Chapter 154: Gifting a Sword
Chang De Xi acted swiftly, returning with two Armor-Piercing Divine Weapons.
Looking at the Armor-Piercing Divine Weapons he had previously sought and failed to obtain, Chu Zhiyuan felt a strange sensation as three of them appeared before him thanks to Chu Mingrui's words. Was this the taste of power?
Being the master of an army was indeed impressive, inspiring awe and admiration.
However, he was pursuing supreme power and eternal life, not just temporary authority and pleasure. Yet, if he could enjoy the taste of this power during the process, it wouldn't be bad!
He quickly composed himself, examining the two Armor-Piercing Divine Weapons from the Great Meng, finding them no different from the Evil Slayer Sword—the same principle.
His own short sword was indeed special.
"Is that sword...?" Chu Mingrui also noticed the uniqueness of the short sword in his hand, its purple brilliance more radiant and dazzling than other Armor-Piercing Divine Weapons. "I obtained it during the charge against the Cloud-Treading Iron Cavalry."
Super-perception was indeed an excellent aid for 'stealing' things.
Without super-perception, it wouldn't have been so easy and effortless, like taking something out of a bag. And his luck was good.
When fighting Cheng Tianfeng, he had obtained the Heart-Questioning Saber. This time, the Armor-Piercing Divine Weapon obtained through 'stealing' was also so wondrous. He returned the Evil Slayer Sword and the other two Armor-Piercing Divine Weapons from the Great Meng to Chang Dexi.
"You even have this 'stealing' ability," Chu Mingrui said with a smile, "It seems you weren't flustered at all during that charge."
"It's strange," Chu Zhiyuan said with a smile, "I originally thought I would be filled with excitement, but I felt nothing."
"Haha..." Chu Mingrui laughed, "'Nothing'!" This fourth son was truly born for the battlefield.
He no longer feared a lack of successors.
To remain calm when facing a cavalry charge was something few in the world could do.
Based on that calmness, judging which side was strong and which was weak, where the weaknesses lay, whether the situation was good or bad, where to attack, or where to retreat—left or right, advance or retreat.
In the eyes of a calm person, the battlefield confrontation was no different from playing chess. Even without extraordinary intelligence, one could be a qualified general. If one also possessed extraordinary intelligence, one could become a famous general.
Chu Zhiyuan possessed both the quality of calmness and extraordinary intelligence, as well as keen intuition, making him a seed for a famous general.
With a little nurturing, he could become a famous general of his generation.
If there was an opportunity, he might even surpass himself.
With him around, Great Jing would not have to worry about a lack of military talent, and would not fear the strength of Great Meng and Great Zhen. Chu Zhiyuan said, "Tenth Uncle, please get me a scabbard."
"Chang De Xi."
"Yes." Chang De Xi responded and retreated again. Chu Zhiyuan placed the three Armor-Piercing Divine Weapons back on the desk.
"Don't want this Evil Slayer Sword?" Chu Mingrui picked up the Evil Slayer Sword, stroked the hilt, and couldn't help but feel emotional, as if immersed in past memories, and said slowly, "Consider it thanks for helping me practice formations."
"I've already received Fifth Grade Merit as compensation. Besides, I already have an Armor-Piercing Divine Weapon."
"The merit is a reward from the imperial court, the Evil Slayer Sword is a gift from me."
Seeing him like this, Chu Zhiyuan smiled and reached out to take the Evil Slayer Sword: "Since Tenth Uncle sincerely wants to give it, then I'll accept it."
Chu Mingrui chuckled: "You brat, I thought you would refuse to the end!"
"It would be impolite to decline," Chu Zhiyuan fiddled with the Evil Slayer Sword, revealing his affection for it: "I'll give this Evil Slayer Sword to my betrothed Princess Consort."
That was Third Grade Merit.
After obtaining the Armor-Piercing Divine Weapon he 'stole', spending Third Grade Merit to exchange for another Armor-Piercing Divine Weapon would definitely be painful. Since Chu Mingrui wanted to give it, he would of course be happy to accept it.
"Still a sentimental one, rare," Chu Mingrui said with a smile. Chu Zhiyuan said: "Tenth Uncle, show me some more formation diagrams."
Chu Mingrui agreed without hesitation, his face beaming.
Chu Zhiyuan's liking for formation diagrams was exactly what he wanted.
