The former subordinates trembled with shame.
He suddenly stood up and bowed deeply to Fang Yan, but was grabbed by the other's outstretched hand just as he was about to kneel down.
Fang Yan asked, puzzled, "What are you doing?"
The former subordinate blushed with embarrassment, his head bowed, not daring to meet Fang Yan's gaze: "This humble servant has misunderstood your intentions, sir, and is deeply ashamed."
With the abilities of the Fang brothers, if it weren't for those concerns that made them willingly tie their own hands, it wouldn't be difficult for them to rise above others! High-ranking positions and generous salaries would be easy for the three of them, but at least they wouldn't have to humiliate themselves by starting as lowly soldiers.
Fang Yan thought for a moment and realized what the other party had misunderstood.
"Be careful what you say!" His expression was gentle yet cautious as he patiently advised his former subordinate, "I am still a commoner, and you, as an important figure in the Kang Kingdom's army, how can you refer to yourself as 'this humble servant' to me? If this gets out to those with ulterior motives, it could easily arouse unnecessary suspicion and doubt. As for misunderstandings, if I were you, I would think the same way. This is only human nature, and you don't need to blame yourself for it."
The former subordinates felt even more guilty.
I never expected Fang Yan to consider things so carefully for me.
"Your Highness—" He stopped abruptly from using the self-address that was about to come out, lowered his voice, and leaned close to Fang Yan's ear to say, "Over the years, I've managed to build some relationships with a few close brothers. Why don't you and General Chao come to my place so I can take care of you?"
Firstly, he genuinely wanted to repay the kindness.
Secondly, Fang Yan and the other two will rise to prominence sooner or later, so it's good to do them a favor before they gain power.
Thirdly, there was also some unspeakable selfishness involved.
As everyone knows, since Dong Dao, physicians have had a unique cultivation system, and Fang Yan has superb medical skills, especially in treating women's and children's illnesses. In addition, based on what he just said, the other party is very likely to become a physician!
How precious are medical practitioners?
The entire Kang Kingdom couldn't even scrape together three digits.
He had witnessed firsthand the skills of the medical practitioners, especially their ability to regenerate severed limbs—it was nothing short of miraculous!
Currently, only the physicians of the Medical Bureau have mastered the essence of it.
Even fewer of them were able to go on campaigns with the army.
Those assigned to their own battalion...
That's hard to say.
If Fang Yan could come, that would be a wonderful thing!
Putting everything else aside, the fact that wounded soldiers have a higher chance of survival is worth his efforts, not to mention the priority recovery benefits for disabled soldiers. Obtaining a medical practitioner is like having a reassuring trump card.
This is just Fang Yan; there are also Chao Lian and Shao Chong.
Both of them are fierce generals who can wreak havoc in the enemy camp!
How many military merits can one earn on the battlefield in the northern desert?
Of course, he had no intention of embezzling the three men's military merits, but if he could benefit from their achievements and make his future even brighter, why wouldn't he be happy to do so? It's a win-win situation!
However, Fang Yan did not agree.
He was unwilling to use the connections of the Duke's mansion and his former subordinates to avoid suspicion and trouble for them. If he were to receive their favors, what would be the point of his actions? He could only politely decline.
I appreciate your kindness.
Seeing this, the former subordinate could no longer press the matter, and said, "If you ever need my help in the future, I will do my duty without hesitation!"
After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,
Fang Yan shared a few drinks with him as a farewell gesture.
Before parting, he gave a few more words of advice, urging his former subordinates to be careful with their words and actions, which they all agreed to. After seeing his former subordinates off, Chao Lian looked at the leftover food that had not yet been cleaned up and suddenly sighed, "People always say 'when people leave, the tea grows cold,' but in my opinion, that's not always the case. There are always kind and righteous people who are still willing to remember your kindness, elder brother."
If my elder brother could see this, he would be very pleased.
Fang Yan said, "Things have changed, but people are no longer the same."
