Ambition.

Ye Shikai saw ambition in Mi Wen’s eyes.

Behind the ambition was unbearable impatience. She was too eager to rebuild the Chu State, thinking about it day and night. When someone desires to do something or to obtain something, it inevitably affects their judgment. Mi Wen was too driven to overthrow the Qin, but with uprisings breaking out everywhere in the central plains, she saw this as an opportunity she didn’t want to miss. In reality, she had also predicted whether the Qin Army could suppress the uprisings. Even if the chance of suppression was only one in ten thousand, she would rather believe the Qin Army could manage it.

She understood one thing very clearly: if the uprisings in the central plains were suppressed, then this crucial region of soldiers, people, and taxes would again fall into imperial hands, and she would undoubtedly be defeated, rooting out any advantages she had gained.

She couldn’t afford to lose.

To rebuild the Chu State, she was willing to take the gamble. If she won, she would conquer the central plains and achieve domination; if she lost, even the Chu territory might not be safeguarded.

"For the great cause of the Chu State, I am willing to fight," Mi Wen declared firmly. She had succumbed to a "Heart Demon," perhaps due to the enormous pressure. The Chu State was once so immense, and now the burden of rebuilding it fell on a woman in her twenties. Ye Shikai had never considered it before, but now, he could feel the pressure in Mi Wen’s heart.

"But with your one command, tens of thousands of brothers will engage in battle, the lives of tens of thousands..."

"Enough. As a General, don’t you know that once war starts, lives will be lost? How could there be a war without deaths?" Mi Wen shouted loudly, her emotions highly unstable.

"Just answer me, are you willing to lead the troops? If not, resign and go home at once."

"So, are you determined to deploy the troops?" Ye Shikai was not startled and remained calm, his tone chillingly cold.

"Of course, I, Mi Wen, swear here..."

"Alright, no need to say anymore," Ye Shikai interrupted her speech.

"Since you’ve made up your mind, I will definitely support you." With this, Ye Shikai turned and left.

On the way back to the military camp, Ye Shikai was weighed down with worries. Yet again, the conversation ended on an unhappy note. He thought he could persuade Mi Wen, but things didn’t go as planned. Following this conversation, it’s possible Mi Wen might attack Nanyang County ahead of schedule.

Mi Wen’s single military order can lead to battles between hundreds of thousands for over a month. It’s truly terrifying to think about; after this battle, countless families will be shattered.

On second thought, perhaps this is history—irreversible. Even if Ye Shikai deliberately opposes it, history’s course won’t change.

As a modern person transmigrated here, he could be considered a "prophet." Even if he genuinely wanted to help Mi Wen rebuild the Chu State and reveal these "Heavenly Secrets," the future emperor wouldn’t be her.

Ye Shikai knew Mi Wen’s ambition could not be realized, but due to their emotional bond, he couldn’t bear to tell her the outcome.

...............

"Everyone, I just received the lord’s military order. Soon, we will set off for Southern County, where we will battle the Qin Army from Nanyang County to the death," Ye Shikai informed the military officers, small and large, in his tent and conveyed this news to them.

"What, we’re going to war?"

"Yes."

The crowd was abuzz with speculation, some excited and expectant, others curious and inquisitive, but no one was fearful or reluctant about war, which relieved Ye Shikai.

"Many of you are new recruits who haven’t experienced battle. This trip to Southern County is a good opportunity, and likewise, a chance for all of you to make a mark."

When Ye Shikai first arrived in Changsha, including the personal guards, he had no more than six or seven thousand soldiers under his command, a thousand of whom belonged to Hou Ganxian. They were merely ordinary bandits with less combat power than the uprisings. Now, he commanded twenty thousand troops, two-thirds of whom were new recruits, and Ye Shikai himself was unsure of their actual combat strength.

"At your command, General."

"At your command, General."

"Starting tomorrow, all military training will stop, and we will prepare for departure: provisions, military supplies, equipment, none should be left behind. Local soldiers... may return home to visit their families and bid farewell. In a week, the army will set off," Ye Shikai ordered.

"Yes."

"Yes."

...............

With Shangguan Jian in charge of the military camp, Ye Shikai didn’t have to worry too much. As the army was about to set off, he had his own matters to attend to.

Ye Mansion.

"Ling’er, leave the cooking to the servants. If you don’t like their food, I’ll hire some chefs from the tavern," Ye Shikai said casually. He Linghan had been diligent in these days, cooking personally every day, and when Ye Shikai returned home, she took great care of him.

"Husband is home, it is only natural that as your wife, I should not be negligent," He Linghan insisted stubbornly. At the dining table, she only started eating after Ye Shikai picked up his chopsticks.

"Ling’er, why haven’t you started eating? The food is getting cold." Seeing He Linghan preoccupied, Ye Shikai felt a sudden sink in his heart, an unsettling premonition creeping in.

"Husband, I overheard the servants chatting today. They say there’s a rumor among the townspeople that the troops outside town are moving and preparing to go north. Is this true?"

Indeed, idle gossip spreads quickly, whether in modern times or ancient, and rumor among the people spreads even faster.

Mi Wen’s military order had just been given, and the commanders only just ordered preparations for deployment, yet the whole town knew. It’s a bit too fast, isn’t it?

"Ling’er, what they say is true. The three-month period is coming to an end, and in a week, I will also be setting off," Ye Shikai admitted. Better to tell her now than let her find out in a week.

"I see," He Linghan slowly lowered her head, not wanting Ye Shikai to see her expression at that moment.

"Ling’er, you don’t need to worry so much. Didn’t I tell you? I am a cultivator. Even when five or six thousand surrounded me, they couldn’t harm me, let alone now," Ye Shikai comforted.

"But I’m still very worried. You say cultivators are strong, but if the Qin Army also has cultivators, and if they try to assassinate you, what then?" He Linghan pressed.

"There have been many attempts on my life, but they all ended in death. I am no ordinary man; they cannot harm me, much less kill me."