Chapter 918

Chen Wuji's words instantly made Liu Yan's nerves tighten, "Commander Chen does not seek military merit, why do you keep thinking of my useless head? I alive is better for Commander Chen than dead; I don't know if Commander Chen can give me a chance?"

"Who says I don't want military merit? I am merely a Nan Jun Jiedu Guanchasi; the merit of suppressing the Court rebels, though not very useful to me, still exists; don't be overly self‑deprecating." Chen Wuji said with a light smile, "On the contrary, your being alive seems useless to me."

Liu Yan's expression froze instantly, and he almost wanted to curse his mother.

Do you want to hear if what you're saying is human talk?

A mere Southern Command Governor, if such a great frontier official still gets the prefix "mere", what am I then? A cricket or a grasshopper?

If it weren't that he dare not act rashly now, Liu Yan would really want to spit on Chen Wuji's face.

Shameless wretch!

"In front of a true person I don't lie; Commander Chen has no need to joke with me." Liu Yan forced a smile, squeezing out a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth.

"Although I, Liu Yan, am not much good, I can indeed offer Commander Chen some help; the court situation is turbulent and chaotic, and Yan Yan and Ruan Yuchang practically hold the top position."

"Although I am not talented, I have a good older sister who carries some weight beside Yan Yan, so I know quite a bit about some of Yan Yan's affairs; I don't know if Commander Chen can give me a chance?"

Chen Wuji showed a hint of surprise, "Are you trying to betray your brother‑in‑law? Isn't your speed a bit too fast?"

"Commander Chen, if this is delayed, I probably won't have a chance to survive." Liu Yan gave a wry, bitter smile, "Although I truly have no talent, I have always been decisive in picking sides, and I like to go all the way; in the court, those who sway with the wind suffer the most."

"When there is value, you need to win over this side and that side; but if there isn't much value, those who sit on the fence hoping to watch will always be the first to suffer."

Chen Wuji looked at him calmly, "You really do have plenty of experience, but I don't mingle in the court and am not interested in these matters. Since you speak so grandly, let me hear your terms."

"Exactly, judging by your current attitude, your words are already contradictory; going all the way is not your current style—you're a turncoat."

Liu Yan's expression became a little embarrassed, but the light and shadow in the woods were too dim; aside from the few great masters beside Chen Wuji, Chen Wuji didn't notice anything on his face.

"He who knows the times is a hero; when life is at stake, I must remake my choice." Liu Yan feigned candor, "Life is only one; if you're not careful, you really lose it; at other times you can go all the way, but now I have to adapt."

"I don't know what Commander wants, or what could be exchanged for my life?"

Chen Wuji snorted, "You're asking me?"

"... Yes!"

"Liu Yan, I don't think you're that foolish; how could you ask such a stupid question?" Chen Wuji chuckled, "If I say I want Yan Yan's Head Trophy in exchange for yours, can you give it to me now?"

Liu Yan was choked badly, his face flushed and neck thick, stammering, "Cannot!"

"Since you can't, stop farting and Shìhòu my bottom line—you have no qualification now." Chen Wuji snapped coldly, "Letting you spout nonsense, I've already been generous with face; from now on, my dealings with Yan Yan will be settled by fists; I'm not really interested in anything else. What do you think you can offer me? A defeated general—what can you produce?"

Liu Yan's reaction speed was also quite quick; he immediately said, "Commander Chen, please calm down; I really was muddle‑headed, I got used to saying these things, it's truly a habit, I meant no offense to Commander Chen."

"I don't know what Commander Chen wants, but I have a way to help Commander Chen take Yanzhou Cheng; besides, I know almost all of Yan Yan's affairs, big and small, and I'm also clear about most of the powers at court."

"This is all the sincerity I can muster now; I don't know what Commander thinks of it."

Upon hearing this, Chen Wuji finally showed a bit of interest.

"How will you take Yanzhou Cheng?" Chen Wuji asked.

As for other matters, whether he knows them or not makes no difference.

Knowing is best; not knowing is also fine.

Anyway, he and Yan Yan et al. will ultimately resort to force, deciding superiority on the battlefield; knowing that information can serve as a reference, not knowing it won't affect him much.

"I will feign defeat and return to the city, tricking Commander Chen into opening the gate!" Liu Yan said.

Chen Wuji sized up Liu Yan, snorted, "As far as I know, the Court Army's Bīngmǎ this southern expedition are of mixed quality; you fleeing back, are you sure you have that chance?"

"Yes!" Liu Yan's answer was decisive, full of confidence.

This instantly lifted Chen Wuji's spirits; this guy really doesn't seem to be talking nonsense.

"Speak!" Chen Wuji said in a low voice.

"Yan Yan has already planted people in the other two routes' Bīngmǎ; of course relying only on these people might hardly succeed, but there are also the Uyghur People—that is my greatest reliance!" Liu Yan said confidently.

Chen Wuji gave it some thought, hadn't opened his mouth yet, Liu Yan continued: "Yan Yan already knew that the Bīngmǎ dispatched this time had been infiltrated, almost turned into a sieve, but he didn't stop it, letting it come to Yan Zhou."

This is not easy to understand.

Chen Wuji also turned his head a little, then figured it out.

He didn't speak again, just calmly looked at Liu Yan, waiting for his continuation.

Liu Yan moved his sore wrist, then continued: "Before I set out, Yan Yan had already instructed me to act according to circumstances, eliminate dissidents, and fully control this Bīngmǎ."

"This is a 400,000‑strong great army; once he controls this Bīngmǎ, Yan Yan will occupy absolute initiative in the Court, rising from second to first; whether it's Ruan Yuchang or those princes, they'll have to consider their rear."

"Actually this Bīngmǎ isn't really coming to attack Commander Chen; defense is the main goal, next is using military might to control the various commanderies of Dayu South, responding to the Capital."

"That's also why, after the great army reached Yan Zhou, I quarrelled with them, led my own Bīngmǎ to break away from those people, and went alone into Shenxian Ling as the main reason."

"Originally my plan was solid; wait till they fight each other to a standstill, then I'd lead the Bīngmǎ back, take over that force. With the Uyghur People as an inside agent, plus my own 100,000‑strong troops, this should have been a sure thing—but who knew… this big mountain is so weird, once you're in you can't get out."

Chen Wuji narrowed his eyes, "How come I hear you as if you're hinting at me? Also, speak clearly—what is your reason for entering Shenxian Ling?"