“Can strategists really not ascend to the throne?”
This thought slipped out of Sun Luban’s mouth without her even realizing it.
How do I put this… It kind of fits Qiao Huan’s understanding of her.
“It’s not like the Donghai Mi Clan has never sent their children to Leping Academy, right?”
With that, Sun Luban hesitated a bit.
Well, that’s true; she had a point. The Donghai Mi Clan did send people to Leping Academy, and they didn’t have any reason to hide their identities.
This made her swallow back the rest of her speculation.
According to Sun Luban, Mi and Mu sounded somewhat similar, didn’t they?
Besides, judging by the way Qiao Huan lived, it was clear she wasn’t from an ordinary family that could support her lifestyle.
When you think of money, the first family that comes to mind is of course the Mi Clan.
But as Qiao Huan reminded, the Donghai Mi Clan did send someone to Leping Academy once.
That person was none other than Mi Zhu’s younger sister.
Now she had long graduated and taken over the clothing business in collaboration with Princess Yang’an. At least during her time at Leping, she didn’t hide her identity at all.
If Qiao Huan really did come from the Donghai Mi Clan, would she have more reason to hide her identity than Mi Zhu’s sister?
Probably not.
“Alright, why overthink things?” Qiao Huan interrupted Sun Luban’s train of thought. “But saying that reminds me, there’s actually business to consider.”
Sun Luban’s eyelids twitched. “You can’t seriously be thinking about…”
“I know, right?” Qiao Huan replied casually. “It’s not like we’re in those times where we must scrape together military funds. Why waste our study time on this? But that doesn’t mean we can’t benefit from it. Didn’t you just say? Donghai Mi Clan.”
Sun Luban stared in awe as Qiao Huan started writing a proposal right after the equestrian class, meticulously listing things that should be considered by the proposer and the reasons for notifying the Mi Clan.
I must say, Qiao Huan might lack a bit of refinement when weaving tales, but when it comes to formal documents, you’d never guess her age.
But if you asked Qiao Huan, if the literacy textbooks were all part of memorials, even the biggest dimwit could achieve what she did today.
Seeing Deng Ai looking a bit anxious, Qiao Huan added, “Don’t worry about the Mi Clan taking advantage of people. Although the Donghai Mi Clan has accomplishments that made them part of the Xuanyuan Pavilion, transforming completely from merchant to politician takes at least three generations. Meanwhile, in Leping Academy, there are crafty minds that might get favored by the Emperor after their studies, so seizing ideas won’t end well. Besides, everyone knows I… Mu Huai Xu, so why would they do something foolish like stirring up trouble?”
“Of course, that doesn’t mean we should expect every future scheme to hope for kind-hearted collaborators. Compared to those so-called Leping Academy students—”
Qiao Huan paused before continuing, “Like how the Emperor’s actions, thoughts, and methods are imitated by everyone, we aspire to be the new elite generation and naturally should also serve as role models for others.”
Sun Luban clapped her hands and smiled. “Exactly! If this is something Sun Luban loves and is backed by the Emperor, it’s way better than just pointing fingers at generic Leping Academy students.”
“But we still have much to learn,” Qiao Huan said, shaking the letter in her hand, decisively pouring cold water on Sun Luban.
But hey, for kids at this age, just having a glimpse of hope is better than nothing.
Moreover, they soon received some positive feedback.
Qiao Huan and her companions couldn’t leave Leping Academy recklessly to avoid any issues with students leaving, but sending a letter was harmless. Plus, since Mi Zhu’s sister, Mi Si, was in Bingzhou, the letter quickly reached the right person’s hands.
Mi Zhu, astute as she was, understood how to gauge everyone’s sentiments. Under Qiao Yan’s rule, Mi San, who had opportunities to hold positions, wasn’t one to fall behind.
Her gaze skimmed over the signature “Mu Huan” at the end of the letter. Thinking about the rumors circulating in Leping Academy these years and what her brother had vaguely mentioned during a family gathering two years ago, a look of understanding crossed her eyes.
This identity of “Mu Huan” was almost calling out to her.
And the matters she mentioned in the letter… there really was potential in that.
It had been ten years since they first crossed the sea to bring back rubber trees.
