To say Li Ming was incredibly proficient on the fields on the military would be an understatement, after all, it was this person who had overcome overwhelming odds and united a nation from an undoubtedly disadvantaged position.

When Li Ming was transported into this world, she had spent countless nights planning and organising the logistics in the study. Thus generals never gained any experience regarding this matter, and one Liu One was thrust into this position, he naturally could not excel in the same manner Li Ming had.

Xu Xiaomeng wished for the continuation of Li Ming’s methodology, as well as somewhat institutionalised the army tradition started by Li Ming.

Xu Xiaomeng leaned toward the piece of paper laying on the rosewood before a slight furrow appeared before her brows. Tearing up the document, Xu Xiaomeng threw the scraps into the handwarmer nearby.

“Xiao Xi, come here,” Xu Xiaomeng said, motion with her hand, still holding the pen dripping with ink.

“Do you know how to write,” Xu Xiaomeng asked as Xiao Xi arrived by her side, pushing the pen into Xiao Xi’s rather coarse hands.

An expression of confusion could be seen on Xiao Xi’s face, before she realised that none of the paper and bamboo slips she had brought was used, aside from the one she had burnt earlier. This caused Xiao Xi to grow slightly curious as to the loss in productivity Xu Xiaomeng had after the coma. Fortunately, Xiao Xi did not ask of this matter and nodded to indicate that she was literate.

Of course, if Xiao Xi knew the reason, she would undoubtedly grow even more confused. While Xu Xiaomeng had learnt how to read and write, it was only taught offhandedly, especially considering that Xu Xiaomeng had originally been meant to be sent to the Emperor, it is only natural that minimal resources would be given to her education. Thus, when Li Ming had inhabited Xu Xiaomeng’s body, the writing proficiency was far higher, considering the skill Li Ming had with administrative tasks.

Thus, when Xu Xiaomeng once more inhabited her own body, her speed was greatly reduced as she had not lost the little familiarity with writing, as she had not possessed it for quite a few years, but also that she had originally been largely unfamiliar with writing in the first place.

“Write down what I said,” Xu Xiaomeng said rather demandingly, her cold tone carrying traces of authority.

Xiao Xi pulled out a chair and began writing, the sound was rather peaceful, especially considering the silver bell like the sound of Xu Xiaomeng’s voice.

Xu Xiaomeng repeated the methodologies of warfare Li Ming had told her in-depth, speaking at first with a slightly cold tone, before it eventually carried a trace of nostalgia. As the pen danced on the paper at a rather fast speed, occasionally, Xiao Xi would pause and ask for further explanation, to which Xu Xiaomeng responded in a rather detailed manner.

Eventually, Xiao Xi placed down the pen, and blew on the ink, causing it to dry at a faster speed, eventually, she turned to Xu Xiaomeng.

“Lady Xu, this is sage wisdom that will change the field of warfare,” Xiao Xi praised, forgetting her status as a maid.

Xu Xiaomeng did not show any response, no joy or arrogance could be seen.

“Lady Xu, however, I am curious, what may you be doing with these documents?” Xiao Xi, seeing that Xu Xiaomeng did not reprimand her, grew bolder.

Xu Xiaomeng did not answer, simply carrying the rather thick stack of paper and leaving the study in a silent manner.

Before she left, she suddenly stopped, turning toward Xiao Xi with a serious expression.

“Give the administrative tasks back to Ling Ping and Hong Wang, don’t bother me with these anymore,” Xu Xiaomeng said, before strolling outside of the residence. Xiao Xi remained stunned for some time, only after Xu Xiaomeng had reached the end of the artificial pond did she recall her role as a bodyguard ontop of a maid, hurriedly, she followed Xu Xiaomeng.

As Xiao Xi is rather skilling in the field of martial arts, no sigh of fatigue, blending rather well with the scenery. Xu Xiaomeng herself appeared to not have noticed the maid, and strolled at a rather hurried past, eventually reaching the main exit of the palace.

Walking on the main street, the crowd was much smaller than previously, allowing Xu Xiaomeng to navigate with full speed toward her destination.

Arriving at a rather somber building, a strong smell of sweat penetrated Xu Xiaomeng’s nose. Perhaps due to Li Ming’s influence, causing her to cover her sleeves in an effort to repulse the smell, wondering how the women within the army manage to tolerate such an odour.

