Chapter 257: He Yin [Two-in-One]
As soon as Shen Tang returned, she saw Chu Yao standing outside the tent waiting for her for a long time. The latter was smiling at her, his gaze shifting back and forth between her and Qi Shan. Confirming that there was no sign of unpleasantness, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and his smile grew even wider.
"Goro is back."
A simple greeting.
Shen Tang asked, "Hmm, did Wu Hui need something from me?"
As she drew closer, she noticed the chill in Chu Yao's clothes, indicating he hadn't just happened to come; he must have been lingering outside the tent for quite some time. Shen Tang initially thought Chu Yao had something important to discuss with her, but she had clearly misunderstood.
Chu Yao shook his head and said, "It's nothing. I was just worried that Wu Lang might have gotten lost since he hadn't returned for a long time. I was just thinking of sending someone out to look for you and Yuan Liang. It's good that you've returned safely."
Qi Shan couldn't help but roll her eyes inwardly upon hearing this.
That's a really lame and flimsy excuse.
Is it really that difficult for him to directly admit his concern for his lord?
Haha, to be honest, it's quite difficult.
Shen Tang had no doubts. He raised his hand and lifted the curtain, gesturing for Chu Yao to come in and warm himself by the fire. Although scholars were generally much healthier than ordinary people, Shen Tang had always had the impression that Chu Yao was in poor health after seeing his aged and frail appearance.
By the way, there are some things I also need to tell Chu Yao.
That night, he encountered Gong Xichou and was told about the "Wu Kingdom's Gu disaster," which also dragged Gu Ren into the matter.
Chu Yao was completely stunned by what he heard.
He never expected that his fifth son would encounter so many things on his one trip out. What's even more incredible is that Gong Xichou dared to come alone—such a confident and reckless martial artist is truly rare.
After listening, Chu Yao pondered for a few moments.
He whispered, "If what Wu Lang suspects is true, and Gong Xi Chou's strength is related to subduing the Gu calamity... then this Shao Chong will likely be quite formidable in the future. He's also exceptionally obedient to Gu Ren... However, Wu Lang's considerations aren't entirely without merit..."
As things stand, Gu Ren is not an enemy.
Rather than focusing on weakening the enemy, it's better to strengthen ourselves. If Shao Chong's actions are handled well, Gu Ren will owe a huge favor, which is extremely beneficial to our side. Wu Lang currently lacks a solid foundation, so he will inevitably have to leverage this situation to develop himself…
and--
This is probably the "test" that Gongxi Chou gave to Wulang.
This question was mostly a test. Chu Yao was thinking about how much benefit he could get in return for this free favor—compared to his own penniless Wu Lang, Gu Ren was truly a "nouveau riche," and it would be a waste not to take advantage of such a good opportunity.
Compared to Chu Yao's tactful approach, Shen Tang was direct.
“It’s always better to have more friends than more enemies.” Shen Tang sat cross-legged with a carefree attitude, her elbow bent and resting on one knee, her hand supporting her chin, and clicked her tongue. “Besides, Zheng Qiao hasn’t fallen yet. Right now, we should focus on living our own little lives.”
Whether it's Gu Ren or Wu Xian, the leader of the alliance.
For a long time, the two were allies.
Tsk, to be precise, "tycoon allies"?
After a long silence, Qi Shan suddenly spoke up, saying, "We previously 'borrowed' land from Alliance Leader Wu Xian... Wu Xian is easily swayed and easy to talk to, but Qin Li by his side is no pushover... The land we 'borrowed' might be detrimental to us."
If a piece of land were to be designated within Wu Xian's jurisdiction...
Restricting military training, restricting people's livelihoods, restricting trade...
Such a place, despite all the effort put into its development, ultimately only served to benefit Alliance Leader Wu Xian, who was essentially working for free.
Once the "lease" expires, the land remains but the person leaves. Given Qin Li's extremely wary attitude towards me, he's absolutely capable of doing this!
Chu Yao had worried about this as well.
