a battle and see how you prove yourself,” Xiaoyu said.

(End of this chapter)