“Alright, do you want to go?” King Zhaoxiang casually gestured his hand .

Bai Qi turned silent for a few moments . “Great king, if I lead the army, I want to bring another person with me . ”

“w.a.n.g Jian?” He’s the most popular and promising of the young generals . Many years ago, Bai Qi had persistently brought up his name in the courts and in private .

“No, it’s not him . ”Bai Qi shook his head . “It is a promising little disciple I recently took in . ”

“Oh? So it’s like this . ” King Zhaoxiang flashed a smile of surprise . “Good, it seems Qin will have another pillar in the future . Then the king agrees . ”

“My thanks . ”

…

Outside the palace gate, a sparrow was perched above the palace walls . The wind ruffled its feathers and then came fluttering of its wings .

Bai Qi walked out with heavy steps, his figure was solemn and grieved . His face showed traces of restlessness and worry .

He looked up at the reddening skies and the endless clouds .

Shangdang…

Truth be told, he didn’t really want Lian Po to be replaced, least of all now .

Lian Po is an old and aged commander, someone that follows his own style . Unlike the younger and rasher generals, his strategy is easy to predict . Hence it’s a certainty that he’ll play defensively .

However, the Zhao army is at a tipping point . Their supply lines have been under constant hara.s.sment and resources are inevitably scarce .

If the Zhao army’s supply lines are severed in one fell swoop, even Lian Po would be forced into a desperate offensive . Dwindling supplies only further cripple your army, and it would be foolish not to attack .

But this is the one advantage the Qin had . They could choose to cut the Zhao supply lines anytime, allowing them to thoroughly prepare for the inevitable attack . But with Zhao Kuo, who knows when or where they’ll try to break out . This unpredictableness is a general’s nightmare .

If the Zhao army really launched a frenzied charge at their lines without warning, the Qin encirclement would be in a difficult situation .

Zhao Kuo .

“My lord . ” The carriage driver waiting outside the palace gate ran up and greeted him .

Ah, forget it .

Bai Qi sighed helplessly and walked over .

…

“Xiao Lu, squeeze here, it’s still sore . Uuuu~ Um, yes, right . Ahhh~”

Gu Nan laid on her couch as chairs didn’t exist in this era . Her only options were the stiff bed or the stiff couch .

After reading The Art of War all morning, a ma.s.sage is the apex of comfort .

Behind her, a small girl wore a neat dress and pressed down gently on Gu Nan’s shoulder, listening to her constant oohhs and aahhs . She muttered, “Miss, you’re teasing me again . ”

“Hey, what teasing . Your ma.s.sages are just really comfortable . ” Gu Nan just chuckled and rested her head back down .

“Hey, what teasing . Your ma.s.sages are just really comfortable . ” Gu Nan just chuckled and rested her head back down .

“Miss, I’ll get angry if you keep doing it . ”

“umhm . ” Gu Nan reached out and grabbed the bamboo book .

What a cruel era this book was written in .

To be honest, she’s found herself severely lacking in any motivation to read . Besides, she’s already familiar with The Art of War . She was never bored enough to read it out of leisure, but at least there’s a working comprehension .

The Art of War, although Gu Nan lacked the interest, it was still something that held significance . It’s one of the earliest military books in China and even the world . Heralded as being the scripture of the military world .

But how did Bai Qi get this? Wasn’t this only compiled at the end of the Warring States Period? Oh well, it doesn’t matter .

Gu Nan got up and stretched the remainder of the fatigue away . Then she grabbed the spear from the wall and strolled out into the courtyard .

In Chinese warfare, the history of the [heavy] spear (矛 Máo) is much more extensive than that of the spear (槍 Qiāng) . The shaft of the Qiāng is softer and shorter than the Máo . She also picked this weapon because she envisioned the ancient warriors that rode mighty steeds, carried silver spears, and led invincible armies .

[TL: The MC uses the Máo, and both the Máo and the Qiāng mean spear . But just think of the Máo she uses as being a lance . ]

Besides, the Qiāng wasn’t yet a thing in this era .

The spear was a heavy weapon and rather unwieldy . In Qin, few used this weapon outside of the footsoldiers and cannon fodder .

