What's wrong with me, a powerful minister, supporting a few female officials?

Chapter 195 An exclamation mark appeared above the Empress's head!
Su Mo casually covered her eyes with a face mask.

The face mask wasn't very thick; even when covered, one could still vaguely see some images.

Su Mo's nose was particularly prominent, so gaps were inevitable, and the tiny patch of ground beneath his feet was clearly visible.

Hmm, it smells delicious, just like the cool, pungent smell.

It must have been something she kept close to her body.

Leng Xixi didn't even check if Su Mo was behaving himself, and continued riding the bicycle.

About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the bicycle suddenly made a loud clattering sound and lurched violently.

Through the gap in the bridge of his nose, Su Mo noticed a dark red threshold below, indicating that the bicycle had passed through a doorway.

After many twists and turns, it took a full incense stick's time to ride.

Su Mo's expression changed slightly, and he was surprised to find that the ground was not paved with bluestone slabs, but with exquisitely crafted and perfectly flat floor tiles!
"This is...the imperial palace?"

Su Mo couldn't help but gasp!
These days, floor tiles are definitely a luxury item.

Such extensive paving of floor tiles is something even a royal palace might not be able to achieve.

Moreover, judging from the direction the bicycle was traveling, it was heading straight for the imperial city.

Su Mo swallowed hard.

No wonder Leng Xi had covered her eyes!
Nangong Sheyue actually lived inside the imperial city!

Leng Xixi was indeed able to freely enter and leave the imperial city, without even encountering a single Han general or imperial guard who tried to stop her!
Su Mo broke out in a cold sweat.

It's past 5 PM now, the imperial city gates are probably about to close.

Has Leng Xixi gone mad?

Is it appropriate for a young, vigorous man like myself to sneak into the palace at night?

If the Empress finds out, that would be terrible!
This will result in the confiscation of their property and the extermination of their entire family!
Just as Su Mo was in shock, a muffled drumbeat suddenly sounded in his ears!
Evening drum sound!
The knocking began at Chengtian Gate, signaling the gradual closing of all the palace gates one by one!

Hearing the evening drum, Su Mo broke out in even more cold sweat.

It seems like I can't leave even if I want to!
Since the Empress had no children, the officials and physicians who had to remain in the palace were said to be female!
Does this mean that he is the only man in the entire palace?
Just as Su Mo was completely bewildered, the bicycle suddenly stopped.

A cold voice came from beside me: "My lord, you may get out of the carriage now!"

Speechless, Su Mo took off his face mask and casually tucked it into his sleeve. He then noticed that the Empress had instinctively put the bicycle stand on and parked it next to a huge vermilion pillar.

Before me stood a magnificent hall.

There were huge vermilion pillars, carved with dragons and phoenixes, and many huge lanterns hanging under the eaves, but only a few lanterns near the main gate were lit with tallow candles.

Above the main gate, there are three simple and elegant characters on the plaque: "Linhu Hall".

Outside the palace is the Imperial Garden, filled with exotic flowers, rare herbs, and swaying trees.

There is also a sizable lake. On one side of the lake pavilion, there is a huge rock with the words "South China Sea" on it!
Can't be wrong.

The palace contains the four seas of the east, west, south, and north, signifying that the entire world is under the emperor's control.

However, the area was quiet, and not a single palace maid or eunuch could be seen!
Su Mo looked at the Empress parking her car with a bitter expression. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke: "Lord Leng, is this the palace?"

Leng Xixi nodded and hummed in agreement: "Yes!"

"Weren't you looking for Lord Nangong?"

She paused, looking completely innocent: "As the commander of the Fengming Division, Lord Nangong bears the same responsibility as the Imperial Horse Administration, guarding the Imperial Palace."

"Therefore, Lord Nangong resides in the palace."

Su Mo's face grew increasingly bitter: "My lord!"

"This subordinate is..."

He lowered his voice: "I'm a man! You've really ruined me!"