This is his biggest takeaway from catching up with old friends lately. From the political situation to people, so much can change in five years.
He also understands that people always have to move forward.
For example, them; for example, oneself.
Fang Yan and his group were preparing to leave the mountain during the Northern Desert War, and they did not forget their old acquaintances in their various plans, so they sent someone to the Lin residence to inquire.
They had known Uncle Lin for many years.
It would be even better if the other party could join as well.
Since Fang Yan and his two companions settled into the Duke's mansion, Lin Sishu (Lin Chao), also known as Lin Sishu, was taken back to the Lin family mansion by Lin Feng and has been staying by the side of the Lin family patriarch to fulfill his filial duties. When Fang Yan's message arrived, the Lin family patriarch happened to be mentioning the matter to his grandson.
The grandfather and grandson were playing chess in the courtyard.
These days, Lin Chao finally realized that the person in charge now is really his niece Lin Feng. She is so busy that she is nowhere to be seen all day long, and her aura is even stronger than that of her elder brother back then.
She took in and cared for all the elderly people in the Lin family who remained in their ancestral home.
The old brothers gathered together to enjoy their retirement.
Every day, he either plays with the birds and takes them for walks, or sits down to reminisce about the past, while listening to Grandpa Lin brag about his great-granddaughter, Lin Feng.
Now, the audience has added Lin Chao to the list.
Grandpa Lin did cherish Lin Chao for a while; a grandson who has been lost and found is always special. But the two of them saw each other every day, and over time they began to find each other an eyesore.
The grandson is in his prime, yet he does nothing but live at his niece's house every day. What's the difference between this and relying on his niece for old age? Even Lin Feng's own father doesn't get this kind of treatment.
He wanted to know when his grandson would go out to find work.
Lin Chao: "..."
Although he hasn't dealt with many people over the years, the quality of those people has been high, especially the old man Ji Moyu. Over time, Lin Chao's ability to read people has improved rather than diminished: "Grandson does have the idea of making a career, but he is new to Kangguo and is not familiar with the country, let alone how the people here are recruited. If he goes through Lingde's connections, he will inevitably be criticized."
He doesn't have the nerve to take advantage of his niece.
Lin Chao's current idea is to find a job in a small place, work hard for a few years, and then achieve self-reliance first.
"It's good that you think that way." Old Master Lin nodded with a gratified expression. "Lingde has had a tough time over the years. There are many people eyeing her current position, trying to bring her down. As her uncle, you can't help her, nor can you hold her back."
Lin Feng is far more successful than his grandson.
"If only you could have come back two years earlier, back then the court could accept resumes from aristocratic families and scholars from the common people, regardless of their background or age. As long as they had strong abilities, they could be sent down for internships. But I haven't heard anything like that last year or this year. Instead, there are rumors that the king is planning to establish some kind of 'civil service examination,' which will be more difficult and have higher requirements."
Lin Chao missed the good time.
"Is there a detailed plan? I'll see if it can be done." Old Master Lin said regretfully, but Lin Chao was unmoved. He knew his own limitations perfectly well. He had a good attitude; if his career didn't go smoothly, he would find another way. He wouldn't starve.
Old Master Lin didn't continue speaking, but changed the subject: "There's been another war recently. Instead of gambling on this unknown 'imperial examination,' you should try your luck in the army. You may not be good at fighting on the front lines, but you're capable of logistics."
In the event of war, many positions will need to be filled. Entering officialdom through military merit, while risky, is also a shortcut.
Lin Chao hadn't thought of this at first.
Old Master Lin wasn't in a hurry for Lin Chao to give an answer.
He simply said, "Think about it carefully."
Just as Lin Chao was hesitating, Fang Yan happened to send someone over.
The two sides hit it off immediately.
Since it was such a coincidence, we decided to sit down and discuss it.
Lin asked sarcastically, "Have you asked Shao Bai?"
