Sun Lang's eyes flashed. "It's finally here."
The incident in Mingzhou, the dispute between Qi Guanyan and Tensei Province, everything had to come to a conclusion.
Then … it was time to head south.
He closed his eyes and pondered for a moment. Then, he opened his eyes with a stern expression. "It's time to decide the outcome. I don't know what kind of trap the Wang family has in store for us … Let's not screw up."
Hu Shouxin said concisely, "The various troops in Mingzhou should've contacted each other in private. They mobilized overnight last night with Mingzhou as the center. Almost all the local generals responded to the call and pressed toward Mingzhou. The civil officials also joined in, as well as the noble families in Mingzhou …"
He snorted. "Lu Shouyan is probably in a terrible fix right now. The other party obviously planned this beforehand. When the city gates opened this morning, the messengers waiting outside delivered the letters in their hands to the Provincial Governor's Office like snowflakes. From the civil officials and generals to the family heads, all of them are questioning Qi Guanyan …"
Sun Lang's expression changed slightly. He smiled and said, "Interesting. All the people in Mingzhou are mobilizing at the same time. The civil and military officials are working together, and the noble families are asking questions. With such unity, I'm afraid that even if Lu Shouyan and Qi Guanyan worked together, they wouldn't be able to achieve such an effect … And the Wang family has the ability to link them all together?"
Stick Hu said in a low voice, "It's blackmail."
Sun Lang nodded. "Qi Guanyan told me about the Wang family's account books … This Mingzhou General is smooth and slick. As the saying goes, General Qi enjoys the people. Such a down-to-earth military commander will definitely make a fortune with everyone. The Wang family has always been in charge of the internal and external affairs of the General's Office. I'm afraid that all the transactions have been recorded in her little notebook. It seems that the entire Mingzhou is not clean."
Hu Shouxin's expression became a little unpleasant. He said coldly, "Snakes and rats alike."
Sun Lang said with a smile, "Why are you scolding people? Everyone is a corrupt official. That's not bad."
Big Stick Hu said coldly, "You're determined to get Ming Province, and you've long regarded it as your territory. The officials in charge of managing Ming Province are all greedy rats. Are you happy?"
Sun Lang smiled and said, "It's okay to be greedy. As long as you know what you're doing and you can get things done, it doesn't matter. After all, we're all in this business, so we have to have some personal pursuits … As the saying goes, don't think about getting rich when you're an official. Just treat it as a joke. Who doesn't have relatives in business?"
He looked at Hu Shouxin's stern face and shook his head with a smile. He reached out and patted Hu Shouxin's shoulder. "Old Hu, don't be too idealistic. I also like officials who are honest but highly capable and wholeheartedly dedicated to the public good. I also wish that all my subordinates were like that. But the problem is that reality is not a game. There are very few people like that. Reality is very cruel. Moreover, everyone has a misconception that whether an official is honest or not has nothing to do with one's ability …"
"The cruel truth is that most honest officials don't have high ability and level. They also have a very fatal weakness."
Sun Lang said lightly, "This weakness is that they are not greedy. They are honest officials. They don't take money, so they are fearless. That's why they are independent of the world. That's why they are right."
"Because of this logic, they have a very high sense of moral superiority. They feel that the world is dirty and they are the only ones who are clean. This sense of superiority often makes them headstrong and self-opinionated. They don't listen to others and don't understand human feelings. As a county magistrate, they treat human lives like grass. As a prime minister, they harm the country and the people … Even if such an official is honest and upright, I don't want him!"
Hu Shouxin was speechless. In fact, there were very few times when he could argue with Sun Lang. After all, this guy had more fallacious arguments than anyone else. He gritted his teeth and said, "According to what you said, officials must be greedy?
Can they be greedy just because they are capable?
Is it right to be greedy? "
"Of course it's wrong."
Sun Lang said with a smile, "But the so-called feudal society, the so-called backwardness and ignorance, and the so-called naivety and childishness, are the result of placing the officials' corruption and honesty on their personal moral standards and cultivation. As a result, a group of real villains, hypocrites, and the Donglin Gang are created. As a result, both honest and corrupt officials have become the parasites of a decaying country … It's really laughable.
"Therefore, I have never believed in the firmness of people's hearts, let alone the so-called moral standards. If we want the country to be clean and the society to be fair, we have to find another way."
Hu Shouxin asked, "What do you mean by another way?"
Sun Lang said with a smile, "It's too complicated to explain. Now that we have to maintain stability, we can only use carrots and carrots to make them restrain themselves … But it's still too early to talk about that."
