Xie Ming

Chapter 20: Introduction to Spy
In the mountains not far from the east bank of the Hun River, Xiao Jingchuan wanted to take the opportunity to train his two foreign relatives, Liu (Liu Wenbing) and Gong (Gong Yonggu).

"Old Xiao, are you sure you want to use these two people?" Qiu Zhizhong said again.

"Hey, it's okay, Feiyu (Qiu Zhizhong), just relax!" Xiao Jingchuan replied.

"Okay, that's fine. Since you've made up your mind, I'll also ask for your help!"

"Oh?" Hearing this, Xiao Jingchuan raised his eyebrows.

"Old Xiao, you know that I, Qiu Zhizhong, am not good at archery and horse riding. I am afraid that I can't help you in the battle."

"But there is one thing, you are not as good as me!"

Speaking of this, Qiu Zhizhong paused intentionally, and Xiao Jingchuan looked back with even more interest.

"Although my Qiu family is not a royal family, we have been a family of scholars for generations, and our students and former officials are all over the world."

"When it comes to dealing with people, observing people's words and expressions, and dealing with the human relationships, you are not as good as me! Do you agree or not?!" Qiu Zhizhong said.

"I admit it!" Xiao Jingchuan answered sincerely.

"So, I began to think, this time I came out with you, what use can I make to you?"

"In my opinion, there are two uses for it at this stage!"

"First, I will use my relationship with the Crown Prince and the court officials to help you, Old Xiao, mediate and stabilize your position!"

"The second thing is what I am going to do now. It is to help you, Xiao Jingchuan, or to help our newly formed Xiao family army to open up the Clairvoyance and Super Ear!"

Hearing this, Xiao Jingchuan seemed to understand what he meant and suddenly interrupted.

"Spy!"

"You have to take charge of the intelligence work!"

"Haha, the one who knows me best is Xiao Jingchuan!" Qiu Zhizhong nodded and affirmed the words.

"So? What do you want to ask for?" Xiao Jingchuan also asked.

"In my opinion, the retainers brought by the ministers are far inferior to the soldiers led by you and Li Huchen in terms of both combat experience and bravery."

"The reason for this is far from being caused by a simple lack of training."

"You have to know that these people's original duties were not all about wielding guns and sticks."

"In comparison, dealing with all kinds of people who come to the palace and observing their expressions and words may be more difficult than wielding the weapons at hand!"

"So, I intend to gather the remaining fifty servants and rule them alone!"

"Old Xiao, you are too lazy to use these people here, so why not give them to me? I can make the best use of their strengths and avoid their weaknesses. In time, they may be of great use elsewhere!"

Qiu Zhizhong's words were quite tactful. I think he was worried that he couldn't persuade Xiao Lang, so he resorted to this desperate measure.

Hearing this, Xiao Jingchuan burst out laughing and covered his mouth.

"Good job, Qiu Zhizhong! You are really good! You have been waiting for me here after going around for so long!"

"Ah? Really? Look at you, Lao Xiao. Thirty, thirty should be enough!"

Qiu Zhizhong's little trick was exposed by Xiao Lang, and he felt a little embarrassed, but he didn't give up, so he still forced himself to bargain for the price, fearing that Xiao Jingchuan would not agree.

"You, you!"

"Is it necessary to do this between you and me?"

"I see you must have been kicked by a donkey before you came here!"

"Why wouldn't I agree? This is a good thing. I, Xiao Jingchuan, would never get it even if I begged for it!" Xiao Jingchuan said with a smile.

"Are you serious?" Qiu Zhizhong asked.

"Really! Of course I'm serious!"

"But if you ask me, you are only looking at the present. Feiyu (Qiu Zhizhong), have you ever thought about what the world will be like in the future?" As Xiao Jingchuan's mind turned, he had pushed Qiu Zhizhong's current affairs to a new height.

"What situation? If we talk about the interests between you and me, chaos in the world is the best, dividing the country by the river is the second best, and the worst is the dominance of the Dashun family!" Qiu Zhizhong replied.

"Hey, no!"

"In my opinion, the Dashun Army has limited days left, and our future enemies are still outside the Great Wall!" Xiao Jingchuan teased.

"Outside the Great Wall? Are you referring to the Jurchens and the Jiannu? How many troops do they have?" Qiu Zhizhong was puzzled.

