"I don’t want your things, but I want you to agree to three conditions of mine." Mi Wen smiled cunningly, making Ye Shikai feel very uneasy. What kind of lord is like Mi Wen in this world?

"What conditions? Tell me, and I’ll consider it."

"I’m not negotiating with you; I’m informing you. Even if these three conditions are harsh, you don’t have the power to refuse. You can only accept the conditions I propose."

"This... you wouldn’t propose some extremely harsh conditions, right? Ahem, Mi Wen, we’ve known each other for so long, though our friendship isn’t as deep as yours with General Huo and those old aides, it’s still quite strong. You wouldn’t..."

"If I remember correctly, our first meeting was when you disrupted my grain market business, right?" Mi Wen said coldly. That was the first time they met, though... it wasn’t very friendly, even considered a ’black history’. Back then, Ye Shikai didn’t know Mi Wen’s identity or her real name, while Mi Wen only left behind the three words ’Hua Liandie’ as a ’Jianghu name’.

"That was a misunderstanding. No, you manipulated the grain market, that was your fault in the first place." Ye Shikai regretted it right after saying it. To reprimand his ’superior’ like this was simply seeking death.

"Ahem, but our relationship was quite good afterward, and when I got married, didn’t you also come to see it?" Ye Shikai continued.

"No matter what you say, those matters are in the past. People who keep talking about emotions are really annoying." Mi Wen waved her long sleeve and returned to her seat, looking down at him like a queen.

"Disbanding the troops on your own is a capital crime. As I said, death penalty is inevitable, but punishment cannot be avoided, so these three conditions, you must agree to." Mi Wen spoke resolutely, and Ye Shikai, having no other choice, had to agree.

"Alright, I agree. Happy now? What are your three conditions?"

"Oh, you were resisting just now, and now you’re so eager to ask me."

"Well, the sooner I die, the sooner I’m reborn. The quicker I fulfill these three conditions, the sooner I can free myself." Ye Shikai sighed bitterly. He initially assumed Mi Wen wouldn’t kill him, at most just causing some ’skin pain’. Now, not only did he owe her three conditions, but he also owed her a big favor. However, if these can exchange for the freedom of over five thousand brothers, it’s not a loss. Just hope these three conditions aren’t too excessive...

"I haven’t thought of them yet, but once I do, no matter when and where, you must agree. And as long as I haven’t mentioned all the conditions, you’re not allowed to leave."

"Then if you never say them, does that mean I can never leave?" Ye Shikai retorted.

"Rest assured, it won’t be long. By the way, do you want to leave?" Mi Wen’s tone suddenly became heavy, rendering Ye Shikai speechless, unsure how to reply. Unknowingly, it had been a year and a half since he traveled from the modern era to here, and many memories of the modern world were already blurry. But he still remembered many important things. As long as he remembered he came from the modern world, there was an intrinsic desire in his heart to return.

"Ahem, it’s not that. It’s just that Ling’er still needs my care. Once the war is over, I want to find a peaceful place to settle down with her."

"Anyway, since you’ve agreed, you must abide by the agreement." Mi Wen nodded, and seeing Ye Shikai agree, a smile appeared on her face.

"Let’s change the topic. How’s the situation now? The Qin Army should have retreated, right?"

"Our army has already left Ba Shu. If the Qin Army chases, they’ll have to fight us on the plains. With Wang Li’s current troops, he’s bound to lose. Moreover, he originally came from Xianyang just to resist our army. Now that we’ve left, he should return to Xianyang to report."

"That’s good. I’ve already sent an urgent order to Huo Ziqing, asking him to lead the remaining troops back to the Chu Territory to rest and recuperate, and prepare for next year’s battles."

"Wait a moment." Ye Shikai said loudly, "Are you really planning to start another war?"

"Of course, our army lost this time, and the Qin Army will surely be on guard. Delaying will lead to changes, so I plan to send troops to Ba Shu again next year."

"This... Mi Wen, oh no, Lord, this time you mobilized a hundred thousand troops to attack Ba Shu, causing the people to suffer from the ravages of war. Their lives are already hard enough. If you want to go to war, you should at least wait three to five years. Moreover, what if the Qin Army sends more troops?" Ye Shikai advised. Baimu Village is a typical example. The villagers suffered from natural disasters and man-made calamities, their village doctor fled in fear, and the city clinics closed one after another. When they caught the plague, there was no doctor to treat them. Additionally, stray soldiers from both the Qin and Chu armies occasionally harassed them, posing life threats to the villagers. In summary, if another war breaks out, the people won’t be able to bear it.

"A long pain is worse than a short one. If we don’t attack now, the casualties will be greater if we try again in the future. Moreover... I’ve received reliable information that the Qin Army won’t be able to reinforce Ba Shu next year. In fact, they simply lack the capability."

"Why do you say that?" Ye Shikai asked curiously, an ominous feeling creeping in.

"I’ve received intelligence that the Wolf Clan in the north is gathering an army of two hundred thousand, preparing to move south to the Central Plains after next year."

"What?" Ye Shikai exclaimed, startling Mi Wen.

"Is this information... really reliable?"

"Of course, I have my own intelligence network. This information is absolutely accurate. The Wolf Clan is the greatest threat to the Qin Empire. Once their two hundred thousand troops move south, Xianyang will definitely reinforce the Great Wall defense. By then, Ba Shu will be left defenseless, making it the perfect time to attack." Mi Wen said with a proud smile.

"Why don’t you reconsider?"

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

"How did it go, Old Ye? Did the Lord not blame you?" As soon as Ye Shikai stepped out of the tent, Shangguan Jian quickly approached.

"If she really wanted to kill me, do you think I could still walk out alive?" Ye Shikai smiled bitterly. He originally wanted to persuade Mi Wen to give up the idea of deploying troops next year, but she was steadfast in her decision, and saying more would be futile.

"Didn’t the Lord give you any punishment?"

"Rest assured, it’s nothing serious. At most, she’ll dock my salary for a year." Ye Shikai said dismissively.

"We disbanded the entire elite of the Chu Army. Does the Lord only dock your salary for a year?" Shangguan Jian obviously didn’t believe it, but since Ye Shikai insisted, he had no choice but to believe. Clearly, since Mi Wen didn’t intend to take their lives, she still valued their usefulness.