Jiangshan Fengwuzhi

Chapter 107 Exploitation
Min Yuanxiu had a limp in his foot and limped when he walked, but it did not affect his decisive and murderous aura.

He walked into the room and said, "Are you not going to see me, the governor?"

Gu Jingnian was puzzled as to why he had to meet him, and was even more puzzled as to why such a person as he cared about these empty formalities.

"You are the Kaiping Police Captain after all." Min Yuanxiu said with a straight face, "Since you are my subordinate, how dare you be rude?"

Gu Jingnian shook his head and said, "I no longer belong to Kaiping Division."

"Why? When did I dismiss you from your post?" Min Yuanxiu said, "Since you are in Kaiping Division, even if you really die, you will be Kaiping Division's ghost. If you burn, you will be Kaiping Division's ashes."

"I burned down the Kaiping Division and committed the crime of treason. Will Envoy Min share the blame with me?"

Min Yuanxiu waved his hand and said, "Your ability is limited. Even if you are plotting treason, it's nothing more than burning some buildings and houses. It's not something I can't handle."

This was quite new. Gu Jingnian didn't quite believe it and just laughed it off.

Laws are used to deter people. There is no reason to ignore the crime of treason just because the damage caused is not great, unless he has something more worthy of being used.

Seeing that he was stubborn, Min Yuanxiu stopped beating around the bush and got down to business.

"Swiss country strictly prohibits alchemy. This is what your majesty is doing sincerely. You may not believe me, but I can tell you that the prime minister, commander, generals and other important officials are all refining aliens. This is human nature. If the water is too clear, there will be no fish. The imperial decree sometimes cannot control human nature. What I must tell you is that your majesty has done his best to curb this matter over the years, and I have witnessed it firsthand."

These words were spoken sincerely, but obviously not enough to impress Gu Jingnian.

Min Yuanxiu continued, "Why do you think His Majesty uses an amateur like me as the Southern Court's pacification envoy? Others say it's because I was a former palace guard, but in fact it's because I firmly oppose alchemy."

"You are against alchemy, but you have cultivated a lot of skills?"

"I practiced the Lion Roar skill. I practiced it." Min Yuanxiu said, "I don't deny that my father is a foreign race in Yihai, a Huanren. Huanren has only one eye, and his roar can drown out the roar of hundreds of beasts. I was born different, but I don't have such strength now. I am just like ordinary people who make up for their shortcomings with hard work."

Gu Jingnian had always thought that Min Yuanxiu wore half a mask because he was blind in one eye. When he saw him take off the mask, he discovered that the other half of his face was covered with scars, but there was no injured eye socket. There was only skin there, and there was no eye in the first place.

"Eating the flesh of the Huan people can cure most skin diseases. Therefore, it is extremely difficult for the Huan people to survive in Zhongzhou. Even my father died from hunting in the end." Min Yuanxiu said: "Therefore, I am more determined than you to oppose alchemy. At least, I will not give up on myself."

Gu Jingnian had also been hunted down as a prey, so he could understand Min Yuanxiu's feelings, but he still said, "That's not what I saw."

"Do you think it's easy to curb people's greed? It's not easy to make people strong and ban the art of refining. There are many officials in the court who rely on their power to do whatever they want, but the country of Rui has not become the country of Yue because of your majesty and the people like us who are still persisting."

"so what?"

"Others say that you have committed heinous crimes, such as killing officials, robbing prisons, and even setting fire to the palace." Min Yuanxiu said, "But in His Majesty's heart, you have done a great job in fighting against the Refiner."

"what."

Gu Jingnian laughed.

Min Yuanxiu knew that he was mocking what he said, but he didn't take it as an offense and continued: "This is true. In recent years, due to the increasing pressure from Yong State, the refiners of Rui State took the opportunity to seize power and gain momentum. They have gained control of the court and have become too powerful to be eliminated. Even His Majesty can't do anything about them. Today, you killed Zheng Kuangfu..."

"Killing Zheng Kuangfu is nothing, you can all do it."

"That's right, but you are such a perfect chess piece to deal with the Refiner. It would be a pity if you died. So I asked His Majesty to use you."

Regardless of how true or false the previous words are, we have finally gotten to the point at this point.

The important thing is that Gu Jingnian did not make a choice.

He could ridicule Min Yuanxiu for being hypocritical and trying to win people's hearts, because ridicule was nothing, but he could not refuse to be used by Min Yuanxiu.

Of course, conditions can still be proposed.

"Why should I work for you?" Gu Jingnian asked, "Just because you said you were firmly against alchemy, a piece of empty talk, you tricked me into working for you?"

"I will protect Gu Caiwei and her daughter."

Min Yuanxiu was talking about protection, not letting go. After saying that, he added another sentence.

"For the time being, I can't let them go. Even if I do, you won't be able to take them away safely."

Gu Jingnian did not answer, but was thinking in his mind that he did not have a safe place to take Gu Caiwei and her daughter for the time being, but he was unwilling to be controlled by Min Yuanxiu all the time.

So, instead of answering right away, he asked, "Where's my brother-in-law?"

"in my possession."

"Can you let him go?"

“No.” Min Yuanxiu said, “He is no longer Lu Yanning. He has lost all his will. I can’t cure him. Right now, I am already under a lot of pressure to prevent him from falling into the hands of the caged people and the Northern Yamen.”

Gu Jingnian asked again: "Once Zheng Kuangfu dies, what will happen to the caged people and the Northern Yamen?"

