To Qi Ling's surprise, after this incident, Vermilion Bird agreed to join her camp and assist her in taking control of all the Brocade Guard, and would also offer up all the resources she had at her disposal.
"Of course, my lord, I have made all these sacrifices only to ask you for one thing," said Vermilion Bird, dressed in formal attire, kneeling before Qi Ling.
"Is it because you hope that you can have a good ending after the fall of the Shang Dynasty?" Qi Ling asked.
But to everyone's surprise, Vermilion Bird laughed, "That kind of thing is fine no matter what. What I want to ask of you is if you could punish me severely again during your free time outside of work, the more severe the better!"
Qi Ling felt cold sweat trickling down her forehead. She didn't even know how to fulfill her promise to Su Daji, and now there was another one involved? Should she get the two of them together for fun?
"What kind of personality do you have? It's really hard to figure you out!" Qi Ling said helplessly. It seems that Vermilion Bird can derive great pleasure from both being hit and hitting others.
"If Your Excellency wishes, I can be the commander of the Brocade Guard who oversees everything, a ruthless executioner, or even a sinner groveling at Your Excellency's feet," Vermilion Bird said with a beautiful smile. "Of course, I actually like the last identity the most."
"Ah, I see, I see, I know you're very capable." Qi Ling said helplessly, "Since you're so smart, you must know what to do next, right? I can tell you, no matter what you do, Noble Consort Su won't interfere. You can do your best."
Vermilion Bird then exclaimed in surprise, "Really? Even Noble Consort Su has chosen to support you, sir. Could it be that you have already... taken Noble Consort Su into your fold?"
"Ahem, don't ask things you shouldn't know!" Qi Ling said awkwardly. "Anyway, I'll be keeping a close eye on you, so watch your words and actions! If I find out you're harboring any ill intentions, I won't hold back!"
"Please rest assured, my lord, I would never dare," Vermilion Bird said, then added with a smile, "However, sometimes I really hope that you won't be too lenient!"
This was the first time Qi Ling had faced a woman, and she felt like running away. This woman was truly terrifying! On second thought, perhaps she and Hua Wanzi would get along very well.
With such thorough preparations, Qi Ling originally thought that this war would end very smoothly. After all, the fall of the Shang Dynasty was only a matter of time, and there was no question of possibility. All she had to do was speed up the process.
But things took an unexpected turn. The war was very close, with both sides winning and losing, and the Shang Dynasty even gained the upper hand at one point!
All of this was due to the existence of Zhao Gongming! This man almost single-handedly withstood attacks from various forces, and even betrayal from his own faction.
"This guy is inhuman!" Qi Ling said, sitting in the Light Observation Hall and looking at the intelligence analysis in front of her. "He has none of the advantages of timing, location, and popular support, yet he's managed to hold out for so long. I'm afraid he might really outlast us for two years!"
Ning Rongrong also said, "Indeed, with such abilities, how could he not see that the Shang Dynasty's fate was sealed and the people's hearts were lost? Was he truly so loyal to the Shang Dynasty?"
"Sigh, it's not that simple. This guy is probably just doing his own job," Qi Ling said helplessly. "It's just a pity that ever since that incident, he seems to have become wary of me and refuses to meet with me again. I know very little about him."
"By the way, Rongrong, that girl King Wu, didn't she lose to Zhao Gongming again last time? Tell her not to be too impulsive. Dealing with Zhao Gongming can't be rushed."
Indeed, Qi Ling was also quite bewildered when she first learned of this news. The leader of the rebel army, King Wu, was actually a girl disguised as a man, and even though she was dressed as a man, she could still tell that she was quite good-looking.
But a woman? A young lady! Does she intend to continue her disguise after the rebels' victory? Or revert to her female identity? Would she then become Wu Zetian?
Another point is that there are probably quite a few people from other worlds in this world, and everyone has their own trial missions that they need to complete on their own.
Qi Ling now even suspects that this world might have been created by the gods specifically to test everyone, otherwise how could it contain all sorts of things, and even have a fierce general named Xiang Yu in the Shang Dynasty's army!
"I know, Sister Wu was quite upset after you lectured her last time. This time, she only dared to take the risk to prove herself," Ning Rongrong said. "It's because she was afraid of being lectured by you again that she didn't dare to come this time."
"Oh ho, so she knows fear now? That's rare." Qi Ling laughed. "I thought she was fearless, otherwise how could she be a leader?"
"No way, besides her teacher, she's most afraid of you, sometimes even more than her teacher," Ning Rongrong laughed. "But Sister Wu cares about you too. She often tells us that she definitely wouldn't have won this war without you, and she even asked us to remind you to be careful."
"Oh? That's rare. She actually thinks so highly of me? I'm truly flattered," Qi Ling said with a smile. "Alright, it's getting late. I should head back; I still have a lot to take care of."
After leaving the Light Observation Hall, Qi Ling returned to Chaoge. Although the battle was at a stalemate, there was simply no good breakthrough, which had led to a deadlock between the two sides.
Without this breakthrough, everything will proceed in a step-by-step manner, failing to meet Qi Ling's requirement to speed up, which would lead to exceeding the time limit and mission failure.
"How exactly can we find this breakthrough?" Qi Ling pondered with difficulty. "This breakthrough might not only be on the battlefield, but it could also be about people, but everything needs a catalyst."
Walking through Chaoge City, Qi Ling suddenly felt dizzy and a strong headache made him stagger a few steps and almost fall to the ground. He had to hold onto a nearby building to keep his balance.
"What happened? I don't remember having this kind of illness," Qi Ling muttered to herself, rubbing her head. Even if she had been overworked lately, it shouldn't have caused this, right?
"Lord Azure Dragon is indeed in good health. You're the first person to not collapse like this." Just then, Zhao Gongming's voice came from the side, and he slowly walked out and came to Qi Ling's side.