knife

Chapter 422 The Fourth Path
"No, you have a fourth way!"

The person speaking was once Zhang Quanyi's colleague, but also his rival.

The two did not have a good relationship in the past.

Even when Zhang Quanyi and Yan Su were discussing who they should turn to as a last resort, this person was one of the most important factors.

Because of him, Zhang Quanyi was unwilling to go and join Li Dachui.

But Zhang Quanyi never expected that when he was at his lowest point and most helpless, the first person to come to him to offer help would be him.

Wu De!

Life's circumstances are truly difficult to explain.

It is said that fortunes change every thirty years, and one's life is subject to change every thirty years; one may experience three periods of poverty and three periods of wealth before reaching old age.
Zhang Quanyi hadn't had such a deep understanding in the past.
But now, it is etched in my memory.

While he was involved in the most core secrets of the Black Ice Guard, Wu De was still doing the hard work of hiding his identity and planting spies everywhere. He also had to personally go to the front line to gather intelligence. At that time, I never paid any attention to Wu De, even though Kou Dayin always took good care of this guy.

In Zhang Quanyi's view, Kou Dayin was only being kind to him because of his hard work, dedication, and unwavering loyalty.

But after his trip to the Northeast, Wu De underwent a complete transformation.

He began to exert himself, striving to catch up with himself in his official career, and even showed signs of surpassing his predecessor.

With Linghu's entry into the pass, the emperor's tragic death, and his own enfeoffment as a king, it seemed that the tide of events had turned in his favor once again.

However, a year or so passed in the blink of an eye. He was penniless, while Wu De was thriving.

“Go beyond the Great Wall!” Wu De said. “I came back from there and know that it is a vast world with great potential. People there are appointed based on merit, and as long as you have the ability, you will surely stand out. Moreover, beyond the Great Wall, in three to five years, the Beiting Protectorate will definitely launch a final war against the Yuan people. There, they need people, they need talented people, especially people like you with high martial arts skills and experience in commanding large armies.”

"The final war against the Yuan?" Zhang Quanyi murmured.

"Of course, the Northern Yuan is divided into three, fighting each other, and the Northern Court Protectorate is constantly exerting influence within them. Their hatred is growing deeper and deeper, and naturally, they are getting weaker and weaker. If given enough time, the Northern Yuan might have collapsed completely on its own in a few more years. However, the situation within the pass cannot be left for the Northern Court to wait any longer. Therefore, it will inevitably launch a final attack to resolve the hidden dangers outside the pass, so that it can focus on developing the interior!"

"Would Li Dachui want me?"
“Why not?” Wu De said, “I know your abilities very well, which is why I recommended you to Protector-General Li. I believe you are capable enough to be the commander-in-chief of a force beyond the Great Wall. There are many talented generals beyond the Great Wall, but a lack of capable commanders. Protector-General Xiao alone is not enough.”

"You recommended me?" Zhang Quanyi looked at the other person with some suspicion.

“Why can’t I recommend you? In the past, I had a problem with you because I thought you were a bad person. But later, it seems that many things are not as I imagined at all. Moreover, even now, you haven’t defected to Linghu Ye and He Zudao. You’re still trying your best, which shows that you still have some loyalty to Qin. Zhang Quanyi, let me tell you the truth. What really moved the Protector-General was this last point!”

"What do you mean?" Zhang Quanyi asked, puzzled.

"Because Protector Li's biological father was named Li Jimin, and his mother was named He Qingqiu!" Wu De said.

Zhang Quanyi jumped up immediately.

Wu De was already used to such reactions.

"Nonsense!" Zhang Quanyi, having calmed down, didn't believe it at all.

"What nonsense am I talking to you about!" Wu De said calmly, "Li Duhu's mother, He Qingqiu, was once in a state of divine travel. What kind of things could such a person do? How could we mortals like us possibly understand? Whether it is true or not, you can slowly experience it later. But it is precisely your obsession with the Great Qin that makes Li Duhu willing to accept you."

“You’re willing to let me go beyond the Great Wall? If that’s the case, when we enter the Great Wall, I might be above you again,” Zhang Quanyi said.

Wu De laughed heartily: "That's exactly what I want, as long as you have the ability. I don't need to compete with you for anything, because I joined early, and my relationship with Protector Li and Protector Xiao goes beyond just power and fame."

"What else?"

“You also share the same ideas and ideals!” Wu De smiled. “When you go to the Northeast, you will definitely have a period of adjustment, but it doesn’t matter. In such a big dyeing vat, even if you don’t want to, you will be unconsciously dyed into the same color by them.”

“Alright, I’ll go!” Zhang Quanyi nodded vigorously. “To be honest, I’m already at my wit’s end. Linghu Ye won’t tolerate me. I’ve killed too many noble families. He might treat me well today because he needs me, but when he no longer needs me, he’ll probably throw me out to curry favor with the noble families who follow him. As for He Zudao, his flirting with the Chu people really disgusts me.”

"What are you going to do if I don't come?" Wu De asked curiously.

