Chapter 396: Where Was It Picked Up?

Tang Qian's trip to Youzhou was no easy feat; after the military parade ended, they squatted in the camp to watch others train, drooling as they watched.

Not to mention the Owl Cavalry and Snow Cavalry, even ordinary cavalry was enough to make them covetous.

They squatted there, examining closely—outstanding talents were everywhere! What's going on? Have all the talents of the Great Jin gone to the Great King?!

Lao Tang pretended it was studying advanced experience, but they ended up loafing around the East Great Camp for a day.

This person, who'd fought half a lifetime and had a sharp eye, the next day strolled over to the Snow Cavalry's camp and at once spotted Changli among the three thousand. They were told not to stare, that the person mixing in with the ranks training wasn't an ordinary squad leader but the Snow Cavalry Commander, the Chief Commander.

Lao Tang had lunch with Zhang Tu in the mess hall, saying, "Where did you lot get your Snow Cavalry Commander, Great King? Last time on the western campaign there was no one like this!"

They were told Changli was someone the Great King picked up on the western campaign.

Lao Tang wrung their hands, "Picked up on the western campaign? …That… also fifty percent are people from our Cool Prefecture!" How come they didn't pick them up!

"One hundred percent. When they left the Northern Direction, the Prosper Commander had already gotten close to the Great King."

Lao Tang: …?

Soon, the Great King made time to receive the Liangzhou Inspector who'd come from afar, as well as the Marquis of the Eastern Capital and other generals who'd worked hard for half a year; the team‑building activity they arranged was hunting.

The Great King prepared to take the generals from the capital to support the hunt at Swallow Mountain.

Team‑building, after all, should revolve around what they themselves enjoy doing.

When the Great King was soliciting opinions, Zhao Bao racked their brains and just proposed a flower gathering, only to be firmly rejected by the Great King.

"All together, I reckon I'm the most learned—does your suggestion make any sense? Would we even appreciate it?! Think of the Tang Inspector—would it be appropriate for me to ask them to look at flowers?"

Zhao Bao: …That makes sense.

"But in the capital, the officials' way of bonding is always like this—finding some similar pretext for everyone to get together, whether poetry gatherings, flower gatherings, or tea gatherings."

Just as the Grand Tutor stepped outside the hall, they heard the Great King grandly declare, "Flowers—can't see a thing! It'd be better to hold a Bull‑Chewing Peony Festival; we'd only be able to taste which flowers are edible."

The Grand Tutor walked away clutching their chest……

Xie Yuan saw them return quickly and wondered, "Your Highness, have you finished your calligraphy practice?" Such efficiency today? Xu Zhi said they went to supervise, but came back after just the time it takes to finish a cup of tea.

The Grand Tutor's expression grew even stranger; they muttered, "As soon as I reached the gate, I heard the Great King was going to hold a Bull‑Chewing Peony Festival. I was afraid that if I went in then, they'd make me organize it."

Xie Yuan: ……

Relying on sheer strength, the Great King escaped two lengthy documents, then ran to ask Wei Shen; their like‑minded cousin immediately gave them the answer they wanted—hunting.

The hunt had just been decided but not yet set out when the Great King was met by a southwestern caravan.

The benefits of opening the northwest now became clear: the route from Changzhou to Youzhou was much safer. As long as they went north along the border to reach Cool Prefecture, then crossed the Northern Border to Youzhou, the way was a bit roundabout but far safer than crossing the Great Jin before—after all, they were carrying a lot of white sugar, which would be worth a great deal in the Great Jin.

Marquis Wei Ting not only sent a large quantity of sugar, but also gave the Great King a humorous news item.

"Bai Li Jin actually had their maternal grandfather suppress the rebellion in Han Longevity? After not seeing each other for years, the eldest has become far more humorous."

Wei Ke finished reading and wasn't so optimistic: "Their grandfather defied the edict; Bai Li Jin is arrogant and selfish—will they end up screwing over the Southwest Army next?"

The Great King pondered a moment, then said, "They will. The Wei Clan's reputation among the people is too good, and they also have prestige in the southwest—maybe it struck a sensitive nerve of the eldest? No problem, I have a clever plan."

The Great King mysteriously took out paper to write a letter to Prosper Prefecture, refusing to tell Wei Shen anything no matter how they asked; after finishing, they hired the most expensive courier in the Northern Border to send it.

Marquis Wei Ting's message took nearly a month to arrive, but the Great King sent back a reply in just half a day—given the communication speed of the times, nothing was really delayed.

In the Great King's eyes, Bai Li Jin was nothing—whatever they were supposed to do, they just did it.

The hunt proceeded as usual; at dawn that day, everyone rushed to assemble at the Northern Splendid Gate. As soon as Lao Tang arrived, they felt the Great King's gaze full of resentment, making them nervous inside.

What's up—did they sneak out to play and end up being last, getting found out?

"Don't you like hunting, Tang Shu?" the Great King probed.

Tang Qian answered off the point: "Your Highness, I heard Changli was picked up in our Cool Prefecture?"

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I solemnly declare—I won't abandon my great king! I'm just carrying bricks in Hangzhou to make a living; I'll be back soon, right away!