Hearing that Gu Ren owed someone a favor, he had a great idea. Upon hearing this, Shen Tang was wide awake and immediately perked up—after all, it was the first small territory, carrying special significance. If the start was easy, who would want to challenge themselves with hellish difficulty?
Chu Yao and Qi Shan exchanged a glance.
The two of them always seemed to have a good understanding on these kinds of issues.
He said, "We can bypass Alliance Leader Wu Xian."
Shen Tang frowned: "Go around him?"
How do we get around this?
Chu Yao: "Just as Wu Lang said, Zheng Qiao is not yet fallen and still has troops under his command. Even Wu Xian, the leader of the Allied Forces, does not dare to openly oppose him. If we can defeat the rebels and reclaim the occupied Sibao County, it will be a great achievement. The entire Allied Forces should reward him accordingly. So, why not have Gu Ren make the recommendation?"
By "borrowing land" from Alliance Leader Wu Xian, the initiative lies with Wu Xian.
But with Gu Ren's recommendation, the initiative was in his own hands.
They have at least some autonomy in selecting locations.
Moreover, it was Zheng Qiao who personally issued the official appointment document.
In essence, even if it's the same piece of land, the meaning is different. At least when the "lease" expires, they can legitimately refuse to repay the debt. Yes, Chu Yao and his group never intended to repay it. They borrowed it through their own abilities, so why repay it?
As for why they had to target Wu Xian's territory?
Naturally, it's because it's good to have a big tree to lean on for shade.
With chaos erupting everywhere, separating oneself would mean facing the predicament of being surrounded by enemies on all sides. It would be better to choose a neighbor you know well, someone who is so poor that you can go over and beg for food.
Furthermore—
Wu Xian's privately controlled territory is indeed quite impressive.
Shen Tang's stomach was rumbling with mischief.
She laughed and said, "That's a good idea."
Qi Shan: "But we can't completely offend Wu Xian either."
Therefore, the choice of location is particularly important.
Shen Tang nodded repeatedly.
Shen Tang, Gu Ren, and Wu Xian probably never expected that they would come up with the same idea, only from completely different starting points.
The next day, Shen Tang used the excuse of Gongshu Wudang to ask Gu Ren to lend him a doctor. During their conversation, he mentioned the territory he was planning to "borrow" from Alliance Leader Wu Xian—a place that Chu Yao and Qi Shan had carefully selected overnight. Gu Ren's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this.
He said, "Lord Shen is truly foolish."
Shen Tang feigned ignorance: "Huh? What's wrong with you?"
Gu Ren said, "The people there are fierce and tough, and it's not easy to take over. It's really not worth it for Lord Shen to exchange his merit of fighting Gongxi Chou on the battlefield for it. Did the Alliance Leader say something to you?" He couldn't help but secretly suspect that Wu Xian was bullying a child who had never seen the world.
Or perhaps she said something to deceive Shen Tang.
Shen Tang neither said yes nor no; she simply looked bewildered and somewhat flustered: "Then what should we do? If we change locations again, I'm afraid... I'm afraid it will be difficult for Alliance Leader Wu to speak up." She then looked extremely embarrassed.
She practically screamed on her face, "I don't know what rejection is, and I'm super easy to bully," exuding an innocent charm untouched by the harsh realities of life. Shen Tang's young age and delicate features made this quality even more pronounced, evoking feelings of tenderness and affection in those who saw her.
Regarding age—
Shen Tang is the same age as most of the Alliance Army's children, and she seems rather guileless. Even an old fox like Gu Ren would be easily swayed if caught off guard. In addition, Gu Ren also wanted to "use her as a favor" to repay a debt, so he naturally went along with it.
He said, "That's easy!"
After thinking it over, Shen Tang said with a wronged expression, "This, this is better left alone. It would be a loss to offend Alliance Leader Wu over this matter... He might not be willing to lend us a place... They are just some bandits and wicked people. I have Gong Shuwu. Am I afraid I can't control them?"
Gu Ren said, "But that would be too unfair."
