My brothers are all warriors capable of taking on ten thousand men; I'll roam freely in the Thr

On the eighteenth day of the first lunar month, the sky over Zhuojun was overcast, and a light snow had fallen the night before.

Ji Xuanyuan sat in the carriage wrapped in a thick fur coat. There was a heater in the carriage. Dian Wei rode alongside him on horseback, holding two halberds. Zhao Yun led more than ten personal guards to protect him from the front and back. The wheels of the carriage creaked as they rolled over the snow-covered streets.

He was naturally unaware that, thousands of miles away in the deep palace of Luoyang, the emperor, who was considered to have "given up," was watching his every move with complex and subtle emotions.

Unbeknownst to them, the powerful families who had failed to impeach the emperor in court had quietly changed their tactics.

If open methods don't work, then try covert ones.

In the north of the city, the newly established "Liulifang" is located in a mountain valley far from residential areas, surrounded by high walls and guarded by soldiers at the entrance.

This is one of the workshops that Ji Xuanyuan ordered to be built a month ago. It is one of the three major secret industries in Zhuojun, along with the refined salt workshop and the curved plow workshop.

As the carriage entered the workshop gate, the workshop manager was already there to greet it.

"My lord." The steward was a lean man in his forties, surnamed Hu. He was originally a potter, but was discovered by Tian Feng because of his superb skills. Now he was in charge of all the affairs of the glass workshop.

Ji Xuanyuan got out of the carriage, wrapped his fur coat tightly around himself, and his breath condensed into white mist in the cold air.

"Manager Hu, how's the progress?"

"General, we have tested three batches according to the recipe you provided."

Manager Hu led Ji Xuanyuan deeper into the workshop: "The first batch had a greenish tint because the iron in the sand was not completely removed; the second batch had an improper limestone ratio, resulting in brittle and easily broken glass; the third batch..."

He pushed open a heavy wooden door.

A wave of heat hit us.

This is a semi-underground brick kiln, with flames roaring at the kiln opening. Several craftsmen are using long iron tongs to take out red-hot crucibles from the kiln.

The substance inside the crucible had molten and was glowing with an orange-red light under the fire.

"The third batch, following the recipe given by the lord, of '70% sand, 15% alkali, and 15% limestone,' took two full days to burn."

Manager Hu's voice was somewhat excited: "Look!"

The craftsman pours the molten material into a pre-made ceramic mold, where the liquid slowly flows and takes shape.

Once it has cooled slightly, use tongs to remove it and place it on a stone platform to cool naturally.

Ji Xuanyuan approached.

It was a palm-sized transparent substance. Although it was slightly cloudy because the temperature had not completely dropped, it was clear that it was free of impurities and bubbles, and was crystal clear.

"It's done," Ji Xuanyuan said softly.

Manager Hu's beard trembled with excitement: "It's done! It's done! It's really done! I've never seen such clear, water-like glass in my entire life! Even glassware from the Western Regions is mostly mixed colors, how could it be so... so transparent!"

Ji Xuanyuan bent down and carefully examined the gradually cooling glass.

A strange feeling welled up in my heart.

In my previous life, during high school chemistry class, the teacher talked about the silicate industry, glass formulations, and the differences between soda-lime glass and lead glass... At that time, I just found it boring and memorizing formulas to pass the exams.

Who could have imagined that a thousand years later, in the chaotic world at the end of the Han Dynasty, that seemingly useless knowledge would become the leverage he used to amass wealth?

"Silicon dioxide...sodium carbonate...calcium carbonate..." he murmured these words, only he could understand them.

"My lord?" Hu asked in confusion.

"It's nothing." Ji Xuanyuan straightened up and coughed twice.

"Now that we have succeeded, the next step is mass production. We will start by making some small items, such as cups, saucers, bottles, and mirrors. Remember, they must be thin and even, transparent and flawless. I call this 'crystal glass'."

"Crystal Glass..." Manager Hu repeated the name, his eyes shining.

"What a beautiful name! Crystal clear as water, translucent as crystal, truly deserving of the name 'Crystal'!"

