Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

"Teacher, aren't you the one who's always playing tricks? You're just using me to protect yourself. Why can't you accept it when it happens to you?" Ari White mocked.

"That's how I am as a teacher."

"......"

Faced with such a blatant hypocrite, Ari White's breath caught in his throat. Then, he heard Fang Zheng say, "Let's talk about something else. You summoned me to the palace. Are you just going to have me sit here?"

"Let's discuss something. Do you think I could... with the women in the harem...?"

"Heh, heh, Teacher has given me a reminder!" Ari White's eyes lit up. "Since your identity has changed, you're naturally no longer the Jing Kingdom's驸马 (imperial consort). Didn't you bring two women with you when you came?"

"Why not bring those two into the palace? Teacher, you can openly marry them."

"Huh?"

"I'll have someone arrange it immediately."

Fang Zheng's face grew long, and he glared at Ari White, saying, "That's enough!"

"No, I haven't had enough fun yet," Ari White said with a sinister smile.

Fang Zheng narrowed his eyes.

This dog, he's really stupid and evil! How didn't I notice it before?

Forcing me to sit on the dragon throne is one thing, but forcing me to get married... If I said that, even I, as Emperor Jing, wouldn't believe it!

"Actually, there are still some questions I wanted to take the opportunity to ask Teacher," Ari White suddenly changed the subject.

Fang Zheng slouched on the dragon throne, propping his chin with one hand, and said impatiently, "Speak."

"Now that I've taken control of the entire city, if I implement the methods you taught me in the important towns to win over the people, would that be feasible?"

"Of course not," Fang Zheng said calmly.

Now that Ari White had such thoughts, it was necessary to have a good talk.

With the current technological capabilities, the creation of a god-like figure can only be limited to one city. Expanding it further would cause big problems.

If he messed around like that, the people of the Jin Kingdom would suffer, and various tragedies would inevitably occur.

He didn't want to bear that responsibility.

"The people trust you and support you because they believe you can bring them a good life and give them money. What if there's no money one day? Will you continue to confiscate property and attack other officials?"

"You haven't even figured out the accounts, and you're already thinking about governing the country? The current chaos in the city is just an expedient measure to help you seize power. If you don't get back on track, problems will arise sooner or later."

"I know you're enjoying the current situation, but those who play with public opinion will inevitably suffer a backlash, which is not good for anyone."

Ari White fell into deep thought and nodded.

But then he thought back to himself standing in front of a sea of people, waving his hand, and the thunderous response below, and he felt a little unwilling.

"After the defeat of the Great Jin army, I want to reorganize the system. I wonder if Teacher has any insights?"

Fang Zheng shook his head.

Such a grand question is not something that one person can research.

Ari White's stupid questions gave him a headache.

"I suggest you don't look too far ahead. The immediate priority is to reorganize the military. If Wutu sends people back, we'll all be waiting to die if we can't defend the city..."

......

Emperor Jing led the army on a long-distance raid and had already reached the Liuhe Pass.

The Liuhe Pass was already empty, with traces of burning fires everywhere.

As for the iron-clad wooden gate, it was also charred by the fire and half-collapsed.

These were all traces left by the Jin army.

Along the way, the Jing army pursued relentlessly, but the enemy was strong and well-fed. On the escape route, they constantly sent out heavy-armored cavalry with wounded soldiers to block the enemy.

By the time Emperor Jing arrived, the Liuhe Pass had been devastated, and the Jin army had also abandoned the city and headed straight for the pass.

The Jing Kingdom's army stayed in the pass to rest.

Although their morale was high, the continuous long-distance raids had indeed made people tired.

Now that Wutu had been driven back beyond the pass, they would have to make further plans.

Emperor Jing led a team to personally inspect the situation outside the pass.

The vastness stretched out before them, and Emperor Jing's mood also broadened. He opened his arms and took a deep breath.

Li Yuanzhao was also secretly excited.

They had arrived. They should be splitting up with his father soon.

In this vast world, there was much to be done. The strong soldiers under this prince's command could finally show their skills.

He had been too aggrieved along the way, only able to watch others pick up war merits.

This battle should have belonged to him!

Emperor Jing looked at the endless expanse before him, and a surge of heroism arose in his chest: "Since the founding of my Great Jing...."

Halfway through his words, a reckless youth dashed out a long way, shouting, "Since the founding of my Great Jing, only this prince has been able to fight to this point!!"

Looking at the figure running wild, Emperor Jing's temples throbbed.

He couldn't help but want to give him a spear!

The generals behind him secretly snickered.

Along the way, the crown prince had been suppressing his urge to personally go into battle, only working hard in logistics. Everyone saw this.

For a young man of this age, especially one as lively as the crown prince, it was already very rare for him to strictly abide by military orders and not overstep his bounds, and to do his duty perfectly.

Emperor Jing was also well aware of this and couldn't bear to be harsh, allowing him to show off on his own not far away.

Turning his horse's head to look at the generals behind him, Emperor Jing pointed to the ground and said, "These hoofprints seem chaotic, but there is a pattern to them. If there are no accidents, they should have split up. They are just waiting for me to leave the pass and engage in guerrilla warfare with me. What are your thoughts, gentlemen?"

"Your Majesty, we have already discussed it. We all believe that reaching this point... is the best. According to statistics along the way, nearly 50,000 local heavy-armored cavalry have been annihilated by our army, and the remaining casualties are around 300,000. The main force has already been defeated."

"And our army's gunpowder is almost all used up. If we go outside the pass again, the supply line will be too long. In addition, the Jin army's iron cavalry is flexible, and continuing to fight will be disadvantageous to our army."

"At present, it is best to withdraw the army and reorganize, and then advance with a large army another day to annihilate them in one fell swoop!"

Emperor Jing was furious in his heart: "Fight again another day? This battle with the Jin Kingdom was initiated by Wutu who actively provoked me and forcibly押 (detained) my son-in-law. One is to defend the country, and the other is to rescue Zheng Yi."

"If it weren't for Zheng Yi, how could this war have been won so smoothly? He risked his life to send the news, and he also presented the gunpowder to me. The greatest hero of my Great Jing, how can he be held in the hands of the Jin people?"

"Please calm down, Your Majesty. We are just making a suggestion," the generals advised.

"Calm down? My virtuous son-in-law doesn't know how much suffering he is enduring! If I continue to delay, I'm afraid I'll be sending a white-haired person to see off a black-haired person. If word gets out, wouldn't that chill the hearts of the people of the world? What face would I have to face the people of the world?" Emperor Jing waved his hand, "Follow my will and take it down in one fell swoop!"

"Mobilizing hundreds of thousands of troops for the second time will cause widespread resentment among the people, and this is not a consequence that I want to see."

"If Your Majesty insists on fighting, please have the army advance at the same pace, step by step, supporting the war with war, and do not divide the troops, otherwise it will be disadvantageous to our army," a general suggested.

Emperor Jing nodded.

Although it was to save Fang Zheng Yi, the lives of the soldiers were also lives. If the gunpowder was insufficient and the enemy discovered it, it would obviously be unwise to launch a rapid attack on the grassland.

A trapped beast still struggles, and forcing them too hard would be unwise. They could only proceed step by step.

"Issue my order. The entire army will rest here for one day today and depart tomorrow."

......