"Why are you just staring blankly here?"
After who knows how long, Mo Chou suddenly walked into the small stone pavilion and sat across from him.
Zhao Douan collected his thoughts and did not explain: "Why did you co out? How is the discussion going inside? Is there any good strategy?"
Mo Chou shook her head solemnly:
"Still no clue. I have no understanding of military affairs, so I don’t quite understand. But from Mr. Xue’s perspective, he has so battle plans in hand but is not satisfied with them. It seems that by tomorrow, the discussions there may not yield any result. Listening to it gives a headache, so I ca out to get so fresh air."
After a pause, Mo Chou seed to pep herself up and said:
"But with Mr. Xue’s talent, he surely can turn the tide and accomplish this feat."
Zhao Douan asked, sowhat amused: "Why? You all seem more confident than Xue Shence himself."
Mo Chou said matter-of-factly:
"Because he is the ’Military God,’ and here, who can we trust if not him?"
Zhao Douan smiled wryly, teasing:
"When you were mocking , I didn’t see you as one blindly trusting authority."
Mo Chou suddenly looked at him with a strange expression and asked:
"Don’t tell , you’re actually a hidden master of warfare, adept at leading troops."
Over the past year or more, she had witnessed Zhao Douan surprise people too many tis, to the point where she was ’afraid of shadows,’ skeptical of what Zhao Douan might not be able to do in this world.
No, when it cos to military strategy, I could only copy a version of "The Art of War by Sun Tzu" or "The Thirty-Six Stratagems," or perhaps make bold claims about "On Protracted War" and so forth... but I’m not even as good as Zhao Kuo, not as skilled as military enthusiasts behind keyboards... Zhao Douan shook his head bitterly, fully aware of his own abilities.
Reciting poetry, playing chess, or discussing Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism can be done through rhetoric alone, but leading troops in warfare isn’t sothing you can master just from morizing so military strategies. That’s why I voluntarily stepped aside this ti, not getting involved in the battle formations.
Zhao Douan shook his head and said: "I really can’t do that, so don’t expect any tactical plans from ."
Mo Chou looked at him suspiciously for a long ti, and only when she confird the sincerity in his tone did she breathe a sigh of relief:
"Since that’s the case, you and I should focus on our respective roles as supervisors. Mm, your cultivation is stronger, so you could assist Xue Shence in so tasks. As for reclaiming lost ground and how to approach it, leave these decisions to Xue Shence and the others."
Zhao Douan suddenly asked: "What if Su Dan’s fire really ignites?"
Mo Chou fell silent, then slowly stood up and started walking towards the residence:
"If so, I’ll take the responsibility, bear the criticism. I’m tired, need to rest."
This mont, the thin, frail back of this loyal female official beside the Empress actually had a hint of a ’female Pri Minister’s’ burden.
Yet, as Mo Chou walked into the room, she didn’t hear Zhao Douan, who was seated in the pavilion behind her, mutter:
"The little girl assus responsibility, but there’s no reason in this world for n to lose battles and let won take the bla. Xue Shence may be shaless, but I am not."
...
Watching Mo Chou leave, Zhao Douan brushed off his robe and stood up to walk toward another courtyard.
He rembered that the people he brought were temporarily settled here.
"Sir," Song Jinxi stood guard at the entrance of the courtyard, and upon seeing him co, imdiately stepped forward.
Zhao Douan responded with an "Mm," and asked with hands behind his back: "How is everyone settled?"
Song Jinxi replied:
"Yu Xiu and Jin Jian, the two priests, are in the room engaged in closed-door cultivation. Following your instructions, Ji Yue has arranged to share a room with Mo Zhaorong for her close protection.
As for the rest of us, the governnt office doesn’t have enough space, so we were wondering whether to go to the military camp or the inn?"
The governnt office is ultimately a place for official business, not having enough guest rooms to accommodate everyone.
"The military camp then. The two disciples from Heavenly Master Mansion are not under our command, but don’t think you group of experts can hide away and waste ti — report to Xue Shence to deal with the rebel army."
Zhao Douan waved his hand, and suddenly rembered sothing:
"By the way, what is the situation with Bai Sun?"
He referred to the female Shadow Guard they unexpectedly rescued before.
Song Jinxi gestured to the room:
"Resting temporarily in that room, her wounds have been treated, but she needs ti to recover. Mo Zhaorong instructed us to keep an eye on her and have found no anomalies."
Zhao Douan nodded thoughtfully, and after considering for a mont, said:
"Use your connections to contact the Gold Shadow Guard Scholar and Hong Ye from Linfeng Road to verify this ’Bai Sun’ situation."
The eunuсh tributor skilled in assassination paused for a mont:
"Sir doubts her... shall I have her detained for questioning?"
"No need, I just don’t quite trust this situation. Let’s not restrict her movents deliberately; treat her as a wounded and keep an eye out quietly." Zhao Douan instructed:
"During warti, we must be cautious, yet can’t dampen the spirits of our allies."
"Understood," Song Jinxi nodded, his assassination and stealth skills allowing for perfect surveillance without Bai Sun’s knowledge: "However, the Scholar and Hong Ye are currently not in Taicang but on the Eastern Front. Even using Flying Eagle couriers, it may take several days to receive their reply."
The person in charge isn’t here? Zhao Douan felt slightly surprised, nodding: "No problem, go ahead and contact them."
Suddenly, they heard so commotion from the side hall at the front of the governnt office, Zhao Douan gesturing for Song Jinxi to stay while he walked over.
Passing through the flower gate, in the shadows, he saw a man in his thirties or forties wearing a dull gray clerk’s robe, looking dejected and standing outside the courtyard, unable to leave.
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