Chapter 141: Northern Desert, Ten Crows [Seeking Monthly Tickets]
"The clouds rise over the stream as the sun sets behind the pavilion, and the wind fills the tower as a storm approaches... What is Mr. Gu trying to remind me of?" Shen Tang looked at Gu Chi with a half-smile, opened a jar of wine and handed it to him, saying, "I will convey Mr. Gu's reminder to Yuan Liang for you."
"It wasn't really a reminder; Qi Yuanliang already knew it."
Gu Chi took the round-bellied wine jar handed to him by Shen Tang.
It's the size of a palm, enough for a dozen or so bites.
Even people who can't hold their liquor can drink a whole jar.
He said, "Based on my understanding of Qi Yuanliang, he has never liked to do anything meaningless. If there is no profit to be made, why would he bother to come to Xiaocheng? Xiaocheng's geographical location means that this place is destined to be restless. Why would he take that risk?"
He remained silent at the crucial moment.
This is completely unreasonable!
Gu Chi's words sounded like casual conversation.
Shen Tang only listened and did not participate in the discussion.
Someone offered him free drinks, and Gu Chi didn't stand on ceremony, drinking three or four jars in a row until the alcohol started to spread, giving his pale face a bit more color. Shen Tang chatted with him for a few minutes, while a servant dressed as a maid looked around the corner not far away.
When his gaze locked onto Gu Chi, his eyes suddenly lit up.
He rushed forward, not even having time to catch his breath: "Mr. Gu, what are you doing here? My master has been looking for you everywhere. Please come with me."
Shen Tang felt that the servant's attire looked somewhat familiar.
It took me a second to realize, "Isn't this a servant of the prefectural government?"
Last time, a servant from the county government bought a lot of wine from her.
The master of the county government's servants, isn't that the county governor?
When did Gu Chi get in touch with the governor of Sibao County?
Shen Tang remained expressionless.
Gu Chi rubbed his temples, his eyes slightly glazed with drunkenness. He gave the servant an apologetic smile and said good-naturedly, "I smelled the aroma of wine on the way, which awakened my inner wine craving. It was my fault for running out without informing the prefect. Please lead the way, we'll be on our way now."
The servant was flattered and said, "No, no, I wouldn't dare."
She even thoughtfully paid for Gu Chi's drinks.
Shen Tang accepted the loose silver with a smile.
Wow, what a windfall!
Originally, the invitation to Gu Chi to drink was for free, but since someone was willing to pay for it, why not accept the money? Shen Tang smiled like a money-grubber, weighing the loose silver in her hand, quite satisfied.
Gu Chi made an excuse to have the servants leave.
He asked, "Does Master Shen know anything about the situation in Lingzhou?"
Shen Tang looked up in surprise: "Lingzhou?"
Gu Chi said, "The false woman, acting as an accomplice, wreaks havoc in Beichen; twenty forces, shrouded in smoke and dust, surge towards the Purple Palace... Soon, perhaps twenty forces will indeed be locked in endless fighting... Tsk, Lingzhou is not close to here, but it's not far either. This news should have arrived by now..."
Shen Tang blinked, confused.
"What...what does this mean?"
Gu Chi stood up and dusted off non-existent dust from his clothes, his face no longer showing any signs of drunkenness: "It's nothing, take care, Chen Lang."
Shen Tang watched Gu Chi's retreating figure until it disappeared around the corner and was completely out of sight. Only then did the habitual smile on her face gradually fade, replaced by a frosty expression.
She naturally knew what had happened in Lingzhou.
The Lin family's ancestral home was in Lingzhou. Due to war there, the entire Lin family had to migrate south to seek refuge with relatives. These events didn't occur for long. Urgent letters reporting on the changing situation were also accidentally intercepted by a group of bandits…
With all this back and forth, and given the speed of information transmission in this era... logically speaking, it shouldn't have reached Xiaocheng yet. So how did Gu Chi find out?
