74: Chapter 0074 Group Tour

Ding Cuihua turned the conversation and said, "If you don't mind, why don't you have your teacher ask him if he's willing to take another wife of equal status?"

Su Wansha blushed, "Teacher's wife, how could I let my teacher ask about such a thing? Besides, apart from Sister Xiao, he already has a concubine, and she's General Mu Tiexin's daughter, Mu Wanying."

"General Mu's daughter, acting as his concubine?"

Ding Cuihua looked surprised. She turned to look at Lin Xiao, who was busy with farm work, and couldn't help but think a little higher of him.

"It seems your judgment is indeed good. He would rather have a daughter of the Mu Family as a concubine than abandon his first wife with the heterochromatic eyes. That shows he doesn't forget his roots."

Su Wansha pouted, "Even if he's good, it's useless. Not to mention anything else, my parents wouldn't agree to it anyway..."

Ding Cuihua sighed, finding it hard to say anything more. After all, it wasn't her own daughter.

After finishing his work, Lin Xiao ate two flatbreads and some vegetables he had grown himself at Zhu Ming's house, enjoying a simple meal.

What he found a bit strange was that Ding Cuihua kept looking at him with a peculiar gaze.

If it were just an ordinary old lady, he might let it slide, but she was anything but ordinary!

Being stared at by her like that, Lin Xiao couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.

The strongest offensive technique Lin Xiao currently practiced was the Earth Grade "Heaven-Burning Blade Technique."

He had added 50 years of cultivation to it, while the old lady had practiced her Earth Grade sword technique for 78 years on her own!

She was the strongest individual martial artist he had ever encountered so far.

"Little System, do you think I can win if I duel Ding Cuihua now?"

[System: Based on the data, the host possesses the "Indestructible Diamond Body" and a stronger physique, so the win rate can reach seventy percent, but the data is limited to a theoretical level.]

"Then what if I add 100 years of cultivation to the 'Heaven-Burning Blade Technique'?"

[System: The win rate can reach over eighty percent!]

"Damn, I add 50 more years, and the win rate only increases by ten percent? The opponent only has 78 years!"

[System: Technique strength has an upper limit, which causes a diminishing marginal effect!]

"Speak human!"

[System: →_→ It means that the gap between 10 years and 50 years is huge, but the gap between 50 years and 100 years is actually quite small.]

Lin Xiao understood. It meant that the further one went in adding cultivation, the lower the cost-effectiveness became.

It was highly likely that an Earth Grade technique with 200 years of cultivation was not as formidable as a Heaven Grade technique with 50 years of cultivation.

Fortunately, he hadn't wasted too many points upgrading the Heaven-Burning Blade Technique, or else he would have lost out.

Before leaving, Zhu Ming handed a letter to Su Wansha.

"Su Wansha, give this to your father. He will understand once he reads it."

Su Wansha carefully put it away without asking any questions.

Lin Xiao pretended not to know anything, but in reality, he was very clear. Both Zhu Ming and Su Chang were from the Academy faction; they were definitely plotting something behind the scenes.

However, as long as it could be used for his benefit, he didn't care.

Watching Lin Xiao and Su Wansha leave on horseback, Zhu Ming stroked his beard with a smile.

"Su Wansha has good taste. This Commander Lin is indeed a man of talent and appearance."

Ding Cuihua came to his side and said with a smile.

"Indeed. He can kill enemies on the battlefield, farm in the countryside, and is well-read. He is truly a good match for Su Wansha."

"It's a pity he married early. Su Junior Brother certainly won't agree to let Su Wansha be a concubine."

"Hehe... He might not agree to her being a concubine, but being a consort... that might be a different story."

Zhu Ming said with a smile before turning around and going back to work in the vegetable garden.

Ding Cuihua looked stunned and muttered to herself, "It shouldn't go that far, right..."

That night.

In his study, Su Chang opened the letter Zhu Ming had given him.

