Chapter 1106: New Mission and New Emergency

The Yangshan Archipelago helped it vent its anger at this time, so the Mou Nation was naturally happy.

"The Bailong tribe was intercepted by me; won't the Mou Emperor be angry?" He Lingchuan naturally knew the answer, just asked casually.

"What are you thinking, his old self is too happy to be angry. The settlement of those tens of thousands of Bailong people is also a, um, trouble, so you solved two problems for the Emperor at once." Fang Canran laughed, "The Emperor will give Lu Qingbin and the Bailong tribe a batch of rewards, which will be delivered in a few days. As for you, the Mou Nation will open the export of six rare minerals including purple kun to the Yangshan Archipelago, and at the same time increase the procurement of palm oil and grain; your weapon smiths will have work to do in the future."

He Lingchuan was overjoyed.

The Mou Nation was vast and rich in resources, and mineral production was also very abundant, but export controls were strict; the Yangshan Archipelago could only rely on smuggling before, which was expensive and unstable.

Now that the Mou Emperor had spoken, the Yangshan Archipelago had one more stable supply channel.

The Yangshan Archipelago was at odds with the Ya Nation, but received the approval of the Mou Nation.

This could be considered losing in the east but gaining in the west.

As for Lu Qingbin receiving the same commendation, that was also as it should be. Lu Qingbin performed excellently in Storm Bay; if not for his bravery, persistence, and comforting of the people's hearts, the Bailong tribe wouldn't even have been able to hold out until the reinforcements appeared.

He Lingchuan could guess how happy Old Six Lu would be.

His son had also become talented and capable, not just the son of Lu Zhensheng shining alone.

Old Six Lu might think that the child of destiny of the Lu family in this generation actually fell on Lu Qingbin.

If he thought so, that would be fun.

He Lingchuan decided to send a gift to Old Six Lu later to congratulate him, and then asked Fang Canran: "By the way, didn't you say before that there was a new mission for me?"

In the past few months, Lingshan had sent him several small missions through Fang Canran, all located in the surrounding areas.

He Lingchuan completed them without much effort, and Lingshan's payment was also quite straightforward.

He knew very well that beginner missions were usually relatively simple, convenient for narrowing the distance between the two sides.

"Yes, this time it's a long string of commissions, and the locations are all close. I just sent them all to you to do together." Fang Canran took out seven envelopes and placed them on the table.

Each envelope was bulging, filled with mission information.

He Lingchuan opened two envelopes and first looked at the location: "Eh, are they all in the Shining Gold Plain east of Does Bailie?"

"Yes, as I see it, Lingshan now intends to intervene in the Shining Gold Plain, and will pay more attention to that place."

"Now?" He Lingchuan asked one more question, "What about before?"

Fang Canran coughed lightly: "I heard, it's just what I heard, Lingshan also tried a few times before, but all failed. In that kind of place, external forces get stained with blood once they enter, and can't get any good."

Now that he was very familiar with He Lingchuan, his tone was not as strict as before.

With just these few words, He Lingchuan learned:

First, Lingshan had tried to intervene in the Shining Gold Plain, but had never succeeded.

Second, even if it failed, it still wanted to try again now.

Why? At this timing, what was different from before? Fang Canran seemed to mention unintentionally: "In the past year or two, the Mou Nation has absorbed many great monsters from the Shining Gold Plain and invited them back to the country."

He Lingchuan gave a long 'oh'.

"Back to business, these commissions are very close; if you have time, you can run them all at once." Fang Canran explained, "The best route from the Yangshan Archipelago is to take a boat by sea, enter the Yiling Strait, then take the Yiling Canal; this bypasses the Ya Nation and lands directly at the westernmost end of the Qian River basin, fast and easy."

Now Island Master He and the Ya Nation were not on good terms, so taking the sea route could avoid some trouble.

"Of course, if you don't have time, I won't force you." Fang Canran laughed, "I can find someone else. But one of the commissions, the one investigating the 'Bright Lamp', is very time-sensitive; if you don't do it, tell me as soon as possible."

"Hmm..." This mission had a time limit; once He Lingchuan accepted it, he had to go to the Shining Gold Plain as soon as possible.

But this conflicted with his next plan.

Accept, or not accept? He Lingchuan thought seriously: "Give me a day to consider?"

His first reaction was to refuse, but the words retreated to his lips.

"Fine." Fang Canran took out a booklet from his bosom and handed it to him, "My ancestor also traveled east to the Shining Gold Plain for seven years, and had some insights and experiences along the way. From strange anecdotes to local customs, to some strange tales, they are all collected here. Although it has been over a hundred years, some of the records might still be helpful to you."

He Lingchuan took it with both hands and saw "Eastern Travels Exposition" written on the cover.

Turning to the end, the author was True Person Weishan.

The pages were very old, but the handwriting was clear, and almost every page had been remounted, even the original revisions and small additions were there.

"True Person Weishan?" He Lingchuan was moved, "This is..."

"Yes." It was Fang Canran's ancestor, Shao Jian. "My ancestor used many aliases, and this 'True Person Weishan' is unknown."

"So Mr. Shao also went to the Shining Gold Plain?"

"He believed that place was one of the best locations to spread the Punishment Dragon Pillars, with various parties partitioning it, fish and dragons mixed, and various gods planting forces and eyes there." Fang Canran shook his head, "Actually, the current Shining Gold Plain is as chaotic as ever, no different from over a hundred years ago."