Xiao Xi, realising Xu Xiaomeng’s discomfort, took out a tin box, yet Xu Xiaomeng shook her head and continued onwards.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Eventually, Xu Xiaomeng arrived at the entrance of a rather unremarkable courtyard, stopping temporarily to confirm it’s location, before entering. This was the Liu building, while it was largely empty, as Liu Two and Three are still fighting, the person she sought was still there.

Entering the door without any notice, she saw a rather disturbing scene, staying for a moment, before quietly leaving the room.

Unfortunately, Liu One had realised her presence, throwing a piece of cloth toward the woman while getting dressed. After some time, he opened the door, seeing Xu Xiaomeng carrying an expressionless face, while Xiao Xi was expressing visible disgust.

“Lady Li, please don’t enter in this manner, it is truly embarrassing” Liu One begged, his half-dressed clothes causing him to look even more pathetic.

“Xu Xiaomeng ‘hmm’, before entering the room once more, catching a whiff of the scent, she pressed her sleeves even closer to her nose.

“Who is this?” Xu Xiaomeng asked, eyeing at the woman, who appeared to be rather well endowed in the department of beauty while appearing visibly taller than Xu Xiaomeng’s delicate frame. Noticing blond hair of the foreign woman scattered on the floor, Xu Xiaomeng appeared rather agitated, while Xiao Xi seemed even more bewildered, before glaring at the woman with eyes of apathy.

“Lady, when I was campaigning in the North, I was once injured and become stranded in a foreign land, fortunately, this lady managed to discover me and had nursed me back to health, in a show of gratitude, I had taken her back with me to Dongan,” Liu One replied, appearing with a rather foolish grin as he recalled the matter.

“Are you certain she is not a spy,” Xu Xiaomeng asked, eyeing at the poorly covered woman.

“I did not consider that,” Liu One said in shock, before reaching for his sabre, preparing to pierce the woman.

“There is no need to spill blood, allow me to talk to her,” Xu Xiaomeng said, using her free hand to throw the exotic clothing toward the woman,” Sir Liu, during this time, I hope you do not disturb me,” Xu Xiaomeng then said.

Liu One acted rather obediently, and soon, Xu Xiaomeng, Xiao Xi and the Northern woman were left in the room.

Picking for a chair, Xu Xiaomeng avoided looking toward the bed, before questioning the woman.

“Name,” Xu Xiaomeng questioned, her cold expression giving off the sense of an emperor pressing his subject, a feeling of unquestionable authority.

“Galina Ivanov,” the woman replied in a thoughtless manner, carrying an incredibly thick accent whilst attempting shrinking her body inward to make herself smaller, she appeared to be on the verge of tears. This scene appeared rather ludicrous, considering the overwhelming size possessed by the woman.

“Good,” Xu Xiaomeng said, before observing the woman in detail.

“Lady, are you not going to interrogate further?” Xiao Xi asked in doubt, sounding rather disrespectful, yet it appeared the woman seemed not to understand the words.

“No, her bearings is far too primitive to work as a spy, at most she is a beauty trap designed to keep Liu One passive Xiaomeng responded, walking closer to the woman.

“Call Liu One back,” Xu Xiaomeng instructed Xiao Xi, keeping her eyes on the woman.

When Liu One returned to his room, he instinctively gulped at the scene between Galina and Xu Xiaomeng, causing him to involuntarily struggle slightly. Fortunately, his years as a general had instilled great discipline within him, and Liu One recovered rather quickly.

“Ask her what is the Northern’s nation called in their native tongue, and their most basic information, do not demand more than what a village girl knows,” Xu Xiaomeng said toward Liu One, finally breaking eye contact with Galina.

“Lady, you do not need to answer these questions, I am already aware of all the answers,” Liu One said rather pridefully,” the nation in their native tongue is called Nitsa, supposedly, they were a group of prostitutes in the Far East who had revolted and establish their own nation in the fertile plains of the North,” Liu One said, his posture clearly more professional than before.

“Their nation was rather peculiar, as they were a matriarchal society while adopting a similar religion as those from the Far East, but modified so that the woman would dominate instead,” Liu One continued, before tapping his forehead, as if to remember something.

