Chapter 966: Jia Yujing's Evil Path

Whether someone actually possesses talent and learning can basically be determined after an in-depth chat.

Those who bluff their way through will get stuck after just a few simple words.

Things that are seemingly correct may fool ordinary people a bit, but when faced with true experts, a few words will expose their true nature.

As for what Jia Yujing and Zhao Chen are skilled at, Chen Wuji isn't sure yet, but their genuine ability is certain, and their vision and perspective are quite exceptional.

Dayu commoners enjoy discussing state affairs; even an old farmer tilling the field can, through hearsay, analyze something useful, but few can consider the whole picture, and those who can reach this point and grasp the threshold of strategic planning are only a tiny fraction among scholars.

Chen Wuji believed that Jia Yujing and Zhao Chen belonged to this small group.

"Finally, given the current situation of Dayu, what do you think I should do?" Chen Wuji asked, taking a light sip of tea.

Upon hearing this, Jia Yujing and Zhao Chen, who had just picked up their chopsticks, immediately put them down and sat up straight.

Seeing this, Chen Wuji chuckled, "No rush on this question—think while you eat, and tell me after you finish."

"Mm… okay."

Zhao Chen had just stuffed a huge mouthful of food, and in his haste he almost spat it out, hastily covering his mouth with his hand.

The food at the marquis's residence was somewhat tasty; he absentmindedly waved his chopsticks too quickly, losing his composure.

"Go ahead and eat; if it's not enough, just let me know." Chen Wuji said with a smile, "Although Nanjiang is a remote region, supplies are fairly ample, and I will certainly not disappoint your appetites—don't be shy."

Sitting in this position and saying such words, even Chen Wuji felt at this moment that he seemed a bit older.

His mindset was already far beyond that of a twenty‑something youth.

However, if we consider it carefully, he really could no longer be called young.

Having lived two lives, his age added up to roughly sixty.

Of those sixty years, twenty‑odd were like a white fleeting shadow—just a flash in the mind.

But the memories of that time are real and genuine, truly lived.

"Thank you, Commander, for the reward."

After Jia Yujing and Zhao Chen thanked him for the reward, they rolled up their sleeves without further ado and dug right in.

They looked as if they were eating under orders, really going at it with full force.

Chen Wuji waved his hand with a laugh, "Don't talk about all that empty ceremony—it's just a meal, rewards or no rewards. I'm a rough person who often does impolite things, so you needn't worry too much; here, whether civil or military, there's only one rule: clear rewards and punishments."

"As long as you have genuine talent and do solid work, the rest is up to you."

Jia Yujing and Zhao Chen, having responded between bites, dove back into their rice.

They ate with such focus that the two plates of vegetables were nearly emptied at a visible speed.

Kong Fang silently covered his eyes.

His two friends usually could eat their fill, so why did they each seem like hungry ghosts reborn here?

How embarrassing!

Huo Sanniang picked up the teapot, filled Chen Wuji's cup, and stood leisurely to one side, saying, "Husband, why aren't you eating anything?"

"I'm just having a sip of tea; I'm not very hungry." Chen Wuji said, "You sit down—if you keep standing like that, some people will get nervous."

He has now grown accustomed to the role of a regional governor and a local lord, but Huo Sanniang still hasn't quite adjusted.

She always likes to do things serving others.

It's like this here, and even more so at home.

If Shen Youwei and the others are even slightly careless, Huo Sanniang will herself take care of all those odd jobs.

Actually, if Huo Sanniang is willing to do it, it's fine; as Chen Wuji's chief wife, no one requires her to always maintain a lofty bearing, but such behavior depends on the occasion.

For instance, in this setting, if Huo Sanniang were to stand, some people ought to feel as if sitting on pins and needles.

Hearing this, Huo Sanniang then sat down again at Chen Wuji's right side.

Jia Yujing's appetite is no joke; he eats slowly, but the food disappears at an astonishing speed—before long, his bowls and plates are empty.

He scraped the last grain of rice clean from his bowl, glanced at the logistics battalion soldier standing nearby, pointed to his own chopsticks, and whispered, "More, please."

The soldier waved his hand, brought Jia Yujing another helping, and cleared away the old utensils.

Just as he finished that, Zhao Chen furtively raised his hand on the other side, saying, "Excuse me, I'd like some more too!"

Kong Fang let out a quiet sigh and silently turned his head away.

These two rascals—wasn't it already told them that roughly the same would do? How did they end up actually eating so seriously?

They're obviously top‑notch smart people, yet their performance right now makes Kong Fang wish he could crack open their skulls to see if something unclean had been stuffed inside—so embarrassing.

Jia Yujing and Zhao Chen completely missed Kong Fang's frantic hints; each ate three full bowls of rice before finally feeling satisfied and stopping.

"Sir, I request that the Commander attack the Uyghurs!" Jia Yujing, who had just been stroking the general's belly, suddenly sprang to his feet.

His sudden reaction caught Chen Wuji a bit off guard.

The report during the meal was seamless, its speed a little excessively fast.

"Why attack the Uyghurs first?" Chen Wuji asked.

Jia Yujing's proposal was truly beyond his expectations.

With the court's 300,000‑strong army ahead, yet turning to deal with the Uyghur people, this choice looks unwise no matter how you view it.

"The Commander is the Marquis of Zhenyuan of Dayu; he ought to raise the loyalist banner when the emperor faces peril, to save the realm's mountains and rivers. Yet, given the Commander's present prestige, should he lead the loyalist cause, all manner of demons and monsters would likely swarm at once." Jia Yujing spoke steadily.

"These people will come, mixed good and bad, but the Commander will inevitably be swept up by this tide; all eyes will be on him, which is not a good thing. With the Commander's current strength, there's no need to absorb that rabble to expand power, lest it affect his present strength."

"In my humble view, the so‑called loyalist militia will only waste the Commander's time, stretch him thin, and prevent further preparations."

His words were circuitous, but the meaning boiled down to one point.

"This upstart shouldn't be the one; he shouldn't be swept up by the trend, but should use this window of opportunity to frantically build up strength."

Upon hearing this, Chen Wuji actually felt a bit moved.

That makes a lot of sense.

"But right now the court's 300,000‑strong army is at our flank, seeking to charge me with rebellion and crush this disloyal subject, and the Uyghurs are no soft bone—I can't just bite them off as I please." Chen Wuji frowned slightly.

Jia Yujing smiled, "The Court Army is nothing to worry about; the regional commander should not fret over them."