My name is Wei Qing, and I want to fight the Xiongnu.

As they left, groups of three or five were still discussing whether Wei Qing had actually made it past the sixtieth floor.

It is estimated that this topic will be a common topic among students of the Imperial Academy for some time to come, at least until Wei Qing comes up with something else soon.

But when we talk about it, I always feel like I've forgotten something.

Is something missing?

But I can't remember anymore. Oh well, what could be more important than Wei Qing breaking into the pavilion?

Everyone had left, and the doors of the Hundred Battles Pavilion were open.

Zhu Shi walked out excitedly, "Fifty-sixth floor!"

He finally got through it.

This achievement far exceeded his expectations.

If there are no unexpected events in this attempt to break through the cabinet, perhaps only Zhan Lian can slightly outperform him?

However, it's acceptable. Zhan Lian is a recognized genius and is qualified to become another person to pass through the sixty levels after Zhou Yafu.

It's not shameful to be slightly outdone by him.

If Zhan Lian was the best performer among the Xiongnu barbarians, then I must be the best performer among the human race!

They deserve cheers and applause.

Huh? What happened?

Why is nobody here?

Zhu Shi stared blankly at the square. The square was huge, but apart from the old man guarding the Hundred Battles Pavilion, there was no one else in sight. What the hell?

Am I still inside the Hundred Battles Pavilion?

Is this an illusion?

When did the Hundred Battles Pavilion of the Command Department start having the concept of an illusion?

It's not...where is the person!

Where's the applause? Where are the flowers? Where's the cheers?

In the end what happened?

Did the Xiongnu barbarians invade Chang'an, or did Zhao Feiyan come to dance?

Where did everyone go?!

The old man looked at Zhu Shi, who was lost in a great confusion about life, and felt both amused and exasperated.

I don't know if you're lucky or unlucky today.

But thinking about it, I guess I'm a bit luckier than Gu She, who was so badly hurt by Wei Qing that he was driven to despair.

Not long after Wei Qing left the Hundred Battles Pavilion, he saw an old man waiting for him. The old man introduced himself after seeing Wei Qing, saying, "I am King Zhao Lü Lu."

Wei Qing saw that Lü Lu's hair was already gray and he looked old and decrepit. In contrast, although Xiahou Ying was also old, he was much better in terms of complexion and energy.

He guessed that Lü Lu's strength was probably built up by relying on rare and precious materials. Although he had a long lifespan, he would still slowly grow old.

Wei Qing bowed and said, "Student Wei Qing greets the Supreme General."

“I call myself the King of Zhao, but you say you are paying respects to the Supreme General. It seems you do not recognize me as the King of Zhao.”

Lu Lu said this, but his face showed no emotion.

Wei Qing said calmly, "Actually, General, you're overthinking it. In my eyes, there's no difference between the King of Zhao and the King of Dai."

Lü Lu laughed and said, "Hahaha, young man, what spirit you have! If someone else had said this, I wouldn't have believed it, but coming from you, I have no choice but to believe it. Come, how about we walk and talk?"

"Respect is not as good as obedience."

Wei Qing followed silently beside Lü Lu, neither bending down to follow behind nor striding ahead; the two walked side by side.

Lu Lu asked with some curiosity, "Do you walk like this when you're with Prime Minister Cao?"

"No, Uncle Cao should go first; he is an elder."

Lü Lu nodded and said, "This is a matter of etiquette, and it should be observed. If I recommend you to Zhou Yafu to serve as a general, what do you plan to do?"

Chapter Thirty-Nine: "With military power in my hands, the Han Dynasty will surely rise."

"To serve as a general? The Supreme General thinks so highly of his student?"

Wei Qing hadn't expected Lü Lu to think so highly of him.

The rank of a general, even a low-ranking one, is far superior to that of an ordinary captain.

The key point is that Zhou Yafu's subordinates are even more extraordinary.

Zhou Yafu is currently considered the second most powerful military figure in the Han Dynasty. Those who are of higher status and stronger ability than him are either too old to fight or have special statuses that keep them away from the imperial court.

Besides, the first person in the military with power but no official status was Lü Lu, who was in front of Wei Qing and held military power.

Of course, when it comes to leading troops in battle, neither his ability nor his prestige can be compared with Zhou Yafu's.

Lü Lu's meaning was essentially to tell Wei Qing that he wanted to groom him as Zhou Yafu's successor.