He raised his right hand and slowly clenched it. He said casually, "Now that Mingzhou is in chaos and public opinion is surging, the civil and military officials have joined forces with the aristocratic families to threaten Mingzhou. According to the laws of the Empire, this can already be classified as a rebellion.
The Wang family thinks that they can threaten us by gathering a group of people, but she doesn't know that she is handing the handle to me. "
As Sun Lang said that, he turned around and revealed a gentle smile. "If a group of people doesn't die, how can the remaining survivors know that they have a new boss?
If a group of people doesn't die, how can I make room for the people below to be promoted and remembered my good deeds? "
Hearing that, Hu Shouxin couldn't help but shudder. "No wonder you allowed them to work together and didn't take the initiative to attack. Apart from guarding against the Wang family's scheme, you also have such a plan …"
Sun Lang laughed. "Apart from that, we have to capture the Wang family alive, so we can't take any risks. Apart from subduing Qi Guanyan, I also have to get the account books that record the dirty transactions in Mingzhou in the Wang family's hands. Those are good stuff."
When the two of them walked out of the small garden, Miss Zhao was already jogging toward them. "Sun Lang, Lord Lu sent a message saying that he has issued an urgent order to close the four gates, strengthen the security, and control the news. He said that he will rush over immediately after dealing with the matter!"
Sun Lang said with a smile, "At this moment, Lord Lu must be feeling aggrieved and depressed. But it doesn't matter. If you follow me, there will be plenty of exciting days like this in the future, haha."
Hu Shouxin rolled his eyes and said, "Don't make sarcastic remarks at a time like this. Who do you think caused his current predicament?"
Sun Lang said in surprise, "Isn't it the aggressive Tensei Province?"
… That did seem to make sense.
Hu Shouxin was speechless. He changed the topic and asked, "What do we do now?"
Sun Lang stretched. "Of course we're going to have breakfast.
We've been waiting at ease for so long. We can't afford to be impatient in the end.
The other party manipulates public opinion and gathers manpower. They are a righteous army. When they reach the battlefield and set up the stage, they will send us a letter of challenge. Before that … … there's no rush. "
Hu Shouxin asked, "What if the other party gathers a small group of elite troops and attacks the Marquis of Jingan fu?"
Sun Lang rejected, "The chances are too small. After all, the Grand General is Qi Guanyan and not Wang shi. The reason why Wang shi can do such a big thing is firstly because of her identity as the wife of the general. Secondly, it's because of Qi Guanyan's remaining influence. Thirdly, it's because of the account book in her hands. But she can only do this much. If she wants to mobilize the troops to launch an attack, it's really impossible."
"After all, those generals aren't idiots. It's fine if they just lead the troops to show off their muscles. In any case, there's a reason for it. How would they dare to actually start a war?"
He said with a smile, "Moreover, Qi Guanyan is on our side. Even if he's still throwing a tantrum, if someone really comes to attack the Marquis of Jingan fu, I don't believe that he can sit by and watch us kill his subordinates like chopping vegetables."
Only then did Hu Shouxin nod, "You've already considered everything thoroughly."
Sun Lang shook his head and sighed, "The so-called good at war has no illustrious achievements. It's just finding and filling in the gaps, sealing off all the variables, then using the strong to bully the weak, fighting a boring victory with a predetermined outcome. Then people will think that you've never used your intelligence, that you don't live up to your reputation, that you only know how to use brute force … … this is the sorrow of an unparalleled general like me."
Hu Shouxin laughed, "Really shameless."
Sun Lang ignored him and turned to ask Young Lady Zhao, "Have you eaten?"
"I ate a bowl of porridge when I woke up this morning." Young Lady Zhao said with a smile, "But I still want to eat a bit more with you."
Sun Lang smiled slightly and said, "Then let's go."
Hu Shouxin asked from behind, "You're not going to tell Qi Guanyan?"
Sun Lang turned his head and pursed his lips, saying, "Are you stupid?
Wang shi hasn't finished setting up the stage yet. What are you going to tell Qi Guanyan for?
I'm afraid he has other plans in mind. If you tell him early, it'll only create more variables and give him time to prepare.
It won't be too late to tell him after you receive the Wang shi's letter of challenge. Wouldn't it be nice to give him a sudden surprise? "
Hu Shouxin snorted, "You're so scheming."
Sun Lang laughed heartily, "The so-called wisdom of strategizing is not a flash of inspiration to turn the tables in a desperate situation. It's in these small precautions."
