NOVPUBSeeing Zong Wenxiu fall silent, the little troublemaker suddenly remembered that it had been a while since they last visited the monkey trainers—and of course, his brother hadn’t gone with them either. Having grown up outside the Marquis Manor, his elder brother had likely never been before.
Zong Jincheng quickly backtracked, "Never been? No big deal. It’s only interesting the first time; after that, it’s just like seeing any other animal."
Wei Xinglu chimed in, "We can go anytime after the exams, or even have the trainers come perform at our manor."
Zong Wenxiu smiled and said, "It’s fine, I don’t mind either way. Let’s keep discussing—I think this direction has potential."
Shen Yibai nodded in agreement. "Monkey soldiers would work. Once trained, they’re obedient and follow commands precisely. And most importantly, no one’s ever used them on the battlefield before! Hahaha, this is our secret strategy!"
He Zheng turned to Xu Wan and the others, asking, "Auntie, Uncle, teachers—is this answer acceptable?"
The teachers exchanged glances, all nodding in approval. "We have no objections. What do the Madam and the General think?"
Though General Zong held a high-ranking position, he sat obediently, waiting for his wife’s opinion. The others couldn’t help but notice—this wasn’t just about respecting one’s spouse.
Xu Wan remarked, "I also think their idea has solid feasibility. How does it compare to your method?"
"The gap isn’t large," Zong Zhao replied.
The five boys immediately jumped to their feet, cheering excitedly, "Wow! We actually matched the strategies of the General of the Western Front! We really came up with a battle-winning plan!"
"This is amazing! We truly are the five prodigies of the elite class!"
"Looks like we won’t just become second-rank officials—we might even serve as military strategists on the front lines!"
"Our future just got a whole lot brighter."
"Hahaha…"
The boys basked in their triumph, their earlier frustration replaced by renewed confidence.
Zong Wenxiu, ever the calm one, smiled and asked, "Uncle, could you tell us how you defeated You Country?"
The little troublemaker eagerly added, "Yeah, Dad, I want to know too! How did you win with fewer troops?"
The others echoed the question, and even the teachers were curious—though they suspected the details might be classified. Cheng Zhidong stood and said, "Madam, perhaps we should step out to prepare the next exam for the young masters?"
Though Xu Wan trusted them, she had dismissed all servants and attendants. The Battle of Changqi was a mystery even to court officials—who were they to dare listen in?
Just as Xu Wan was about to agree, Zong Zhao said, "No need. Stay."
"Ah?" Xu Wan was puzzled. Wasn’t this confidential?
Zong Zhao explained, "The officials don’t know because I never had time to explain. The other person who knows, Luo Jingfeng, wouldn’t bother telling them even if he had the time."
Xu Wan: "…" Logical. No rebuttal.
The five tutors were flattered and bowed in gratitude. "Thank you, General Zong, for your time." Deep down, they knew this privilege came from the boys.
The five youngsters were overjoyed. Who wouldn’t love being the exception? Zong Zhao’s favoritism had them practically floating.
Zong Zhao began recounting the Battle of Changqi:
"First tactic: psychological warfare. After our initial defeat, we needed meat to recover, but You Country had bought up all the surrounding supply. We pretended to be short on rations, eating only vegetables. Then we staged two small battles, each loss worse than the last. You Country grew overconfident, hoarding all the meat to starve us out."
The listeners held their breath, hanging on every word.
Zong Zhao continued, "The border has a dish called chrysanthemum cakes—thick, fragrant, and easy to store. Both armies had cooks who could make them. But chrysanthemum and pork, consumed together long-term, are a slow poison. Commoners rarely ate meat daily, so few knew this."
The boys gasped in horror.
"Wait, what? Even food can be poisonous together?"
"Does that mean we rich folks could drop dead from eating the wrong combo?"
"Thank goodness I hate chrysanthemum cakes—their smell’s too strong. I accidentally saved my own life!"
Xu Wan nearly laughed at their reactions. "So this was the winning move?"
"Of course not," Zong Zhao replied.
Xu Wan thought, I knew it couldn’t be that simple.
Zong Zhao smirked. "Second tactic: sparrow troops."
Shen Yibai shrieked, "SPARROW TROOPS?! MY IDEA ACTUALLY WORKED?!"
Even the little troublemaker was stunned. "But didn’t you say reused tactics are predictable? Starved sparrows setting fire to supplies isn’t easy—the enemy would’ve guarded against it!"
He Zheng agreed. "Uncle Zong, how did you use the sparrows?"
"By adapting the method. Instead of starving them, we made them thirsty—then coated their beaks with what we needed to contaminate You Country’s water supply."
"GENIUS!" Wei Xinglu exclaimed. "Using animals instead of spies—safe and undetectable!"
Zong Jincheng frowned. "But did poisoning the water really work? Wouldn’t they have guards or poison testers?"
He Zheng countered, "They’d expect human saboteurs, not thirsty sparrows! Who’d suspect tiny birds?"
The little troublemaker shook his head. "You Country had been dominating—they weren’t fools."
Zong Zhao nodded. "Correct. Their cooks tested for poison, so we used a catalyst—something to speed up the first tactic’s effects."
"Untraceable! Unstoppable!"
"No wonder You Country fell!"
"Who could possibly defend against this?!"
Zong Zhao wasn’t finished. "Third tactic: the staged losses made them underestimate us. And underestimation weakens an army."
"The Fourth Stratagem: Our soldiers carried chrysanthemum-scented powder, using the fragrance to trigger physical reactions in the soldiers of You Country, causing severe stomachaches and forcing them to retreat in defeat."
...
The grand study was eerily silent.
Shen Yibai murmured blankly, "Four consecutive stratagems, each flawlessly connected—is this the prowess of a scholar-general who topped both civil and military examinations? Uncle Zong, with you on the battlefield, what role did our frontline strategists even play?"
Zong Zhao replied with perfect seriousness, "The strategists felt the plans were too risky, so they played the role of opposition."
"Pfft—"
"Ha ha ha!"
The group burst into laughter, never expecting Zong Zhao—a man known for his stern demeanor—to suddenly crack a joke.
Xu Wan was also laughing hard. She asked, "Did the strategists at least attempt a deathbed protest? I remember those old operas always depict them threatening suicide if the general wouldn’t listen."
Zong Zhao nodded. "They did. But Luo Jingfeng told them to go ahead and try."
"..."
"HA HA HA!"
"I can’t breathe!" The young men pounded the table, howling with laughter.
"A genuine death plea meets the living King of Hell—Luo Jingfeng wasn’t about to indulge their theatrics."
"Poor strategists. Not only were they lacking in wit, but they also had no sense of self-preservation. Daring to stage a death protest in front of Luo Jingfeng? That’s just asking for trouble."
"Luo Jingfeng’s temper isn’t as monstrous as the rumors say, though. I’d have thought a legendary demon of war would’ve at least executed a few strategists to make an example."
