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

Chapter 293 Mingchen's Purpose

"Father!"

"We won! We won!"

"Xiaoyao City has fallen! Xiaoyao City has fallen!"

Inside the tent, Wang Huai sat somewhat dazed, quietly examining the scabbard in his hand; no one knew what he was thinking.

Suddenly, urgent shouts came from outside the tent. A young man strode in and reported urgently to Wang Huai.

He was dressed in a black outfit and looked anxious. Thanks to his father's genes, he was also quite tall and upright. Although he was not yet ten years old, he had already reached the height of other boys who were thirteen or fourteen years old.

They barged into the camp and behaved without any regard for etiquette.

He was the only one in the entire military camp who had that qualification.

The current crown prince of the Great Qi Dynasty is Wang Hongbo.

He was Wang Huai's eldest son, and he existed even before Wang Huai started his rebellion.

His growth coincided with the rise of the Blood-Clad Army.

Children in chaotic times mature early.

Having witnessed his father's trials and tribulations, he had gained considerable experience and matured considerably. He was also intelligent and capable of helping Wang Huai with his duties. While Wang Huai was away on campaign, he stayed in the capital to help stabilize the rear. After Yueyang was delivered to Qian Yuan, he quickly traveled south to support Wang Huai.

Now that Xiaoyao City has been captured by Qian Yuan, the situation has changed drastically, and it is only natural that he wants to come and discuss the next steps with Wang Huai.

The moment the cannons roared, Xu Zhongling had already lost. However, the subsequent siege, the cleanup of the remaining rebels, and the incorporation of prisoners... all these things would take time.

So it wasn't until the evening of the following day that everything finally settled down.

However, Wang Huai and Ming Chen had already seen the battlefield. The new firearms completely exceeded his imagination, and the unprecedented siege battlefield shocked him. He had also anticipated the current outcome.

"We've captured it..."

To Wang Hongbo's surprise, Wang Huai's expression was very calm after receiving the news. He simply shook his head and murmured softly, his tone inscrutable.

The enemy that had held off the Blood-Clad Army for so long, forcing him to offer Yueyang City in exchange for Qian Yuan's assistance and causing his brother's death, was easily captured by eight thousand soldiers in half a day.

He didn't sleep all night. Mingchen's words, the current situation, what he had seen and heard, and everything he had experienced along the way were all swirling in his mind.

Wang Huai's listless attitude left Wang Hongbo speechless, unsure whether to continue speaking despite having so much to say.

He hesitated for a moment, then asked Wang Huai, "Father, what should we do next?"

"Will Qian Yuan... return Xiaoyao City to us?"

Leaving aside the terrifying combat power of Qian Yuan's new weapons.

This is his biggest concern right now.

Ling Yu led his troops to a swift and decisive victory over Xiaoyao City and defeated Xu Zhongling's army.

This is a good thing, but not particularly good.

The Blood-Clad Army did not fight alongside Qian Yuan.

Even though Xu Zhongling had suffered some losses earlier, in the end, Xiaoyao City was conquered by Qian Yuan.

If the winner takes all, then Qian Yuan will have control over Xiaoyao City.

In that case, Daqi is in an awkward position.

Its purpose was to recover lost territory.

Now that the city has fallen into Qian Yuan's hands, will Qian Yuan let go of the fat meat he has swallowed?
However, Xiaoyao City holds great significance for the Great Qi, and it is imperative to reclaim it. The two sides are still in a state of ambiguity, before any open conflict erupts. The Great Qi is in a poor state and cannot afford to go to war again. Logically speaking, further negotiations involving concessions are necessary.

Exchange it for other land, resources, money...?
What should Daqi do next? How should it do it?
They all need Wang Huai to provide a framework or a direction.

Will you give it to me?
Wang Huai lowered his eyes. He was certain that if he wanted it, Ming Chen would give it to him, and wouldn't even kill him; he would just ask for a token amount.

Xiaoyao City is very important to the Great Qi, but it has little value to Qian Yuan, which is located thousands of miles away.

Mingchen's main purpose in sending troops was to rescue Wang Huai and eliminate Xu Zhongling, a potential threat.

As for Xiaoyao City, it's nothing more than a chicken rib—tasteless to eat but a pity to throw away.

