knife

Chapter 319 A Favor That Receives No Cost
Zhang Qingyun did not go to Sichuan.

Although Li Dachui suggested she do it.

However, Zhang Qingyun believes that although Chang'an will be a battleground for all sides, with heroes from all walks of life wanting to seize it, it also shows the importance of Chang'an. From the Dayong Dynasty to the Qin Dynasty, both eras spanned nearly a thousand years, with Chang'an as their capital, which made people regard Chang'an as a sacred place in their hearts.

This is a sense of awe that has naturally accumulated over a long period of time.

Therefore, the Wei family wanted to hold this place at all costs.

After entering the pass, Linghu clan members were determined to seize this place.

Going out is easy, but coming back is not so easy.

Previously, Zhi Qiu Yuan only had a small outpost in Chang'an. In the past two years, Zhang Qingyun, who has returned, has been working tirelessly day and night to spin a web, just like a spider. Now, this large web is taking shape and has reached a considerable scale.

Next, Zhang Qingyun's task is to weave nodes and networks on this large web. If she leaves now, all her previous efforts will be in vain, which is something she cannot accept.

As for Sichuan, the Black Ice Platform is sufficient for now.

Unlike the Zhi Qiu Yuan, which only entered the pass in the last two years, the Black Ice Terrace has poured a lot of manpower and resources into Shu from the beginning. The importance of Shu to Chang'an has not only become apparent in the last two years.

Any politician with a strategic vision would see this.

Therefore, if Zhi Qiu Yuan were to launch a large-scale invasion of Shu now, it would actually disrupt the stability of the existing Black Ice Agency spy network.

Forcing external entry is less effective than allowing the Black Ice Platform to transform naturally from the inside.

With Wu De, a major figure, entering Sichuan, it's only a matter of time before the Black Ice Terrace in Sichuan becomes part of the Zhi Qiu Courtyard.

“That’s the matter!” Li Dachui pondered, “But Chang’an has become a battleground, and your safety is the most important thing to consider! It’s fine to do it today or tomorrow, it’s just a matter of time, but if anything happens to you, how can I explain it to Zhang Gong?”

Hearing Li Dachui's concern for her personal safety, Zhang Qingyun was pleased and tried her best to keep her expression unchanged, but her eyes unconsciously turned into crescent moons.

“Young Master, you are overthinking it!” Zhang Qingyun said, “When my father was imprisoned and questioned that year, that was when I was most lost and helpless. Although it wasn’t as dangerous as it is now, it was a thousand times, ten thousand times more dangerous for me. I survived those days, so what is there to be afraid of now?”

Zhang Qingyun gracefully rose, poured Li Dachui a cup of tea, and stood in front of him, saying, "Young Master, behind me stands this behemoth from beyond the Great Wall, along with innate martial arts masters like you and the City Lord. Anyone who knows their place would dare to provoke me, would they? And those who are unaware of my background wouldn't have the ability to mess with me here either!"

“But you are, after all, a young woman. When I came here, Zhang Gong was very worried and expressed his desire for you to return to the border region several times!” Li Dachui looked at Zhang Qingyun’s furrowed brows and laughed, “Of course I will not agree to let you return to the border region at this time, but going to the safer Shu region is a good compromise.”

Zhang Qingyun shook her head and said with dissatisfaction, "Young Master, Sister Xiao commands thousands of troops with great skill and courage, and Sister Xia Zhi charges into battle with great prestige. I don't see you worrying about them much. Why do you treat me like a girl?"

Li Dachui laughed and said, "They all have profound martial arts skills and can protect themselves, but you are powerless."

“Young master, I have brains and wisdom!” Zhang Qingyun interrupted Li Dachui: “I remember you once told me that brains are more effective than any force.”

Seeing the two arguing, Wu De, standing to the side, felt a little embarrassed and coughed lightly, saying, "Protector, what Miss Qingyun said makes sense. Chang'an will always be the most important place for intelligence gathering, no matter when. It is not advisable to give it up. Moreover, the Black Ice Guard is strong enough in Chang'an. With the two supporting each other, Miss Qingyun should be safe."

“Since you all say so, then so be it. However, I will transfer Cao Hui, the director of the Zhi Qiu Yuan Operations Division, to Chang’an. He has a wealth of experience in operations behind enemy lines. With him by your side, I will feel more at ease!” Li Dachui made a concession.

"Okay!" Upon hearing Li Dachui's words, Zhang Qingyun, who had been like a bristling hedgehog, immediately became docile, lowering her head and looking down, instantly transforming into a well-behaved kitten.

Wu De sighed inwardly. Back in the Northeast, he had felt that Zhang Qingyun and Luo Ying were born to be spies, and he was right.

Zhou Gang's sudden visit interrupted the three's discussion of the details of their upcoming actions.

Zhou Gang is also a node in the network of Chang'an woven by Zhang Qingyun. His father was once the most trusted minister of the Qin Emperor, the Imperial Edict Drafter Zhou. Whenever there was an important decree, it was this Academician Zhou who drafted the imperial edict before it was issued.

