125: Chapter 125 Am I the only fool?

That day, Zhou Yun spent almost the entire day lingering by the fields of the White Tiger Clan.

At noon, Nuan Nuan came over carrying a food box to deliver lunch.

Zhou Yun took the food box and thanked her, then immediately divided the spiritual rice and Demonic Beast meat inside into several portions, inviting the White Tiger Clan to eat together.

The Little White Tiger hesitated for a moment, then finally lowered its head and crept over. It used its tongue to snatch a piece of meat, chewing slowly, but its ears were pricked straight up.

Lei Lie stood far away at the end of the ridge watching this scene, his face twisted into a knot.

Two more days.

The decisive battle is in two days.

Who will be sent into battle then?

How many?

How will the professions be distributed?

Should the infantry take the vanguard, or should the mages strike first?

Should we bring priests or not?

If so, how many?

What if the enemy fights to the death; how should we respond?

Should we annihilate them completely, or surround them without attacking?

Nothing has been decided, nothing asked, nothing arranged.

Zhou Yun seems to have completely forgotten about it, actually having lunch with a bunch of big cats there!

Lei Lie took a deep breath, turned around, and strode away.

...

He went to find Tie Shan first.

Tie Shan was squatting by the irrigation ditch of Ganlan Mountain, using a plumb bob to check the slope of the channel. After listening to Lei Lie, he stood up, brushed the mud off his knees, and pondered for a moment.

"Zhou Yun should have a plan in mind, right?"

Lei Lie glared at him. "Whether he has a plan or not, how would you know if you haven't asked? You're too laid back!"

Tie Shan scratched the back of his head and squatted back down to check his slope.

...

He went to find Wan'er next.

Wan'er was sitting in the side hall of the City Lord's Mansion, a huge zoning map of the settlement spread out before her. Her brush tip was dipped in ink, and she didn't even look up.

Lei Lie explained his purpose, and Wan'er's hand holding the brush paused; she raised her eyes to look at him.

"You've come to the wrong person regarding matters of war."

Lei Lie was stunned. "Aren't you the Chief Administrator?"

"That's right," Wan'er lowered her head and continued writing, "which is why I am doing my own job."

...

Lei Lie gritted his teeth and went to find Minister Wang Fugui.

Minister Wang Fugui was in the warehouse taking stock of the newly collected construction funds, the beads of his abacus clicking rapidly.

After listening to Lei Lie, he slowly turned his head and spread his hands.

"For something like this, you, a Minister of the Military Department, are asking me, a Minister of the Trade Department?"

His gaze was like looking at a lost fool.

Lei Lie's fists clenched until they cracked, and he turned and left.

...

Military Department.

Strategist Zhu Ge's wheelchair was parked by the window, and he was holding a bamboo scroll, reading with leisurely contentment.

Sunlight shone in obliquely through the window lattice, falling on the thin blanket over his knees.

Lei Lie pushed the door open, entered, and stood at the doorway, deliberately coughing heavily twice.

Strategist Zhu Ge didn't even lift his eyelids; he just turned a page of the bamboo scroll.

Lei Lie coughed twice more, his throat nearly hoarse from coughing.

Strategist Zhu Ge then put down the scroll with a chuckle and looked up. "Minister, have you caught a cold?"

"You know perfectly well why!" Lei Lie glared.

Strategist Zhu Ge picked up the teapot from the table in a leisurely manner, poured himself a cup of tea, held it in his hands to blow away the foam, and took a small sip.

He blew on it again and took another small sip.

The veins on Lei Lie's temples were throbbing, and his lips began to tremble.

Strategist Zhu Ge finally put down the teacup, his smile undiminished. "Minister, you are flustered because you care too much. I would like to ask, what is the Minister worried about?"

"Is that even a question?" Lei Lie slammed his palm on the table, causing the teacup to bounce. "This is Flower City's first decisive battle! If Zhou Yun isn't concerned, and we subordinates aren't concerned, is that appropriate?"

"Oh?" Strategist Zhu Ge's feather fan swayed gently, and his smile deepened. "So, Minister, are you suggesting that we will lose?"

Lei Lie sneered and raised his chin. "Ridiculous! Even if Qing City is an S-Rank minor city, Flower City has one hundred thousand armored troops! If they dare to clash head-on, the result will only be their annihilation into dust!"

"In that case," Strategist Zhu Ge picked up his teacup and took another sip, his tone light and airy, "what is the Minister worried about then?"

Lei Lie opened his mouth.

Then he closed it.

He opened it again.

And closed it again.

He stood there, his tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxing. The impatience on his face faded bit by bit, replaced by a sense of bewilderment after a sudden realization.

That's right.

What was I worried about?

Strategist Zhu Ge watched him, waving his feather fan, the curve of his mouth never changing.

Lei Lie was silent for a long while, then slowly let out a sigh.

"So you all understood, and I was the only fool?"

Strategist Zhu Ge shook his head slightly and cupped his hands. "I wouldn't dare say that."

Although he said that, the smile on his face could not be hidden.

Lei Lie's face turned bright red. He pointed at Strategist Zhu Ge, his finger trembling for a long time. "Very well! We are colleagues, after all, yet you just watched me worry in vain!"

After saying this, he turned and strode out of the Military Department, the door curtain snapping loudly behind him.

Walking into the courtyard, the wind blew, dissipating some of his anger, but the frustration in his heart became even clearer.

He didn't know where to go, his footsteps treading aimlessly on the stone path.

The further he walked, the more he felt something was wrong. It wasn't the others' problem; it was his own.

In terms of military strategy, Strategist Zhu Ge is better than him.

When it comes to troop deployment and strategic deduction, Strategist Zhu Ge can see the whole picture just by moving his feather fan from his wheelchair, while he, with all his brute force, couldn't figure it out after thinking for ages.

In terms of insight into matters, there is no need to compare—today's conversation is the best proof. The truth that Strategist Zhu Ge pointed out in one sentence took him running to four people to circle back to.

In terms of strength, Strategist Zhu Ge is young and already Silver Rank, on the same level as him, but his potential is undoubtedly much higher.

Compared to this, what is he?

A sentence Zhou Yun once said to him suddenly surfaced in his mind.

The tone at the time was very gentle, with a smile, as if speaking about something trivial: "Continue serving as Minister for now; when there is a suitable candidate in the future, you can step down and yield the position."

Lei Lie stopped in his tracks.

He looked up.

The sky had cleared up for a rare moment, with the sun hanging right in the middle, its rays piercing straight down, stinging his eyes.

He looked up for who knows how long, until the sunlight forced a layer of moisture into the corners of his eyes.

Then he smiled.

It wasn't a smile of having figured things out, but a smile of no longer wanting to struggle with it.

Forget it, no more overthinking. Go find Zhou Yun and clear things up.

Whatever needs to be handed over, hand it over; whatever needs to be yielded... just yield it.

...

On the ridge, Zhou Yun was squatting by the edge of the White Tiger Clan's field, pinching the leaf of a seedling with two fingers and examining it.

Lei Lie strode over, stood still behind him, and took a deep breath.

"Zhou Yun!"

Zhou Yun didn't even turn his head. "Hmm?"

Lei Lie clenched his fists, his tone sinking. "Zhou Yun, as for this Minister of the Military Department, I..."