Chapter 680: The Strange Family

Upon hearing that, Chen Wuji carefully recalled the map of Dingzhou in his mind, and thus formed a rough judgment about the location of Yingzui Ridge.

Dingzhou borders Yushan Prefecture and Zhongqiang Land; the boundaries of these three territories interlock like interlocking teeth, a description that could not be more apt.

These interlocking traces were all earned through countless ancient skirmishes.

And Dingzhou's so-called westernmost point, in shape, resembles a fist smashing into Qiang Land, with Yingzui Ridge likely lying on the side facing the Qiang people.

"You specifically mentioned this Lu clan—does it have any special qualities?" Chen Wuji asked.

In Nan Jun, farming-and-reading families and those who avoid officialdom are not considered special; indeed, they are quite common.

Because of certain special pasts, Nan Jun has many such families.

Those exiled official families, though exile does not cut off their descendants' path of study, mostly refuse to let their offspring enter officialdom; aside from the imperial examinations that restrict status, they are unwilling even to serve as clerks in the county office.

What they more commonly do is have their children engage in commerce or become private tutors, accountants, and the like.

Lu Chuan said, "My lord, this family has no outstanding peculiarities, yet precisely because of that I find them somewhat special."

Lu Family Town borders Qiang Land; logically, when the Qiang people invade, they should be the first affected. Yet according to my subordinates' information, they have remained safe these years, and they have not chosen to collude with the Qiang—at most they merely do some business with them.

Chen Wuji looked down at Lu Chuan from above and said, "Can this still not be considered collusion?"

"My lord, it indeed could be counted as such, but according to the reports summed up by my subordinates, I always feel it's not quite like that. On the contrary… how to put it? I'm momentarily unable to articulate it clearly—it's as if… there's a hint that the Qiang people are wary of them, yet I dare not jump to conclusions." Lu Chuan, usually clear‑minded and orderly, suddenly stumbled; he had a vague feeling but could not put it into words.

Saying that felt just as awkward as his attitude toward the Lu family.

When he received the subordinates' report, he looked over its contents repeatedly under the lamp, countless times.

The more he looked, the more awkward it felt; in the end he couldn't even tell which direction to think in order to make sense of it.

Chen Wuji frowned slightly, "Qiang people? Wary of a farming-and-reading household, a small village with few people?"

"Yes… I do have that feeling, but I really can't be certain, and I dare not draw a conclusion," Lu Chuan said.

Chen Wuji suddenly thought of Zhang Lao and the Ciji Studio.

Do they have any special qualities? Indeed, they might.

It is merely an ordinary‑looking pharmacy and an unremarkable old man, yet they have made the Snake Staff Elder eternally wary.

Even when he once led thousands of troops, stirring up blood and wind in the surrounding areas, he dared not charge into Hezhou City to cause trouble.

These two, in an intangible way, seem to share some similarities.

Chen Wuji let out a light laugh, "That actually sounds interesting. The fierce, lawless Qiang people would actually be wary of a small border village—since you have that feeling, go investigate thoroughly and see what special qualities Lu Family Town truly possesses."

"Yes!"

"Be careful; if your feeling is correct, this seemingly peaceful village is surely a ferocious beast wearing a benevolent mask. Those who like to wear masks usually devour people without spitting out bones, so without a foolproof plan, do not act rashly." Chen Wuji added a word of caution.

Lu Chuan abruptly raised his head, quickly glanced at Chen Wuji, and in a solemn voice accepted the order, "Yes!"

He suddenly… felt moved.

In his heart instantly arose a strong feeling of having encountered a wise lord.

Lu Chuan has always been clear‑minded about himself, so he also knows what he looks like in Chen Wuji's eyes.

He and his father had once been opponents of Chen Wuji, and even earlier there had already been grudges between him and Chen Wuji.

These two facts overlapping, the best choice for him and his father would be to hang themselves.

By ordinary standards, there ought to be no second road left to take.

But Chen Wuji not only did not take their lives, he instead gave important responsibilities to that useless father of his.

It is precisely because of this that he came to make a daring gamble, rushing to the front lines to see Chen Wuji.

Actually, on the way here he wavered countless times.

This is a life‑or‑death gamble.

Even he himself felt surprised that Chen Wuji could agree so readily.

Former enemies—if you don't kill them, that's one thing; how could you possibly reuse them so easily?

Yet Chen Wuji did employ them.

Not only did he employ him, he also gave him considerable authority, and now he even soothes and cautions him thus…

Lu Chuan suddenly felt his eyes were a bit uncomfortable.

He bowed deeply, performed a long salute, and said, "Lu Chuan will surely not betray my lord's trust."

"Go ahead; you have discretionary authority in this matter, and I will order Chen Baojia to cooperate with you."

"Yes!"

……

In the few days before the army set out, Chen Wuji remained stationed in the camp.

Because earlier he had just ordered the soldiers to take turns resting at home, some of those living nearby returned home, so the army could not be fully mobilized for a while; Chen Wuji therefore had each unit take turns rotating, letting those with fewer shortages wait and those with more shortages march first to Songzhou.

Where the resting soldiers were too few, they came back in scattered groups and could not find where their own units had gone.

Where shortages were greater, however, they could gather together and rejoin the ranks a bit later.

The first to set out was the righteous army under Hu Bu Gui.

His forces consisted entirely of Qingzhou conscripts, almost all Qingzhou troops, with hardly any from other prefectures.

The soldiers taking turns to rest merely went nearby to spend the cash in their pockets, and upon receiving orders they quickly returned to full strength.

Currently still stationed in the camp are the units of Lü Ji and Xie Fengxian.

Under their command the troops are fairly mixed—Qingzhou, Dingzhou, and Guangtongzhou soldiers all present; after a rest they scatter everywhere, so they can only wait temporarily.

At dusk, Chen Wuji returned to the temporary residence with a face noticeably darkened by several degrees of sun.

These few days, in the camp he was not merely looking around here and there as a passive observer; instead he trained alongside the soldiers, with every drill taking the lead.

These few days he was in the army Lìng, not just strolling around here and there as a pure spectator, but training together with the soldiers, and in every drill he charged to the front.

Chen Wuyi suddenly stepped forward, his face full of vigilance, blocking Chen Wuji's path, while the rest of the Chen clan personal guard instantly formed a defensive stance, ready for battle.

Chen Wuyi suddenly, face full of vigilance, stepped sideways to stand before Chen Wuji, while the rest of the Chen Clan Personal Guard instantly deployed their defensive formation, standing ready.

"What person? Come down!" Chen Li holding a knife shouted violently.

Chen Wuji looked up in surprise, only to see on the ginkgo tree in the courtyard a girl in a water‑blue dress, both hands gripping the branches, peering out at the bird's nest wedged between them.

That was a nest of magpies; Chen Wuji had practically watched them grow up.

Under the ginkgo tree is where Chen Wuji spends the whole day drinking tea, resting, and basking in the sun.

Just by looking up, one can see this magpie's nest.