UCTOOT CH100

The room suddenly became quiet. Shi Shu stood up and wanted to chase after Xie Wuchi, but thinking there was still someone here, he grabbed his pants leg and sat down: “My brother indeed has a bad stomach. We’ll eat by ourselves.”

Xiaoshu looked remorseful: “Is he angry? I said everything…”

Shi Shu: “Those didn’t sound like words you would say.”

“Mm, my mother made me memorize them. He said the conflict between Great Jing and Bei Min has begun. Without ten or twenty years, the war won’t stop, and the people will never have peace. The pro-war faction in Bei Min is gaining power and strength. They are all young and enterprising generation and won’t give up easily. With the current method of fighting between the two armies, victory in a short time is unlikely, and the consumption is long. But fortunately, the five great royal clans of Bei Min act independently. We can use the method of sowing discord to break them apart, winning over some kings to fight against the others…”

Shi Shu’s hand trembled unconsciously, and he looked up at him subconsciously: “Which kings? How do they act independently?”

“In the west there is King Tushan, in the north King Wushan, in the center King Mohan, in the south King Moyu, and in the east King Zhouchi. There are also many tribal groups loyal to the Min King together, but these great kings are always fighting for power and profit. The South King is barbaric and boastful; the Central King is scheming; the East King is friendlier to Great Jing, but his power is declining…”

Shi Shu stopped eating: “Continue.”

“After fleeing north to the Min area, my parents got to know many people from the tribes. Among them, there are many Jing volunteer armies in the rear. If they can be twisted into a rope, if your lord is willing, my father can help introduce and facilitate contact with them, achieving twice the result with half the effort!”

“There is actually such a thing?” Shi Shu shoveled large mouthfuls of rice into his mouth: “I’ll convey it to Xie Wuchi!”

The rice was soft and sticky. Shi Shu ate until a grain of rice stuck to the corner of his mouth. Just as he was about to run out, he suddenly turned back: “I remember now, you haven’t mentioned the condition yet.”

Xiaoshu’s face instantly turned pale, finding it difficult to speak. After gazing at him for a moment, she shed tears and said: “If there must be a condition, I don’t want to stay in Bei Min. Let me return to the Eastern Capital. That is my home.”

“…You want to go home?”

People surviving in the cracks, in an awkward situation, incompatible with Jing people, difficult to integrate with Min people. Unexpectedly, the government of Great Jing treated them harshly in every way, but they identified with the enlightenment of Great Jing.

Pitiful.

After saying goodbye, Shi Shu went to find Xie Wuchi. The lights at the door were bright. Shi Shu was too full. Thinking that Xie Wuchi hadn’t touched his chopsticks, he thought: Is Xie Wuchi angry?

It happened to be a midsummer night. Clusters of roses bloomed in the courtyard, a riot of colors, fragrant, with soft petals. Shi Shu: “There are roses in this courtyard? Xie Wuchi would be happy if I picked a few, right?”

Shi Shu hurriedly picked a few flowers and ran into the room.

The room was brightly lit. Xie Wuchi lowered his head at the desk, writing something. Hearing the movement, he looked up: “Full?”

Shi Shu took out the flowers, a smile rising on his fair face: “Xie Wuchi, for you. Roses. The first time I’ve given flowers to someone.”

Xie Wuchi looked at them: “Chinese roses.”

“…”

Xie Wuchi repeated: “These are Chinese roses.”

Shi Shu: “So these are Chinese roses?”

“They look very similar. It doesn’t matter if you mistake them.” Xie Wuchi took the flowers and put them aside, grabbing Shi Shu’s hand to look, confirming there were no wounds on his hand before returning to the desk.

Shi Shu sat down beside Xie Wuchi and talked about what happened at the dinner table just now: “Xiaoshu told me their plan. Want to hear it? Unifying Bei Min instead of a standoff between two armies.”

Xie Wuchi looked at those boring Chinese roses, seeming unsure how to arrange them: “Conditions?”

