Chapter 353: Believe in Science [Two-in-One]

Shen Tang suppressed the urge to scream.

She tentatively asked, "I'm not very familiar with this history. Could it be that the ruler who founded the Wu Kingdom was an ancestor of Gongxi Chou? And that the royal family crest of the Wu Kingdom is the same as the crest of the Gongxi clan?"

According to the usual pattern, this should be how it should be.

But Gu Chi clearly didn't like following the usual routine.

"The royal family of Wu Kingdom lasted only one generation. The king's surname was Ji Sun, and no one knew his origin, family, background, or birth. He seemed to have appeared out of thin air. Historical records state that he was a convict laborer who worked on the construction of the royal tomb. Dissatisfied with the overseers' indiscriminate killing of innocent people, he led a rebellion and marched triumphantly, cutting down everything in his path, sweeping across the entire northwest..."

In just eight years, he conquered the entire Northwest, Southwest, and more than half of the Northeast, bringing him within reach of unifying the continent. The remaining small kingdoms trembled under the Great Demon King's might, their spirits low, and they were prepared to surrender. But then, the vast Martial Kingdom collapsed overnight.

Thus, the world was torn apart, and war returned.

Shen Tang grasped something: "Ji Sun? This compound surname has a background too. This ruler of the Wu Kingdom with the compound surname Ji Sun must have a noble family background. Speaking of which—Gong Xi seems to be a branch of the Ji Sun family. Could it be that the two are really related?"

In earlier times, not everyone had a surname.

A surname is a name that indicates the ancestral origin of a person.

The surname (氏) is used to distinguish the lineage of a person's descendants.

Commoners have no surname or clan name, only a given name.

This Ji Sun woman must have come from a very distinguished background.

Gu Chi said, "I also have this suspicion."

Previously, no one had considered the connection between the two, but the fact that the Gongxi clan possessed clues about the Wu Kingdom's Gu calamity, and thus attracted covetousness and even extermination, suggests that the two cannot be completely unrelated. The Gongxi clan had been in seclusion for over two hundred years, while the Wu Kingdom had only existed for a century.

Gu Chi couldn't help but speculate that this Ji Sun clan member might be a member of the Gongxi clan who had escaped and, for some reason, could not openly display his identity, so he adopted the surname Ji Sun. Supporting this speculation was the royal family crest of the Wu Kingdom, which consisted of two snakes, one male and one female.

The clan mark on Gongxi Chou's body is a single female snake, which is not surprising considering that the Gongxi clan follows a matrilineal order.

A single coincidence may be just that – a coincidence.

What about two or even three times?

That's more than just a coincidence.

In other words—

The seeds of the Gongxi clan's annihilation had already been sown long ago.

Even if it weren't the Geng or Xin states, the exposure of the Gongxi clan's relationship with the former Wu state would still lead to their deaths.

Shen Tang sighed, "A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime."

It can be seen from the warm, cheerful and simple-minded Gongxi Chou that the Gongxi clan does not have much ambition, otherwise they could not have lived in seclusion for more than two hundred years... Alas, the human heart is terrifying.

Gu Chi, forced to listen to his inner thoughts: "..."

For a moment, he wasn't sure if his lord was joking. He didn't deny that the Gongxi clan wasn't very ambitious, but he was curious—how did his lord see that Gongxi Chou was warm, cheerful, and simple? From that strange musical aesthetic?

The carriage moved slowly, swaying gently.

"Sigh, let's not worry about that for now." Shen Tang still had a ton of troubles to deal with, the most troublesome being the import of medicinal herbs. Recalling the scene of haggling earlier, she felt a headache coming on. "We only have a small plot of land, and our resources are meager. How could Zhang Yongqing be so ruthless, trying to fleece us like that..."

Zhang He's offer was not unaffordable.

It's just a little painful.