Fang Yan and Chao Lian exchanged a glance and both shook their heads. They didn't intend to ask, "Shao Bai is, after all, a member of the Gongxi clan. He has no ambition for fame or fortune. If we rashly drag him into this mess, how will we explain it to Gongxi Chou? Given how much Gongxi Chou values Shao Bai, he wouldn't be happy for Shao Bai to take risks in the army. It's fine if Shao Bai remains unknown, but if he becomes famous—"
What should Ji Moyu do if his enemies come knocking on his door?
Therefore, Fang Yan did not include Ji Moqiu in the plan.
"That's truly a pity." Lin Chao was enlightened and also realized this. He had spent the most time with Ji Moqiu and was the person who knew the latter's strength best besides Ji Moyu. In direct combat, he might not be as strong as a top general, but in terms of a wide variety of tricks and endless methods, no one could match him. The more chaotic the battle, the more advantageous it would be for Shao Bai, and the more effective he could be.
Little did they know—
Before they even started making their plans, Ji Moqiu had already set his sights on it.
This story begins two days ago.
Although Su Shang's medical visit turned out to be a false alarm, his age was a factor, and his aging body couldn't hold on much longer—something even the Imperial Physician Dong Dao couldn't help. Qi Shan tossed and turned, unable to sleep, when he saw Xun Ding returning from leave early. Suddenly, a crazy idea burst forth with astonishing power, firmly occupying his mind.
If the traditional Chinese medicine practitioners are no good, what about the Gongxi clan?
The methods of the Gongxi clan may not be ineffective.
The next day, after finishing his shift, Qi Shan brought Su Shang to visit.
When Ji Moqiu heard that Qi Shan wanted to see him instead of Gongxi Chou, he was momentarily stunned. If he remembered correctly, Qi Shan was the Grand Secretary of Kang State, a high-ranking and powerful official, extremely busy with affairs of state. It was understandable that he would seek out Gongxi Chou, who was nominally the Grand General of Kang State, while he himself was a commoner with little interaction with Qi Shan. Why would Qi Shan want to see him?
I had my doubts, but I dared not be negligent.
"Quickly, bring them in."
After the two took their seats, Ji Moqiu secretly sized up Qi Shan. He vaguely felt that the face was familiar, but he couldn't remember where he looked.
I had no choice but to take the initiative to break the awkward atmosphere.
"I wonder what important matter you seek out me, Minister Qi?" He preferred to stay at home and had never heard of the uproar about the cat-human relationship, nor did he think there was anything wrong with bringing a cat to my door late at night. "If there is any need, I will do my best."
"Does the High Priest have a method to prolong the lifespan of animals?"
Ji Moqiu: "...Extend the lifespan of animals?"
He suspected he had misheard.
"On the day Xun Yong'an and your sister got married, didn't the High Priest also try to secure the opportunity for your sister to grow old with Xun Yong'an and his wife?"
Ji Moqiu felt like his brain was about to freeze.
He stared blankly at Qi Shan, trying to discern other intentions from her face. When he realized that Qi Shan was serious, his already not-so-sharp tongue seemed to be tied in knots: "Does Qi Zhongshu mean... that he also wants to make a pact with his beloved pet?"
The amount of information was so large that it exceeded his processing capacity.
Qi Shan asked, "Is that alright?"
Ji Moqiu shook his head honestly: "No."
Why?
“You are a human, you can say ‘no’ or ‘yes’, but the pet in Qi Zhongshu’s arms is not. It is only intelligent and more clever than ordinary cats, but it cannot distinguish right from wrong or know right from wrong like a human. Furthermore, the basis of that secret technique is the genuine consent of the person who made the agreement, which your pet cannot do. Qi Zhongshu’s actions are really asking the ‘cat’ to do something it cannot do.”
Qi Shan: "..."