"I thought you didn't care about this, but you should know that only when we, the people who oppose alchemy, become stronger, will they become weaker, and will pose less of a threat to you."

"You can't even take my sister's child out of Beiya."

Min Yuanxiu said: "If you do something for me, I can do it."

Gu Jingnian was finally somewhat convinced and asked, "What do you want me to do?" "It's very simple." Min Yuanxiu said, "Capture Gu Beiming and bring him back to Ruiguo."

"Simple?"

“It may be difficult for others, but it is not difficult for you.”

Gu Jingnian is indeed the best candidate for this matter. He is not only Gu Beiming's father but also his son. He has fire wings that can allow him to fly back to Rui State. His self-healing physique and disguise skills also allow him to get things done smoothly in Yong State.

The question is, why did Min Yuanxiu insist on bringing Gu Beiming back? He even went so far as to rescue a traitor and persuade him with kind words.

"Is it worth it?" Gu Jingnian asked, "Not killing me, just for him?"

Min Yuanxiu sighed, "Do you know where the most difficult part of banning alchemy is? It's not in Rui Country, but in the entire Zhongzhou. It's easy for you to kill Zheng Kuangfu today, but if Zheng Kuangfu's plan to strengthen the army with alchemy is not implemented, how can we resist Yong Country's invasion in the future? Gu Beiming has provided alien captives to alchemists for many years, and he knows a lot about the military affairs of our Rui Country. If we don't get rid of him, Rui Country will be destroyed."

Although Gu Jingnian didn't care whether Ruiguo was destroyed or not, he asked, "Since that's the case, why don't you let me kill him?"

Min Yuanxiu was stunned for a moment, then said: "You can disregard the relationship between father and son, but Your Majesty has not forgotten the loyalty between monarch and subject..."

As he spoke, thinking that these false words could not convince Gu Jingnian, he changed the subject and began to tell the truth.

"We have important intelligence that we must ask Gu Beiming for, and we must strive for the return of the Xiaoyi Army to the Rui Kingdom. This cannot be achieved by killing Gu Beiming alone."

"Oh."

"You can't just assassinate people." Min Yuanxiu said with a sullen face, "We are dealing with matters of national importance, and we can't rely on small means to do it."

"I won't assassinate Gu Beiming."

"You agreed?"

"No." Gu Jingnian shook his head and said, "If I bring Gu Beiming back with me, won't I be at your mercy?"

"If you can bring him back, I will hand Gu Caiwei and her daughter over to you." Min Yuanxiu said, "If you are worried, you can exchange them at the border between the two countries."

"Is it safe then?"

Min Yuanxiu asked: "You also want to go to Yongguo, don't you?"

This sentence touched Gu Jingnian's heart.

He wanted to go to Yongguo to find Yingyao, Huanghu, Fengniang and others, and maybe he wanted to go to Woye in the future.

Well, agreeing to Min Yuanxiu's conditions first, contacting them in Yong State, preparing the way, and then exchanging Gu Beiming for Gu Caiwei and her daughter might not be a bad idea. After all, he has few choices right now.

"Let Sister be reunited with her child first, and I will consider doing something for you."

Gu Jingnian made a request.

Min Yuanxiu originally said that Gu Jingnian agreed to work for him first, but now he saw that Gu Jingnian was actually willing, but just didn't trust him yet, so he nodded and said, "Okay."

After the matter was settled, Min Yuanxiu limped out, but stopped before leaving.

"By the way, I will also temporarily protect the Gu family. Their lives also depend on you."

Gu Jingnian didn't care about this, but the doubts in his heart grew.

It seems that the reason why Gu Beiming rebelled was not just because of Gu Jizu's death, there may be some hidden story behind it.

--------

A lot of places in Kaipingsi were burned down last time. Walking through the corridor, there are ruins in front of you.

When Min Yuanxiu came out of the cell where Gu Jingnian was imprisoned, he saw Mei Chengzong standing in front of the ruins.

"The pacification envoy."

“No matter how loyal you are to the Northern Court, you are now a member of the Southern Court.” Min Yuanxiu said, “Tell Cui Beichen a message for me. I can hand Lu Yanning over to him on the condition that you give me Gu Caiwei’s newly born daughter.”

Mei Chengzong was in a dilemma and said, "Pacifier, you also know why they refine the beast. They need the blood of their closest relatives to control it. If they only get Lu Yanning but not his child..."

"It was because I knew that that I took Lu Yanning immediately!"

Min Yuanxiu's face darkened, full of displeasure, and he added: "For a 異兽, the child was sacrificed. If Gu Jingnian cannot be controlled, Gu Beiming will be a kite with a broken string. Ask Bei Ya, which is more important, refining the 異兽 or family and national affairs?!"

After saying that, Min Yuanxiu walked away.

Mei Chengzong snorted in dissatisfaction and thought to himself.

Refining the 猹 beast is a big deal. If Ruiguo has a large army of 猹 beasts, it can naturally unify Zhongzhou, but capturing Gu Beiming is also a big deal. In comparison, the 猹 beast can be refined again, and Lu Yanning will not be the only one who has been refined. There are not many candidates who can capture Gu Beiming. Presumably, the Beiya will agree to Min Yuanxiu's conditions.

Sure enough, the next day, Min Yuanxiu came to see Gu Jingnian again, holding a newborn baby in his arms...

(End of this chapter)