Among the commanders and officers, it is very rare . Because they usually ride on horses, the spear is too long and heavy to be agile enough for combat .

But this wasn’t a problem for Gu Nan . Although she was a girl, she still possessed remarkable strength beyond that of most men . But even now, she feels as though her power hasn’t been fully developed . Maybe at its peak, she could wield this heavy spear with indomitable might . Like a raging lion, she could roam the battlefield uncontested .

Gu Nan and her spear stood alone in the courtyard . The air near the end of September still retained the heat of late summer, but fallen leaves were spa.r.s.ely strewn across the ground .

Gu Nan and her spear stood alone in the courtyard . The air near the end of September still retained the heat of late summer, but fallen leaves were spa.r.s.ely strewn across the ground .

A gust of wind pa.s.sed, and a couple more leaves fell from the tree overhead .

Gu Nan, standing motionless, flicked her wrists abruptly . A cold light streaked past, and the nearly three-meter spear cut forward like lightning .

Like a black serpent, it maneuvered into position . The spear tip traced across the air in one continuous slash, unnoticeably quiet as the leaf-halves brushed upon the ground .

As soon as the spear settled, Gu Nan flicked her wrist again . A whirlwind of thrusts, slashes, and parries was practiced one by one . For a few minutes, a coldness pervaded the open air . Almost unbounded by physics, the spear waved and twisted through the air as fast and silent as a lurking snake .

“Swift and deadly . ” Bai Qi’s murmured of her spear style . Even though her spear still had openings, it’s remarkable to have reached such a spot so quickly .

But to have begun finding her own distinct style so early…

Looking at the spear in her hand and the aura she exuded, he saw a glimpse of her future potential .

Her spear lacks the energy and boiling malice of the battlefield . No, rather than a warrior, it’s an a.s.sa.s.sin . It’s cold and formless, a soundless ripple but deadly nonetheless .

… .

Clap, clap, clap .

After a round of her spear dance, Gu Nan stopped and turned towards the faint applause coming from the side .

She saw Bai Qi standing at the entrance to the courtyard . His face was in a smile as he walked closer .

“Nan’er, your spear carries its own fire now, good . However, to further develop your spear will require you to find it yourself . Everyone has a unique martial arts style, even I cannot teach you in this . But, you need to know, your spear is strong but lacks killing intent . When it comes time for the battlefield, it could hold you back . ”

Sighing, he waved his hand casually, “But, I’ll teach you all that later . It’s not something to worry about . For now, take this and go out and buy a horse and a sword . ”

“Nan’er, your spear carries its own fire now, good . However, to further develop your spear will require you to find it yourself . Everyone has a unique martial arts style, even I cannot teach you in this . But, you need to know, your spear is strong but lacks killing intent . When it comes time for the battlefield, it could hold you back . ”

Sighing, he waved his hand casually, “But, I’ll teach you all that later . It’s not something to worry about . For now, take this and go out and buy a horse and a sword . ”

A sack of coins was thrown towards the still-confused Gu Nan .

Gu Nan asked as she caught the bag . “Why do I need a horse?”

Ever since she arrived, this is the first time she’s held such a large amount of money . But after weighing it, she felt disappointed and cheated . The coins in Qin wasn’t even gold! It was bra.s.s and felt disgustingly light .

To have coins but not gold, what’s the point then!

“I’m going to teach you the art of horse riding . ” Bai Qi looked at Gu Nan’s expression and sighed . “You’re going to the battlefield with me, and I can’t let my disciple walk all the way there . ”

“Haha, so it’s that . ” Gu Nan nonchalantly tied the bag to her waist .

“Remember, buy the one you like the most . It doesn’t matter if it’s a qianlima(Thousand-Mile Horse), the most important aspect is that you must trust it unconditionally . ”

“Got it . ”

Looking at Gu Nan walking out, Bai Qi sighed once again and turned his thoughts to more serious matters .

If Zhao Kuo really does replace Lian Po, it will still take another half year until he’s commander of Shangdang .

To put a half-baked soldier without even a year of training onto the blood-craven battlefield, furthermore a little girl, it’s an undeniably vicious act . But, he has no other way .

War has its knack for growing people up the fastest .