After reading it, Fatty Su's expression changed several times, eventually settling into deep thought.

Half an hour later, a carrier pigeon fluttered into the air from behind the courtyard and flew towards the capital.

Meanwhile, Lin Xiao was in Mu Wanying's room, having the woman report the day's spoils of war...

"Captured warhorses... four thousand seven hundred..."

"Grain and grass... one thousand..."

"How much grain? Speak clearly!"

"One thousand five hundred shi... Husband, is that enough now..."

Mu Wanying cried out, begging for mercy. Was this man made of iron?

He had just fought a bloody battle during the day!

"That won't do! I am training your willpower!"

Mu Wanying had no choice but to report the numbers one by one.

Late at night.

Lin Xiao held the aggrieved woman in his arms. Seeing her pouting expression, he couldn't help but smile.

"What's wrong? Are you unhappy about reporting the spoils of war?"

"How would I dare... It is just that I am useless."

"You performed very well today; I am very satisfied."

Mu Wanying buried her head in the man's chest, a sweet smile appearing at the corners of her mouth.

In fact, she was also very satisfied, but it was just too much satisfaction; it was too exhausting.

"How is the Cangzhou Army? Has anyone left?"

"Not yet today, but... there are some voices arguing, discussing why Husband won't send troops to take the entire Cangzhou Prefecture, whether you are afraid, or don't dare to make an enemy of Prince Bai, and so on."

"That's normal. They don't understand me; it's impossible to make them pledge their loyalty immediately."

Lin Xiao said, "People are all profit-driven. In the coming days, we must make them understand that following our Border Army has a future."

"Mm... Just tell me what to do, Husband..."

Lin Xiao looked down and saw that the woman had already fallen asleep.

He couldn't help but sigh. Logically speaking, Mu Wanying was a female general with considerable martial arts skill who had practiced for years.

But compared to him, she was still far behind. Three hundred years of the Indestructible Golden Body was truly too overbearing!

The next day.

The next day, Wei Dongxue, Commander Bai Buhei, and several other officers of the Cangzhou Army were called together by Lin Xiao.

"Commander Lin, are we going to send out troops?"

Wei Dongxue looked expectant, thinking that after a night of consideration, Lin Xiao had made up his mind.

Lin Xiao smiled and said, "We will definitely send out troops, but not now."

"I called you here today to discuss giving the soldiers some time off!"

"Ah!?"

The soldiers of the Cangzhou Army looked at each other, suspecting they had misheard.

"Commander Lin! Now is the perfect time for a counterattack; how can we give the soldiers time off!?"

"That's right! If we give them leave, many soldiers will just run away. What will we do then!?"

Lin Xiao looked at Commander Bai Buhei and said, "Commander Bai Buhei, you are from Baishui Prefecture, right? Do you miss your family?"

Upon hearing this, Commander Bai Buhei's eyes immediately turned red.

"I... I want to go back... to see my old mother. Her eyes are not good. Since I joined the army, my brother and sister-in-law have been taking care of her."

"Granted!"

Lin Xiao looked at the other generals, "What about you?"

"Sir, my hometown is Wansong County; I want to go see my wife and children..."

"Me too. My father was sick before; I don't know if he's better, as there has been no news."

Lin Xiao waved his hand and said, "All granted! Just as I said, three days of leave!"

Commander Bai Buhei and the others immediately bowed and clasped their hands, thanking him repeatedly.

Wei Dongxue's expression was complex, and there was even a hint of resentment in his eyes. No matter how you looked at it, this seemed like acting recklessly!

"Commander Lin, these soldiers from Baishui Prefecture will naturally be happy, but with the seven prefectures of Cang Province, it's impossible for all these soldiers to go home, right?"

"I know that, of course. So, for those soldiers with nowhere to go, I've arranged a 'three-day guided group tour'."

Wei Dongxue looked confused, "Ah? A... a what tour?"