"My lord, please send him out immediately!"

Leng Xixi rode his bicycle into the palace so ostentatiously that he was bound to be seen by the guards and palace maids.

How could the guards, palace maids, and eunuchs not report to the Empress?
Leng Liuxi blinked: "We can't get out now!"

"The evening drum has sounded, and the palace gates have been closed. How can we get out?"

The Empress paused, then added, "Xuanwu Gate is the last palace gate to be closed. If you wish to leave, you will have to climb over the palace walls."

As she spoke, she kindly reminded Su Mo, "However, I advise you not to do this, my lord. The old eunuchs who are in charge of guarding the palace are very powerful."

"If they catch you, you'll be in big trouble, my lord!"

Su Mo's neck was soaked with cold sweat.

The Empress secretly found it amusing to see Su Mo's face turn pale!

So this guy isn't unaware of fear after all!

She covered her mouth and laughed, "My lord, there's really no need to worry."

"I will lie to them and say that my lord is from the Directorate of Ceremonial. As long as my lord stays in Linhu Palace and does not wander around, he will be safe and sound. Tomorrow morning, I will take my lord away from the capital."

Su Mo's forehead creased with annoyance.

I've become a eunuch!

He hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and asked, "Lord Leng, what... what is your identity? How... how could you spend the night in the palace?"

Leng Liuxi looked at Su Mo with a half-smile: "Shouldn't my lord have guessed it sooner?"

"What does my status mean to my husband?"

Su Mo took a deep breath: "Lord Leng... could you be the late emperor's princess?"

Leng Liuxi nodded: "Mm!"

Su Mo...

To my utter surprise, Leng Xixi admitted it so readily, leaving me speechless.

After a long silence, he finally smiled wryly and said, "Lord Leng, are you sure no one will come to this Lakeside Palace?"

Leng Xi nodded emphatically: "I can guarantee that!"

"In fact, many halls in the palace are uninhabited."

She paused, her expression turning serious: "However, not far to the left of this hall is the Ziwei Hall, where His Majesty often sleeps at night. You must not go there."

"Otherwise, if His Majesty finds out, I won't be able to save my husband!"

Su Mo swallowed hard again!

She was actually only a dozen feet away from becoming the Empress, the number one person in the world and the one who controlled the divine artifacts of the Great Wu Dynasty!
If you take advantage of the Empress's bathing and changing time, pretend to accidentally barge in.

Will the Empress be furious, then overjoyed, and allow him to continue pretending to be a eunuch and stay in the palace, leading to a scene that has to be omitted?
Ok……

That's how novels are written.

Of course, just imagine it!
If I dared to do that, being slowly sliced ​​to death would probably be the least of my worries.

The Empress led Su Mo into the Linhu Palace.

She said that the lakeside palace had been uninhabited for a long time, but it was cleaned very well, and many thick red candles were lit inside.

Under the flickering lights, looking at the layout that exuded an aura of power, and at the priceless furnishings, Su Mo suddenly sighed.

I'd like to compose a poem.

But apart from "My flowers bloom and all others wither," it seems there are no other suitable poems or verses.

Had to give up.

I don't know how Leng Xixi informed Nangong Sheyue.

Anyway, Leng Liuxi told Su Mo to find a table to sit down and brought Su Mo a cup of fragrant tea. Not long after, Su Mo saw Nangong Sheyue walk into the main hall with a strange expression.

Nangong Sheyue first looked at the Empress, then at Su Mo.

Then he looked at Su Mo, and then at the Empress.

My feelings are incredibly complicated!
He opened and closed his mouth a few times, unsure of what to say.

Linhu Palace was one of the late emperor's favorite palaces, and he often spent the night there.

Since the Empress took control of the late Emperor in Linhu Palace, ambushed her two elder brothers, and then chased them to Xuanwu Gate, where she killed them, no one has come to Linhu Palace again.

