Shu Yao, long time no see

Wang Ming: "???"

Wu Xingzhou continued, "General, not only that, but my natural constitution is quite different. After doing that sort of thing, my physique and spirit actually become even better."

"For this, I even specially studied many ancient texts."

"It really is highly effective!"

"For example, harmonizing the spirit, replenishing the brain with essence, nourishing the blood and strengthening the bones, enriching the organs with fluids, moving ten times without releasing, solidifying strength and energy, clearing the mind to communicate with the divine, achieving a healthy body and a long life..."

Pausing, Wu Xingzhou said, "If you are interested, General, I can compile this into a booklet and present it to you!"

"No need, no need!" Wang Ming hurriedly waved his hands.

With so many people in the military camp, why talk about this?

His face immediately turned serious as he said, "Wu Xingzhou, since you have sincerely come to surrender, I will accept you on behalf of the Duke. Next, the attack on Pingling Market will depend on you."

"The amount of merit you can contribute will determine how heavily you will be valued by the Duke in the future."

"You should understand this, right?"

As Wang Ming said this, he was ecstatic inside.

Previously, hearing about the deeds of this Sigma male Wu Xingzhou made him feel that Pingling Market would be hard to conquer. He only had a seventy percent certainty at most.

But now...

He was a hundred and twenty percent certain!

"Yes, General. Your subordinate will definitely work hard to establish merit!"

Wu Xingzhou quickly agreed, but his face turned slightly bitter as he said, "It's just... sigh, General, I'm afraid that even though I am familiar with Pingling Market, we will still have to put in a lot of effort."

Wang Ming was stunned for a moment and asked, "Why?"

Wu Xingzhou's face grew even more bitter. "I purely shot myself in the foot. I made the defense system of Pingling Market as solid as an iron bucket..."

"On my way to surrender, I carefully considered it, but... there really aren't any major loopholes. So, I'm afraid we will still have to fight at least one tough battle!"

...

In the main tent of the central army.

Ren Tianye put down the military report and looked at Zhang Shi in front of him.

He sighed and said earnestly, "Zhang Shi, I have always told you to understand the hopeless romantics of this world more, and to interact more with the Demon Suppression Division, but you have always superficially complied while secretly resisting."

"You think that marching and fighting rely on the techniques practiced on the grasslands. Now, Wang Ming has only taken a few days to capture both the Qingfeng Relay Station and Luoyan Ferry. It's much faster than you expected, isn't it?"

"So, do you understand now?"

"Adapting to the times is much more important than sticking to the old ways."

"The grasslands have their own way of fighting!"

"Yun Jing has Yun Jing's way of fighting!"

Ren Tianye was genuinely trying to teach him, using a glaringly obvious example, but Zhang Shi... was truly unconvinced!

Why?

Exactly why?

Why could Qingfeng Relay Station and Luoyan Ferry be instantly taken by Wang Ming?

The speed was simply outrageous!

Back when he roamed the grasslands, coming and going like the wind, he wasn't even this fast!

The more he fell into this mood, the more unconvinced Zhang Shi became!

Where exactly did he, Zhang Shi, fall short compared to Wang Ming?

So, he muttered, "I thank the Duke for your teachings, but... I still feel that Wang Ming's approach is wrong. He just got lucky and encountered problematic defenders at Qingfeng Relay and Luoyan Ferry, which allowed him to take them so quickly."

"But..."

"A person can be lucky for a moment, but can they be lucky for a lifetime?"

"According to our intelligence, the Pingling Market that Wang Ming is about to attack is very troublesome. That defender, Wu Xingzhou, should have no issues. He has strong personal abilities and extraordinary military discipline. I can guarantee that Wang Ming absolutely cannot take it down in a short time!"

Seeing Zhang Shi's firm and burning words, Ren Tianye couldn't help but sigh, and then threw the military report in his hand to Zhang Shi.

While Zhang Shi was reading it, he casually added a sentence.

"The defender of Pingling Market, Wu Xingzhou, has already surrendered!"

Zhang Shi: "???"

He quickly opened the military report to look. The more he read, the paler his face became.

His body was on the verge of collapsing.

Finally, he let out a furious roar: "What the hell!"

Ren Tianye smiled and said, "How about it?"

"Are you convinced now?"

"Not convinced!" Zhang Shi shouted loudly. "I can't be convinced, Duke. Furthermore..."

Zhang Shi's eyes settled, and he said, "Pingling Market has many merchants. Su Hong has already scouted the situation there and said that the defenses of Pingling Market have been under construction for over half a year. Right now, it is impregnable."

"Even if Wu Xingzhou has surrendered, Pingling Market has still not been taken. I feel that with Pingling Market's preparations, Wang Ming cannot easily handle it."

"Who knows, he might still have to use the gale-force assault tactics when the time comes!"

Since Zhang Shi was so resolute, Ren Tianye didn't say much more.

Fine!

Then just wait!

Anyway, he had a lot of confidence in Wang Ming.

He also had a lot of confidence in the hopeless romantics of Yun Jing.

When the time comes, let's see if Zhang Shi can wake up to reality.

Counting it all up, among the people who joined him in the uprising back then, Sun Xiang was the quickest to react, waking up early on, and even acting quite intensely and excitedly for a while.

Wang Ming woke up unknowingly.

Only this Zhang Shi... perhaps because he was guarding Ridge Cloud City at the very beginning, and was later thrown into the grasslands to fight purely conventional battles, he developed a bit of path dependence, and his brain couldn't turn the corner for a while.

However, Ren Tianye still had great expectations for Zhang Shi.

A talented general like Zhang Shi, who could carve out a world on the grasslands, once awakened, would become invincible and serve as a legendary, history-making general under his command!

...

Two days ago!

By the official road, Qin Shuyao stood in a red dress, watching a fine steed galloping wildly towards her, its four hooves flying.

On the horse sat a handsome young man, with a face like flawless jade and eyes like bright stars. His posture was as straight as a pine, and his appearance was exceptionally handsome. It was exactly the unforgettable first love Qin Shuyao had been waiting for so bitterly, her Ah Ping, Jiang Ping!

The moment she saw Jiang Ping, Qin Shuyao's heart bloomed with joy.

Many years ago, she was deeply in love with Jiang Ping, and they were the golden couple in everyone's eyes. But suddenly, Jiang Ping received a secret order from the Yun Jing imperial court, left Yun Jing to handle matters, and resolutely broke up with her.

Countless times her tears had soaked her pillow, and for countless nights she had tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

Now, she had finally waited for Jiang Ping again.

She was also in her best state.

Unable to hold back, she wanted to step forward and get close to Jiang Ping.

However...

It seemed a tiny accident occurred.

Jiang Ping rushed to her side, his face also full of excitement, wanting to dismount and reunite with her. But... the horse was moving too fast. Jiang Ping rode on the horse, desperately pulling the reins, but the horse wouldn't listen to his commands at all.

Frightened, Jiang Ping's expression turned from joy to terror. He even shouted loudly and flailed his arms and legs, but he just didn't know how to skillfully control the horse.

It wasn't until the servants chased after them and shouted that the horse was finally forced to stop. And Jiang Ping, still on the horse, immediately fell off the now-stationary beast out of pure panic.

Thump!

He crashed onto the ground!

His green robes were covered in mud, and his noble face was full of wretchedness.

Facing Qin Shuyao, who was quickly rushing over, he could only force his head up and squeeze out a smile that looked uglier than crying.

"Sister Shuyao, long time no see!"