Chapter 471

Chapter 471

Can’t a strategist ascend the throne? Extra Chapter 10 (4)

Belonging to the book:


Can’t a strategist ascend the throne?

Chapter 471 Extra Chapter 10 (4)

Sun Luban was thoroughly annoyed.

But now—what could she do after already eating?

Qiao Huan handed her a bowl, “Drink the remaining soup?”

“Fine, I’ll drink it,” Sun Luban looked at the soup bowl as if seeing Qiao Huan herself, “Since the chicken is already eaten, might as well finish the soup.”

This is what you call throwing caution to the wind.

After downing another half bowl of chicken soup, Sun Luban hesitated for a moment, then couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you afraid of getting into trouble with Cai Bojie?”

Qiao Huan replied, “Trouble depends on who it’s for. Have you seen the records in the library archives? Pang Tong’s attendance records are practically crimson, but have you heard of him being expelled from Leping Academy?”

Sun Luban shook her head.

“His Majesty wants Pang Shiyuan to see that the world has changed, and even the path of learning has greatly transformed due to Leping Academy. He needs to understand that if he continues to face the world’s talents as Pang Shiyuan of Nanyang, he will soon be out of touch with the times, rather than being confined by the academy’s rigid rules.”

“Leping Academy offers him a platform to broaden his horizons and adapt to the advancements under His Majesty’s command, not a prison to categorize people into ranks.”

“His attendance was half missing, but he still received the top reward in Leping’s exams, didn’t he?”

Sun Luban thought, that’s true, before graduating from Leping Academy, Pang Tong even received a plush iron-eating beast from His Majesty as a reward.

“So,” Qiao Huan continued, “As long as we perform well enough, Cai Bojie won’t trouble us over a lost chicken. He might even think it’s because of his chicken that we’ve become so diligent and clever.”

Sun Luban: “…”

Wait a minute, she felt a bit dizzy from Qiao Huan’s reasoning.

She sensed something was off in the cause-and-effect logic.

But before she could figure it out, she carried the remaining hundred or so pounds of yam and chicken soup back, and the next day followed Qiao Huan to the public lecture hall.

According to Qiao Huan, since she often accompanied Cai Yong on trips, as long as the yam field’s yield was roughly this amount, it would suffice to cover the task. There was no need to use Sun Luban’s share, and instead, Sun Luban, as a troublemaker among the new students, might need this to improve her impression.

After hearing Qiao Huan’s explanation, Jiang Wei turned to Deng Ai and said, “I think we need to worry about whether you, who rarely speaks, might get completely fooled by her.”

Of course, seeing Sun Luban’s eagerness to catch up with Qiao Huan’s progress to become the academy’s top student, Jiang Wei thought Sun Quan might need to visit Leping to award Qiao Huan a banner.

Sun Luban’s natural talent wasn’t bad, but perhaps her family’s fierce traits gave her a somewhat aggressive tendency towards a military career. However, as time went by, it became clear that her competitive spirit might one day stir up the court’s politics.

Qiao Huan’s taming act actually made Sun Luban focus on her studies, which might be a good thing for her future.

Deng Ai raised his head, didn’t answer Jiang Wei’s question, but glanced at Sima Zhao beside him.

The implication was clear.

Whether Deng Ai was fooled or not was uncertain, but Sima Zhao definitely was.

To be precise, it was Sima Shi who was fooled.

Qiao Yan, receiving news from Cai Qiong at Leping Academy, laughed heartily.

In just a year since Qiao Huan went to Leping, including two trips with Cai Yong, without revealing her identity, she had already gathered many companions.

Jiang Wei, Deng Ai, Kong Yu, and Cao Jie were already seen as Qiao Huan’s study companions, and now Sun Luban, Sima Zhao, Zhang Changpu, and others had joined. These kids, while playful, hadn’t forgotten their academic goals and were gradually forming a group led by Qiao Huan, which she was pleased to see.

At this age, they were far from being accused of forming cliques, making their interactions more pure.

However, the truly smart ones might have already guessed something.

From late October to before New Year’s Day was the peak period for Qiao Yan’s dispatched officials to return and report.

Guo Jia, who had just been released from alcohol prohibition punishment, mentioned on his return from Yanzhou that Guo Yi had sent him a letter from Leping Academy, mentioning Qiao Huan under the alias Mu Huan, and asked if “Mu Huan” was related to His Majesty’s heir, and how he should interact with her.

Almost simultaneously, Zhuge Jin, who had replaced Cao Ang as the Prefect of Hanzhong, had a similar question.

Qiao Yan didn’t directly answer but instead asked, “From your perspective, can Huai Xu manage these people?”

The answer seemed clear from Qiao Huan’s actions at Leping Academy over the past year.

Of course, she can!

Perhaps the methods she used were effective because of her youth. But in the face of the results achieved, these were not so important.

Besides, isn’t age one of Qiao Huan’s greatest advantages?

In “The Chronicles of the Heroes of Lingling,” there’s a possibly fictional account of Cao Cao, after Cao Chong’s death, having Zhou Buyi, Cao Chong’s study companion, assassinated because Cao Pi couldn’t control him.

Given that this text was written during the Jin dynasty and by the Sima family, its credibility is questionable, but it does highlight one thing—

When there are too many smart people under one’s command…








Is it necessary to resolve this?

The method of ruling is not about comparing intelligence, and Qiao Yan understands this principle. Given Qiao Huan’s recent behavior, she is also well aware of this.

Therefore, Guo Yi and Zhuge Ke really don’t need to feel burdened in their interactions just because they have seen through Qiao Huan’s identity.

