Seeing A'jiu frozen in silence, Tuobayan changed the subject:
"You and your aunt and uncle also want to settle down, and it's not necessarily a must to go to Lingnan."
"At least there's no war there, and the produce is abundant," A'jiu murmured.
If it weren't for winter approaching, A'jiu and her parents wouldn't be considering stopping their journey.
"Sister A'jiu, think about it. Everyone in the world is at war, and everyone knows that the southern mountains are rich in produce. Then, do you think Lingnan will soon become a contested territory for military strategists?"
Tuobayan's eyes held a hint of caution.
"That makes sense." A'jiu didn't think he was entirely unreasonable. "But Lingnan is already at the border of Huachang Kingdom, heavily guarded. If war breaks out even there, it won't be an internal affair. It will surely invite foreign enemies to take advantage of the situation. The emperor must be out of his mind not to guard against it."
"Sister Jiu'er, you understand military strategy?" Tuobayan's eyes flickered as he suddenly thought of a perfect plan that would allow him to stay with A'jiu and conquer the world.
"No, I just know that there are advantages and disadvantages between people, between families, and naturally between countries. No matter what situation you are in, this is inevitable."
A'jiu saw that the beans were cooked and began to pluck them one by one.
Tuobayan, mimicking her, helped pick vegetables, but his mind was not on the abundant harvest. He stared intently at Jiu'er, who was diligently picking vegetables.
"Sister Jiu'er, if you stay by my side, I'll take you with me to conquer the world. How about it?"
This was the complete solution he had devised. Without A'jiu's requirements and guidance, he wouldn't have even considered a big house or a fancy carriage.
A'jiu's hand paused in the act of picking vegetables. "Are you... are you crazy? I'm a young lady, and I'm supposed to spend all day with you in the military camp? Moreover, my parents are now safely hidden in these deep mountains, able to eat and be together every day. Why should I get involved in the war?"
Tuobayan thought, and she refused.
"If you are by my side, I will fight wherever you tell me to. You just need to be with me, and I will never let you suffer any injustice."
Not let her suffer any injustice?
This sentence warmed A'jiu's heart. Looking back, it was true. When Tuobayan was around, had she ever suffered even a single harsh word of injustice?
She and Tuobayan looked at each other for a few seconds. Although she had seen his face countless times, she still found him exceptionally handsome at this moment. Beneath his thick, sword-like eyebrows, his peach blossom eyes seemed to speak at any moment.
As she looked, A'jiu suddenly felt a few heartbeats disappear. She abruptly withdrew her gaze and nervously picked vegetables.
"I only wish to eat my fill, be warm, and have my family be safe. I never thought of adding more war. The three princes are fighting each other, he against him, he against him, I against you. A triangular war, while also fearing the mantis stalking the cicada and the oriole behind, and also protecting one's own city. Beneath their wolfish ambitions, they still want to occupy more fiefdoms. Among them, only the Prince of Nanming is trying to quell the chaos.
His use of the empty city stratagem shows that his greatest intention is not to attack the Prince of Qi, but to persuade him to surrender.
Given this trend, have you considered that you are up against the royal forces of the Prince of Qiming and the Prince of Chujiang? If you win, the best outcome would be for one prince to ally with one of the other two. At that time, you might be fighting against imperial power."
A'jiu said slowly, trying to suppress her fluttering heart by changing the subject.
Tuobayan scratched his head as he listened. "We won't be afraid of that. Just tell me if you are willing to accompany me to conquer the world, live in a big house, and ride the most luxurious carriage."
A'jiu's lips twitched. Why couldn't he understand?
A general who hasn't even figured out the situation is talking about conquering the world?
"Even if you are very powerful, and you cut through all obstacles without defeat, in the end, you will have to face the entire power of Huachang Kingdom," A'jiu's patience was wearing thin because of Tuobayan. She sighed and continued patiently.
"At that time, it will no longer be a war between a few feudal lords, but a war of the entire country. It may even lead to national disaster and foreign invasion. By then, all the citizens of our Huachang Kingdom will become prisoners. Have you calculated how many people will die?"
Tuobayan saw that Sister Jiu'er's face was stern, and he changed from his flippant demeanor to a serious question.
"Sister Jiu'er, I didn't expect that you, who usually only care about eating and drinking, would have the country in your heart. But many people are dying now, do you know that? The Prince of Chujiang arrests everyone he sees. Anyone within the Prince of Qi's territory is executed on the spot. The Prince of Qi retaliates in kind. Meng Hua City, Luo Yu City, there are no living people left, and even the elderly who stayed behind were not spared."
A'jiu stood up abruptly. "What?"