Ji Xuanyuan nodded: "After this item is completed, send a batch of samples to the Prefect's residence. Remember, everyone in the workshop must sign a death contract and not divulge even a single word of the manufacturing method. Anyone who leaks the secret will be punished."

He paused, then said calmly, "His whole family will be buried with him."

Manager Hu stiffened and bowed, saying, "I understand!"

After leaving the Liuli Workshop, Ji Xuanyuan inspected the refined salt workshop and the curved plow workshop.

The salt workshops have expanded to three locations, scattered in different parts of the city's outskirts. Each workshop employs more than 300 craftsmen and laborers, and can produce up to 500 shi of snow salt per month.

The curved plow workshop followed his proposed "assembly line operation" method, disassembling the plow into more than ten parts, setting up work groups, and assigning specific people to specific tasks, which greatly increased efficiency.

Now, more than one hundred curved plows can be produced every day, and they will surely be available throughout the county before spring.

Looking at these well-organized workshops, and at the displaced people who were originally homeless but now have stable jobs, Ji Xuanyuan's pale face revealed a rare smile.

In chaotic times, enabling more people to survive is a meritorious act.

only……

He looked up at the gray sky.

This chaotic world won't give him much time.

At noon, the convoy returned to the city.

When they passed the market in the south of the city, Ji Xuanyuan had the carriage stop.

He wanted to see the situation at the Recruitment Hall these past few days. Although Guo Jia gave him daily reports, it was still not as good as seeing it with his own eyes.

In a corner of the market, a long queue had indeed formed in front of the Hall of Recruitment. Despite the freezing weather, dozens of people were still waiting. There were scholars in plain clothes, craftsmen in short tunics, and even a few men dressed as hunters, carrying bows and knives, who seemed out of place in the queue.

"Brother, shall we go take a look?" Zhao Yun rode his horse to the carriage and asked softly.

Ji Xuanyuan shook his head: "No need to disturb us. Let's go back to the manor."

The carriage continued on its way.

We came to a tea stall, a simple stall on a street corner, with a thatched shed and three or four old tables.

Because of the cold weather, there were no customers at the stall, only three men sitting at the outermost table, drinking tea from rough earthenware bowls.

Dian Wei rode ahead on horseback, his large, copper-bell-shaped eyes habitually sweeping over the tea stall.

The three men were dressed plainly, with dark complexions, and looked like they did manual labor.

But Dian Wei's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

It's too quiet.

On such a cold day, when ordinary laborers gather together to drink tea, they always chat and complain about how it's cold and there's not much work to do.

But the three of them just lowered their heads and drank their tea, without saying a word.

And... their hands.

Thick knuckles and calluses on the base of the thumb indicate hands that have been wielding knives for many years.

Dian Wei's muscles tensed instantly, and his right hand quietly reached for the twin halberds behind his back.

Just as the carriage passed the tea stall...

The three of them moved!

The teacup shattered on the ground, and three flashes of cold light burst forth from his sleeve!

They turned out to be three short knives, each over a foot long, with blades that gleamed with a ghostly blue hue, clearly poisoned!

"My lord, be careful!"

Dian Wei roared, and his warhorse reared up. He leaped off the horse like a cannonball, sweeping his double halberds horizontally!

"Clang clang clang!"

The clang of metal rang out, and sparks flew everywhere!

The three men were clearly caught off guard by the giant's swift reaction, and their attack faltered.

But two of them immediately changed tactics, attacking Dian Wei from the left and right, while the other bypassed the battle and rushed straight for the carriage!

"court death!"

Dian Wei's eyes were bloodshot. He used his left halberd to deflect the blade on the left side, and his right halberd smashed down like Mount Tai!

"Snap!"

The sound of bone cracking was clearly audible.

The assassin on the right was knocked to his knees by the impact, his chest caved in, blood gushing from his mouth; he was clearly going to die.

The assassin's blade was already at Dian Wei's ribs.

Dian Wei neither dodged nor avoided the blade, letting it slice through the leather armor and cut deep into the flesh. He grinned maliciously and swung his halberd back with his left hand, the blade like a crescent moon, grazing the assassin's neck!

His head flew off, and blood splattered three feet high!

At this moment, the third assassin rushed to the front of the carriage and thrust his dagger straight into the carriage!