A slave being recommended as the successor to the second-in-command of the military—even Wei Qing himself wouldn't have dared to dream of such a treatment.

Wei Qing looked around at the surroundings and said, "General, I have something I'd like to ask if I may be so bold as to ask you."

"Go ahead and talk, just consider it casual conversation."

Lü Lu didn't put on any airs. Having lived for four hundred years, he had come to terms with many things.

"The students don't want to get involved in the Liu-Lü conflict; they just want to know the views of both sides on the Xiongnu barbarians: do they hope to maintain the status quo, or do they hope to annihilate the other side?"

"A question you already know the answer to."

"The students really want to know."

Lu Lu turned to look at Wei Qing's serious expression, and after a moment of silence said, "No matter how Liu Lu sees it, we really can't win right now."

Upon hearing this, Wei Qing understood. He stopped and bowed respectfully to Lü Lu, saying, "Thank you for your explanation, General."

Lu Lu reached out and helped Wei Qing up, then continued walking forward, saying, "Do you think you can turn this situation around by yourself?"

"can!"

Wei Qing's tone was firm and unwavering.

Lü Lu sighed and said, "What a boastful tone! There are too few young men like you in the Han Dynasty. It's better that you don't go to the frontier. Zhou Yafu can only maintain the current situation between the Han Dynasty and the Xiongnu barbarians; he can't turn the tide. If you go to the frontier, at most you'll be a second Zhou Yafu, and you still won't be able to change anything."

Staying inside the Imperial Academy might offer some opportunities. You've actually already passed the sixtieth floor, haven't you?

Wei Qing did not hide anything and frankly admitted, "It's in the past."

"Good, good, good!"

Lu Lu said "good" three times in a row. After he finished speaking, he asked, "If it were not Yangxin who brought you back from Pingyang County, but my Lu family, would you be willing to stand on the side of our Lu family?"

Without a second thought, Wei Qing denied it, saying, "I'm not willing."

"Aren't you going to listen to the conditions offered by the Lü family?"

"I didn't hear anything from the Liu family either."

"Hahaha, with your personality, if you were to take command of the military one day, the Han Dynasty would either rise because of you or perish because of you!"

Upon hearing this, Wei Qing retorted without hesitation, "No, if I were to take command of the military, the Han Dynasty would surely prosper because of me!"

"If that's the case, then I can die with a smile on my face."

Military power was in Lü Lu's hands. If Wei Qing had taken power, Lü Lu would surely be dead.

He won't relinquish military power until he dies.

Or rather, he would surely die if he relinquished military power.

"Next month, on the 23rd, will be the Empress's 427th birthday. According to the Empress, there will be no birthday banquet except on the 5th and 10th of each month, as it would be too extravagant. It will be enough to invite the younger generation to eat and drink, and we can also take the opportunity to meet the new generation of geniuses of the Han Dynasty. This year will be no exception."

Both the Liu and Lü families will be there, and Cao Ying and his group will probably be there too. What about you? Do you want to go? I think the Empress Dowager would also like to see you.”

"It is an honor for the students."

Could Wei Qing refuse?

Certainly not!

Upon hearing Wei Qing's agreement, Lü Lu nodded, agreeing that it was fine.

He didn't even think about coming over himself; Wei Qing immediately bowed down in reverence.

If that's the case, then we should question Wei Qing's character.

For the Liu and Lü families now, it doesn't really matter which side Wei Qing sides with.

In their view, Wei Qing would need at least twenty or thirty years to fully mature.

Twenty or thirty years later, the conflict between Liu and Lü was about to come to an end.

In other words, Wei Qing's appearance could not influence the course of events for the Liu and Lü families.

This makes both sides even less willing to let Wei Qing get involved in this struggle.

This is an affirmation of Wei Qing's abilities and also a protection for Wei Qing himself.

At least Wei Qing won't get involved in this struggle. Regardless of whether Liu or Lü comes to power, Wei Qing will inevitably be given important responsibilities once he matures.

On the contrary, if we intervene now and fail in the struggle, it will only cause trouble during the Great Purge.

I'm worried about accidents if I don't clean it, but I can't bear to wash it off.

Therefore, it would actually be a good thing for Wei Qing if he could maintain a neutral stance from beginning to end.

Because he no longer has the power to influence the situation on either side!

This is very important!

That's why it's a good thing not to join the army on the frontier.

Otherwise, it wouldn't be as convenient as it is now if you wanted to sit on the fence.