Chapter 132: A Significant Gap

"Yes!"

Li Zhi had already tested Yuchi Baolin before. His culinary skills were passable, though still significantly inferior to those of the Cheng brothers. To be a competent manager, one needed to master various skills, and among them, the most important was cooking.

"Yuchi Baolin can cook? I find that hard to believe," Zhangsun Wuji said with a smirk.

"Wait, and you will!"

The group arrived on the second floor and took their seats. Yuchi Baolin brought out his signature skills, personally stir-frying a table full of delicacies. The highlight was the "Stir-fried Immortal Vine." This dish had only recently been created, and few had yet tasted it. Yuchi Baolin had only just learned it himself and had never offered it for sale before.

In a short while, the Stir-fried Immortal Vine was served.

Zhangsun Wuji cast a skeptical glance at it and snorted, "Isn't this just grass leaves? Why call it 'Immortal Vine'?"

"To tell you the truth, these are sweet potato leaves!"

"What?" Zhangsun Wuji had just visited the agricultural base and seen the sweet potato vines with his own eyes. Quite curious, he said, "Then I must have a taste!"

The most remarkable feature of the stir-fried Immortal Vine was not its inherent flavor, but a special aroma produced by the high-heat stir-frying process that made one feel instantly enchanted. Zhangsun Wuji took a bite, closed his eyes, and savored it for a long time. "Very unique!"

"Everyone, please, don't stand on ceremony..."

Li Zhi also tasted it, and it was indeed excellent. Yuchi Baolin's culinary skills had reached at least the level of Cheng Chumo.

"Baolin is becoming more and more accomplished. Not only is he skilled in martial arts, but he has also mastered the culinary arts. General Yuchi, you are indeed fortunate!" Zhangsun Wuji laughed.

"Haha... that's right! My son is someone most people can't compare to, especially compared to your..." Yuchi Jingde stopped mid-sentence. Zhangsun Wuji's son had been thrown into the dungeon, destined to spend his life in that foul-smelling place.

Thinking of this, Zhangsun Wuji couldn't help but look at Li Zhi. If it weren't for Li Zhi, his son would still be fine and never would have been convicted.

"Sir, there is no need to worry. As long as you perform meritorious service for the country, I think... my cousin can be pardoned!" Li Zhi, still needing to rely on Zhangsun Wuji, quickly dangled a carrot.

Indeed! Zhangsun Wuji was agitated. His son, who had been sentenced to life imprisonment, still had a chance to be released? This...

"In fact, the essence of criminal law is to make the offender feel the pain and correct themselves from within. If my cousin truly knows he was wrong, and coupled with your meritorious service to the state, Lord Zhangsun, what harm is there in pardoning him? Of course, this would require an imperial decree from the Emperor!"

"Yes, yes..."

"This humble servant thanks Your Highness!" Zhangsun Wuji understood. As long as Li Zhi did not pursue the matter, his son had a chance to get out of prison.

After the meal, the group left the Yunhai Tower. Some headed to the Governor's office, while others returned to the county magistrate's office.

Yuchi Jingde asked, "Would Your Highness like to visit my military camp?"

"The military camp? Is there anything worth seeing there?" Li Zhi was clearly uninterested.

"Don't you always worry about the safety of the agricultural base? If we take you to the camp, you'll see whether there are any safety issues!" Cheng Yaojin said.

"Fine!" Li Zhi jumped into the carriage, and the group rode out of the city.

Upon arriving at the camp, Li Zhi poked his head out to look. The camp was rigorous and orderly, and the soldiers were tall and sturdy—it was indeed a rare and elite force!

"Your Highness, please!"

"Our soldiers have fought for many years; every one of them has braved life and death! If there is a war on the frontier, this army will head to the battlefield. When we fought the Turks, even in unfavorable conditions, we still achieved a complete victory..." Yuchi Jingde talked on and on, digging up stories of battles from over a decade ago.

Li Zhi remarked, "A hero does not dwell on past glories."

"Soldiers with many battle honors are often prone to arrogance and complacency, failing to do even the simplest things well. Conversely, some new recruits, while cautious and careful, are capable of great things!"

...

This single sentence left both men feeling thoroughly frustrated.

Yuchi Jingde asked, "Your Highness, did you spot any flaws?"

"For now... none!" Li Zhi smiled. He had just been teasing Yuchi Jingde and Cheng Yaojin; he was actually quite satisfied with this army.

"Who goes there!" Just as the three were about to enter the camp, a commanding officer seemed to spot something and shouted toward the perimeter wall, drawing the attention of Li Zhi and the others.

Yuchi Jingde was quick; he drew a spear from a nearby rack and gave chase. "Who dares to spy on my camp? Do you not hold this general in any regard?"

"Come out, now!"

Seeing a dense bamboo forest ahead, Yuchi Jingde was certain the spy was hiding within the thicket.

"Where, where..." Cheng Yaojin grabbed Li Zhi and hurried over, followed by a large contingent of soldiers.

"Turn that forest upside down!"

"Yes!"

At Yuchi Jingde's command, the soldiers rushed forward and surrounded the bamboo forest.

*Swish, swish, swish...*

The grass in the forest rustled, and a black-clad assassin leaped out and fled into the distance.

Li Zhi shouted, "That man in black must have been sent by the great clans! He must not be allowed to escape! General Yuchi, General Cheng, act now!"

"Right!"

Yuchi Jingde was already in pursuit, and Cheng Yaojin was not far behind, his Bagua Xuanhua axes in hand.

"What are you all staring at? Why haven't you caught that man in black yet?" Li Zhi, feeling extremely anxious, scolded the surrounding soldiers.

"Kill!"

A full battalion of soldiers followed, but despite the grand display of force, they couldn't even get close.

"And they call themselves an elite force? What a load of nonsense!" Li Zhi didn't know what to say. Battlefield combat and small-scale skirmishes were two different things. Assassins were elusive; unless one was a true master, it was difficult to even keep up with their pace.

Li Zhi climbed to a high point and peered in the direction the assassin had fled, but there was no sign left. He felt genuinely worried and regretful. "Why didn't I bring Luo Tong? If that guy were here, he would have caught him for sure!"

Half an incense stick later, Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Jingde returned, looking dejected. Neither dared to look Li Zhi in the eye because the assassin had escaped.

"Now, do you still dare to say that not even a bird could fly in? It's laughable!" Li Zhi scoffed.

"Your Highness, this was strictly an accident. Usually..." Yuchi Jingde tried to explain, but he was clumsy with his words.

Li Zhi stated, "An accident? There cannot be a single such accident! Once information is leaked, your stationing in Hongnong will be completely meaningless!"

"Yes!"

Back in the main tent, Li Zhi sat in the high seat and said, "You all think stationing in Hongnong is a trivial matter and that it's a waste of your talents? Let me tell you, this is not just about guarding a county—it is about guarding the entire world!"

"Think about it, Generals. Sweet potatoes and hybrid rice are the hope of our nation!"

"Do you understand what 'hope' means?"

"Once that hope is stolen by the great clans, all that awaits us is despair!"

...

Yuchi Jingde's expression turned grave. "Your Highness is right. We were careless!"