"puff--"

The blade pierced the wall of the compartment, but missed!

Inside the carriage, Ji Xuanyuan had already hidden on the other side of the carriage the moment the assassin suddenly attacked.

Although he was sickly, the instincts he had developed over the years of wandering were still there.

"Take them alive!" he shouted sternly.

Dian Wei pounced like a wild bear, smashing the short knife out of the assassin's hand with his right halberd and slamming the halberd hilt into the assassin's chest with his left!

"Wow!" The assassin coughed up blood and flew backward, crashing into the wooden table of the tea stall.

Dian Wei stepped forward, grabbed the assassin's arms with his large, fan-like hands, and twisted them forcefully!

"Snap! Snap!"

Both arms were severed!

The assassin let out a miserable scream, his face turning deathly pale, but he gritted his teeth and refused to faint.

Dian Wei lifted him up like a chick and threw him in front of Ji Xuanyuan's chariot, then threw him on the ground.

Ji Xuanyuan had already pushed open the car door and gotten out. Zhao Yun, holding a spear, stood in front of him. More than ten personal guards had surrounded the tea stall, their spears pointing at the assassin on the ground.

On the snow, blood was everywhere, and two corpses lay scattered.

Ji Xuanyuan wrapped his fur coat tightly around himself, his face as pale as paper, but his eyes were as cold as ice.

He looked down at the one-armed assassin on the ground, his voice calm:

"Who sent you?"

The assassin raised his head, a sinister smile appearing on his face, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, his voice hoarse:

"General Ji... are these your last words?"

Before the words were finished—

"Release the arrows!"

Suddenly, the window of a two-story wooden building next to the tea stall was pushed open, and three men in black appeared with bows drawn, the bowstrings fully drawn, and the arrows pointing coldly at Ji Xuanyuan!

"Do not harm my lord!"

Zhao Yun shouted, his white robe flashing like lightning as he appeared before Ji Xuanyuan, his Dragon Gallant Silver Spear dancing in a ball of silver light!

"Clang clang clang!"

All three arrows were shredded by the spear!

However, the three archers did not fire a second arrow. Instead, they simultaneously threw down their longbows, took out a small bottle from their pockets, and drank it down!

"Splash!" "Splash!" "Splash!"

The three of them fell out of the window one after another, crashing heavily onto the snow. Blood gushed from their mouths and noses, and after a couple of twitches, they lay still.

Upon seeing this, the one-armed assassin on the ground let out a wild laugh: "Ji Xuanyuan... you may escape today, but you can't escape tomorrow! The powerful families of the world... will not tolerate you!"

After saying that, he gritted his teeth!

"Not good!" Zhao Yun rushed forward and grabbed the assassin's chin, but it was too late.

Black blood gushed from the assassin's mouth, his eyes wide open, and he died.

The snow-covered ground was deathly silent.

Only the wind whipped up snowflakes, which fell on the four corpses, gradually covering the bloodstains.

Dian Wei clutched the wound under his ribs, blood seeping through his fingers, but he was completely unaware. His large, round eyes were fixed on his surroundings, as if another assassin might pounce out from some corner.

Zhao Yun sheathed his spear, turned around, and knelt on one knee: "I failed in my duty as a guard, causing my elder brother to be frightened. Please punish me!"

Ji Xuanyuan remained silent for a long time.

He looked at the four corpses on the ground, the overturned tables and chairs at the tea stall, and the people in the distant market who looked around at the noise but dared not approach.

Despite the biting cold wind, he felt as if a fire was burning in his chest.

Aristocratic families...

Finally, you couldn't resist and had to resort to surgery?

"Get up, Zilong," he said softly, his voice a little hoarse.

"It's not your fault."

He looked up at the two-story wooden building.

The window was still open, like an empty eye, coldly looking down on everything.

"Erlai, how badly are you injured?"

"It's just a superficial wound, nothing serious!" Dian Wei said in a deep voice, but he grimaced as the wound was aggravated.

Ji Xuanyuan looked down at his ribs. His leather armor had been slashed open with a gash over a foot long, and blood had stained a large area of ​​his clothes. Although the wound was not deep, the blade was bluish, indicating that it was poisoned.

"Return to the residence."