Under the guidance of her, Xi Zhicai, Cai Zhaoji, Cai Yong, and various others, Huai Xu has gradually developed the demeanor of someone who will wield power over the world in the future. So, what harm is there in letting her be the top kid in Leping Academy now?

Compared to Guo Jia and Zhuge Jin, Sima Yi is much more unfortunate.

In the eleventh year of Yuan Zhao, Qiao Yan transferred the Governor of Yu Province, Cui Jun, back to the central government, and Sima Yi was appointed as the Governor of Yu Province, with Sima Lang in Yu and Yang. This was both a sign of trust and a great pressure.

What made Sima Yi even more anxious was that, as the Governor of Yu Province, he should be considered an important minister under the Son of Heaven. However, upon returning to Luoyang to report, the first thing he heard from Qiao Yan was: “Since Zhongda’s two sons have recognized Huai Xu’s identity, why not just make it clear?”

“What kind of identity does Zi Shang have? Everyone in Leping Academy knows. Suddenly becoming someone’s follower, what are people supposed to think?”

Sima Yi: “…?”

Wait, what happened?

Why didn’t he know about this before?

He had too much faith in his eldest son Sima Shi’s steady handling of affairs and didn’t know that Qiao Yan had sent Qiao Huan to Leping Academy. As a result, although Sima Shi and Sima Zhao did not offend Qiao Huan, they undoubtedly did something that greatly displeased His Majesty.

Sima Yi listened nervously as Qiao Yan talked about various things in Leping Academy, especially when he heard that Sima Zhao, under Sima Shi’s judgment, had become Qiao Huan’s follower. He felt his vision darken.

Although His Majesty is praising now, when winter comes this year, due to Gan Ning’s return from his sea voyage, the nautical charts were updated again, and a brainstorming activity on ship improvement was appropriately held at Leping Academy. Sima Zhao assisted Qiao Huan in winning the top spot among second-year students. But whether this is praise or a warning, Sima Yi would never fail to understand!

“Get up,” Qiao Yan replied while writing her approval on the official document submitted by Sima Yi. “Sima Ziyuan and Zi Shang are both talented individuals, and it’s inevitable that they have their considerations. But in today’s world, it’s all about the capable rising and the wise taking precedence. How can the situation be swayed by a child’s preferences? Don’t you think so?”

Sima Yi: “…Yes, Your Majesty’s advice is correct.”

“The Sima family is famous for the Eight Sima Talents, all of whom are political experts. But sometimes, as I once told Yang Xiu, it’s better not to overthink with cleverness, as it can lead to being at a disadvantage in the end.”

When Sima Yi walked out of the hall, he realized that his back was soaked with cold sweat.

Although His Majesty did not punish him to warn the Sima family against presumptuous speculation, as the Governor of Yu Province, not receiving any commendation from His Majesty in the annual performance summary was already a very serious matter!

In the current situation, writing to Sima Shi to change his attitude towards Qiao Huan would only make it seem like he was trying to cover up, so it’s better to let things continue along their current trajectory.

He would probably have to spend this New Year in constant anxiety.

This Emperor truly embodies pragmatism to the extreme, but she sees through all the twists and turns below. He must find a way to warn Sima Shi and Sima Zhao at the right time not to overdo things!

If they touch His Majesty’s bottom line again, it will be truly troublesome.

Qiao Huan didn’t expect that her actions in Leping Academy could also provide some additional help to her mother.

Before the Yuan Zhao sixteenth-year New Year holiday, she delivered the New Year goods sent by Qiao Yan from Luoyang to Cai Yong, as a thank you for showing her the landscapes and folk customs through his poetry. Then she took a local chicken and, under Sun Luban’s nervous gaze, made a beggar’s chicken to share with her many friends.

But perhaps thinking of her top-five performance in the year-end exams, she sat quietly there.

Instead, Deng Ai stepped back because he heard Qiao Huan say, “Next year, let’s restart our writing plan. The previous theme only General Lu liked, which was too niche. This time, let’s write a story about a group of bandits, using the Black Mountain Bandits who were pacified by His Majesty as a prototype, to depict the chivalry of the rivers and lakes and the conflict between officials and bandits.”

She thought for a moment and added, “By the way, do bandits eat this kind of beggar’s chicken?”

Deng Ai covered his forehead, “Bandits… if they could eat meat often, they wouldn’t be bandits.”

He could already foresee the massive effort required for the later editing.

Even worse, he heard that she had an interview plan for research.

The interviewee was none other than Zhang Niujiao, one of the former leaders of the Black Mountain Bandits.

Since His Majesty ascended the throne, this guy has bragged endlessly about his foresight, so one can imagine what he would say in the interview.

Deng Ai was certain that “Mu Huan” had never experienced hardship. It would be better to use her imagination to write about the overseas world General Gan Ning saw after his long voyage, with some artistic embellishment when necessary.

That sounds much more reliable.

But before he could suggest this, the academy’s holiday had arrived, and Qiao Huan had already boarded the carriage back to Luoyang.

Having been separated from her mother for half a year, she almost ran to her upon arrival and chattered endlessly about her experiences at the academy during dinner.

Qiao Yan, seeing her daughter’s triumphant demeanor, couldn’t help but laugh, “Have you thought about what the graduation ceremony will be like?”

Qiao Huan: “…”

Oh no, the graduation ceremony at Leping Academy requires parents to attend.

Wouldn’t some of the good deeds she did be revealed to her mother then!

Author’s note:

I really want to stay in bed (lying flat)

See you at 9 PM.