Chapter 563: Now we can form an alliance

Under Chen Wuji's enthusiastic training, Lu Ping'an finally collapsed and became honest.

The rough‑looking, stocky big man sat on the ground, feeling wronged to the point of being like a child.

"Lu Jinglve, you, you wouldn't be thinking of crying, would you?" Chen Wuji asked in shock.

Lu Ping'an jerked his head up: "Kill or cut, it's up to you—I have nothing to cry about."

After a simple bandage, his speech finally became somewhat normal—at least people could understand him.

"Not crying is good; don't be so pessimistic. Actually, as long as you cooperate a little, I might not even need your life. From now on, we might truly be able to talk about forming an alliance." Chen Wuji said.

Lu Ping'an's mouth twitched slightly—talking about an alliance now? Nobody would believe it!

Actually, he had almost just cried.

But a real man, if he cries, he cries—how could he say it out loud?

That's absolutely impossible!

Think of him, a dignified strategist from an aristocratic family, living a smooth life all his life—when had he ever faced such a scene? Back then he truly felt like collapsing, wanting to die and to cry.

Chen Wuji, this vulgar ruffian, truly lives up to his reputation—his methods are base, he stops at nothing; he deserves to be hacked to pieces.

Chen Wuji sat down on the wooden stool and said, "Lu Jinglve, before we discuss these matters, let's briefly talk about why you personally risked danger to assassinate me—how did you come up with such a daring plan?"

"There's an aide under my command named Qiu Yu; this idea was hers, I thought it worth a try and came!" Lu Ping'an leaned against the couch, his posture instantly becoming extremely relaxed and loose, looking more at ease than before.

"Qiu Yu? A woman?" Chen Wuji said, slightly surprised.

Lu Ping'an nodded, "Ah yes, that woman who was sitting in your arms earlier. Although she's a woman, she's extraordinarily talented and quick‑witted, so I overruled objections and let her join my staff as a council army officer."

"Why do I suddenly feel like I've seen this before?" Chen Wuji muttered to those nearby, "Go bring that woman over—actually, let Elder Eleven go himself, and bring her back after she speaks. Tonight I've seen too much bloodshed; I want to take it easy."

"Yes!"

Chen Li received the order and left.

Chen Wuji set the wine cup on the table, then brought over the copper tea heater and began slowly lighting it to boil water.

What comes next is more important—he can't drink any more wine, and he needs to clear his head, lest he come up with a foolish idea like Lu Ping'an's.

Lu Ping'an watched Chen Wuji do all this, his expression gradually turning strange.

This unscrupulous fellow's tastes are also a bit peculiar.

Such trifles are left to subordinates; when interrogating something this important, how could he waste time doing this?

"Qiu Yu gave you this idea, you agreed, but didn't you think this is my main camp?" Chen Wuji placed the tea heater on top, clapped his hands, and asked.

Lu Ping'an: ……

After a pause of nearly a quarter hour, he continued the question: "You damn well, do you have some problem?"

He really wanted to shout that, but… he didn't dare.

No matter who meets someone who talks like that, they'd probably have their mindset blown apart.

"I know, so I brought several hundred elite troops, intending to catch you off guard." Lu Ping'an said, "I never expected you to find out first; in your camp you held the advantage of ease over fatigue, I lost and am utterly convinced, with nothing left to say."

"But I'm certain that if you hadn't known all this beforehand, the victor sitting here today would definitely be me, not you Chen Wuji."

Chen Wuji nodded, "What you say makes perfect sense; I agree."

Arguing with him over a hypothetical is pointless.

Just give him a little face, reluctantly.

"I want to know who you've placed beside me," Lu Ping'an asked proactively.

Chen Wuji shook his head, "I can't tell you; telling you would affect my upcoming plans. I started from humble origins, grew up among the fields, and can't compare with you provincial governors—I can only devise some minor schemes to pave my way and lessen the gap between us."

Although he currently has no such arrangement, it doesn't stop him from saying that.

Who knows, maybe he could stir up an unexpected blessing!

"Since it would affect your plans, then I won't ask. Anyway, I'm just a prisoner of the steps now—knowing would only satisfy my curiosity; not knowing is fine too!" Lu Ping'an said casually.

Chen Wuji chuckled lightly, "You've been thinking quite openly lately."

"As a prisoner of the steps, even if I wanted to, I'm powerless." Lu Ping'an said, "Ask whatever you want; as victor and vanquished, I have no need to keep anything from you anymore."

"If what I say satisfies you somewhat, please spare my family's young one, give them a little care, and best of all let them move to Hezhou."

Chen Wuji added a few sticks of firewood to the tea heater, watching the flames lick up wildly around the ceramic teapot's base, "Your condition is indeed modest; I can tentatively agree, but ultimately it depends on what you can tell me—why did you set up two camps at Wenkou Town?"

"To guard against you and also against Yang Yu, the two camps support each other—it's a tactic," Lu Ping'an said.

He was being completely honest now, answering whatever was asked, his attitude extremely sincere, as if he truly accepted his powerless status as a prisoner of the steps.

Chen Wuji nodded, "Has Yang Yu truly defected?"

"I don't know, but there is indeed intelligence saying he has recently been in frequent contact with the Qiang people." Lu Ping'an shook his head.

"Contact is a fact; this isn't me making things up. But whether there's a possibility he defected to the Qiang, I don't know—I can't even guess. Yang Yu is a person whose thoughts are too deep, calculating ten steps ahead; it's hard to guess what he specifically intends to do."

Chen Wuji felt a slight stir in his heart.

Yang Yu's thoughts are deep; this matter is worth paying attention to.

"Why was Yang Yu demoted to San Guan Jun?" Chen Wuji asked in turn.

Speaking of this, Lu Ping'an suddenly laughed, "That bastard schemed against half the court, nearly getting Ruan Xiang killed by his own daughter's blade—how could he stay in the court? Sending him out to a locality is just to save the court's face; his real destination is actually death."

"Such a high official, with great influence among the scholar‑officials, can't just be killed outright; but those in the court probably never imagined he'd end up alive in San Guan Jun. Ruan Xiang's power is overwhelming, unobstructed—this is probably the worst setback of his life, his office and life nearly lost together."

Chen Wuji secretly marveled, what a fine fellow—turns out the honest man he thought was just an old silver coin. No wonder when they first met, Yang Yu had no guards at all and was alone when bandits robbed him.

Now we've found the source.

Obviously, his subordinates, while rushing to San Guan Jun, were all killed by people sent by Ruan Xiang.