Ning Chen turned to look at Xiao Yanxi, speechless. "Talk like that is rank treason, and you'd actually say it out loud?

If the wrong person heard that, aren't you afraid he'd run to Her Majesty and impeach you?"

Xiao Yanxi pursed her lips. "You're the only one who heard it. Why don't you go impeach me?

Besides, I'm not aiming it at anybody. It's the same in every country."

Ning Chen was lost for words. "Can't have that. I'm keeping you around. You're still useful to me, and there are plenty of positions we haven't tried yet."

Xiao Yanxi's mouth twitched hard... Who talks like that?

Ning Chen laughed. "Relax. I know the people suffer... That's why this time we won't be requisitioning any grain from the common folk.

I've set up this whole big game of chess, and money and grain were a big part of why.

Fight the enemy with his own money and grain... and keep the burden on our own Great Xuan's people as light as I can.

And once this battle is over, the shape of the world is going to change... The Gaoli Kingdom and Nanyue are bound to come out of it weakened, crushed under the load. They won't be able to take any more upheaval.

After this battle, the Great Xuan won't have to take up arms against Nanyue or the Gaoli Kingdom for ten years."

Xiao Yanxi turned to him. "If there were no more wars, what would you want to do most?"

Ning Chen thought it over for a moment. "Wander the hills and rivers."

Xiao Yanxi's pretty face turned red. "I'm being serious."

Ning Chen gave her a sidelong look, then caught on. "Little Xixi, how did you get so dirty-minded? When I say wander the hills and rivers, I mean actual hills and actual rivers. Not wandering the hills and valleys of you. What goes on in that head of yours all day?"

Xiao Yanxi's face went even redder. She silently cursed him for a bastard. It was all his fault, with the nonsense he spouted all…