“Tell me honestly, how confident are you that you can breach the city walls of Yuping Pass?”
Arriving at a corner of the Imperial Garden, Emperor Zhou directly asked Shen Jing.
“Sixty percent!”
Shen Jing answered simply and directly.
A sharp glint flashed in Emperor Zhou’s eyes, “So that means ninety percent, then?”
“…”
Shen Jing looked at Emperor Zhou, speechless.
Could he even bargain like that?
“Don’t look at Us like that.”
Emperor Zhou smiled again, “We can tell you’re a slippery one! You won’t speak too confidently. If you say sixty percent, it should at least be ninety percent!”
Heh heh!
You really think highly of me!
I’m totally speechless!
Shen Jing was inwardly speechless, then said seriously, “At most seventy percent.”
Seventy percent?
Emperor Zhou seemed to not quite believe Shen Jing’s words.
However, seventy percent confidence was not small!
With such high confidence, why wouldn’t he dare let him try it?
After a moment of contemplation, Emperor Zhou asked curiously, “Can you tell Us your method?”
“This, it’s really hard to say.”
Shen Jing looked troubled, “This requires considering the geological structure, as well as the wind direction, the timing, and a bit of luck…”
Shen Jing’s lies came out effortlessly.
Anyway, first, he had to trick Emperor Zhou into believing him.
With your dishonest nature, who the hell would dare tell you the truth!
Hearing Shen Jing speak so mysteriously, Emperor Zhou couldn’t help but frown.
Is it that complicated?
If it’s that complicated, this kid still has seventy percent confidence?
It seems this kid has absolute confidence!
Emperor Zhou was wildly overthinking.
Fortunately, Shen Jing didn’t know what he was thinking, otherwise, Shen Jing would truly give him a huge thumbs-up for his bizarre, reverse thinking.
“Alright, then We won’t ask any more questions for now!”
Emperor Zhou looked at Shen Jing with burning eyes: “Since you are so confident, We will grant your request! As long as you can breach the city walls of Yuping Pass within half a month, no matter how long it takes the imperial army to quell the rebellion, We will credit you with the greatest achievement! When you return triumphantly, along with your merit for presenting the sugar-making method, We will reward you for both!”
…
“Go to Qu Prefecture?”
Du Heng looked at Shen Jing, who had just exited the palace gates, with a bewildered expression.
Was this Sunzi a rabbit?
He had just run from Luochuan Prefecture to the capital, and now he was going to run to Qu Prefecture again?
Was he not tired?
“Do you think I want to go!”
Shen Jing looked at Du Heng unhappily, “Isn’t this forced by circumstances?”
“What circumstances?”
Du Heng asked, not understanding.
Shen Jing didn’t hide anything and told him about the things he had heard today.
After hearing Shen Jing’s words, Du Heng’s eyes immediately lit up, “Are you confident?”
“What do you think?”
Shen Jing gave him a roll of his eyes.
Isn’t that nonsense?
If he wasn’t confident, why would he run off to Qu Prefecture?
To cause trouble?
Du Heng was delighted and said eagerly, “Take me, take me!”
“Nonsense!”
Shen Jing was speechless, “You are my guard, of course I’ll take you! Not just you, Fan Qinghu also has to go!”
“Oh, oh!”
Du Heng nodded repeatedly.
However, Fan Qinghu pouted, “When did I become your guard?”
They were only temporarily guarding Shen Jing for court today.
And now he was Shen Jing’s guard?
“You only grew a head but no brains, didn’t you?”
Shen Jing looked at Fan Qinghu irritably, “I’m taking you to earn merit, and you’re still unhappy?”
This guy only grew such a big head.
Was his head filled with tofu dregs?
“Exactly! Go or don’t go!”
Du Heng nodded in agreement, then said with a grin to Shen Jing, “If he doesn’t go, there’s one less person to share the credit.”
“Go, go!”
Fan Qinghu quickly said, “If I go and get some merit, maybe I can become a general or something in the future, then I can directly lead an army to avenge my father!”
Speaking of this, Fan Qinghu clenched his fists tightly again, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
“Hmm, not too stupid after all!”
Shen Jing gave him a sidelong glance and said no more.
Soon, they rushed back to the Su Manor.
Seeing Shen Jing return safe and sound, Su Yourong and Chi Chi both breathed a sigh of relief.
However, upon hearing that Shen Jing was going to Qu Prefecture that afternoon, the smiles on their faces suddenly vanished.
“Alright, don’t look so glum.”
Madam Su smiled at the two women, “He’s going to achieve great things, and Duke Qi is going with him, so don’t worry! Charging into battle won’t be his responsibility!”
Madam Su didn’t even bother to ask if Shen Jing was confident.
From her understanding of Shen Jing, he would absolutely not get involved in this mess if he wasn’t confident.
Shen Jing helping the frontline army breach the city walls of Yuping Pass, though a small task, was a great merit!
“Mother-in-law is right!”
Shen Jing smiled confidently, “Don’t worry, this is easy merit! By the way, come with me to the study, I have something to tell you!”
Soon, Shen Jing led the Su Family mother and daughter and Chi Chi to the study, telling them about his conversation with Emperor Zhou.
“No wonder!”
Madam Su suddenly understood, “I also knew about the secret agreement between the imperial court and Yong Country, but the imperial court didn’t want to arouse public resentment, so it has never announced it publicly! The Emperor has treated my Su Family well, so the method of making sugar, we should offer it! As long as we have the salt license, my Su Family won’t be poor!”
Shen Jing’s face showed a foxy smile, “Don’t worry, a salt license is much more precious than the method for making white sugar!”
“Hmm?”
Su Yourong was surprised, “What other tricks are you up to?”
“Let’s talk about that later!”
Shen Jing smiled, “I’ll go pack first, just two changes of clothes.”
“This servant will help Young Master pack.”
Chi Chi said, then reminded Shen Jing, “Young Master, you must be careful on this trip, and never act recklessly.”
“Don’t worry!”
Shen Jing patted Chi Chi’s head, “With tens of thousands of troops there, it’s not my turn to act recklessly!”
Chi Chi nodded, silently going to help Shen Jing pack his clothes.
The situation was urgent, and Shen Jing and his group didn't delay much.
In the afternoon, Shen Jing took Du Heng and Fan Qinghu to meet Pei Ji and the others at the city gate.
He also specifically had Du Heng and Fan Qinghu carry several catties of white sugar, concealed by Du Heng’s luggage.
Accompanying them were one hundred fully armed Longxiang Imperial Guards led by Pang Suo.
Pang Suo was Pei Ji’s nephew, and also one of the five military commanders of the Longxiang Imperial Guards.
These men were all clad in scale armor, wielding horse lances, and carrying waist knives, with even their faces covered by visors.
Their mounts were also incredibly spirited, clearly excellent warhorses, which made Shen Jing and his companions envious.
It was also Shen Jing’s first time seeing the Longxiang Imperial Guards.
Although he hadn’t witnessed the strength of these men, just by looking at their attire, he knew that these men were absolutely the elite of the elite.
Pei Ji briefly introduced Pang Suo and Shen Jing to each other, then asked Shen Jing, “How are your riding skills?”
“I wouldn’t call it riding skills, I just know how to ride a horse.”
Shen Jing returned a slight smile, “I only learned to ride a horse on my way to the capital.”
“The situation is urgent, we must march quickly, so you must be careful!”
Pei Ji instructed Shen Jing, then immediately spurred his horse forward.
“Charge!”
Everyone spurred their horses to follow…