"It's just a map. If we put our minds to it, we'll find a way."
Feng Xi Wu looked calmly at the map that encompassed all the known territories of this era and said, "Part of the three eastern and southern kingdoms borders the Central Plains forest, half connecting with Da Qin and half connecting with Tuyur.
For years, the powers of the three eastern and southern kingdoms have been balanced, with no one able to break this equilibrium.
Why do you think Nie Wu Ming was able to rise to prominence and secure the position of Crown Prince of Northern Wei in just three months?
He even forced the Western Liang and Yun Qiang to remain subdued, and crippled the Qian Dynasty's ability to retaliate."
On the map, the Yunzhou Forest, which separated the three eastern and southern kingdoms from the northern kingdoms, looked no bigger than a palm. It was hardly enough to be an impassable barrier between them.
And Gu Xing Zhi lived up to his reputation as a Grand General of the Wei Wei at such a young age.
Looking at the map before him and listening to Feng Xi Wu's suggestive words, his gaze quickly locked onto Tuyur.
However, there was a hint of hesitation in his eyes. "Tuyur is indeed close to Northern Wei. As long as Northern Wei can find a way to traverse the Yunzhong Forest, there will be no obstacle between Tuyur and Northern Wei. They could even secretly communicate under the cover of the Yunzhong Forest.
Given Tuyur's strength, it's not impossible for them to provide troops and provisions to Northern Wei.
But gunpowder is unique to Da Qin. If the person assisting Nie Wu Ming is a Tuyur person, where would his gunpowder come from?"
That was right. The intelligence from various sources was clear: the armies under Nie Wu Ming's command did not possess advanced firearms, only packaged gunpowder. While it might not have the range and destructive power of cannons and muskets, its sheer quantity was enough to deal with the Qian Dynasty's royal army, which lacked firearms.
Gu Xing Zhi's greatest concern was the gunpowder in Nie Wu Ming's hands. If Nie Wu Ming truly unified the three eastern and southern kingdoms, it was inevitable that he would one day confront Da Qin.
If that day ever came, gunpowder would undoubtedly pose the greatest threat to Da Qin.
But the problem was that the Tuyur people, who were Nie Wu Ming's backing, did not know how to produce gunpowder themselves. This was what Gu Xing Zhi was most concerned about.
This put Lu Qing Wan in an awkward position. "I'm sorry, but if I'm not mistaken, the formula for the gunpowder in his hands was leaked from me."
Gu Xing Zhi's fish-like eyes widened dramatically. "Princess, you can't be joking, can you?"
Lu Qing Wan believed that if it weren't for their respective statuses, Gu Xing Zhi would have unceremoniously asked, "Are you out of your mind, helping your opponent manufacture weapons to fight you?"
Lu Qing Wan considered herself intelligent and emotionally mature. She had never been looked at with such pitying eyes for a fool. She almost lost her composure and wanted to flip the table.
However, this time, she truly didn't know how to explain. She could only awkwardly explain, "It's a long and tearful story. In short, both his strategic formations and his gunpowder were taken from me."
For a moment, Gu Xing Zhi's expression was beyond words.
Fortunately, Feng Xi Wu was still there. Seeing Lu Qing Wan so embarrassed that her toes were about to dig a subterranean palace, he finally interjected leisurely.
"Military tactics and gunpowder formulas can be stolen, but the mind that can strategize and command troops cannot.
Go back and tell the Emperor and Prime Minister that Nie Wu Ming will not have the opportunity to attack Da Qin. If anyone is to unify the three eastern and southern kingdoms, it will be me, not Nie Wu Ming."
Gu Xing Zhi's already serious expression became even more solemn, and he looked at Feng Xi Wu in astonishment. "Your Highness, are you serious?"
In the months since his return to Da Qin, Feng Xi Wu had maintained a clear position. He had consistently shown the Da Qin court that he was Si Feng Ming's brother and that everything he did was to assist Si Feng Ming.
However, if he were to lead an army to unify the three eastern and southern kingdoms, his role as an assistant would be greatly diminished.
Even if Feng Xi Wu had no such intentions, the officials would naturally view the two brothers as two separate forces, which would not be good for the relationship between them.
Gu Xing Zhi's question was both a plea for confirmation and a reminder.
But Feng Xi Wu's answer was extremely firm. "Of course, I am serious.
The revenge for Father and Mother has been avenged. The Emperor is capable of handling all matters in Da Qin. My wife and I are still young and not yet at the age of retirement. We can't just sit at home and waste away, can we?
We need something to do, something that can both avenge our personal grievances and fulfill our ambitions. It's a win-win situation, isn't it?"
Gu Xing Zhi nodded blankly. "Your Highness's ambition is to expand Da Qin's territory?"
Lu Qing Wan couldn't help but glance sideways at this question, while Feng Xi Wu smiled without answering.
Gu Xing Zhi then rose. "This subordinate understands.
Since Your Highness has made up your mind, this subordinate wishes Your Highness victory and success in all endeavors."
"You're too kind."
Feng Xi Wu raised his teacup slightly, signaling their farewell.
Gu Xing Zhi left with a composed expression. Lu Qing Wan watched him walk away before turning back with a smile. "Young Master Gu is an honest man. Why did you frighten him like that?"
Gu Xing Zhi was not only a court official of Da Qin but also the cousin of Feng Xi Wu and Si Feng Ming. All he desired was brotherly harmony and no rift between them.
As a result, Feng Xi Wu's thunderous pronouncement had likely stunned the young man.
Feng Xi Wu feigned innocence. "I was just speaking the truth. How can that be considered frightening him?
The Emperor didn't say anything. If he's making such a fuss, it only shows he's still inexperienced!"
"Nonsense!"
Lu Qing Wan chided him playfully, then changed the subject. "Seriously, what are your plans regarding Feng Qing Heng?"
"Wait. Wait until he's pushed to desperation by Nie Wu Ming, give him hope, and then dash it. What do you think?"
"Very good!"
Lu Qing Wan curved her eyes in satisfaction. She recalled how the original owner of her body had once harbored hopes when she was betrothed to Feng Qing Heng.
She thought that by becoming the noble Princess of Chen, Lu Si Wan and Lan Yu Ru, the mother and daughter, would no longer be able to bully her.
Yet, Feng Qing Heng had allowed Lu Si Wan to plot against her, swapping her out through deception. Later, he even used her background as a weapon, wishing to trample her into the dirt.
Now, she and Feng Xi Wu, in their identities as Prince and Princess of Qin, would give him a glimmer of hope, making him believe that Da Qin would send troops to help him.
Then, when he was filled with anticipation, they would appear before him.
To let him know that the ones who held absolute power in Da Qin were none other than his most hated imagined enemy, Feng Xi Wu, and the one he despised most, Lu Qing Wan. It could be considered karma.
From then on, intelligence from the three eastern and southern kingdoms poured onto Feng Xi Wu's desk like snowflakes. Meanwhile, the envoys from the Qian Dynasty finally arrived in the Central Plains, much to Lu Qing Wan's delight as she sat back to watch the drama unfold.
Unfortunately, due to Feng Xi Wu's specific arrangements, not only could they not pay their respects to Si Feng Ming, but no one from the Honglu Temple was sent to receive them.
As a formal diplomatic mission of a nation, they were forced to pay for their own lodging in an inn.
"Princess, you should have seen it. The envoy's face turned green with anger, but because they were in Da Qin, he didn't even dare to utter a sound.
He obediently took his people to the inn and repeatedly sent people to the Honglu Temple to deliver his visiting card. It wasn't until he was turned away by the people of the Honglu Temple that he remembered you!"