Chapter 112

Yang Hongyue and the others naturally didn't believe it, but after Shen Tianxing showed them everything from the toilet to the game console, the gym, the swimming pool and other cutting‑edge home appliances, Yang Hongyue and the others had to admire him.

However, Shen Tianxing hid the villa's computer and television, mainly because he didn't know how to explain them; for now he still couldn't tell the truth, but once they were really living a life of leisure, letting them know later would still be in time.

"Poor thing, your wives—those who play games play games, those who exercise exercise, those who swim swim, and later they even arrange to play mahjong; be careful they don't let pleasure ruin their ambition."

Shen Tianxing lay on the sofa, while Hong Yi laughed and teased from beside him.

"In life, one should naturally do whatever brings happiness; they like playing games, exercising and swimming—isn't that great? That way, when I go out to fight, I won't be too bored."

Shen Tianxing truly didn't care; compared to modern little fairies, even Zhao Lingfei, who loves money the most, is far better, so naturally he wanted them to enjoy life.

"You're so open‑minded, then don't just sit there—hurry up and attend to serious business. You took two prefectures in half a year; do you really think you have plenty of time? Wuzhou isn't that easy to take; it's Lei Family Army's turf."

Hong Yi's words reminded Shen Tianxing that the Yue Family Army and Lei Family Army were stationed in the two prefectures to the left and right of Beizhou precisely so they could reinforce at any moment.

But the last time Shen Tianxing and Yang Hongyue defended Humen Pass, the Yue Family Army and Lei Family Army didn't reinforce, mainly because the imperial court hadn't issued an order!

"With my father‑in‑law here, there doesn't seem to be much to worry about, but we still need to discuss it. I heard Lei Wufeng's daughter Lei Ting is quite pretty—do you think it's possible for me to gain another father‑in‑law?"

"Is there nothing in your mind besides women? After just one night, aren't five enough? Calm down. Once you finish the important business, the world will be yours—do you still need to worry about lacking women?"

Hong Yi's complaint was obviously feeble; Shen Tianxing merely smiled, stopped talking, got up and left the villa for the governor's office.

By then the governor's office main hall was full of people: Yang Tieqiang and his two sons, Yue Yunyang and Zhu Zhishan Zhou Gongjin, not to mention Cheng Yaojin, Luo Cheng, Zhao Zilong, Zhang Wenyuan and Tian Guangguang were all present.

Seeing them, Shen Tianxing suddenly felt he had too few subordinates, or rather too few people capable of important responsibilities; moreover, those with better minds were only Zhu Zhishan and Zhou Gongjin, while Yue Yunyang and Yang Tieqiang could barely count.

Checking the system mall, he found that advanced strategist summon cards weren't expensive—only 100,000 each—but these strategists were all weaklings, and Shen Tianxing even saw that among them were Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang.

But the difference is that they are truly only strategists and administrators with no martial prowess, which is why the strategist summon cards aren't costly.

Shen Tianxing also understood why the summoned divine general was Zhou Gongjin instead of Zhou Yu: it was so he could distinguish them—though they are the same person, they represent two different character types.

Just as there is also Zhuge Kongming among the divine generals, but this one is truly the wind‑calling, rain‑summoning expert with extremely strong martial strength, a ninth‑grade master.

Besides the advanced strategist summon cards, there are also divine strategist summon cards, which are not expensive either—only 300,000 killing points each—and they can summon true top‑tier strategists such as Zhuge Liang, Zhou Yu, the Guo family and Lu Xun, Sima Yi and Xun Yu.

"I have seen the lord."

Apart from Yang Tieqiang, everyone else bowed respectfully to Shen Tianxing with clasped hands; Shen Tianxing merely smiled and nodded.

"Young Shen, I thought you wouldn't make it today, but you're still energetic—looks like you're eager to get down to business. You said before you wanted to take Beizhou; we're discussing how to advance, which city to attack first."

Only Yang Tieqiang dared to say anything; Shen Tianxing laughed and waved his hand.

"Beizhou has An City, Ping City, Le City and Tai City—four cities, plus Humen Pass; Humen Pass need not be considered, since most of the troops stationed there are the Yang Family Army, and Old Master Yang's word carries more weight than anything."

But in those four cities the soldier‑households occupy the majority, so each city does have a prefect and a commander‑in‑chief, yet in the end they are merely people who collect salaries without doing any work.

To take Beizhou, a direct attack is the worst policy; the best approach is to sow discord, for the prefects and commanders of those four cities are not of one mind with the populace and soldier‑households below; officials only think about how to make money, completely disregarding the lives of the civilians and soldiers.

Now the imperial court is under Sun Zhongquan's control; as long as the border isn't invaded by a major Wu force, no one will pay attention, and given the uncertain situation, these few prefects and commanders will certainly prepare both options.

"Whether they align with Sun Zhongquan or flee at a moment's notice, they need a great deal of silver, which can only be extorted from the populace and soldier‑households."

Having said that, Shen Tianxing paused, poured himself a cup of tea and drank; among those present, only Zhou Gongjin reacted first.

"The lord's meaning is that if we send some people into those four cities, we can fan the flames and let the conflict spiral out of control; then, when we launch a military campaign.

"With Old General Yang and General Yue present, those soldier‑households and civilians will choose to side with them, even opening the city gates wide, letting us march straight in to crush the stubborn holdouts; the rest will surrender easily."

Shen Tianxing smiled and nodded; the others also suddenly understood—winning without battle, they could gain not only the support of the soldier‑households and civilians but also most of Beizhou's troops, thereby strengthening themselves.

"This idea is not bad, but who should we send? Besides Zhu Zhishan and Gongjin, nobody here is up to the task, yet we have four cities and still lack enough people."

"Moreover, with five cities now, whether internal affairs or policy implementation, we cannot do without those two; if they both leave, some things would become hard to manage."

What Yang Tieqiang said was also the most realistic situation; Shen Tianxing nodded and had already made a decision.

"That's not difficult either; I'll go find a few people with this talent—not only can someone stay behind to help, but someone can also go handle this major undertaking."

Shen Tianxing had made his decision; anyway, he now had enough killing points, so he planned to buy strategist summon cards to summon four advanced strategists and two divine strategists, which would exactly cost 1,000,000 killing points.

"You always bring too many surprises—then I'll leave it to you. We'll still discuss how to attack Wuzhou after we take Beizhou; over there is the Lei Family Army, and Lei Wufeng doesn't give an old man any face at all."

Yang Tieqiang truly worried himself sick for Shen Tianxing; Shen Tianxing didn't linger, he left the main hall, went to the garden, and from the system mall purchased four advanced strategist summon cards and two divine strategist summon cards.

"System, summon four advanced strategists and two divine strategists."