As Chu Dingjiang and An Jiu appeared before Ling Ziyue, his weariness instantly vanished as he eagerly asked, “What did you discover?”

“There are twenty explosive crossbows hidden in the cellars of Xijin Prefecture,” Chu Dingjiang replied gravely. “I’m unfamiliar with their structure. Though I could move freely in Xijin, I couldn’t risk destroying them. General, you should request someone from the court who can dismantle these weapons.”

An Jiu understood that explosive crossbows were similar to bombs, requiring an expert to disarm them. Reckless tampering could cause premature detonation. Though Chu Dingjiang cared for the world, he hadn’t reached the level of self-sacrifice for it.

“The Weapons Bureau… Ah!” Ling Ziyue sighed heavily. “Thank you both for your efforts!”

The Weapons Bureau truly lacked such talent!

The Song Dynasty valued craftsmanship, but it was still considered a lesser path compared to traditional Confucian studies. To enter official service, one still had to pass the imperial examinations. Thus, many with talent in this area abandoned it for more traditional pursuits.

Chu Dingjiang was about to leave after reporting but noticed An Jiu seemed eager to say more. He paused, waiting for her.

“I know someone well-versed in this,” An Jiu said, thinking of Lou Xiaowu. “Lou—”

“Even if the general knew this person, it might be difficult to request their help,” Chu Dingjiang interrupted, addressing Ling Ziyue. “General, just explain the severity of the situation. The higher-ups will find someone suitable.”

Ling Ziyue nodded, but his gaze lingered on An Jiu for a moment.

Seeing this, Chu Dingjiang advised, “A general should be ruthless, unjust, not seek profit, nor fame. I hope you understand this, General.”

Not seeking profit or fame was understandable, but Ling Ziyue was confused. “What do you mean by ruthless and unjust?”

“A general must be hard-hearted, prepared to die in battle. The same goes for those under him. Benevolence is the emperor’s duty! By unjust, I don’t mean being disloyal, but rather not letting personal bonds cloud judgment in times of war,” Chu Dingjiang stared at him intently. “Be ruthless, calm, indifferent to personal gain, and not swayed by sentiment. General Ling, you must achieve this.”

Chu Dingjiang’s words struck Ling Ziyue like a thunderbolt. His foggy mind suddenly cleared. He realized the emperor’s wariness of him wasn’t just about the troops under his command, but also the adoration he’d gained from the people for securing the border, and his reputation among the soldiers. The founding emperor had been a military man who overthrew the previous dynasty. How could the current emperor not worry about someone following that example and seizing the Zhao family’s throne?

Ling Ziyue broke into a cold sweat. All these years, he thought he’d done well, and inevitably harbored some resentment towards the emperor’s suspicions. But now he realized… his downfall was in doing too well!

The emperor wanted a sharp blade, not a legendary war god with widespread fame!

Reflecting carefully, he realized he had cared about how history would record his merits. While the emperor was suspicious, he used the people’s support as motivation to persevere. Now he saw… he had been fundamentally wrong from the start.

Ling Ziyue listened to Chu Dingjiang as if receiving a stern lecture, bowing respectfully. “Thank you for your guidance, sir.”

Chu Dingjiang nodded and led An Jiu away.

“By your logic, with General Ling’s popularity soaring, the emperor is quite wronged?” An Jiu remarked.

“Soaring?”

“It means when he appears, people’s cheers could blow the roof off.”

“Interesting phrase,” Chu Dingjiang said. “But it’s not about his popularity. Wouldn’t you feel wronged if an incompetent person sat at the pinnacle of power?”

Chu Dingjiang believed the current emperor’s actions were far from admirable. “With such a great empire, instead of focusing on defeating Liao and Western Xia, he dabbles in Taoist cultivation! He’s ruined the respectable Taoist traditions! Unable to control capable generals, he resorts to suspicion and precaution!”

An Jiu agreed but wondered, “Why conquer Western Xia?”

In her impression, wasn’t that country a formidable enemy?

“Where there are countries, there are conflicts. Any visible nation should be conquered. That’s what an emperor should do,” Chu Dingjiang stated matter-of-factly.

An Jiu thought to herself, someone from the Warring States period indeed thinks differently, with such a strong sense of aggression!

“Why didn’t you let me speak earlier?” An Jiu set aside the topic of conquest. “If Lou Xiaowu could help, it could save many lives.”

Chu Dingjiang explained, “The relationship between the emperor and General Ling is delicate, ready to snap at any moment. If Ling could inquire about the Konghe family and accurately point out the weapons expert, how do you think the emperor would react?”

“It’s his choice to speak,” An Jiu said. Though she didn’t know Ling Ziyue well, she believed that an iron-blooded general who could endure suspicion and dedicate his life to guarding the border, whether out of benevolence or desire for fame, would likely risk deeper suspicion to save thousands of soldiers’ lives.

Chu Dingjiang smiled, “You’re the one who’s truly ruthless, unjust, and indifferent to fame and profit! You’re so righteous about doing things that harm others without benefiting yourself.”

An Jiu pouted.

“Don’t be upset. This time, if Ling Ziyue specifically requests Lou Xiaowu, to save countless soldiers’ lives, he’ll eventually be eliminated by the emperor,” Chu Dingjiang said, smiling at her. “Guess how many people will die if Ling Ziyue is gone and the Liao cavalry shatters the Song empire?”

An Jiu’s expression grew serious as she pondered this. Though she internally agreed with Chu Dingjiang, she stubbornly retorted, “Is the entire Song Dynasty so weak that it can’t survive without one man? How is that my problem?”

“Haha!” Chu Dingjiang pulled her into his arms, ruffling her hair vigorously. “An Jiu, you’re truly interesting.”

The Song Dynasty had no shortage of brave men, and it wasn’t impossible to cultivate a second Ling Ziyue, but it would take time.

As they were talking, Chu Dingjiang sensed several people approaching and released An Jiu.

An Jiu, her hair disheveled, turned to see Gao Dazhuang and his group arriving.

Gao Dazhuang looked at her and said in a mocking tone, “Well, well, have you completely lost your mind?”

An Jiu’s attention, however, was focused on the two women accompanying them.

They were the “Weiyue” members she had rescued in Xijin Prefecture.

The two Weiyue women also recognized An Jiu. One of them, a blue-clad young woman with a veil, bowed and said, “So our benefactor is a colleague. Thank you for your help!”

Chu Dingjiang, who usually remained calm and taciturn around strangers, found himself speaking on An Jiu’s behalf, as she often became silent in his presence. He replied nonchalantly, “It was nothing.”

“Sir, these two wish to join the battle,” Gao Dazhuang reported.

Chu Dingjiang responded, “You’re in charge here. No need to ask me.”

Gao Dazhuang didn’t flatter him further. He sighed and addressed the two young women, “I’ll introduce you to the general. The rest is up to you to decide.”

The two women bowed, saying, “Thank you, sir.”

The Weiyue often faced dangerous missions with little chance of survival. Success often meant death, and failure guaranteed it. These two Weiyue members had failed to assassinate Yelü Jinglie and their fate was sealed. Their desperate escape wasn’t for survival, but to live long enough to kill a few more Liao soldiers.