knife

Chapter 523 Conspiracy
Thinking about some of the entries in Li Qing's diary that he had seen in Chang'an, and then hearing this farewell song, Li Dachui's mood suddenly improved.

So I'm not alone on this path after all!
Deep down, Li Dachui was always lonely and isolated, and there were many things he couldn't tell even his closest relatives.

Even if you say it, it's hard to convince people.

People like Zhou Zhi might suspect that something went wrong with their practice, causing brain damage.

Fu Qingzhu would definitely come to check his pulse immediately.

Xiao Changche probably thought he was telling her a joke to make her happy!

Let's go to the headquarters of the Demonic Cult in Cloud Mist Mountain and see what this old master left behind.

Or you could talk to this ancient figure from hundreds of years ago!
Without realizing it, Li Dachui's lips curled up into a smile.

"Why are you so happy?" Jiang Qian asked from beside her.

Li Dachui chuckled: "The thought of going to Cloud Mist Mountain with you makes me so happy!"

"Sweet talk!" Jiang Qian said, "What's so happy about that?"

"Why aren't you happy?" Li Dachui shrugged and said, "Jiang Jiang, to be honest, I'm actually quite arrogant. There aren't many people I respect, but you're one of them. So, isn't it a very happy thing to be able to travel with you for a while?"

Jiang Qian looked at Li Dachui meaningfully, nodded, and said, "I feel the same way. Li Bao, are you really not considering staying to be my son-in-law?"

Li Dachui laughed and shook his head: "I won't consider it, but would you be willing to abandon your status as a princess and wander with me beyond the Great Wall?"

Jiang Qian shook her head without hesitation.

“Look, we each have our own principles, and neither of us is willing to give up everything we already have for the other. So, the best thing we can do is enjoy the present, cherish what we have, live this journey together well, and leave behind beautiful memories for the future, right?” Li Dachui said.

"I never knew you could say something so philosophical!" Jiang Qian said. "Well said, let's cherish this moment!"

"When are you going to take me to Yunwu Mountain?" Li Dachui said, "I've already explored almost all of Danyang. I've been to every place that's even remotely interesting, and I don't think there's anything fun left."

"It'll be soon. Let me think about it carefully and figure out a reason that my cousin can believe!"

"Alright!" Li Dachui laughed, "But you didn't bring me out of the city today just to watch this farewell, did you?"

"Of course not," Jiang Qian said. "There's also a scene where we welcome guests!"

Li Dachui turned his head to look around. The group of scholars was dispersing, and those around were mostly travelers, but he couldn't tell who was there to greet the guests.

"The people welcoming guests are over at the city gate. I'm just taking you to see something unusual on the way that guests are bound to pass!" Jiang Qian said with a smile.

"What could be so special and interesting?" Li Dachui felt a little confused. Looking at the other party's ambiguous smile, he suddenly realized: "Could it be Na Wei?" "You guessed right!" Jiang Qian laughed: "Do you know? This man is known as the uncrowned king of the southwest region. He has extremely high prestige. If the court wants to successfully implement the policy of replacing local chieftains with centrally appointed officials, he must be taken down."

"The imperial court ordered him to lead troops to confront He Zudao. Couldn't he see that this was a trap?"

"So what if he can see it? In the southwest, he only has high prestige, but he can't control everything. If he could really have absolute authority, wouldn't he be able to establish himself as king? The court is offering great rewards to lure people in, and naturally, many will eagerly come forward."

"I understand. As long as these people come, the imperial court will actually benefit. Those who can come from the southwest must be brave warriors. Every time such a person dies, it weakens the southwestern barbarian tribes. That's the first point!"

"There's a second one?"

"Secondly, the person who brought these people out must hold a high position in the southwest. Since he's willing to respond to the Great Chu court's call and support this cause, the court will naturally reciprocate by giving him even higher treatment, perhaps even intentionally elevating him to a position equal to Na Wei's. If he wins on the southern battlefield, allowing those warriors from the southwest to return laden with spoils, Na Wei's position will inevitably be shaken. And once someone appears in the southwest who can stand on equal footing with Na Wei, conflict will inevitably begin. So, after much consideration, Na Wei has no choice but to come himself." Li Dachui laughed, "Isn't that the logic?"

"Li Bao, you could be a regent! You've figured out all the little schemes in our court!" Jiang Qian gave him a thumbs up: "Amazing!"

“After all, Na Wei’s position is different. If he agrees to come out, it will inevitably set off a similar effect in the southwest. I estimate that quite a few barbarian soldiers will come out this time. If all these people fall in the eight towns of Jiangnan, hehe, then the southwest will be settled in no time.”

"Perhaps they can help the imperial court take over the eight towns south of the Yangtze River?" Jiang Qian said with a smile.

"If that's the case, Great Chu will make a killing!" Li Dachui said, "He Zudao's strength is not weak!"

“Na Wei also guessed these things, so he went to the capital ahead of schedule to negotiate with the court!” Jiang Qian said, “My cousin said that as long as he goes to the capital, the court has already won seventy or eighty percent of the battle.”

“Indeed!” Li Dachui shook his head and said, “And your cousin really has a wicked sense of humor. She actually arranged for the time when these three people left the capital to coincide with the time when Na Wei entered the capital. The two groups met on the road. Given the nature of your Chu scholars, after things are done, they will definitely treat this encounter as a turning point in history and publicize it extensively in their writings.”

Jiang Qian burst out laughing: "Isn't this quite interesting?"

“Let’s have three minutes of silence for Na Wei!” Li Dachui sighed. “At this moment, he could never have imagined that the few strangers standing by the roadside watching his entourage enter the capital might be the ones who destroyed their tribe.”

"From the court's perspective, the southwest must be integrated into the Great Chu system as soon as possible!" Jiang Qian said, "In this era of great contention, there is no room for the slightest mistake. In the future, whether it is Linghu Sheng or Li Dachui Sheng from outside the pass, Qin will inevitably engage in a final battle with Great Chu. Therefore, this reform of the native chieftain system in the southwest must succeed."

Li Dachui remained silent.

Jiang Qian's idea was certainly good.

With Qin currently in turmoil, Jiang Qian can focus wholeheartedly on resolving the hidden troubles in the southwest. Once she has solved these problems, she will inevitably launch a northern expedition.

In this process, if the State of Chu can cleverly use its methods to keep the various forces on the Qin side from gaining a clear advantage, then the State of Chu will have a significant advantage.

This is something that is not difficult to do at all.

So, I know I made the right decision to come here.

(End of this chapter)