Ten years was enough time to plant these rubber trees in Jiaozhou to replace the materials brought back previously and satisfy the rubber application across various productions, with the Donghai Mi Clan investing a hefty sum in it, fully undertaking the rubber forest while quickly returning the land of Yan Du.
Given that Northern Hu people ride horses by the age of ten, the children of Northern soldiers should have similar guts, so the market for rubber helmets was indeed vast.
Not to mention, whether boosting this item’s value with the “Leping Academy version” branding would work—
Using it elsewhere also seemed promising.
It’s just that before this, the cost was pretty high, not comparable to others, but now “Mu Huan” reminded them; it was indeed time to put it on the agenda.
Mi Si, still young, was a successful merchant just like Mi Zhu when she first arrived at Leping. Once she figured this out, she promptly made a few decisions.
Earlier, the Mi family already had a saying that as long as she could bear the losses, she didn’t have to report every step home, so this time she went ahead with a “first cut, then report” approach.
Firstly, she communicated with her subordinates to design a helmet that could not only withstand impacts but also minimize the consumption of rubber and other fillers as much as possible.
Secondly, she presented to the Emperor that she was willing to donate 30,000 helmets to various coal and iron mines in Bingzhou to secure exclusive selling rights for these protective helmets, especially this “Leping Academy version” trademark.
Thirdly, she wrote back to Qiao Huan, expressing her willingness to allocate a tenth of the net profits from this venture to them long-term, with a contract as a guarantee.
At the same time, because this idea stemmed from the equestrian class at Leping Academy, the Donghai Mi Clan would also fund some purebred Dayuan horse foals as gifts to wish them success in horsemanship and galloping the territories.
For Qiao Huan’s status, getting such prestigious horses wasn’t difficult.
All the finest exotic steeds in the land are first presented to the Emperor.
Mi Si clearly knew this.
Yet she still made that decision.
When Mi Zhu got news and rushed to Bingzhou to ask about it, she said, “Since my brother confirmed my speculation, that person is indeed a young prince. I think, since she hides her name to study at Leping Academy, it must be to carve out her own path with her skills, including with her battle mount.”
“The Emperor’s red sandalwood horse was gifted by the Wang family of Taiyuan; now this horse of the young prince comes from my Donghai Mi Clan, isn’t that a nice echo?”
Qiao Yan received her horse after dealing with the locust plague. Now that Qiao Huan was solving worries, obtaining this gift was just perfect for her, especially for Qiao Huan, who deeply respected her mother.
“My brother taught me that the value of a gift isn’t in its expense but in how it touches the recipient’s heart.”
Mi Si smiled and asked, “Don’t you think?”
How could she not?
At least after receiving this gift, Qiao Huan made a note of this Mi San in her heart.
Because Qiao Huan was the first to utilize these rubber helmets, and the one she received was the one in the best condition, raising no suspicions from anyone.
Of course, Guo Yi and Zhuge Ke, who received replies from home earlier, couldn’t help but marvel at the Mi Clan’s slick methods.
Hearing Guo Yi sigh, Zhuge Ke asked, “If you’re jealous, you could actually go and make some connections.”
After all, their family merely told them not to act as overly clever as the Sima family or be too intentional in their interactions with the Mi Clan; they didn’t want the two of them to completely disappear from Qiao Huan’s view.
Getting familiar faces was never a bad idea.
Guo Yi shrugged. “Sighing doesn’t mean I’m lamenting that, it could just be a reaction to why there aren’t more wealthy people to share the wealth around.”
“Besides, for us, as long as we see what kind of character and capabilities this potential heir possesses, that’s enough. This is already our sixth year at the academy, and we don’t plan to continue studying here, so there’s no reason to interact with her too much.”
Guo Yi typically had a laid-back demeanor learned from his father, but he still saw things clearly.
Generally speaking, if a monarch has an outstanding heir, they might expect their subjects to respect and give favor to that heir, but they certainly wouldn’t want them to place her above herself.
His and Zhuge Ke’s current situation was the best.
They recognized the young prince while keeping a good distance.
Just as he said, last year already, no need to complicate things for themselves.
Unfortunately, Guo Yi wanted to have a calm final year at Leping Academy, but others weren’t giving him that opportunity to muddle through.
Qiao Yan had already issued plans for generals to come here for lectures back in March or April; as it should go, this wasn’t anything…
Big deal, and right in the middle of it, there’s Lu Lingju just back from Suizhou.