After living in poverty for more than half a year, Shen Tang had gotten into the habit of stretching every penny to its limit _(:з)∠)_ Zhang He's offer was equivalent to multiplying it by four in her eyes: "Wang Chao, when do you think we can achieve financial freedom?"

Gu Chi: "My lord, why don't you indulge in another daydream?"

He smiled and teased Shen Tang.

Shen Tang wanted to grab something and hit him.

Damn it, these literary scholars are getting worse and worse!

Gu Chi: "It's not that there's no way."

Shen Tang immediately perked up her ears: "Speak quickly!"

Gu Chi said, "Didn't Wu Zhaode sell wine in Yiru territory before? He did a good job. Why don't we use wine to exchange for medicinal herbs with Zhang Yongqing? We don't necessarily have to use money."

Simply put, it's bartering.

The river magistrate had no money, but he had plenty of water mixed with wine!

Let's see if Zhang He is willing to buy it! Since they are both shrewd businessmen, let's see who is more shrewd! Upon hearing this, Shen Tang's eyes lit up: "Okay, okay, I can accept that."

That very evening, Zhang He received a reply from Shen Tang.

He frowned upon seeing the transaction details in the letter.

He pondered for a long time by the candlelight.

It took so long that the staff didn't notice them coming over for quite a while.

An advisor asked, "What troubles our lord?"

Zhang He pushed the letter in front of his staff.

"The River God's envoy wants to exchange spirit wine for medicinal herbs, and the amount of herbs required is not small. He went out in broad daylight with a dark face, dissatisfied with the price, so how could he agree in the evening? There must be a trick here. I don't know whether I should refuse, and if so, how."

The staff carefully examined the letter, which was written in a flamboyant and elegant style.

"Spirit Wine? Is this the Spirit Wine that everyone is currently fighting over?"

Zhang He nodded: "I have also drunk the so-called spirit wine, and it does have some miraculous effects. However, the grain in Yiru is not plentiful, and such a luxurious thing as wine... such evil practices should not be encouraged."

He once served as the chief physician in the royal medical office of the Xin Kingdom.

They know all too well the ways the powerful indulge in eating, drinking, and having fun.

The common people were so hungry that they ate tree bark and mud, but this did not stop those people from wasting grain and brewing wine, just for their appetites.

Zhang He strictly managed the sale of alcohol under his jurisdiction.

All tools used for brewing wine in rural areas must be confiscated.

Alcohol can only be brewed by the government or by officially authorized institutions. Ordinary people who brew alcohol privately will be punished. As for alcohol from outside Yi Ru entering the market, it must also be strictly controlled.

However, Zhang He's reputation among the common people reaching its peak did not mean that the long-established families within Yiru territory would also respect him. In fact, they were quite at odds with Zhang He. They had their own channels to secretly engage in underhanded dealings, and as long as it wasn't excessive, Zhang He could only turn a blind eye even if he knew.

The aide said, "There are indeed suspicious points..."

He added, "But I can't refuse."

Zhang He asked, puzzled, "Why?"

"What use does my lord have for this spirit wine?"

“Useless.” Zhang He shook his head.

“If the lord doesn’t need it, there are plenty of others who can.”

Zhang He, having received his guidance, vaguely grasped something.

"You mean..."

The advisor smiled meaningfully: "You've heard that the various families in Yi and Ru have been running their own businesses privately, haven't you? Why not take this opportunity to repair the relationship? You can act as a go-between, with the River Governor providing the spirit wine and the various families in Yi and Ru providing the medicinal herbs. Everyone gets what they need."

Zhang He was surprised.

He knew that his advisor was at odds with several families in Yiru, but to what extent?

If it were truly a good thing, even dogs wouldn't get a turn! If a parent were kidnapped and the kidnappers demanded a ransom, the staff could generously donate a bundle of firewood.

So, is this actually still a trap?

Using the matter of He Yin as an excuse, can I prune branches for a few families?

Zhang He pondered for a long time before making a final decision.

