[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-overthrowing-the-ming":3,"chapter-overthrowing-the-ming-overthrowing-the-ming-chapter-51":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Overthrowing the Ming",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2289278,4476,"Chapter 51: Sun Juanmao","overthrowing-the-ming-chapter-51",51,"\u003Cp>When the sky was dim and dusky, Wu Zhuge, Li You, and the others hurried back to the Shanzhai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li You could be considered to have gained a rough understanding of the geographical situation here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Longmen Shanzhai is over sixty li away from the Mianxian county seat. The nearest town is called Fuchuan Market. If one continues south for about fifty li, there is a steel workshop. To the east, it connects to Baocheng; to the west, it links to Ningqiang Prefecture; and to the south lies Sichuan. The location is accessible from all directions, which is why the Yudu Camp was established there as a regular garrison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mao'er Dam is located thirty to forty li northwest of Longmen Shanzhai, leaning against Mount Xiaobing and bordering the Ju River.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Further to the northwest is Qingyang Post, which is on good terms with Mao'er Dam. Qingyang Post connects to Da'an in the south and leads to Yangping Pass in the west; it is a vital pass for Mianxian and, in theory, has a Police Inspector station garrisoned there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Pig Boss's Qigan Mountain, it should be directly north of Longmen Shanzhai, looking out toward Mount Dingjun in the east and bordering Shidingyuan to the south.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way to Mao'er Dam, they did pass two or three villages, but there was no smoke from cooking fires—a scene of desolation and decay. Basically, they didn't encounter any living souls along the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After returning to the Shanzhai, Wu Zhuge first asked the guards, learning that Cao Er had not yet returned. Then, he asked about a man named Sun Juanmao, and upon learning that he had not returned to the Shanzhai either,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he stood stunned for a long while before heading straight to the North Shanzhai with Wu Nai and some others, acting somewhat cold toward Li You.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made Li You feel slightly displeased. From being abducted from Lueyang until now, it had been about half a month to twenty days, yet this was still the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the merit he had established today was not small; what kind of attitude was this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made Li You somewhat restless. He walked toward the Nanshan mining area, lost in thought as he crossed the ridge to return to the South Shanzhai...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This won't do. For the Cao Er lead, I still have to rely on Wu Zhuge to push things forward. If I can't occupy a position on either side, my situation will become increasingly difficult!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li You thought about a lot on the way: the promise he had made to Liu the Lame, the children he had finished teaching that morning, and the future rations for the miners and salt slaves...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All these fragmented matters focused on him. He had originally stopped holding much hope for Wu Zhuge's side, but today, he had clearly felt a sense of sincerity along the way. How could things change the moment they entered the Shanzhai?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait, Sun Juanmao? Who is this Sun Juanmao?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li You thought for a long while, then suddenly turned back and rushed toward Wu Zhuge's group...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Zhuge had not walked far with Wu Nai and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you not taking Mr. Li to the North Shanzhai?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Wu Zhuge had not greeted Li You, Wang Qiong hesitated before speaking up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Except for Wu Nai, the others also stared at Wu Zhuge with wide eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no help for it; today's events were too legendary. Li You's possession of such miraculous archery skills had long since won them over. They had all assumed that after showing off his prowess at Mao'er Dam today, the Shanzhai would definitely celebrate Li You tonight, but they hadn't expected Wu Zhuge to ignore him upon entering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I sent Sun Juanmao to Qingjian County to inquire about Mr. Li's background, but he hasn't returned yet... I know Mr. Li is a man of great talent, but the more talented a person is, the less at ease I feel. What if he was sent by the government?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Zhuge also felt a bit guilty toward Li You; after all, the man had saved his face today, performed a meritorious deed, and offered him strategies along the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The government? That can't be! He already has two lives on his hands; he should be the one hiding from the government!\" Wu Nai blurted out!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's right. I've seen that Mr. Li is especially kind to this group of lowly people. Besides, every day at Nanshan, he is either teaching those children to read or helping Liu the Lame and the others with blacksmithing. In the afternoon, he occasionally picks wild vegetables and searches for medicinal herbs with Yu Zhengchun and the others... No matter how I look at it, he seems to want to settle down here!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Qiong had been on patrol in Nanshan for three rounds, so naturally, he had paid special attention to Li You.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tsk...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Zhuge couldn't help but feel some regret. He had clearly accepted Li You on the road, but just now, after asking about Sun Juanmao and wanting to wait for his return, he had forgotten that Li You had done him a great favor today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That skinny monkey, go quickly and invite Mr. Li back... tell him I...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Wu Zhuge could finish, Wang Qiong, with sharp eyes, saw Li You in his long gown walking back and hurriedly said happily: \"He's back, Mr. Li is here!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From afar, Li You saw Wu Zhuge and the others stopped on the road. Upon walking closer, he realized they were waiting for him and laughed: \"I was thinking that if I went back, I'd have to eat corn buns again, so I came over to have a good meal with you all!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haha...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li You's words were very honest, making everyone laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Zhuge also said: \"I was just about to send the skinny monkey to call you. My mind was on other things, and I actually forgot our great hero of the day!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Qiong also chimed in: \"Aren't you supposed to be a reader of the sage's books, finding endless joy in eating chaff and salted vegetables? How come Mr. Li can't overcome the gluttonous worm in his belly?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh, to hell with eating chaff and vegetables!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haha...\" Li You's personality was very likable, especially given his background as a scholar, yet he occasionally spoke without any taboos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once Wu Zhuge gave the order, the North Shanzhai became busy. They slaughtered a fat pig to celebrate Li You's great merit today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After returning, Wu Zhuge first went to the latrine. Li You calculated that Wu Zhuge had gone to the latrine no fewer than ten times throughout the day; it seemed the symptoms of his diabetes were becoming increasingly obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After giving his orders, Wu Zhuge returned to the inner quarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Accompanied by Wang Qiong, Li You entered the Great Hall of the Gathering of Righteousness where they had eaten that morning. The tables were still covered with dirty bowls, and there were mahjong tiles. The bandits were in groups of four or five or eight or nine, playing with great fervor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a charcoal brazier on the floor. Although it was only the end of September, one could no longer sit still wearing only a single layer of clothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room was filled with smoke, and Li You noticed that most of the people were smoking.\u003C\u002Fp>",1244,"2026-06-20T03:32:06.992Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","28c360bbde0a4ff429f5bbc8ef314652746b90b305f5c92268f8c322160ce85f","overthrowing-the-ming-chapter-52","overthrowing-the-ming-chapter-50",71,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Foverthrowing-the-ming-cover.jpg"]