Qin Shi Ambitious

Page 164

Chapter 183 The Giant Wild Lake Monster

After leaving Junjinxuan, "Hidden in the City" ceased operation, and Lu Wei and Chen Ping reached a cooperative relationship.

Chen Ping had only one reason to convince the Hall Master: the benefits he could bring to Hall Master Lu Wei were greater if he didn't join the farming profession.

Farmers can do many things from a farmer's perspective, but there are always some things that are inconvenient to do in a farmer's name.

At this point, Chen Ping's Taoist identity might come in handy.

Lu Wei neither confirmed nor denied this; the reason was valid, but not very strong. His real reason for agreeing to allow Chen Ping to remain independent and providing him with some assistance to achieve cooperation was simply that Gonggongtang could not force him to join.

They either extract benefits from limited cooperation or, fearing it might be used by others, simply kill it.

Realistically speaking, as the head of the Gonggong Hall, Lu Wei would definitely choose the former, while the latter could also make some preparations.

However, Lu Wei believed that, given the current progress of his rebellion, Chen Ping and Xiao He would eventually fall under the control of the Gonggong Hall.

On the Qin side, the two could defect, but they wouldn't have the opportunity to be given important positions. Moreover, when the general trend of the world eventually progressed to the point where 'rebellion is justified,' they would definitely stand on the side of 'justice.'

Among those on the side of justice, the greatest 'justice' will only belong to the peasantry of the chivalrous leader Lu Wei.

At that time, only farmers could trust and properly utilize them. Now that they want autonomy and cooperation, grant them autonomy and cooperation, and first establish those relationships.

Once the partnership was established, the results were immediately apparent.

To prove his worth, Chen Ping presented a piece of intelligence to Master Lu as a surprise: there was a lake called Juye in the area where Wei bordered Qi to the east.

In the Juye Lake, the Juye Water Bandits are rampant. In fact, the Juye Water Bandits are composed of many different small groups of water bandits. Among these water bandits, the leader of one group is named Peng Yue, who is very capable and can serve Master Lu!

Because of his background as a fisherman who occasionally robbed passersby, Peng Yue could be recruited simply by Lu Wei sending a letter of recruitment from his disciple.

Compared to river pirates, the banner of the farmers seems to have a much brighter future.

This is indeed a great gift; the power of the name 'Peng Yue' is far more useful than Chen Ping imagined.

Regarding this matter, Lu Wei planned to immediately send a letter to Zhong Ashan, the headquarters of Dazeshan, upon returning to the inn, asking him to recruit Peng Yue into the farm in his own name.

Chen Ping has the identity of a Taoist family, so the head of the hall can personally bring Xue Nu to Jun Jin Xuan under the guise of strolling through the night market to meet her. This makes the meeting seem important, but in reality, it doesn't seem that important.

For Chen Ping, this level of recruitment effort was: somewhat large, but not extremely large.

But if Lu Wei were to truly bathe, burn incense, and pay a respectful visit, he would surely become suspicious again: he had only revealed his weakness to the merchants of Sanghai and Xiao He, and was not worthy of such treatment from the head of the Farmer's Hall.

The same applies to Peng Yue; Lu Wei cannot personally perform grand salutations to just anyone. Even if these people are very capable, the special attention he receives may deeply move them, but if too many elaborate rituals are performed, the solemnity will be lost.

If we value everyone, that value will lose its inherent weight.

Previously, there was a shortage of talented people under my command, so I had no choice but to do this.

Now, providing appropriate treatment based on social class is more conducive to long-term development.

Regardless of what the future holds for Peng Yue, he is currently just a river pirate: after being recommended by Chen Ping, Lu Wei chose to accept the recommendation, so he sent A Shan's disciples to recruit him, which was enough.

If we don't value it now, we'll show it when Peng Yue makes significant contributions in the future, then Peng Yue will have something to look forward to.

If subordinates are given the maximum benefits right away, won't there be no more opportunities to reward them in the future?

If it really comes to that, the Hall Master will have to give away the "Shulou Sword," which is used for the purpose of discarding a dog after the rabbit is caught.

After befriending Chen Ping and making arrangements for Peng Yue, Lu Wei took Xue Nu to continue having fun in Daliang City. This made Xue Nu feel a little touched. She thought that she was going to go back after finishing her business: someone had never been so patient and affectionate in the past.

The reason why this person made such a change is that after having a child, Lu Wei gradually realized that he could not rely on cold interests to win over his subordinates and the women in his backyard forever.

A two-pronged approach is necessary; emotional connections can sometimes be more useful and appealing than direct benefits. This is especially true in the backyard, where peace and quiet mean less trouble for oneself.