Alternatively, he may have a more secretive and faster source of information.
Or perhaps he was actually in the know about this whole thing.
After further consideration of his last words, I'm pretty sure it's the latter.
Qi Bushan had previously analyzed that there were foreign forces stirring up trouble in the Northwest, either the Northern Desert or the Ten Crows. Coincidentally, the Prefect of Sibao County was a fence-sitter who sided with the Ten Crows, and Gu Chi was involved with him—while Gu Chi was backed by the Northern Desert forces.
so--
Have the Northern Desert and the Ten Crows joined forces?
Even if they don't join forces, they must be cooperating.
The servants escorted Gu Chi back, where the prefect warmly welcomed him. Sensing the faint scent of alcohol on him, the prefect's smile widened: "Mr. Gu, do you enjoy fine wine? We happen to have a few jars of our treasured aged wine at home. We'll have someone send them to you later."
He secretly rolled his eyes inwardly.
Gu Chi looked sickly and nearing the end of his life. Instead of taking care of his health, he was addicted to alcohol, and it was unclear how many more years his body could afford to deteriorate. If Gu Chi weren't actually capable, he wouldn't really want to deal with this person. It was simply because Gu Chi resembled someone he used to know too much.
Those eyes always made him feel uncomfortable.
Gu Chi seemed oblivious to the prefect's hypocritical words, casually cupping his hands in thanks without any real sincerity.
The prefect did not take his rudeness to heart.
He had something to discuss with Gu Chi this time.
Regarding that batch of tax silver.
He wanted to delay, but the imperial court was pressing him hard.
Although Zheng Qiao had lost the support of the people, he was still a long way from falling from power. The prefect still depended on him, so he naturally dared not slack off too much and even had to prepare extra rare treasures to bribe him.
If you're going to deliver it, then you must deliver it safely.
What worries him is that he is currently severely short-staffed.
There are two reasons.
Firstly, the territory of Sibao County was not safe either. In order to ensure the safety of tax revenue, several fake teams were dispatched to confuse the public. Although the goods transported by the fake teams were fake, the escorting troops were real.
Secondly, in order to catch Gong Wen, who had disappeared to an unknown location, the garrison of Sibao County was ordered to arrest him. However, apart from appearing once in the deep mountains outside Xiaocheng a while ago, there has been no news of Gong Wen since.
If Gong Wen cannot be captured, the troops sent out cannot be retrieved.
The prefect hasn't been sleeping well lately.
To solve this problem, he wanted to borrow the private troops of the local noble families in Sibao County, but as a result, ha—those old foxes, each with their own agendas, talked a good game, but when it came to actually doing it, they all backed down faster than the last.
The prefect's attitude was slightly more assertive, but they weren't intimidated and had many ways to annoy him—either they complained about being poor or weak, saying that these private soldiers weren't that powerful, at most a little better than the yamen runners on duty, and that they were there to guard the house.
Without a private retinue, there is a concern that unruly people might cause trouble.
In short, no matter what I say, I just won't lend it.
Forced into a corner, the prefect had no choice but to seek other solutions—for example, asking the Zhai brothers, Zhai Huan and Zhai Huan, for external assistance.
One is skilled in literature, the other in martial arts; the two work together seamlessly.
The two brothers' ancestral home is in the southeast. They traveled to the northwest only for leisure. Their roots are not there, and they have no connection with any of the forces in the northwest. The possibility of them stealing from each other is extremely small, so it is more reassuring to use them.
The prefect recently made an incognito visit and secretly consulted with Zhai Huan. The outcome of their conversation was quite satisfactory.
Now, only the final step remains.
The prefect said, "Shiwu and Beimo are allies, and they should help each other and seek mutual benefit. Do you agree, sir?"
He was just short of telling Gu Chi that Bei Mo shouldn't stab him in the back.
This tax payment absolutely cannot have any mishaps!
(End of this chapter)
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