Chapter 1577: Chapter 1577: Debate in the Audience Hall

"I have the final say on this matter." When necessary, Ye Shikai couldn’t let He Linghan take charge. There was something he hadn’t told Shangguan Jianming. Although he had experienced that the Qin Army couldn’t capture the Southern County, he had concealed the latter part of the sentence.

Mi Wen also couldn’t capture Nanyang County.

As for the reason, it’s the same as why the Qin Army couldn’t conquer the Southern County. The Qin Army is strong in the Southern County, and if they remain on the defensive and hold firm, Mi Wen could never take it. A strong attack would only increase casualties. As a rational ruler, she wouldn’t launch a reckless attack without analyzing both sides’ situations. If it was as Ye Shikai expected, the two sides would be in a standoff at the border between the two counties for a long time.

In this way, even though Mi Wen quickly unified several counties in the Chu Territory, it wouldn’t be as easy to head north and contest the Central Plains afterward.

"Well, alright. This is your family affair, so I won’t interfere much."

The two chatted briefly and then returned to their respective camps. They had three months, so there was no rush. Instead, training the soldiers was the top priority. Without combat power, they would only be sent to their deaths even if they went to the Southern County.

Linxiang City, government office.

"The master has arrived."

Mi Wen, dressed in luxurious clothes, slowly walked up to the central desk, while Ye Shikai stood silently by the side of the martial generals, watching her. Ever since he met Mi Wen, this was the first time he had seen her in such attire. As the master of a local tyrant, although she was a woman, she didn’t lack the aura of a king, cold, proud. She was a true "queen."

"Greetings, master."

"Greetings, master."

The "ministers" on both sides, with martial generals on one side and civil officials on the other, naturally had Ye Shikai standing with the martial generals. Due to his low rank, he was almost at the hall entrance.

"Report to the master, after the autumn harvest, the southern counties have added one million piculs of grain, and following the master’s orders, they have been gradually sent to the front lines. Additionally, craftsmen have manufactured several dozen ladders and over a dozen trebuchets, which have been transported to the Southern County and other places." An elder from the side of the civil officials stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said.

"Mr. Wu is in charge of all the money and grain taxes, weapons and armaments, and conscription of Chu Territory. It’s truly hard work." Mi Wen nodded slightly.

"Thank you, master. This old minister is willing to exhaust all efforts for the master’s grand cause. The matter of statistics and transportation is just my duty."

"Master, this subordinate has recruited thirty thousand soldiers in Ba County, Jiujiang County, and other places. They have now assembled in Changsha, awaiting the master’s dispatch." A martial general stepped forward and said.

"Master, we now occupy seven counties in the Chu Territory, commanding over a hundred thousand troops, including tens of thousands of cavalry, and a hundred battle generals. Additionally, we have built dozens of warships."

"Very good."

Ye Shikai quietly watched from the side, saying nothing. For some reason, he had the feeling that Mi Wen was glancing at him from time to time. Now that Mi Wen was already a local tyrant, she naturally had many civil and martial officials around her, like the strategists and generals in the hall. It was just unclear which of them genuinely had talents and abilities, and which were merely incompetent, pretending to be with the right crowd.

"Master, the anti-Qin forces are rising all over the world now. The violent Qin is unruly and has long been causing public grievances, with voices of discontent constantly echoing. This is a great opportunity for us to march."

Ye Shikai listened to a group of civil and martial officials expressing their unstoppable flow of words, feeling somewhat helpless and impatient. After all, he stood there for four hours.

"Master, we should seize this opportunity to head north into the Central Plains. Since ancient times, the Central Plains has always been a strategic place that troops contested. If we can dominate the Central Plains and use the Chu Territory as a foundation, advancing east to Hangu Pass, which is the eastern gateway to Xianyang. Previously, the coalition of the five states attacked Qin in an alliance and was defeated at Hangu Pass. If this pass could be taken, we could drive straight through."

"General Li is quite right. We should seize this good opportunity to enter and dominate the Central Plains."

"Ha." Ye Shikai sneered. He originally didn’t want to argue with these generals and strategists who talk on paper, but Mi Wen "particularly paid attention" to him.

"What is General Ye’s insight?"

Ye Shikai cursed in his heart, what exactly did Mi Wen want to do.

As someone who time-traveled from modern times, Ye Shikai had never read any ancient military books, and even "couldn’t understand" these military books.

"General Ye was once a young and famous general of the Qin Army, reportedly repelling the Wolf Clan army and saving Meng Tian’s life in Ji County. Surely he has good suggestions." Mi Wen praised Ye Shikai in front of everyone, and now he could see that Mi Wen was deliberately making fun of him.

"I’ve long heard that General Ye prioritizes benevolence and governs the army strictly. I wonder what he wants to say." A general stood up, his tone very arrogant, full of disdain.

"I thought there were many talented people in the Chu Territory, but unexpectedly, it’s just a bunch of people full of empty talk." Ye Shikai wasn’t flustered. Since he had to speak, he wouldn’t hold back.

"This..."

"This person is too arrogant."

"You are merely a defeated general, beaten by the Qin Army with nowhere to hide. Thanks to the master’s shelter, you have a place to stay. How dare you be so arrogant."

Sure enough, as soon as Ye Shikai finished speaking, everyone present was furious and criticized his arrogance.

"I say you all are full of empty words, naturally with reason. For example... just now this... general, I’m really sorry, I still don’t know this general’s name." As soon as Ye Shikai said these words, General Li’s face instantly turned livid with embarrassment. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Forget it, it doesn’t matter. This general talks about entering and dominating the Central Plains, without knowing that the Central Plains’ eight counties have over two hundred thousand Qin troops. Many of them have experienced the bloody battle with the Wolf Clan, battle-hardened. If the master marches into the Central Plains now, it will immediately be a dangerous situation. The Central Plains is a plain where cavalry can gallop for hundreds of miles, and what seems like a dangerous situation could turn into a desperate situation in the blink of an eye." Ye Shikai rebutted, leaving that general unable to argue, words stuck in his mouth, unable to speak and too ashamed to be angry.

"Secondly, Hangu Pass is a dangerous pass where one man can hold off ten thousand. The coalition of six states with tens of thousands of troops couldn’t conquer it, yet this general speaks of it so lightly. If I guess correctly, you probably haven’t even been to Hangu Pass."

"You..."

Seeing the situation, Ye Shikai chuckled coldly. He previously served as a general in He Nei County and East County, and had been to northern Ji County and the Qin Capital Xianyang City. In terms of understanding of the Central Plains, no one present could match him.

"Humph, fighting on paper, it’s useless."

"Then what insights do you have?"

Ye Shikai turned his head to glance at Mi Wen, who was sitting there with a calm expression, as if she were "watching a show," and there was even a faint smile at the corner of her mouth.

"Incorporate the local uprising forces to strengthen our power, do not rush to capture key cities, and avoid areas heavily guarded by the Qin Army. Instead, attack areas where the defense is weak."