First dispatch of the day! Asking for Monthly Votes! "Pfft!..." Jun Mo Xie was taking a mouthful of wine when he choked upon hearing the words, spraying every last drop onto his Third Uncle, Jun Wu Yi, across the table, followed by a more violent bout of coughing.

"Hahahaha... That old scoundrel Li Shang has truly shot himself in the foot! Not only has his Dantian failed to mend, but his meridians are now severely damaged, leaving him practically on his last breath.

And that’s not even the worst of it—even his most cherished grandson, Li Youran, has been affected." The Old Master hadn't laughed so heartily in years; he was leaning back, throwing his head about, stumbling to and fro. "I hear that pretty boy was utterly disfigured, hahahaha!" Jun Mo Xie held his wine cup, utterly speechless, dumbfounded. I—I—I merely intended a small act of sabotage.

Heaven knows the truth; I never envisioned such a glorious outcome! I only wanted to wreck the Jade Coral; I truly had no other intentions... As for Grand Tutor Li Shang being severely injured because of it, and Li Youran being disfigured—I genuinely didn't plan that!

I am innocent—although I wouldn't mind if it had been even worse... To achieve such a magnificent situation with just an absentminded flick of the wrist—fate plays cruel tricks on us... "For this event alone!

We must drink until we drop tonight!" Old Master Jun burst into laughter, raising his cup. "Indeed, this matter is quite laughable. However, Father, if Grand Tutor Li Shang truly proves incurable and passes away, we must be wary of what moves the Li family might make.

Li Shang's Blood Guard Alliance was once renowned across the land. I believe no one dares underestimate them, and their loyalty to Li Shang is absolute. If Li Shang truly dies, those men will surely seek vengeance.

And if they seek vengeance, the primary target will likely be our Jun family! We must guard against this! We need to make some early preparations," Jun Wu Yi said with a slight smile before composing himself and speaking slowly.

"Well said." Old Master Jun set down his cup. "If that old cur actually dies, although the Li family will surely decline, the backlash from those death warriors will certainly be a headache. Even if he lives, this is bound to ignite a massive upheaval.

Wu Yi, most of the Jun family's strength is now in your hands. In your view, how should this matter be handled appropriately?" Jun Wu Yi frowned slightly. "In terms of response, everything hinges on Grand Tutor Li's final fate.

If he survives this ordeal, all our arrangements will be wasted. The best countermeasure is non-action to meet all action—consolidate our core strength, keep it gathered, and don't give the enemy a chance to pick us off one by one. That is the best strategy.

I trust our family's strength is sufficient to ensure our safety. My only concern is General Shen and the others. They have followed us for years, and their enmity with the Li family runs deep.

If the worst happens, they might face unforeseen dangers!" Jun Mo Xie smiled. "Third Uncle's words carry the weight of experience, but perhaps they are overly cautious. Any one of those generals is a seasoned veteran forged in a hundred battles!

Their sense of crisis is certainly deeper than anyone else's—otherwise, wouldn't they have perished on the battlefield long ago? As soon as they receive this news, their first reaction will be to take countermeasures to ensure their own safety. If they can't even protect themselves, how can they speak of fighting the enemy?" As he spoke, Jun Mo Xie smiled, then his eyebrows shot up, his tone turning fiercely cold.

"If they lack even this basic ability, and we have to send men to protect them when crisis strikes, then what use are such useless fools? Why cherish them? Why feel pity for harming them?!" Jun Zhantian and Jun Wu Yi were simultaneously stunned, exchanging bewildered glances, unsure how to react.

Both were seasoned military commanders who loved their soldiers as if they were their own kin, treating their subordinates like brothers or nephews. Thus, Jun Mo Xie's incredibly ruthless assertion struck them as quite incongruous. "Mo Xie, you cannot speak like that.

Every one of those men has followed our Jun family for years; how can we abandon them?" Old Master Zhantian grew somewhat angry, stroking his beard, clearly displeased. "This is fundamental to human integrity—sharing hardship, not abandoning in life or death! Your thinking is too..." The Old Master didn't finish, but the accusation in his words was unmistakable.

"Grandfather, I disagree with that statement. Let me ask: if you prioritize protecting these incapable individuals, leading to the demise of countless soldiers because of it, surely you understand the gravity of the situation and the stakes involved?! The border has been unstable for years, requiring constant warfare.

And those men Third Uncle mentioned are all seasoned commanders who will inevitably lead troops into battle. If one general is incompetent, it will surely doom a thousand troops! To me, if someone is truly incompetent, it is better to discard them outright.

Otherwise, if they are entrusted with a major task, they will certainly disrupt the entire situation! At critical junctures, they might even destabilize the foundation of the nation! How can this be a small matter?

This is a question of fundamental right and wrong, not one of cold-heartedness!" Jun Mo Xie retorted proudly. "As I mentioned, the incompetence of one general can, at minimum, lead to the deaths of a thousand troops and the loss of a defensive line; at worst, it can allow the enemy to break through at a single point, leading to total defeat! It could even shake the nation's foundations, leading to the country's collapse and the extermination of our clan.

