Chapter 856

Xu Zengyi's words were somewhat bewildering, but this time Yang Tiejiang promptly followed the line of thought.

"My lord, are you planning to personally lead the expedition?" he asked in surprise.

Chen Wuji looked astonished, "Old Yang, don't spout nonsense, what does it mean I personally lead the expedition? I don't even have a carriage."

"This is my humble opinion," Yang Tiejiang said seriously.

Chen Wuji remained silent.

That thick‑eyed, big‑eyed fellow is also starting to act strange.

I don't know who infected him.

"Although personally leading the expedition has nothing to do with me, for this battle it would be safer for me to personally command the troops, with Old Yang holding the fort here." Chen Wuji said, "You must not only guard my rear well, but also keep an eye on any movements from Yang Yu's side and respond promptly. Moreover, send people to scout the Mountain Middle Path between Chongyi Prefecture and Qingzhou."

"My lord, the Court Army surely wouldn't take the mountain plank road, would it? If the Bīngmǎ sent are too few, they'd be of little use; if too many, provisions would run short. The mountain plank road is narrow, supply wagons can't pass; only people carrying loads on donkeys or horses can manage."

"Just in case," Chen Wuji said.

"I now suspect Yang Yu has misjudged the strength of the Court Army; the commander leading this force is clearly no novice, and it's hard to say he won't dispatch a detachment of elite troops to circle around to our rear."

"We have used the Mountain Middle Path in Shenxian Ling before, and the Lang Wolf Qiang have used them too; that stretch of luxuriant mountains is naturally an ideal place to hide troops."

"Yes!" Yang Tiejiang said no more.

Xu Zengyi glanced at Yang Tiejiang with frustration, then advised Chen Wuji: "My lord, I think it would be safer for you to personally hold the rear, letting this blacksmith oversee the frontline troops."

"I understand what you mean, sir," Chen Wuji said with a faint smile, "but you seem to have overlooked something important: the Court Army is coming after me this time, so my personally leading the troops north would be an excellent bait."

"Our forces are only half of the Court Army's; attacking a fortified city with such weak strength offers little chance of victory, and even if we won, we would surely need countless soldiers' corpses to fill the gap. But if I personally lead the troops north, we could have a chance to lure the Court Army out of the city to fight."

"Although our army hasn't managed to catch that rabbit, we still must try to place the battlefield where it is more advantageous for us."

Once that reason was given, Xu Zengyi had nothing more to say.

This point was indeed overlooked by him.

"Just like that, pass the order down, repair the weapons, and mobilize the troops tomorrow!" Chen Wuji commanded.

"Yes!"

A moment later, Xu Zengyi asked again: "My lord, who should be sent to meet Yang Yu?"

"You handle the arrangements," Chen Wuji said casually, "since we and Lord Yang are no longer outsiders; just pick someone of similar standing."

"Yes!"

Chen Wuji left the Camp Tent and slowly ascended the entrance to Ancestral Spirit Mountain.

This is a very beautiful place.

It is also a good place to clear one's mind.

Verdant as far as the eye can see, the rolling hills' curves are soft and graceful, like a graceful woman whose figure explodes with beauty.

On these days when Chen Wuji has nothing to do, he goes to the mountaintop to sit and gaze at the vast mountains and rivers he himself has conquered.

No matter how much he looks, it's never enough.

It's not that he is emotionally attached to this place; it's purely the superficial beauty.

Kong Jianshi and Lu Daye followed closely behind him.

One walked with a floating step, as if not fully awake; the other hunched his back, shouldering a shovel with a bamboo basket dangling from its tip.

The two's unconventional behavior forms a stark contrast with Chen Wuji's stern black‑armored personal guard whose eyes are cold, making it look odd no matter how you view it—like a big shot who has gone to the countryside and brought along two farmers for a casual chat.

"Still no news of Snake Staff Old Man, that Lao Zamao?" Chen Wuji asked Kong Jianshi casually while watching Lu Daye digging herbs in the distance, puffing and panting.

This plain has many astragalus, saposhnikovia, and wolfsbane herbs, among others.

This elder now commands considerable respect in the army; at first he was just bored and dug some herbs, making medicine packets for the soldiers to soak their feet, a way to give himself something to do.

Later, people gradually came to him for medical help, and their numbers kept growing.

As a result, Lu Daye, who originally dug herbs out of boredom, is now almost taking over the army's medical duties, forcing him to spend time each day going into the mountains to search for herbs.

Kong Jianshi shook his head in shame, "The manpower of the Compassionate Relief Hall has all been deployed, but…… I'm ashamed, that person Snake Staff Old Man has vanished like smoke; so far we've found no trace."

"His connections in the Rivers and Lakes are very complicated…… I, your humble subordinate, am incapable!"

Kong Jianshi had wanted to explain further, but he stopped himself mid-sentence.

"Hurry up!" Chen Wuji said, "People leave a name behind, geese leave an echo when they pass; whatever has existed must leave traces. Don't make me doubt the strength of the Compassionate Relief Hall."

"... Yes!"

This matter has also recently made him extremely anxious.

In Nan Jun, the Compassionate Relief Hall is a legitimate, leading force among the Rivers and Lakes, its influence spreading in all directions, with personnel stationed in virtually every corner.

Yet after all this time, we still haven't found any trace of Snake Staff Old Man.

That person really seems to have completely vanished from the world.

To find him, Kong Jianshi has repeatedly applied pressure to his subordinates.

But he has continually seen no results.

Chen Wuji merely asked a simple question and then dropped the topic.

Even when the Compassionate Relief Hall took action, they still couldn't find any trace of Snake Staff Old Man; to be honest, he really was somewhat surprised.

But Snake Staff Old Man, that Lao Zamao, has already surprised him more than once, so this surprise isn't all that surprising.

He had long known the cunning of this old loach.

"Anything new happening in the Rivers and Lakes lately?" Chen Wuji said, sitting directly on the ground.

In the third month of summer, heaven and earth's energies mingle, and all things blossom and bear fruit.

On the plain, true clusters of blooming flowers have also arrived; one can sit down and be immersed in a sea of blossoms.

Kong Jianshi took a half step forward, bowed slightly, and said: "Recently the Rivers and Lakes in Nan Jun have been extremely peaceful; the various Rivers and Lakes forces seem to have accepted the rules set by the Young Shopkeeper, and are beginning to accept the government's restraints. Many Rivers and Lakes forces have actively sent their disciples to serve in the government offices, seeking a livelihood for them."

Chen Wuji nodded, "Change will surely bring growing pains; once those are over, they ought to thank me for choosing this path for them. Constant fighting and killing is not conducive to their transmission."

Before Chen Wuji raised his slaughter blade and charged into the Rivers and Lakes, the Rivers and Lakes of Nan Jun could basically be summed up in two sentences: the strong are revered, and when will the cycle of grudges end?

This stretch of the Rivers and Lakes is like the most primitive food chain, constantly repeating big fish eating small fish, small fish eating shrimp, with fighting, killing, and vengeance being an eternal topic.