Suizhou, well, you can say there’s a lot to talk about or not much at all, but for a general bursting with energy, relying solely on one’s reputation to keep everyone in line is a bit dull.
Coincidentally, as she came to Leping Academy to give a lecture, the restless General Lu first requested the Tiger Tooth General from Suiyuan City to come to Leping as well, and then announced the “game rules” to the students attending the lecture.
Why bother discussing battle strategies and marching experiences when hands-on practice would leave a more profound impression?
Rather than stiffly lecturing here, Lu Lingju thought it would be better to lead the students in some kind of mock battle.
Grades one, three, and five would be on one side, led by her.
While grades two, four, and six would be on the other side, led by Lü Bu.
The battlefield? A scenic ridge in the Taihang Mountains east of the academy.
How convenient! Qiao Huan, Sun Luban, Jiang Wei, and Deng Ai from grade five happened to be on one side.
Guo Yi and Zhuge Ke, who should have been minding their own business as sixth graders, were on the opposite side.
“What’s with your expressions?” Summer Hou Yuan’s third son, Xiahou Cheng, remarked, looking at his two friends in confusion. “Sure, the Tiger Tooth General might not listen to your plans, but if our age advantage isn’t enough to handle this battle, then what will we do when we enter court later?”
“Uncle Quan…” Guo Yi stared at this friend who could shoot a tiger with an arrow, pondering whether it was a good or bad thing that Xiahou Cheng was clueless, but merely said, “Forget it, let’s roll with it. I’m curious about what the other side can do.”
Things weren’t as terrible as they could have been.
When Lü Bu arrived to join them, Guo Yi felt he wasn’t mistaken; Lü Bu’s face was grumpy, clearly written with the frustration of being outwitted by a daughter.
It was easy to guess why.
Lu Lingju thought she was stronger than Lü Bu, so she led the first, third, and fifth graders, while Lü Bu, not wanting to lose face, refused to be overshadowed. Unfortunately, since Lu Lingju held the reins of this event, she couldn’t be swayed.
This annoyance for Lü Bu may have been bothersome for others, but for someone of his temperament, it was pure battle spirit.
Even though he was well past fifty and no longer had the awe-inspiring might of his youth, Guo Yi was confident in his assessment.
After discussing a bit with Lü Bu, Xiahou Cheng’s concern about “Lü Bu not listening to directions” was dismissed.
Given Zhuge Ke’s less-than-agile actions, Guo Yi decided to hold one line tight and let the other maneuver, each led by Zhuge Ke and himself.
Guo Yi would collaborate with Lü Bu and Xiahou Cheng for an aggressive frontline, maximizing the effectiveness of these two tiger generals.
To prevent any casualties during this military exercise, they had dulled the ends of the arrows and weapons they brought, wrapped them in cotton and cloth, setting the hitting criteria for the throat, head, or heart or full capture based on colorful powder. It wasn’t true combat, but Guo Yi calculated that the combat prowess of these two would still play a significant role.
What he didn’t expect was that Qiao Huan and her team’s recent interview with Zhang Niujiao could come in handy right now.
That novel about the Black Mountain Alliance had stalled, only managing to get an opening written for various reasons, but Qiao Huan collected quite a bit of material.
Zhang Niujiao was quite capable in his own right.
To prove that he had potential during his invasion of Leping, Zhang Niujiao dragged Qiao Huan and the others through the ups and downs of the mountains, showing them all the spots suitable for concealment and ambush, all with his experience in scavenging after having taken Leping.
Of course, whether this late-arriving advice could persuade Qiao Huan was debatable, but at that moment, she, Jiang Wei, and Deng Ai all knew this area well, far better than most who were usually stuck within the academy!
Lu Lingju wanted to see Qiao Huan’s command talents, but given her young age, she’d need someone to assist her, so she initially took a support role.
However, upon seeing Qiao Huan quickly leverage their advantages for personnel deployment and forming a guerrilla plan, she felt an unexplainable sense of relief.
She hadn’t had the fortune to witness the emperor’s early talent, but it felt like she was catching glimpses of it in this young princess.
But now was not the time to hesitate due to nostalgia; she nodded, acknowledging Qiao Huan, “Then you lead the way.”