The late emperor never stepped into the Linhu Palace, not even once, until his death!

Nangong Sheyue never dreamed that the Empress would bring Su Mo into the palace, especially after the palace gates were closed, and even bring him into this Linhu Palace!
Finally, Leng Liuxi took the initiative to speak, smiling at Nangong Sheyue and saying, "Lord Nangong, please have a seat!"

Nangong Sheyue carefully sat down behind the long table opposite Su Mo.

The Empress then asked, "Lord Nangong, have you seen the bicycle outside the palace?"

“Young Master Su has already built the bicycle. I have personally tried it and it is indeed very easy to use.”

She paused, then smiled and said, "Young Master Su is so eager to present the treasure to Your Majesty, so I will bring him into the palace. Please do not mention this matter to His Majesty."

Nangong Sheyue's pretty face turned strange again!
How am I supposed to answer that?

If we don't tell the Empress, isn't that deceiving her?

Tell the Empress, is this bullying Leng Xixi?
There's a pitfall on either side!

They could only remain silent.

Su Mo, on the other end, immediately became anxious and lowered his voice, saying, "My lord, you really can't say it!"

"If His Majesty finds out about this, I will surely die a horrible death!"

Seeing that Nangong Sheyue remained silent, Su Mo hesitated for a moment and then reminded her, "This matter is just as serious as the matter of refined salt. It is enough for this humble servant to inform the two of you."

"Rest assured, my lord! I will remain here obediently and leave with Lord Leng tomorrow morning. I will never reveal a word of this to anyone!"

Leng Liuxi chuckled to herself.

This guy seems genuinely scared!

They actually used the matter of refined salt to threaten Nangong Sheyue and me!

If he ever finds out he's the Empress of the Great Wu Dynasty, and that he... touched me, I wonder what his expression will be. For some reason, the Empress found herself somewhat expectant.

Seeing that Nangong Sheyue was restless, the Empress coughed lightly: "My lord, rest assured, Lord Nangong will never betray you."

His gaze turned to Nangong Sheyue, and he smiled, "Does Lord Nangong know that this bicycle can be as fast as a galloping horse with just a light touch of the pedals, and can even travel on narrow mountain paths?"

"The back seat can also carry heavy loads..."

Upon hearing this, Nangong Sheyue's expression immediately changed!
Of course she knew what the Empress's words meant!
Bicycles have extremely important military applications!
If we select the strongest and most capable elite troops to form a rapid assault force...

As the empress spoke, she suddenly turned to look at Su Mo: "Uh... I forgot to ask my lord, how much weight can this bicycle carry?"

Su Mo frowned and thought for a moment: "This subordinate believes that Qianjin should be fine."

"However, such heavy loads require extremely high road conditions."

Ding Bashi built an old-fashioned bicycle, the one Su Mo rode to junior high school. It was a discarded bicycle by his father and could carry several hundred kilograms of heavy objects without any problem.

The Empress was astonished upon hearing this.

The load was immense, exceeding her expectations!

She said softly, "It can carry a thousand pounds, that's really impressive."

A glint flashed in Leng Liuxi's pretty eyes as she stared intently at Su Mo: "My lord, do you think this bicycle could be used in the army?"

Clearly, the Empress was still preoccupied with the idea of ​​forming an elite bicycle unit.

She saw it too.

Su Mo must have grown up in Baiyujing or Kunlun Ruins.

That's why he had little respect for the powerful and wealthy of Dawu, and he genuinely didn't understand many things that others considered common sense.

For example, she claimed to be a princess, and he actually believed her!

Which princess would dare to secretly bring a man into the palace?
However, his wildly imaginative ideas, his vast knowledge and wide-ranging insights far surpass those of the Great Martial Arts School.

Upon hearing the Empress's question...

Su Mo frowned and thought for a moment, then finally said confidently, "This will definitely work!"

"Forming a bicycle unit would allow them to cover a thousand miles in a day and a night!"

