Chapter 29: Final Arrangements

"Is the workshop near Mount Tai ready?" Xiao Zhi asked again to confirm.

"All materials are fully stocked; they will last for at least two years."

Xiao Zhi nodded. "That is more than enough. We are setting out with only one word in mind: seize! If we need anything else, we will sustain our campaign through the spoils of war."

By sustaining the campaign through war, the number of logistics personnel could be appropriately reduced.

The aristocratic families and the civil and military officials of the imperial court all wanted to profit from the disaster relief funds. Fearing that Xiao Zhi would obstruct their schemes, they forced the Emperor to accept their relief plans and personnel arrangements.

If Xiao Zhi did not go out and make these people feel uneasy, he would not be satisfied.

A single flood, and they were demanding ten to twenty million taels of silver for relief. Was this disaster relief? No, this was just feasting on silver.

Xiao Zhi spent a full two hours discussing matters with Mu Weihu and several battalion commanders. Only when there were no more issues did he say, "Then it is settled. We depart tomorrow at the hour of the rabbit, with great fanfare."

As Mu Weihu was about to leave, Xiao Zhi stopped him and produced a wooden box. Inside were the sequels to his comics and a letter.

"Tomorrow morning, deliver this to the residence of Princess Changping."

Mu Weihu glanced at Xiao Zhi, his mouth twisting as he struggled to suppress a laugh. Xiao Zhi, who usually maintained excellent composure, felt his face flush.

The hour was late. Under the service of the two girls, Jiang and Zhu, Xiao Zhi took a hot bath. Once he left the capital, such a luxury would become a rarity for days on end.

Deep into the night, just as Xiao Zhi was drifting into a hazy sleep, two figures like water snakes slipped into his bed. This time, Xiao Zhi did not refuse.

In this era, it was considered normal for a man to have many wives and concubines; it was even seen as ordinary for a wife to arrange concubines for her husband. Having transmigrated for so long, Xiao Zhi felt that not acting like a "scumbag" was contrary to human nature.

He had to admit, he had underestimated Jiang and Zhu. Those who had undergone professional training were different; their techniques... tsk, tsk...

In his previous life, as a professional con artist, Xiao Zhi had seen every kind of situation. Yet, he had not expected to be bested by two novices this time.

At the residence of the Minister of War, Song Qi sat upright with his eyes closed, his knuckles tapping rhythmically against the armrest. Seated in the guest chair beside him was Shi Weigong.

Shi Weigong was far more restless than Song Qi, standing up to pace back and forth every few moments, his brows furrowed tightly.

"Lord Song, why has there been no news? Has something gone wrong?"

Song Qi opened his eyes a crack and said calmly, "Compose yourself. Nothing can go wrong."

Shi Weigong snorted, sitting back down impatiently. "My eyelid keeps twitching; I have a feeling something is about to happen. This feeling is exactly like the day Bai Yan's estate was confiscated."

"Oh?" Song Qi laughed. "Perhaps this fellow is planning a counter-strike. You had better ensure your subordinates in the Ministry of Revenue are careful. Xiao Zhi’s blade is very sharp!"

"At a time like this, when we are all on the same boat, you are still joking," Shi Weigong sighed.

If there was one person in the imperial court who wanted Xiao Zhi dead more than anyone, it was Shi Weigong. Because of the Bai Yan affair, they were already at odds, and their conflict was out in the open.

As Shi Weigong stood up once more, Song Qi’s steward hurried in, carrying a carrier pigeon. Song Qi remained with his eyes closed as Shi Weigong stepped forward to retrieve the message.

Xiao Zhi’s deployment, his route, and even where he would rest were all clearly written down. At the bottom of the slip were several symbols that Shi Weigong could not decipher. Each faction had its own secret codes for such messages; only their own people could understand what specific words or symbols meant.

"What does this mean?" Shi Weigong handed the slip to Song Qi.

Song Qi’s squinted eyes finally opened, then suddenly widened. He felt as if he had made a losing deal. Cultivating two "slender horses" was not just a matter of money; it required a great deal of time and training from a young age. Previously, because Xiao Zhi had not touched Jiang and Zhu, Song Qi had assumed he was impotent or uninterested in women. He had not expected that on the very first night before leaving the capital, Xiao Zhi would devour his two prized assets.

Although these girls were merely toys to them, their value was entirely different once they had been "used."

"Why? Is there a problem?" Seeing Song Qi’s expression, Shi Weigong thought something major had happened.

Song Qi shook his head. "It does not affect the big picture. Proceed according to the plan."

"Tang Sanjian."

"I am here."

A figure in white appeared like a ghost.

Song Qi gestured for Tang Sanjian to look at Xiao Zhi’s route. "Where would be the most suitable place to strike?"

"Ten-Mile Pavilion. There is a stretch of forest there."

Song Qi nodded. "Once the deed is done, bring those two back."

Tang Sanjian bowed in acknowledgment, then hesitated. "If I cannot return, or if I fail..."

"If Xiao Zhi is not dead, they still have their uses."

The white-clad figure drifted away.

Song Qi said to Shi Weigong, "Lord Shi, the rest is up to you."

Shi Weigong replied, "We have an agreement, and I shall keep my word. The memorial to the Emperor has already been submitted today; he might be reading it right now."

Shi Weigong was exactly right. At that moment, Qin Yong was indeed reading the memorial—and not only was he reading it, but he was also tearing it to shreds.

"Is this Great Chu his, Shi Weigong's? He dares to dictate whom I appoint?"

Hu Bao stood quietly to the side, eyes fixed on his nose, looking as if he were asleep.

"A-Bao, when does Xiao Zhi set out?" At this moment, Qin Yong wished Xiao Zhi would storm into Shi Weigong’s presence and run him through with a halberd.

Eunuch Hu hurriedly said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, tomorrow morning."

"Is there any trouble at the border?"

"Everything has been arranged with people you trust, Your Majesty. There will be no slips, and they will keep sending news of Xiao Zhi’s movements at the border to the court."

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."

A young eunuch ran in, panicked, holding a carrier pigeon. There was a letter tube on the pigeon's leg, but unlike the others, it was gold.

"An urgent report from the border." Hu Bao was startled, glancing involuntarily at the pitch-black sky outside. In the past, this signaled an invasion by the Northern Barbarians.

But at this time of year...

The Northern Barbarians usually raided during autumn and winter, when the herdsmen had stored enough fodder to survive the winter and the various tribes gathered to plunder the southern lands. To put it bluntly, in the eyes of the Northern Barbarians, Great Chu was nothing more than a child—and someone else's child at that.

It was currently early summer, the season when the pastures were at their most lush; the Northern Barbarians would never easily mobilize their troops now.

"Present it." Qin Yong knew that if this pigeon appeared, it must be a major event.

Hu Bao immediately took the note from the tube and respectfully handed it to Qin Yong.

Qin Yong unfolded the slip, let out a scoff, and then suddenly threw his head back and laughed loudly.

Hu Bao was left bewildered. Ever since Xiao Zhi had stabbed Huai Zhong to death in the court, the officials had called him a madman. But as someone who stayed by the Emperor's side, he knew that it was not Xiao Zhi whose emotions were unstable, but the Emperor.

Qin Yong was becoming increasingly erratic.

"Your Majesty..." Hu Bao wanted to advise him but did not know where to begin.

Qin Yong tossed the note to Hu Bao. "Great joy, great joy indeed, A-Bao! My sharp blade has already struck the Northern Barbarians. I truly wonder what the King of the Northern Barbarians is thinking right now."

"Xiao Zhi’s venomous scheme—who in this world could possibly defend against it?"

"Hahaha..."