Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 101 Be My Son!

This morning, the blazing heat subsided, and the autumn winds were already stirring. The clouds and sky lost their summer hues, and the leaves rustled with the sounds of autumn.

As the summer heat gradually dissipates, autumn colors are spreading across the Central Plains.

Huai'an Prefecture is located in the open wilderness northwest of Yangcheng.

A figure in white was swiftly cutting through the reeds, stepping on the reeds and skimming over the ears of grain.

Startled, the egrets took flight, stirring up wisps of fluff. He passed through their shadows, his feet lightly touching the road.

Zhou Yi took a slight breath, pulled off the tattered white robe behind him, and threw it aside by the roadside.

"No, it seems that my lightness skill is still not as good as Yun Shuai's."

Just now, I was running wildly across the wilderness in a cloud-like whirlwind, which was incredibly exhilarating, but I didn't hear that ancient northern desert ballad.

Looking back towards Wolong Mountain, Zhou Yi smiled slightly.

Nanyang is stable, with capable people in charge, and my cousin is staying at home, so there's nothing to worry about.

My feelings were completely different from when I was at Fuzi Mountain.

He deeply understands this change.

Although I possess great power and am navigating a chaotic world teeming with powerful figures, as long as I am careful, I should be able to protect myself.

The further we went, the more we felt how difficult things had been for Yang Dalongtou.

Huai'an, which borders Nanyang, has been affected by the war.

Just yesterday, near Xiangang County, the Sui army and the rebel army fought a major battle, with some Jianghu (江湖, the martial arts world) forces getting involved, resulting in many casualties on both sides.

Without paying attention to whose subordinates these were, Zhou Yi kept his distance.

The destination of this trip is Jiangdu; there is no need to get involved in the fighting.

After spending one night in the wilderness, we immediately set off the next day.

We are now close to Biyang City.

As dusk approached, in order to avoid taking detours, we asked around for directions and rushed to the Huai'an Prefecture seat before the sun began to set.

We ate dry rations all day.

Zhou Yi wouldn't neglect his stomach; he smelled the aroma from afar and saw a butcher shop with its lights on by the roadside.

There were figures moving around inside, and their voices were very loud.

The iron pot on the earthen stove bubbled and simmered a large plate of meat. It was pork with bones, chopped into large chunks, cooked with ginger, scallions, and fermented black beans. The meat was stewed until it was tender and falling off the bone with a touch of chopsticks.

Zhou Yi snapped a row of five-zhu coins out of the container. A shop assistant came over, shoveling the coins into a wooden tray while asking with a smile:
"What would you like to eat, sir?"

"Meat, rice, and wine; a small jar of good wine is enough, and plenty of meat and rice."

"Okay~!"

A moment later, the waiter brought over a large plate of rice with meat in the bones, and a small jar of Huai wine.

Zhou Yi added a little more money.

Huai'an had a well-developed canal transport system and numerous taverns, making Huai wine very famous and therefore expensive.

Zhou Yi wanted to serve the finest wine, which required different distillation and brewing techniques and was quite expensive.

But now he's very wealthy and extravagant.

This wine is mellow and smooth; its reputation is truly well-deserved.

While they were drinking and eating meat, they noticed a man frequently glancing at his wine jar. He was thin and looked dejected, as if he had lost money.

Zhou Yi smiled and invited him to join the table twice, then called for the waiter to bring more wine.

The man thanked him and sat down. After chatting for a bit, it became clear that he was just an ordinary wanderer from the martial arts world.

"Young hero, where are you headed?"

"Going to the southeast to meet friends."

The man nodded and said, "The southeastern coastal areas are not peaceful, and Huai'an is no exception. Young hero, you should not linger here and would be better off leaving as soon as possible."

"Is there something amiss within the city?"

"Don't be fooled by the current calm. The rebel army, bandits, and Sui army in Ciqiu are engaged in a chaotic battle. Yongfeng Granary next to the city has been targeted. A major battle is only a matter of time."

"Young hero, tonight you should either leave the city or find a house to stay at. Do not stay at an inn, as it is not a safe place and has been occupied by various forces."

Zhou Yi thanked him and asked, "Where are you headed, brother?"

"I'm planning to go to Nanyang to make a living. It's a very peaceful place there, and I've heard that a very capable person came from there."