If he still wants to continue this ethereal journey across the world, Mingchen will give it to him.

only……

Is all of this still necessary?

"Brother, what are your plans for the future?"

That day, Mingchen asked a question similar to the one his son had asked today.

Memories swirl in my mind.

He was somewhat silent.

He has been thinking about this problem these days.

What are your plans for the future?

Should they lead the Blood-Clad Army, hole up in the carefree city, and continue to expand their influence in the southern region?

How can we achieve stable development?

What policies should be formulated? Which virtuous and capable individuals should be appointed?

Wang Huai helplessly discovered that all he knew was how to wage war; all he knew was how to overthrow, destroy, and ruin everything...

In chaotic times, his abilities were top-notch.

But after falling silent, it quickly declined.

He cannot establish order, he cannot govern a country.

Having ascended to the supreme position, the road ahead is fraught with difficulties.

Blood-Clad Army, Great Qi... Does he, as emperor, really still have a place?

'Isn't my brother curious about what I do in Qian Yuan?'

'Brother, aren't you curious about what Qian Yuan looks like now?'

Mingchen described to him the thriving scene of Qianyuan today.

War raged across the Great Qi, with warlords vying for power, constant strife and internal strife, and the people suffering immensely.

In contrast, Qian Yuan is a completely new world. According to Ming Chen, it is indeed the world he has been dreaming of.

Another point is that it is the will of the people.

After becoming emperor, Wang Huai gradually lost his greatest support, while Qian Yuan gained everything.

Five hundred years have passed since the Qianyuan era began, an exceptionally long period that has firmly imprinted the Qianyuan era on this land and its people.

Even though the country was stolen by thieves and Yueyang City changed hands several times, the people here still consider themselves to be people of the Qian Yuan era.

As long as this tattered plaque hangs there, it will have its significance and continue to serve its purpose. Xiao Xinyue dislikes her father, but there is no denying that her bloodline is an indispensable and significant factor in her rise to power in this land.

Especially after being bombed by various warlords such as Chen and Qi, Xiao Xinyue displayed the aura of a wise ruler. The contrast was particularly strong, and the people of this land felt even more deeply that the Qian Yuan era was the legitimate dynasty.

Xiao Xinyue is an enviable person. She has enviable circumstances, as well as enviable talents, vision, and background.

Wang Huai understood perfectly what Mingchen meant by those words.

Yesterday, when the Qian Yuan army attacked the city, Mingchen dragged him along to watch the battle, which also had its own purpose.

Xu Zhongling, who had caused him such a setback, was swiftly and decisively defeated by Qian Yuan. The formidable city walls that had blocked his path were reduced to rubble.

Qian Yuan possesses terrifyingly powerful weapons, a highly skilled army, and divine generals that appear only once in a century... Confined to a corner, accumulating strength, Qian Yuan now boasts extremely terrifying military power.

That night, Wang Huai was thinking about another problem.

Xu Zhongling is now the one guarding the city.

What if it were his general, or his Blood-Clad Army, defending the city?
Will the outcome change?

He can set up ambushes, he can launch a counterattack...

These are all just minor tactics.

It was just Wang Huai trying to comfort himself.

Ling Yu is no pushover; she won't give her opponents a chance.

In essence, the Great Qi Dynasty could no longer catch up with the Qian Yuan Dynasty.

Why did Mingchen insist on taking him to watch the battle? Mingchen didn't say it outright, but putting everything together, it was quite clear.

The Great Qi was in complete chaos and riddled with problems.

The Qian Yuan era was orderly and prosperous.

The Qi army was in decline, suffering from food shortages and constant rebellions.

The Qian Yuan dynasty was a powerful and well-equipped army with a wealth of brilliant generals.

Once the two sides break off relations and enter the stage of war.

Wang Huai's Qi state was no match for Qian Yuan.

The next time Qian Yuan's army comes, even if it is Wang Huai and his bravest warriors who defend the city, the outcome will not be much different.

The country under his rule was inferior to others, and the gap in military strength was as vast as an insurmountable chasm.

Everything was laid bare before my eyes.

Reality is exceptionally harsh and frustrating; if you can't compete, you simply can't compete.

