Chapter 443

Some things that are hard to understand can be feigned ignorance, letting time slowly dispel them.

But some things, if not understood, disaster may strike in an instant.

Chen Wuji and Qin Zhanhong Cai Ji pecked at each other; after a bout of aimless pondering, they failed to grasp the point, and instead both got worked up from the thinking, so they had to fiercely fight in bed before it was eased.

Just after putting on his clothes, Chen Wuji hastily wrote a letter to Xu Zengyi and sent someone to deliver it to Ningyuan County.

Comrade Lao Xu has been extremely busy lately, like a firefighter, rushing around the five counties of Hezhou.

Two days later, Chen Wuji didn't receive Xu Zengyi's letter, but Xu Zengyi himself showed up.

At that time, Chen Wuji was hunched over the sand table, pondering the impact of Guangyuan Prefecture and Hezhou on the overall situation against the Qiang People, as well as the possibility of small Qiang tribes invading Hezhou and Guangyuan.

Although he couldn't figure it out, he kept thinking.

He racked his brains, thinking roundaboutly, probing every possibility.

Xu Zengyi entered the door covered in dust, slammed the thing he was carrying onto the ground with a bang, and bowed to Chen Wuji, saying, "My lord, I'm back."

Chen Wuji immediately stepped forward, took his hand, seated him in a chair, and poured him the tea that had just been boiled, which was just right to drink now, saying, "Just write a letter back; why did you have to rush back yourself? Have you settled the affairs in Ningyuan?"

Xu Zengyi felt honored and startled, saying, "My lord, the way you poured this tea makes me feel as if I'm sitting on pins and needles."

"Where are the needles? You seem quite unsettled!" Chen Wuji laughed.

Xu Zengyi chuckled and said, "This matter is of great importance; merely writing a letter back might not make it clear, so I needed to tell you in person, my lord."

"Everything in Ningyuan is more or less settled; Qian Fugui up front has gone completely berserk. Ningyuan is mountainous, with many mountain bandits, and this lad has gone days without sheathing his blade. By the time I returned, many mountain strongholds had their bandits frightened into submission, coming down the mountains to surrender."

"The upcoming matters should be fine even without my assistance."

Chen Wuji nodded, saying, "Qian Fugui is originally a suave young master from a wealthy family; when he dresses in those fine clothes, you really can't tell he has a bloodthirsty nature. Fortunately, he still has some restraint, not acting recklessly; otherwise I'd truly have to worry."

"No matter how much skill Qian Fugui has, his momentum when charging into battle is like blazing flames soaring to the sky, like a rainbow-piercing long rainbow; even Yang Tiejiang can't help but admire it."

"That reckless formation frightens not only the enemy but also our own side."

"What do you think of what's happened in Guangyuan Prefecture and Hezhou?" After just a few casual words, Chen Wuji got straight to the point.

"This matter has tormented him for three days; if he doesn't figure something out soon, he'll go crazy."

Xu Zengyi said in a low voice, "I suspect it's the work of people from the Rivers and Lakes."

"Not the Qiang People?" Chen Wuji asked.

"It's not likely the Qiang People."

"Any evidence?"

Xu Zengyi said slowly, "After learning of this, I also gave it considerable thought, repeatedly considering the Qiang People. They certainly have motive to do this, but after thinking it over I still ruled them out."

"The Qiang People are currently waging war in San Guan Jun; they try to seize Guangyuan Prefecture and then open another front, which is indeed possible. But, my lord, have you considered that the Qiang People merely kill, and would struggle to achieve the goal of taking Guangyuan Prefecture?"

"Guangyuan Prefecture is presently mired in chaotic civil war; if the Qiang People acted, such a thing shouldn't happen—Guangyuan Prefecture should already have been lost for that to be appropriate."

Chen Wuji nodded.

"That point, indeed, was something he overlooked."

Xu Zengyi continued, "Over the years the Qiang People have been influenced by our Dayu Civilization and have grown smarter. If they really were behind this, besides their assassination plot they would surely prop up a puppet to swiftly seize Guangyuan Prefecture—that would be the most fitting and swift tactic."

"Moreover, this tactic is so simple that almost anyone could think of it."

Chen Wuji was momentarily speechless, then said, "Alright, I hear you—I'm not just an ordinary person."

"My lord is wise; you surely know I didn't mean that. You just didn't think of it—one could say you momentarily went astray, thinking off-target." Xu Zengyi said with a chuckle.

"Jokes aside, Chen Wuji indeed overlooked that point."

"It's not that he couldn't think of it; he simply thought wrong."

"In that case, we can indeed rule out the Qiang People's involvement." Chen Wuji paced slowly in the hall, his bewilderment deepening, "But why would Rivers and Lakes people kill so many prominent figures in both Guangyuan and Hezhou? There's simply no reason for that!"

"Perhaps they are righteous Rivers and Lakes heroes." Xu Zengyi said.

"In every Year of Great Chaos, the Rivers and Lakes necessarily produces righteous heroes who slay the wicked and save the nation from peril."

"Guangyuan Prefecture and Hezhou's Gu Wenjie are both lackeys of Lu Ping'an; having Rivers and Lakes heroes kill them to cut off Lu Ping'an's arms is highly plausible. Moreover, aside from the Qiang People, there is no other possible motive."

He smiled, then added, "However, from Lu Ping'an's perspective, he would likely think it was my lord who did it."

"Carrying this blame doesn't matter to me, but the question is why the officials and notables of Guangyuan Prefecture are nearly wiped out, yet Gu Wenjie and the Snake Staff Old Man were left alive—could it be because these two are simply too hard to kill?" Chen Wuji murmured.

Xu Zengyi expressed agreement, "That should be the case."

"The Snake Staff Old Man is naturally adept at such matters, keeping many spies and assassins around; he enjoys these sneaky, harmful schemes, so he would naturally guard against this."

Chen Wuji then thought it over thoroughly and accepted Xu Zengyi's view.

His brain, which had been tormented madly for three days, instantly felt much lighter.

This bout of nitpicking he'd gotten himself into could almost be described as foolish.

"But Chen Wuji allows himself to not think of it; even a wise man's thousand considerations may have one oversight—what does this amount to for him?"

He lifted the boiling tea from the small earthen stove, poured himself a cup, and said in a relaxed tone, "Old Xu, in that case, can we move troops against Guangyuan Prefecture?"

"I rushed here; the second matter I wanted to discuss with my lord is this!" Xu Zengyi said.

"While he's ill, we should send people to talk with those colonels who are each fighting separately in Guangyuan and Zheng, to plot a bloodless capture of Guangyuan."

"Hearing this, Chen Wuji felt a bit unsure: 'With our meager resources, can we persuade others to defect?'"

Xu Zengyi gave a strange smile, "My lord, haven't you forgotten that you are the Negotiation Colonel personally appointed by His Majesty the Emperor? With the Imperial City Department assisting us, doing this in our own name is indeed difficult, but under the court's name the chances of success would be very high."

Chen Wuji stared.

Damn!

Lately I've been thinking of myself as a rebel, so I forgot about this matter.

Hiss…

No, his brain lately seems somewhat unusually inadequate.

Could it be that the fierce fighting in bed damaged his brain?