After years together, Qi Huan was well aware of its little tricks: "You want more points again, don't you?"
"Host, you are truly clever, beautiful inside and out, and quick-witted..."
After a series of flattery, the system slowly explained the rules: "Since you're shopping from another world, there needs to be an added tariff. The tax rate is twenty percent..."
When it finished speaking, Qi Huan exclaimed in shock: "You're darker than a crow..."
"Crows can't help hosts purchase modern goods, but this system can!"
"......"
With the system and Li Shuchen for company along the way, time passed especially quickly.
Before they knew it, September had arrived.
After reaching the front lines, Li Shuchen was either busy drilling troops on the training grounds or huddled in the tent, discussing military strategies with Mo Wangshan and others over a sand table.
During the clash between the two armies, to boost morale, he also went on campaigns with the troops, acting as a pillar of strength and greatly increasing the soldiers' confidence.
The cavalry of Southern Liang was well-trained and fierce, almost able to rout a hundred men with ten horsemen, or a thousand with a hundred. Previously, Li Country's infantry had suffered many losses.
Li Shuchen ordered the collection of a thousand mares that were still nursing foals, then kept the foals inside the city and released the mares outside the walls.
After separating mother and child, the mares neighed loudly. Due to the attraction between opposite sexes, the enemy's warhorses began to become restless... (Adapted and referenced from the historical battle between Li Guangbi and Shi Siming)
He then dispatched heavy infantry and longbowmen to work in tandem.
The longbowmen were responsible for long-range attacks, while the heavy infantry focused on cutting the horses' legs.
The main infantry force was arranged into several Macedonian phalanxes.
This was a type of super-large hedgehog formation that Li Shuchen had learned from the books Qi Huan gave him.
The phalanx had an equal number of soldiers on each side, with troops wearing heavy armor. The outer layer of soldiers was equipped with shields and short weapons, while the rest had progressively longer weapons towards the back.
From afar, it looked like a formation bristling with spikes.
Advancing in unison, it was both offensive and defensive.
This formation tested the soldiers' collective ability to cooperate the most.
The worst thing was for morale to waver and for the formation to fall into chaos.
Thinking that the Emperor was with them, watching their performance with his own eyes, and would reward them according to merit after the battle, everyone felt especially confident and eager to prove themselves.
With the sound of uniform footsteps and the coordinated use of long and short weapons, they pierced irresistibly into the enemy's heart.
The Li army fought with increasing vigor, their morale soaring higher and higher!
In the crisp autumn weather, they advanced triumphantly, victorious in every battle, conquering all before them!
After continuous victories, the entire camp was filled with an atmosphere of joy.
Li Shuchen poured fine wine into mountain spring water, inviting all the officers and soldiers to drink together (referencing the historical account of Huo Qubing pouring wine at Jiuquan)
While boosting the troops' morale, this also prevented them from getting drunk and making mistakes.
Most importantly, he didn't want Qi Huan to spend too many points on such trivial matters.
Therefore, he only accepted one bottle of Maotai from Qi Huan.
Mo Wangshan was lucky enough to sneak a small sip, and from then on, he tirelessly sent the wild geese he shot and the pheasants he hunted to the Empress's tent.
Who would have thought that not only did he fail to get more fine wine, but he was also called aside by the Emperor and made to train for two extra hours.
When Qi Huan learned of this, she couldn't help but laugh.
She took the initiative to tell Li Shuchen: "Shuchen, tell General Mo that for every ten cities of Liang he captures, I'll give him a jar of fine wine!"
After that, Mo Wangshan became as brave as an unleashed wild horse on the battlefield.
Gradually, Li Shuchen commanded from the rear, dispatching troops and generals, while Mo led the soldiers in charging into battle, causing the enemy to flee in panic.
Good news also frequently came from the western frontier, where Yan Qinghe had driven the Western Jin royal family to the point where they had to relocate their capital to avoid disaster.
Soon, intentions for peace talks arrived.
After listening to the envoy's relay, Li Shuchen's phoenix eyes were sharp, his thin lips slightly parted, and he only said lightly: "It is fitting to use remaining courage to pursue a fleeing enemy, one must not seek fame by imitating Xiang Yu."
