Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Since Li Mu learned that his master compared him to the Great Sage, he has become even more determined to model his behavior after this predecessor. His teacher was so exasperated that he could only blow his beard and glare in frustration, ultimately leaving with a remark: "What I disapprove of, heaven will resent! Heaven will resent!" With that, he swept away.
Is it wrong for those who eat the food to not avoid the difficulties!?
Zilu is an official of Wei State, and it is only natural for him to act loyally towards his lord! We are eating the blessings of Zhao State, and serving the country faithfully is our duty! This is Li Mu's own belief, which he has always regarded as his motto.
At this moment, upon hearing Luzi mention his master's name, Li Mu did not even show a hint of surprise. He took a deep breath and sighed lightly. "If it weren't for Luzi's discreet support, I would probably still be begging on the streets! My master has always held Luzi in high regard; he must be someone who does not judge heroes by their wealth or status!"
Luzi took some time to adjust, confirming that the Luzi Li Mu referred to was not him. Sigh! If I had known it would be this uncomfortable, I should have used a different name earlier!
Seeing Luzi fidgeting and unsure of what to do, Li Mu was about to ask when he heard a Sentinel's shout from nearby. He quickly stood up and said, "It seems the troops from Shanxia are coming to check; let me go over!" After a while, he returned with a smile and said, "It was just that kid Zhao Shicheng!"
Noticing that the two seemed quite familiar, Luzi nodded without speaking. Thanks to Li Mu's presence, otherwise today would surely have been a disaster!
Li Mu raised his wine bowl and drank it all in one go. "General Lu, what do you think of the current situation?"
Luzi had no intention of hiding his thoughts and replied with a smile, "What else can I think!? Of course, heroes see things similarly! To speak frankly, our Zhao State is bound to lose this battle!"
"Why is General Lu so certain?"
In these times, saying such rebellious words depends on who you are speaking to. If you speak indiscriminately without regard for the occasion or audience, you will inevitably be labeled as a traitor. However, Luzi felt no such pressure; on the contrary, he wanted to speak freely with Li Mu. Look at how many heroes have emerged in China yet we still cannot unite to create a peaceful world! Perhaps this is our tragedy; we can only sit alone in this snowy night lamenting our fate!
"In national disputes, only righteous armies can achieve victory. This aligns with the principle of punishing the unjust with justice and requires the people's unity. The Qin's conquest of Shangdang must have its reasons. Everything requires preparation; without preparation leads to failure. Our Zhao State failed to understand the deeper meaning behind this and agreed to Feng Ting's request, dragging our entire nation’s military and civilians into the quagmire of war from which we cannot escape. This is our defeat!"
Li Mu clearly disagreed with this viewpoint. If the Zhao Army could not be considered a righteous army, then neither could the Qin Army. He said, "The common people govern the affairs of the world! Since Shangdang is unclaimed land, it naturally belongs to everyone! Why can the Qin State occupy it, while my Zhao State cannot?!"
Luzi laughed and replied, "General Li, you are mistaken! On what basis do you say Shangdang is unclaimed land? The Qin State has a contract for the land of Shangdang, and it even bears the seal of King Han! What does my Zhao State have? Just a land transfer right from Feng Ting! There is one question I still cannot understand: was Shangdang under the Korean Lord or Feng Ting before it was accepted by the Qin State? After all, he is just a minor Prefect; what authority does he have to dispose of Korean land? If that is permissible, then can our Commander also give away the Dan Shui River Defense Line?"
Upon hearing this, Li Mu sighed lightly. He suddenly understood why the Commander had been passively resisting; experience truly matters. He looked up at the starless night sky and asked, "What else?"
Luzi followed suit and gazed at the still overcast sky, sighing, "Our Commander has a purpose in fortifying; he does not want to engage in direct conflict with the Qin Army. He wants to protect what little remains of my Zhao Army, so this decision is understandable! Looking at today's world, where many powers stand tall, ensuring national wealth and strong citizens relies on having a powerful military. Once that foundation is lost, a nation can fall overnight. My Zhao Army cannot be said to be weak, but facing an equally strong Qin Army, a prolonged battle would lead to mutual destruction. This is likely what the feudal lords desire most and hope to see."
What kind of result? Certainly one that takes advantage of your weakness!
Li Mu soon realized this and couldn't help but worry about the fate of his country. The Barbarians had been harassing the Boundary and had even invaded Zhao's rear several times to kill and burn. However, they were not the most concerning threat at present because they lacked the capability to annihilate Zhao. What was most worrying was Yan State lurking behind Zhao. It was said that since the Zhao and Qin states went to war in the Shangdang Region, Yan had yet to declare its stance. King Yan likely had his own plans!
"Is Shangdang this endless quagmire meant to drag Zhao into irreversible doom?!"
When Li Mu voiced this thought, Luzi's mood instantly became heavy. Not only would Zhao face irreversible doom; it seemed even Qin State would not escape disaster. Moreover, it could be worse! Ever since King Qin appointed Fan Ju as Prime Minister, his strategy of distant alliances and nearby attacks had begun to show results. Although they acquired vast amounts of land, they also offended neighboring Feudal States. Now, aside from Qi State and Yan State, every other nation had territorial claims against Qin State. If they exhausted their main forces in Shangdang Region, they might lose not only these newly acquired lands but also significant portions of their own territory!
The two exchanged glances and fell silent again in a contest of endurance. After this round ended, Li Mu and Luzi no longer held back; they were evenly matched. Thus, they reached a consensus and shared a drink to express their mutual respect as heroes.
There was no further inquiry into remaining topics since they both understood all the details and reasons involved. As for provisions, even ordinary military officers had likely noticed something amiss.
"If only there were no war!"
Both men simultaneously heard each other say this and couldn't help but smile at one another.
Li Mu nodded at Luzi and asked, "If there are no more conflicts in the world, should General Lu retire?"
Upon hearing this, Luzi laughed heartily and said, "There has always been a saying that heroes may find no place to use their skills. In my view, it depends on when you talk about it. A dragon can soar high into the sky or leap into the abyss. Heroes are not only born for war; sometimes they lead people to seek the true meaning of life in times of peace. They take the world as their responsibility and never complain about their circumstances or blame themselves for being out of time. That is a true hero, not a false one!"
Li Mu listened earnestly and smiled with satisfaction. "What Luzi said is absolutely right. I do not covet being a general to achieve fame and leave a mark in history. If the world is at peace and there are no wars, I can sit back and enjoy Spring Comes After Winter. That is also life, with an incredibly high happiness index! Thinking back on it now, how nostalgic it must have been."
Comment 0 Comment Count