He couldn't wait for Chu Zhiyuan to delve into the formation diagrams, then become restless and run to the army to experiment with a battalion of soldiers. With his amazing methods, he believed he could quickly train a battalion of soldiers, enough to reverse the military situation of a city.
Others needed twenty or thirty years, or even forty or fifty years, or even more than a hundred years, but he could greatly shorten this time. Perhaps he could train them in a few years.
If the eight cities of the Northern Border could train eight battalions of soldiers, it would completely reverse the situation in the Northern Border. What was there to fear from the Cloud-Treading Iron Cavalry then!
However, the Fourth Prince was young and had been enfeoffed for twenty years, a time to enjoy wealth and glory. He probably couldn't endure this boring hardship, and it would also delay his cultivation, which couldn't be forced. Therefore, he couldn't force it, otherwise it would only cause him to resent it, backfire, and no one could do anything about someone who didn't put in effort.
He had to guide him, not be too hasty.
He got up and went to the antique shelf next to him, took out an iron box from it, and brought the iron box to Chu Zhiyuan: "These are all the formations I have painstakingly collected."
Chu Zhiyuan opened it and found thirteen thin booklets, some new and some old, showing that they had been flipped through many times.
He secretly sighed that Tenth Uncle was truly obsessed with formations, and seemed to have always been extremely eager to train new military formations, more powerful military formations, and had always wanted to vigorously promote them. Unfortunately, this act against human nature was almost impossible to succeed unless he stayed in the Northern Border for more than twenty years, which was possible without giving up halfway.
"Tenth Uncle, the task is arduous and the road is long..." Chu Zhiyuan looked at Chu Mingrui with emotion.
After reading these thirteen booklets, he only felt his horizons broaden, and that the formations in this world were so exquisite. The Tongtian Pavilion and the Mingwu Hall both had formation diagrams, but compared to those, these thirteen booklets were far superior.
Obviously, as Prince Ying, he had also seen the formations in the Tongtian Pavilion and the Mingwu Hall. He had directly abandoned those that were worse and had not kept them. Each of these thirteen books was enough to become a national treasure.
Practicing any one formation could surpass the Ling Frost Iron Cavalry and the Cloud-Treading Iron Cavalry. Unfortunately, there was no way to practice them.
Chu Zhiyuan thought that perhaps the situations in Great Zhen and Great Meng were the same, and there were also more advanced formations, but there was no way to practice them. "That's right, the task is arduous and the road is long!" Chu Mingrui said with emotion.
Chu Zhiyuan put the thirteen booklets back into the box one by one, and when he looked up, Chang De Xi had already returned, holding a short sword scabbard.
As soon as Chu Zhiyuan's gaze passed, Chang De Xi presented it with both hands.
Chu Zhiyuan reached out and took it.
It felt soft and flexible, wrapped in the skin of some kind of demon beast, warm and delicate like a beautiful woman's hand. The weight was also suitable.
The size was also just right, and the wooden sword fit in perfectly.
Chu Zhiyuan said with a smile: "Eunuch Chang has good eyes, no wonder he is Tenth Uncle's person."
"If the Heir Apparent likes it, this servant will be relieved," Chang De Xi said with a smile and retreated.
Chu Zhiyuan held the scabbard against his elbow, which was extremely comfortable. With the scabbard, he no longer had to be frightened and afraid that the short sword would hurt him.
Seeing Chu Zhiyuan playing with the scabbard, constantly changing its position on his elbow, Chu Mingrui said: "Fourth, be careful when you go back. Do you want me to give you some troops?"
Chu Zhiyuan looked up and smiled: "Tenth Uncle, you need to use troops here, how can you waste them on me?"
"I'm afraid..."
"I will train them in formations on the road. If we encounter a large group of people, we will charge out. If we encounter martial arts experts, we still have Mr. Song." A Grandmaster was enough to protect his safety.
Even if a Grandmaster attacked, it was impossible for two Grandmasters to come together. If two Grandmasters really came, Song Feiqiong could escape with him.
"...Alright, you must be careful."
"Tenth Uncle, you must also be careful. Li General's mess is not easy to clean up."
Li Haoyuan's subordinates were loyal to their old master, and it wouldn't be easy to subdue them in a short time. It depended on the methods. Chu Mingrui's expression was solemn, and he nodded slowly.
