"So many memorial documents, has something happened recently in the Three Kingdoms and One Department?"
Lu Qingwan propped her chin on the desk and picked up a memorial to read.
Feng Xiwu was also reading a memorial, and without looking up, replied, "Nie Wuming has suddenly ascended to power, turning Yun Qiang into a vassal state of Bei Wei, and then launching a surprise attack on Da Qian. In the past three months, Xi Liang has remained silent.
Either they have reached some kind of consensus with Nie Wuming, or they have already been controlled by him.
Carefully examine the Bei Wei generals listed in the reports. Do their fighting styles and names seem familiar to you?"
Lu Qingwan, who had initially intended to be lazy and wait for Feng Xiwu to finish before asking him for an explanation, immediately sensed a hint of conspiracy upon hearing this. She became serious and quickly and diligently began to read the memorials.
Upon closer inspection, she indeed discovered something unusual.
"Luo Zhenyu, I think I saw this name on the parchment Lan Ting Shuang gave us?"
Feng Xiwu was not surprised at all. With his long fingers, he handed Lu Qingwan a piece of paper. "This is the fifth one."
Lu Qingwan looked at it. Five very familiar names. "Are they all generals under Nie Wuming?"
Feng Xiwu shook his head. "Except for Luo Zhenyu, whom you just mentioned, and Chen Changfeng, who are generals under Nie Wuming, the remaining three hold important positions in the courts of Da Qian, Yun Qiang, and Xi Liang."
As he spoke, he looked up at Lu Qingwan and smiled. "Do you want to guess if Nie Wuming will succeed in unifying the Three Kingdoms and One Department?"
"Does that even need guessing?"
Lu Qingwan raised her eyebrows proudly. "He wants to step on my shoulders to become the sole ruler of the southeastern Three Kingdoms and One Department? He must be dreaming!"
The intelligence from Banyue Pavilion, Wufeng Hall, and Buye Continent was very clear.
Nie Wuming had obtained her gunpowder formula, was using the 'Thirty-Six Stratagems' she had transcribed for Feng Xiwu, had routed the Da Qian royal army, threatened Yun Qiang into submission, and forced Xi Liang into a passive state.
Lu Qingwan could tolerate all of this. Her gunpowder formula and the 'Thirty-Six Stratagems' were highly secretive. It was Nie Wuming's capability that he could obtain them.
However, he was also exposing Buye Continent to the eyes of various powers to cover his intelligence network. This Lu Qingwan could not tolerate.
Not causing him trouble would be an insult to the brothers who worked hard to maintain her intelligence network.
Feng Xiwu chuckled. "Everything that needs to be prepared is almost done. Do you want to wait for the Da Qian envoy to arrive before departing, or depart earlier to clean up the mess as soon as possible?"
"Let's wait for them to arrive."
Lu Qingwan smiled like a little fox. "Nie Wuming is quite capable, isn't he? Let's give him a chance to showcase himself.
Although the Da Qian royal army is somewhat depleted, there is still Xi Liang. If not, there is Yun Qiang. They can at least wear down some of his vital forces.
The Xuan Jia Army is ours; we must use it sparingly."
Feng Xiwu understood her intentions. "What devious plan have you cooked up now?"
Lu Qingwan chuckled mischievously and rubbed her hands together like a fly. "Guess what? Did Nie Wuming reach a consensus with the entire Yun Qiang and Xi Liang, or with a key figure within the Three Kingdoms and One Department?"
"Naturally, it would be certain key figures. You haven't just met Nie Wuming today. In the past few years, it was already a stroke of luck that he could keep his younger siblings alive. He wouldn't have had the time to scheme so much.
However, Nie Wuming is the type of person who will not stop until he achieves his goals. Since he dared to attack Da Qian with heavy troops, yet remained unguarded against Yun Qiang and Xi Liang, he must have made thorough defenses in secret.
I think we might want to investigate the internal issues of Yun Qiang and Xi Liang first, before considering how to deal with Nie Wuming."
A gentle knock sounded on the door, and Gu Xingzhi entered uninvited.
He unceremoniously sat down next to Lu Qingwan and said in a loud voice, "I remember your enemy is the emperor of Qian, Feng Qingheng, right?
I was listening outside the door for a long time. Why were you discussing someone named Nie Wuming the whole time? Are you sure you haven't mistaken your enemy?"
"Feng Qingheng is an enemy, and Nie Wuming is an opponent. This is not contradictory."
Lu Qingwan smiled charmingly. "What brings our Grand Commandant here?
As a new official, why aren't you going to the Grand Commandant's mansion to make your presence felt, and instead have time to sneak into Prince Qin's mansion to eavesdrop on my conversation with the Prince?"
Gu Xingzhi smiled without answering, and placed a medium-sized brocade box on the desk. "Guess what this is?"
Before Lu Qingwan could even process the question, Feng Xiwu's face turned cold. "A state letter from Da Qian?
Are they coming to borrow troops or to sow discord?"
Gu Xingzhi, who had been leisurely sitting with his legs crossed, waiting to watch the show, froze. Feng Xiwu then continued, "Or are they doing both?"
Gu Xingzhi's previously nonchalant expression vanished as he sat up straight, surprised. "You guessed that too?!"
Lu Qingwan smiled. "Otherwise, they say the ones who understand you best are always your enemies."
"Although I've never heard that saying before, I admit it makes a lot of sense."
Gu Xingzhi gave Lu Qingwan a thumbs-up and opened the brocade box. "Take a look yourselves.
On one hand, they are borrowing troops from Great Qin. On the other hand, they are subtly reminding His Majesty that the Prince's identity is questionable, and that the Princess is arrogant and looks down on others, possessing poor character.
In short, you are extremely wicked people, and he is a pitiable figure. If Great Qin doesn't help him, it's aiding and abetting evil..."
Gu Xingzhi was disgusted. "As small as Qian Dynasty is, he is still a ruler. Why is he resorting to the underhanded tactics of women in the inner chambers?"
"He has always been like this. He even claims to be a master of manipulating people. This act of self-proclaimed cleverness is not unexpected."
Feng Xiwu looked at the state letter, a sarcastic smile on his face. "It's even handwritten, showing enough sincerity.
It's just that he probably never imagined that he and the Qian Dynasty he fought so hard to obtain are worthless in the hearts of Great Qin's citizens when it comes to offering aid."
"Is that so?"
Gu Xingzhi's usual flippant demeanor was replaced by seriousness in his words.
"The court has been paying attention to the situation in the Three Kingdoms and One Department. In my opinion, the First Prince of Bei Wei, Nie Wuming, is very ambitious.
I know His Majesty has already agreed to let you handle the affairs of the Three Kingdoms and One Department yourselves, but Prime Minister Yan and the Grand Commandant are still concerned.
The King of Qingzhou and the King of Guangling have also submitted memorials inquiring about the matter.
I am here on behalf of everyone to gauge your intentions, at least to let everyone know whether the Three Kingdoms and One Department will threaten the interests of Great Qin."
He spoke earnestly, and Lu Qingwan and Gu Xingzhi no longer treated him with a joking attitude.
Lu Qingwan smoothly moved to Feng Xiwu's side. "Liyang, bring out the map."
Liyang and Liyang pulled out a screen from behind the bookshelf, and a massive map encompassing the Three Kingdoms and One Department, Great Qin, Bei Qi, the Turks, as well as the southern seas, the northern deserts, the western snow mountains, and the eastern wilderness, entered Gu Xingzhi's sight.
Gu Xingzhi was stunned. "This is a map of the entire continent?
Rumor has it that only the Bei Qi imperial palace has such a map. You... where did you get it from?"