Thrown out of the house, the wet nurse enters the noble household and becomes a person of high statu

Pei Zeyu didn't look at him and continued to pick up Volume Six.

"This volume describes the training methods for cavalry. It mentions that horses are tamed in March, combined training is conducted in May, and troops are sent beyond the Great Wall in August. This is roughly the training cycle for the Northern Barbarian cavalry."

As he spoke, he glanced up at Yelü Yuanjia, the smile still lingering on his lips.

"The Crown Prince of the Northern Barbarians is truly generous."

Yelü Yuanjia asked, "How so?"

"The core of this scroll is not only the training method, but also the weakness of the Northern Di cavalry. Your Highness's willingness to make it public is truly generous, isn't it?"

Yelü Yuanjia's eyes darkened, and he did not reply.

Pei Zeyu picked up Volume Nine. "This volume is the most interesting."

"This scroll was not written by the Northern Barbarians, but was completed in the past year."

Yelü Yuanjia's smile vanished. "How did you figure that out?"

"It's very simple. This scroll describes the defense deployment at the border between the Northern Di and the Western Rong. If I'm not mistaken, it should be a secret report from the Northern Di regarding the redeployment of border defenses after they annexed the Western Rong."

A secret report from the Northern Barbarians regarding their border defense deployment?!

Were the Northern Barbarians extremely arrogant or extremely ignorant? How could they possibly make their border defense deployments public?

Just as the courtiers were discussing amongst themselves and Yelü Yuanjia's smile returned, Pei Zeyu's next words silenced all the noise.

"But this deployment map should be discarded because it contains a loophole."

The troop deployment on the eastern front was too concentrated. If someone were to flank them and strike directly at the rear supply lines, the checkpoints would be as flimsy as paper and impossible to defend.

After he finished speaking, he put down the silk scroll, stepped back, and nodded to Yelü Yuanjia.

"Your Highness, the three scrolls have been identified. I wonder if my assessment was correct?"

Everyone's attention turned to Yelü Yuanjia again.

Yelü Yuanjia opened his mouth and said, "Lord Pei, you have a good eye."

He raised his hand and clapped twice.

"I, the Crown Prince, am impressed. The Great Wei wins the first round."

The moment the words were spoken, thunderous cheers erupted from the Great Wei side, soaring into the sky.

Amid cheers and applause, Liu Wenying couldn't help but smile.

Meanwhile, being so close, she overheard every word of the conversation between the elderly ladies at Yuguo Apartment.

Madam Pei asked, "How can Zeyu know so much about the Northern Di border defenses?"

Even the officials in the court specializing in border affairs might not know these secrets so clearly.

Duke Yu smiled and said, "The Northern Barbarians are coming, so he's doing some preliminary intelligence gathering to prepare for the worst."

The phrase "prepare for a rainy day" sounds easy, but if he hadn't planned ahead, how could he have pinpointed the problem so precisely in an instant?

The old lady smiled and shook her head, "This child doesn't show off in front of me at all, I never expected him to be so capable."

Liu Wenying lowered her eyes, her heart also stirred with emotion.

Second Master is a bit of a germaphobe, but he's usually very gentle and kind to her.

Today's events made her realize that although the Second Master always smiles, he may not be as unsharp as he appears.

Not far away, Pei Zeyu, having successfully retired, was talking to several officials.

As if sensing something, he suddenly looked up, his gaze passing over the crowd and landing precisely on her.

Their eyes met, and he curved his lips into a smile, still maintaining that gentle and harmless demeanor.

Liu Wenying hurriedly looked away.

The Wei state won the first game, greatly boosting their morale.

However, Yelü Yuanjia was not discouraged, and showed no sign of frustration.

He raised his hand and waved, and several Northern Di guards behind him responded in unison, turning around and running towards the supply wagon at the rear of the delegation.

Before long, a dull rumbling sound came from the field, growing louder as it approached, shaking the ground.

Eight tall horses, divided into four groups, were seen pulling several specially made flatbed carts into the arena.

On each vehicle was a huge bronze cauldron.

The cauldron has a wide belly, thick handles, and a dark golden sheen.