Strolling through the night market until late, the Master even bought a turquoise-inlaid silver bracelet from a boutique and personally put it on Ah Xue.

Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate. At first, the light drizzle was quite pleasant, but later a torrential downpour completely shut down the night market.

On her way back, the Snow Maiden pouted, clearly annoyed by the weather. There were several small towns in the Daze Mountains, but none were as bustling as Daliang City.

...

With Chen Ping's matter resolved, the original development plan for Chun Gu Town was rejected. Lü Qing, A Yu, and Li Shang are drafting a new plan, and it will take a long time before a qualified draft is ready for Master Lu's review.

The retreat organization of A-Ye and Chen-Yu in Daliang City is coming to an end. Next, they need to take their confidants to travel to the Wei Kingdom and collect information on the disciples in various towns, villages and towns and send it to Chungu Town for record-keeping.

The armored gate became the reason why the hall master remained in Daliang City.

Mei San Niang has persuaded a total of one hundred disciples of the Armored Sect to join the Farmer's Clan. This number of Wei Wu soldiers is quite large, but unfortunately, none of them are elite.

The armor-piercing technique makes soldiers who learn it invulnerable to swords and spears on the battlefield. Those with high skill, such as Dian Qing, are like human war chariots, capable of blocking powerful crossbow fire and even gunpowder explosions head-on.

On the battlefield, he was almost like a nimble heavy tank rampaging through a crowd of people wielding cold weapons. In addition to the actual damage he caused, he also had a real deterrent effect on the enemy.

In the original timeline, this leader of the Armored Sect would have smashed thirteen Qin army chariots head-on, fought for several hours, and ultimately been captured exhausted, all without sustaining a scratch. He was renowned as having "an iron head and iron arms, unscathed in a hundred battles."

This is a battlefield demonstration of the Armored Sect's highest combat strength.

Mei San Niang's talent was considered high among the Pi Jia Men, but compared to Dian Qing, the gap was not small.

The disciples she persuaded and recruited were far inferior to her; many of them could only withstand certain blows from swords and knives with certain body parts.

After all, they are not like Dian Qing and Mei San Niang, who are former sect leaders and direct disciples of the former Wei Kingdom general.

Even if they only learned the basics, these people would still be a formidable force on a local battlefield.

After another ten years of training, their skills will be even more profound.

"Mei San Niang greets Master Lu and Miss Xue."

In the tavern outside the Armor Gate, Lu Wei led Ah Xue to meet Mei San Niang, who was carrying a large scythe and gulping down strong liquor.

The former general of Wei must have been an honest and upright person, otherwise he wouldn't have taught disciples like Dian Qing and Mei San, both of whom were trustworthy, single-minded, and heroic.

These two fellow disciples could be described as stubborn to put it bluntly. Therefore, after winning over Mei San Niang through a bet a few years ago, the Hall Master has always trusted her. And Mei San Niang has not disappointed Hall Master Lu; her respect is genuine.

"Third Sister, get up quickly."

Snow Maiden stepped forward and helped Mei San Niang up. Despite her cold nature, she had been radiant these past few days. Mei San Niang and she were old acquaintances, and even after many years, she still remembered this straightforward person.

"Miss Xie Xue."

Mei San Niang's rough, hard fist was grasped by Xue Nu's delicate hand. She withdrew her fist shyly, thanked her, and then looked at Lu Wei, saying solemnly, "Hall Master, a few days ago Steward Ye said that he wanted to send the junior brothers to Daze Mountain."

"That's right, this is my order. Wei may not be safe."

Lu Wei nodded to indicate that the order was in accordance with the command.

"Is the Qin army coming?!"

The loud voices echoed through the tavern, and Mei San Niang wasn't worried about revealing anything, as all the patrons around were her fellow disciples from the Armored Sect.

"After conquering Yan, Qin's next target will probably be Wei." Hall Master Lu replied with only a guess, "You don't have much time left. No matter how many fellow disciples you can persuade, you must bring them back to headquarters by the end of the year."

“Pijiamen Town, I have already built it for you in Dazeshan.”

"Thank you so much, Hall Master Lu!" Mei San Niang thanked him again with gratitude, and then she was eager to get to work: "Senior Brother Dian Qing is in the Armored Gate right now. If the Hall Master wants to see him, I'll take him there right now!"

Mei San Niang knew she wasn't good with words. The persuasive techniques she used to convince her hundred or so fellow disciples were just a few fixed routines she had learned from Li Shiqi when he was still in Daliang City. This was her limit.

