Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Li Nianfan continued to head to the city center once he left the bookstore.
It was busier than the Fallen Town. Li Nianfan noticed a very important factor as to why it was so. It was because of the school.
A lot of people came here to send their kids to school. Some of them were even kids of cultivators. Apart from that, Li Nianfan also saw a lot of monks.
He continued forward. There was a City God Temple with many people inside it.
They were almost at the city center. They would arrive at the school and the Xia Kingdom Palace soon.
They stood outside the school and listened to the teachings and readings that were going on inside the classrooms. Through the window, they saw a bunch of kids looking up at Meng Junliang as he was teaching. Li Nianfan had to smile at such a sight.
Meng Junliang sensed something while he was teaching. He turned and looked. He was instantly overjoyed. He subtly bowed at Li Nianfan and continued with his lecture.
The class ended earlier than usual because the teacher did not delay the class any further. The kids were excited, acting like birds flying out of their cage. They cheered joyfully.
Meng Junliang walked over and said respectfully, “Greetings from Junliang to Mr. Li!”
Li Nianfan had to compliment him, “The Xia Kingdom truly changed a lot. It’s absolutely successful now. Seems like you and King Zhou made a lot of effort.”
Meng Junliang hurriedly said, “It’s all because of your good teachings, sir.”
He was not being humble. He was speaking from the heart.
“Nah, executing the ideas is harder than coming up with them,” Li Nianfan shrugged it off. He smiled and said, “We’ve been bored recently so we decided to go out and about. Pardon the disturbance.”
“Not at all, not at all!” Meng Junliang shook his head continuously. “Your visit is a blessing for the Xia Kingdom, sir. Please, follow me.”
Meng Junliang felt like he was a student presenting his work to the teacher.
It was much more convenient with Meng Junliang as a tour guide.
“Mr. Li, this is the General Training Class.” Meng Junliang introduced class after class. He brought everyone to a yard and said, “The students here are older in comparison, and they study war strategies daily. At the same time, we train them to fight and grow stronger. The students with good performances are promising future generals.”
Li Nianfan nodded. “Nice job.”
They could hear the sounds of people yelling before they even reached the class. They sounded legit.
“The students are probably going through battlefield training at this time.” Meng Junliang smiled while he waved. A soldier immediately made way for them.
The soldier was quiet. He had dark skin and a knife scar on his face. He was respectful towards Meng Junliang.
The training field was huge. The kids were about the same age as Nanan, which was why Nanan was so intrigued. She observed thrillingly.
However, she had to chuckle and laugh after a while.
Li Nianfan slapped the back of her head.
Slap!
“What are you laughing at? So disrespectful.”
“I can’t help it.” Nanan rubbed her head and pouted. “Their training’s too basic. I thought it was ridiculous.”
“It’s simple but effective. We soldiers naturally don’t go for glamorous spells like cultivators do!” said the soldier with the scar. He sounded pissed. He did not like what Nanan said.
Nanan scrunched her nose. She immediately debated, “I’m not talking about spells. If I was an ordinary girl, none of you could defeat me either.”
The soldier with the scar did not look happy at all. He sneered, “This set of moves come from the cumulative experiences of our countless soldiers that fought in the bloody battlefield. Cultivators without spells are like tigers without teeth. How would you match up with us?”
He was mindful of Meng Junliang so he was already being polite about it. Otherwise, he would have blown his top off. In other words, he was not convinced at all.
He was mad. ‘How could the army advisor bring someone like that in here? This is one of the most important places in the Xia Kingdom. The bigshots of the kingdom can come in anytime but outsiders are forbidden.’
Suddenly, Meng Junliang said, “Lin Hu, apologize!”
His voice was not loud but it sounded like he meant it without hesitation. His voice was low. Anyone who knew Meng Junliang knew that he was truly angry.
“I…” Lin Hu looked like he was wronged. However, he still saluted and bowed. “I’m sorry!”
Li Nianfan also said, “Nanan, you should quickly apologize to General Lin, too.”
Nanan also did not want to apologize. Still, she said, “Sorry.”
