As an official, what's wrong with raising a few monsters?

Chapter 234 The Wine of Fate

Summer is almost here!

"Uncle, our chance has come! Let's cross the border!"

"Hahaha, now that the State of Chen is gone, we can no longer keep our alliance!"

"Let Zheng Bailing lead 8,000 troops south; I want the three vital passes of Qian Yuan."

……

"Aah~"

At the beach, the sun shines brightly, reflecting off the sand and creating a shimmering, star-like effect.

Huge ships hoisted their sails and sailed into the distance, with waves rolling and seagulls circling in the sky.

Everything was quiet and peaceful.

The woman tossed her long hair, a bright smile spreading across her face, and spoke to the old man in front of her.

Before her lay the vast, boundless sea, but in her mind, she thought of the world thousands of miles away.

She raised her eyebrows, her pretty face showing a hint of pride: "Hehe, those brutes from Bei Lie have been fighting for three years and still haven't been able to take down the Qian Yuan Three Passes, but now we're about to take them down."

She was exceptionally beautiful and flamboyant.

The Jinglan Alliance is also known as the Free Alliance on the archipelago.

Their leader is the freest whale shark, swimming freely in the ocean.

The burly old man acting as a guard was taken aback, somewhat puzzled: "Huh? This... Alliance Leader, why?"

We haven't received any news yet!

The battle between Chen Guo and the Blood-Clad Army is not over yet!
Where did the alliance leader get the intelligence?
Why are they suddenly sending troops out?
However, just as he finished speaking, the messenger soldier ran in from outside, shouting, "Report!"

"Alliance Leader, intelligence has arrived from the south!"

Hong Ling Shuang didn't even look at him, but just smiled and winked at the old minister Chen Jun.

The old man took the letter, opened it, and was stunned for a moment.

The State of Chen fell.

As expected, and as reasonable as it should be.

According to previous intelligence, the Blood-Clad Army had amassed nearly a million soldiers and had even reached the capital, Yueyang.

Unless divine retribution strikes, the State of Chen has no chance of winning.

Unexpectedly, the intelligence arrived right after the alliance leader spoke.

The timing is just too coincidental.

The waves surged and the white foam they threw out shimmered with iridescent colors under the sunlight.

Hong Ling Shuang casually asked, "What is it?"

Chen Jun replied, "The State of Chen is doomed!"

Hey~ I guessed right~

As if she had won a bet at cards, Hong Ling Shuang clenched her fist and smiled broadly.

"Send troops immediately!"

"Simply shout to the garrison outside the pass that the Chen Kingdom has been destroyed and the Blood-Clad Army is about to march north to deal with these remnants."

“Those garrison troops will surely open the gates and surrender to us.”

When a nation perishes, there is no hope.

The fortified pass was nothing but an empty shell.

Were they wiped out by the Blood-Clad Army that marched north?
Or should they be absorbed into the Jinglan Alliance, which has a fairly good reputation?
This is not a difficult decision to make.

Chen Jun frowned and said to Hong Ling Shuang as if offering a suggestion, "But... Alliance Leader, there are no great rivers in the three passes of Qian Yuan!"

Hong Ling Shuang narrowed her eyes and retorted, "So what if there's no water? Can't we survive without water? Do we have to fight with an advantage? When I unified the archipelago, were we always in a winning position?"

But after asking the question, she paused for a moment: "Uh... that's true."

Chen Jun: ...

The conservative and pedantic old man said, "What if the Blood-Clad Army sends another large army north and starts a war with our army?"

"impossible!"

Hong Ling Shuang shook her head and said bluntly, "Do you really think that many soldiers are so easy to support?"

"If the Blood-Clad Army doesn't rest and continues fighting, the next one to die will be that Emperor Qi!"

Seeing that Hong Ling Shuang wouldn't listen, Chen Jun's eyes flickered, and he finally revealed his true thoughts: "Alliance Leader, occupying the three passes would completely block the route south."

"If Bei Lie sees the internal strife in Qian Yuan and decides to launch an attack, wouldn't we be facing him head-on?"

