Film and Television Variety Show: The Jade Girl's Love Affair

Yuan Shen recalled the scene when Ji Fa bravely stabbed Yin Shou. At that time, Ji Fa was full of vigor and spirit, just like a fearless young hero.

Upon seeing him again, Yuan Shen was pleasantly surprised by the firmness and sense of responsibility in his words.

It seems that Ji Fa has indeed grown since that sword strike, and has learned how a ruler should protect his people.

"The army that came from Chaoge this time was led by General Deng Chanyu, who had fought alongside Wen Zhong for ten years."

Although she only brought eight hundred cavalry, which was not enough to pose a great threat to Xiqi, she also brought the four generals of the Mo family.

You've heard how formidable these four are; do you have any ideas on how to deal with them?

After Yuan Shen finished speaking, Ji Fa smiled and began to explain his own plan.

Ji Fa believed that Lei Zhenzi could handle the four demon generals, so they wouldn't be completely helpless. Therefore, this wasn't his biggest concern.

Now, Ji Fa has discovered a better way to deal with Deng Chanyu's army.

To reach Xiqi, the cavalry had to cross a large river, so the eight hundred cavalrymen had to build a bridge to cross.

Meanwhile, Deng Chanyu's army is currently on the other side of the river, busy building a passage across the river!

Having explained the situation, Ji Fa's eyes gleamed with excitement as he vividly described his plan.

“E Shun, that Deng Chanyu wanted to build a river crossing, so she actually captured our Xiqi farmers to do the work.”

We people of Xiqi aren't stupid; how could we let them cross the river and attack us? So, I've already set up an ambush, just waiting for them to take the bait..."

Yuan Shen initially listened with great interest, but as he listened, his expression gradually became serious.

He wanted to persuade Ji Fa that this method was unreliable, but Ji Fa was enthusiastic, as if he felt that this simple trap could protect Xiqi!

"Ji Fa, didn't you prepare any backup plans? There's never an absolute guarantee of victory in war."

Have you considered what would happen if this trap failed?

After Yuan Shen asked the question, Ji Fa fell silent for a long time before giving this answer.

"Of course I will do everything in my power to protect Xiqi. But if all other methods fail, I will surrender and let them do as they please."

The envoy from Chaoge said that if I commit suicide to atone for my sins, they will spare Xiqi.

Yuan Shen: “…”

At this moment, Yuan Shen was unable to describe his feelings!

The last option is to surrender? Can't you use your brain?!

Yuan Shen really wanted to say those words, but he realized that Ji Fa was thinking this very seriously, and he couldn't persuade him any further.

Yin Shou, a cruel man, could even heartlessly kill his own wife and children. He had previously exterminated the Su family of Jizhou. How could he possibly let the people of Xiqi go so easily?

If Ji Fa dies, the people of Xiqi will lose their leader and will be unable to unite to resist, which will only hasten their demise.

He had previously thought that Ji Fa had matured after killing Yin Shou.

As it turned out, that decisive action at that moment was an accident!

Back in the courtyard where Ji Fa had arranged for him to stay, Yuan Shen immediately started complaining to Tang Yu as soon as he saw him.

"Even if this is just a similar parallel universe, how can Ji Fa be so indecisive, muddle-headed, and cowardly? It really annoys me!"

As Yuan Shen spoke, he shook his head slightly, his face full of disappointment and frustration.

Tang Yu couldn't help but laugh when she saw Yuan Shen's sullen face.

"Alright, he's just Ji Fa, not King Wu of Zhou. Don't have too high expectations of him."

The way you're acting is as if you've seen a historical figure who isn't what you imagined, and you've been discouraged.

He wasn't the King Wu of Zhou you believed him to be.

Yuan Shen took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

"But how can you not be angry when you see someone courting death?"

What should we do now? Does Madam have any ideas?

"Let's play along. Xiqi is not yet at a critical moment of life or death. It would be bad for us to intervene rashly. Ji Fa probably doesn't like others interfering with his decisions."

Tang Yu blinked, a sly glint in her eyes.

"However, I'm quite curious about General Deng Chanyu now. She captured farmers from Xiqi to build a bridge. Didn't she consider that the people of Xiqi might dig pits and set up ambushes? Wasn't she a bit too arrogant?"

Yuan Shen raised an eyebrow, a hint of helplessness in his expression.

"I also think this trap is too easy to see through. If Deng Chanyu really falls into such a simple trap, it can only mean that Ji Fa and she are equally incompetent in military strategy, and the two of them are probably going to put on a show where novices fight each other."

Let's just watch the show and see how strong Deng Chanyu and the Four Demon Generals are."

Chapter 12 Investiture of the Gods

Before Deng Chanyu's army could advance, Jiang Ziya solemnly approached Tang Yu and slowly revealed his thoughts.

“In the past few days, I have been investigating around Xiqi and have learned that this year’s grain harvest was indeed poor, with wheat but no grain. As a result, there was almost no harvest this year, and many people have no grain stored at home, making their lives extremely difficult.”

If it weren't for the Marquis of Xibo and his son opening the granaries to distribute grain and provide disaster relief from the very beginning, many people would probably have starved to death long ago.

The Marquis of Xibo and his son truly loved the people like their own children, and the people greatly supported them.