"Keep bragging. Even a wise man's thousand considerations are bound to make a mistake."
Sun Lang did not turn his head this time. He just raised his right hand and said, "This brute force is used to deal with the occasional mistake. This is what you call steady. What do you think?"
Old Hu stopped where he was and shook his head. Sun Lang could happily eat pastries and hot porridge in the company of beauties, but he did not have the leisure and elegance to do so. Just like Lu Shouyan was now under pressure to deal with all the troublesome things that could happen, he also had a lot of things to do.
A so-called unparalleled general not only had to be able to size up the situation and be cautious in taking precautions, but also had to have a group of reliable subordinates to help him complete some unremarkable routine tasks.
Speaking of which …
He walked in another direction, still thinking about what Sun Lang had just said.
"What method should be used to solve the problem of corruption and ensure the high efficiency of the government's operations and the integrity of the court?
It shouldn't be a simple severe punishment … "
He thought about it again and again, but could not figure it out. He shook his head and said with a smile, "I'm kind of looking forward to it … No matter what, it's good that you have a way."
On the other side, Sun Lang was leisurely eating his rebellious porridge.
After he finished the porridge in his bowl, he passed it forward and said, "Another bowl."
"Oh."
Zhang Yinluo on the opposite side took it skillfully and gave him another bowl of porridge. She handed it over and said, "Drink slowly, be careful of the heat … Forget it, pretend I didn't say anything."
After all, this guy was the kind of monster who "shot himself in the head and then hit the bullet with his saliva" as his daily game. If he wanted, he could even directly drink a mouthful of boiling water and use his icy cold zhenqi to freeze it into ice cubes and spit it out from his mouth.
Sun Lang sensed her gaze and gave her a thumbs up. "The taste of magma is a bit like flower crab porridge."
Zhang Yinluo complained loudly, "You even drank that kind of thing before!"
Sun Lang rolled his eyes and said, "How is that possible? I'm not that stupid."
Zhao Feihuang sat next to Sun Lang and snorted. "How stupid, you even believe this."
Yinluo glared at her. "It's none of your business."
The two girls began their daily bickering again, and Sun Lang drank his porridge on the side.
After arguing for a while, Yinluo seemed to think of something and looked around. "Huh, why isn't President Hu's family here today?
Also, Mr. Joseph and that woman … "
Zhao Feihuang asked curiously, "Mr. Joseph?
Who's that? "
Zhang Yinluo subconsciously blurted out a string of Slalor's name. Looking at Miss Zhao's dumbfounded expression, Zhang Yinluo finally reacted. She laughed involuntarily and said, "I forgot, it's Sir Lone Walker. His empire's name is Long Wande. I'm still used to calling him Sir Joseph. After all, he is a very famous warrior in the Lifire Kingdom … Speaking of which, did you come up with the name Long Wande?"
Sun Lang chewed a mouthful of spicy radish and said vaguely, "Yes."
"I didn't know." Zhang Yinluo was surprised. "You actually came up with such a normal name."
Sun Lang smiled proudly, concealing his achievements and fame.
"That's why it's usually very lively at this time. Why is it that today …" Yinluo muttered a few words, and her expression suddenly changed. "Could it be that …"
She looked at Sun Lang and said seriously, "The Wang Consortium has made their move?"
Zhao Feihuang and Sun Lang looked at each other and said, "Your cow does have the intuition of a domestic animal."
Zhang Yinluo complained, "What do you mean by the intuition of a domestic animal?!"
"Who knows."
Zhao Feihuang said nonchalantly, "It's probably because a sow feels that it's about to be slaughtered for meat."
"… Do you want to fight?!"
"Alright, stop arguing."
Sun Lang said, "Yinluo, you guessed right. We received news this morning that there's chaos in Mingzhou. The Wang Consortium is about to bring their army to the city. Old Hu and the others are all making their final preparations."
Zhang Yinluo's expression changed, and she said faintly, "It's begun …"
Sun Lang comforted her, "Don't worry, it won't affect this place. It'll be over soon."
"I know. You'll protect us well and not let us get hurt."
Zhang Yinluo smiled and sighed. "I just think … General Qi will probably be very sad that things have come to this."
Sun Lang was slightly startled, and then said, "Qi Guanyan obviously has old feelings for his wife. I'll protect the Wang Consortium's life and give him a chance to end everything and face the past."
Yinluo forced a smile. For some reason, she was a little uncertain. She seemed to vaguely realize that things were not that simple. She said softly, "I hope so … I hope that lovers don't have to be sad to part …"