This is absolutely not alarmism, and a principle that Grandfather or Third Uncle must understand: at crucial moments, one must make the hard decision, or the cost incurred will be unbearable! By then, regret will be too late! "When employing personnel, one must use the worthy; when utilizing resources, one must employ strategy!

This is not a matter of acting on sentiment. It is about being responsible to the majority! If a leader must be so sentimental, then I must say they are unqualified!

Mo Xie asks for forgiveness if my words have caused offense to Grandfather or Third Uncle, but the above is a matter of principle, and Mo Xie cannot yield on this!" Jun Zhantian and Jun Wu Yi fell silent simultaneously. Both were astute and intelligent men. Although they found his words difficult to swallow, neither could refute that they were fundamentally true.

For any qualified superior, being soft-hearted and overly sentimental is the greatest taboo! Yet, despite acknowledging the logic in Jun Mo Xie's arguments, given their personalities, neither of these two men could bring themselves to act that way, and they never would. This, too, was worthy of respect—though perhaps too rigid, it was endearing and admirable!

Perhaps this too reflects a certain brilliance of human nature! Jun Mo Xie chuckled lightly. "Naturally, at present, this remains only within our speculation.

The final result is still another matter entirely. I am merely giving Grandfather and Third Uncle an advance warning: when the time comes to cut losses, you must act decisively! Indecision leads to ruin.

The helplessness Third Uncle taught me regarding the expectations for descendants of great families—is not today’s action, and tomorrow’s decision, also a form of helplessness for the family heir?" Old Master Zhantian and Jun Wu Yi glanced at each other, feeling a degree of surprise and shock at the ruthlessness Jun Mo Xie displayed today. Jun Wu Yi frowned thoughtfully, involuntarily recalling the deadly precision of Jun Mo Xie's lethal techniques. A chill ran down his spine.

As a second-generation member of the Jun family, he understood his nephew's position, yet the military man’s bond and affection for comrades-in-arms were difficult to sever. It was exactly as Jun Mo Xie described—helplessness! Old Master Jun stroked his beard, narrowing his eyes, thinking to himself: Jun Mo Xie sees things clearly.

Though somewhat ruthless, he possesses the nature required to hold power. However, his ambition shouldn't become too great, or else endless bloodshed will surely flow from his hands! Is that fortune?

Or disaster? The Old Master worried, unable to suppress a low sigh. The Old Master came from humble beginnings, not being a true descendant of an aristocratic lineage; his current status was achieved entirely through hard work, step by step.

Therefore, he felt deep affection for the soldiers under his command, especially those officers who had risen from the very bottom ranks. But the Old Master's sixty-plus years of experience, seasoned by time and baptized in political struggle, meant he was no longer the impulsive man of pure zeal he once was. Furthermore, having suffered the multiple blows of losing a son and a grandson, his insight into worldly affairs was sharper.

Thus, he accepted Jun Mo Xie’s reasoning better than Jun Wu Yi, even admiring the foresight of his only grandson! Jun Wu Yi turned toward Old Pang, seated at the table. "Uncle Pang, I must trouble you to arrange matters concerning this.

In any case, safety must be the priority." Although Old Pang was nominally the steward of the Jun residence, effectively one of the servants, everyone understood that the relationship between Old Pang and Old Master Jun Zhantian was one of true, unwavering, life-and-death comradeship! Old Master Zhantian had never treated Old Pang as a mere servant, but always as a brother. Thinking back to those days, Old Zhantian had repeatedly wanted to release this old brother from servitude, then recommend him for military honors so he could secure titles for his wife and children and share in their prosperity.

But Old Pang, sincerely looking out for his elder brother, understood that once he shed the status of a servant, he could no longer accompany his elder brother, nor could he serve Brother Jun as effectively as before. Thus, he always refused to give up his role as steward. Consequently, Jun Wu Yi also consistently treated Old Pang as an elder, showing him considerable respect.

Old Pang nodded with a slight smile, rose, and walked out. Jun Mo Xie couldn't help but shake his head inwardly. Although every member of the Jun family was bold and straightforward, iron-blooded men through and through, they were also far too devoted to sentiment and righteousness.

While valuing loyalty and righteousness is a great virtue, for a prominent aristocratic family entangled in the politics of a kingdom, blindly adhering to it was somewhat inappropriate. However, Jun Mo Xie hadn't expected his arguments to be fully accepted immediately by the Old Master and Third Uncle. This was merely to strike a preliminary chord, a constant reminder.

If things came to a critical pass, it might prove immensely useful. Given the temperaments of this father and son, it would take ten years or more of gradual influence to change them. Never mind that Young Master Jun lacked the patience; even if he had it, he didn't have that much time to waste!

Such matters couldn't be rushed; it would have to be a slow process. Just then, a sudden, resonant sound rang out sharply: "Wu Yi brother, ten years since we parted, are you well?!" The voice was powerful, echoing through the clear sky under the setting sun. Jun Wu Yi's face changed drastically, instantly turning pale, his lips trembling slightly; he nearly leaped out of his wheelchair!

Jun Mo Xie quietly extended a hand, gently pressing down on his thigh, shaking his head as a signal. Jun Mo Xie had recognized the speaker—it was the man who had stopped him from auctioning at Shengbao Hall, the very man trying to pit the Jun family against Shengbao Hall!