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

Chapter 239 The Empress took Su Mo's hand.
The shock that Su Mo brought to Princess Baicheng was truly immense!

Princess Baicheng was already quite shocked when she first heard the Empress say that the Divine Arm Bow and the Eight-Ox Crossbow were both developed by Su Mo, and she also saw the indestructible top-grade sword that Su Mo supposedly forged.

Now, I've heard that Su Mo's business acumen is unparalleled, his literary skills are worthy of being called a contemporary literary giant, and his medical skills are divine, capable of refining spirit medicines to dispel evil.

In an instant, Su Mo's image in her mind suddenly became much larger.

If a person's strengths are dazzling enough, then all other shortcomings seem insignificant.

Princess Baicheng hesitated for a long time, but finally couldn't help but cup her hands to the Empress and said in a deep voice, "This general thinks that it is a waste of Su Xianzi's talent, knowledge, and military prowess to serve as a centurion of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"If I, the general, humbly request Your Majesty to transfer Su Xianzi to the new army and appoint him as a garrison commander, I guarantee that he will be promoted to the rank of a third-grade adjutant within three years."

"Commander Leng, do you think His Majesty will agree to my request?"

The Empress chuckled, glancing at Su Mo before saying with a smile, "His Majesty will surely agree..."

Princess Baicheng's eyes suddenly lit up.

Then the Empress added, "I just don't know if Young Master Su will agree."

Princess Baicheng was puzzled by the Empress's words, but Su Mo quickly replied, "This humble official thanks the Princess for her kindness."

"It is only because I am lazy and know nothing about military affairs that I am afraid of delaying the imperial business. I hope the princess will forgive me."

Princess Baicheng immediately said in a deep voice, "Prince Su is being too modest!"

"It doesn't matter if you're not knowledgeable about military affairs."

"As long as Su Xianzi serves under my command, I will impart all my knowledge to you and teach you military strategies. I believe that with Su Xianzi's talent and learning, he will be able to easily comprehend them."

Su Mo smiled wryly and said, "This humble official is greedy for life and afraid of death, and he is also lazy and averse to work. The way of the army is really not suitable for this humble official!"

Princess Baicheng...

Leng Liuxi couldn't help but laugh: "General Leng, you should save your breath!"

"His Majesty has tried every means to get him into the court as an official, but he has repeatedly refused His Majesty's good intentions!"

Princess Baicheng...

Leng Liuxi laughed again, "Also, although this guy is full of knowledge, he never tells the truth. He says he doesn't understand military affairs. General Leng, did you really believe that?"

Princess Baicheng was immediately taken aback and subconsciously asked, "Does Master Su also possess expertise in warfare?"

Leng Liuxi smiled and said, "I told the general long ago that there are not many things in this world that Young Master Su does not know. Don't think I'm joking with you!"

As she spoke, she took out a booklet from her sleeve and handed it to Princess Baicheng.

Princess Baicheng took it and looked at it.

The booklet is made of precious Xuan paper, and it is clear that it has been carefully preserved, but due to frequent handling, wrinkles are still inevitable.

The booklet page bears four characters: 【Sun Tzu's Art of War】!
Princess Baicheng instantly became solemn.

As a true general who has fought countless battles, he may not respect anything else, except for matters of war!
In military affairs, military strategy is the most important.

This is a closely guarded secret among military strategists, passed down primarily orally. Even if it were written down and passed down through generations, it would only be for the study of important members of the family.

For ordinary people, let alone learning it, even seeing it is as difficult as climbing to heaven!

Princess Baicheng considered herself a seasoned general with extensive experience in warfare. She had long wanted to write a book to pass on her knowledge, but she always felt that she was not quite there yet and hesitated to put pen to paper.

As Princess Baicheng looked at the four characters "Sun Tzu's Art of War," her expression grew increasingly solemn!
Ordinary military strategies are generally named such as "theory of attack and defense", "the way of war", and "description of city warfare".

Princess Baicheng had never heard of a military strategy that dared to be named after a surname.

In particular, it used the character "子" (zi)!

What is a child?
You are a sage!

In other words, Sun Tzu's Art of War can also be called "Sun Sheng's Art of War"!
Princess Baicheng was truly curious.

