When Chu Dingjiang and An Jiu appeared before Ling Ziyue, his exhaustion instantly vanished as he urgently asked, "What did you find?"
"There are twenty Explosive Crossbows hidden in the cellars of Xijin Prefecture," Chu Dingjiang said gravely. "I don't understand their structure. Though I can move freely within Xijin Prefecture, I can't dismantle them. General, you should petition the court to send someone capable of disarming them."
An Jiu understood—the Explosive Crossbows were somewhat like bombs, requiring an expert to dismantle. Tampering recklessly might trigger an explosion. Chu Dingjiang cared for the world, but he hadn't reached the level of self-sacrifice for it.
"The Weaponry Bureau... sigh!" Ling Ziyue exhaled heavily. "I appreciate your efforts!"
The Weaponry Bureau truly lacked such talent!
The Song Dynasty valued craftsmanship, but it was still considered an unorthodox path compared to Confucian scholarship. Those seeking official careers had to pass the imperial examinations, so many with innate talent in mechanics abandoned it.
After delivering his report, Chu Dingjiang prepared to leave but noticed An Jiu hesitating as if she wanted to speak. He paused to wait for her.
"I know someone who specializes in this," An Jiu said, thinking of Lou Xiaowu. "Lou—"
"Even if the General knows of this person, it would be difficult to request their help," Chu Dingjiang interrupted, addressing Ling Ziyue. "General, simply emphasize the severity of the situation to the court. They will find the right person."
Ling Ziyue nodded, though his gaze lingered on An Jiu for a moment.
Noticing this, Chu Dingjiang reminded him, "A true general must be ruthless, unrighteous, unmoved by profit, and unconcerned with fame. I hope you understand."
Being unmoved by profit and unconcerned with fame was easy to grasp, but Ling Ziyue was puzzled. "What do you mean by ruthless and unrighteous?"
"A general must be merciless. You are prepared to die on the battlefield—your subordinates should be even more so. Compassion is the Emperor's duty! As for unrighteousness, it doesn’t mean abandoning loyalty. Rather, in the heat of war, you must not let personal bonds dictate your actions." Chu Dingjiang fixed him with a stare. "Be ruthless, calm, indifferent to personal glory, and unswayed by sentiment. Can you do that, Ling Jiangjun?"
His words struck like a thunderclap. Ling Ziyue’s muddled mind suddenly cleared. The Emperor’s wariness wasn’t just due to the troops under his command—it was because his unwavering defense of the border had won him the people’s admiration and reverence. His reputation in the military was another concern. The founding Emperor himself had been a military leader who overthrew the previous dynasty—how could the current Emperor not fear history repeating itself?
A cold sweat broke over Ling Ziyue. All these years, he had believed he was doing well, secretly resenting the Emperor’s suspicion. Yet the truth was... his very excellence was the problem!
The Emperor wanted a sharp blade, not a celebrated war god!
Looking back, Ling Ziyue realized he had cared about how history would record his achievements. The Emperor’s distrust had only fueled his determination to win the people’s hearts. But now he saw—he had been wrong from the very beginning.
As if receiving a master’s admonition, Ling Ziyue bowed respectfully. "Thank you for your guidance, Senior."
Chu Dingjiang nodded and led An Jiu away.
"So, according to you, Ling Jiangjun is wildly popular, and the Emperor is the one suffering?" An Jiu remarked.
"Wildly popular?"
"It means when he appears, the cheers are so loud they could blow the roof off.""That's an interesting perspective," Chu Dingjiang remarked. "But it has nothing to do with his popularity. A useless man sitting at the pinnacle of power—how could he not feel aggrieved?"
Chu Dingjiang found the current Emperor's actions utterly contemptible. "With such a fine empire, instead of thinking about how to destroy the Liao and Western Xia, he's obsessed with cultivating immortality and seeking the Dao! Even the noble Daoist teachings have been twisted into this grotesque form! Capable generals can't be trusted, and instead, they're met with suspicion and guarded against!"