Shi Shu: “Hope you can accept them.”

Xie Wuchi said lightly: “Just this sentence? Dare not mention conditions; the process must not be easy. Besides, connections, getting to know tribal chiefs, leaders friendlier to Great Jing, people with interest collusions, how should it be implemented specifically?”

Shi Shu scratched his head: “How did you guess the group of people he mentioned?”

Xie Wuchi: “Disintegrating the opponent from within the Min army is an idea everyone can think of. Channels are what’s valuable. They must have come to provide utility and information in this regard.”

“…” Shi Shu praised sincerely: “Xie Wuchi, your reading wasn’t in vain.”

Xie Wuchi put the flower in his diary, placing a late-night snack aside, and said: “Moreover, the key to this plan lies in—going to the Min area, deep into enemy territory, contacting those tribal chiefs and royal leaders. Who do they need to hold this position?”

The bowl was warm. Holding the bowl, Shi Shu suddenly felt cold in his hands, a sense of alertness. Looking up, Xie Wuchi was looking at him: “Did you ask her?”

Deep in the night, Shi Shu sat in the chair, his forehead nodding down from time to time. His fair face suddenly dropped, then lifted up again, much like dozing off during reading class.

All was silent, sleepiness struck. In the next room, Xie Wuchi took over the interrogation.

Xiaoshu tried every way to persuade him, persuading him back. His attitude was much colder than Shi Shu’s. With one hand on the back of the chair, his posture revealed a carelessness of being able to withdraw at any time. Sure enough, Xiaoshu’s attitude became more respectful and helpless.

Shi Shu yawned, wiped his damp tears, and heard their conversation through the wall.

Xiaoshu’s voice was excited: “I told Brother Xiao Shu everything just now. My parents fled to Bei Min more than two years ago, farming and going to the market every day, making friends, and even serving as a Chinese teacher for the young master of the tribal royal family. Through many contacts, he discovered that the tribes had different intentions. He has a good relationship with the chiefs. marrying me into King Zhouchi’s family can help contact and instigate internal rebellion, coordinating with your lord from inside and outside. There is a very high chance of success!”

Xie Wuchi looked at him with cold eyes: “Do you know what you are saying?”

“I know!” Xiaoshu said, “My mother said that attacking Yinzhou this time resulted in at least hundreds of thousands of casualties among officers and soldiers, and the loss of silver is feared to be tens of millions of taels! This is the revenue of several years! And the number of affected people is uncountable… If we can open the way for opponents within the Min area, seizing power will not cost a single soldier! Even the cost is far less than fighting a hard battle face to face… The so-called most skillful way!”

Superior military strategy attacks the enemy’s plans. Sacrifices in the confrontation between two armies in war are inevitable, while clever strategies often work wonders unexpectedly, achieving maximum results with minimum effort.

Violence and bloodshed, paved with death. Instigating internal rebellion, disintegrating the city defense built by the opponent, and adopting wise methods to reduce casualties to win, this is the most cost-effective way.

Xie Wuchi looked at the smoke-shrouded censer and said: “Go on.”

“For example, Min occupies eight prefectures and nineteen provinces. Among them, three provinces were once the old land of Great Jing. Volunteer armies gathered there. Many tribes were at odds with the Min King. They only wanted to live by water and grass and didn’t want to fight… King Zhouchi was friendlier to Jing people but had to respond to the Min King’s order to send troops!…” She looked anxious, “My parents have ways to contact these people!”

Xie Wuchi: “Why should I trust you?”

Xiaoshu said: “You can send someone to go with me to the Min area to check the truth. It only requires—”

Xiaoshu spoke hurriedly but shut her mouth immediately, seemingly hesitating to speak, staring at him with gathered courage.

Xie Wuchi: “Require what?”

Cold sweat broke out on Xiaoshu’s forehead. She hemmed and hawed, saying word by word with extreme difficulty: “If your lord really intends to link up with personnel within the Min area, please also send an important envoy to express sincerity to them—only then can my father persuade them.”