Who dares to claim that their military strategy is so brilliant as to be beyond the realm of the supernatural?
She had never even heard of her grandson's name!

But a military treatise that even the Empress valued highly, Princess Baicheng certainly wouldn't suspect that it was a pretentious and boastful book.

Princess Baicheng glanced at the Empress, then at Su Mo, knowing that this military strategy must be related to Su Mo.

Then, she slowly turned to the first page.

The first thing that catches the eye is "Chapter One: The Initial Calculation! Sun Tzu said: War is a matter of vital importance to the State; a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected."

Princess Baicheng trembled violently, her face grew even more solemn, her posture became even more upright, and her eyes were fixed on the words on the book, not moving an inch!
It lasted for the time it takes to burn an incense stick.

Princess Baicheng closed her eyes and carefully recalled the words to make sure she hadn't missed a single one.

Only then did he solemnly hand the book back to the Empress with both hands, saying solemnly, "This general thanks Commander Leng for bestowing this law upon me!"

Leng Liuxi took back the military treatise and then smiled, "General Leng shouldn't thank me. If you want to express your gratitude, go and thank Young Master Su."

Princess Baicheng was stunned.

The Empress added, "This military treatise originated from the mouth of Su Langjun!"

Princess Baicheng stared at Su Mo in disbelief, dumbfounded.

The Art of War was actually written by Su Mo?
I had previously said I would teach him military strategies.

Seeing Princess Baicheng staring at him in a daze, Su Mo quickly said, "Ahem, actually, this Sun Tzu's Art of War is a..."

Before Su Mo could finish speaking, the Empress interrupted him, saying, "Young Master Su was young when, on a snowy morning, an old man with a white beard collapsed in front of the Su residence and then passed on military strategy to Young Master Su."

Princess Baicheng took a deep breath and hurriedly asked, "May I ask if you, old man with the white beard, are you Sun Sheng?"

The Empress waved her hand: "General Leng, please don't be impatient. Let me finish."

Princess Baicheng could only endure it and patiently listen to the Empress continue.

The Empress glanced at Su Mo and said, "That white-bearded old man not only passed on military strategy to Young Master Su, but also imparted to him unparalleled knowledge."

"Items such as the Eight-Ox Crossbow, the Divine Arm Bow, alcohol, soap, perfume, and many other timeless masterpieces..."

After a pause, the Empress looked at Su Mo with a half-smile: "My lord, you should thank Fang Cheng properly."

"For this act of kindness, the white-bearded old man will repay you with all the talent in the world."

Su Mo's forehead creased with annoyance.

It seems we can't use this white-bearded old man anymore.

How about a white-bearded old monk? But there are too many fake monks out there; they probably don't have much real skill and wouldn't be able to fool people.

How about a white-haired, ethereal old Taoist priest?
Princess Baicheng was speechless after hearing the Empress's words.

She wasn't stupid; how could she not hear the sarcasm in the Empress's words?

However, Princess Baicheng became increasingly suspicious. Where did Su Mo obtain such an extraordinary military treatise?
Surely he didn't do it himself?

Poetry can be imagined, but military strategy can never be imagined unless one truly understands the art of warfare!
Seeing that both the Empress and Princess Baicheng were staring at him, Su Mo could only manage a wry smile: "Please, my lords, don't look at me like that, okay?"

"I was young at the time and did not know that the white-bearded man was so skilled. Otherwise, I would have pestered him to teach me his true skills!"

He paused, and seeing that the Empress and Princess Baicheng were not speaking, he smiled bitterly and said, "Right now, I am only half-baked in everything, with only a superficial understanding. I can only talk the talk but not walk the walk."

Let's not talk about this.

Su Mo pointed to the food on the table, her face darkening slightly: "So much food left uneaten, what a waste!"

Princess Baicheng glanced at the food on the table, feeling a strong urge to eat, but her stomach was too small to handle it.

The Empress chuckled lightly: "How could this be a waste? It's not like I gave you the money."

"Besides, the leftovers can be given as a reward to the palace maids and eunuchs!"

Su Mo's face darkened even more!