"There are no major rivers at the three passes of Yezhou. If we cannot evacuate in time, won't we be trapped here?"

From the very beginning, he did not support Hong Ling Shuang's plan to take over the mainland.

Although everything is going smoothly now, it's just a matter of surviving in the cracks between major powers.

Their forces, which have crossed the sea, are nowhere near as powerful as a major country like Bei Lie.

One wrong move and you could lose everything.

He felt things were fine as they were, and if things went wrong, he could retreat at any time.

"Humph!"

"Mingchen has seized the Northern Lie Kingdom. Do you think he can so easily mobilize a large army to march south?"

Hong Ling Shuang really disliked this old man.

Shy, timid, cautious, meticulous, and overly cautious.

It's not that he's bad, but he doesn't fit her style as a leader.

"It will take at least a few years for him to finish repairing the canal!"

"If he really sends a large army south then, then..."

She laughed heartily: "Let's form an alliance with them again!"

Chen Jun: ...

Bei Lie has a fiery temper, and their relationship with him isn't very good right now.

Moreover, this leader of the alliance had just watched helplessly as the allied nations perished.

This woman is an outstanding diplomat; nothing she says can be trusted.

She hops and plays between countries.

Alliances, declarations of war... playing with credit, all relationships exist for the sake of interests, and will switch at a certain important moment.

That's what she did back when she was in the archipelago.

Unfortunately, depending on the circumstances and their own interests, those leaders and powerful figures always managed to get what she wanted.

"My Storm Cannon is no joke!"

"The Northern Emperor is shrewd despite his rough exterior; he's a clever man. He's after the whole world. They've already lost too many people at the Three Passes. He'll be willing to ally with me."

"We get along amicably. I give him way and even help him in battle. Isn't that a good thing?"

"If all else fails, we can negotiate a price and even sell all three passes to them!"

It would be best to let these forces wear each other down in the war!
The woman's eyes sparkled as she smiled at him, "After the alliance, we can also trade with Bei Lie."

She's incredibly clever; she's the world's most astute strategist. Her eyes can see through the highest potential gains and seize the best opportunities.

Her ability to seek advantage and avoid harm has reached its limit.

Chen Jun: ...

"But... is this really necessary?"

"What if the Blood-Clad Army, Qian Yuan, and Bei Lie attack us from all sides?"

They occupy it but can't hold it, thus taking on risks for nothing.

This alliance leader is really too much of a troublemaker, stirring up trouble everywhere like a troll in the cracks between major powers.

The old man is getting old and doesn't like risks; he still hopes the league can be more stable.

"Why wouldn't it be necessary?!"

"The people of the Central Plains are really strange. Is territory that important? If they can't hold it, they just lose it and can take it back when they have the chance! Have you been infected by them?"

"Shouldn't the people and resources of the territory be more important?"

"Let those heroes and powerful rulers fight and conquer lands, let them fight and conquer!"

There are quite a few refugees inside the pass!

"Let them move to our territory, give them food, and make them work for us!"

"I also sent people to survey the land inside the pass and found several mines. After occupying them, I sent people to mine them."

"Uncle, have you forgotten how much wealth we have seized since we entered the Central Plains?"

"There are some things that the people of the Central Plains have no idea of ​​their value! Buy them all, dig them up!"

"Don't you understand the principle of buying low and selling high? The current price at the Qian Yuan Three Passes is the lowest possible price!"

"There will never be a better opportunity to break through the three barriers and enter the Qian Yuan realm."

This old man is capable, but he's too conservative; we really have nothing in common!

Those people in the archipelago have all developed muscle into brains; they can't even find a decent minister to offer advice.

Hong Ling Shuang felt very lonely.

"Can……"

The old man seemed to want to say something more.

"boom!"

Just then, the gunpowder exploded, and Chen Jun suddenly shuddered and stopped speaking.

Suddenly, a hole was punched in the sand beside them. Amidst the swirling smoke, the beautiful woman's figure became somewhat indistinct.

"Uncle, do whatever I tell you to do!"

"Stop being so long-winded and rambling!"

An idiot is an idiot!

You can never truly see the essence of human nature.