Strictly speaking, Scholar Zhou was also one of the core high-ranking officials of the Qin Empire.

However, after his conspiracy with the Grand Eunuch Huang to forge an imperial edict for Linghu Ye to enter the pass and defend the emperor was exposed, he was imprisoned. Grand Eunuch Huang was directly beaten to death, while Scholar Zhou, because he had many classmates and had always had a good relationship with Wei Zhengdao, was fortunate enough to survive this turmoil, but he was stripped of all his official positions and titles and became a commoner.

The once arrogant young master Zhou Gang suddenly lost all his arrogance in Chang'an.

He had not appeared at the Zhang family residence for a long time.

"Brother Zhou, it's been almost two months since you last came. What brings you here today?" Zhang Qingyun was also surprised to see Zhou Gang like this.

Although Zhou Gang was a notorious playboy in the capital, his scholarship was not lacking. After all, his father had become a scholar, so even if Zhou Gang was a bad person, there was still a bottom line. In addition, he was tall and handsome, and even just looking at him was pleasing to the eye.

However, the Zhou Gang who appeared in front of Zhang Qingyun now had an unshaven beard, a haggard face, and had lost at least twenty or thirty pounds. His clothes, which used to fit him well, now looked too big and hung loosely on his bony frame.

“Miss Qingyun, your place has always been frequented by learned scholars, and you have no uncultured people here. Now that the Zhou family is in dire straits, living in constant fear, it would only make us a laughingstock if we came here.” Zhou Gang said with a wry smile.

Zhang Qingyun raised her eyebrows and spoke in a louder tone, sounding somewhat angry: "So, in Brother Zhou's eyes, I am such a snobbish woman?"

"No, no, I'm just ashamed of myself!" Zhou Gang waved his hands repeatedly.

“Brother Zhou, if you have any difficulties, please don’t hesitate to come to me.” Zhang Qingyun took the teacup from the servant and personally handed it to Zhou Gang, saying gently, “I will never forget that when my father and I were exiled thousands of miles away, on Ba Bridge, only Brother Zhou was there to see me off with a willow branch. When I returned alone, it was Brother Zhou who greeted me at the city gate! You may have forgotten this kindness, but for me, it is something I will remember for a lifetime!”

Zhang Qingyun spoke gently, while Zhou Gang beside her had a flushed face and tears in his eyes. His wrist, holding the teacup, trembled so much that it clattered, making him even more embarrassed. He then placed the teacup on the table.

In the back room, Wu De, who was listening to all this, couldn't help but gasp in astonishment.

Zhang Qingyun is indeed a master of deception.

Such warm and nostalgic words, directed at Zhou Gang who is currently in dire straits, are like a devastating blow to him, leaving him utterly defenseless.

If he were Zhou Gang, he would probably be incredibly moved right now, and the thought of risking his life for the other person would naturally arise.

"Guardian, Scholar Zhou is clearly colluding with Linghu Ye. We didn't touch him before because he has a large number of teachers, students, and classmates. Scholars tend to look out for each other, so we spared his life. Given the crimes he committed, execution would have been the least of our worries. Scholar Zhou understands this, which is why he has always kept a low profile and tried his best not to attract attention. However, it's impossible for him to leave. Originally, if Li Tai had ascended the throne, his family might have had a chance to rise again, since he had been the Crown Prince's teacher. But now that Li Tai is dead, and Wei Zhengdao is determined to defend Chang'an, Scholar Zhou's life is most likely lost. That's why he's in a hurry and has come to Miss Qingyun."

"So, Zhou Gang isn't entirely stupid after all!" Li Dachui laughed.

“Young Master, Zhou Gang was just arrogant in the past, not stupid!” Wu De laughed. “He doesn’t know who Qingyun’s real backer is, but Zhang Ruo is now very famous outside the pass and is highly valued by the Protector-General.”

“That’s true. Now that disaster is upon us, it’s like a drowning person grabbing at a straw; they’ll cling to it desperately!” Li Dachui nodded. “I guess he wants to leave the city and seek refuge with Linghu Ye.”

“That should be the case,” Wu De said.

“Since we’re going to do someone a favor, let’s go all out!” Li Dachui laughed. “Scholar Zhou’s character isn’t great, but his scholarship is truly excellent. Moreover, his ability to get things done is limited. Sending him out won’t be of much help to Linghu Ye. Once he’s with Linghu Ye, he’ll feel like he’s done a great service. If he’s not valued by Linghu Ye, he’ll inevitably harbor resentment, and it will also cause others to have some opinions about Linghu Ye.”

"So, you're saying you'll help them out?"

"It's beneficial without costing anything!" Li Dachui laughed. "Go tell Wei Zhengdao about this. Just say that you owed this person a favor years ago and now want to repay it. Wei Zhengdao won't have any unpleasantness with you because of such a person."

Wu De nodded.

(End of this chapter)