“If I recall correction, their recent years have seen them expanding throughout the barren Northern lands, eventually, their nation managed to grow even larger than ours in terms of land, however, their population is surprisingly small, numbering only at seventy million,” Liu One, finally remembering, said.

“Furthermore, their woman are far stronger than ours, and would instead be the soldiers fighting a war, at first, the men at our Northern borders were disturbed by them, however, they grew to respect their fight capacities, furthermore, grew to respect our own female soldiers,” Liu One praised, before noticing that Xu Xiaomeng paid no interest in him, and continued observing Galina.

“I’m taking her with me, tell her,” Xu Xiaomeng stated, carrying the same tone as when she had demanded Galina’s name.

“Lady, I planned to take this woman as my concubine, please rethink about this,” Liu One said, his tone slightly irritating Xu Xiaomeng, who remained silent.

Before long, Liu One finally succumbed to the pressure, and spoke a few foreign words to the Galina, before asking Xiao Xi to take care of the foreign woman.

“Why would I care for a barbarian?” Xiao Xi retorted,” Supposedly, these women keep their man as slaves, and would engage in multiple relationships at the same time,” Xiao Xi stated, carrying an obvious tone of superiority.

“Such a loose society is so barbaric,” Xiao Xi continued to complain,” If I were to be wed, I would undoubtedly remain faithful, following the wise words of the sages and ancestors.”

It appeared that Xiao Xi, who appeared to be usually apathetic, possess numerous strong opinions, and continued to ramble about the teaching of figures long past until Xu Xiaomeng eventually grew rather annoyed, but she was rather interested in the views of Xiao Xi and continued listening.

“Young master Xu Wuling had once journeyed to their foreign lands, almost becoming a slave there, when he had returned, he told me of their barbaric practices many of which would have avoided, but most importantly, the ruler of Nista, apparently called a tsar, is to a woman, and furthermore, she had supposedly emboldened Concubine Hu to take such outrageous acts as before the emperor herself,” Xiao Xi complained, her knowledge from the days spent as a maid within the palace certainly was not few, furthermore, it appeared she has developed a distrust of the Nitsa due to Xu Wuling’s experience there.

“Furthermore, they are a warmongering culture, ever since they had reached the borders of the Northern Regions, they had been embroiled in no less than sixteen conflicts with the Sui Dynasty,” Xiao Xi waved her hand in hands in circles to enforce her point,” sixteen over the little more than two hundred years, not including the one right now.”

“You, as the highest general in the revolutionary army, wish to take sort of woman as a concubine, who had come from such a barbaric background, would undoubtedly be the laughing stock of all under heaven and would be wearing a green hat in a matter of days,” Xiao Xi continued to complain.

“In Jianghu, there is a common saying, in the lands under the Great Sui, there is Poi seductress, and in the land under heaven, there is the Nitsa seductress,” Xiao Xi proceeded to quote a proverb, yet its content is shockingly direct.

Ultimately, Xu Xiaomeng raised her hand and tapped Xiao Xi on her shoulder, indicating for her to stop.

“I am able to tolerate her existence, as long as she is educated in the proper way, however, for me to look after her would be most humiliating,” Xiao Xi finished, before ending with a scoff.

“Xiao Xi, the Nitsa people, though they have attacked us, should not be looked down upon,” Xu Xiaomeng said with a rather stern tone.

“You are not permitted to eat anything other than rice until you have learned your mistake,” Xu Xiaomeng continued.

Xiao Xi reacted in a bitter manner, before reluctantly accepting her punishment, however, she still glared viciously at Galina, causing the woman to cover her head using the cloth, exposing only her feet.

Finally, the room was silent, yet it did not last for long, as Liu One suddenly knocked his hand against his head, and asked.

“Lady, what have you come to my residence ?” Liu One inquired, appearing rather down.

“I have come here to personally recruit talents,” Xu Xiaomeng answered, before taking out the thick stack of paper from her sleeves, the amount intimating Liu One.

“Bring me to the training barracks, I wish to find suitable replacements for you, at least in the matters of managing the logistics,” Xu Xiaomeng said, sounding rather harsh.

“I understand,” shockingly Liu One did not appear to be dejected and obediently led Xu Xiaomeng toward the main barracks.