Mingchen was guiding him down a path.

Of course, the choice was still his own, and Mingchen didn't say anything more. He simply presented the reality that he had ignored to him.

Finally, Mingchen casually asked Wang Huai, as if offering a hint, "What exactly is it that you seek, elder brother?"

Memories are like fleeting clouds, passing through the mind in a single instant.

“Hongbo…”

Wang Huai waved to his son, gesturing for him to sit down next to him.

"Are you tired?"

The father, who had been in a daze, gradually focused his eyes, looked tenderly at his child, and asked a question.

"Ok?"

Wang Hongbo was taken aback.

Wang Huai was a very humane leader. Unlike the emperors of previous dynasties, who were first and foremost emperors and then fathers, and who always maintained an authoritarian demeanor towards their children, causing the princesses and princes to tremble with fear and speculate about their thoughts, Wang Huai was first and foremost a father. He was kind and gentle to his wives, concubines, and children.

But he never stopped once the uprising began.

He was too busy, too busy with war, ruling, managing... Wang Hongbo mostly only saw his towering figure from behind.

It's rare to see him with an expression like this.

Wang Hongbo shook his head: "Not tired."

Wang Huai just smiled and patted his head when he heard this.

The older generation always feels that they have worked so hard, built such a great family fortune for the next generation, and that the next generation is much happier than they were.

However, Wang Huai believes that his child has had a much harder childhood than he did.

He had never run carefree in the fields, and rarely experienced the carefree joy of childhood.

Caught in the vortex of power, he bears pressure from all sides. At least at this age, his son is much more burdened than he was at that age.

"Hongbo...do you like being the crown prince?"

Wang Huai looked into his eyes and asked softly.

"what?"

Wang Hongbo didn't know how to answer the question: "Father? What do you mean?"

Wang Huai asked him, "If tomorrow you lose all your identities and become a commoner, returning to the countryside with your father, would you be willing?"

"Forehead……"

What exactly does Wang Huai want?
He hated this cannibalistic world, he hated the powerful and wealthy who oppressed the people, he hated this corrupt country, and he wanted to break everything down and build a bright and clear world.

This is what he wanted from beginning to end.

He has now completed a small part of it.

He destroyed everything.

However, he found that he did not seem to have the ability to build a bright and clear sky.

He created a hell, a land engulfed in flames of war, where people suffered terribly.

So... what should he do?

Wang Huai admitted that he was ambitious.

He was a sincere person, but he also had desires.

He also wants wealth and status, he also wants to be high above others, he also wants to be remembered in history. Someone has to restore peace to the world, so why can't that person be me?
His decision to become emperor was a microcosm of his inability to control his ambition.

Once they entered Yueyang City and saw the magnificent palace and the supreme throne, no one could remain calm.

However, the meaning of spiritual progress lies in self-control and in constantly cleansing one's heart.

He always knew what was most important.

He can restrain his growing ambition and give up some desires...

Along his journey, he has come to a clear understanding of the limits of human power, and he also knows that there are some things that are simply beyond his control.

If someone else could fulfill his wish, he would give it up, even if death lay ahead, he would have no regrets.

His life has been extraordinary enough, and he is actually quite content with what he has achieved.

He has lost so much along the way. One by one, loyal and righteous heroes have passed away, ideals have gradually lost their meaning, and his own brother has left him…

If he continues down this path, he may continue to lose.

He knew very well that his historical mission was complete.

If we continue forward, we may block the march of history and be mercilessly crushed by the wheels of time.

At that time, he will lose even more.

However, he didn't just represent himself. He also had children, subordinates, and soldiers who followed him.

Now, he has given the choice to his son.

Just because he lacks talent doesn't mean others don't.

If Wang Hongbo is unwilling to give up his current position and harbors ambitions to seize power, and is determined to pay any price for it...

So Wang Huai put his last chip on the table, gambling on this uncertain hand.

otherwise……

Wang Hongbo opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

Meeting his father's gaze, he felt as if the heavy weight of a mountain was pressing down on his shoulders.

He knew that his answer might change the fate of many people.

He thought for a moment, then looked into Wang Huai's eyes and said, "It is entirely up to Father's wishes."