"Tsk tsk, this is really good wine," he exclaimed, tilting his head back to take another sip.
After finishing his meal, Zhou Yi walked along the street.

Passing by several inns, the situation was indeed as the down-on-his-luck traveler had described.

Without lingering, they bought some dry rations and headed straight for the west of the city.

If you can avoid it, then do so; it's not a big deal to stay overnight in the wild.

Unexpectedly, as they approached the west side of the city, they suddenly heard shouts and the neighing of horses. A large procession of carriages and horses surged back from the city gate, with some retreating and others advancing, creating chaos.

Some people shared his idea and left the city overnight, indicating that something else had happened.

Zhou Yi stared at the city wall, which was less than four zhang high, and wanted to leap away.
Amidst the chaotic crowd at the city gate, a boy suddenly cried out.

A middle-aged man carrying a bundle was knocked to the ground, his wife was holding a little girl, and a little boy on the other side fell to the ground.

The horse, provoked by the chaos, raised its legs high and brought its hooves down.

The couple cried out in surprise, but the horse's hoof missed its mark.

Suddenly a man in white appeared, grabbed the child's arm, pulled him away from under the horse's hooves, and saved his life.

"Thank you, thank you, brave warrior!"

The middle-aged man hurriedly expressed his gratitude, and after recognizing the person's face, he quickly added, "Thank you for saving me, young hero."

Before he could utter another sound, the shouts of battle outside grew louder and louder.

"Young hero, come with me!"

Amidst the chaos of battle, he did not forget his benefactor and pulled Zhou Yi toward the alley.

He didn't care that his belongings had fallen off.

They walked slowly, pulling the children along. Zhou Yi carried one child in each arm, as if he were carrying two small wooden buckets. The five of them hurried along, managing to avoid the turbulent flow and enter a house.

This is the home of their family of four in Huai'an.

The man lit the candle, his face showing signs of having narrowly escaped death.

The middle-aged woman was comforting the two children. Fortunately, they were too young to understand. Despite the loud fighting outside, they didn't seem afraid, but the two adults were terrified.

The middle-aged man greeted him and introduced himself as Lu Wenrui.

"Isn't it dangerous for you to leave the city under the cover of night?"

Zhou Yi was very puzzled. At first, he thought they were just passing through Biyang, but he didn't expect them to be residents of the city.

Lu Wenrui said, "If it's just the rebel army fighting the Sui army, we're not too afraid to stay at home."

"But just before evening, I heard news that a large band of bandits was attacking from the south. I was worried that they would occupy the city and burn, kill, and plunder, so I thought I would go out and hide for a while until the granaries outside were looted before I came back."

"I didn't expect them to arrive so quickly."

Zhou Yi understood: "I see. Where are you planning to go?"

"Yiyang County".

As the noise outside grew louder, Lu Wenrui lowered his voice: "I have a distant relative in Yiyang named Lu Zushang, and I'm going to seek refuge with him this time."

"He is very famous in Yiyang County and is a local hero. If you have nowhere to stay, young hero, you can come with me."

Zhou Yi politely declined.

As a local, Lu Wenrui speaks of Huai'an in greater detail.

Zhou Yi's understanding of the mess here became increasingly clear.

If we were still in Nanyang, we might have sent someone to intervene, but we don't have the energy to deal with it right now.

In a large-scale military operation, he alone cannot change anything at present.

That night, five bandits were being chased and, in their panic, broke down the door.

They were the men of the Four Great Bandits.

Zhou Yi killed them without hesitation, and Lu Wenrui's family was safe.

Fortunately, it was a three-way battle, around midnight.

The shouts of battle seemed to have stopped, and it was unclear who had the last laugh.

The next morning, Lu Wenrui and his family of four thanked them repeatedly, but they still planned to leave.

After parting ways with Zhou Yi, he left Biyang City.

Zhou Yi found Cao's Pharmacy in the city and learned another inside story.

During this upheaval, the businesses of the Song Clan's subordinate forces in Huai'an County were severely damaged.

Based on the actions of the Yuwen Clan at Yancang Ruokou, it is not difficult to guess the underlying power struggles.

Zhou Yi was filled with emotion after leaving Cao's Pharmacy.
This time, I truly understood the intelligence that Chen Laomou had read out in the past.