Hong Lingshuang has now given up trying to communicate with the old man and is letting him follow his own train of thought.

A cold, hard order is better.

"..."

This ancestor is getting impatient again.

The old man twitched the corner of his mouth and agreed, "Yes!"

"correct!"

Just as the old man was about to leave, Hong Ling Shuang called out to him again: "Don't come looking for me these next few days, I'm going to have some fun. You can handle the small matters!"

This is what makes the Jinglan Alliance different from other countries.

The king was a free spirit, unafraid of danger, and enjoyed going out for leisurely strolls, gambling in casinos, and listening to music in entertainment venues.

She wouldn't be locked in an office. Daily affairs were handled by various ministers, and the entire alliance's operational system was quite loose, with laws and regulations being rather simple.

Hong Ling Shuang will only take the helm on key strategic directions and crucial decisions.

Only Hong Ling Shuang could do this; even the previous alliance leader during peacetime wasn't as capable as her.

Because she is so clever, no one can fool her.

If someone tries to cheat or harbors malicious intentions, it's best not to let her see through it, otherwise her fish will have food to eat.

Her ideas were closer to those of small, sparsely populated countries that governed by non-interference.

The archipelago suited her well, but things might be different if she came to the mainland.

Of course, Hong Ling Shuang was unaware of this.

"Forehead……"

Chen Jun twitched the corner of his mouth and replied, "Yes!"

After Chen Jun left, everything returned to calm.

Hong Ling Shuang looked up at the vast, boundless sea and the soaring seagulls in the distance, and let out a soft breath.

"Isn't it better to have more freedom?"

On this land, whether ordinary people or leaders in power, everyone is burdened with heavy shackles and cannot fly into the blue sky.

Speaking of which... shouldn't the Marquis of Jing'an be arriving soon?

He said he would come this year, and half a year has passed. He wouldn't stand her up, would he?
Such a person acts boldly, with wildly imaginative and unpredictable behavior. But he is far more interesting than that stubborn, foolish old man.

Hong Ling Shuang was really looking forward to meeting the legendary Marquis Jing'an.

I just hope that this hero's magnanimity won't disappoint her.

……

"Let's go beyond the Great Wall!"

"Perhaps the Blood-Clad Army will arrive soon."

"General Su has already led his troops to surrender to the Jinglan Alliance! We are now under the jurisdiction of the Jinglan Alliance."

"I've heard that life is actually quite good outside the Great Wall."

"The Jinglan Alliance is even giving out food to everyone!"

……

And what about the person that the clever and resourceful leader longs for?

The State of Chen was defeated and its kingdom fell; the city of Yueyang was captured.

The people of the North are filled with anxiety.

As Hong Ling Shuang had predicted, the Jing Lan Alliance army rushed in, and before they could even exchange two words, the Northern Border garrison surrendered.

Without losing a single soldier, they conquered the land that Bei Lie had failed to conquer after three years and countless soldiers.

People dressed in tattered clothes looked at the posted notice and discussed it amongst themselves.

However, they did not notice that a person dressed in a way that was completely out of place in this place was passing by.

"This alliance leader is a timing genius!"

In just a few days, the three passes in the northern border of Qian Yuan have been completely transformed, and a new group of people have been stationed there.

Looking at the spirited Jinglan Alliance soldiers on the city wall of the pass, Mingchen couldn't help but lower his eyes and sigh.

The soldiers of the Jinglan Alliance wore armor in a style different from that of the Central Plains, and the difference was immediately apparent.

Half of them used firearms, and the other half used bows and arrows and spears and shields. There were also several cannons on the city walls.

The order was impeccable, and the training was excellent.

Their combat strength should be quite good; if we launch a direct attack, we will suffer a great loss.

The three passes in the northern border of Qianyuan can be said to be the most important strategic locations in the Central Plains.

This leader's eye for opportunity and his keen sense of profit calculation are truly astonishing.

If it were Mingchen, he would have made the same decision.

To be honest, none of the people in the Jinglan Alliance under Mingchen's command would have done a better job than this unseen leader.

History is never a one-man show.

