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墨書 Inktalez
After Chuchu followed Luzi back to the Qin State, she had always dressed as a man. Regardless of the reason, it was understandable to adopt a protective guise. Luzi did not question this; it was simply a matter of personal preference. Even when they walked out of the courtyard together, Luzi did not pay much attention to her carrying a Crossbow. As they entered the front hall one after the other, they discovered that the Palace Guard had already been waiting there.
Upon seeing Chuchu emerge, the guards hurriedly greeted Luzi and said, “Lu Master! The king requests your presence.”
Huh? This general's training isn't over yet; when did I become an Artificer!? Where is that brat Wang Jian!? Just as Lu Zigang was about to inquire, he saw Chuchu bowing and responding, “Yes! Please wait a moment, esteemed guards.” Turning to Luzi, she said, “General! Scoundrel Lu Chu will be leaving now and will no longer be by your side to serve you. Please take care of yourself.”
Realization dawned on Luzi, and his heart felt as if it had fallen into an endless abyss. With all his brothers leaving his side, he felt a sense of loss. After returning from the Chu State, everyone went their separate ways, but at least he had Chuchu, who had always been by his side. At that moment, he truly understood what it meant to be utterly alone, and his chest felt heavy with emotion.
Is she really leaving?
Luzi reached out and took Chuchu's small hand, gently placing it against his face. Despite having a thousand words to say, he found himself unable to utter a single one.
Seeing the two men lost in their emotions, several palace guards exchanged glances. Oh!? No wonder the distinguished General Lu has never married; it seems he prefers men! Thinking this, they instinctively took a couple of steps back, fearing they might catch the eye of this Lu Daren.
They were still waiting!
Chuchu bowed three times to Luzi, then stood up and committed his image to memory before running out of the gate without looking back.
Watching her retreating figure, a dazed Luzi stood in the front hall until evening when Li Xin arrived carrying two jars of imperial wine.
Despite being part of the Palace Guard, Li Xin knew little about what happened at different gates due to their separate duties. His identity as an elite guard meant he was unaware that Chuchu had been appointed as an Artificer. He was not alone; with one hand carrying the wine jars and the other pulling someone along, he burst into the courtyard.
“General! Look who I’ve brought for you!”
Hearing the call, Luzi jumped out of his memories. After a moment's thought, he recalled the drinking party that evening and hurried out to see who it was, only to find the smiling figure of Shisan. After a long separation, they exchanged pleasantries. He ordered someone to prepare food and drinks, and the three brothers gathered together for a delightful time.
It was quite a coincidence that Lu Zigang had just returned to Capital Xianyang when Shisan arrived shortly after. He mentioned that he needed to escort a Master Engineer to the rear, and only Sun Thirteen could handle such a task. When reporting to the palace, they happened to run into Li Xin, who was about to finish his shift.
In Li Xin's words, this was fate! It allowed the brothers to meet again amidst their busy lives! The world is vast, and once some people part ways, it may be difficult to see each other again in this lifetime. Just as he was animatedly speaking, Shisan interrupted him with a glance. Before he could figure out what was happening, he looked up and saw Luzi looking lost.
Shisan seemed to know something. Seeing that Li Xin had stopped talking, he quickly changed the subject: "General! I heard we are going to take Shangdang County. Is that true?"
Luzi nodded. Most of the Hequ Horses used by the Qin Army came from the Sun family. Whenever there were major movements, they would allocate a batch of multi-purpose warhorses from Hequ to supply the military camp. Even if they initially didn't know that the country was preparing for war, over time they could naturally sense something was amiss.
What use is taking those Earthen Cities? It's merely laying the groundwork for a decisive battle. Anyone with a bit of strategic insight could accurately predict the intentions of the Qin Army's main forces. Luzi had no intention of hiding it and admitted that it was indeed true. If nothing unexpected happened, they would likely officially enter a state of war before winter arrived.
What meaning does life have if there are no battles to fight!?
Upon receiving news of the war, Shisan and Li Xin insisted on returning to their organization; otherwise, their limbs would rust from inactivity. At this point, even if offered positions among the Three Dukes or Nine Ministers, they wouldn't accept; all they wanted was to head to the front lines and experience life-and-death moments.
Could King Zhao still allow me back into frontline combat units? Luzi couldn't make up his mind either, especially since there were issues with the Korean Envoy that had yet to receive approval from King Qin. When the long-awaited food finally arrived, he quickly changed the subject. They were starving; it was better to eat and drink well first.
At this time, the country was no longer in a state of frugality as before; a little extravagance wasn't excessive. With large areas of farmland being developed, food production had increased exponentially along with the population. This was inseparable from the establishment of reward systems for developing wasteland; private ownership of newly cultivated land was being accepted by many laborers. Additionally, large tracts of land in Korea were being acquired, turning once desolate boundaries into absolutely safe inland areas.
Fortunately, the Qin State was not exclusionary, allowing homeless people to flock into Qin Territory, including many experts in agriculture and water conservancy. With the wave of large-scale land development, reasonable irrigation projects transformed uninhabited areas into flourishing farmlands filled with smoke rising from kitchens.
War is fought over national foundations, which consist of population and food reserves. Food is the cornerstone among these foundations; once there is a food shortage, chaos will ensue without needing an actual battle. Unfortunately, many people do not understand this simplest principle.
Three people were chatting and drinking, deliberately avoiding the topic of Chuchu. Just as they were enjoying themselves, a knock was heard from outside. In the capital, there were very few people who could truly speak to Luzi, and since he usually kept to himself, it was unlikely he knew many. With someone visiting, could it be that King Qin had summoned him for urgent business?
As the servant reported, the three learned that the visitor was none other than Wang Jian!
It was truly ironic; the former position held by Chuchu was indeed that of Wang Jian! The three of them had an unspoken agreement not to mention Luzi's sorrow, but with Wang Jian's arrival, it would inevitably bring back memories. Shisan glanced at Li Xin, and they both shook their heads in unison. What was meant to come would eventually arrive; it was better to face the sadness than to keep it buried inside.
As the saying goes, no feast is complete without wine. Wang Jian had developed quite a capacity for drinking during his time in the northwest. Seeing the imperial seal on the wine jars on the table, he eagerly requested to pour himself a drink as a form of self-punishment. After downing several bowls of wine, he wiped his mouth and realized that they had already consumed more than half.
Li Xin had brought only two jars of wine, which were gifts from King Qin to several attendants earlier in the year. This highlighted their preciousness; if it weren't for Luzi's return, they wouldn't have dared to bring them out! At this rate, Wang Jian would end up drinking it all by himself. They hurriedly took the jars from him and held them close, insisting that there was no such thing as punishing each other with drinks among brothers.
It was indeed rare for brothers to gather like this, and Luzi's mood seemed exceptionally good. Seeing Li Xin holding the wine jar as if it were a treasured possession, he quickly sent someone to fetch more stock from the cellar in the backyard. Although it wasn't as good as what King Qin had gifted them, it still had a rich flavor. Before he could finish his thought, they heard Meng Wu calling out for an audience from outside.
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