Both the Hall Master and Miss Xue are intelligent people. Mei San Niang thought they were better at talking than she was, so she hoped they could persuade Dian Qing. Maybe it would be useful to convince her senior brother, and then the entire Armored Sect could hide in Daze Mountain and stop working for that bastard King Wei.

"No," Lu Wei waved his hand, refusing Mei San Niang's suggestion. He had previously wanted to talk to Dian Qing, and his thoughts were the same as San Niang's.

However, Li Shiqi told the Hall Master that he had met Dian Qing three times before leaving Daliang. The leader of the Armored Sect had extremely firm beliefs, and there was no way he could change his mind before the fall of Wei.

Li Shiqi is the best speaker in the entire Gonggong Hall, and since he says so, Lu Wei trusts his judgment.

Letting Mei San Niang do it was already the best she could do; there was no need for Dian Qing to worry about her anymore.

"Mei San Niang, when you see Senior Dian Qing again, please pass on a message for me."

Mei San Niang listened attentively without saying a word.

"The armored sect within Gonggong Hall will forever await his leadership."

"Yes, I will definitely tell Senior Brother Dianqing this!"

------

Peng Yue, an ordinary fisherman from Juye Lake, was returning home with a bag of coins after fairly dividing his catch with his brothers when he found a handsome young man standing at his door.

Judging from his demeanor, he's a 'big fish'.

But this 'big fish' is too big, and it came prepared. I can't eat it all myself, and forcing myself to eat it might upset my stomach. I should treat it with courtesy.

Staring at the precious sword at the boy's waist and the three-star pearl grass on his chest, Peng Yue recognized him as a disciple of the Farmer's School.

"Are you Peng Yue, the one known as the 'Monster of Juye Lake'?"

The young man took the initiative to clasp his hands in a salute to Peng Yue. The standard gesture of etiquette made Peng Yue feel a little flattered. Despite his youthful arrogance, the young man, who was past his prime, returned the salute with trepidation and said, "Indeed, I wonder what guidance this brother has for me."

The profound thoughts, as deep as the vastness of the Juye Lake, were not revealed at all on Peng Yue's honest and simple face.

"Brave Warrior Peng, I am Li Zuoche, a steward under Lu Wei, the head of the Gonggong Hall of the Farmers. I have been sent by the head of the hall to invite you to join the Gonggong Hall. I wonder if you would be willing to accept?"

Peng Yue had heard of the terms "farmer's family," "Gonggongtang," and "Luwei," and understood their significance.

"So you are the steward of the farm. Peng Zhong has been rude."

Peng Yue cautiously changed his self-reference to his own courtesy name and said, "I am but a nobody. I wonder where Hall Master Lu heard of Peng Zhong's lowly name and sent his steward to find me personally?"

“The Hall Master has his own methods.” Li Zuoche smiled faintly, noticing that Peng Yue’s eyes did not show the timidity or contempt he had shown in his words: “I am just a lowly messenger disciple, unaware of the Hall Master’s true intentions, and only know how to follow the Hall Master’s orders.”

"Could Peng Zhuangshi give me an answer?"

“Of course, of course, Peng Zhong has long admired the Farmer’s School!” Li Zuoche’s appearance and temperament also made Peng Yue not dare to underestimate him. He saw that there was no hostility in the young man’s tone, and after thinking about it, he did not feel that he had offended the Farmer’s School. Besides, if the Farmer’s School wanted to harm him, they would not need to send a manager of the Three Star Pearl Grass to talk to him politely.

Upon hearing this, he immediately thought of the name of a Taoist disciple he had inadvertently robbed a few years ago: Chen Ping.

He once said that he would grant himself wealth and honor.

Last month, Peng Yue exchanged intelligence with Chen Ping through letters; they are cooperating.

"Peng Zhongyuan is willing to join the farmhouse under Steward Li!"

As for choosing between his identities as a river pirate and a disciple of the righteous Farmer's Clan, just as Chen Ping said, Peng Yue would certainly join the Farmer's Clan without hesitation.

...

After the news of Gonggongtang's complete withdrawal from Daliang City reached Situ Wanli's ears through Zhang Er, the gambler Situ immediately went to Shennongtang to discuss the matter with the Zhu family. However, he was told by the steward Liu Ji that the Zhu family had gone to the Chu Kingdom to deal with an internal dispute within Shennongtang there.

Since the head of the Zhu family was not present, he had no choice but to discuss the matter with Liu Ji. After listening, Liu Ji also frowned:

"It's strange, but Gonggongtang's expansion, like its leader, has always been domineering. Yet this year, they've inexplicably become low-key on all fronts."