They are no longer lifeless words on paper.

Instead, it was the real scenes that kept appearing before my eyes.
As Zhou Yi walked out of the west gate of Biyang, a troop of cavalry was slowly approaching around the moat.

They were the victors last night.

"General!"

The soldiers at the city gate rushed forward to meet them.

The general on the tall horse was extremely robust, his armor gleaming silver, and he had three scars on his brow bone shaped like centipedes, clearly indicating that he was a fierce and valiant general.

It was none other than General You Hongda, who had recently been wielding considerable influence in the Central Plains.

“Drag out the corpses of the bandits who broke into the city, and hang the heads of their leaders on the city walls.”

"With my arrival, a peaceful world will be established."

"What are the Four Great Bandits, the Five Great Bandits, and the rebels? What's so great about them? No matter how many come, I will kill them all."

The captain standing nearby sincerely praised, "The general was truly brilliant last night."

You Hongda grinned, a smug look on his face.

Last night, he led his army to ambush outside. He first sent one of his officers to lead a force to feign a retreat. The bandits under the four major bandits thought they had won and rushed into the granary to steal rice. Meanwhile, the rebels from Ciqiu, who were planning to take advantage of the situation, attacked from the ambush.

The rebels and the traitors were locked in a fierce battle when he led his army out, terrifying both groups into submission.

You Hongda held a steel whip in his left hand and pointed in all directions with his right:
“Only a bunch of brute and brainless bandits are like a group of pigs. Just scatter some rice, lock them up, and slowly kill them.”

"The general is absolutely right!"

"Although some of the rice in the granary was taken away by the bait, we killed over a thousand enemies, which is still a great achievement."

The captain was very pleased.

You Hongda glared at him:
What does "loss of rice and grain" mean?

The captain was taken aback: "Then what is that?"

You Hongda said:

"The defenses of Huai'an were inadequate, and the grain in Yongfeng Granary was completely taken away by the four major bandits and rebels. I, the general, pursued them day and night, killing thousands of enemies and recovering most of the grain, severely damaging the major bandits in the upper reaches of the Huai River."

The captain suddenly realized: "General, you are wise!"

Yu Hongda stared at the corpses of the bandits, his facial muscles twitching slightly.

Since following Zhang Xutuo, his military achievements have increased day by day.

Fighting on all sides, they simply can't win.

Some rebels are also extremely difficult to deal with.

Damn it, I don't know when this will end.

Fortunately, this big victory relieved some of the frustration in my heart.

As You Hongda was cursing inwardly, his eyes suddenly widened as he looked toward the west gate of Biyang City.

A figure in white stood there, looking at him.

In an instant, terrifying memories of his past as the General Who Suppressed Bandits flashed through his mind.

You Hongda stared at the man.

He first saw a huge fire, hundreds of camps burned to the ground, flames soaring into the sky, and General Yuwen was missing.

Then came a great flood, surging in from the darkness, drowning the army of the Prefect of Huaiyang, and the arrogant Prefect Zhao was beheaded.

现在
This person has reappeared.

Yu Hongda had two choices. Without any certainty, he quickly eliminated the first option and chose the second.

There are so many rebels in the world now, it's impossible to wipe them all out.

This most sinister one hasn't gotten into trouble lately, so why take the risk?

It's better to keep to ourselves and not interfere with each other.

Therefore,
When old acquaintances meet, there is no hostility in You Hongda's eyes.

Eyes can convey a person's emotions.

There were hundreds of soldiers around them, and the constantly moving residents of the county.

With just one glance, You Hongda understood Zhou Yi's innermost thoughts, and he also understood that Zhou Yi understood his innermost thoughts.

Zhou Yi looked around and observed the positions of the Sui soldiers.

The two brushed past each other as if they hadn't seen each other.

The captain suddenly looked at Zhou Yi's back and asked, "General, that person looks somewhat familiar?"

"Familiar my ass."

You Hongda instructed, "First, gather the bodies together, then reorganize the army. We still need to go to Runan."

"Yes!"

"..."

This strange general left a deep impression on Zhou Yi; he couldn't quite figure out what the other party was thinking.

but,

If the opponent had made a move just now, he could have used his light-footed skill to return to the city.

Then he jumped off from somewhere in the city wall.

Did he foresee all of this?