"The Jiannu have limited troops, but you'd better believe me, in the future, these barbarians will definitely be our mortal enemies!"

"So, if you want to be a spy, you can't just limit yourself to these people!" "Once we enter Sanpo and have some strategic breathing time, I hope you can gradually expand this big network of spies and detectives!"

"It's like throwing beans all over the sky, and the beans become soldiers!"

"The Ming Dynasty has two capitals, thirteen provinces, hundreds of states and thousands of counties. I hope you can drive the secret stakes in your hands like nails into every inch of land!"

"I predict that for a long time to come, except for the southeast corner, most of the prefectures will be occupied by the enemy. Whether it is the Dashun or the Jiannu who will enter the Central Plains in the future, we can't wipe them out in a day or a day."

"Then, my frontline soldiers may not be able to reach their territory, but the secret line controlled by you, Qiu Zhizhong, must be buried in it!"

"The Art of War says, if you know yourself and your enemy, you can fight a hundred battles without danger!"

"With this spy network, you and I won't have to worry about not accomplishing great things!"

"Feiyu (Qiu Zhizhong), do you have the confidence to accomplish this?"

When Xiao Jingchuan became excited, he actually grabbed Qiu Zhizhong's sleeve!

"Old Xiao, Old Xiao, you are more far-sighted than I thought!" Qiu Zhizhong sighed.

"Is that possible?!" Xiao Lang asked.

"I'll try my best!" Qiu Zhizhong knew how difficult it was for Xiao Jingchuan to fulfill his wish, so he frowned and didn't want to boast.

"General, all the troops are resting on the spot and have hidden themselves!"

Just as Xiao and Qiu finished their conversation, Gu Changting hurried back to report.

Seeing this, Xiao Jingchuan let out a long breath, adjusted his mind, and waved his hand to tell Chang Ting that he understood.

Gu Changting had been with Xiao Lang for a long time and knew his limits. Seeing that his general was having a secret conversation with Master Qiu, he tactfully turned around and walked away.

"Okay, let's put this matter aside for now!"

"Fei Yu (Qiu Zhizhong), you stopped me from recruiting Liu and Gong. Speaking of this matter, do you want them to take some servants with them?" Xiao Jingchuan asked again.

"Oh, not only that, I also want to go with you!" Qiu Zhizhong replied.

"You, you have to go too." Xiao Jingchuan thought, worried about the other party's safety.

But then he changed his mind, sighed, and said, "Okay, whatever you want!"

"I have been through many great rivers and waves, how can I not protect this small ditch?"

"If I release Cao Cao today, all the heads above will be handed over as military orders."

As he spoke, Xiao Lang actually began to sing and recite lines from an opera.

Hearing this hidden meaning, Qiu Zhizhong smiled knowingly.

"You are Guan Yu guarding Huarong Road!"

"You want to provoke them and win their hearts and minds with a military order!"

"Haha, yes, yes!" Xiao Lang answered with satisfaction.

"Go, call those two!"

As he spoke, Qiu Zhizhong nodded and turned back to join the team at the rear.

After a while, Liu Wenbing and Gong Yonggu, two royal relatives, followed Qiu Zhizhong to the position where Xiao Jingchuan was waiting in front of the battle.

"Mr. Xiao, what's the matter? Ask Brother Zhizhong to call the two of us over?!"

Liu Wenbing had a broad and strong build, but compared to Li Huchen, he looked a little fat.

Now, this man was proud of his status and wanted to put on some airs when he was called over, so he did not address Xiao Jingchuan as General, but just called him Young Master, which was inappropriate and seemed to be quite mocking.

What's worse, this guy not only used an inappropriate title, but as he spoke, he suddenly patted Xiao Jingchuan's shoulder with one hand.

The posture was as if Xiao Lang was a subordinate in his mansion.

Seeing this, Xiao Jingchuan was stunned at first, then he raised his eyes and stared at Liu Wenbing intimidatingly.

Only after he had frightened the fellow and made him withdraw his hand did he speak.

"Haha, Lord Liu Wenbing, the Marquis of Xinle, you have such great strength!"

"Fei Yu (Qiu Zhizhong) has repeatedly advised me that Lord Liu and the son-in-law of the emperor, Captain Gong Yonggu, are so brave and capable, and so talented as to be generals. It seems that if I, Xiao Jingchuan, don't allow them to fight, it will be my fault!"

(End of this chapter)