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

Mid-July.

The detailed battle report of the great victory at Jundu Mountain was sent to Zhuojun by express courier at a speed of 800 li. Ji Xuanyuan then presented it to Luoyang in the form of an official victory report, along with captured barbarian flags and some marked weapons as evidence.

Inside Zhuojun City, when the news spread that "the Jingnan Army has killed more than 2,000 barbarians in battle, with only 18 casualties of its own", it instantly became abuzz!

In restaurants, teahouses, and on every street corner, everyone was spreading the news, their faces beaming with pride and excitement.

"Have you heard? General Lü and General Ran utterly routed the Wuhuan barbarians at Jundu Mountain!"

"More than two thousand barbarian heads! My God! Our Jingnan Army is too fierce!"

"General Ji's troops are truly formidable! Let's see who dares to invade our Youzhou borderlands again!"

"With the Jingnan Army here, our Zhuojun is as stable as Mount Tai!"

Public opinion surged, and support and trust in Ji Xuanyuan and the Jingnan Army reached a new height.

The misunderstandings or criticisms that arose from previous road construction, hospital building, and health regulations have completely vanished in the face of these truly remarkable military achievements.

Ji Xuanyuan's prestige was at its zenith in Zhuojun and even in the surrounding counties where the news had already spread.

Inside the prefect's mansion, Ji Xuanyuan, having received a detailed military report, wore a relieved and reassured smile.

He immediately ordered that the first batch of sufficient food, a large quantity of external wound medicine, purified alcohol, and winter clothing, which had already been prepared, be transported to the Dai County camp as quickly as possible via the now-open cement road.

"Our soldiers are serving in the field, and the court may be in arrears, but Zhuojun must not neglect the front line in the slightest!" Ji Xuanyuan solemnly instructed Ju Shou, who was in charge of logistics.

"We must let them know that their hometown elders are watching them and supporting them. Sufficient provisions and supplies will stabilize the morale of the army, and a stable morale will ensure victory!"

The news naturally reached Gongsun Zan, who was leading his troops to join forces with Meng Yi and making a difficult advance into Youzhou.

Inside the central command tent, Gongsun Zan stared at the summary of the victory report that had been painstakingly copied. His knuckles turned white from gripping the document, and the muscles on his handsome and resolute face twitched slightly. A complex and unfathomable flame burned in his eyes.

There was shock, disbelief, and even more so, a deep sense of humiliation and jealousy, a feeling of being deeply hurt and suppressed.

"Two thousand were killed in battle... eighteen were lost on our own... four generals charged into the formation..." He murmured, repeating the key words, as if a huge rock was stuck in his chest.

When faced with the rebellious Wuhuan, Gongsun Zan's reputation was ruined because the court delayed paying his troops and mishandled the situation, resulting in the desertion of three thousand elite Youzhou cavalrymen. He became a laughingstock and a scapegoat in the private discussions of the court and the public.

Meanwhile, Ji Xuanyuan, who was far away in Zhuojun, much younger than him, and supposedly always sickly, had an army that appeared out of nowhere under his command, yet he had achieved such a terrifying record! The limelight, the credit, the fame... he had taken it all by himself!

"Bang!"

Gongsun Zan slammed his fist on the table, causing the ink and brush to scatter wildly.

He needed victory, desperately needed a clean and decisive victory to wash away the shame and prove that he, Gongsun Bogui, was the "White Horse General" who could make the Hu people tremble with fear, not a defeated general who lost his army and disgraced his power!

"Meng Yi's urging for the troop deployment is still too slow!"

Gongsun Zan gritted his teeth and said to his remaining generals, "Pass down the order to speed up the march! We must engage the enemy as soon as possible! We cannot let others steal the credit for quelling the rebellion!"

Meanwhile, inside the Zhuojun Prefectural Governor's Mansion, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Li Cunxiao, and Dian Wei gathered together, each with an excited expression and eyes burning with fighting spirit.

"Brother! Let me go!" Zhang Fei shouted, his voice the loudest.