Then, she quietly told Li Nianfan, “But brother, they’re indeed poorly trained. It’s far from what you’ve taught me.”
Li Nianfan shook his head. “This is the basic respect between people! Remember to be kind, don’t be that rude ever again.”
Nanan had special training. She learned more about fighting strategies than spell strategies.
Li Nianfan taught her some martial arts skills. It was not comparable with learning spells but it was suitable for Nanan. It should be useful for her to learn it.
“Oh.” Nanan drooped her head and batted her eyes.
They could not stay at the General Training Class after that small dispute. Meng Junliang brought them to the palace.
Meng Junliang felt guilty and said in a regretful tone, “Mr. Li, soldiers are usually straightforward and reckless. I truly am sorry for offending you.”
Li Nianfan shook his head. “You don’t have to apologize. It’s Nanan’s fault.”
Meng Junliang continued, “Mr. Li, I’ve already ordered someone to inform King Zhou. He should be here soon.”
Li Nianfan said, “King Zhou must be busy right now. It’s not necessary.”
Meng Junliang said without hesitation, “No, your arrival’s of the utmost importance, Mr. Li.”
Meanwhile, at the palace.
Zhou Yunwu was standing in front of a sandbox. By the side were the generals and advisors. They were discussing the opposing strategy against the Southern brutes.
Next to the sandbox was a map of the Xia Kingdom. They had separated the city areas and marked down the general situation.
They analyzed the war as if they were attending a morning meeting to discuss politics. They were busy.
It was of national importance. Normally, no one could simply disturb them.
Zhou Yunwu was frowning hard. He looked very tired. He yelled in a low and frustrated voice, “Half a month. It’s been half a month. This is what you all can give me?!”
An elder looked troubled. He slightly pursed his lips and said softly, “King, the situation of the city’s too vague and broad. Population, food, money, family. Even the traffic of visitors is incalculable in such a short amount of time.”
Zhou Yunwu stopped him with a wave. “What about the situation on the frontlines? It’s also been half a month, there are no more reports! Not only that, it seems that our attacks have turned into defense. What’s going on with that?”
A general said in a helpless tone, “King, the more we go on, the longer the war will be delayed. It’s truly to our disadvantage. Also, we have to attack and send troops for defense. It’s a bit hard to focus on both sides.”
Zhou Yunwu glared at everyone. He rubbed his temples and asked, “These problems are the same old problems. Does anyone here know how to solve it?”
Everyone went silent.
Huff—
Zhou Yunwu sighed. He plopped on the bench and said, exhausted, “As the saying goes, ‘it’s easy to attack a city, it’s hard to defend a city, it’s even harder to manage a city, and it’s the hardest to rule a country’! It’s indeed so, it’s indeed so!”
It was naturally harder to rule as his country expanded. There were too many issues at hand. They could not solve the issues without more issues coming up.
Zhou Yunwu felt his mind was in disorder. He did not know how to deal with it at all.
“Think. Think about it. No one will step out of this room until we reach a solution today!”
Suddenly, a soldier ran in. He broke the tension in the air. “Report.
“King, the army advisor sent me to deliver a message. He says that Mr. Li’s here.”
Everyone frowned. They felt like they had been disturbed.
Only Zhou Yunwu stood up suddenly. He exclaimed, “Mr. Li’s here? I have to go greet him!”
Then, he was ready to go out. He ignored everyone in the room.
“This…” Everyone was stumped. Mainly because of the way Zhou Yunwu was acting. They felt as if he smelled like a bootlicker.
That was not a good sign.
An elder had to go and stop him. “King, it’s a crucial time for our country right now. I think we should place importance on the big picture. Now that we’re all here to discuss something serious, any guests, even the important ones, should be held off until later.”
“Agreed, Your Highness,” someone immediately agreed. “Now that the Xia Kingdom’s considered a successful country, we are like the sun in the sky. Even Immortals have to impress you, Your Highness. There’s no need to personally greet whoever that visits, no matter how important they are.”
“Your Highness, you represent the humans. Please, be mindful of your image.”
…
“Ugh, what do you all know?!” Zhou Yunwu glared at everyone and scoffed. He left.
