Chapter 781: One Basket Short

Under Chen Wuji's persuasion, Xiao Zong left.

He really needed to rest a bit.

He had been working nonstop for several days; during these days, how much he had slept was unclear even to himself.

It seemed like day and night had no difference, just one had light and the other didn't.

His body and mind had grown stiff over these days; all that remained was his obsession with figuring out that thing.

Xiao Zong had always been someone who refused to accept defeat; he never voluntarily admitted his own failure.

This time was no different.

He could clearly feel that as long as that step was right, this matter would succeed.

It will definitely succeed!

But what exactly that step was, he couldn't figure out, really couldn't.

This wasn't his incompetence, nor a failure, just temporary.

Just that step.

After Zhang Xiuer saw Xiao Zong leave, she then said in a low voice with some surprise: "Wuji brother, I never knew the Xiao family head was such a person; it's really surprising."

The Xiao and Zhang families had once both been aristocratic clans of Hezhou; they knew something about the Xiao family's Zhang Xiuer, and were quite familiar with Xiao Zong.

"He's always been like that." Chen Wuji poured himself a cup of hot tea.

He needed to calm down and thoroughly think through the entire process of making soap.

He trusted Xiao Zong's judgment; since he said it was merely one of the steps, he should put more effort into that step.

Seeing Chen Wuji a bit absent-minded, Zhang Xiuer leaned in and softly asked: "Wuji brother, if you have any difficulties, feel free to speak up; perhaps I can also offer some small suggestions. More minds think better than one racking their brains alone."

Chen Wuji shook his head: "This matter, others really can't help with."

Even if Zhang Xiuer could really help, he didn't want to speak of this matter.

Soap is a necessity.

Once accepted by people, it is destined to enter thousands of households.

Once this step is reached, it is undoubtedly a money‑making tree, a hen that lays golden eggs.

Zhang Xiuer's identity is doubtful; it's better for her to know less about these matters.

Zhang Xiuer looked somewhat dejected and softly said: "Wuji brother, do you not trust me?"

"What nonsense are you talking? You're sitting in my study; all military affairs are in this room. If I didn't trust you, how could I let you in here?" Chen Wuji said.

"Just talking about business with you would be useless; the matters involved here cannot be figured out by mere speculation. Just sit calmly."

Zhang Xiuer gave a soft "oh", the corner of her mouth still slightly pouting.

Chen Wuji no longer paid attention to her, calmly beginning to think about the soap matter, pulling the silk from the cocoon in his memory.

He had seen these things more than once; logically, he should retain some impression.

Having lived two lives, many past things have become blurred; Chen Wuji needed to test his memory well.

"Step..."

He murmured softly, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the two mother coins beside him.

These were copper coins from before, also qualifiable as antiques.

Chen Wuji thought the two-zhu coins were of decent quality, so he held them as a trinket, playing with them idly when bored.

Seeing this, Zhang Xiuer didn't disturb further, pulled a book from the shelf and casually began to read.

The afternoon sun was very quiet; the study was also quiet, only the sound of Zhang Xiuer flipping bamboo slips.

If not for the dark armor of the gate guards reflecting a stern light, this would surely be a very tranquil and happy scene.

Unfortunately, no matter how beautiful such a scene is, it cannot reflect a person's complex inner heart.

A scout, covered in dust, hurriedly rushed around from the winding stone bridge.

Chen Li glanced at it, stepped forward proactively, and said, "What's the matter?"

"Reporting, General, the battle report from Songzhou!"

Chen Li reached out, "Give it to me, my lord is occupied at the moment."

"Here!"

The scout responded, taking the urgent battle report he carried close to his person from his bosom.

"Whose memorial is that?" a voice suddenly sounded from behind.

Seeing this, the scout hurriedly bowed, "Greetings, my lord, an urgent memorial from Songzhou!"

Chen Li immediately handed over the memorial brought by the scout.

"Hu Bu Gui's memorial? Has something unexpected happened in the war?" Chen Wuji asked.

The scout replied, "Reporting, my lord, indeed some unexpected things occurred, but General Hu has already resolved them."

Chen Wuji casually opened the memorial, meanwhile asking, "What unexpected things occurred?"

"Jianghu persons intended to assassinate the general and obstruct our army, but the general has already slain them!" the scout said.

Chen Wuji gave a faint hum, then picked up the memorial to read.

Hu Bu Gui wrote the memorial in great detail.

He detailed the specifics of his pursuit of Yu Ren's forces, including the assassinations attempted by Jianghu persons against him, each item well‑ordered and reasonable.

This memorial of his should be shown to Qian Fugui, that little calf.

Let's see what nonsense he wrote, and how someone with a proper academic background writes a memorial.

"Was Yu Ren rescued by Jianghu persons?" Chen Wuji raised his eyebrows sharply.

The scout's face instantly showed a hint of panic: "... yes."

"The place where Yu Ren was detained was originally heavily guarded, but they used a feint‑attack tactic: first a large group of Jianghu persons charged Hu General's central army camp, intending to assassinate him; then they set fire to our army's grain supplies, causing great chaos in the ranks, and taking advantage of the turmoil they abducted Yu Ren and the Snake Staff Elder."

Chen Wuji couldn't help feeling somewhat regretful.

The war had already ended; Yu Ren, the Snake Staff Elder, and Gu Wenjie etc., all the leaders and the brains were captured, which could be called a great victory, but such a sure‑win situation was actually stirred up by the Jianghu Person.

In the Daying of a force of over ten thousand troops, they actually openly abducted people.

"So, General Hu only left a few rebel commanders?" Chen Wuji asked.

The scout, neck strained, said with difficulty: "My lord, actually… only Gu Wenjie was left; the rest of the captured commanders were all rescued by that group of Jianghu Person."

"General Hu also found this puzzling; he didn't understand why they rescued everyone else but left only Gu Wenjie. At first, General Hu thought they kept Gu Wenjie to deliver a message, but after interrogation, Gu Wenjie said nothing useful."

"However, General Hu has already dispatched Bīngmǎ to pursue them; perhaps he can recapture Yu Ren and the others."

Chen Wuji waved his hand, "No need to tell me about things that haven't been done yet."

"……" the scout's expression tightened, and he quickly replied.

"Go rest."

"Yes!"

The scout quietly let out a breath.

Although the abduction of the prisoners had nothing to do with him, facing Chen Wuji's questioning, he still inevitably felt nervous, afraid he would become the innocent victim implicated.

"What do you think, Shi Yi Shu?" Chen Wuji asked.

Chen Li deliberately shifted half a step to follow Chen Wuji, "The Jianghu Person probably only intended to rescue the Snake Staff Elder; Yu Ren and those commanders under him might have just been brought along incidentally."