After sunrise that day, Zhou Yi used his lightness skill to avoid the chaotic army and arrived in Tongbai three days later.

This place is the throat of eastern Wan and the source of the Huai River.

Zhou Yi inquired along the way and arrived at the Huai River ferry.

The recent continuous rains caused the river to rise, leading to an increase in the number of medium and large-sized boats.

After paying the fare, we boarded a small boat with a relatively flat top. These boats have a shallow draft and are suitable for this section of the river.

The section from Tongbai to Zhengyangguan is the upper reaches of the Huai River, where the river meanders and has many shallow shoals and sandbars.

If you enter Huainan and reach the middle reaches of the river, you will see that the river gradually widens and the current slows down.

On the third day after boarding, at the hour of Mao (5-7 AM).

Zhou Yi sat at the bow of the boat, enjoying the morning breeze and the scenery along the river.

At this moment, the water surface was shrouded in a bluish-gray mist.

Up close, the bow of the boat bumps through the water plants covered in morning dew, and in the distance, rolling green hills create a picturesque scene.

"I travel day and night towards the rivers and seas, the maple leaves and reeds adding to my autumnal mood. Suddenly, the distance between us and the sky is blurred by the long Huai River, and the green mountains rise and fall with the boat."

Zhou Yi smiled; his feelings were completely different from Su Dongpo's when he entered the Huai River.

There were two girls traveling on the same boat, who would glance at him from time to time.

Zhou Yi was very open and didn't seem to care at all.

These two young ladies were still too shy. If they were bold and forthright female warriors, they might have already brought wine and started chatting.

Occasionally, purchasing items during the voyage would cause delays.

However, by this time, they had traveled downstream and by the sixth day they had passed Runan and Ruyin.

Around noon, they arrived at Huainan County.

Zhou Yi planned to follow the Huai River all the way to Shanyang, and then go south along the Hangou Canal to reach Jiangdu.

It's slightly safer to walk on the water.

but
Upon entering Huainan, the boatmen went ashore to buy some information and then sailed their boats into a tributary of the Huai River, namely the Fei River in Shouchun, the place where the "whip was thrown to stop the flow" in the past.

"Boatman, why are we changing routes?"

"Let's wait a few days before we leave."

At the helm, the boatman, nearly sixty years old, looked helpless: "There is war going on in the middle reaches of the Huai River, and it is too unsafe to cross the river at this time."

"I don't want to delay, but I'm just thinking about the safety of my guests."

The old boatman couldn't say exactly when they would leave.

Zhou Yi realized that this place was already an area where the Giant Kun Gang was active, so instead of waiting on the ship, he decided to go and inquire about it.

"Don't rush to moor the boat, go straight to Shouchun, I'll come and ask."

Upon hearing this, the old boatman nodded repeatedly in agreement.

As the boat passed the northern foot of Bagong Mountain, the outline of Shouchun City gradually became clear.

The seat of Huainan Prefecture was located here. The city wall was about eight zhang high, winding like a giant python, and gleamed with a cold bronze light in the setting sun.

Passing through the east gate, "Binyang Gate," one enters a three-tiered barbican with a passageway more than ten zhang deep. The niches on both sides are inlaid with bronze animal heads cast during the Kaihuang era, each holding an iron ring in its mouth, which is quite spectacular.

The bluestone road below the city was deeply rutted with cart tracks, indicating that the canal transport was extremely busy.

Zhou Yi disembarked and entered the city, where he saw many martial arts practitioners moving about.

"Brother, is there a Giant Kun Gang's headquarters around here?"

"Yes, yes, yes, just go straight in from the east, it's only a few miles away."

The martial arts practitioner carrying a long sword hurriedly pointed at Zhou Yi.

The route doesn't matter; if there's one, we can find it.

Zhou Yi asked several people after entering the city, and finally met a patient person who explained the route to him.

Otherwise, finding a shop in a big city without knowing what it sells is like finding a needle in a haystack.

The streets were filled with caravans, and the noise near the rice shops was like boiling water.

Many people carried sacks filled with brown rice on bamboo poles, heading straight towards the cargo boat.

Zhou Yi walked through the crowd and saw that the "Giant Kun Gang" had its sign hanging up, very ostentatiously.

I just passed by a few brothels, so this place must not be far from the Baling Gang's base.