Princess Baicheng hesitated for a moment, then stood up and said, "This general needs to go back and organize his thoughts on building the new army. Farewell, Commander Leng and County Magistrate Su."

Having just read Sun Tzu's Art of War, she needs to hurry back and write it down from memory, carefully studying and analyzing it to ensure nothing is missed.

Inspired by Sun Tzu's Art of War, the idea of ​​writing a military treatise also came to mind. The system of military strategy was formed and had to be written down to prevent it from being forgotten in the future!
After Princess Baicheng left, the Empress looked at Su Mo and suddenly said, "Su Lang, shall we go for a walk?"

Su Mo was taken aback: "Is this appropriate?"

He hesitated for a moment, then said, "If others see this, wouldn't it ruin your reputation?"

This is the inner palace, and many palace maids and eunuchs are on duty with the Imperial Guards. They must have seen the Empress.

The Empress blinked her beautiful eyes, her face slightly flushed, and said with a hint of playfulness, "Wouldn't it be enough to just avoid them?"

Su Mo...

I feel like we're having an affair!
However, he needed the Empress's help, such as receiving benefits for recruiting disaster victims and obtaining the list of personnel from the Qinghefang Hundred Household Office. Su Mo could only nod: "Going out for a walk will help me calm down after the meal!"

The Empress instructed the palace maids to clear the table of food, and she actually had the maids and eunuchs take the leftovers away and distribute them. Then she called Su Mo over and walked out of the palace.

What Su Mo had imagined did not happen.

If you encounter palace maids or eunuchs.

They were probably sent away a long time ago.

The two walked side by side, looking just like a couple on a moonlit date.

Halfway there, Su Mo suddenly trembled and her whole body stiffened. She felt a slight warmth in her palm as a soft hand grasped hers.

The Empress actually took his hand!
Su Mo subconsciously turned his head to look at the Empress.

But all that could be seen was half of her gentle, warm cheek and a small, delicate, and quite adorable nose.

The Empress's cheek was slightly flushed as she turned her head to look into the distance, not daring to meet Su Mo's gaze!

The white mist that was slightly exhaled from her lips drifted past her nose.

Just then, a crystal-clear snowflake landed on the tip of my nose.

Su Mo subconsciously reached out to brush away the snowflakes.

My fingertips brushed against the tip of my nose.

The empress's delicate body trembled slightly, then stiffened, holding her breath and calming herself, with no white breath escaping from her lips.

Su Mo then realized that he might have gone a bit too far, so he quickly withdrew his hand as if nothing had happened. Seeing that the Empress wouldn't let go, he hesitated for a moment, then simply turned around and grabbed the Empress's hand to walk forward!

He's not a blockhead.

It was discovered early on that the Empress was likely developing feelings for him.

However, Su Mo had absolutely no experience dating an emperor and didn't know whether having an emperor as a girlfriend was a good thing or a bad thing, so she simply pretended not to know.

The Imperial Garden in winter isn't really that interesting.

The two walked hand in hand, one in front of the other, through the snow.

Unconsciously, I walked back to the Linhu Palace.

Su Mo had assumed that the Empress would allow him to stay overnight at Linhu Palace and keep her company as she slept.

She was still pondering where in the inner palace she could bathe and change clothes.

Unexpectedly, the Empress suddenly stopped in front of the palace, glanced at him, withdrew her hand, and said with a light laugh, "It's getting late, and I'm feeling a bit tired. My lord, you should go back to your residence to rest."

Su Mo was slightly taken aback: "Is it necessary for this humble servant to accompany you to sleep tonight?"

Leng Liuxi explained, "I have many matters to attend to tonight, and I'm afraid I won't have a moment to rest..."

She hesitated for a moment, then said, "If you don't want to go back, it's perfectly fine for you to stay overnight at Linhu Palace."

"I can have someone bring you a bath and a change of clothes."

Su Mo thought for a moment and said, "This humble servant should go back to the residence."

Seeing the Empress's pretty face suddenly darken slightly, Su Mo could only explain again, "Go to the artisan camp tomorrow morning."

"The paper and wool manufacturing matters need to be handled as soon as possible."

"Especially in the wool trade, sweaters can fetch a good price during the cold winter, but they become harder to sell once the weather warms up."

