College Students Help Me Rule - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The Minister of War began searching among the common people for talented individuals who could manufacture bombs according to the formula.

Under the incentive of a heavy reward, he actually managed to find someone.

Three days later, the General set out with the first batch of cannons and bombs.

Lord Nine Thousand and I saw him off at the city gates.

The eight-foot-tall muscular brute’s eyes grew red as he gripped the Minister of War’s hand and said, “Good brother, if I don’t make it back…”

The Minister of War pulled his hand away somewhat awkwardly. “Don’t say such unlucky things.”

The General continued, “You know the account password for my game, right? Remember to help me with the daily check-ins.”

The Minister of War gave him an “OK” sign.

The General wiped the corners of his eyes, flipped himself onto his horse, took up the banner, and set off.

Every day that passed without a war report from the front, I sat in restless anxiety.

Half a month later, Lord Nine Thousand strode into the Diligent Governance Hall.

“Report-”

I opened my arms wide.

Lord Nine Thousand froze for a moment, then reluctantly gave me a brief hug before speaking.

“A report has arrived from the front. Our army has won a great victory.”

I stood up excitedly, slamming my hands on the desk, nearly jumping onto Lord Nine Thousand.

He held me down, a hint of helplessness in his dark eyes. “Don’t be happy too soon.”

So, I listened to him with a long face.

I had already discovered that while the ministers of the court seemed to obey my every word, they were actually listening to Lord Nine Thousand.

A wise man submits to the circumstances.

Since Lord Nine Thousand told me not to be happy yet, I would be sad for a moment.

He said, “War consumes a massive amount of manpower and resources. I don’t know if the national treasury can hold out.”

I understood his hint and immediately issued an order to cut the expenses of the Imperial Clan.

The Imperial Clan was indignant, shouting that they would go to the ancestral temple to burn incense for my grandfather.

I thought about it and decided I needed to lead by example first.

When my dragon robes tore, I didn’t throw them away; I had the Dowager Consort patch them up for me.

The Imperial Clan remained defiant, clamoring to summon my late father from the underworld to educate me.

I had the men from the Imperial Guard Command surround the Imperial Clan’s estates.

That made them fall in line.

I took a few young eunuchs and spent an hour clicking away on an abacus, but I felt it still wasn’t enough.

I decided to randomly pick a few lucky corrupt officials and seize their assets.

Half a month later, the General returned in triumph.

Using the cannons and bombs, he had sent the Oirats fleeing in a panicked rout.

He rode high-spirited through the long streets of the capital. When he came to see me, his arms were full of fruits and melons gifted by the commoners.

When it came time to reward his merits, I prepared to enfeoff the General as a Marquis and asked what title he wanted.

The General replied, “GG Bond, English name GG Bond.”

I was puzzled. “Huh? Is there some historical allusion behind that?”

He must have his reasons for saying so; it must be that I haven’t read enough books.

The General began to sing with great animation: “Oh, GG Bond, a hero in a fairy tale, respected by all for punishing evil and promoting good.”

I think I understood what he meant.

The General was indeed a hero worthy of respect.

With a stroke of my vermilion brush, I enfeoffed him as Marquis GG Bond and granted him a fief of ten thousand households.