“But before that,” Song Qingshu’s tone shifted, and he cast a sharp gaze over the assembled commanders, “there is one matter that needs to be dealt with.”
His gaze seemed almost tangible, and everyone in the tent felt a chill run through them.
“Li Kexiu’s attack was sudden, but his strength was roughly on par with ours. So why has the Golden Serpent Camp been suffering one defeat after another since the war began?” As Song Qingshu spoke, his voice gradually grew harsher.
The commanders exchanged uneasy glances, their faces full of shame. They lowered their heads in silence, none daring to provoke him at this moment.
“Instead of thinking about how to repel the enemy, you spent all your energy questioning me, doubting me. If you’re going to hold me back every time a crisis arises, what use are you to me?” Song Qingshu’s anger flared.
“We heard reports that the Lord was poisoned in Yangzhou. We suspected that Xia Qingqing had substituted someone else to impersonate you,” someone whispered in defense.
“Worried about someone impersonating me?” Song Qingshu raised an eyebrow, cutting him off. “They are my women. From now on, when I am not present, they have my full authority to act on my behalf!”
The commanders inwardly grumbled: *Xia Qingqing was clearly Madam Yuan. Who knows when you two got together?* But of course, they dared not voice such thoughts aloud. They could only nod in agreement.
Song Qingshu turned to Zhao Min. “Miss Zhao, in your Mongol tradition, how are those who openly question their commander and refuse to carry out orders punished?”
Zhao Min’s sharp mind instantly grasped his intention. *This bastard wants me to play the villain while he plays the good cop and wins their loyalty.*
But it was a small favor, and she didn’t mind. She responded coldly, “Such people should be executed and their blood used to consecrate the battle banner.”
The commanders’ faces went pale. They all knelt and begged for mercy. In truth, they knew that not just in the Mongol army but in any well-disciplined military force, their actions would warrant court-martial. But most of them were former bandits and outlaws, unaccustomed to such strict codes.
Song Qingshu’s expression remained cold. He let the silence stretch until their panic peaked. Then he said flatly, “Considering that your intentions were loyal, everyone involved in this coup attempt will be demoted three ranks. If such a thing happens again, you will face military justice.”
“Thank you, Lord!”
Watching them scurry away as if pardoned from death, Zhao Min smiled inwardly. *That little fox Song Qingshu is cunning indeed. First, he terrified them with the threat of execution. When they heard that the final punishment was merely a three-rank demotion, they felt not resentment but gratitude. If he had simply demoted them outright, they would have raised a furor…*
But though she saw through it, she had no intention of pointing it out. She simply looked at Song Qingshu with a knowing smile.
Noticing her expression, Song Qingshu returned a look that said “we understand each other.” But inwardly, he was thinking: *These Golden Serpent Camp veterans all came from bandit backgrounds. They have little real skill but plenty of bad habits. Each leader has his own faction and his own agenda. This coup attempt is a warning. It’s time to promote new, loyal people to replace them. Of course, this can’t be done hastily. Slow and steady—like boiling a frog in warm water…*
After the commanders had left, Song Qingshu asked Ah Jiu, “Ah Jiu, I’ve been meaning to ask you. When I was being hunted in Yangzhou, I discovered that the Golden Dragon Gang’s secret stronghold there had been wiped out. What happened to Bang… to Chief Jiao?”
Jiao Wan’er was, after all, Luo Liru’s wife. Song Qingshu did not want to appear too familiar.
Ah Jiu, who thought nothing of it, replied, “When Li Kexiu’s troops attacked the stronghold, Wan’er happened to be out on business and luckily escaped. She wanted to stay in Yangzhou to watch for a chance to save you, but her whereabouts were exposed. Heavily wounded, she had no choice but to flee Yangzhou. She’s now recovering in Jining.”
“That’s good to hear. If something had happened to her because of me, I would have felt guilty for the rest of my life,” Song Qingshu said with relief.
“Is this Jiao Wan’er also your woman?” Zhao Min suddenly asked.
Song Qingshu’s face flushed. He quickly said, “She’s married. Don’t spread rumors and ruin her reputation.” In front of Zhou Zhiruo and Ah Jiu, he was truly embarrassed to admit it. More importantly, keeping their relationship secret added a thrill of forbidden excitement and protected her reputation.
“Is that so?” Zhao Min smiled knowingly, as if she had already guessed.
Feeling guilty, Song Qingshu hastily changed the subject. “Though we plan to negotiate peace with the Southern Song, we cannot show all our cards at once. The court officials will only become more demanding. So while I travel south, I need you to continue maintaining an offensive posture, forcing the Southern Song to propose peace talks.”
He scanned the women. “Ah Jiu, you will command the Golden Serpent Camp forces. Maintain pressure on the Southern Song, but don’t go too far and start a real war. You must strike the right balance.”