It was rare for first and second graders to even qualify through the lecture and assessment, so they wouldn’t have to worry about younger kids dragging them down.
Qiao Huan was a rising star within the Leping Academy, and with Deng Ai as a mediator, she quickly gathered the most battle-capable individuals.
Then, she issued an order.
Although aiming to peel through opponents one by one, the priority was clear: capture the king first.
“This king you’re talking about isn’t the Tiger Tooth General, right?” Lu Lingju crossed her arms, intrigued, watching as the students quickly organized into offensive and supporting roles, and hearing Qiao Huan’s plan, she immediately inquired.
“No, I’m talking about Guo Yi,” Qiao Huan replied. “Zhuge Yuansun would stand out too much in these mountains, but Guo Boyi can be taken down first. If we beat him, Lü Fengxian and the rest will be no trouble with General Longxiong here.”
Lu Lingju asked further, “But I heard one of you has a speech impediment; during such guerrilla operations, how can we be sure there won’t be any delays in orders?”
“I can handle it,” Deng Ai responded, not Lu Lingju.
To ensure he wouldn’t reveal any abnormality when he spoke, it required a few months of training with Qiao Huan’s method of writing while reciting, which still wasn’t enough.
However, after trying various exercises like holding stones in his mouth, rehearsing written scripts repeatedly, and convincing himself to forget about this issue, Deng Ai had deduced quite a few tricks.
For instance, he could convey his orders as accurately and succinctly as possible.
Lu Lingju: “Additionally—”
Before she could finish, Sun Luban’s voice rang out, “I just want to say, I’m definitely not reckless, don’t get any weird impressions of me!”
This unexpected interruption nearly made Lu Lingju burst out laughing.
Among these youths, some could still be described as kids, but their teamwork truly warmed her heart.
In a daze, she found herself reminiscing about her own time at Leping Academy, recalling how they had once tried to bring Lu Yi into their circle through playful banter.
Time flew; it had been over twenty years…
“Alright, I trust you all,” Lu Lingju said, “If I lose face against the Tiger Tooth General, I’ll go cry to the emperor and ask to stay longer for training methods to let you all gain some foresight.”
Whether she genuinely intended this or was just joking was something everyone present could pick up on.
Qiao Huan chuckled, “Then just wait and see the excitement!”
This was shaping up to be a well-prepared battle.
As the commands for confrontation were issued from the foot of the mountain, Lü Bu’s team immediately found themselves in a world of trouble.
Their elusive enemies took great advantage of the terrain, catching them off-guard time and again.
Lü Bu and Xiahou Cheng quickly found themselves dizzy, unable to catch the two dodging figures that Guo Yi believed he could assign properly, and in the pursuit, he unintentionally fell out of contact with them.
Just as he sensed trouble, he was suddenly yanked into the withered leaves around him, and before he knew it, he was surrounded by several people who swiftly subdued his companions and unleashed an overwhelming assault on him.
Guo Yi almost got flattened by this onslaught; he could only barely see through the gaps of the crowd that the leading figure wasn’t anyone but Qiao Huan!
Clearly, she understood that her role wasn’t to stand out in such a skirmish but to play to their strengths to ensure victory.
He didn’t know why Qiao Huan knew the Taihang Mountains so well, but one thing was certain: everyone participating in this contest would never settle for a deceitful win—that was simply a fact Guo Yi could confirm.
It was indeed a matter of him lacking skills compared to others.
However—
“I say…” Guo Yi strained to raise his voice, “I’ve been eliminated, can you please let go of me?!”
Don’t make it seem like he still had a chance of escape while receiving this “special treatment.”
What kind of nonsense was this?!
Why could his father get the emperor’s swift horse for help upon arriving in Bingzhou, even using it as a talking point about their bond, while he had to be pinned down by a team led by a little princess? This was not fair at all!
No need to bully like this!!
Author’s note:
Guo Yi: I originally planned to meet the emperor in the official circle, but she knocked my head off on the battlefield first QWQ
Zhuge Ke: Now you see, being a little chunky has its benefits.
Qiao Huan: Everyone, raise your hands!
It’s hilarious; the way these modern nobles and officials get acquainted is very straightforward and rough (you know what I mean).
See you tomorrow morning at nine; there are only three chapters left until it’s completely wrapped up (rubs hands), feeling a flicker of hope on the horizon.
