Chapter 125

The Duke of Liang had cut in halfway, and the relationship between the two sides was obviously not good.

Xu Yuelong and Yang Dongxiong addressed each other as uncle and nephew, and Liang Qu, as Yang Dongxiong's direct disciple, was naturally labeled as being of the Duke of Wei's lineage, which could not be washed away no matter what.

However, Liang Qu didn't care.

There are gains and losses; at least in the River Patrol Office, he could get on the stage.

Many people never have the chance to get on the stage in their whole lives; whether they sing well or poorly, no one cares.

The float sank slightly, Xu Yuelong flicked the rod gently, and then there was no then.

The fish didn't take the bait.

Xu Yuelong didn't feel embarrassed and continued: "Do you think it's just a simple grudge between the main and deputy Commanders?"

"More than that?"

"More than that." Xu Yuelong shook his head, "Do you know how your master's second son died?"

"I don't know."

"Back then, the Western Army marched north into the desert. My father and the Duke of Liang's son, Wei Jianpeng, discovered the tracks of a barbarian detachment, about eight thousand people. They agreed to annihilate the enemy force with their respective five thousand Black Armor Guards in a pincer movement.

Ten thousand against eight thousand, and it was a surprise attack—it should have been a sure thing. But when my father finally caught up with the barbarian detachment three days later, Wei Jianpeng's troops were nowhere to be seen.

My father is not a person who is greedy for merit and rashly advances. Even if it was a surprise attack, five thousand against eight thousand was too risky. Just as he wanted to retreat, they were counter-ambushed by the barbarians.

Fortunately, my father commanded well, and a battle where they were ambushed was dragged into a tug-of-war by him, finally resulting in a miserable victory. Less than half of the soldiers survived, and Uncle Yang's second son sacrificed himself at that time."

Liang Qu was silent.

"Afterward, my father questioned Wei Jianpeng about why the support didn't arrive in time, but he said he got lost in the desert.

My father didn't believe it. Wei Jianpeng was a veteran general, and such a childish excuse for delaying the war had never happened before. But there was no evidence, and in the end, Wei Jianpeng was only dismissed from his official position.

Why the rescue didn't arrive in time back then has now become a muddled account; no one knows if it was true or false."

The float sank slightly for the second time, Xu Yuelong raised his wrist and flicked the rod again.

Ripples spread on the water surface.

Still didn't hook the fish.

The awkward atmosphere dispelled the silent mood.

Liang Qu suddenly felt that Xu Yuelong's fishing technique seemed very ordinary.

Logically, it shouldn't be like this. Xu Yuelong is at least a martial artist in the Wolf Smoke Realm, and possibly even Hunting Tiger.

Such a high-level martial artist, although not having his own underwater perception ability, can definitely sense the aura of fish within a certain range. Seven or eight meters underwater is as clear as fire to them.

Xu Yuelong specifically explained: "Fishing is about fishing, but the actual process is about cultivating one's character. Playing those tricks is meaningless. I block my perception every time, so it's very normal for it to rise and fall."

"Lord Xu's realm is elegant! Liang admires it."

Xu Yuelong was happy and chatted a few more times: "Actually, this time Pingyang Town becoming Pingyang County, and even highly likely becoming Pingyang Prefecture, is unique since the founding of the Great Shun. Many people are eyeing this piece of fat meat.

The River Patrol Office has both me and Wei Zixiu, two grandsons of Dukes, and we brought many trusted followers, all of whom have backgrounds.

The Demon Suppression Division is also not simple, and there are many fierce people. Even the County Magistrate who will arrive in two days—guess who it is?"

How would I know...

Liang Qu shook his head.

"It's Jian Zhongyi of the Jian family in Qingzhou. He ranked second in the imperial examination at twenty-one and writes excellent poetry and prose. His martial arts talent is even more astonishing. He swallowed a Dragon Python Great Elixir in his childhood, and his strength is terrifying. He entered the Hunting Tiger Great Realm at thirty-four, and the Jian family's Heavenly Origin Holding Head Art he practices is both offensive and defensive, with few rivals."

