Chapter 327 - The Trade of Culture and Military

Shao Yao accompanied Hua Hua to the study and then went back to work on her medicines.

Hua Zhi looked at a bookshelf that was almost full and another one that was half empty. "We need to make another one. The twelve carts of books cannot fit on this shelf alone."

"I had someone start making it as soon as I heard you mention it."

"The study is a bit small, adding another bookshelf would make it cramped."

Hua Yizheng was also examining the study, which, though hastily arranged, was much more carefully arranged than the rooms they lived in. "I plan to have the younger ones squeeze a bit more and clear out the adjacent room to connect it."

"Can they fit more people in?" In the past few days when she was idle at home, she had asked Shao Yao to push her to see. The children were already sharing a room, and the room was not large. Adding another person might leave no place to even step.

"We've toiled this year. This little matter shouldn't be a problem for them."

Hua Zhi didn't say anything more. In front of her grandfather, she should behave like a junior. There was no need for her to show off her limited abilities. What she wanted to discuss was another matter. "Grandfather, please talk to everyone and tell them not to gossip about Zeng Han behind his back. Although he is a child, he is not completely ignorant."

Hua Yizheng frowned slightly. "Has someone been saying something?"

"I didn't check, but I can imagine." If someone hadn't spoken ill of him, Zeng Han wouldn't have said those words. "I understand everyone's rejection of Zeng Han, but they shouldn't assume that just because his father was driven mad, he will turn out like Zeng Xian. He's only four years old now, still adapting to and learning the rules of this world. What he receives during this process will be reflected in his growth. If he turns bad when he grows up, the responsibility lies with me in the Hua family. A child who lives happily and peacefully has a soft heart and won't go to that extreme."

"You're right. I will remind them." Hua Yizheng looked at his granddaughter. "Will you be personally taking care of him?"

"I should. This child... is too smart. I hope his intelligence is channeled in the right direction." The destruction caused by a highly intelligent villain was too great, Hua Zhi shook her head, listening to the commotion outside. "I believe Wu Yong has arrived. You talk to him, and I'll listen in."

"I'd rather see you talk to him."

Hua Zhi smiled. "I don't dare to show off my cleverness in front of you."

*

Hua Yizheng nodded at her and walked to the doorway, greeting Wuyong as he entered, "General Wu Yong, greetings."

Wu Yong quickly stopped him. "I feel unworthy of this courtesy from the respected elder."

"Courtesies should not be disregarded."

Hua Zhi, in the wheelchair, also leaned forward slightly, but Wu Yong leapt away directly. She was the apple of the Shizi's eye, and he wanted to show his respect to her!

The person had come, but couldn't have fun. Shao Yao was a bit moody and made a couple of sounds before walking out. Wu Yong heard the noise and turned back, seeing that she had already crossed the threshold, so he hurriedly followed a few steps. "After we finish talking here, let's continue playing?"

Shao Yao brightened up a bit. "Sure, I'll wait for you."

After taking a few steps, she remembered something and ran back, scrutinizing Wu Yong from head to toe several times before waving her fist at him. "Stay away from Hua Hua."

Wu Yong's eyes widened. He'd rather lose his life; how could he have any thoughts about Hua Zhi?

It was better to play with an ugly girl!

Wait, why did this feel a bit off?

Hua Zhi observed their interaction, confirming her suspicions. She coughed lightly to interrupt Wu Yong, who was clearly lost in thought. "General Wu Yong, please have a seat."

Wu Yong glanced at Shao Yao, who was frolicking away, then walked back and sat at the head seat. "What does the young lady need from me?"

"It's not me, it's my grandfather."

Wu Yong gave her a meaningful look, then turned his gaze to Hua Yizheng.

Hua Yizheng handed him something, "The Hua family wishes to make a deal with General Wu Yong."

Wu Yong took the folded silk cloth, and as soon as he opened it and glanced at it, he sat up straight. It was a city defense map different from what he knew.

"For many years, the Wu family has been facing off against the outside world at the Yingshan Pass. But, forgive me for being frank, despite all these years passing by, there has not been much change in the city's defense layout. If I may be blunt, it is likely that the city defense of the Yingshan Pass has long been completely understood by the other side. If it weren't for the turbulence in the outside regions over these years, the Yingshan Pass might not have been able to stand firm for so long."

Hua Yizheng sipped his tea to moisten his throat and continued, "As far as I know, the tribes outside the pass have unified this year. From April to the present, in just a few months, there have been more incidents of border disturbances than in the previous year, and this year, being a calamitous year, such probes might turn into actual invasions at any time. General Wu Yong, do you think the Yingshan Pass can withstand that then?"

Wu Yong's eyes were filled with coldness. He was the current military commander of the Yingshan Pass. "Elder, you're right about everything you have said. But there is one point that this General has to refute. The Wu family hasn't been idle all these years. In fact, the chaos in the grasslands for so many years is largely due to the efforts of the Wu family. The scouts carefully cultivated by the Wu family have an annual loss of more than twenty people, not to mention the city defenses."

Wu Yong snorted coldly, "My Wu family would never rely on the well-known deployment to guard Yinghan Pass."

Hua Yi Zheng, not surprised, nodded and said, "I've noticed. Yingshan Pass has both overt and covert forces. General Wu, can you tell me how the actual deployment compares to this one?"

Wu Yong studied the map for a moment, "Old Master Hua is indeed a shrewd strategist."

"The Hua family has no military training and would be no match for the enemy on the battlefield. But if you let them offer a suggestion, their minds might work faster than any of your generals," Hua Yi Zheng smiled. "If the entire Hua family were to cooperate with General Wu in defending Yingshan Pass, would the General be willing to work with us?"

Wu Yong suddenly turned to look at Hua Zhi, "Is this his idea?"

Hua Zhi knew who 'he' referred to. She neither confirmed nor denied, "If the Hua family cannot contribute, General Wu would not use us. If the Hua family can truly be of some assistance to the General, there's no reason not to cooperate."

That made sense, but Wu Yong felt that there must be more to it than that. If he guessed correctly, the Hua family was using this as a starting point for their resurgence. And it was true, it was better to set a goal and work towards it than to live a purposeless life. For him, there was no harm in it.

"How does the Old Master Hua plan to do this?"

"Let the Hua family into the military camp. The General can decide how they enter." Hua Yizheng’s eyes briefly flickered over the parchment silk.

It was the product of a night’s work, a clever fusion of their combined strengths. His eldest son had tackled the complex calculations using the Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art, while the younger one had framed the design. As for him, he’d leveraged his sharp observations from the guardhouse to decode the hidden blueprint. Together, they had filled in the blanks, crafting a strategy so solid that even Wu Yong would have to respect it.

“To avoid armchair generals, one must grasp the essence of military tactics. Every strategy demands hands-on experience. This sand table, designed by Zhi’er, surely General Wu doesn’t think it’s just for casual amusement, does he?”

It wasn’t just about wasting time—it was far worse than that. Wu Yong had nearly rushed back to camp after leaving the day before, itching for action. Only through real combat could the true potential of the sand table be realized. Only then could the generals’ ability to lead troops be genuinely tested.

The Great Daqing had been in a long period of peace, and the real deficiency was in seasoned generals.

Wu Yong stood up, a glint of understanding in his eyes. “As you wish.”

Hua Zhi and her grandfather shared a look—silent, but full of meaning.

It was done.