Since His Royal Highness Xiao Wang was born, he had continuously seen all kinds of things in this world and cultivated a heart like a dead pool. Even in times of the greatest crisis or change, he could still remain calm, but at this moment, an undercurrent was stirred up by the drawing in front of him. Gao Lin in particular didn’t know what was going through his mind, so he added a sentence to sweeten the deal – A-Ning said that this was the landscape painted by Second Young Master Liu.

What landscape, it must be worthy of careful appreciation and taste, refreshing and full of beauty, heart, and infatuation.

All of this towered above a landscape. Gao Lin felt that it was too late to return to the royal city. If he changed his status as a prince into a wandering cavalier, without the burden of royal responsibilities, they could make their bows tomorrow.

He poked his head forward, wanting to look at it again, but Liang Shu closed the drawing calmly. But all in all, Lieutenant General Gao’s eagle eyes could keenly spot wolves in the depths of the desert. He still caught a trace of something extraordinary, and thought in shock, what did I see, is that the prince half dressed?

Second Young Master Liu is so unruly!

Liang Shu asked: “What expression are you wearing?”

Gao Lin adjusted his facial features slightly and called attention to it again, but the prince remained calm in the midst of chaos, smiling anew like a person bewitched.

Liang Shu was in a good mood and was disinclined to fuss. He pressed his slender fingers onto the stack of rice paper and felt the remaining warmth of the embers, the touch making his heart feel equally warm. Gao Lin’s matchmaking business had been a great success. He had already sketched in his heart his future plans and the leisurely day when he returned to his hometown to specialize in the business of love. The corners of his mouth lifted in a grin – it was only that before he could fully smile, a vanguard officer limped over to him, and said that Sanshui City was currently shouting slogans and practicing drills day and night, torches blazing in the sky. It seemed that the common people throughout the city had joined the ranks of the rebels.

Gao Lin let out a deep breath. All the festive thoughts that had been accumulated just now were wiped out in one moment. Liang Shu handed the portraits to Gao Lin and took the military report himself. The vanguard officer snuck a look at the prince’s expression and boldly said: “Rumors have spread everywhere in Sanshui City, and the common people have been deluded, thinking that since they are all dead anyway, they might as well…..”

He didn’t dare to continue talking, but Gao Lin knew that the rumors spreading around were nothing more than using the tragedy of Qingyang City as Gu worms, moving the time of the city’s slaughter from before the city was conquered to afterward, and changing the murderers from the desperate rebels to the Yan army. As soon as people of Sanshui City heard this, they felt that they would die if they could not defend the city, so they had no choice but to take up swords and spears and fight to the death.

He said: “All right, be careful on the road next time, look at you falling down like a grandson.”

“…….Yes.” The vanguard officer was a little puzzled. Why didn’t Lieutenant General Gao sound like he was angry at all? However, he didn’t have the guts to take a closer look, so he hurriedly retreated.

Liu Xia’nan was lying in the grain cart sleeping, when he was abruptly jolted awake. He stuck his head out and asked sleepily: “Uncle Li?”

The coachman explained rather embarrassedly: “Sorry, ah, Second Young Master Liu. The prince has commanded us to travel twice as fast as before, so I must not slow down. You should use more hay as padding, so as not to hit your head.”

Why speed up all of a sudden? Liu Xian’an got out of the grain cart and rode to find A-Ning. He happened to have just finished dealing the the vanguard officer’s fall injury, and heard him say what had happened in Sanshui City.

“It seems that women and children are already soldiers there,” A-Ning said. “The fire oil at the gate of the city is burning, and everyone’s hatred reaches the sky.”

“Put yourself in someone’s shoes. If you were living life and suddenly encountered a natural disaster, and after finally taking refuge in a city you thought was safe, you learned that the Imperial court was going to send troops to slaughter everyone, you should be full of hatred.” Liu Xian’an said, “The common people are just easily bewitched and in fear for their lives, they don’t really want to kill all the officers and soldiers.”

“Then what do we do now?” A-Ning asked.

Liu Xian’an also didn’t know. The generals in the history books all had their own personalities and styles of play, so he rode his horse and asked Liang Shu how to fight in this situation.

Liang Shu replied: “We’ll fight using our previous plan.”

Liu Xian’an nodded: “Okay.”

Liang Shu stretched out a hand and pulled him onto his horse: “I thought you were here to persuade me that the people in the city are innocent, so it is best to be conciliatory and convince them to surrender.”

“The common people are innocent, but when marching and fighting, everyone should listen to the general,” Liu Xian’an said. “I also listen to the general.”

Liang Shu asked: “If the general was a fatuous fool, would you listen?”

Liu Xian’an ignored his assumption: “Your Highness is not.”

Regarding this question, although he could start from the causal cycle of destiny and talk about it all day, he was too lazy to talk about it now. He was still thinking about the upcoming battle and fighting according to the previous plan, which was to attack and break through the city. Sanshui City could not be compared with Qingyang City. Its terrain was extremely open, and was an important town with roads open in all directions. This was considered an advantage in peace and prosperity, but a disadvantage in wartime, because there were no natural barriers.

The Yan army could smoothly advance through Sanshui City all the way, no matter how large the number of rebels in the city was, and refugees could never be the opponents of a standard army. Not to mention the leaders on both sides. One was half a bandit, and the other was the general who led hundreds of thousands of Dayan’s troops.

Liu Xian’an gave a slight sigh.

Liang Shu said: “I will give orders before the battle to avoid casualties as much as possible.”