Soldiers of that era were far physically fitter than their contemporaries.

Later generations of professional cyclists could cover 100 kilometers in three hours, equivalent to 200 li (approximately 100 kilometers). No elite soldier or martial artist in this world could possibly be inferior to them.

If you're on a forced march in a day, even if the road conditions are bad, you really can't go 500 kilometers!

The Empress and Nangong Sheyue's eyes suddenly lit up.

With such a rapid reaction force, the number of tactics that can be used in the event of war would be several times greater!
Cavalry has its advantages, and bicycle troops have their advantages.

More importantly, the Great Martial Arts Academy is short of horses!

But Su Mo then added with a wry smile, "The problem is, it's difficult to increase bicycle production!"

"Even if the artisan battalion does nothing but make these bicycles, they can probably only produce twenty or thirty a month. To form an army-sized force is no easy task!"

Nangong Sheyue frowned and finally spoke: "Even the assembly line won't work?"

Su Mo explained, "It's not that it can't be done, it's just that there's no need for it."

"Wars are nothing more than battles fought over money."

"Luxury items like bicycles were initially primarily used to plunder the wealth of aristocratic families."

With that, Su Mo sneered and said arrogantly, "When we have enough money in the future, we can do whatever we want. We can even build a million-strong army and sweep across the land!"

The Empress and Nangong Sheyue exchanged a glance.

What Su Mo said makes a lot of sense.

For example, the modern crossbow and the eight-ox crossbow are already quite powerful.

There are also flat-box vehicles.

Once it reaches a certain scale, the army's combat effectiveness will definitely increase several times over.

The problem is, Da Wu has no money!
The empress could only slowly manufacture and stockpile them.

The Empress hesitated for a moment, then frowned and asked, "If we sell them, are you really not worried that others will imitate them and turn them into a threat to our Great Wu?"

Su Mo waved his hand: "Lord Leng, you really don't need to worry about that!"

"Besides, even if they manage to copy it, so what?"

After a pause, he couldn't help but add, "Please forgive my bluntness, but Lord Leng and Lord Nangong's views on the war are somewhat one-sided."

Leng Liuxi and Nangong Sheyue were immediately stunned.

The Empress's expression turned serious. She rose and gave Su Mo a slight bow: "Please enlighten me, my lord!"

The three of them are now bound by a shared destiny.

Once the affair between the three of them is exposed, none of them will escape punishment.

Su Mo didn't mince words: "War is nothing more than a continuation of politics."

"Sun Tzu's Art of War also says: The best strategy is to attack the enemy's plans; the next best is to disrupt their alliances; the next best is to attack their army; and the worst is to besiege their cities."

"The highest level of warfare is to subdue the enemy without fighting!"

Upon hearing this, the Empress and Nangong Sheyue exchanged a glance at each other simultaneously!
They both saw the suspicion and shock in each other's eyes!
The Empress, in particular, was filled with shock and disbelief!
Su Mo previously claimed that he knew nothing about military strategy, so how come he suddenly came up with Sun Tzu's Art of War?
This guy is definitely not honest!

Su Mo had no idea what the Empress was thinking, and then said, "For example, I remember telling you before that we should use the tactic of sheep eating people to deal with the Northern Di."

"But if we want the Northern Di to honestly raise sheep, in addition to enticing them with benefits, we must also use force to deter them."

"As long as our Great Wu is financially strong, martial and virtuous, and has a large army stationed on the border, we can suppress them with our power. How dare the Northern Barbarians act recklessly?"

"Those who are truly ignorant of their own mortality will be wiped out with overwhelming force, and the rest will naturally obey obediently!"

With that, Su Mo picked up the teacup and drank it all in one gulp.

The tea served in the imperial palace was indeed much better than what I had at home; it had a sweet aftertaste and was invigorating.

The Empress immediately poured tea for Su Mo and then said, "Is this what it means to subdue the enemy without fighting?"