Ji Xuanyuan turned around: "Immediately summon the physician Wei'e to treat his injuries. Zilong, clean up this place, find out whose property that wooden building is, and question everyone who has entered or left in the past three days."

"promise!"

The carriage set off again.

Inside the carriage, Ji Xuanyuan leaned against the wall, closed his eyes, and his chest heaved violently.

Just a moment ago, when the blade pierced the wall of the compartment, he truly felt the breath of death.

So close.

If it weren't for Dian Wei's quick thinking and Zhao Yun's lightning speed, he would already be a corpse by now.

Chaotic times...

He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with a chilling coldness.

Since you want to play dirty tricks.

Let's take a look...

Who can outmaneuver whom?

The Prefect's Residence.

When Guo Jia, Lu Zhi, Tian Feng, and Ju Shou rushed over upon hearing the news, Ji Xuanyuan had already changed into clean clothes and was sitting in his study.

Dian Wei's wound had already been treated by the physician, with an antidote ointment applied and the wound properly bandaged. At this moment, the simpleton even grinned, "Those bastards, their skills are lousy, but they smeared poison on their blades—how insidious!"

Ji Xuanyuan ignored him and looked at Guo Jia and the other three.

"It's been investigated."

Guo Jia's expression was unusually solemn: "That wooden building belonged to a merchant surnamed Chen from Zhuojun, but three months ago, he sold it to a traveling merchant from out of town. The paperwork was complete, and no problems could be found."

"What about the traveling merchants?" Tian Feng asked in a deep voice.

"It's gone." Guo Jia shook his head.

"After the transfer of ownership, he never appeared again. There was only one old servant guarding the building on weekdays. This morning, the old servant was also found dead in his room, having died of poisoning."

Ju Shou stroked his beard and pondered: "Their actions were meticulous, their hands and feet clean, and all the assassins committed suicide by poison, leaving no survivors. This is... a death squad."

Lu Zhi's aged face was covered with frost: "Training assassins is not easy, and they cannot be raised by ordinary families. There are probably more than one or two families behind this matter."

The atmosphere in the study was somber.

Ji Xuanyuan slowly spoke: "They're getting anxious."

The four of them looked at him.

"When the recruitment order was issued, people from humble backgrounds flocked to the area. The profits from refined salt, the treasures of glass, and the convenience of the curved plow were all shaking the foundations of aristocratic families."

Ji Xuanyuan's voice was calm, but every word was like a knife: "If impeachment on the surface is ineffective, then you will try to assassinate me. If it doesn't work today, you will try again tomorrow. As long as I die, everything in Zhuojun will collapse in an instant, like a tree without roots."

A cold glint flashed in Guo Jia's peach blossom eyes: "Senior brother, we cannot sit idly by and wait for our doom."

"nature."

Ji Xuanyuan coughed twice, a trace of color returning to his pale face: "Fengxiao, from today onwards, establish the 'Dark Guard,' select elite soldiers from the army, specializing in intelligence, surveillance, and counter-assassination. All outsiders and suspicious activities within the territory of Zhuojun must be monitored."

"Yuanhao, Gongyu, strengthen the guards of all workshops and the recruitment hall, and strictly check all personnel entering and leaving, especially the glass workshop. Increase the number of troops by three times. You are allowed to... execute first and report later."

"Lord Lu".

He looked at Lu Zhi: "Secretly contact your old friends in the literati, and conduct a secret investigation to see which prominent families... are you so eager to take my life?"

As orders were issued, everyone in the study solemnly accepted them.

"besides."

Ji Xuanyuan concluded, "There's no need to conceal what happened today. Let the news spread: I, Ji Xuanyuan, was assassinated, but I am still alive."

Guo Jia was taken aback, then understood: "Senior brother, are you trying to... lure the snake out of its hole?"

"No."

Ji Xuanyuan shook his head, a cold glint in his eyes: "It's to tell them—"

He paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:

"My life, Ji Wenlie's life, is not so easy to take."

"You want to kill me? Go ahead."

"But be prepared—"

"Pay the price."

Outside the window, the snow started falling again.

It fell in abundance, covering the entire Zhuojun.

But a bloodless war has only just begun.