Chapter 1083: Everyone Wants to Get Something for Nothing

After Chu Xiu finished speaking, Xu Zengyi reminded them, "Don't forget, Li Qichen still has a unit of troops under his command—this unit, though only three thousand strong, consists of elite heavy armored cavalry, and since Li Qichen was captured by our army, it has vanished without a trace."

"Moreover, the spy camp reported in intelligence that the Uyghur's Guard General and General of the Elite Cavalry both seem to belong to Li Qichen's faction. If Li Qiming could ally with these three forces, wouldn't he then have the power to proclaim himself king?"

The Uyghurs copied many aspects of the Central Plains' official system and writing, but at their core they remain a tribal confederation state.

In the Uyghur court, the so-called Great General, Guard General, and similar titles are essentially just the leaders of the major tribes.

The reason the border army is entirely under the Uyghur king's control lies precisely here.

The core of the border army is the Uyghur royal family today!

The Central Plains dynasty has not seen military commanders each with their own subordinates for a long time, but in the Uyghurs this has been their consistent tradition—only now they've renamed it, imitating the Central Plains and establishing a general system.

Because of these deep-rooted elements, once a struggle like succession occurs, it becomes very lively.

Chen Wuji, who seeks to conquer the world, has not yet fully delegated military authority, and he doesn't know how the Uyghurs have maintained their system, let alone improved it over time—it's truly remarkable.

"If Li Qiming can win over these two forces, he… actually seems to indeed have the foundation for divided loyalties!" Chu Xiu, after hearing Xu Zengyi's words, fell silent for a moment and no longer insisted on his own view.

Chen Wuji shifted slightly, "Gentlemen, what do you think the likelihood of this is?"

After a brief discussion, Xu Zengyi and the others gave Chen Wuji a sixty percent answer.

And the reason they gave such a low probability lies in Li Qiming himself.

This fellow is too erratic, showing no sign of a wise ruler!

Those people in the Uyghur court are not the type to act rashly on a whim; they consider interests, but they will certainly also consider this matter.

If a man not resembling a wise ruler becomes king, their interests will be hard to sustain long-term.

Choosing Li Qiming is far less advantageous than choosing someone else.

"Sixty percent, meaning it's possible, but not very likely!" Chen Wuji gave a slight nod.

"Then let Pu Cun inform Li Qiming: I want to see the goods first—this is my rule. I have no habit of working for others without first receiving benefit."

In his letter, Li Qiming promised him fifty thousand sets of winter clothing, along with detailed troop strength maps of the three major forts of Magic Capital Mountain, and said he would arrange personnel to coordinate, so that inside and outside cooperation would allow easy capture of the three major forts of Magic Capital Mountain, enabling Chen Wuji's forces to advance straight into the Uyghur heartland.

This offer is indeed very tempting.

Fifty thousand sets of winter clothing are exactly what Chen Wuji urgently needs; he has recently been requisitioning materials from various places to produce winter clothing, but scattered efforts have yielded less than three sets—barely enough to equip the garrison at Magic Capital Mountain and the Yang Pojun forces for emergency use.

The other soldiers currently cannot be equipped at all.

As for the detailed troop strength map of the three major forts of Magic Capital Mountain, this item is just as alluring as the previous Magic Capital Mountain troop strength map.

Chen Wuji merely seeing it already makes him almost drool.

With the troop strength map of the three major forts, returning home for New Year can be postponed entirely—next year's return for New Year is also not out of the question.

……

On the edge of the plateau, the dazzling starry sea seems to hang just above one's head.

The stars that were previously indistinct now appear here as clear as if painted on.

These days have been somewhat leisurely; Chen Wuji not only has time to accompany Qin Zhanhong and the three women, but occasionally he can go fishing, and even at night he finds time to cultivate a new hobby—star gazing.

Every time he looks up, gazing at that magnificent night scenery, Chen Wuji always thinks his hometown should be among them.

Perhaps on that blue planet, someone else is also gazing at the stars, using various equipment to observe the celestial bodies where he is.

A faint sound of footsteps came from behind; before the person arrived, a fragrant breeze had already drifted over from behind.

Chen Wuji naturally extended his right arm, and immediately a soft, delicate body leaned into his embrace, whispering by his ear with a light laugh: "Husband, these past few days your courage has grown—you're not even afraid of the soldiers' teasing anymore?"

"They've already teased me about it." Chen Wuji said.

Now whether to carry someone or not is just the same.

The entire army, top to bottom, has long known this—what else is there to be embarrassed about?

"Husband, it's time to think about having a child—how long has it been? You're not in a hurry, but we are—hurry up!" Qin Zhanhong softly urged.

Since Qin Zhanhong and Lu Wanwan returned, every night this task has been the first priority, something that must be completed.

Even Zhang Xiu'er has been scolded for it.

Because she has been following Chen Wuji these past months without seizing the opportunity to strive hard.

But once even the best thing becomes a forced task, people unconsciously develop some resistance.

Chen Wuji is now exactly like that.

Once he was like a wolf and a tiger, brave above the three armies.

But now whenever they mention this matter, his lower back always feels somewhat off.

Yet the task still must be done!

Having children—he is also quite anxious about it now.

If he doesn't hurry, after a while it won't be Qin Zhanhong and the others urging him, but the officers and civil officials below writing official reports to urge him!

His family affairs have long ceased to be merely family matters.

"Come on, have you decided what you can do today? It's been several days like this—I really feel I can't keep going!" Chen Wuji stood up and said.

Qin Zhanhong smiled alluringly, "Husband, do you still doubt my abilities? Just wait and see—you will surely like it."

"You say that, and I suddenly feel energized!"

Chen Wuji still has great confidence in Qin Zhanhong's abilities.

If she were a man, I don't know how many beauties in this world would fall victim to her poisonous hand.

……

After such uneventful days passed for three days, someone who greatly surprised Chen Wuji suddenly came to seek an audience.

Lu Chuan, the eldest son of Lu Ping'an.

Currently serving as a司马 in Songzhou.

"How did he suddenly come here?" Chen Li muttered doubtfully.

Chen Wuji also found it strange—this fellow has been doing well as a司马, so why did he suddenly run to the front lines?

"Summon him in and ask him, then we'll know—let him in!" Chen Wuji said.

"Yes!"

Not long after, Lu Chuan, whose build was like a gorilla's, strode in with large steps.

"Subordinate Lu Chuan pays his respects to the Marquis!"

"No need for formalities!"

"Subordinate did not file a request, left his post without authorization, and still begs the Marquis to punish me!" Lu Chuan not only did not rise, but bent his waist even lower.

"First tell me what matter caused you to leave your post without authorization—I am not one who only follows rules and ignores everything else." Chen Wuji said, "If what you say is truly serious enough that you had to come see me in person, what punishment could I give you? Such matters need to be advocated!"