After hesitating for a while, Jiang Tangtang finally decided to continue walking forward.
Regardless of whose territory it is, the first priority is to locate the source of the raw materials for making gunpowder. As for what to do next, we can consider that later.
Lu Shiyan had no objection to Jiang Tangtang's decision.
He had originally planned to visit Fengyang sometime. Since he was spending time with Jiang Tangtang this time, he figured he might as well go to Fengyang while he was there!
Upon learning that they were going to Fengyang, Jiang Tangtang couldn't help but feel a little happy. She had been in this world for quite some time, but hadn't actually visited many cities and didn't know what Fengyang was like. However, despite her happiness, she still asked with some concern, "Can your body handle it?"
He had just used his light-footed skills to take her on a trip to Baiyue, a round trip of several hundred kilometers. He hadn't even had a proper rest after that trip before taking her to Fengyang.
Even knowing that he was a celestial being who had transmigrated from another world and was different from ordinary people, Jiang Tangtang couldn't help but worry about him.
That's an incredibly high level of physical activity!
Lu Shiyan looked down at her and said, "Worried about me?"
Jiang Tangtang was a little worried, but seeing his expression, she immediately scoffed, "No way!"
Lu Shiyan ignored her insincerity and said to himself, "Once we get to Fengyang, we'll find an inn to stay in and stay in the city for a few days."
This arrangement naturally suited Jiang Tangtang's wishes.
*
Puzhou.
Outside the recruitment point, a large number of refugees had gathered. Some huddled together discussing how much food they would receive after enlisting, while others wiped away tears, worried about dying on the battlefield.
Some people are also saying how wise and brave the newly appointed commander of Puzhou is.
Jia Mingzhou and his companions, disguised as refugees, stood at the end of the line. As people talked about Lu Shiyan, they exchanged glances without making a sound.
They were sent by Prince Duan to Puzhou to gather information.
If you want to infiltrate the enemy and find out the most detailed information, participating in recruitment and gaining recognition from your superiors through meritorious service is a very good way.
Just as the group of people were straining their ears to listen to the conversation about Lu Shiyan, another group of people outside the recruitment point were also leaning to the side, listening intently to what the group of people were saying.
"Mother, they seem to be talking about Uncle's third son." Lu Fushan excitedly shook his mother's arm and said, "Did you hear that? Uncle's third son has made something of himself. He's become a captain in Puzhou. Let's go find him and ask him for help."
Liao didn't believe it and shook her head, saying, "It's just a coincidence of names! He's never been to school, at most he just hunts in the mountains, how could he possibly become an official!"
Lu Fushan also secretly felt that Lu Shiyan was not qualified to be an official.
But in order to dissuade his mother from sending him to join the army, he tried his best to persuade her, saying, "Mother, did you hear what they said? They said that he was originally just a refugee fleeing famine, but he was appreciated by Lord Zhang, so he became a captain in Puzhou. It must be my third cousin, there's no mistake."
Seeing his mother's hesitant expression, he said to his father, "Dad, let's go ask over there! Even if I really join the army, with a cousin who's a captain, they won't dare look down on me. Maybe I'll even get promoted and have some official position."
Hearing their son's words, the couple were tempted. If their son could become an official, it would be an incredible stroke of luck.
But both of them were timid and afraid of trouble, and neither dared to ask the soldier.
Lu Fushan was also afraid of the soldiers, but he knew that if he didn't find a way out soon, he would be sent to the army camp to be a soldier in exchange for food. He made up his mind and walked towards the soldier with a large sword at the recruitment office.
"What are you doing? Those who want to enlist, line up at the back and wait for the assessment."
The soldiers maintaining order on the side saw Lu Fushan shrinking back and pushing forward, so they stepped forward to maintain order.
Lu Fushan was startled by the stern-faced soldiers and almost collapsed to his knees.
He wiped the cold sweat from his brow and forced himself to speak, "Sir, I'm not here to cut in line. I just wanted to ask you about something. I wanted to ask about that Commandant Lu—"
Before he could finish speaking, a soldier interrupted him, saying, "Don't ask about things you shouldn't ask about."
“No, we’re relatives. I’m his cousin. We got separated on the way we fled famine. Could you pass on a message for me? Tell him that his second uncle and aunt’s family have arrived in Puzhou and ask him to come and pick us up.”
The soldier looked him up and down, then said disdainfully, "You?"
What a heroic figure Lord Lu is!
How could I possibly be related to this spineless coward in front of me?
He said impatiently, "Go away, go away. There are countless people like you who want to get on my good side, but you..." He clicked his tongue twice, "Next time you want to scam someone, practice at home first."
Lu Fushan wasn't entirely sure beforehand, unsure if he had mistaken someone for someone else. But the soldier's disdain ignited his competitive spirit.
He shouted, "It's true, I really am Lord Lu's cousin. If you drive me away, Lord Lu will punish you when he finds out."
"Go, go, go. If you don't want to join the army, then don't cause trouble here. Everyone knows that our Lord Lu is the most disciplined! I'm just doing official business. He should be rewarding me, how could he possibly punish me?"
The soldier impatiently pushed Lu Fusheng away. Liao was so frightened that she trembled all over. While holding her youngest son, she hurriedly hid behind him, and scolded her eldest son for being useless and insisting on going to recognize his relatives, bringing trouble to the family!
Lu Fusheng, unwilling to be driven away so easily, howled recklessly, "You adults are from Dawan Village, aren't you? You have a son who's mute and knows kung fu..."
He mumbled out Lu Shiyan's features, and Jia Mingzhou and the others immediately looked at him.
Seeing Lu Fusheng being driven away by the soldier maintaining order, Jia Mingzhou pondered for a moment and whispered, "Fifth brother, go with him and take a look."
Wang Shuncai glanced at Lu Fusheng, who was kneeling on the ground and babbling incoherently, and lowered his voice, saying, "Boss, isn't that a liar? Why are you following him?"
“I think what he said is very likely true. Following him might bring unexpected gains,” Jia Mingzhou said in a low voice. “It would be best to become brothers with him and gain his trust.”
It's normal for Lu Shiyan, who comes from a poor farming family, to have a few relatives who aren't exactly respectable. Moreover, some of the things Lu Fusheng just said correspond to information they obtained from their previous investigation of Lu Shiyan.
Wang Shuncai quickly left the group and chased after Lu Fusheng's family.
Just now, because of Lu Fusheng's behavior, the person in charge of recruitment has directly informed him that he does not meet the recruitment requirements and advised them to leave.
At this moment, Madam Liao was complaining to Lu Fusheng, "It's all your fault. If you hadn't caused this mess, how could you have angered the military officer and prevented you from joining the army? It would have been so much better if you had joined the army. You could have eaten military rations and received ten catties of resettlement grain."
Lu Fusheng didn't feel any regret at all. "Mother, all you know is military rations. Do you think military rations are so delicious? They're your last meal before you die."
"Nonsense! What 'last meal'? Look at those military officers, aren't they living just fine? How impressive they are!"
Liao said with a mournful face, "What are we going to do now? We have no food left at all. Our only way to make a living has been cut off. Our whole family is just waiting to starve to death!"
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