Chapter 67: Drawing a Cake

…

Zhao Yu was thoroughly impressed—these women each had a bigger mouth than the last.

When Zhang Chun first came to me, she said I could become Emperor, and she could help me ascend the throne.

When it was your turn, you just showed up out of nowhere and asked me out of the blue if I wanted an army capable of sweeping the world.

To be blunt, if I hadn't foreseen you coming and signaled Tong Guan and the others to let you through, you never would've reached my side.

Do you really think I'm still that unassuming little prince I used to be?

I'm now the de facto Emperor—my security level is extremely high.

Zhao Yu even mentally scoffed:

'If I weren't a reincarnator, and you spoke to me like this, I'd immediately suspect you were sent by some hostile faction and have you seized and tortured on the spot.'

'Come to think of it, you used to critique military matters with clear logic, orderly reasoning, and precise analysis—you seemed sharp, not this reckless. Could it be that the online version of you was manufactured by your behind-the-scenes team?'

'The key point is, this is ancient times, the age of cold weapons—your military theories have nothing in common with those of the gunpowder era. How much of your skill even applies, or if it applies at all, is highly questionable.'

Although Zhao Yu deeply doubted Li Lin's abilities, he knew she was known as the "Living Map," thoroughly familiar with the terrain and topography of nearly all regions of China, especially areas where battles had occurred—even foreign battlefields.

Of course, today's terrain certainly couldn't match that of her past life exactly, but she'd still know the general layout—just needing minor updates.

This should be an advantage no one in this era possesses.

Moreover, Li Lin knew advanced military concepts from a thousand years in the future; though these might not fit well in this age, at certain critical moments, her knowledge could produce unexpected results.

More importantly, Zhao Yu, aware of historical trends, would inevitably develop gunpowder weapons—with Li Lin and Seeing Ma Xiao Jiao, producing things like soulless cannons, explosive packs, and thunder bombs wouldn't be difficult, and even tiger-crouching cannons or red barbarian cannons were possible.

At that point, Li Lin would become useful.

Most crucially, Li Lin held a Ph. D. in military science and had served as a political instructor and organizational officer in the army—she definitely had a system for shaping troop morale.

'If Li Lin could develop such a doctrine and instill it in the army, forging a loyal, patriotic force capable of sweeping the world, it might not be impossible?'

In short, Li Lin might not be a great commander, but using her as a high-level advisor, and occasionally drawing on her future military insights, could yield extraordinary results.

That said, even if Zhao Yu would give Li Lin opportunities to demonstrate her military talents, it wouldn't happen anytime soon.

What nonsense—how old is Li Lin right now? And she's a woman. If I put her in command of troops now, wouldn't that be no different from lighting beacon fires to trick the lords?

Notably, Li Lin hasn't revealed her identity yet; as a stranger dressed as a young palace maid, coming to me with such bold claims—if I believed her immediately, wouldn't that just tell her I'm suspicious?

So Zhao Yu looked at Li Lin and smiled: "Your hair's grown long enough now to dare comment on military and state affairs?"

'Personal attack? Insult? Flirting?'

Li Lin frowned! She'd heard from Zhang Chun and Seeing Ma Xiao Jiao that Zhao Yu was good at recognizing talent, humble in his manners, and above all, he believed everything they said—so why did he doubt her now and speak to her so disrespectfully?

But Li Lin reconsidered: she did look far too young, and she was a woman—it was natural Zhao Yu wouldn't trust her yet. So she mimicked their approach and said:

"Your humble servant is Li Shi, senior sister to Zhang Shi and Ma Shi. The five of us entered the Divine Mechanism together in a dream—she studied predictive arts, she studied mechanical arts, and I studied military strategy. We have two younger sisters: Ye Shi, who learned statecraft and governance, and Yuan Shi, who learned agriculture. Your Highness, if you doubt me, ask Zhang Shi and Ma Shi to confirm—I swear, if I've spoken a single falsehood, I willingly accept punishment."

Zhao Yu thought: 'A single falsehood? You haven't uttered one true word—if I truly investigated, I could convict you of treason without issue.'

But aloud, Zhao Yu said: "Did Jiang Jiao give you those military texts and battle strategies?"

Li Lin froze! She hadn't realized the military texts she received from Seeing Ma Xiao Jiao had actually come from Zhao Yu.

Li Lin thought: 'I was wondering how Jiang Jiao managed to find so many military texts—not just common ones, but rare, lost editions.'

Out loud, Li Lin admitted: "Yes, Your Humble Servant."

With an excuse now, Zhao Yu immediately changed his tone: "Chun Chun and Jiao Jiao both possess divine arts; since you're from the same sect, you're surely no less capable. But you speak of a mighty army—where will it come from?"

'Chun Chun and Jiao Jiao!'

Li Lin felt goosebumps rise on her skin.

Jiao Jiao was fine—they called Seeing Ma Xiao Jiao that too—but what was this "Chun Chun"? Li Lin couldn't shake the feeling it sounded like "Chun Chun"—as in "foolish."

Suppressing her disgust, Li Lin replied: "The only battle-worthy troops of our Great Song are the Western Army. The Imperial Guards of the Capital have grown useless from years without combat—how could they defend our central plains in war, or protect Your Highness? If Your Highness trusts me, I beg to reorganize your army, select elite soldiers, and train a peerless force to sweep the world for you."

Zhao Yu realized all reincarnators suffered from overestimating themselves.

That's hundreds of thousands of Imperial Guards—you want a girl of barely fifteen to reorganize them? Are you mad, or am I?

Worse, if I actually did that, everyone would label me a fool king.

But then again, those hundreds of thousands of Capital Guards couldn't possibly be reorganized by Li Lin alone—yet her warning was correct.

Historically, until the fall of the Northern Song, the Capital Guards never performed a single notable action; they always fled at the first sign of danger, letting the Jin army cross the Yellow River with ease and reach the walls of Dongjing Bianliang.

Therefore, the Capital Guards must be reorganized into a powerful force.

Zhao Yu spoke frankly to Li Lin: "I cannot agree to your request. First, I am not yet Crown Prince, let alone ruler of the Song—how can I command troops? Second, even if that day comes, I cannot entrust military authority to you. Otherwise, I'd become King You of Zhou, and you'd be branded as Bao Si—we'd accomplish nothing, and the consequences might be catastrophic."

Hearing this, Li Lin was deeply disappointed.

But she understood Zhao Yu.

Huo Qubing didn't become a marquis until he was seventeen.

Crucially, Huo Qubing was male.

Asking Zhao Yu to entrust hundreds of thousands of troops to a "fourteen-year-old" girl was simply unrealistic.

Just as Li Lin thought her dream was unattainable, Zhao Yu changed tone: "Yet you are divinely gifted—you cannot be judged by ordinary standards. To not use you would be my loss."

Hearing this, Li Lin was overjoyed. She thought: 'No wonder Zhang Chun and Jiao Jiao praised him so highly—he truly recognizes talent and stands apart. It's worth our effort to help him replace Zhao Ji as Emperor and one day become the greatest sovereign in history.'

But just as Li Lin waited for Zhao Yu to explain how he'd employ her, he began to dangle empty promises: "Very well. First, join my harem like Chun Chun and Jiao Jiao. When I reorganize the army or plan military deployments, I'll certainly invite you to advise—I'll listen to your suggestions as much as possible. Once you earn some battlefield achievements and public prestige, and the soldiers come to trust you, I'll gradually let you participate in command. How does that sound, Lin Lin…"

…

(End of Chapter)