Chapter 565

Seeing her like this, Chen Wuji already knew.

As expected.

That old ghost again!

What the hell is this old thing up to?

He's like a ghost, his shadow is everywhere!

Besides, the people he teaches are mysterious, but their attitude isn't good; he only tricked them a little and they already show so many tells?

As a qualified spy, shouldn't one have a heart as solid as rock, able to remain unmoved even under blades and axes?

It's just a name, yet it gave her away.

This is rather too clumsy.

Based on Qiuyu's reaction just now, not to mention Chen Wuji, who specializes in watching people's little moves to gauge their inner thoughts, even an ordinary person could probably tell something was off.

"You won't admit it?" Chen Wuji chuckled.

"It's fine if you don't admit it; you say it's a coincidence, I happen to have a method to verify your identities—one test and it's certain."

"I'll give you some time to think; you can speak for yourself—I can spare your life for your beauty's sake and give you a home, but I myself will investigate, and the ten clans will all die!"

"By the way, a reminder: even if you're an orphan, I'll try to find your family and friends. I like to pile up the capital view, and I think everyone in Nan Jun should know about it."

Qiuyu's Adam's apple twitched slightly, but she kept her head down and made no other movement.

Chen Wuji wasn't in a hurry either, just sipping his tea leisurely.

"I don't know what General Chen is talking about; if General Chen doubts my identity, you can send people to investigate or use the method you just mentioned to test me." Qiuyu's expression suddenly became firm, and she said this very confidently.

Chen Wuji gave a slight nod, "Good, actually I like your kind of stubbornness."

"Only a tough bone offers a bit of challenge; if I just said a couple of sentences and you backed down, it wouldn't be interesting."

Lu Ping'an, who was watching the show, suddenly lifted his head, wondering if that remark was aimed at him.

But after thinking it over, Lu Ping'an relaxed again, feeling his situation shouldn't be counted among those.

Strictly speaking, his situation is that of a victor and a vanquished rebel—what's there to talk about soft or hard?

"Eleven Uncle!" Chen Wuji called Chen Li over and whispered some instructions in his ear.

Chen Li nodded solemnly.

He then took people and led Qiuyu away.

Not long after, Chen Ruoshui walked in, "Commander!"

"Have you seen her?" Chen Wuji asked.

Chen Ruoshui shook her head, "If that woman just now is connected to the Snake Staff Old Man, she should be part of that more mysterious group; I've only seen a few of them before, and she isn't one of them."

After taking command of the Sinrong Army, Chen Ruoshui lost much of her fierce, heroic aura and gained some sharpness.

Now she looks more like a woman than before.

"Alright, I got it. Go down and cooperate with Chen Li!" Chen Wuji ordered.

"Yes!"

Seeing that Chen Wuji had finished handling things here, Lu Ping'an then asked with a bit of strangeness, "General Chen, who exactly is that Snake Staff Old Man you just mentioned?"

"Gu Wenjie has an unnamed old man by his side who always likes to carry a snake staff; his nickname is Snake Staff Old Man, and he can be considered Gu Wenjie's military advisor." Chen Wuji didn't hide this from Lu Ping'an, stating the facts openly; they are no longer enemies, so they can speak candidly.

"This Snake Staff Old Man is quite mysterious; he has been secretly laying out plans throughout Nan Jun, and no one knows his true purpose, but his people are everywhere."

Lu Ping'an was quite puzzled, "Gu Wenjie's military advisor, does he have such great ambition?"

"Ambition isn't necessarily greater just because one holds a higher position; Gu Wenjie showed extremely strong ambition when he raised troops from Yunan, and from the start he didn't aim for Yunan—his eyes were fixed on Hezhou." Chen Wuji stood up and refilled Lu Ping'an's tea.

"And after occupying Hezhou, what he might want is Nan Jun; I just got lucky and won, letting him accidentally become a fleeing dog."

Lu Ping'an shook his head, "General Chen, you misunderstood my meaning; after taking Hezhou, eyeing the whole Nan Jun is only natural. What I find strange is that he could lay out plans for Nan Jun even when he was insignificant—doing so seems pointless."

"There are plenty of such people in the world." Chen Wuji said.

"He just doesn't have that ability; if he had such strength earlier, he would surely have done the same."

"Information is just as important as a battlefield of real swords and spears."

"It's surprising that Lu Ping'an could ask such a question, which actually makes Chen Wuji a bit astonished."

"As the Lord of Nan Jun, his insight seems a bit lacking."

"He just said he had an epiphany, but looking at this situation, it seems he didn't grasp anything."

Lu Ping'an sipped his tea, remained silent for a while, then sighed, "I really have broadened my horizons today, and I suddenly realized that someone like me is not worthy of rebelling; I actually raised the rebel flag high, hoping to command all the feudal lords to follow."

"What brings you to say that, Lu Jinglve?" Chen Wuji asked.

"He seems to have really been reflecting all along."

Lu Ping'an said, "Heroes of the world are like carp crossing the river, while I am more like a loach, hiding in my own little hole, thinking highly of myself... never mind, let's not say it."

He took a sip of tea, adjusted his emotions, and said, "I've thought carefully: among the generals of Nan Jun, who is truly my direct line? It seems only Lü Ji!"

"Besides that, the others all have the suspicion of obeying outwardly while betraying inwardly, and many even seem to be taking my silver to secretly expand their own strength."

This remark made Chen Wuji think seriously for a few moments.

Listening, it seems fine, but at first glance something feels off.

Upon further thought, Chen Wuji even began to suspect that Lu Ping'an was lying.

"His subordinates, and he's using words like 'seems' and 'suspect' here?"

"He doesn't seem to have many commanders under him, does he?"

"And yet he can't figure this out?!"

"Lu Jinglve isn't sure either?" Chen Wuji asked in disbelief.

Lu Ping'an shook his head, "I have seven commanders under me; four are in Qingzhou, and the rest are stationed elsewhere overseeing various provinces. Although they all appear extremely loyal when facing me, upon careful thought I've noticed many things I never paid attention to before."

"Why don't I just give a simple example? General Chen, please weigh it for me."

Chen Wuji nodded, "Lu Jinglve, please speak."

My wife has a nephew named Shi Dao. He was originally an idle loafer, spending his days flying hawks and running dogs. When I served as Strategist, my wife repeatedly begged me, and I grew tired of her pleas, so I arranged for him to become a Negotiation Colonel in Guangtong Prefecture. Lu Ping'an said while thinking.

After I raised the rebel flag, Shi Dao was the first to respond; immediately he began asking me for money and grain to raise Bīngmǎ. In total he has taken nearly six hundred thousand taels of Silver; as for the exact amount of grain, I have forgotten, but when I ordered him to attack Dingzhou, he kept making excuses.