With the endorsement of the Empress and Princess Baicheng, the papermaking and wool trade were naturally accelerated.

Su Mo planned to locate the wool workshop within his fiefdom for easier management.

To build enough housing for tens of thousands or even more people in a short period of time, the cement issue must be prioritized.

In addition, there was the matter of establishing Qinghefang.

Su Mo was indeed extremely busy.

The Empress nodded slightly: "Lord Su, business is of utmost importance!"

Su Mo hesitated for a moment. There was no need to rush to talk about the disaster victims. He took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and said, "Lord Leng, this is the candidate that I, the Hundred Household Office of Qinghefang, am looking for."

"Sir, please take a look and see if this is suitable?"

The Empress took it and glanced at it briefly.

There were only eleven or twelve names on the paper.

She frowned slightly: "Trial commanders Ning Xiaoxiao, Zhang Xuzu, and Ma Wei? Banner commanders Cao Feng, Chen Jin, and Chen Qian? And junior officers Chen Hu, Niu Da, Peng Yuanshan, Shen Li, and Chen Qianyu?"

Su Mo nodded: "These are the people."

"As for the other captains and junior officers, I would like to wait until after the Immortal Martial Arts Grand Trial is over before selecting one or two from the list."

The Empress nodded slightly and put the paper into her sleeve: "I will inform His Majesty of this matter tonight."

"My lord, just go ahead and do it."

Su Mo nodded and said, "Then this subordinate will take his leave!"

The Empress chuckled and said, "Go, Su Lang."

Su Mo took a few steps away, then hesitated for a moment, turned back to look at the Empress who was standing in the distance: "Lord Leng, please don't overwork yourself."

"You know that health is the foundation of everything, so don't overwork yourself."

The Empress covered her mouth and smiled sweetly: "Su Lang always says such strange things."

"But what you're saying makes a lot of sense."

She paused, then smiled and said, "Is this what that white-bearded old man said?"

Su Mo shook her head: "No, this was said by another very respectable old man."

The Empress sighed and said softly, "Can't Su Lang just tell me the truth for once?"

Su Mo looked at the Empress with a serious expression and said, word by word, "This time it really was what that old man said!"

The empress was stunned.

Su Mo said no more and turned to leave.

Having found the way to Xuanwu Gate with practiced ease, the guards along the way didn't bother to question Su Mo.

However, once they arrived at Xuanwu Gate, they didn't receive this special treatment.

The city gates closed, and Su Mo was once again lowered from the city wall in a basket.

When they returned to the house, it was already 9 PM. All the lights in the houses on both sides of the street were off, and it was pitch black.

The women in the house had all gone to sleep early. Su Mo was too lazy to wake Liu Siyun and Jiang Lan to bathe her, so she just took a quick cold shower.

When they returned to the bedroom, they were surprised to find that Lin Moyin was not there, and they wondered what she was doing.

It's uncomfortable to sleep in a cold, damp bed.

Su Mo went to find Liu Siyun.

Gently pushing open the door, I found Liu Siyun asleep under the covers in the dim light of an oil lamp.

Without hesitation, Su Mo lifted the quilt and crawled inside.

Then, he casually wrapped his arm around Liu Siyun's waist, who was only wearing a long robe, and his large hands habitually explored in the upper and lower directions.

The next second, Su Mo suddenly realized that something was wrong.

How come it's so small?

The dimensions on the top and bottom don't match at all!
The woman he knew was attacked and instantly woke up, turning her head to look at Su Mo in utter panic!

Su Mo was stunned when she saw this face.

Just as the woman cried out in alarm, Su Mo quickly withdrew his hand and covered her mouth.

"Don't scream!"

When the woman came to her senses, she nodded somewhat bewildered. Su Mo then released her hand and said with a wry smile, "Young Lady Meng, why are you sleeping in Si Yun's room?"

This woman is sleeping in her beloved concubine's bed.

Who else could Meng Danying be but the daughter of a junior official in the Ministry of Rites?
　It's the last day, my godfathers! If you don't vote now, your monthly tickets will be forfeited! Also, everyone says my posts are short and weak, but I'll unleash my full power on the 6th!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)