"My father is the emperor, and I am his crown prince."

"Father wants to be a farmer, so I will herd cattle and plow the fields for you."

"Before all other identities, I am my father's son."

Wang Huai was shocked upon hearing this.

In a daze, he seemed to see the shadow of his deceased younger brother in his son.

His younger brother was all alone, unmarried and childless, and left without a second thought.

Without realizing it, he hugged his son.

Embarking on this path was fraught with difficulties and dangers, and he lost his younger brother.

What about his son?
He was a little tired...

……

Don't be fooled by the fact that Mingchen only brought 8,000 troops this time.

However, what determines victory in war is often not a large but incompetent army, but the most elite soldiers.

These eight thousand men were elite troops carefully trained by Qian Yuan, equipped with the latest weapons and equipment, and spent money like water.

Although the number may seem small, Qian Yuan actually published quite a few volumes.

This is the first battle, and we must not only win, but we must fight it beautifully and win decisively.

This will greatly benefit Qian Yuan's future eastward expansion and the recovery of lost territory.

This is Mingchen and Lingyu's strategic target.

Fortunately, the ending was quite good.

In addition to that, Mingchen also has a personal wish.

That was Wang Huai and the Blood-Clad Army.

Mingchen's highest expectation for the Blood-Clad Army was to use the reputation of a righteous army to save the world and the slogan of "cleansing the court of corrupt officials" to enter the capital, sweep away the deeply entrenched power of the nobles, use the emperor to command the disobedient, and after several generations, finally seize power and achieve a good ending.

However, the Blood-Clad Army has now completely gone astray, its advantage has collapsed, its stock has hit the daily limit down, and it may be time to consider declaring bankruptcy.

There's no point in struggling any further.

Mingchen actually disliked being rivals to people he was close to. He felt somewhat awkward as soon as he met Wang Huai, and felt even more helpless listening to his inquiries about his life.

He preferred that Wang Huai be indifferent, or even reprimand him for his comments about Wang Liu's death.

But... Wang Huai is Wang Huai.

Mingchen hopes that this older brother can see the situation more clearly.

Rather than waiting until later to become enemies on the battlefield.

Instead, we should try to find a way to make him give up his ambition on his own.

Qian Yuan's siege was so decisive that it made Wang Huai see the gap between the two sides in terms of military and technology.

Describing the lives of the people of Qian Yuan today is to tell him that Xiao Xinyue is a leader he can trust.

Even as emperor, his talent, lineage, luck... were no match for the other.

I can't beat them in a fight, and I can't develop as well as they can.

Rather than indulging in pleasure and squandering your resources, it's better to be clear-headed, retire gracefully, and preserve your reputation and the lives of many others.

This is Mingchen's advice from an observer's perspective.

However, he did not lay everything out in the open and tried to persuade Wang Huai.

The Blood-Clad Army was the eldest brother's life, his everything.

By giving up all of this, he meant he was giving up his life.

No one has the right to force him to make this choice.

Mingchen and Lingyu have been very busy lately and haven't seen Wang Huai.

Qian Yuan won this battle with fewer troops, while Ming Chen relied on pre-battle intimidation and the threat of cannons, mainly focusing on psychological warfare, and did not kill too many people.

Most people surrendered.

The selection and disposal of these captured soldiers, as well as the fighting against resistance from diehards... these things are quite troublesome.

Mingchen and Lingyu need some time to sort things out.

The circumstances surrounding the killing of surrendered soldiers are unknown.

Despite his constant lies, Mingchen didn't actually kill any of the surrendered soldiers this time.

It's one thing to calculate the number of nomadic barbarians like the Xiongnu.

Barbarians are not considered human; killing them is no big deal.

However, within the Central Plains, this reputation still needs to be considered. In essence, these people are still subjects and warriors of Qian Yuan.

On the battlefield, life and death, victory and defeat, depend on one's own ability.

They had no personal grudge against Mingchen, so killing him after he surrendered was murder.

Once the news gets out, who will still dare to subdue you?
The people in Xiaoyao City also need to be appeased.

After all, Xiao Xinyue's brilliance will eventually shine here, and she can't leave a bad impression on everyone.

(End of this chapter)