"I'll just hang up my hat and leave!" Zhang Quanyi chuckled. "After all, I'm a top-tier eighth-rank martial artist. I can certainly escape. If the world is bad, I'll find a place to become a mountain king. If the world is good, I'll put down my sword and spear, pick up a hoe, and go farm. There'll be a way to make a living, right?"

Hearing Zhang Quanyi's words, Wu De couldn't help but chuckle.

"How do I get to?"

"First and foremost, of course, is the person who will hand over Yiyang to us!"

"Your people?" "They're now He Zudao's people too!" Wu De said, "You've heard of Ke Wuji, haven't you?"

"Your hands have now reached into the Demonic Sect?" Zhang Quanyi was slightly surprised: "He Zudao was able to go south, which can be said to be largely due to Ke Wuji. Ke Wuji was also highly valued under He Zudao. Haha, it's unbelievable that he's one of your people."

“Nothing is unimaginable. Protector Li’s abilities are beyond your imagination!” Wu De laughed. “Ke Wuji is openly He Zudao’s man, so when they took over Yi County, Linghu Ye and the others could no longer make a move. As for you, you will disappear from now on. When you reappear, you may well be the famous general of Beiting who made unparalleled contributions in the campaign against Beiyuan outside the pass.”

"How do I get there?"

“We’ll make the arrangements here. You’re not the only one going to the border with you this time; there’s also a whole new person from Sichuan!” Wu De said.

"I heard that Quanxin is a ninth-rank expert?"

Wu De nodded: "Yes, Quanxin helped us take over Shu County, but because of this, his reputation in Shu County has been somewhat tarnished, and he is disliked by the people of Shu. So he could no longer stay and went to develop outside the pass. Like you, he is also a master of commanding and training troops."

Zhang Quanyi snorted: "His martial arts skills are higher than mine, but when it comes to fighting, I really look down on him."

Wu De remained silent, only smiling as he looked at Zhang Quanyi.

Zhang Quanyi felt embarrassed as he thought about his current situation.

His boasting, especially given his crushing defeat, was indeed somewhat inappropriate.

"In terms of strategic planning, no one can surpass Protector Li; in terms of tactical maneuvering and on-the-spot command, I have never seen a general stronger than Protector Xiao!" Wu De said, "Once you go beyond the Great Wall, you will understand that there are no weak generals or weak soldiers there. Because for hundreds of years, battles have been taking place there constantly. Even if you drag out a random village woman, she can talk to you about tactics and military strategy! They may not understand what these things are, but they use them skillfully. This is the result of practice makes perfect, something they have built up with their lives. Zhang Quanyi, as a friend, I must remind you, once you get beyond the Great Wall, never look down on those Yuan people. When it comes to fighting, any one of them is quite formidable."

"Thank you for your guidance!" Zhang Quanyi said, cupping his hands in greeting.

Yiyang completed the handover quietly.

Zhang Quanyi gathered his trusted confidants, and those who have remained loyal to him until now are truly devoted.

But when they heard that Zhang Quanyi was going to the area outside the Great Wall, many people still looked troubled.

Zhang Quanyi did not make things difficult for them.

Those who want to go, go with us.
Those who don't want to go can stay.
Ke Wuji, who takes over, will treat them well.

Of course, those who wish to leave do so entirely voluntarily.

Ultimately, of the more than thirty officers of the rank of colonel and above, eighteen were willing to follow Zhang Quanyi to the Northeast to fight one more time.

This result was far beyond Zhang Quanyi's expectations.

For the soldiers, this might be a better outcome, as they knew that from now on, they were under the command of General He Zudao.

Moreover, the continuous flow of grain into Yiyang put their minds at ease.

Soldiers eat rations, soldiers eat rations.

If you don't even have enough food to eat, what's the point of being a soldier?
For Ke Wuji, acquiring Yiyang was effortless, connecting Yiyang with Ning County, expanding his territory, increasing his population, and, most importantly, gaining the remaining nearly ten thousand well-trained soldiers.

The fact that they were able to confront Li Guohua's army from beyond the Great Wall under such circumstances and still manage to escape to Yiyang in an organized manner is already a remarkable achievement.

What do Ke Wuji, He Yiming, and their group lack most right now?
Isn't this what a well-organized army looks like?
Whether it's the Demonic Sect or the Canal Gang, they have no shortage of martial arts experts, but they lack well-trained troops.

Now they have it.

Next, these martial arts experts will be placed in the army as vanguards and assault troops, which will immediately increase the army's combat effectiveness many times over.

Moreover, Zhan Zhao and Wu Qi from Hou Tu Banner will soon be coming from Yong'an to join this large group.

It can be said that in a very short time, their force will become a very important force under He Zudao, and their voice will become increasingly influential.

When Wu De left, he was truly at a loss for words, only marveling at the sight.

It seems that wherever Protector Li goes, he has the ability to create a huge stir.

It is said that he went to Danyang?
Let's wait and see what big things he'll stir up this time!

Thinking back to his masterpiece in Beiyuan, I'm really looking forward to it!
(End of this chapter)