Chapter Twenty Interrogation

  The gunman keeps his word, today's update is one more chapter, four chapters now!

  This year's winter arrived unusually early, just entering December, the frost began, about half a month earlier than previous years. The wind became even more fierce, and at dawn and after nightfall, it started to feel like it could blow into people's bones. The sun was rarely seen during the day, and Shang Haibo told Li Qing with a worried expression that if it didn't snow by mid-December, it would be the first snow in ten years.

  "Does sir also understand the study of weather and climate?" Li Qing asked tentatively.

  Shang Haibo's mouth curled up into an arc, and he smiled: "I've read a lot of books from various schools of thought, but I'm not proficient in most of them."

  Li Qing looked at this seemingly carefree middle-aged scholar with a profound gaze, "Sir, you are a great talent, why can't you find satisfaction in the Shou Ning Hou Mansion?"

  "Ha ha, what is considered a great talent? I'm not good at following rules and my words are sharp and piercing, often making people lose face. Luckily, General Shou has a broad mind and can tolerate me eating a free meal. If it were somewhere else, I would have been kicked out long ago. This time, I came to join the general because I had no other options. I'm not good at farming or physical labor, and I couldn't bear to be a teacher - first, I wouldn't be able to tolerate the boredom, and second, others would fear that I'd mislead their children. Truly, I can be considered a useless scholar!"

  Li Qing burst out laughing and said: "Sir, you're quite interesting. I thought I was a big shot, that's why sir came to me. It turns out it was just for the sake of getting a meal."

  The corners of Shang Haibo's mouth curved even deeper, "Originally just wanted to mix a meal to eat, thought it wouldn't last long, then had to think of another way out. Now it seems that I was wrong, General this bowl of rice, although not very good to eat, but has a lot of flavor, some people have gotten used to the taste."

  Li Qing looked at Shang Haibo thoughtfully: "What do you think of Mr. Lu?" He wanted to see how Shang Haibo would evaluate Lu Yimeng, and also to understand Lu's abilities from a different perspective. The two had traveled together for some time, and initially it seemed that Lu was highly valued in the Shouning Hou Mansion, but as they spent more days together, Li Qing discovered that Shang Haibo's knowledge far surpassed Lu's.

  "This Lu brother!" Shang Haibo smiled with a pursed mouth, "He has the ability, but his vision is somewhat shallow and can't see through some things. However, from what I know, Lu brother is quite good at internal affairs."

  "Which aspect of yourself do you think is the strongest?" Li Qing asked persistently.

  Shang Haibo glanced at Li Qing, who was pressing in aggressively, and his expression also became serious. "I may not be able to compare with Brother Lu in terms of attention to detail, but when it comes to grasping the overall situation and deploying grand strategies, I don't dare to belittle myself."

  This translation suits the evaluation of both parties, and it also coincides with Li Qing's idea. "Why don't you scholars take Wu Hou and collect the 50 states of Guan Shan? Do you gentlemen have any intention of eating this bowl of rice here?"

  Shang Haibo's eyes flashed with a sharp light, which was immediately deeply hidden, "As you wish, I dare not ask you."

  The two men looked at each other and smiled, this sentence determined the positions of Shang Haibo and Lu Yiming in Changshengying, with Shang in charge of external affairs and Lu in charge of internal affairs.

  "Can Li's family hold on?" Li Qing asked.

  "A short time can be relied on, but a long time cannot be sustained." said Shang Haibo.

  "Can Great Chu be preserved?"

  "When a powerful family dominates politics, imperial power declines, and turmoil arises. Once something happens, it will inevitably collapse with a loud crash."

  Li Qing was silent for a moment, "What should I do?"

  Shang Haibo flipped his eyelid, "Is it too early for General Shang to mention these things?"

  Li Qinglan snorted, "What should be said at this point?"

  "For now, the first priority is to stand firm. If we can't even do that, then everything else is pointless and General Li will have to return home as a mere spectator. Only after standing firm can we plan for Dingzhou. With Dingzhou in hand, we can set our sights on the world."

  "Can Dingzhou be taken?" Li Qing pressed on relentlessly.

  "If the general gets through this pass, Dingzhou's Xiao Yuanshan and Fang Wenshan will not be a concern. Within three to five years, Dingzhou can be obtained with a flick of the wrist." Shang Haibo's expression did not change, as if taking Dingzhou was just a matter of flipping his palm.

  "Alright, this stage is almost over. Mr. Shang, you'd better think carefully about how we can secure Dingzhou. I think we have at most three years to do it, otherwise it will be too late." Li Qing glanced sideways at Shang Haibo. "I'll go take a walk around the slums."

  He didn't wait for Shang Haibo to respond, and instead beckoned to Tang Hu and Yang Yidao, who were waiting not far away. He took large strides to leave the place. As he saw Li Qing's departing figure, Shang Haibo's narrow eyes slightly narrowed. "Indeed, he is not a person who is willing to be under someone else's roof. The Li family thought that he would definitely serve them, but they were wrong. However, what does this have to do with me? Isn't it better this way? I've had enough of the old aristocratic families' hypocrisy. But why must it be within three years? Does he think he can gain enough power in just three years?" He couldn't figure out the answer and turned around to walk back, but his heart was also filled with joy. Today's conversation had confirmed his position as the chief strategist of Changsheng Camp. If he wanted to achieve something, he must work hard for Li Qing. Shang Haibo knew his own personality flaws. Someone like him, even if talented, would find it difficult to be tolerated by those old aristocratic families. Only someone like Li Qing, who was new and urgently needed talent, but also had a broad heart, could use him. He had spent over a decade drifting aimlessly, finally finding a place where he could stretch his ambitions. Naturally, he must cherish this opportunity. Although the starting point was a bit low, judging from Li Qing's character, although he was currently struggling, given time, he would surely soar to great heights. At that time, it would also be Shang Haibo's chance to realize his own ambitions.

  Shang Haibo was thinking of something, but Li Qing didn't know what it was. However, he felt happy in his heart because Shang Haibo was a talented person and the kind of talent he wanted most. Not only did he have a thorough understanding of the national situation, but he also had a deep mind. With such a person, as long as you give him a platform, he will make a big impact if he speaks out. It's strange that such a person couldn't get reused in the Li family. Is it because the old aristocratic family has such a rich talent? Li Qing shook his head and didn't comment. Even if Lu Yiming was indeed as Shang Haibo said, he still needed him very much. However, Lu Yiming and Shang Haibo were vastly different. He seemed to be very loyal to the Li family now. How could he think of a way to completely win him over? As for overcoming this difficulty and annexing Dingzhou in three years, Li Qing was confident. His mind still had many things that even the most outstanding talents of this era couldn't think of. With these, how difficult would it be to plot a small Dingzhou? The current situation made Li Qing feel extremely difficult.

  Unconsciously, they had already arrived at the shantytown. Li Qing's originally cheerful mood gradually dissipated as he ventured deeper into the shantytown, replaced by an unprecedented sense of heaviness. How would they get through this current predicament? His mind kept turning over and over with only one question: food, food!

  The refugees in the slum discovered Li Qing's arrival, countless people ran out of their low huts, knelt down on the ground, and looked up at this young general who had saved them from the brink of starvation.

  "Long live the General!"

  "Long live the General for a hundred years!"

  The sound of blessings warmed Li Qing's mood slightly, now these people were his subjects, he had to let them live on, not only let them live on, but also make them live a good life. Li Qing looked at the sea of black heads and thought to himself.

  These people are their own first pot of gold in this era, and they will also carry themselves towards higher and farther places.