Xie Wuchi’s pupils were almost transparent, extremely calm and indifferent: “Who do you want?”

“—Someone important to your lord.”

In the chair next to the table on the other side of the wall, Shi Shu woke up from his doze, his hands and feet feeling stiff and upright. He stood up abruptly, drank a glass of water, and paced back and forth in the room a few times.

The candle flickered. Through the thin wooden wall, Xiaoshu’s uneasy voice came—

“The envoy represents the attitude of the country. Instigating rebellion is a crime punishable by execution of nine generations. The people behind the Min area are waiting anxiously—my mother said, we need your lord’s own younger brother, Shi Shu, to go with us to Bei Min. The matter of instigating rebellion will be one hundred percent certain.”

Clang! The room door was slammed shut.

Shi Shu walked into the courtyard, turned into the room, stuck a bamboo straw into the shaved ice on the saucer, and took two sips. The ice made his back molars ache.

Wide robes entered from the door. Shi Shu went up to greet him, handing the straw to Xie Wuchi: “Drink? Very icy.”

Xie Wuchi: “Not drinking.”

His face didn’t look good as he walked in: “Did you hear everything she said?”

Shi Shu looked a bit dazed, seemingly just recovered from the accident, and said: “Heard it. Zhang Qian’s mission to the Western Regions promoted the progress of human civilization. Envoys are not killed in war between two armies. In war, envoys are responsible for transmitting intelligence. I didn’t quite expect either that she would ask me to make this trip.”

Xie Wuchi: “Take off your clothes.”

Shi Shu: “What does it have to do with clothes?”

“The wound on your back needs medication.”

Shi Shu felt as if waking from a dream. Hearing this sentence, he undid his clothes in a few strokes and lay down on the bed: “She wants me to go to Bei Min as an envoy. First, to check if what she said is true. Second, to contact the leaders of those tribes and volunteer armies? But I heard that Bei Min’s scimitars and iron cavalry are unmatched, cutting heads like cutting vegetables. Once caught, there will be no bones left. But if what she said is true…”

Xie Wuchi brought the ointment and cloth, wiping the wound on his back first: “Don’t think about this matter. You can’t go.”

“…”

Shi Shu turned to look at him. Xie Wuchi’s hand pressed on Shi Shu’s lumbar dimples, his expression quite grave, seemingly contemplating under his brows.

“I understand your consideration. That is the Min area, deep inside the enemy. A slight carelessness on the way will lead to death…” But a sprout germinated in Shi Shu’s heart, another thought active, “If Yuan Guan is telling the truth, is instigating rebellion from within the Min area the way to win with the least casualties and lowest cost?”

“Winning without bloodshed, relying on wisdom and strategy rather than battlefield violence, is indeed the most ingenious way.”

Shi Shu’s Adam’s apple rolled, saying: “The situation in Yinzhou… Xie Wuchi, you know… if we can instigate the opposite side, will it reduce casualties…”

“No need to say more.”

Xie Wuchi stroked his back lightly, terminating this topic, saying almost dictatorially: “Don’t go out recently. Stay in the room and recuperate well. When the Min army withdraws, I will have someone send Xiaoshu back safely.”

Shi Shu didn’t expect his denial to be so crisp. There was silence in the air for a moment. Then he said: “Xie Wuchi, I’m saying if, if the other side didn’t name me, would you have sent someone?”

“Mm, I don’t want to lie to you. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

“Why can’t it be me?”

Cool ointment was rubbed on his back. Xie Wuchi didn’t speak. After a moment, he said somewhat wearily: “Why can’t it be you? Because you are special. Shi Shu, do you still not understand to this day? I can use my power to easily make others die for you, get hurt for you, serve you, wait on you, protect your safety, and let you enjoy glory, wealth, and a comfortable life. Let you trample on all living beings and be high above. This is my proudest ability, my partiality towards you, yet you have always been indifferent.”