Just when Qi Shan thought he was about to suffer a crushing defeat, Ji Moqiu's words gave him a glimmer of hope: "But, if it's just about extending the cat's lifespan, that's not difficult, and there's no need to form a secret technique with it. That secret technique is for lovers to be together..."
All that's left is to tell Qi Shan—
The secret techniques of the Gongxi tribe are not meant to drive pet owners crazy.
Qi Shan was overjoyed: "Really? Will it extend my life by several years?"
Ji Moqiu almost couldn't withstand his intense emotions and whispered, "I don't know, this is my first time too."
Before the Gu scourge of the Wu Kingdom, the Gongxi tribe, in order to protect their territory, had a high priest who implanted specially made Gu worms into strong wild animals, using the worms to communicate with the Gu mother. Through the Gu worms, the divine power fed to them by the high priest was transformed into nourishing medicine for the animals' bodies, thus strengthening the beasts and enabling them to guard the tribe's safety.
Longevity is merely an added benefit.
Actually, it hasn't been that many years.
But for a cat's lifespan, it's equivalent to living an extra lifetime.
"Does it have to be you who feeds them?"
Praying for goodness has no divine power.
Ji Moqiu shook his head: "A literary style is fine too."
Looking at Su Shang in his arms, who was too lazy to even stretch, Qi Shan asked worriedly, "Will this have any other drawbacks for Su Shang?"
Because of his past, he really didn't like Gu worms.
Ji Moqiu: "Drawbacks? There are some. The Gu worm is picky and only recognizes the food it is fed for the first time. If Qi Zhongshu wants to plant this Gu in his beloved pet, it means that Qi Zhongshu will die and your beloved pet will 'starve to death'. You should think it over before asking for the Gu."
Su Shang's mental state allows him to live for another two years, so there's no rush.
Upon hearing this, Qi Shan felt much more at ease.
Before leaving, Qi Shan casually mentioned something.
"Your younger brother is currently serving in the army and is about to go on an expedition. There is a formidable enemy in the Northern Desert who could threaten his life. Does the High Priest have any plans to join the army to assist him?" Before coming to find Ji Moqiu, he gathered all the information he could find. He only knew that Ji Moqiu was traveling with Fang Yan and two others from the Duke's Mansion and Lin Chao from the Lin Mansion. He was a fairly famous wandering knight-errant. Every wandering knight-errant would want to make a name for himself.
The high priest of the Gongxi clan is a treasure trove.
We might as well use Gongxi Chou as bait to try and recruit him.
Ji Moqiu was surprised and shocked: "An expedition?"
"The High Priest doesn't know?"
“A-Nian hasn’t mentioned this to me yet… Is the formidable enemy in the Northern Desert that Qi Zhongshu spoke of a young man who looks to be in his twenties or thirties?” Ji Moqiu suddenly remembered Gong Cheng, whom he had met that day, and immediately couldn’t sit still. “If this boy is in the Northern Desert, he must not be allowed to live! Since the king uses a benevolent and righteous army, all those with ambition in the world should follow him. Although Ji Mo is not talented, he is willing to serve his cause in some way.
Qi Shan: "..."
The high priest was unexpectedly zealous and righteous, unlike Gongxi Chou, who seemed unrestrained but was actually passive and escapist. His temperament was also much better than the stubborn Gongxi Chou. The elaborate rhetoric Gongxi Chou had prepared for persuasion was rendered useless.
Qi Shan left with a smile.
Gong Xichou rushed back as soon as he received the news.
"Big brother!!!"
|ω`)
I went to Bozhou to meet up with my friends today (my fitness and weight loss plan is on hold for a few days, consider it a day of indulgence, I'll resume when I get home). My child is being looked after by his maternal grandmother. His temperature has been stable all day, and he's in good spirits. He's using his walker like a skateboard, and the entire living room isn't enough for him to pedal around in.
P.S.: They all have drafts saved up, but I don't...
PPS: Gong Xichou: My brother looks so cheap.
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