Chapter 2086: Extra 68: Teaching a Child
Chapter 2086: Extra 68: Teaching a Child
Wufu returned to the main tent and coldly instructed Chi San beside her, "Go find out who has been spreading rumors to the Emperor." Out of nowhere, why would Donger suddenly think of abdicating?
"Understood."
"Mother." A small figure quickly lifted the curtain from outside and entered, seeing Wufu sitting in the center. He stopped in his tracks, clasped his hands, and made a ceremonial bow: "Your son greets Mother."
Wufu smiled and beckoned him over, "Did you run back? Look at the sweat on your forehead."
The precious Young Crown Prince of Prince Jin’s Mansion, formally known as Jhin Mingxi, and nicknamed Little Bun, chuckled as he straightened up. In three quick steps, he was beside Wufu, grabbed her hand, and felt a bit of coolness. He pulled over a nearby cloak and gently draped it over Wufu’s shoulders.
Her son’s tenderness and attention made Wufu’s eyes fill with laughter.
"I rode back." Little Bun’s delicate face crumpled, "Mother, I lost to Uncle, and only three of my people ’survived’."
He sparred with Uncle Changsheng, each leading a team to arrange troops, but he lost.
"Your uncle is five years older than you, and he’s been reading military books since his early education. He even followed your Great Uncle Wushuang to the battlefield, so naturally, he knows more about troop formation than you." Wufu took the warm towel handed over by the maidservant, lightly wiped his face, and said with a smile, "You did lose, but have you thought about why you lost?"
"..."
"If you hadn’t turned back to save your two companions, you might not have been surrounded and captured. Who knows, you might have rallied your troops for a comeback. Tell me, why did you turn back?" Wufu guided him to answer.
Little Bun thought for a moment and lowered his head, "They’ve been with me since childhood. I couldn’t bear to leave them."
"But have you considered that getting captured would lead to total defeat?"
Little Bun nodded.
"Yet you still went to save them, Little Bun. This shows your pure heart. You couldn’t bear it, so you turned back. Son, you lost because of your personal feelings. In terms of the bigger picture, this move is a major taboo for a general. Of course, in terms of personal relations, you won their hearts." Wufu stroked his head and said, "You didn’t just think of your escape. You carefully considered and turned back to save them because you couldn’t give up. They will be more loyal to you, never betraying you unto death. However, in understanding human nature, the enemy was more adept than you."
"Little Bun, this is the concept of there being mountains beyond mountains and people beyond people. What you think of, others can think of too. So before taking actions, we must consider more disadvantages and leave ourselves several escape routes. The saying ’like a cunning rabbit with three burrows’ means this. To survive, what’s the harm in being cunning?"
"But Mother, didn’t you say one should be straightforward and upright?" Little Bun was a bit confused.
Wufu said, "Yes, but when it concerns your own life, there’s no problem in not being straightforward. Life is the most important thing. As long as you’re alive, you can consider other matters. There’s also a saying, ’all’s fair in war,’ meaning on the battlefield, to win, it’s okay to use sly or cunning means, but you mustn’t use these on the common folk."
Little Bun nodded, understanding but not fully comprehending.
Wufu then said, "I noticed your stance was a bit unstable when you were riding. Starting today, add another Shichen of martial training. No slacking off, I’ll have your Uncle Xiao Qi watch over you."
"Ah!" Little Bun’s face immediately showed distress; adding another Shichen of martial training would mean even less free time for him.
"Your life is important. If you can’t win a fight, at least you should be able to escape, right?" Wufu glanced at him from the side.
Little Bun nodded dejectedly.
"Don’t blame Mother. Little Bun, in the future, you’ll have even less time. Just now, your Emperor brother said he’s planning to abdicate to you once you turn fifteen." Wufu suddenly said.