"Haha, I like that advantage!"
After hearing the explanation, Lin Yi suddenly saw the light. This was indeed the most direct and fundamental advantage.
As expected of a poisonous strategist, he had hit the nail right on the head. Lin Yi truly loved this advantage!
It might not mean much to others, but for him, it was absolutely wonderful. After all, he could use it to farm rewards.
When dealing with foreign tribes, he did not need to worry about so many things and could slaughter without restraint. Take Northern Liang Royal City this time: if it had been barbarian territory instead, why would he have needed all these fancy tricks? He could simply have fought his way through.
That way, he could farm rewards at lightning speed, and his strength would grow even greater!
With that thought, he instructed, "Wenhe, in a while, we'll be heading to Xiliang. Whatever needs to be prepared, you're in charge of arranging it. I'll have Han Song assist you!"
Since they were going to Xiliang, they naturally had to prepare. He did not want to live on the northwest wind.
"Understood, my lord!"
Jia Xu nodded. If his lord was going to take charge in Xiliang, he would certainly need things like grain.
After all, the place had belonged to the barbarians before and was naturally backward in terms of development. They would need to prepare some of everything. They would probably also need a large number of craftsmen, as both carpenters and blacksmiths were in short supply.
That meant he had a heavy task ahead of him.
Lin Yi had someone summon Ma Chao. He had been consolidating the troops under his command recently, so he had stayed in the military camp the whole time.
"My lord, did you need me?"
"Yes. Take this book and make a copy of it. Study it when you have time!"
That was right. He had given The Legacy of Wumu to Ma Chao.
Ma Chao the Splendid had always been a talent, but his potential definitely did not stop there. He ought to achieve even greater things.
Rather than waste Yue Fei's book on military strategy on himself, he might as well use it to strengthen Ma Chao. He believed that with this book, Ma Chao's abilities could reach another level.
Ma Chao was a little taken aback, but he accepted the book and casually opened it to read.
Soon, his expression grew solemn, and he could not help continuing to turn the pages. At last, he could not help exclaiming, "What a book The Legacy of Wumu is! The man who wrote it was truly a genius of peerless brilliance. If only I had seen it sooner."
The way it applied military strategy had reached an almost divine level, leaving him in awe of its author.
Even Jia Xu could not help coming over. After reading a few pages, he too could not stop marveling. He sighed, "What a man Yue Wumu was! This book on military strategy alone is enough to show how formidable he was. He brought the use of battle formations to its very limit."
"Your Highness, I think this book should be classified as a secret. It must never be shown to anyone who cannot be trusted!"
He could not help offering the warning.
This book could produce famous generals, but only famous generals who belonged to one's own side were the best. If it fell into someone else's hands, that would be asking for trouble.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Lin Yi nodded. Naturally, he would not give the book to others; only his own people could read it.
Ma Chao was deeply moved as he looked at the book in his hands. In a solemn voice, he said, "Rest assured, my lord. I will study the tactics in this book as soon as possible and help you destroy the barbarians of the Northern Region and take revenge!"
He had also heard that his lord's mother had died at the hands of those barbarians. Naturally, that grudge had to be avenged.
"Yes, I believe in you!" Lin Yi nodded and smiled.
In the front courtyard of the Prince of Northern Liang's Residence, officials had come knocking in droves ever since learning that Wang Ziwen had returned.
For one thing, Wang Ziwen was Northern Liang's chief steward. For another, they could not afford to offend the heir, Lin Yi, while the chief steward was much easier to talk to.
"Chief steward, you must persuade the heir. He can't go on killing people like this."
"The heir has arrested quite a few officials for interrogation. The effect has been terrible. People outside are all saying he treats human life like grass."
"The heir needs proper guidance, or Zhang Long and Zhao Hu will lead him astray."
The officials did not dare aim their barbs directly at Lin Yi, so they could only turn them on Zhang Long and Zhao Hu. Everything was their fault; otherwise, the heir would never have been so ruthless.
Hearing them, Wang Ziwen remained as calm and composed as ever, showing no intention of paying them any attention.
At first, they thought nothing of it. But after quite some time had passed and the chief steward still ignored them, their faces began to turn pale.
The chief steward was nicknamed Wang Half-City, and he had a well-known habit: if he spoke to you with a smile, things were still fine. But if he met you with silence, he was truly angry.
The present situation was clearly the latter!
"Hmph!"
That cold snort sent a shiver through the officials. Like mice confronted by a cat, they hurriedly shut their mouths and looked at the chief steward, trembling.
The chief steward was a veteran who had risen up alongside the prince. The killing intent about him was no less than the prince's, and the consequences would be severe if he grew angry.
"Please forgive us, chief steward!"
"Hmph, you pack of bastards, and you still want my forgiveness?"
Wang Ziwen swept his gaze over them and sneered. "The heir is the heir of our Northern Liang and its future hope. That is something no one can change. The heir was assassinated this time, so what if he killed a few people? They all deserved to die!"
"If someone dared to assassinate the emperor, just look at how many would die. Would it be a mere three thousand?"
"Huh?"
At those words, everyone could not help exchanging looks.
At first, they thought the remark was somewhat treasonous, but after giving it careful thought, they had to admit there was nothing wrong with it.
Earlier, Emperor Li Anlan had killed nearly fifty thousand people when he usurped the throne. Later, he had faced an assassination attempt by the Hidden Crown Prince's former supporters, and more than twenty thousand people had been implicated in the end. By comparison, the heir could practically be called kind.
"That's true. The heir was assassinated, so what's wrong with killing a few people?"
"Good for him! The heir is our hope. No one can lay a hand on him."
In no time, everyone was brimming with righteous indignation and began speaking ill of the assassins. The chief steward was right there, and everyone knew he treated the heir as his own son. To keep talking about it now would be asking for trouble.
Just as the chief steward had said, when faced with an assassination attempt, the emperor had killed plenty of people too. Who would dare try to dissuade him?
Wang Ziwen nodded and smiled. "Good, as long as you understand. Our Northern Liang has only enjoyed a few years of peace, and no destabilizing force can be allowed to exist. I think the heir hasn't killed enough. Take this list. The purge continues!!!"
Holy shit!
At those words, everyone felt their hair stand on end. This was far too terrifying. The chief steward actually thought not enough people had been killed!