When the three words "Punishment Dragon Pillar" came out, He Lingchuan raised his eyebrows slightly.

Shao Jian's secret, the secret of the Punishment Dragon Pillar, was a tacit understanding between him and Fang Canran, unknown even to Lingshan.

Over a hundred years ago, Shao Jian was assigned by Zhong Shengguang to spread the Punishment Dragon Pillars in the human world.

This object could collect nightmare energy, so Shao Jian naturally had to take it to chaotic, remote places where small gods gathered, and stay far away from Beijia.

Shao Jian traveled all over the world after that, and He Lingchuan did not know where he went.

Now, Shao Jian's descendant had brought out his work.

He Lingchuan opened this book, as if seeing the face of an old friend, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

Shao Jian and Panlongcheng had both gone with the wind.

The grandeur of that time, the perseverance of that time, how many people remember it now? Only the two people sitting here, Fang Canran and He Lingchuan, inherited their legacy.

Fang Canran was also observing him carefully, not missing a single subtle change in his expression.

Sure enough, the relationship between He Xiao and Panlongcheng was far more than what he had said himself.

He Lingchuan had just returned to Shuyu Pavilion and hadn't had time to drink a cup of hot tea when a yellow-billed blackbird suddenly landed on the railing and called to him: "Message, message!"

This kind of bird was very common in the Qing Nation and Does Bailie, often in flocks.

He Lingchuan frowned slightly, because he used blackbirds to send messages with Tao Ran.

Over a year ago, Tao Ran was sent by him to be an undercover agent in the home of Does Bailie clan leader Lu Zhensheng. Unexpectedly, this fellow worked hard and actually became the third steward of the Lu mansion, well-informed, and often leaked secrets to Yangshan.

Tao Ran had just delivered Does Bailie's intelligence yesterday; why was he sending a message again today? "Speak." Urgent or emergency? "Today, Lu Qinglin led two thousand elite Mou Nation troops into Does Bailie to reinforce the front line."

He Lingchuan turned around abruptly: "What!"

Lu Qinglin brought troops back? At this juncture? "How long will he stay in Does Bailie?"

"Don't know, I only passed this one message."

This piece of intelligence was exceptionally important.

He Lingchuan's brain spun rapidly, while feeding the blackbird two spiritual pills: "Ask Tao Ran to inquire further."

"Got it." The blackbird flapped its wings and flew away.

He Lingchuan looked toward Ding Lake, his face gloomy, his hand pressing on the railing unconsciously exerting force.

It was the Soul-Gathering Mirror that reminded him: "Hey, you're about to snap the railing!"

He raised his hand, and sure enough, there was a dent on the railing.

"Why so angry?" He Lingchuan had always been confident, and the Soul-Gathering Mirror hadn't seen him this irritable for a long time, "Did Lu Qinglin ruin your business?"

He Lingchuan gave an 'en': "It's a bit troublesome."

His plan to seize Does Bailie was all done, about to be put into action.

Just at this time, Lu Qinglin returned! How could He Lingchuan fear Lu Zhensheng's second son? Even if he was a Mou Nation general.

But Lu Qinglin brought troops back, two thousand elite Mou Nation troops.

This was certainly not his own decision, but the Mou Emperor allowing Lu Qinglin to lead troops back to his ancestral land!

So, Lu Qinglin's action of reinforcing Does Bailie this time had received the support of the Mou Nation Royal Court.

At this node, if He Lingchuan seized Does Bailie, he would likely clash head-on with Lu Qinglin and the Mou Nation's army.

This would easily cause the situation to escalate and become uncontrollable.

And Lu Qinglin's trip back was to protect his home and defend the border, justified and righteous, holding great righteousness. If He Lingchuan clashed with him, or even killed or injured him, it wouldn't be justifiable in terms of morality.

He Lingchuan had spent a lot of money, manpower, and energy in Does Bailie over the past year, didn't he hope to win the favor and closeness of the Does Bailie people?

Ruining his reputation at this time was not appropriate.

The Soul-Gathering Mirror was a bit confused: "Is the situation on Does Bailie's eastern front very bad recently? Why haven't I heard of it?"

"The summer grain has just been harvested, and Does Bailie's granaries are the fullest at this time, so the Ya Nation came to find trouble; this is an old tradition." The Ya Nation was short of grain this year, so naturally, they had to find a big household to get some, "The most intense conflict on Does Bailie's eastern front has already ended; it was solved by Lu Qingbin and his sister. Now there is still some tension, but it's not as serious as before."

The mirror was even more puzzled: "Then why did Lu Qinglin choose to come back at this time?"

"Two possibilities. First, when the conflict between Does Bailie and the Ya Nation intensified, Lu Qinglin applied to lead troops back to the country, but the Mou Nation only agreed recently. After all, the Mou Nation itself is fighting Beijia, and Lu Qinglin couldn't be idle."

He Lingchuan raised his second finger: "The second possibility, the Lu family main branch or Lu Qinglin himself thought it was necessary to come back at this time."

"At this time?" The mirror was puzzled, "When the war was deadlocked before, Lu Qinglin didn't come back, why is it necessary now?"

"Let me use the heart of a villain to measure the belly of a gentleman." He Lingchuan laughed, "Perhaps it's because Old Six Lu's family has been stealing the limelight recently."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 1107 =====