Chapter 112: Siege Weapon

Volume One, Chapter 112 Siege Weapon

She lightly nodded, "I am your Good Lady, of course it is best to stay hidden behind the scenes, a harmless Good Lady who has been divorced, always more reassuring than someone who seeks the spotlight."

He knew who this person was, and Han Xinglan said, "The glory that belongs to you will, morning and evening, always return to you."

Rong Luoge didn't care about that; a person's greatness doesn't depend on such things, but on one's own strength.

"What do you want to shape the Yulong Guard into?" Rong Luoge couldn't help with other matters, but this was doable.

"Of course, a blade that can kill the enemy the moment it leaves its sheath," Han Xinglan replied.

Rong Luoge thought, "If we look at the whole team's capability, obviously it's best to greatly boost combat power; if we look at individual martial strength, this requires a separate plan."

The entire team advances its overall strength through weapons, while individual lethality relies on personal skill augmentation, martial support.

Rong Luoge had previously worked in this field, but her primary focus remained on herself; she already had a rough training plan in mind. Modern military training methods can't be copied outright, yet some can still be referenced.

Han Xinglan, hearing this, glanced at Rong Luoge again; such words aren't typical of a woman raised on Zhuangzi. She has so many mysterious facets, like an inexhaustible treasure trove,

so she wishes to stay hidden, which he understands. She wants glory before others, which he can also achieve.

It just depends on whether she is pleased.

Speaking of forging weapons, Rong Luoge recalled something Han Xinglan had said before and asked, "Did His Majesty give Xiao Shen the refined iron when he wanted to expand and equip the Yulong Guard?"

"That was natural," Han Xinglan smiled and nodded.

Rong Luoge also laughed, "Han Yifeng knows that his angry mouth would even be crooked; he and Consort Ming put so much effort into the Qiongchuan Caravan, yet gained nothing."

"Their ultimate goal wasn't that refined iron; it was merely incidental," Han Xinglan said, handing a pot to fill both cups, "What they wanted was that seal."

"Then they are destined to be disappointed."

The seal is already in Han Xinglan's hands; how could Consort Ming and her son possibly obtain it?

Rong Luoge looked at Han Xinglan again and asked, "How do you intend to use that seal?"

Han Xinglan pondered before saying, "I'm thinking about Di Yue Nu's disappearance; she likely wants to return to Qingxuan Kingdom to find the Crown Prince, because the seal's loss can no longer be concealed. This time the Qiongchuan Caravan split in two precisely because that seal caused a conflict."

"So Hu Dacuan's team still supports the Crown Prince's restoration, but Xue Rencheng's group doesn't share that view; they only want the seal to obtain treasure," Rong Luoge contemplated and asked.

Han Xinglan nodded, "Now Hu Dacheng fled with Di Yue Nu; she must have been unable to hide the seal's matter, so Hu Dacheng could only take her away."

Returning to Qingxuan Kingdom to find the Crown Prince, even without the seal, perhaps they can forge one from memory, or ask the Crown Prince if he has any other token.

"Then what do you plan to do?" Rong Luoge thought the seal couldn't just sit as a decoration in Han Xinglan's possession.

Han Xinglan smiled at the words, "I intend to have someone take the seal to cooperate with the Crown Prince. What do you think?"

Rong Luoge met Han Xinglan's fox‑like grin, a thought flashing in her mind, and blurted, "You want to dig a reverse trap for Prince Qi?"

If Han Xinglan secures an agreement with the Crown Prince using the seal, deceives Di Yue Nu, and has her bring back false information to cooperate with Prince Qi…

That would truly be a bottomless pit.

Rong Luoge truly hadn't expected that the pawn Di Yue Nu could be used this way once in Han Xinglan's hands, and she suddenly felt especially excited.

"If it can succeed," Han Xinglan smiled.

"How could it fail? There's always a way to persuade him!" Rong Luoge replied immediately, "What does the Crown Prince lack? Obviously men, horses, and weapons. If his status can rally some old troops, and you give him weapons like bows and crossbows, how could he not be moved? As long as he has ambition, this can be accomplished."

Han Xinglan watched Rong Luoge's excitement and suddenly felt that such a dull matter wasn't so uninteresting after all.

Rong Luoge, getting carried away, went to the study, fetched paper and pen, and drew a simple mobile artillery platform for Han Xinglan. This kind of platform, refined over generations, is lightweight yet sufficiently lethal; with the captured refined iron, they could try to forge one.

Han Xinglan watched Rong Luoge's few strokes sketch something odd, and after listening to her detailed explanation, became earnest as well.

This is truly a siege weapon!

With this in hand, sieges can save time, effort, and reduce consumption.

Han Xinglan wanted to ask Rong Luoge how she possessed so many things; he also loved military texts and weapons, but his books contained none of these. Even if she has talent, she lacks enough time to create them; she's too young.

But Rong Luoge didn't want to say; he wouldn't force her.

One asked, one answered; the two kept talking until late night, it became unbearable, and Rong Luoge leaned on the table and fell asleep.

Han Xinglan carefully lifted her and carried her back to the sleeping hall, settled her, then returned to the study, sorted all the papers and sketches they had made, put everything back in order, and only then left.

As soon as he lay down, the person beside him leaned in; clearly still asleep, yet could feel his aura.

Han Xinglan pulled the person into his arms, slowly closed his eyes.

He had never imagined that one day he could trust someone like this, a bedside companion.

Even his mother he keeps three parts guarded against, but with Rong Luoge, perhaps because she is always sincere and unreserved toward him, day after day, it's hard for him to raise his guard.

He used to disdain such things as human hearts.

But now, he suddenly feels some people's intentions are truly worth cherishing.

Han Xinglan's breathing became slowly gentle and lingering; lately he has rarely dreamed, only recalling the difficult days of his youth.

Whenever he woke from a dream, he felt anger, sorrow, irritability, disappointment, and a faint yearning.

But now it no longer happens; he now has someone he wishes to cherish, and those things he once sought but couldn't obtain are no longer important to him.

He has another treasure in his life.

Tomorrow there are many tasks: to instruct Xiao Shen on training the Yulong Guard, and to dispatch someone to Qingxuan Kingdom to contact the Crown Prince, both urgent.

Additionally, the arrangements at the Taoist temple should be scheduled; with so many matters, there is no time for melancholy.