Chapter 415

Chen Wuji almost felt disgusted.

But he had to admit that Lu Ping'an's move was played wickedly enough.

One thousand taels of silver, one thousand dan of spoiled grain that couldn't be eaten, and he became Lu Ping'an's soldier.

He simply slipped away as if flying.

The best part of Lu Ping'an's move is that there wasn't a single word, nor any envoy.

His people sent the grain to Yunan City, and without even meeting him face to face, they just ran off.

Even if Chen Wuji didn't want these money and grain, he still couldn't explain himself clearly, no matter how many mouths.

But Lu Ping'an could tell the world: Look, Chen Wuji is my soldier, his soldiers eat my grain, and I can even produce evidence.

「Has Lu Ping'an's envoy left? 」 Chen Wuji pinched his brow and asked.

「He hasn't left. 」 Chen Xingyuan said, 「He was detained by order of the Qin County Magistrate, who said he wanted to first ask the Family Head's opinion before deciding. 」.

Chen Wuji's expression suddenly brightened: 「Getting whipped… no, the Qin County Magistrate's consideration is still thorough; not leaving is good, not leaving is fine. 」.

「I'll write a letter later; you take it back and give it to Lu Ping'an's envoy, and also tattoo his face and cut his hair. 」.

「Yes! 」.

Chen Wuji almost thought that this mute would suffer a loss, but fortunately Qin Feng was thoughtful and kept the other side's envoy, making things much easier to handle.

Turning back to his room, Chen Wuji recalled Lu Binwang's proclamation, picked up his brush, pondered a moment, and began writing a letter to Lu Ping'an.

「The one who usurps the Nan Jun Lu clan is of discordant nature and lowly station; formerly he entered service by changing clothes, lingered in his later years, and defiled Lingnan…」.

Chen Wuji recited while writing, and before he knew it he had produced two bamboo slips.

For parts he couldn't remember, he just shoved his own words in; in short, it was all about cursing Lu Ping'an to death.

Although this is Lu Binwang's proclamation against Wu Zetian, it doesn't prevent Chen Wuji from using it against Lu Ping'an.

Anyway, once it's written out, however it's understood will be about Lu Ping'an and the current officials and scholars of the four Lingnan prefectures.

They could understand it as Chen Wuji cursing Lu Ping'an as a lowly person, or cursing him as effeminate.

After finishing the letter, Chen Wuji blew the ink dry, looked it over once more, confirmed there were no problems, wrapped the two bamboo slips in cloth, and handed them to Chen Xingyuan.

「After taking this letter back to the xianya, please have the Qin County Magistrate make several copies, affix the xianya's great seal, and send them to the remaining prefectures of Lingnan. 」 Chen Wuji instructed.

「Also, regarding that grain… forget it, keep the grain; spoiled grain is still grain—people can't eat it, but livestock can, so we shouldn't let this bargain go to waste. 」.

Chen Xingyuan smiled faintly, bowed his hands, and accepted the order.

After berating Lu Ping'an and thwarting his scheme, Chen Wuji was in high spirits, about to go to the Military Arsenal Workshop to have a look, when he just stepped out and bumped into the hurriedly coming Xu Zengyi.

「Commandant, I heard Lu Ping'an sent people with silver and grain? 」.

「It's true; I accepted the silver and grain, and since he went to all that trouble to send them, I couldn't possibly give them back. 」 Chen Wuji said.

Xu Zengyi's expression tightened: 「Commandant, you're confused—this bit of money and grain must not be accepted, it'll cause trouble. 」.

「I've written a letter to Lu Ping'an, which is also a proclamation, and I'll later have copies sent to all prefectures. 」 Chen Wuji said, 「The letter has already been taken by Chen Xingyuan; if you'd like, I can recite it briefly for you. 」.

As he spoke, Chen Wuji began to recite Lu Binwang's proclamation against Wu Zetian.

Of course, he added some revisions.

After listening, Xu Zengyi was silent for a while, merely staring intently at Chen Wuji.

「Don't stare at me like that—give me your opinion. Can this proclamation defuse Lu Ping'an's move? 」 Chen Wuji asked.

Xu Zengyi came to, bowed his hands, and said: 「Commandant, your family learning is truly admirable. 」.

Chen Wuji: ……

What does that family learning have to do with it?

He copied it.

Others who transmigrate all become copyists.

He, on the other hand, has memorized a ton of stuff but has nowhere to put it to use.

Rarely, he finally has a chance to use it—and it's to curse people.

「It can be solved! 」 Xu Zengyi said firmly.

「But once Lu Ping'an receives this proclamation, he'll likely be unable to resist moving troops. Nan Jun is too far from Yunan City; if nothing unexpected happens, he'll probably order Gu Wenjie of Hezhou, as well as the counties of San Yuan and Ning Yuan, to dispatch troops, and even the earliest ally of Lu Ping'an, Guangyuan Prefecture, will likely take corresponding action. 」.

Chen Wuji frowned slightly: 「So certain? 」.

Xu Zengyi gave a bitter smile: 「Commandant, this proclamation of yours will surely be unbearable for Lu Ping'an. If he could swallow this anger, his terror would exceed imagination and would certainly become the greatest stumbling block for your lord's use of troops in Nan Jun. 」.

「Hearing you say that, it looks like we need to prepare early. 」 Chen Wuji murmured.

「Yes. 」.

「Is my proclamation that harsh? 」.

「……」.

Xu Zengyi really wanted to ask: 「You wrote it yourself—don't you have any idea? 」.

This is more than just harsh.

Lu Ping'an is worse than pigs and dogs, arousing the wrath of both men and gods.

Moreover, the proclamation uses concise wording, is easy to chant, and will surely be beloved by those scholars.

Scholars under heaven are best at ruining a person's reputation.

With this proclamation as a foundation, scholars can freely elaborate: Lu Ping'an's entering service by changing clothes, lingering in his later years, defiling Lingnan, being jealous upon entry, and the name of 'covering sleeves, greedy for work' will surely resound throughout the world.

How could he not be anxious?

If it weren't for his lack of supernatural abilities, Xu Zengyi would suspect that Lu Ping'an, upon receiving this document, would want to personally brandish a knife and come kill him.

「Harsh is good; I was still afraid it wouldn't be harsh enough. 」 Chen Wuji nodded satisfactorily.

In that case, it's no wonder Wu Meiniang could become emperor.

She read this proclamation, recited it over and over, and whenever she met someone she praised Lu Binwang's writing as good.

"Hezhou, Three Origins, Peaceful Distance, and Broad Origin Prefecture are the places most likely to send troops. Broad Origin Prefecture is too far; our forces can't be dispatched, the whip is too short to reach. Three Origins and Peaceful Distance can widely send Scouts to monitor. As for Hezhou..." Chen Wuji muttered to himself, his eyes flashing with a dangerous light.

"As long as Gu Wenjie dares to act, the backup I prepared earlier can basically be used."

"However, I have a feeling that Gu Wenjie will Obey outwardly, betray inwardly Lu Ping'an's order this time; do you think it's possible?"

"Xu Zengyi nodded, 'Extremely likely.'"

"Gu Wenjie has just seized Hezhou; the situation is unstable, and neither Three Origins nor Peaceful Distance has any intention of submitting to him; he may prioritize quelling the turmoil in Hezhou."

"This proclamation from the Commandant could have the effect of killing two birds with one stone; if Gu Wenjie dares to Obey outwardly, betray inwardly, he'll become a mouse in a bellows, trapped on both sides, already imprisoning himself in Hezhou."