After careful consideration, Gu Ren offered his suggestion: "How about this, I, Gu, recommend you for a position there?"
If Wu Xian hadn't intervened, the position of alliance leader would most likely have fallen to Gu Ren, which shows that Gu Ren has a very good reputation and is well-liked. He greeted the others and they all spoke up together, and the matter was settled.
Wu Xian actually controlled that area, and King Zheng Qiao probably wouldn't mind issuing this appointment document to sow discord among the allied forces. The more Gu Ren thought about it, the more feasible it seemed; now all that remained was Shen Tang's approval.
How could Shen Tang not agree?
He showed some interest on the surface, but said he would go back and discuss it with Qi Shan and the others before making a decision. Gu Ren didn't press him too hard.
Things went very smoothly.
After leaving Gu Ren's side, Shen Tang had just returned to her own tent when she received an invitation from Alliance Leader Wu Xian.
Shen Tang took a sip of tea to moisten her dry lips.
She joked, "At this mealtime, I could have gotten a free meal there."
As she expected, Alliance Leader Wu Xian really did provide meals.
A small banquet was held to entertain Shen Tang.
Since Shen Tang cannot drink alcohol, tea is used instead.
After exchanging toasts, Alliance Leader Wu Xian inquired about the "borrowing of land." However, he didn't immediately decide on the location to be "lent," but instead passed the buck to Shen Tang, asking her where she wanted to "borrow" land. He wanted to hear her opinion before deciding whether to adopt it.
Shen Tang smiled shyly and asked to "borrow" a piece of land under the rule of Alliance Leader Wu Xian. It was neither too big nor too small, neither too barren nor too rich, but she knew that no one would lend her this land.
If he were to "lend" the money, Wu Xian himself would be unable to manage both ends, wouldn't that be courting death? He immediately refused with a troubled expression.
The reason is quite interesting.
This place is the hometown of his second wife, and he would go back to visit her during holidays, so it's not very convenient to "lend" it.
Although she was rejected, Shen Tang was not disappointed.
Anyway, there are alternative options.
Gu Chi accompanied them throughout, watching the play with great interest, inwardly clicking his tongue twice—he never expected Shen Lang to have such a side; his singing, recitation, acting, and martial arts skills were quite proficient. What exactly made Qi Yuanliang and Chu Wuhui mistakenly believe that Shen Lang was so innocent?
Is this what you call naivety?
With a blank expression, Gu Chi fell into deep thought. Watching the two of them repeatedly test each other and play hard to get, the topic finally got to the point.
Alliance Leader Wu Xian asked, "What about the River Governor?"
Shen Tang feigned confusion perfectly: "He Yin?"
Wu Xian started his sales pitch.
They boasted about He Yin's merits.
Most importantly, He Yin's territory is adjacent to Wu Xian's territory rather than within it, which will make it easier for Shen Tang to develop in the future. The land is relatively flat and spacious compared to the surrounding territories, with many mountains and forests, and rivers running through it, which is indeed quite good.
At least on the surface, they will be less constrained by Wu Xian.
The actual situation is—
You'll find out when you get there.
That's the usual sales tactic: push hard and exaggerate the advantages before selling, but once it's a done deal, they won't take any responsibility for after-sales service.
Shen Tang hesitated, "I've heard of He Yin before... I shouldn't refuse Brother Wu's kindness, but..."
The area of Heyin is neither particularly large nor particularly small.
Two hundred people thrown in wouldn't even make a splash.
Wu Xian's sales pitch was far too half-hearted.
"Ahem, there's no need to worry about this, my dear brother..."
Alliance Leader Wu Xian clapped his hands.
A short while later, a burly man walked in from outside the tent.
It turned out to be Zhao Feng, whose face was still a little pale. He had been beaten by Gong Xichou yesterday, and his injuries had not yet fully healed.
Shen Tang glanced at Zhao Feng, then at Alliance Leader Wu Xian, puzzled. Wu Xian smiled and offered Shen Tang a "free housewarming gift": "I must thank you again yesterday for saving Da Yi's life. If you don't mind, how about Da Yi comes to help you?"