She paused, then frowned and said, "I seem to have learned Sun Tzu's Art of War when I was young, but I have long forgotten it. Does my lord remember it?"

Su Mo thought for a moment: "This humble servant has only memorized a few things. For example, warfare is based on deception. Therefore, when you are capable, you should appear incapable; when you are active, you should appear inactive; when you are near, you should appear far away; when you are far away, you should appear near."

"Just as there are no fixed formations in warfare, there are no fixed shapes in water."

"There are also the principles of warfare: do not face high ground, do not oppose an enemy with their back to a hill, do not pursue a feigned retreat, do not attack elite troops, do not take advantage of bait, do not block a retreating army, leave an opening in an encirclement, and do not press a desperate enemy. These are the principles of warfare."

When Leng Liuxi saw Su Mo suddenly stop talking, she became anxious: "My lord, please continue!"

Su Mo laughed and said, "There's nothing to say. Who would be bored enough to read such a boring military treatise?"

Although he has an excellent memory now, he has never actually read the entire Art of War by Sun Tzu, and has only seen some famous quotes online or in historical novels.

It's definitely impossible to recite the entire passage from memory.

Hearing Su Mo call such an exquisite military strategy a boring book, Leng Liuxi was practically furious with Su Mo!
Not to mention the exquisite and brilliant Art of War by Sun Tzu.

Even if it were an ordinary military treatise, which powerful family would not treasure it and never pass it on to outsiders?
That bastard is too lazy to even look!
This is absolutely infuriating for the Empress!
The Empress took a deep breath and casually said, "My lord, how much do you still remember? Tell me about it."

"The Art of War that you speak of, sir, seems to differ slightly from what I know?"

Su Mo was stunned.

Is the Sun Tzu's Art of War in this world different from the one I remember?
its not right.

The world has the Four Books and Five Classics, and the imperial examination is also based on this.

How is Sun Tzu's Art of War wrong?
The more you say, the more mistakes you make! It's best to say less!
He blinked: "Uh... I must have misremembered."

"This humble servant is of limited knowledge and it is normal to make a mistake. What Lord Leng saw is definitely correct!"

Empress...

Don't be angry! I'm not angry! I'll get all the good stuff out of this bastard's belly sooner or later!
The Empress repeatedly reassured herself, took several deep breaths, and stared intently at Su Mo: "My lord!"

Where did you see Sun Tzu's Art of War?

"I used to read it, but it was accidentally destroyed in a fire, and now I don't know where to find it."

"How much does my lord know? Why not tell me everything? Perhaps then I can recall what is written in the book."

Although the Empress tried to remain calm, Su Mo could sense a murderous glint in her eyes, so he quickly replied, "This humble servant has never read Sun Tzu's Art of War."

"Uh... it was an old man with a white beard who told me this."

The Empress took a deep breath.

Her already sizable breasts became even more eye-catching!

I'm not angry! I'm really not angry!
This bastard has clearly become alert; we mustn't be hasty.

Treating Su Mo is like cooking a small fish; it requires slow simmering over low heat!

The Empress abruptly changed the subject, asking, "Does my lord know why I went to the artisan camp earlier?"

Su Mo was taken aback and subconsciously asked, "What is it?"

The empress's pretty face suddenly turned aggrieved, as if she were about to cry, and she said in a low voice, "My lord, do you know that I have been bullied today!"

Su Mo was taken aback: "Who is so bold as to bully an adult?"

The Empress huffed angrily, "It's all because of those despicable court officials who took advantage of my weakness and lack of power..."

"My lord, you must avenge me!"

She trailed off.

Su Mo's expression suddenly changed, his eyes widened, and he stared intently at Leng Liuxi!
It's chilly on my head.

Suddenly a yellow exclamation mark popped up? ???

　Here's 5,000 words to start. I'll continue writing tonight and make up for it tomorrow, but it might not be until noon tomorrow.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)