According to Qi Huan, this was said by a great person from her previous life.
He had always kept it in his heart.
Additionally, both Western Jin and Southern Liang intended to send princesses for political marriages...
In an instant, Li Shuchen rejected this terrible idea at the fastest speed of his life!
With the introduction of gunpowder and new weapons, the Li army advanced unstoppably.
In the tent, Li Shuchen's facial features were cold and stern, his sharp eyes as cold as stars. He finally made up his mind and said:
"I will take this opportunity to unify the three countries."
Now, most of the large and small Buddha statues in Li Country had been regilded, and there were monthly charity activities for the poor areas in various regions by the Empress...
He had earned a lot of points for Qi Huan.
Qi Huan had also provided him with large amounts of provisions and medicine.
Love is a two-way street.
He had never taken Qi Huan's contributions for granted. For everything Qi Huan gave him, he always tried to repay her double.
Even if it meant exhausting half of the royal treasury, he didn't mind.
Because she was worth it.
In the late hours of the night, Li Shuchen held Qi Huan in his arms, a hint of guilt appearing in the depths of his eyes:
"Qi Huan, I owe you so much these past few years, I haven't been able to spend much time with you."
"When the world is stable, I'll select virtuous and capable officials, have them keep each other in check, and free up time to spend more with you."
Qi Huan raised her smiling face, her slender white fingers stroking his stubble a few times.
"Qin Guan once said: 'If love is to last forever, why worry about being together every moment?'"
"Shuchen, just focus on your career. In the future, there will be plenty of time for w..." She quickly stopped herself before finishing the last syllable.
Then she blinked her eyes and swiftly changed the subject.
"Actually, I've been living very fulfilling days."
"Since Dr. Shen volunteered to become a military doctor, I've learned a lot from him."
Over these years, she hadn't just been cooped up in the tent, waiting for Shuchen to keep her company.
Instead, she had been working hard to grow, standing shoulder to shoulder with him through storms and challenges.
She had bought many medicines on Taobao, carefully read the instructions, and worked with Shen Jueming to try and treat many injured soldiers.
Besides that, she had also purchased a large number of medical books on surgery.
In her spare time, she would read them to Shen Jueming, constantly instilling theoretical knowledge in him.
Although conditions were limited, and the temporarily set up "operating room" was far from what she had in her previous life,
When soldiers were on the brink of life and death, they had to make do with what they had.
She had bought surgical gowns, caps, scalpels, alcohol, and non-absorbable surgical sutures. She even bought super bright flashlights to use as surgical lights... Almost everything that could be bought on Taobao was procured.
As one fifty-point credit after another was added to her account, they saved one precious life after another together.
She and Shen Jueming were like teacher and student, and also like comrades-in-arms. So much so that she couldn't bear to see him staring day after day at the faded and worn purse at his waist.
So, she told Shen Jueming the whole truth about Gu Ziling.
At that time, Shen Jueming looked at the distant sunset, a broken smile tugging at his lips.
"Ziling and I grew up as childhood sweethearts. I had long noticed the changes in her."
"...But I deluded myself into not wanting to believe it."
"...Thank you, Your Highness, for telling me the truth. I'm also grateful to His Majesty for decisively dealing with the ghost that occupied Ziling's body and ruined her reputation, and even more thankful that His Majesty was willing to bury Ziling in a beautiful place with mountains and clear waters to repay my service."
"Ziling was like a little sister to me. I may need a lifetime to remember her."
"But there's no need for everyone to worry about me. Living in this world, we still have dreams."
"I will live well, pass on medical skills, treat patients, and realize the wishes of my youth."
Outside the operating room.
Qi Huan stood with him, looking at the distant sunset, watching the horizon gradually swallow all its light.
But the night still had moonlight and starlight.
When the sun rose tomorrow, there would be sunlight again.
As long as people are still willing to let light in, the world in their hearts will never be dark.
Qi Huan looked up at the twinkling stars, set aside her worries for Shen Jueming, and continued to work with him to save lives and heal the wounded, each pursuing the undying light in their hearts.
At this moment, the system spoke quietly: "Host, you've accumulated so many points, why don't you use them to upgrade to the max level? The light in this system's heart is about to go out..."
"Please have pity on this child."