Nine bronze cauldrons were arranged in the center of the field, from small to large, weighing from a hundred catties to a thousand catties, lined up in a row, creating an imposing sight.

The smallest one requires two strong men to hug.

The largest one is taller than a person; just looking at it gives off a sense of oppression that makes it hard to breathe.

Yelü Yuanjia stood with his hands behind his back in front of the tripod and spoke loudly.

"We, the men of the Northern Di, admire bravery and have many capable of lifting heavy tripods. Today, we have specially cast nine tripods, ranging from a hundred catties to a thousand catties, and invite the brave warriors of the Great Wei to test them."

"The rules for winning are simple: whoever lifts a cauldron heavier than I, the Northern Dili, and holds it above their head for ten breaths wins."

As soon as he finished speaking, a burly strongman stepped out from the Northern Barbarian delegation.

He was shirtless, his muscles bulging.

The man walked up to the 700-pound bronze cauldron, steadied himself in a horse stance, gripped the cauldron's handles with both hands, let out a deep shout, and suddenly exerted his strength!

The bronze cauldron rose up in response and was lifted above his head.

The crowd counted in unison: one, two, three...

After ten breaths, he slowly put down the bronze cauldron, his expression unchanged, only his chest rising and falling slightly.

Immediately afterwards, he skipped over the 800-jin (400 kg) bronze cauldron and headed straight for the 900-jin (400 kg) bronze cauldron.

This time it was clearly much more difficult.

The moment he raised it above his head, veins bulged on his forehead and his teeth clenched so tightly they made a grinding sound.

Ten breaths later, he slammed the bronze cauldron down, staggered a couple of steps, and gasped for breath.

As for the ninth one, it is a giant cauldron weighing a thousand catties.

He tried everything he could, but the bronze cauldron remained completely still.

Yelü Yuanjia was not annoyed. Instead, he laughed and said, "It's alright. Being able to lift nine hundred catties makes you one of the top warriors of our Northern Di."

He didn't expect anyone to be able to lift the enormous cauldron.

He turned his gaze to the people of Wei, "Next, it's the turn of the warriors of Wei."

"I'll give it a try!"

Wei Yong was a renowned and fierce general in the Wei army. He came from a commoner background and before joining the army, he could easily fight tigers with his bare hands.

He walked directly to the 800-jin cauldron and tried his hand at it.

He lifted the bronze cauldron to his chest, then to the top of his head, held it steady for ten breaths, and then put it down.

It worked!

Next up was the 900-jin cauldron. Wei Yong used all his strength, his arm muscles bulging and his face flushed.

He barely managed to lift it above his head, but by the fourth breath, the bronze cauldron was shaking violently above his head.

By the fifth breath, his face had turned a deep purplish-red, and he could no longer hold on, falling to the ground with a thud.

But the Northern Di warrior could lift a 900-jin cauldron. As a role model for the Great Wei, how could he not even lift half of it?

Wei Yong caught his breath and tried to lift the tripod again, but he was too exhausted to lift it any further.

"Eight hundred pounds, very good. Is there any other brave warrior who wants to give it a try?"

No one answered.

The other generals looked at each other, some eager to try, but were held back by those around them.

Wei Yong is already the fiercest general in the army. Even he can only lift 800 jin. If anyone else goes up, it will only be more embarrassing.

Yelü Yuanjia waited for a moment, and seeing that no one responded, he smiled and turned to look at the Emperor of Great Wei on the high platform.

"Your Majesty, it seems that this round has been won by the Northern Di."

Someone in the Wei camp said, "The Northern Barbarians are crude and only know how to use brute force. They are not as cultured and elegant as the men of Wei. This matter of lifting the tripod is something that only a brute would do. It is not shameful to lose."

The words were spoken in a grand and respectable manner, but everyone could tell that they were just empty words used to save face.

With one win and one loss, the balance of power has returned to square one.

Yelü Yuanjia cupped his hands in greeting: "Your Majesty, you flatter me..."

"Who said that? They're just a few heavy, enormous cauldrons. I'd like to give them a try!"

Yelü Yuanjia was interrupted.

The voice that interrupted him was clear and penetrating, with a high-pitched tone, and its flirtatious and unruly nature was impossible to hide.

…………