“Understood.” Ah Jiu had long been acting as his proxy in commanding the Golden Serpent Camp. With her royal upbringing and political instincts, she was the perfect candidate.
“Zhiruo, with this opportunity, don’t go back to the White Lotus Sect. Stay here and focus on absorbing Li Kexiu’s territory.” Song Qingshu knew Zhou Zhiruo always felt insecure. Rather than letting her continue to take risks in the White Lotus Sect, it was better to give her authority and solidify her position.
The world did not know about Zhou Zhiruo’s relationship with Zhou Ziwang. She had infiltrated the White Lotus Sect under a different name and with a simple disguise. Unless someone knew her very well, they would not recognize her as the Emei Sect Leader Zhou Zhiruo. With her new identity, the White Lotus Sect would not suspect her for the time being.
Hearing that her husband was entrusting her with the Jianghuai region, Zhou Zhiruo was both surprised and delighted. Her eyes darted toward Zhao Min, and an idea formed. “Alright. But I have no experience in administrative affairs. Sister Zhao is an expert in this area. Why not have her stay and help me?”
Zhou Zhiruo knew that Zhao Min had learned too many of Song Qingshu’s secrets. Without foolproof measures, he dared not let her go. But if that vixen Zhao Min stayed by his side, it was only a matter of time before they got together. The best solution was to keep her under her own watchful eye.
Before Song Qingshu could respond, Zhao Min jumped up. “Absolutely not!”
Zhou Zhiruo blinked innocently. “Does Miss Zhao dislike me so much that she won’t even lift a finger to help?”
“Pah! Don’t give me that pitiful act. You think I don’t know what you’re scheming?” Zhao Min snorted. “In your hands, I’d be lucky to come out alive, let alone unscathed.”
Zhou Zhiruo put on a wounded expression, as if about to cry. “So Miss Zhao thinks so poorly of me.”
Zhao Min shuddered. “That’s disgusting. You’re giving me goosebumps.”
As the two women argued, Song Qingshu fell into thought. *It truly would be inconvenient to take Zhao Min with me to the Southern Song. The longer she stays by my side, the more secrets she’ll learn. Leaving her in Yangzhou is a good solution. And with Zhou Zhiruo watching her, there’s no risk of her escaping—Zhao Min may be resourceful, but Zhou Zhiruo is no fool, and she has the advantage in martial arts. The two of them have been evenly matched for years.*
*The only problem is that leaving Zhao Min with Zhou Zhiruo means she will suffer. Zhou Zhiruo is my wife, but I don’t want Zhao Min to be too badly mistreated.*
But no matter how he thought, he could not find a perfect solution. Watching the two women bicker, Song Qingshu suddenly saw a bright side. *Why am I worrying so much? With Zhao Min’s intelligence, she can certainly protect herself. And Zhou Zhiruo needs her help with administrative affairs—that gives Zhao Min leverage. They’ll negotiate their own balance.*
“Alright, that’s settled. Miss Zhao, you will stay and assist Zhiruo. When I return from the Southern Song, I will accompany you to find the antidote for the Three Corpse Brain Holy Pill,” Song Qingshu promised.
Zhao Min’s delicate brows furrowed. She was clearly weighing whether to accept.
Song Qingshu continued, “I know what you’re worried about. Zhiruo, you are not to bully Miss Zhao during this time.”
Zhou Zhiruo smiled faintly. “Don’t worry. I will treat Miss Zhao *very* well.”
Her tone was strange. Zhao Min caught it immediately, and even Song Qingshu sensed the deliberate ambiguity. He quickly added, pointing to Ah Jiu, “Miss Zhao, if you need anything, you can always turn to Ah Jiu.”
Zhao Min’s eyes lit up, and she finally relaxed. “Fine. This Princess will reluctantly stay and clean up this mess for you.”
With tensions along the river ready to explode at any moment, Song Qingshu feared that the slightest misstep could trigger war. After making a few arrangements in Yangzhou, he crossed the Yangtze that very night and headed south.
Song Qingshu knew that he could not be the one to propose peace talks. If he did, the Southern Song would see through his weakness and the negotiations would put the Golden Serpent Camp at a severe disadvantage.
But making the Southern Song propose peace was also tricky. He needed an intermediary. After weighing status, influence, and feasibility, the most suitable candidate was Han Dingxiao.
However, Song Qingshu did not go directly to Lin’an to see Han Dingxiao. He had only met him once in Yangzhou, and they were not close. Though their conversation had been pleasant, things might have changed.
Song Qingshu was not afraid of danger. With his current cultivation, even if Han Dingxiao turned hostile, he could not hold him. What worried him was alerting the enemy at such a delicate moment. If he lost the chance to find another intermediary, that would be a real problem.
“I’ll find someone else to test the waters with Han Dingxiao first.” Song Qingshu quickly came up with a plan. He bypassed Lin’an and continued south, heading toward the Lu clan of Shanyin.