Chapter 214: Shenyi Gu

Shenyi Gu is located to the southeast of Xinzhou.

The main road had been cleared, the group's pace was neither fast nor slow, and they encountered no crises along the way.

There were only so many people going to Shenyi Gu for advanced study this year, so everyone quickly figured out each other's identities.

When the group rested, everyone would also step off their carriages to chat for a while.

Knowing that this "Young Master Rong" came from the Rong Family of Xinzhou, the others gradually kept some distance from him.

People from the Rong Family of Xinzhou are not to be trifled with, and they are not very particular about things.

It is not to say that their etiquette is necessarily poor, but rather, when the Rong family does things, it might not align with traditional preferences.

Wen Gu did not crowd in to chat with them either; he had his own matters to attend to.

When the group rested and the carriages stopped, it was more convenient to write letters. Taking advantage of this time, Wen Gu would process some documents and letters.

It was just a business trip, and it wouldn't hinder "grading homework"!

During this period, besides the major investigation conducted in Xinzhou due to the "assassination attempt," the city also used this incident to intensify the impact on the salt industry in Jizhou. With the core business under attack, there was no need to draw a blade; things there would naturally fall into chaos.

With the Bai Family leading the way, there would be more merchants taking advantage of the chaos to flee.

The more they fled, the more chaotic it became; the more chaotic it became, the more they fled.

Taking advantage of the internal chaos in Jizhou, with the Bai Family leading the way, it would not be easy for others to notice the Patrol Guard Division raiding several secret warehouses near Jizhou.

Having finished writing another letter and placing it in a wooden box, Wen Gu looked outside the carriage to relax his eyes and also listened to the discussions of others nearby.

Outside, they were talking about the changes in the candidates for advanced study.

The final list of the group originally planning to go to Shenyi Gu this year had changed significantly.

Previously, there were several people with good talent who had intended to go to Shenyi Gu for a year or two of advanced study. But following Wen Gu's assassination attempt, the city-wide cleanup, and even the Xinzhou-wide investigation, some good positions had opened up. Naturally, they had to rush to seize them!

If one could occupy a good position, there was no need to waste those one or two years at Shenyi Gu.

With one Wen Gu having fallen, everyone wanted to become the second Wen Gu!

Seizing the opportunity to display one's talent—that was what was important!

If one were to waste a year or two at Shenyi Gu and return, by then Wen Gu would have recovered from his injuries, and it would be even harder for others to get ahead!

Therefore, half of the people in the current group were those who hadn't managed to grab a position and could only go to Shenyi Gu for advanced study. The other half were genuinely interested in medical skills and wanted to go learn the craft. "The opportunity has been given; whether they can seize it depends entirely on themselves," Wen Gu sighed in a low voice.

Whether they stayed in Xinzhou or went to Shenyi Gu for advanced study, they actually all had great opportunities; it just depended on whether these people could seize the chance to display their talents. Wen Gu was still very much looking forward to them shining brighter.

It was cold and they had to hurry; the further they went, the more exhausted they became, so even during rest periods, most of these students stayed in their carriages. If one's constitution wasn't strong enough, one shouldn't run outside; getting sick would be troublesome. The further they traveled southeast, the less the wind carried the biting chill of Beidi, bringing instead a hint of damp cold.

A burst of discussion came from the front of the group, and Rong Yi, who was driving the carriage outside, called out softly: "Master!"

Wen Gu lifted the carriage curtain and looked over.

Ahead, mountain ranges rose, with peaks and valleys interlaced.

Yuzhou had arrived!

The mountain range located in Yuzhou had complex terrain, with gullies and ravines crisscrossing everywhere.

In terms of climate, this was a transitional zone between the north and south, with a wide variety of species and abundant resources; many medicinal herbs also grew exceptionally well here. Therefore, the Six Great Powers of Beidi sent troops to station here, and one of their important purposes was to obtain medicinal herbs here!

They cooperated with Shenyi Gu and came here every year to collect herbs. The garrison troops would also reclaim some herb fields here for cultivation, and then ask the people of Shenyi Gu to process them. When the time came between late autumn and early spring, the garrison would rotate, and they would bring the herbs accumulated throughout the year back to Xinzhou.

This was the herb warehouse of the Six Great Clans of Beidi!

The south was fraught with crises and impossible to cross; therefore, the Yuzhou mountain range, located at the junction of the north and south, was an excellent "herb warehouse"! Shenyi Gu was located in one of the valleys within this Yuzhou mountain range.

The rotating Xinzhou army bypassed the winding mountain road and arrived at a mountain pass; this was also the station of the Zhao Clan in Shenyi Gu.

This place was easy to defend and difficult to attack; as long as it was guarded, they could keep enemies out of the mountain region.

What the garrison had to guard against were the small-scale Plague Ghosts that formed during the spring and summer. The crisis was not great in the autumn and winter seasons.

After passing the mountain pass and continuing forward, one could see sporadically distributed civilian houses.

Looking further into the distance, there were more civilian houses and pavilions, gathered into a town.

That was the human warmth that even the bleak scenery of winter could not cool.

Originally, there was a small town here, located in a remote valley; only mountain folk from other parts of the range would come here from time to time to trade goods, and there wasn't much movement of people. However, it had clearly been upgraded now.

This was the embodiment of "a mountain need not be high; it is famous if there is an immortal."

It used to be just an unremarkable little town, but as the world fell into chaos, more and more famous doctors gathered here, and once the Six Great Powers of Beidi were formed, they immediately sent troops to guard it, and its fame spread. The town grew larger and larger, and more and more people gathered in the valley.

What it was called before didn't matter; now everyone called it Shenyi Gu.

The widespread fame of Shenyi Gu could not be separated from the old Imperial Physician Zhan.