"Okay, let's leave it at that for now."

Although He Yin was a poor and remote place, he had heard about Shen Tang's methods after taking office and admired the young prefect quite a bit. He was still inexperienced and his future was uncertain.

It's always better to be on good terms than to make enemies.

Having made this decision, Zhang He remembered another troublesome matter, his eyes flashing coldly: "Go back and investigate Shang Nan Gu Ren. Among his group of sworn brothers, there is one named Shao Chong."

The staff had vaguely heard of Shao Chong's name.

What's so special about this person?

"A major threat in the future."

Zhang He felt guilty towards Shao Chong.

If he hadn't been ordered to research Gu worms back then, perhaps there wouldn't have been those experiments on commoners, and the remnants of the poison from the Xin Kingdom would have been scattered everywhere as a form of Gu play.

But despite feeling guilty, the threat still had to be eliminated.

Why not take advantage of them when they are still weak, or wait until they are fully developed before going to their deaths?

"Take care of him quietly."

The aide responded calmly.

Zhang He added, "If we fail, we will retreat."

He doesn't want to reveal too much about himself right now.

His identity as a doctor and his good reputation were all protective facades to deceive his enemies. Zhang He was a very ambitious man, with no shortage of patience to lie low; he was also waiting for an opportunity.

The advisor's mind raced: "What about Gong Xichou?"

“He’s a minor official of the fifteenth rank, too low to handle this,” Zhang He said, looking at the lit oil lamp flame with a sneer. “Besides, why bother with him? Keeping such a vengeful person, filled with hatred in his heart, is just a good way to keep those people from the Geng Kingdom in check.”

Gongxi Chou will rebel sooner or later.

The more murky the water, the better, for Zhang He to need.

A peaceful and tranquil life is not what he seeks.

Before that, he needs to lie low for a longer period.

It wasn't until the dead of night that Gong Xichou returned to his lodgings under the moonlight. As soon as he stepped into the lobby, he saw a familiar face.

“Mama is waiting for me.”

He spoke with certainty.

Shen Tang said, "Yes, a farewell banquet."

Gong Xichou strode forward: "For whom are we seeing them off?"

Shen Tang pointed to herself: "Me."

She recently received a reply from Zhang He.

All objectives of this trip have been achieved.

We can't linger any longer. We need to finalize this business contract during the day and head back by evening.

She didn't know when Gong Xichou would leave.

After thinking it over, he asked the restaurant to prepare a table of food and wine.

Gong Xichou drank wine, and she ate vegetables.

Who knows when we'll meet again after this parting?

Perhaps our next meeting will be on the battlefield.

Curiosity killed the cat, and unable to resist the torment of her agonizing curiosity, Shen Tang asked a straight question: "How's the search for the sacred object going?"

Gong Xichou drank the wine in one gulp.

He shook his head: "There's still no trace of those tomb raiders."

In these chaotic times, it's really hard to find even a few nobody who would be beaten to death if caught.

It's unclear whether they lost the sacred object or sold it.

"Don't be discouraged, the sacred relic will be found eventually. But—I have a question that may be a bit presumptuous." Shen Tang hesitated for a few moments before asking, "What's so special about that sacred relic that it's worth risking your life to come out here and search for it like looking for a needle in a haystack?"

Gongxi Chou is now the only one left in the Gongxi clan. The most important thing right now is to revitalize the clan's population.

How can the family function without anyone?

You're not getting any younger, take advantage of your good health and try to have a baby!

"Ahem, if this is offensive, just pretend I didn't ask."

Gong Xichou didn't feel offended.

They didn't think Shen Tang was coveting the clan's secrets.

because--

"Nothing special."

Shen Tang let out a sound of surprise, her head filled with three question marks.

Gongxi Chou took a sip of wine: "I only learned about this from the clan records. The Gongxi clan committed a serious crime and was exiled. On the way, they met a benefactor. This benefactor saved our ancestor and even led him to the clan's later territory."