Liang Qu was shocked: "So powerful, and you're coming to be a County Magistrate?"

Top graduates often become County Magistrates, and it's not strange for the second-place graduate to be a County Magistrate.

But since he's from a great family and is himself a Hunting Tiger, it seems unlikely!

It doesn't make sense.

"The drunkard's heart is not in the wine." Xu Yuelong shook his head, "If Pingyang County really becomes Pingyang Prefecture, who will be the Prefecture Master? Where will the original County Magistrate go? Logically speaking, the transition from county to prefecture cannot be separated from the promotion of the County Magistrate.

This is an opportunity! Many people want it but can't get it. As long as Jian Zhongyi has some talent and develops steadily, with his qualifications, background, and strength, the position of Prefecture Master in the future will inevitably be his. Jumping directly from a seventh-rank County Magistrate to a third-rank high official, there's no need to suffer through that seniority."

So many powerful dragons crossing the river!

Liang Qu clicked his tongue.

Originally, his master was the most powerful tycoon in this one-third of an acre of Pingyang Town, and even looking at the surrounding counties, but now that things have changed, he seems weak.

In a small county, there are no fewer than six Hunting Tiger martial artists!

"However, just as you said, suppressing the Ghost Mother Sect is a sure win in the general direction, but it's not necessarily so when it comes to specific matters.

The Jianghuai marshes are a big whirlpool, spinning with all their might. Who can spin up and who will sink—there's no certainty.

I heard your fate is 'Long Dragon Crossing the River'? Born with a water fate—is that true?"

"It is. Master Yang measured it for me."

Xu Yuelong nodded: "So there are many opportunities. As long as you wait quietly, with such a fate, I am very optimistic about your development. Whether you are a dragon or a worm depends on how you grasp it yourself."

Liang Qu performed a salute: "Many thanks, Lord Xu, for your guidance."

What Xu Yuelong said was all solid information; in a few sentences, he pointed out the backgrounds of key figures.

This was truly treating him as one of his own, a kind of heart-to-heart cultivation. If it were any other River Uncle, would you expect the Commander to remind you?

Then Liang Qu sat with Xu Yuelong for more than half an hour.

Something is wrong...

Liang Qu glanced at the sky from the corner of his eye; his butt was a bit numb.

Over an hour, not a single fish came up. Is the realm so elegant to this extent?

Waiting for another two quarter-hours, Liang Qu communicated with the fat catfish through their mental link and sat quietly on the side with an unchanging expression.

A moment later, the float shook violently.

Xu Yuelong's spirit lifted, and he hurriedly raised the rod. A gorgeous large white fish jumped out of the water, water droplets splashing in the sunlight.

A culter!

A culter half a person long, weighing at least twelve or thirteen jin!

Xu Yuelong was overjoyed, retracted the rod, grabbed the fish, held the whole large culter in his arms, and weighed it lightly: "Eleven jin and six liang!"

"Congratulations, Lord Xu!" Liang Qu offered his congratulations at the right time.

"Haha, Liang Qu, you are truly a lucky star! In the past, I wouldn't necessarily catch a fish even after fishing for two or three days. I didn't expect that being with you, in less than an hour, such a large culter would come up! It must be that good fate of yours that played a role!"

Wouldn't necessarily catch one in two or three days?

And the enthusiasm is still so high?

Liang Qu raised his eyebrows slightly. He seemed to know why Xu Yuelong insisted on coming to the River Patrol Office—was it because he dealt with rivers every day, making it convenient to fish?

"Satisfying, too satisfying!" Xu Yuelong put the culter into the fish basket and put away the fishing rod, "Let's stop here for today. The fleet should have docked already. Let's go back quickly, and you can take me to visit Uncle Yang again."