“…” Shi Shu expected Xie Wuchi would object, but was stunned upon hearing this sentence, looking at the pillow speechlessly.

“You can go, not afraid of danger, but I am afraid. I saw all the tragic states in Yinzhou City, and witnessed the slaughter with my own eyes. I absolutely do not lack the ability to empathize. I can shake this dynasty and pay everything for it, but I have only one wish—hope you can stay by my side safely.”

“…” Shi Shu couldn’t speak. The idea of being an envoy was denied by Xie Wuchi, and insisting further was useless. After all, it was Xie Wuchi who ultimately decided to cooperate.

The wound on the back was coated with medicine. Shi Shu pulled down his clothes.

Shi Shu tried for the last time: “This matter is very significant. Otherwise, think about it again, think of other ways?”

“No need to consider anymore. You can’t go.” Xie Wuchi issued an ultimatum, “Even more so, you can’t go secretly. This matter ends here.”

In the past few days, military intelligence from Ping Yichun and Miao Yuanliang came one after another. The grain storage base Kenzhuang secretly standing on the plain was burned down. In addition, all siege materials were burned. Not to mention destroying the grain routes, more than a dozen ships of sold grain were retrieved, and the rest were all burned by a fire.

This army of Bei Min had been pressing on the border for nearly three months. Now that grain and fodder were suddenly cut off, they fell into chaos, while support for Yinzhou increased, and the war situation was about to turn.

When Shi Shu went out, someone was locking the door with a chain, smiling: “Second Young Master, this lowly one is also performing official duties. Please don’t go out these few days, Second Young Master~”

“…Good, good good!”

Shi Shu nodded at the chain and kicked it hard. Clang! The door didn’t move at all, pulling the wound on his back painfully.

Shi Shu turned around and sat down in the pavilion in the courtyard.

Xie Wuchi, you’re good.

Xiaoshu had also been sent away to avoid the two colluding. Shi Shu stayed in the courtyard, a feeling difficult to describe, only feeling his internal organs were about to explode.

He took a nap in the pavilion, resting his head on the stone table. Not sure if he bumped it, his wisdom tooth was inflamed and throbbing with pain, only feeling a mouthful of blood taste.

Author’s Note:

Seeing the comments section, I think it’s necessary to mention that the main line of this book is the different actions of Xie Wuchi and Shi Shu when they reach the pinnacle of power, but the intention is not about power. There is a saying “Fate verifies who you are through choices time and time again.” If Xie Wuchi cleared this game perfectly in the end, then Shi Shu is the only one who got the side story achievement. I don’t want to spoil what exactly it is for now; I personally like this side story achievement very much.

Regarding everyone’s speculation about the plot, I can say that I don’t want to write that aliens are all ugly and evil here, beating up aliens to farm military merit, while Great Jing naturally represents justice. Xie Wuchi and Shi Shu are not locals; they won’t have any patriotic feelings, only views on human fairness and justice. So the common people of Min here are also good people, and there are many bad people among the officials of Great Jing. The victims are the majority.

Regarding Shi Shu’s choice, he will not move closer to power. I understand that everyone watching ancient BL should be more accustomed to liking people with great talent and bold vision, like Xie Wuchi. He is someone who will definitely exist and play an important role in the book. And Shi Shu is trying to buffer some of his sharp brilliance from hurting the people. Shi Shu can be said to be one person, but can also be said to be many nameless people. I don’t want the group of common people to be invisible, so I will mention them repeatedly. Because my personal view of history is the people’s view of history, with a part of the hero’s view of history. The people’s view of history refers to history being created by the people (in the book, it’s the living and dead common people, soldiers, slaves; in reality, it’s every you and me). The hero’s view of history refers to history being created by great heroes (for example, in the book, it’s Xie Wuchi).

Because occasionally I see people who seem not to understand what Shi Shu is doing, thinking he is hitting a ghost wall, I still want to talk about this matter.

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