This was the hometown of the old Imperial Physician Zhan, and after he retired and returned to his hometown, he had lived in the valley town ever since.

Someone who could survive in the imperial court for decades and retire safely, while still possessing such high prestige—this old Imperial Physician was definitely not a simple character! It was precisely because of this that Shenyi Gu could maintain its current delicate balance instead of being completely carved up by the Six Great Clans.

The students for advanced study were settled into the post station one after another.

This post station was built by the Xinzhou Army and was exclusively for people coming from Xinzhou.

Wen Gu and the other two also entered a guest room; this room was located at the very end and looked very ordinary, but there was a hidden door inside. At this moment, the hidden door was closed, and there was no movement. Wen Gu picked up a copy of the "Xinzhou Times" on the table.

Li Sihu brought over a pot of freshly boiled hot water and, seeing this, said: "Master, when I was coming upstairs just now, I heard people saying that the 'Xinzhou Times' sells exceptionally well here! Many people in Shenyi Gu are paying attention to our affairs in Xinzhou!"

Besides being responsible for some miscellaneous tasks around the Master, he also had to listen to news from the outside to help the Master understand the surrounding situation.

There were quite a few wealthy households living in Shenyi Gu; many had stayed after discovering this place during their journey north.

Besides that, large families would arrange for personnel to be here, and merchant caravans would come here to set up a transit point.

Information blockage would make people feel panicked, and the appearance of the "Xinzhou Times" greatly alleviated everyone's anxiety.

Even though the other five major powers later also started their own newspapers, the significance of the "Xinzhou Times" was different after all.

That issue regarding the treatment of the plague could be said to have ignited the entire Shenyi Gu.

But this was also like a resounding slap in the face to the various divine doctors of Shenyi Gu.

Xinzhou had already surged ahead by a large margin, and Shenyi Gu had to strive to catch up. It was a matter of reputation!

"I just heard people saying that this year, the famous doctors of Shenyi Gu will be taking on more apprentices!" Li Sihu said.

Famous doctors require an examination when taking on apprentices.

However, Li Sihu felt that with his employer's status, he should not need to worry about an examination.

Wen Gu indeed did not need to worry about an examination.

He was a "guaranteed admission student."

With the Zhao Clan backing him, it was he who chose the famous doctor, not the famous doctor who chose him.

He needed the status of an apprentice to make it more convenient to conduct his affairs here.

Checking the time, Wen Gu made a list of daily necessities and had Li Sihu go out to purchase them.

Not long after Li Sihu left, the secret door in the room opened, and a person walked out from the secret passage.

This person was wearing casual clothes, yet carried a firm and rigorous aura in his movements.

After entering, he took a brief look at Rong Yi, who was guarding to the side, as if judging Rong Yi's identity and trustworthiness, before turning to Wen Gu and performing a salute: "Deputy Envoy Wen!" Wen Gu smiled and said: "Patrol Lieutenant Yang, long time no see!"

This person was a Patrol Lieutenant of the Patrol Guard Division, with a rank above the Commander and below the Deputy Envoy. They were generally sent out to execute missions.

When Wen Gu first came to Xinzhou, it was this man who met him.

Not long after that, Patrol Lieutenant Yang was sent to Shenyi Gu.

Patrol Lieutenant Yang also smiled with emotion; when he first met Wen Gu, he never imagined that this person could rise to the position of Patrol Guard Division Vice Commissioner in such a short time! During this year's rotation, Lao Zhao did not transfer Patrol Lieutenant Yang back. Since Wen Gu was coming to Shenyi Gu, Lao Zhao naturally could not leave Wen Gu without anyone to use, so he had Patrol Lieutenant Yang, who had already met Wen Gu, remain at Shenyi Gu. Seeing that identities had been confirmed, Rong Yi went to guard the doorway, letting the two continue discussing important matters.

"Has that famous doctor been arranged?" Wen Gu asked.

"Yes, everything has been arranged."

Before the rotating troops arrived, many things were already underway.

That is good.

Wen Gu took out a box; this was brought from Xinzhou, and inside was a Microscope.

It was also the "apprenticeship gift."

Patrol Lieutenant Yang took it.

Their relationship with that famous doctor was essentially an exchange of interests; to have the other party add an apprentice spot and provide extra care, they naturally needed to provide benefits as well. It was just that before the matter was settled, they had not brought out the "apprenticeship gift," intending to hand it over to the other party after both sides agreed tomorrow. Patrol Lieutenant Yang carefully carried the box containing the Microscope. He knew this item was precious, and the current output of the workshops in Xinzhou was extremely low. If it were broken, they would not be able to produce a second one in the short term. Patrol Lieutenant Yang asked again: "The troops originally stationed here are about to leave, and some people from the Patrol Guard Division are returning with them. Deputy Envoy Wen, do you have any items that need to be taken to Xinzhou?" "I do indeed."

As Wen Gu spoke, he handed over a wooden box.

Patrol Lieutenant Yang took it. It was slightly heavy in his hand, and he did not know what was inside.

After leaving the post house and returning to his Residence, Patrol Lieutenant Yang opened the wooden box to look.

Inside were nothing but categorized documents and letters, all labeled with who they were for.

Private letters made up only a small portion; the majority were official documents.

Patrol Lieutenant Yang stared at these for a long while.

Did Deputy Envoy Wen write all of these on the road?

Did he not rest at all on the journey?!

Although he had heard of it before, Patrol Lieutenant Yang did not have a very clear understanding. Now he seemed to have a bit of an understanding of this Deputy Envoy's style of doing things. He closed the wooden box, sealed it, and handed it to the Patrol Guard Division messenger.

One wonders what the people in Xinzhou will think when they see these?