Talented people emerge in every generation, and heroes of the world should not be underestimated.

While the brilliant and talented leader of the alliance looked forward to meeting Mingchen, Mingchen was also quite looking forward to meeting this beautiful woman blessed by the sea.

He looked at the dark firearms in the soldiers' hands and the cannons on the city wall, his eyes gleaming. He gently rubbed the little bird's head and said, "Fuyao, tonight, take a few of their firearms and cannons back and study them."

Come here.

Science knows no borders; only by pooling our wisdom can we make progress together!
How can something done by a scholar be called stealing?

"Oh? Oh, okay!"

The little bird naturally obeyed Mingchen's words and obediently agreed.

However, her gaze did not fall on Mingchen, but instead looked into the distance.

She is a monster, she is a bird.

She was just hovering in the sky. Even though Mingchen's eyesight was much better than that of ordinary people, it was still no match for hers.

She seemed to see something special.

"what happened?"

Having spent so much time together, Mingchen naturally understands the little bird.

He could detect even the slightest difference in the other person.

“Young master… there seems to be a special existence in the north.”

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Mingchen narrowed his eyes, and the Immortal Jade Record and the small flag appeared in his hands at the same time.

next moment,
A clear voice suddenly rang in my ears: "Brother, I am a traveler from the north."

"The weather is hot, and my mouth is dry."

"Your yang energy is too strong, so you shouldn't go out. But I see that you are an extraordinary person with a dignified bearing and a spirited demeanor. I have come to make your acquaintance. May I ask for a drink of water?"

Mingchen suddenly turned around and found a young man standing beside him.

His appearance was handsome, but his eyes were not bright, somewhat gray, and his face was pale. He was dressed in blood-red clothes, and although the sun was shining brightly overhead, he was holding a red umbrella, giving him a somewhat eerie aura.

It feels like it's right in front of me, yet also like it's a thousand miles away.

Strangely enough, both he and Mingchen had a style and demeanor that were out of place among the ordinary people around them.

But it seemed that no one could see him.

The bird paused, then abruptly turned its head, looking at the person with a wary expression.

A figure materialized, and a woman in green robes with a cool and aloof demeanor stood guard beside Mingchen, wielding a long sword made of withered leaves, her expression equally composed.

The child, as always, remained blank and seemingly oblivious to the sudden arrival of this person.

The strange man who came to talk to her only glanced at the withered leaf sword in Long Lian's hand with interest, but didn't seem to care. He still looked at Ming Chen, as if waiting for his reply.

There is no army now.

Mingchen traveled alone to the Northern Territory, and there were too many opportunities for conversation.

Mingchen was actually mentally prepared for this.

He reached out and pressed down on Long Lian's wrist.

He then smiled at the newcomer and said, "There's no water, but there's wine. The more you drink, the thirstier you'll get. Would you like some?"

The man smiled and casually pointed to the ground.

On this earthen street, a small table and two cushions were added, with two wine cups and a wine pot on the table.

It stood out starkly in the middle of the road, looking rather eerie, yet no one around noticed it.

He extended his palm, inviting Mingchen, "Please!"

"Fine wine! Fine wine! I haven't tasted such fine wine in many years."

The conversation clearly started with the excuse of thirst, but the strange man in blood-stained clothes didn't mention it at all.

As he drank Mingchen's wine, a look of intoxication appeared on his face.

Mingchen sat opposite him and said politely, "It's just ordinary wine, brother, you flatter me."

"Eh~"

"Brother, you are wrong. When it comes to drinking, the taste of the alcohol only accounts for 30% of the pleasure. The other 70% depends on the person drinking."

The man squinted and smiled, saying, "Therefore, a thousand cups of wine are not enough when drinking with a bosom friend."

She really knows how to talk.

"Correct!"

Mingchen downed the wine in his cup in one gulp and said, "Brother, you are right. It is I who am narrow-minded."

The strange man waved his hand, said nothing more, and simply drank his wine.

The two started by talking about wine, and began chatting about all sorts of things, just like the literati in the capital during peacetime, discussing current affairs and drinking.

