Although Qiao Yan could guess that her recent actions in Luoyang would surely provoke a sense of crisis among He Jin and others, she didn’t know that He Jin, this reckless man, was already planning such a “big matter.”

To move against the current Emperor, even when Liu Hong still wielded real power, showed a reckless disregard for life.

But this clearly had nothing to do with her, stationed as she was far away in Bingzhou, busy with her own schemes.

[“Governor of Bingzhou! How did you become Governor of Bingzhou? Is this the work of a strategist? You even recruited Jia Xu!”] The system reproached sternly.

If Qiao Yan wasn’t mistaken, it seemed, most likely, there was a hint of injustice in all this.

Flipping through her books, she casually replied, “Liang Xi was appointed Inspector of Bingzhou, leading another department as Marshal.”

[“You’re socializing with the aristocracy and recruiting mountain bandits in Bingzhou—that’s not right!”]

“Liang Xi, upon assuming office, used tactics to recruit and enlist, gathering strong men as loyal followers.”

[“And you’re sending troops to attack the Xiongnu!”]

“Those who disobey are met with military campaigns, thousands are executed, and the Chanyu submits obediently.”

[“You’re developing agriculture in Leping, stirring up a whole bunch of things!”]

“The people are spreading across the fields, diligently promoting farming and silk production.”

[“Even in the capital, you’re leading soldiers and winning battles to seize the lead.”]

“From what I’ve heard and known, no other Inspector has achieved as much as Xi.”

[… The system froze.]

Qiao Yan clearly wasn’t giving any straightforward excuses but reciting Liang Xi’s biography.

It felt like the system was panicking from being choked.

Theoretically, everything Qiao Yan did indeed corresponded to what Liang Xi had done, but that wasn’t the point!

What was Liang Xi’s situation back then, and what was hers now?

The system felt it couldn’t insult its own intelligence!

This wasn’t something that could be generalized.

Thinking this through, seeing Qiao Yan’s targeted arguments making it shut up, and checking the character panel to confirm her achievements in Luoyang, as a competent and dedicated system, it tearfully began explaining to its host.

[“Just as you said before, from the standpoint of Han Dynasty, weakening the influence of noble families and relatives gave the Emperor reason. Reinstating General of the North also added to the Han Dynasty’s achievements.

Defeating Dong Min, Wang Kuang, Han Fu, and Ji Ling can all be counted as hostile forces under current assessment, totaling 60 strategist points.

Additionally, there’s a special achievement for striking well-known powerhouses among the relatives, which adds another 30 strategist points.”]

60 points plus 30 points—

90 points! What a profitable gain.

This trip to Luoyang wasn’t just breaking even—it was a huge success.

However, Qiao Yan couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry—why couldn’t dealing with the Xiongnu count?

But considering she disrupted relations between two factions without consulting the peak, it might be seen as a strategist’s attempt to seize power, so it’s not surprising it wasn’t counted.

Fortunately, now that she had the authority as Governor of Bingzhou and controlled military affairs there, her actions carried weight.

The system didn’t know what dangerous maneuvers Qiao Yan was contemplating now.

It could only watch as, after her earlier twisted arguments, she engaged in actions that made it metaphorically bleed.

With 27 points in free attribute points and 9 skill points accounted for, she allocated 7 points to constitution, 9 points to strength, and 10 points to luck, just to assert herself as a strategist.

The remaining 1 point was added to intelligence.

She then distributed the 9 skill points: 3 points to level up Provocation to level 7, 1 point to Archery, 2 points to Riding, and the final 3 points were kept in reserve for future needs.

Thus, her character panel looked like this—

[Name: Qiao Yan]

[Alignment: Han (initial alignment)]

[Occupation: Strategist (system assigned)]

[Age: 13 (years old)]

[Constitution: 81 (out of 100), Strength: 70 (out of 100), Intelligence: 81 (out of 100), Luck: 75 (?)]

[Remaining assignable points: 0]

[Skills: History lv7, Debate lv7, Provocation lv7, Artifact Appraisal lv4, Archery lv8, Riding lv8, Painting lv3, Calligraphy lv4, Field Archaeology lv5, Ancient Numismatics lv3…]

[Remaining assignable skill points: 3]

[Strategist points: 230] (Each 10 strategist points gained automatically grant 3 attribute points and 1 skill point)

Looking at this scene, the system briefly felt like it might need some counseling.

Its host was definitely acting a bit strange…

But an undeniable fact was that she was truly increasing her strategist points.

Considering the system’s almost zero experience with beginners and the progress it had seen in host training before its deployment, achieving these numbers at this age and during this time period could be considered once in a million.

If we were to just look at the data, she could indeed achieve the status of the top strategist in the world.

Especially considering that Liu Hong is still alive and has not yet formally entered the Three Kingdoms period, many achievements specific to that background haven’t been triggered yet.

From this perspective, this was quite an impressive performance.

The system hesitated for a while, finally managing to say, “[Can we increase our intelligence by a couple of points next time?]”

This was the best compromise it could offer.

But from Qiao Yan’s perspective, she didn’t think this numerical value was all that necessary.

Handling situations, strategizing when facing problems—these required more than just straightforward intelligence.

They demanded a broader understanding of the situation and emotional intelligence in interpersonal interactions.

As long as the intelligence was adequate.

However, the system still needed a bit of reassurance, or it might lose track of time altogether.

As for now, verbally agreeing seemed fine, but how they would proceed next time was another matter.

Thinking this over, Qiao Yan then turned to the system and said, “Speaking of which, about that martial arts system dialogue experience you promised before, I’ve got a pretty good idea now. I’ll write it for you once we’re back in Leping. As for something like a farming system next to you…”

[…?] The system stared blankly at Qiao Yan, clearly expressing its confusion.