The Shouchun branch of the Kun Gang is quite unique, or rather, their intelligence exchange methods differ from those in the Central Plains.

There was a counter, and the intelligence exchange took place in the inner room. A black curtain was drawn over the door, which had to be lifted every time someone went there.

Entering alone, you are guarded by seven or eight menacing men with knives outside; it is very secluded.

Beyond that were rows of tea rooms.

This is for those who have not yet made a transaction to wait.

To the side, there was a pawnshop, a tavern, and a teahouse selling "Wu Yue Eagle Claws," all of which had the Giant Kun Gang signboard hanging on them.

It seems they wield considerable influence in Shouchun.

The closer we get to the southeast coast, the more we need to flex our muscles.

Zhou Yi took out the VIP badge of the Giant Kun Gang, and the burly man who was leading the way changed his expression slightly.

"Please come this way."

He led Zhou Yi to a more refined tea room, where another person was already seated.

They must be distinguished guests of the Giant Kun Gang.

The people sitting inside were sizing up Zhou Yi, and Zhou Yi was also sizing him up.

This man wore a tall hat, was about fifty years old, had an ancient face, and looked like a stubborn and inflexible person.

but
After looking Zhou Yi over, he revealed a gentle smile that seemed somewhat incongruous with his appearance.

Before Zhou Yi even sat down, he smiled and said, "Friend, how about we sit at the same table?"

Seeing this, the members of the Giant Kun Gang naturally didn't interfere.

He simply said he would have to wait a moment, served tea, and then left.

Zhou Yi walked over and sat down opposite the man: "What advice do you have for me?"

"I dare not presume to offer guidance. It is merely that I am a stranger to you, yet you are so highly regarded by the Giant Kun Gang. Those who can sit with me in the same tea room are all famous figures in the martial arts world."

The middle-aged man spoke with considerable confidence, even a hint of arrogance: "I am quite surprised that you are so young, and I can't help but want to get to know you."

He said he was surprised, but his expression remained calm.

It's clear that this is just a form of flattery.

Zhou Yi smiled modestly: "I am not a famous person. I am here only because I am trapped in Shouchun. War has broken out in the lower reaches of the Huai River, blocking my boat. I dare not leave."

"Hahaha!"

The middle-aged man laughed heartily: "I see. Where are you going?"

"I was just thinking of seeing the autumn moon over Jiangdu."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, his expression changed: "To dare to go to Jiangdu at this time, my friend's courage is not something that ordinary people can have."

Seeing that he wasn't joking, Zhou Yi couldn't help but ask:
"how do I say this?"

"It all started because of Shi Long, the number one martial arts master in Jiangdu."

Zhou Yi's expression changed slightly: "Shi Long has been famous for many years and is a top figure in Jiangdu. Is there anything he can't handle?"

“Naturally, it’s related to the Taoist scriptures,” the middle-aged man said, as if he could see right through Zhou Yi. “My friend is also after the longevity manual, isn’t he?”

"Secret of Immortality?"

"Oh, you didn't know?"

The middle-aged man paused slightly, glanced at Zhou Yi, and changed his attitude: "It turns out I misjudged him."

Zhou Yi then pressed further, "Is this already common knowledge?"

"no."

The middle-aged man said, "The news of the Longevity Manual has not been around for long, and it happened to reach my ears. If I weren't going to kill someone, I would also like to see what's so special about this Taoist treasure book."

He smiled slightly: "Right now, many martial arts masters are heading to Jiangdu. As far as I know, there are members of powerful clans and the Demonic Sect. Do you still dare to go?"

Zhou Yi took a deep breath: "To enjoy the autumn moon over Jiangdu and to read the precious books of Taoism, isn't that wonderful?"

"Hahaha!"

The middle-aged man laughed loudly again: "Good, you really suit my temperament."

He became interested and suddenly revealed a domineering air, saying:
"I admire young men like you. Come and be my son!"

"How about it?"

what?
Zhou Yi thought he had misheard, but after looking at the man more closely, he instantly realized: "You are General Du?"

"Hmph, good eye. I am indeed Du Fuwei."

As he spoke, he flicked his wide sleeves, and everyone in the underworld knew that this tyrant possessed the unique skill of "hiding the universe in his sleeves."

The Jianghuai Army is the largest force in this area.