They never focused on the present, never on reality, and never talked about how they met.

The other party didn't speak, and Mingchen didn't ask either.

Time passed slowly, and Mingchen's wine was gone.

The young man opposite him was not drunk at all, and his face remained unchanged, as pale as ever.

Pointing to the wine glass, he said to Mingchen, "Brother, speaking of this wine, I've heard a story about it. I wonder if you've heard it before?"

Mingchen raised an eyebrow and followed up, "Oh? Brother Mo, please speak."

After some laughter and conversation at the dinner table, the two exchanged names.

The other person's name was a bit strange; it was Mo Xile.

Mo Xile touched the wine glass and said, "Legend has it that two thousand years ago, during the Xia Dynasty, the Xia Emperor sent a general to fight abroad and conquer cities and territories."

"The general is brave and skilled in battle, employing ingenious strategies to conquer cities and seize territories, earning him the deep appreciation of the Xia Emperor."

"However, during this war, one of the general's soldiers clashed with another envoy sent by the Xia Emperor to an enemy country. This envoy was highly favored by the Xia Emperor. The soldier did not know that the envoy was one of his own, and was rude and uncouth. As a result, the envoy broke his limbs and detained him."

"After learning of this, the general personally went to the envoy's residence to meet him."

"The two could not distinguish who was right and who was wrong, so they did not say a word to each other, but just drank. They drank for three days and three nights."

"At this point, the general explained the reason, and the envoy simply waved his hand and laughed, 'If it weren't for this time, if it weren't for this person, how could we have met?' The two laughed heartily and became bosom friends. The envoy also used his magic to heal the soldier and returned him to the general."

"Since then, this legend has been passed down. There is a kind of wine called 'Fate Wine' at the foot of the Beilie Wanzhong Mountain. The origin of its story comes from here."

"Really?"

"Hahaha……"

Upon hearing this, Mingchen chuckled and praised, "Brother Mo, you've traveled all over the country and are truly knowledgeable. Have you ever tasted that 'Destined Wine'?"

Mo Xile nodded: "Of course I've had it!"

Mingchen then asked, "How does it taste?"

"I can't say."

Mingchen swirled the wine in his glass and smiled at Mo Xile, "Is it the same as my wine? To be honest, Brother Mo, my wine is a wine of destiny!"

Mo Xile laughed upon hearing this: "Hahaha! Yes, that's the taste, exactly the same as the one I've had before."

He raised his glass and said to Mingchen, "Come on! Cheers!"

"We have recently met and become acquainted through this opportunity, which has fulfilled the destiny between us."

Mingchen raised his glass to the other person: "Cheers!"

The two looked at each other and smiled.

The next instant, dark clouds in the dome suddenly obscured the bright sky.

It was as if glass had shattered; even the wind seemed more real.

With the last drop of wine down, the wine glass, the table... all turned to ashes in the wind and disappeared.

Mo Xile quietly watched Ming Chen, his blood-red robes gradually fading, and the parasol in his hand disappearing without a trace.

His pale face gradually turned sallow, his handsome features slowly lost their nourishment, his skin became shriveled, and his hair turned from jet black to silver.

His face gradually transformed, becoming a completely different appearance.

Mingchen recognized this person.

"It's you...Mingchen?!"

The strange young man's warm smile disappeared, replaced by a shocked old man's face.

……

At the same time, thousands of miles away.

Yueyang City,
"Ok?"

The soldier standing in front of the cell door shuddered, jolting awake from his brief nap.

Feeling somewhat dazed, he yawned, rubbed his eyes, and then looked towards the cell.

His Majesty only assigned him one task.

That was to take a look at the body of Dong Zhenghong, the king of Chen who had hanged himself.

He was an emperor after all, so his body couldn't just be left lying around and treated carelessly.

However, when his vision cleared and he saw everything in front of him, his eyes widened and he suddenly became fully awake.

But the old man who should have been lying peacefully on the white sheet was nowhere to be seen.

The white bed was empty; there was nothing there.

I just took a nap, what happened?

Dislike and unhappiness are forms of anger and hatred.

(End of this chapter)