An Jiu agreed wholeheartedly, but she was puzzled. "Why destroy Western Xia?"
In her impression, wasn't that country a formidable enemy?
"Where there are nations, there will be conflicts. Any visible nation should be annexed—that's what an emperor ought to do," Chu Dingjiang said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
An Jiu thought to herself, Coming from the Warring States era sure makes a difference—such a strong sense of aggression!
"Why didn't you let me speak earlier?" An Jiu set aside the topic of aggression for now. "If Lou Xiaowu could help, she might save many lives."
Chu Dingjiang replied, "The relationship between the Emperor and Ling Jiangjun is delicate—one wrong move could snap the tension. If Ling Jiangjun could uncover the Crane Controlling Families and even pinpoint the person skilled in crafting weapons, what do you think the Emperor would suspect?"
"That's his problem if he chooses to reveal it." An Jiu didn't know Ling Ziyue well, but a hardened general who endured suspicion and buried all his passion at the frontier—whether out of benevolence or a desire for fame—would likely not mind deeper suspicion if it meant saving thousands of soldiers' lives.
Chu Dingjiang chuckled. "You're the one who's truly unkind, unrighteous, fame-averse, and profit-indifferent! You do things that harm others without benefiting yourself, yet you're so unapologetic about it."
An Jiu scoffed.
"Don't act defiant. This time, Ling Ziyue specifically requested Lou Xiaowu. Saving countless soldiers' lives is one thing, but sooner or later, Ling Ziyue will be crushed by the Emperor." Chu Dingjiang smiled at her. "Guess how many will die if Ling Ziyue falls and the Liao's armored cavalry tramples the Great Song's rivers and mountains?"
An Jiu's expression gradually turned serious. After careful consideration, she privately agreed with Chu Dingjiang, but she refused to back down verbally. "That's just because the entire Great Song is too weak! Can't they survive without one man? What does it have to do with me!"
"Hahaha!" Chu Dingjiang pulled her into his arms and ruffled her hair vigorously. "A Jiu, you're truly amusing."
The Great Song had no shortage of courageous men, and a second Ling Ziyue could surely be nurtured—but not in such a short time.
As they spoke, Chu Dingjiang sensed several people approaching and released An Jiu.
Before she could fix her disheveled hair, An Jiu turned to see Gao Dazhuang and his group arriving.
Gao Dazhuang eyed her and sneered in a mocking tone, "Oh, has she completely lost her mind?"
But An Jiu's attention was fixed on the two women accompanying them—Wei Yue, whom they had coincidentally rescued in Xijin Prefecture.
The two Wei Yue also noticed An Jiu. One of them, a veiled woman in blue, clasped her hands and said, "So our benefactor is a colleague! Thank you for saving us!"
Chu Dingjiang usually maintained a composed and taciturn demeanor around strangers, but when with An Jiu, she often turned mute, leaving him no choice but to speak for her. With a resigned sigh, he replied coolly, "It was nothing."
"Sir, these two wish to join the battle," Gao Dazhuang said.
Chu Dingjiang responded, "You're in charge here. No need to ask me."Gao Dazhuang didn't flatter him further. With a sigh, he said to the two women, "I'll introduce you to the general. The rest is up to you."
The two women clasped their fists and said, "Thank you, sir."
The day ruled by the Wei constellation brings little fortune; all endeavors prove unfavorable. Disasters abound while blessings are few—success itself turns to calamity. Wei Yue's missions mostly involve staking one's life. If the mission succeeds, death is likely; if it fails, death is certain. These two Wei Yue assassins had failed in their attempt to kill Yelü Jinglie, and the outcome was self-evident. They fled desperately, not for survival, but to preserve their lives long enough to kill a few more Liao People. (To be continued...)
PS: At the end of March, this shamelessly slow updater shamelessly asks for your pink votes.
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