Old Du likes to be other people's fathers and has more than 30 adopted sons, so Zhou Yi guessed his identity as soon as he opened his mouth.

"What is your name, and where are you from?"

"My name is Zhou Yi, a farmer from the countryside of Nanyang."

Du Fuwei's eyes flashed with a sharp light: "Even I can't see through your martial arts skills. It's impossible for you to be a farmer. You must be a person with connections in Nanyang."

"Coincidentally, the person who stirred up the chaos in the martial arts world of Jiangdu also came from Nanyang."

"General Du, I have never heard of this matter before. Could you please tell me more about it?"

Du Fuwei shook his head: "I don't know much either. What I do know is just from the few words we exchanged earlier."

"As for the inside story, I'm afraid only Shi Long knows it. If you try to ask the Giant Kun Gang about this, you probably won't know more than I do."

His words were quite certain.

"Would you like to consider Mr. Du's previous suggestion?"

“I have many sons, but most of them are in the army, and none of them are like you.”

Zhou Yi smiled and said, "There is often a gap between fathers and sons of different generations. Why not make friends with General Du?"

Du Fuwei knew that the young man in front of him was no ordinary person, so he picked up his teacup.

"Alright."

The two shared a sip of tea, thus establishing some rapport.

Zhou Yi couldn't help but ask, "Was the fighting in the lower reaches of the Huai River started by Brother Du?"

"Some are, some aren't."

Du Fuwei said, "However, if you are seeking help from the Giant Kun Gang for this matter, I can help you resolve it."

"For me, this is just a small favor. I will send someone to take you to Shouchun Ferry. You can ride my boat and travel across the Huai River to the East China Sea."

Du Fuwei made it sound very simple.

However, sending a single ship to escort them would incur a significant loss of manpower and resources, as well as a large debt of gratitude.

Zhou Yi remembered that the old boatman was still waiting, so he asked, "How long will the fighting on the lower reaches of the Huai River last?"

"It won't be long; merchant ships can depart in five to seven days."

"But if you waste these days, you may not be able to find Shilong when you get to Jiangdu."

"Perhaps he has escaped, or perhaps he is a corpse in a ditch."

Du Fuwei's stern face broke into a smile, finding the young man quite interesting: "I don't really care about this favor at all."

"You seem to be very afraid of owing favors."

Zhou Yi smiled but did not answer: "Brother Du, what brings you here?"

“On one hand, I want to kill someone who killed my son when he passed through Zhongli. I now know that he is connected to the Iron Cavalry Society.”

"I've already asked the Baling Gang, and they don't know anything about it, so I'm trying my luck with the Giant Kun Gang."

Du Fuwei stopped talking, then suddenly dipped his finger in tea and began to draw a map on the table.

"I conquered Miao Haichao of Xiapi and killed Zhao Pozhen of Hailing, greatly increasing my power."

"Recently, I encountered Xue Yuebin, a general of the Sui Dynasty. This man once fought against Shi Wansui, a fierce general of the Sui Dynasty. He looked down on me, a person of humble origin, and as a result, he died tragically at the hands of my Jianghuai army."

"After eliminating the Sui generals, our momentum will naturally be even greater."

"Our army is temporarily stationary, and we are considering our next move."

He glanced at Zhou Yi and pointed to two locations: "I want to attack Liyang, or launch a surprise attack on Danyang County."

Clearly, they wanted to hear Zhou Yi's opinion.

"Danyang County is nearby, but one must cross the river. It is also sandwiched between Liyang and Jiangdu, which is too far for Brother Du."

“Liyang is too far away and is dispensable to the Jianghuai Army. The center of Jiangnan is still Jiangdu, which is not conducive to the subsequent advance.”

Zhou Yi smiled and said:

"Don't test me. My goal is only Liuhe, a strategically important military location and a major town north of the Yangtze River. If you come to the Giant Kun Gang, you can learn about the true nature of Liuhe. But if you go to the Baling Gang, it's not certain."

"They still have ties with Yang Guang and know you, sir. I'm afraid they might leak your information instead."

Du Fuwei gave Zhou Yi a deep look, his gaze different from before.

"Brother Zhou, the Sui Dynasty was once so prosperous and powerful, but in a short period of time it has become unrecognizable. How do you view this tremendous change?"