“To avoid casualties, you must be merciful, and if you are merciful, you will be hurt yourself.” Liu Xian’an turned his head. “The prince loves the soldiers like his sons, so would he give such an order?”

Liang Shu smiled: “You do understand me. However, as long as one has a normal mind, one’s attitude will always be different when facing common people in distress and facing an actual enemy army, so you don’t have to worry too much.”

Liu Xian’an placed his fingers on the saddle and thought for a while, then asked again: “Did the prince send someone to release the news?”

Liang Shu tightened the reins, reducing Xuan Jiao’s speed a little: “What?”

“The news of the city’s massacre was sent out by the prince on purpose, right? Otherwise, it would be impossible for it to spread so fast.” Liu Xian’an spoke again, “The people in Qingyang City were massacred because they refused to join the rebel army and just wanted to live in hiding. For the rebels, they had no value and could only become fish on the chopping board. So if all the common people in Sanshui City spontaneously take up arms and join the rebels out of fear, becoming Huang Wangxiang’s helpers, at least they won’t be massacred by Huang Wangxiang again.”

“The people in Qingyang City were unarmed, so the people in Sanshui City must at least have a knife in their hands for self-defense. I can’t give them away, so I must let Huang Wangxiang do it,” Liang Shu said. “Although I have caused more trouble for myself, this is the fastest way to solve the problem right now. The battle of Sanshui City must be resolved quickly. Otherwise, the longer it drags on, the more people will defect to the third city occupied by the rebels, and momentary hesitation will inevitably bring greater casualties.” He straightened Liu Xian’an’s wind-strewn hair. “Stop thinking about these bloody things. Go to your avenues and find a few pleasing old men to play chess with and listen to music, all right?”

Liu Xian’an thought, that’s no good, because I’m not in the mood.

Liang Shu turned to look at him.

Liu Xian’an slightly turned his head to the other side.

Liang Shu continued sideways.

Liu Xian’an continued to twist.

Thus, Lieutenant General Gao watched for a long while his own family’s prince flirting with another family’s young master in broad daylight, in front of the army.

He gave a troubled sigh.

Although our Xiao Wang Palace has always been undignified, this is too undignified.

We at least have to try to look like it, ba.

When resting that night, A-Ning asked while grabbing the needles: “Why does the young master also have a headache?”

Liu Xian’an sat upright under a tree. Why can’t I have a headache? Not only does it hurt, but it hurts so badly.

A-Ning stuffed a cushion behind his waist: “After the battle, the people in Sanshui City will know that the massacre of the city was not done by the prince, and that it was all a misunderstanding.”

“But that will also be after the battle.” Liu Xian’an supported his chin to prevent his neck from being too stiff. “Before the battle and during the battle, the common people will regard the Imperial army as the real enemy.”

“There is no other way.” A-Ning turned the needle. “If the common people are unarmed and only consume food but refuse to fight the Imperial army, then in Huang Wangxiang’s eyes, being slaughtered is their only value. It is safer to join the rebels, and of the two powers, the prince will cause less harm.”

Liu Xian’an thought for a while, then made up his mind and said: “How about you go to Sanshui City with me.”

Without hesitation, A-Ning said, “okay,” without asking why.

Liu Xian’an stood up and went to look for Liang Shu.

“Young Master, Young Master!” A-Ning chased after him anxiously. “You haven’t taken the needle out yet!”

Liu Xian’an took it from the top of his head and hastily inserted it into his belt.

Liang Shu had managed to go to bed early tonight, and before he could fall asleep, he heard the soldiers outside whispering: “Second Young Master Liu, the prince has already gone to rest.”

The words “Second Young Master Liu” were nearly equivalent to ten pots of strong tea for His Royal Highness Xiao Wang today, capable of instantly refreshing his mind. He put on his clothes and went out: “What is the matter?”

“Nothing, Your Highness, you go to bed first. I’ll – ai?”

Liang Shu carried him into the tent and poured a cup of water: “Speak.”

Liu Xian’an’s gaze unconsciously fell on his open robes, and he felt that it was different from the dreams. But due to the intensity of the light and shadows, he couldn’t see clearly, so he simply squinted his eyes.

Liang Shu invited: “Why don’t I take it off for you to see?”

Liu Xian’an accepted: “That’s fine.”

Liang Shu gathered up his robes to cover up all of the old and new scars: “Never mind, it’s closed today, no spectators. Let’s talk about business.”

Liu Xian’an moved a chair over and sat down: “I want to go to Sanshui City with A-Ning.”

Liang Shu’s hand holding the water cup paused for a moment: “Your reasoning.”

“I’ll go take a look at the situation there,” Liu Xian’an said. “Sanshui City is still accepting refugees in a steady stream, and it shouldn’t be difficult to get in.”

“It’s not difficult, but you also don’t have to,” Liang Shu said. “I have sent people in to spread rumors, and they will send back news regularly.”

“But they can only spread rumors, not convince people,” Liu Xian’an said. “I want to try. Even if I can only persuade ten or twenty people, it will be beneficial to the Imperial army.”

“Not to mention ten or twenty people, even if it is one or two hundred people, I will not allow you to go to the city to take risks.” 

Liang Shu placed the water cup back on the table. “Stop thinking about these things, drink the water and go back to sleep.”

Liu Xian’an fought to win him over: “But I already have a very long plan.”

Liang Shu asked: “How long?”

From one end to the other, Liu Xian’an drew a distance of about ten feet.

For a plan, that was very long.