When he said this, Alliance Leader Wu Xian felt somewhat guilty.
The area around Heyin...
He was somewhat troubled after seeing it.
Lending Zhao Feng and his thousand private retainers to the River Governor, a man known for his villainous nature and fierce temperament, felt somewhat like throwing people into a fire pit. If it weren't for Qin Qing's (Qin Li's) insistence, Alliance Leader Wu Xian would have preferred to find another place.
At least--
It doesn't look like a scam.
One of his trusted confidants was lent out?
Shen Tang's lips twitched inwardly.
Zhao Feng is indeed a powerful and courageous martial artist. Shen Tang saved his life, so it's perfectly logical for him to repay that debt of gratitude. This also conveys Alliance Leader Wu Xian's goodwill towards Shen Tang to the outside world. As for whether he had Zhao Feng keep an eye on Shen Tang…
That's a matter of opinion.
At least with Zhao Feng around, Shen Tang had to think twice before making any small moves. Even with these constraints, Shen Tang accepted the offer after hesitating for three seconds. Zhao Feng had obviously been given prior notice, and he accepted without saying a word.
As for Heyin, it's a gathering place for wolves and tigers.
Zhao Feng didn't pay any attention.
By the time Zhai Le heard about this, the matter was already settled.
He asked a question that came from the depths of his soul.
Why take such a roundabout approach?
Shen Tang said, "Of course there are 'difficult reasons'."
With this achievement, Shen Lang was able to rightfully take over a territory in front of Zheng Qiao. It was not safe to detain these people from the Allied Forces, so it was better to send them away and disperse them. Doing so would indeed avoid going through Wu Xian and Gu Ren.
The only drawback is that it is not transparent.
It's as exciting as opening a blind box.
The advantages are numerous, and you don't even need to do the math.
but--
A major problem is facing Shen Tang.
This problem was also something Qi Shan and the others reminded her of.
In a sense, she and Zheng Qiao are on the same level—both are owners of the Imperial Seal, and they are like kings who cannot meet. If they were to meet, it would be extremely likely that "the sky and the earth would collapse" and they would sense each other's presence—therefore, the possibility of Shen Tang being exposed is too great.
Qi Shan didn't dare gamble on this "possibility".
Therefore, the only option is to avoid Zheng Qiao.
In other words, someone needs to step forward and fight for her.
Wu Xian, the leader of the alliance, and Gu Ren are a perfect match.
As for that tiny bit of "profit" lost...
So be it if it's a loss; achieving the goal is the most important thing.
Zhai Huan didn't delve into the details of what the "difficult situation" was.
but--
"I've been to Heyin, that place—"
Zhai Le shook his head as he spoke, looking at Shen Tang with concern.
He was worried that his brother Shen would suffer a great loss.
In Heyin, there are either people or grain.
Otherwise, it would be almost impossible to take it completely.
Shen Tang smiled and said, "Don't be too pessimistic, Xiao Fang. There's always a way out. Trust me, there's always a way out. Most importantly, I believe that there's no one in this world who can be tougher than my sword."
"If there is..."
Shen Tang's smile vanished instantly.
"Then cut it down!"
_(:3」∠)_
They really overestimated themselves.
I got a long manicure with extensions this afternoon. It took two whole hours to trim and style them, and it cost over 200 yuan. Good grief, now I can't type at all...
I've tried all the keyboards, and time is almost up, but I haven't typed more than a few words. I'm so frustrated!
Unfortunately, I had to cut off a lot of my beautiful, fresh long nail tips. It hurts!
Even so, I only managed to write two chapters before running out of ideas.
Damn it!
I must make up for yesterday's update tomorrow!
make a fist!
P.S.: It's so hard to come up with a place name that doesn't overlap with real-world places! I racked my brains and came up with over a dozen, but when I checked Baidu, all I found were ancient place names that had already been used. What kind of luck is this?! Oh well, whatever.
(End of this chapter)
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