Without batting an eye, Qiao Yan continued, “Or perhaps a steel refining system.”

[No! There’s nothing like that!] The system vehemently protested against its host’s wild imagination.

“In other words, there’s the one from before,” Qiao Yan seized on its slip-up calmly, “You know, for a qualified strategist, being able to develop enough food supply is crucial.”

“For instance, in the future under Cao Cao’s command, Mao Jie suggested agricultural reforms, Zao Zhi proposed the concept of farming settlements, which led to the ‘Settling Farmlands Decree’.

Deng Ai started from being an agriculture commissioner and scholar, composing the ‘Discourse on the Ji River’, which mentioned that within six or seven years, he could accumulate thirty million bushels of rice in Huai River…”

Based on this evidence, it wouldn’t be difficult to conquer Wu and gain the appreciation of Sima Yi.”

“You think Mao Jie, Zao Zhi, and Deng Ai can be considered strategists?”

The system thought about it and naturally concluded they could.

Although Deng Ai could also be considered a great general, his talents in both civil and military affairs made him half a strategist as well.

“So, if you aim to be the top strategist in the realm, you should surpass these individuals, right?”

Qiao Yan, expressing her intent to surpass Deng Ai, who wouldn’t be born for another decade, didn’t feel burdened at all, using it to persuade the system.

She even added, “This should be part of your strategist system’s inherent teaching, right?”

The system refused to admit that its inventory only contained classic tactical teaching cases and strategist dialogues, lacking means to improve crop cultivation or settling strategies—an embarrassing oversight.

So it left Qiao Yan with a “I’ll go ask around” and disappeared.

Qiao Yan couldn’t help but laugh.

Meeting Qiao Yan at the Yellow River crossing outside Beimang, Guo Jia saw her in this cheerful state, waving the book in her hand.

“Qiao Hou, are you thinking that achieving this wish is like returning home in glory?” Guo Jia teased after boarding the carriage.

Qiao Yan’s hometown wasn’t technically Bingzhou, but as she had told Liu Hong, since she was titled in Bingzhou and her father Qiao Xuan’s tomb was there, naturally, she considered Leping her home.

Her return as the Governor of Bingzhou was indeed a form of returning home in glory.

But clearly, that wasn’t her main objective.

“Not entirely,” Qiao Yan shook her head.

Her current happiness wasn’t solely because of the system’s clear foolishness, but also because before reaching the banks of the Yellow River, she had sat alone in the governor’s carriage, listening to the sounds of the mountains and forests as the carriage passed through Mangshan.

She heard the rhythmic sounds of the wheels and horse hooves, and in a moment of reverie, she felt as though these three years had connected together, stirring up some emotions.

There were things she couldn’t mention to the system, and even before ensuring whether the system could understand her thoughts, she had to be cautious in her considerations.

There were various twists and turns in her heart that she couldn’t discuss with anyone else.

But looking back now, it was also a kind of enjoyment.

Back when she had just awakened from the chaos of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, survival had indeed been her primary concern.

It was fortunate that her familiarity with this period of history had spared her the hardship of integrating into this era.

But what she had initially wanted

Yes, if she couldn’t achieve feats and gain reputation in this era, relying solely on her identity as the system envisioned to become a strategist for a regional power was completely impractical.

That’s why she had to pave her own retreat routes and add layers of protection.

She needed military achievements, like suppressing the Yellow Turbans, to completely break free from the constraints of gender and age, and live in this world in a dignified manner.

But what about later?

Later, everything she witnessed reminded her of one thing: it wasn’t enough!

If the chaos within Han Chinese continued without resolution, it would only lead to internal strife, wasting manpower, and making them vulnerable to external invasions and banditry.

Even if she completed the task of becoming the top strategist, she couldn’t sustain herself in this era for long.

But back then, she knew well that the weak had no capital to afford overly lavish sympathy.

That’s why she spoke those words to Xu Fu and watched the remnants of the Yellow Turbans being incorporated into border defense forces.

And now?

As she told Lu Zhi, there were many such absurd and heartbreaking scenes in the world.

If capable individuals could strive to preserve them, how could they not rise to positions of power?

So, after initially accumulating her own strength in Leping, why couldn’t she take on greater responsibilities?

Why couldn’t she gather these talented individuals around her and form a force to contend with the declining Han Dynasty?

Of course, before she made moves like targeting provincial officials with arrows, while she still had her hands only in the land of Leping, although she showed signs of striving forward, she still had retreat options available.

In the context of heroes contending at the end of the Han Dynasty, even though there’s a deep-seated enmity between Cao Cao and Zhang Xiu over the killing of a child, they can still serve as lord and vassal.

So, it’s even more plausible for someone like Qiao Yan.

Yet, once she made such a decisive move and expressed her determination with the words “Ye Shu” to vie for the impression of a loyal minister under Liu Hong, her advisors under her command understood her reaction better than outsiders and made their decisions accordingly.

Qiao Yan truly had no possibility of retreat after this.

Strangely, upon achieving victory in this contest and securing the position of Governor of Bingzhou, she did not feel the usual anxiety of being pushed forward with no way back, but instead felt more peaceful than ever before.

She spoke to Guo Jia, “I was just thinking, now that I am Governor of Bingzhou, promoting officials in Leping will be much easier than before.”

This was a mutually beneficial transaction. ——

The Governor’s procession followed traveled along the swift riverbank road.

In this harsh winter season, there were few people along the way.

The Hedong Bandits had already been driven down from the mountains, and another group that might appear here was also absent, prompting Guo Jia to jokingly remark that this was no different from a covert night mission.

Qiao Yan shot him a disdainful look at that remark.

But there was still a difference.

Along this winter trade route, occasional merchants passed by.

Seeing this unusual procession, they inevitably halted to inquire about the situation.