"And then?" Shen Tang listened with great interest.

Gong Xichou recalled clan records: "Then one day, our benefactor foresaw that a thief star would descend upon a certain place. He went on a long journey, and when he returned, he brought back a sacred object, which was that coffin, and entrusted our ancestor to guard it for him..."

He paused.

"After that, the benefactor passed away peacefully and disappeared into the heavens. Before his death, he instructed our ancestors to cremate his body, and cremation became a funeral custom passed down through generations of our clan. When our ancestors were sorting through the benefactor's belongings, they found a handwritten letter from him."

What was written in the letter?

“My benefactor said he would come back to retrieve the sacred relic he entrusted to me, but now I am the only one left in my clan, and the sacred relic is lost…”

Shen Tang: "...Do you believe your benefactor will return?"

I estimate he's been dead for about two hundred years.

The Gongxi clan is too honest, isn't it?

Gong Xichou replied, "Yes!"

Shen Tang said quietly, "You have to believe in science."

"Who is Science?" Gong Xichou didn't dwell on it and continued sharing gossip, "According to the clan's records, our benefactor was a deity who flew down from the sky! You have to understand that back then there were neither thief stars nor spirit words. How could someone with such superhuman power be an ordinary person?"

"Our benefactor not only saved our ancestor."

"They also pass on the skills their ancestors used to make a living."

"The Gu technique was taught to me by my benefactor."

but--

Gongxi Chou said dejectedly, "If that traitor hadn't stolen the Gu Book back then and established some damned Martial Kingdom outside, the Gongxi clan wouldn't be in this state today..."

Shen Tang was shocked: "Is the ruler of the Wu Kingdom really a member of your clan?"

Gong Xiqiu emphasized: "No, he was exterminated from his clan."

That Ji Sun was actually another son of the clan chief of that generation. He was spoiled since childhood. He was dissatisfied with his weak and incompetent elder brother inheriting the position of clan chief, and he was also resentful that he was trapped in the clan territory for his whole life. He wanted to go out and see a wider world, so he had evil intentions, stole the Gu book, and burned the clan's secret treasures.

The lineage of the Gongxi clan is incomplete.

Before this, every member of the clan was born with a Gu worm implanted in them. The Gu worm and the person complemented each other, making cultivation and other pursuits twice as effective. If they sincerely prayed to the gods they worshipped morning and evening, they could even receive divine favor...

Therefore, the Gongxi clan lived in seclusion.

But back then, they were really good at fighting.

As a result, such a traitor emerged.

In order to obtain the strongest military force in the shortest time, they extended their evil clutches to ordinary people, causing a tragedy that will be remembered for eternity.

The Gongxi clan never recovered from that point on.

Be careful, tuck your tail between your legs.

Unexpectedly, after only a few decades of peace, trouble has arisen again.

Gong Xichou's current inner conflict is nothing more than avenging his clansmen and finding the sacred artifact, while waiting for his benefactor's reincarnation.

Shen Tang: "..."

She genuinely wanted to persuade her friends to believe in science.

There is no such thing as reincarnation in this world...

Wait a minute!

Shen Tang noticed a problem.

"Your clan's sacred artifact has existed for over two hundred years?"

"yes."

"Were any items placed inside the coffin during this time?"

For example, could it be reused by stuffing a fresh corpse inside?

Gong Xichou was slightly drunk.

"How is this possible? It's been buried all this time..."

Shen Tang was speechless and stunned upon hearing this.

"How could a body still be fresh after being buried for over two hundred years?"

Gong Xichou said unsurprised, "Since it is a sacred object and the benefactor is a deity, he must have the means to preserve the body from decay. What's so strange about that? Not to mention two hundred years, two thousand years would be normal."

ヾ(■_■)

With the autumn harvest storyline remaining, Tangmei can go and do Shiwu.

What should we name the new volume?

(End of this chapter)