Chapter 221: Women's Negotiations

Chen Bushi's answer was very dogmatic, as if this were an ironclad fact.

"Since you've dealt with them, you must know at least something about their situation, right?" Chen Wuji asked.

The Tianchi Guan Militia is a tough bone to crack; this is almost everyone's consensus.

But Chen Wuji still didn't want to give up.

He had clearly seen this southern wall built of silver; if he didn't go up and try to ram it, Chen Wuji wouldn't be reconciled.

Chen Bushi gave Chen Wuji a strange look and said, "You've picked a good one, but also one you're absolutely helpless against. I'm not deliberately pouring cold water on you; it's just that this Tianchi Guan Militia is unusually special and extremely exclusionary!"

"As provincial troops, yet extremely exclusionary—how can what you're saying be so unfamiliar?" Chen Wuji couldn't quite understand; provincial troops being exclusionary— isn't that just rebellion? By this point, the upper and lower levels of Nan Jun haven't uttered a word, just letting them be like that?

Chen Bushi snorted, "It's not anything else—these local officials are the ones who caused it."

These officials in Nan Jun have long been accustomed to using public equipment for private gain, often employing the provincial troops as their own private soldiers to do all kinds of dirty and hard work. Provincial troops, provincial troops—they still need to farm and survive, yet all day they're assigned only dirty and hard labor, without even a decent reward, forcing them to extort benefits from the common people. Over time, how could trouble not arise?

Some provincial troops quickly adapted to the Nan Jun officialdom's style, renting out their own fields to others to farm, then frenziedly gouging the common people for profit, acting like military bigwigs. But in the muddy ground, a clean stone or two always pops up— the Tianchi Guan Militia is just such a case.

Chen Wuji nodded, "That is, the Tianchi Guan Militia dislikes the officialdom's ways and has forcibly broken away. Now, although they are provincial troops, they're really more like an independent armed force stationed outside, aren't they?"

"Hmm." Chen Bushi looked at Chen Wuji with a half-smile, "You still dare to go?"

"I'm more concerned now whether the former brigade commander of this militia is still around," Chen Wuji asked.

"He's naturally still there, just not recognized by the court." Chen Bushi said, "The former brigade commander of the Tianchi Guan Militia, because he refused the magistrate's conscription, is suspected of rebellion and now appears on a sea‑capture warrant; I recall he's still quite valuable, with a bounty of about a hundred taels of silver."

Chen Wuji rubbed his face, "That really does sound difficult. But it makes sense—if this militia lacked a strong leader, it couldn't have reached its present state; a loose bunch of sand couldn't handle flies and scorpions, and might have long been devoured."

Chen Bushi asked with a light smile, "After hearing all this, do you still dare to go?"

"Go ahead, why not?" Chen Wuji said calmly, "Whether there are dates or not, you still have to hug two poles— you can't just give up after hearing their reputation."

Chen Bushi was somewhat surprised, "I know a soldier from the Tianchi Guan Militia; if you're determined, I'll bring you to meet him— that'll also let you lose heart."

"You have a wide circle of friends, huh— what's your relationship?" Chen Wuji wasn't surprised; instead, he guessed at the relationship between Chen Bushi and the Tianchi Guan Militia.

This old brat probably has some cooperation with the Tianchi Guan Militia.

"Just a few chance encounters." Chen Bushi said.

"No cooperation at all?"

Chen Bushi shook his head, "What cooperation could we have with them?"

Tianchi Guan's terrain is perilous, leaning on the ancient plank road, though I've heard it's also fallen into disuse. That means they now merely guard that pass and a few mu of thin fields in the mountains to scrape by; given their situation, setting aside other things, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and tea are necessities— someone has to bring them up the mountain. Chen Wuji muttered, rubbing his chin.

Chen Bushi laughed and scolded, "What are you muttering about? If I were cooperating with them, would I need to hide it from you?"

"Yes!" Chen Wuji said very firmly.

"What else have you hidden from me, you old brat? You still haven't told me what your arrangements in the mountains are, and you say it's unnecessary. I see your little scheming mind— it's all been used on me."

Chen Bushi's face flushed a little embarrassed, "This matter… it's not that I won't tell you, it's just that the timing hasn't come, the timing hasn't come."

If I told you, this matter would surely change— Chen Bushi muttered to himself.

Yet the reasons Chen Wuji gave were ones he couldn't refuse; they were thought out more carefully and were more advantageous.

Just in case, we'd better keep this under wraps.

The retreat route doesn't need to be wide; what matters is how stable it is.

But I really have no cooperation with the Tianchi Guan Militia— I've just seen them, we're acquainted. Chen Bushi said.

Chen Wuji waved his hand, "We'll go up the mountain the day after tomorrow."

I see that southern wall— you're bound to ram it, all right; I'll accompany you when the time comes. Chen Bushi said.

The Tianchi Guan Militia aren't a bunch of unreasonable people; he isn't worried about danger, it's just a futile effort.

Anyway, being idle is being idle.

Then you go on; I have something else to do shortly. Chen Wuji waved his hand and walked toward the gate.

Chen Bushi:???

You damn it!

……

A small courtyard, light and shadow tranquil.

By the stone table, four women sat quietly chatting.

The woman in red, gorgeous and flamboyant, like a rose in full bloom.

The woman in plain brown, graceful and generous, serene and dignified, like an orchid or cassia.

The young lady in cyan‑white narrow sleeves and pink‑white long dress is lively and clever, her eyes holding mischief like a restless little fox, corners of her mouth turned up, her gaze frequently glancing left and right.

Chen Wuji cautiously peeked at the doorway, and without realizing it, he stared blankly.

This peach‑blossom luck is definitely heaven's compensation for his miserable transmigration.

Pleasing to the eye!

Just this glance beats seeing a mountain full of flowers and butterflies dancing— it makes one's heart expand and spirit soothe.

They seem to be chatting quite well, with no whiff of gunpowder.

Chen Wuji's heart eased a little, and he stepped inside.

The old wooden door creaked softly, and the women by the stone table all turned to look.

Qin Zan Hong smiled at the corner of her mouth, "Husband, why aren't you hiding a bit longer? We haven't finished talking about this yet."

What am I hiding from? You're chatting, I have nothing to hide— there really is business. Chen Wuji defended himself, actually having been misunderstood as hiding; is he really that timid?

Everything's settled; whether they want to kill or chop him, he has to stand firm.

Hiding— absolutely impossible!

Then I don't know what this so‑called important matter of yours is, husband— surely there's nothing you can't say?" Qin Zan Hong laughed like a fox, brows slightly raised, eyes glittering with teasing.

Chen Wuji glanced at Xue Hongdou, who wasn't seated but stood to one side, and said, "What's there to hide? I've chosen the Tianchi Guan Militia, preparing to visit my troops over the next two days, I consulted San Shu about the situation to rule out any danger to my life. This is proper business, right?"

Eh, that's true—I thought you were hiding because you feared we'd fight." Qin Zan Hong covered her mouth and laughed lightly, "But why did you choose the Tianchi Guan Militia, husband? You probably can't get a single one of those troops into your hands."

【61】

【62】 You probably can't get a single one of those troops into your hands.