Ye Shikai was uncertain if He Linghan understood the concept of a cultivator. He could only hope that this secret might offer her some peace of mind.

"In fact, if it weren’t for the meteorite helping me recover my Inner Strength, I would have long since perished with those five thousand brothers in East County," Ye Shikai sighed bitterly. The scenes of the Battle of Dongjun flashed through his mind, the most brutal battle he had experienced since arriving in the Qin Dynasty. All five thousand brothers he personally led perished in the battle, none surviving. At that moment, he too felt certain of his death, but it seemed like fate was playing a cruel joke on him. Instead of dying, he was restored with Inner Strength, left to bear all responsibilities alone. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"Promise me, next time, you won’t put yourself in such danger again, okay?" Although He Linghan hadn’t witnessed it firsthand, she could imagine the perilous situation, surrounded by fifty to sixty thousand enemies. Even a cultivator would be startled by such a formation.

"Don’t worry."

The two embraced, holding onto each other for a long time. In these chaotic times, living a peaceful life indeed proved to be difficult...

That night, He Linghan insisted that Ye Shikai recount the course of the battle in East County. Although it had long passed, she was still deeply worried and fearful of the situation. She was only a breath away from becoming a "widow." Ye Shikai tried to gloss over the gruesome and dangerous details, but she listened with agitation, tightly gripping his arm at critical parts, refusing to let go.

In truth, Ye Shikai wasn’t particularly decisive. In major matters, he remained somewhat indecisive. At that time, even before Han Hao assembled the large army, he shared the emperor’s secret orders with him. When the ninety thousand troops of the two counties had yet to gather, if Ye Shikai had acted first and launched an early uprising, not only could he easily have saved those twelve thousand civilians, but he could have also avoided many casualties.

Ye Shikai pinned all his hopes on persuasion, wishing to resolve matters without bloodshed, but as the Main General, he failed to see through Han Hao’s essence. No matter who tried to persuade him, Han Hao was determined to execute the emperor’s secret orders, an endeavor doomed to fail when trying to negotiate with a tiger.

For the past two months, Ye Shikai spent most of his time at home accompanying He Linghan. In the military camp, Shangguan Jian, Man Cang, and Wan Qi Yuan took charge by training the soldiers, recruiting, and expanding the forces, so he was not worried.

.................................

"As a dignified master, why didn’t you let me find you at the government office and instead summoned me to this place?" Ye Shikai asked, taking a sip of tea. Mi Wen had issued an urgent order, summoning him back to Linxiang City from the military camp, but instead of calling him to the government office, it was to the most renowned teahouse in Linxiang City.

"Have you forgotten? Back then... we often met in teahouses for discussions," Mi Wen replied, and the two shared a knowing smile. At that time, they were friends who could speak freely, but now, they were monarch and minister. Perhaps Mi Wen felt Ye Shikai drifting away, so choosing a relaxed place might help them open up.

"Alright, what do you want to talk about?"

"How many people do you have under your command now?" Mi Wen inquired.

"Approximately... twenty thousand. You should already know, Shangguan Jian has reported it," Ye Shikai replied.

"How is their training coming along?"

"Not bad, they can manage in battle, but some things can’t be trained in the camp. People need to be on the battlefield, like gaining ferocity and courage," Ye Shikai assessed. Soldiers were easy to train, but without battlefield experience, they remained mere recruits.

"Soon, you’ll have to head to Southern County. I called you today to prepare you mentally," Mi Wen informed.

"Hmm, I figured as much." Ye Shikai nodded. He had anticipated this. Two months had passed in the blink of an eye, and the three-month deadline was nearing. He constantly thought about when they’d depart, feeling both eager and reluctant for that day to arrive.

"So, don’t you want to stay home with Miss He?" Mi Wen countered.

"Well, of course I do, but you probably wouldn’t agree. Furthermore, as a General, if I resigned now, it would completely unsettle the new recruits’ morale," Ye Shikai replied calmly, knowing Mi Wen was testing him, though there was no need.

"Alright, since you’re prepared, let’s discuss the upcoming matters," Mi Wen said, shifting the topic. "This time to Southern County, it’s to resist the southward advancement of the Qin Army. It’s of great significance, so I’m going too, to command the battle."

"As you wish," Ye Shikai responded indifferently.

"Do you really not care?" Mi Wen asked, displeased with his attitude.

"Ahem, of course, if the master is going to Southern County herself, the soldiers will undoubtedly fight bravely," Ye Shikai replied, having already foreseen Mi Wen would personally venture there. A master who liked to be hands-on wouldn’t miss such a battle.

"Moreover, I’ve decided that in six months, I’ll personally lead a hundred thousand troops to conquer Nanyang County."

"What?"

Ye Shikai, who was once calm, couldn’t stay seated, abruptly standing up.

"Nanyang County houses a significant Qin Army force, and heading north from Nanyang County leads to the Central Plains, where the Qin Army will continuously support them," Ye Shikai said excitedly. In such circumstances, whether Mi Wen brought a hundred thousand troops or Meng Tian led them, victory was improbable.

"Are you insane?"

"Certainly not. I’ve pondered for a long time. With the current chaos in the Central Plains, missing this opportunity means all previous efforts would be in vain. As long as the Central Plains remain under the court’s control, even if we seize Shu and Han Zhong, we can’t contend with them. This opportunity is too valuable; fleeting as a moment," Mi Wen explained.

"Absolutely not. Doing so would merely sacrifice thousands of soldiers’ lives in vain..."

"Silence!" Mi Wen suddenly shouted, interrupting Ye Shikai.

"If the Qin Army suppresses the Central Plains uprising, then it truly fails. My decision is firm and unchangeable."

"Qin Army can’t suppress the Central Plains uprising,"

"What makes you say that?" Mi Wen retorted, leaving Ye Shikai momentarily speechless. He couldn’t claim it’s "history."

"Mi Wen, please calm down. Trust me, don’t be so impulsive."

"I’m not impulsive. On the contrary, I’m very calm now."

"Lies."

Mi Wen was not behaving rationally now. From what Ye Shikai knew of her, someone so composed wasn’t supposed to impulsively order an attack on Nanyang County.