These past few days I've repeatedly pondered your views, and I've gradually come to understand that the key to a true ruler lies in his attitude towards his people.

Jiang Ziya paused slightly, his eyes filled with confusion and entanglement.

"But the problem now is whether the person chosen by Heaven and the person supported by the people are the same person."

Otherwise, if those who are good to the people cannot become the ruler of the world, while those who can initiate the Investiture of the Gods must become the ruler of the world, then how should I choose?

Jiang Ziya's dilemma was real and profound. Although he understood the king's criteria for judgment, he did not know how to solve this problem.

"Have you ever thought about defying fate? Rebelling against the will of heaven?"

Tang Yu stared intently into Jiang Ziya's eyes.

"Why must those chosen by Heaven be the ones to open the Investiture of the Gods? Are you, the many cultivators of Kunlun Mountain, just supposed to blindly follow the will of Heaven?"

Let me put it another way: if Heaven guided you to kill one hundred newborn babies to avert divine retribution, would you kill those one hundred babies?

Previously, Jiang Ziya believed that only by finding a universal ruler could the divine punishment be averted, and he did not think there was anything wrong with this idea.

But when Tang Yu changed the method of eliminating the divine punishment to killing innocent babies, he instantly realized that the guidance of the Heavenly Dao might have been wrong from the very beginning!

“I…I understand! Fate isn’t always right. If I were a child, and outsiders said that killing me would save the world, I think I would have rebelled then. Why should it be the right thing to do?”

I just subconsciously felt that the methods of the ancient sages must be correct, and I never thought there were any other possibilities!

"Fairy, do you have a way to avert divine punishment, which is why you stole the Investiture of the Gods from the very beginning?"

Tang Yu smiled faintly, "Jiang Ziya's problem lies in his excessive faith in the ideas of sages."

Just like myself many years ago, I blindly believed what adults, newspapers and books contained.

In fact, anyone's opinion in this world can be questioned, even if it is the thought of a sage, or even if it is a profession of the Way of Heaven.

“I have my own methods, but I’m not sure if the remnants have been completely eliminated, so you are a key catalyst.”

As long as outsiders still believe that the Investiture of the Gods is on your side, all sorts of wicked and treacherous demons and monsters will emerge one after another.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ziya couldn't help but smile wryly. It turned out that he was acting as "bait." However, if he could lure the "fish" onto the hook, it would be worth it.

But he still has concerns.

“Your strength is formidable, I feel you can resolve the divine punishment, but how long will it take?”

I heard that Xiqi's grain reserves are only enough to last for three years, and that's only if the people are starving.

If the divine retribution cannot be stopped within three years, it may lead to a human tragedy!

Tang Yu sensed Jiang Ziya's probing and responded with a smile.

"I just guided you not to easily believe what others say, so you don't have to believe everything I say either."

If you have time, you might as well go around and see if babies in the south are still dying at birth, if the well water in the east is still drinkable, and if the plague in the north has been resolved.

As for Xiqi, we'll have to see if the crops grow normally next year. Anything I say is just empty talk; you can find an opportunity to go and see for yourself.”

After hearing this, Jiang Ziya stopped probing.

At this moment, aside from maintaining basic vigilance, he had largely come to believe Tang Yu's account.

So he told Tang Yu about the current situation.

“Shen Gongbao has tracked me to Xiqi through crows, and I guess he also knows you are here.”

He probably thinks we're in cahoots. If I'm not mistaken, he'll soon find accomplices to seize the Investiture of the Gods, after all, he was defeated by you last time.

This news excited Tang Yu. Compared to Deng Chanyu's army, she wanted to wipe out the forces behind Shen Gongbao in one fell swoop.

A few days later, Tang Yu and Yuan Shen concealed themselves and hovered in mid-air, preparing to watch whether Ji Fa's carefully designed trap would work.

Over the past few days, the farmers from Xiqi captured by Deng Chanyu's army have completed the bridge across the river. Based on observations over the past few days, the army will cross the river today.

Tang Yu and Yuan Shen were simply there to "watch the show," thinking they could lend a hand should Ji Fa's plan fail.

At the ferry crossing, Deng Chanyu's army had already arrived at the riverbank. As the commander-in-chief, she was quite cautious and first let the horses cross the bridge to check its quality.

However, while a group of farmers from Xiqi were still in the river, she only cared about the quality of the bridge.

Tang Yu spoke helplessly to Yuan Shen.

"Good idea, you seem to be right. Ji Fa's plan actually succeeded. Are they really evenly matched, like two chickens pecking at each other?"

Yuan Shen nodded affirmatively, drawing on his experience of living here for over ten years.

Tang Yu may not know what the education for the aristocratic children here entails, but surely he does?

"I said before that the Battle of Beihai could last for ten years. Neither Wen Zhong nor Deng Chanyu were proficient in military strategy, otherwise the war would not have dragged on for so long!"

Just as the couple finished complaining, Ji Fa, along with a group of Xiqi youths hiding in the river, broke the bridge across the river, and Deng Chanyu and her cavalrymen instantly fell into the water.

Tang Yu couldn't help but laugh out loud at the comical scene.

"These two are truly evenly matched in an intellectual duel!"

Yuan Shen joked, "Madam's sarcasm is truly a cut above the rest!"