Chapter 339: Surpassing Zhang Qian?

Coming out of the Imperial Palace, Chen Yan stretched his body, hummed a tune, and was about to mount a horse to return to Weinan County.

Suddenly, Chen Yan's body stiffened as he sensed two murderous gazes from behind.

Cold sweat instantly broke out on Chen Yan; after a silent breath, he made a sudden dash, intending to flee.

However, as soon as he took a step, his shoulders on both sides were tightly grasped, and his body became immobilized.

Li Chunfeng smiled and walked forward from the left rear, "Mr. Chen, you're in such a hurry—where are you headed?"

"Do you need this humble monk to give you a ride?"

"Ha…," Chen Yan forced a thin smile, "It's getting late, and the weather's cold; it's not suitable to stay out long. So I was planning to go home."

"Such a trivial matter doesn't merit troubling the Grand Historian."

"Mr. Chen, that's mistaken!" From the right rear, Yuan Tiangang, whose hand was gripping Chen Yan's right shoulder, stepped forward.

"You're a scholar, frail in body; in this winter's bitter cold, the wind howls—if you ride a horse and catch a chill, what then?"

"How about this: we find a carriage, and Brother Li and I will drive for you—how does that sound?"

"No need, no need!" Chen Yan grew more frantic, signaling Xue Li behind him while pushing back, "I'm just a junior county magistrate; you two are the National Teacher and the Grand Historian—your ranks surpass mine. How could I dare trouble you to ride for me?"

"As for the cold… I'm young, I can endure it, no problem."

"Besides, I have Xue Li with me, right, Xue Li?"

He called out toward Xue Li.

Xue Li opened his mouth, and Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng instantly glared at him; he was at a loss for what to do.

In front of him were three people: one who had shown him favor, cultivated him with all his heart, and even praised and recommended him before His Majesty.

Yuan Tiangang had saved his life, and Li Chunfeng had looked after him all the way.

He couldn't afford to offend any of these three, so what could he do?

Xue Li scratched his head, looked up at the sky, wearing an expression of utter cluelessness.

"Well, you Xue Li, as heartless as Xiao Sizi—henceforth you'll eat at the same table as her!"

Chen Yan was fuming, about to nag a few more words, when he saw the two's expressions grow increasingly hostile.

"No, Grand Historian, National Teacher, let me first… no, explain a few words."

"Explain?" Yuan Tiangang roared, "I want you to explain a damn thing!!"

"I came today just to join the fun, and the fun dragged me in, clearly arranged by you two, big and small."

"How much do I actually owe you? You're torturing me like this?"

"One or two times wasn't enough; now you've turned a fortune‑teller into a general!"

"Even until death I never dared imagine I could take on this job!"

Chen Yan was dumbfounded.

No, that's a heavy remark.

When did I ever harm you?

Only once or twice?

Don't wrong a good person!

Before Chen Yan could ask, Li Chunfeng spoke up, "Mr. Chen, now that things have come to this, I won't say more; let's not even mention the chief commander or the strategist."

"You must tell this humble monk what the unflagged cavalry actually is, and what you and His Majesty ultimately want us to do, right?"

He accepted more quickly than Yuan Tiangang, because when he decided to take Chen Yan's commission to seek the Heirloom Jade Seal, he had already prepared himself mentally.

Li Chunfeng thought that after returning he could accept anything, but he didn't expect Chen Yan to pull a big one on him.

Having the two fortune‑tellers go lead troops?

That's beyond anyone's expectation.

"......."

"Ah, it's getting too late today; how about this—tomorrow noon, I'll set a table at the Xianlingfu, and we can have a proper chat?"

Chen Yan felt Yuan Tiangang was about to knife him, got a bit cowardly, and wanted to run.

"If you don't make things clear today, you won't be able to leave!"

Yuan Tiangang's attitude was resolute.

Although Li Chunfeng said nothing, his gaze never left him, which said a lot.

"Alright, alright…"

Chen Yan glanced at the unhelpful Xue Li, first ushered them onto their horses, and while hurrying back, gradually explained his plan to them.

At first, Yuan Tiangang was somewhat reluctant, but after hearing what treasure Chen Yan described, his resistance gradually faded.

He asked with some suspicion, "You're not lying to us?"

"Do those small states really have that many good things?"

"Hehe…" Chen Yan replied calmly, "Small states, small states—I've heard that kind of talk countless times."

"The mighty Tang Dynasty has straightened our backs; the spectacle of myriad nations paying tribute has forged an unparalleled pride. Tang's iron cavalry crushes all external clamor, leaving the continent with only one voice—that of the Tang."

"That's good, but it's also not good."

"Strength brings confidence and pride, yet arrogance often sprouts silently without notice."

Chen Yan whispered, "What makes you think everything outside is just like that, like those self‑sealed parasites, that when faced with things beyond your understanding you first doubt rather than seek to understand?"

That question struck like a hammer on the heart.

Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng instinctively glanced at each other, then quickly averted their eyes, seemingly unwilling to look Chen Yan straight in the eye.

Honestly, at this moment the two contemporary eccentrics, each a generation older than Chen Yan, felt a surge of shame at being spoken to like that.

They weren't unwilling to accept new things, but as Chen Yan said, having long dwelt at the pinnacle and grown accustomed to looking down, that bone‑deep pride had unintentionally become a cognitive shackles.

"Mr. Chen, I've learned a lot!"

Li Chunfeng sincerely bowed and said.

Chen Yan gave a slight nod, appearing calm on the surface, while inside he was delighted.

Sure enough, dealing with these two still requires bluffing.

Otherwise, after what I did today, it'd be strange if these two didn't beat me up.

He cleared his throat and, seizing the moment, said, "Grand Historian, do you still remember the Potato?"

"I dare not forget." Li Chunfeng, upon hearing the name Potato, wore a solemn expression, "You once said this could yield a thousand jin per mu. Even if I, Li Chunfeng, were to forget my own name, I would not dare forget the Potato."

"That's an overstatement; it's not that exaggerated," Chen Yan smiled, "In fact, the Potato comes from these small states."

"I recall telling you that the world is truly vast; abroad there are foods similar to the Potato—at least two other kinds that I know of."

"Even setting aside food, there are advanced techniques abroad, superior horses, valuable knowledge, and numerous ores—enough to pique our interest."

Chen Yan paused, his tone becoming seductive, "Do you remember Zhang Qian?"

"He opened the Si Chou Zhi Lu, allowing future generations to benefit and thus securing his place in history."

"Imagine, if you could command the Wujing cavalry and bring back food and other blessings far surpassing this era's from beyond the Tang Dynasty."

"Then, could you become the next Zhang Qian?"

"Or even… surpass Zhang Qian?"

When the words fell, Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng were stunned, their hearts instantly ignited......

"......"