Zhou Yi asked, "Brother, have you ever heard that all things change without rest? They flow and move, or are pushed back?"

Du Fuwei shook his head: "I'm a rough man, I haven't read many books."

"This is a poem by Jia Yi, which says that the changes in heaven and earth and all things are the norm and never end. The change of dynasties, no matter how great the change, is only a part of it. Over a long period of time, it is not so surprising."

Upon hearing this, Du Fuwei couldn't help but say, "I established the Jianghuai Army simply to make a living; I never even considered becoming an emperor."

If an outsider were to hear this, they might think it's just the hypocrisy of a gangster boss.

But Zhou Yi knew very well that it was probably his true feeling.

This man voluntarily offered Li Yuan a large territory and surrendered early on. His status was even higher than that of Prince Qi, Li Yuanji, making him the fourth most important figure in the Li Tang dynasty.

Unfortunately, his later years were bleak.

Du Fuwei frowned and immediately fell silent.

I wonder what kind of charm this young man possesses in his every word, action, and gesture.

When I first met him, I felt as if I had opened my heart to him.

He looked at Zhou Yi again, then suddenly said:
“Brother Zhou, if you have no one to rely on, why not join my Jianghuai Army?”

"You are both literate and skilled in martial arts; our army has very few people like you."

"I hereby appoint myself as general and establish a new navy. You shall be the Grand Admiral of my Jianghuai Navy. What do you say?"

Du Fuwei's expression turned reminiscent: "When I subdued Miao Haichao, I told him..."

"If you are capable of being the leader, I will respectfully follow you. If you think you are not up to the task, you can come and obey my command. Otherwise, let's fight a battle to settle the score."

"So, Miao Haichao obeyed me."

Du Fuwei looked at Zhou Yi with great sincerity:
"If Brother Zhou becomes the Grand Commander of our army and can convince me wholeheartedly, making me, Du, feel that I am no match for him, then I can follow your orders just like Miao Haichao."

“We have never met before, but Mr. Du has been unusually talkative today. He really doesn’t want to give up on a talent like you.”

Zhou Yi picked up the teacup and offered it to Du Fuwei in a gesture of respect:
"Brother Du, you are too kind. I am very grateful, but you know too little about me. This was an impulsive act, and you will be greatly disappointed in the future."

Zhou Yi didn't rule out the possibility of a definitive answer and drank the tea.

Du Fuwei nodded slightly.

He was a local tyrant, so naturally he also cared about his reputation.

That's enough said today.

He also noticed Zhou Yi's subtle attitude.

"Brother Zhou, if I go to Nanyang to find you, what pretext should I use?"

"Just tell the guards that you want to see the abbot."

That short sentence sent a jolt through the heart of this underworld tycoon.

How could he not know what this meant?

The extraordinary young man before us is actually a hegemon-level figure who has been entrenched in the land of the rising dragon!

Despite the many powerful forces in Nanyang, they dared to say such things.

No wonder she remained unfazed by his earnest invitation.

If Du Fuwei had previously held a superior attitude, at this moment, he was truly treating everyone as equals, regardless of age.

With this mindset, he asked a question he hadn't planned to ask before.

"Brother Zhou, what do you think of Li Zitong?"

Zhou Yi understood and replied, "This man has great ambitions and is unwilling to be subordinate to others. If he seeks you out like Miao Haichao, as Brother Du mentioned, you must be on guard."

Du Fuwei's expression changed; this was a secret of the Jianghuai Army, which had been discovered in a single sentence.

"Brother, are you still planning to go to Jiangdu?"

"Exactly."

"Come, I'll see you onto the boat. If you ever encounter trouble in Jiangdu, send someone to let me know."

"..."

When the Giant Kun Gang members returned, they were completely dumbfounded.

The two distinguished guests in the elegant tea room had both left.

Zhou Yi returned to Shouchun Wharf and informed the old boatman of the news on the Huai River.

Followed
Du Fuwei dispatched a warship with over a hundred elite soldiers to wave goodbye to him at the ancient ferry crossing in Huainan.

The name "Jianghuai Army" was not given lightly.

They are currently at the height of their power, and no major forces along the way have blocked their way.

The warships moved freely on the Huai River.

Then turn to Hangou
Jiangdu is now almost here.
……

……

(End of this chapter)