Chapter 1093

Chen Wuji's question left Xu Zengyi bewildered.

He took a sip of wine, pondered briefly, then said: "My lord, if Li Qímíng is in the open and Kong Fang in the dark, supplemented by the Spy Camp, this plan can barely work."

Chen Wuji seriously considered it for a while, finally catching up to Xu Zengyi's line of thought: "Your meaning is to force Li Qímíng into the open, provoke him into rebellion, and sever ties with the Uyghur Royal Court?"

"Exactly!" Xu Zengyi nodded. "Not only must we force him to rebel, but we must also see how many battles he has truly fought and how many important figures he has slain before we can barely believe it. After all, if the Uyghur King is ruthless enough, this matter can be falsified, thereby deceiving the lord into walking into the trap."

Chen Wuji tapped his knee lightly: "We can send Li Qichen to him."

"I, your humble officer, had the same thought—this person has long lost any value in our army's hands."

Chen Wuji flipped the ox hoof on the fire basin again: "It's about ready."

"I, your humble officer, have long been impatient."

Stimulated by the aroma, he had been suppressing his cravings with wine; otherwise, his saliva would have been gurgling nonstop.

Chen Wuji ordered the ox hoof to be divided, then summoned Chen Li and Chen Wushuang to come in and share it together.

After the serving plate was reset on the table, Chen Wuji tore into the crispy-on-the-outside, springy-on-the-inside ox hoof with great chewiness, only then bringing the conversation back to the earlier topic.

"Let's wait until we obtain what Li Qímíng promised before arranging this matter," Chen Wuji said.

Xu Zengyi asked with a smile: "Is the lord worried that if Li Qímíng refuses, we won't even get these benefits?"

Chen Wuji grunted: "That brat is a lunatic—his actions and temperament are extremely complex. Who knows what they're scheming behind the scenes? Better to secure whatever benefits we can first."

Xu Zengyi held a different view, but after thinking it over, he let it go.

"Actually, I have long harbored great doubts about the Uyghur succession drama," Chen Wuji said, revealing the root of his distrust in Li Qímíng. "Logically, when a nation faces external war, court and populace prioritize external threats, suppressing internal contradictions."

"But the Uyghurs are the opposite—when fighting our army most fiercely, their internal succession struggle intensifies instead, which defies reason. Although worldly affairs have no fixed rules, and unreasonable things are commonplace, on such a grave battlefield, no issue can be taken lightly."

Xu Zengyi sucked oil from his fingers, raised his wine bowl in a toast to Chen Wuji: "The Uyghur matter is indeed unreasonable, but it must be true. The most unreasonable thing now is this fourth son, Li Qímíng, but in my humble opinion…… the possibility remains extremely great."

"I have little evidence for this, merely a feeling—perhaps right, perhaps wrong. I speak casually; you, my lord and others, may listen casually—do not take it seriously."

Chen Wuji said: "Then let's ignore other matters for now; we'll discuss them after securing the benefits."

"Kong Fang and the Spy Camp can arrange this strategy in advance; they've already done so, and it's not redundant."

Regarding Uyghur intelligence and preparations, there will be nothing redundant at present.

……

In this bitter winter, Zhangye City undergoes a slight change each day.

The city walls grow ever higher, now basically reaching the standard for repelling external enemies. Ground hardening within the city is complete; artisans are planning the internal layout, beginning preparations for constructing official buildings and the General's Mansion.

Days pass slowly in a busy yet tranquil manner; in the blink of an eye, over ten days have elapsed.

On this day, idle Chen Wuji brought his wives and concubines out of camp again, found a place with beautiful water and scenery, and set up camp to fish and seek wild pleasures.

As expected, he once again encountered the nth time of returning empty-handed from fishing, toiling half a day without even managing to prepare food for a few people.

Chen Wuji angrily abandoned fishing, was about to join Qin Zhanhong and several women in an activity he excelled at, which could add some wild charm to these mountains and wilderness, to strive for his offspring, when a soldier arrived to report.

Magic Capital Mountain is completed!

In this new month, this is the first piece of good news.

Chen Wuji ordered someone to inform Xu Zengyi and others, instructing them to quickly select an auspicious day and prepare the series of rituals for Heaven Worship, then happily immersed himself in the great endeavor of propagating offspring.

Previously, such matters were pure pleasure; now, pleasure remains, but pressure has followed.

Even having transmigrated, Chen Wuji could not escape the urging to marry and bear children, and in this life, it is even more exaggerated than in the previous one.

Some people have begun dragging in the two characters "state foundation."

Although Chen Wuji currently has no state and no thought of founding one, he cannot resist those below wishing to express their inner sentiments.

Regarding this matter, Chen Wuji himself is now also anxious.

After so long with no movement, he is genuinely somewhat panicked.

Therefore, when effort is required, one must seize the opportunity and strive desperately.

……

Xu Zengyi and others calculated, and the nearest auspicious day is two days from now.

If we miss this day, we must wait another thirteen days.

Chen Wuji now has no leisure to wait that long; he decisively ordered that two days hence, they shall proceed to the temporarily named Magic Capital Mountain, but which will later be renamed Magic Capital Mountain for Heaven Worship.

The affairs of state lie in sacrifice and war.

This is a very solemn matter; all heads and minds in the military have been set in motion.

The military camp, which had been tranquil for half a month, has become lively again.

In these two days, discussions alone have filled countless sessions.

However, these discussions are presided over by Xu Zengyi and Chen Li; Chen Wuji merely listens in.

Regarding Heaven Worship, he barely understands the process, let alone having the chance to issue commands.

During these two days, he did only one thing: fasting and bathing.

On the eve of Heaven Worship, the entire central army camp withdrew troops and marched toward Magic Capital Mountain.

As they approached the mountain's base, a scout suddenly reported: a barefoot Daoist calling himself Yu Yu blocked the road, seeking to see Chen Wuji.

Upon hearing this name, Chen Wuji rejoiced, immediately spurred his horse forward, and personally went to meet him.

Since learning that this person would come to Nanyue Commandery, he had long awaited it.

Not only because Yu Yu Daozhang, from a distant place, learned of his offspring worries and prepared to personally transmit a martial method, but more importantly, this is a true Daoist master who has attained the Dao.

After galloping several li, Chen Wuji finally saw a Qing-robed Daoist, holding a coiling dragon staff, with a satchel draped over his shoulder, standing by the roadside—Yu Yu Daozhang.

Compared to their last meeting a year ago, Yu Yu Daozhang shows no sign of aging; on the contrary, he appears even younger, his rosy complexion making Chen Wuji extremely envious.

"Daozhang, we have finally met!"

Chen Wuji dismounted, bowed his hands to Yu Yu Daozhang.

Yu Yu Daozhang smiled at the corners of his mouth, raised his hand to return the salute: "Old Dao has seen the Marquis; indeed, we have finally met!"