"Second Brother and the others have already killed over two thousand barbarian dogs! My eighteen-foot spear is itching for blood! If it doesn't get some barbarian blood soon, it'll rust!"

Guan Yu narrowed his phoenix eyes and stroked his beard, saying, "Yun Chang is also willing to lead an army north to lend a hand to my second brother and the others, and to wipe out the rebels as soon as possible."

Li Cunxiao was so anxious he kept wringing his hands: "Brother, there's fighting on the border, how can we be left out?"

Although Zhao Yun was composed, a longing was also revealed in his eyes.

Looking at his roaring, fierce brothers, Ji Xuanyuan felt both gratified and somewhat amused.

Xiang Yu and his three companions had already turned the borderlands upside down. Sending four more would not be for protecting the borders and the people, but for annihilating the entire Wuhuan tribe.

He raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, and said gently, "How could I not know the desire of you brothers for battle? Brother Yu and his men have won their first battle, which has greatly boosted the morale of our army. This is cause for celebration. However, the border war cannot be quelled overnight. Zhang Chun and Zhang Ju command more than 100,000 troops. Although Wu Yan was defeated, his main force was not lost, and Qiu Liju and his ilk are still alive. There will surely be even larger and more arduous battles to come."

He glanced at the crowd and said meaningfully, "Don't be impatient. Our Jingnan Army's stage is not limited to this corner of Youbei. In the future... there will be many tough battles and fierce battles to fight, and many opportunities for you to become famous throughout the world."

"At this moment, Zhuojun is our foundation, and we cannot afford to lose it. Yunchang, Yide, Jingsi, and Elai, it is equally important for you to guard the rear, organize the army, and supervise the defense. Zilong..."

He looked at Zhao Yun, about to speak again, when suddenly a personal guard rushed in and presented two urgent letters from Ji Province.

Ji Xuanyuan unfolded the book and took a look. His brows immediately furrowed, and the relaxed expression on his face quickly faded, replaced by a solemn look.

He unfolded the letter at the top.

The letter was an obituary issued by the Zhen family in Wuji County: Zhen Yi, the head of the Zhen family, passed away a few days ago.

The hall fell silent instantly.

Although Zhang Fei and the others were not very familiar with Zhen Yi, they knew that the Zhen family was an important business ally of their elder brother, and that Zhen Yi had even married his daughter to Zhao Yun.

Guan Yu sighed softly, and Li Cunxiao and Dian Wei also suppressed their excitement.

Ji Xuanyuan put down the letter and remained silent for a moment.

He suddenly realized that, according to the original historical trajectory, Zhen Yi should have indeed passed away last year.

Although his arrival as a "butterfly" changed many things, it only extended the life of this shrewd old businessman by a year.

In chaotic times, life and death are unpredictable, and even the wealthiest person cannot escape the ravages of illness.

"Lord Zhen... has passed away."

Ji Xuanyuan spoke in a low voice to everyone, especially Zhao Yun, whose face had turned pale instantly: "Zilong, you must inform Zhen Tuo immediately and comfort him properly."

He paused, then said to Guo Jia, Tian Feng, Ju Shou, and the others, "Gentlemen, tell me, what impact will Lord Zhen's sudden death have on Zhuojun and on our great cause?"

Guo Jia's usual languidness vanished from his peach blossom eyes, replaced by sharpness and clarity: "Senior brother, Zhen Yi has been the core of the Zhen family for decades. His prestige, skill, and connections are unmatched by others. His departure will inevitably cause turbulence in the power transition within the Zhen family."

"Although Young Master Zhen Yan has cooperated with us a lot and seems to be the most likely successor, it is still unknown whether he can completely control the family and suppress the dissent of other branches. Moreover... the pain of losing his father and the period of mourning may also affect his decision-making energy and ambition."

Tian Feng interjected, his tone serious: "More importantly, the salt profits, glass, and even the recent road construction joint venture are all tied to the alliance with the Zhen family. If the Zhen family wavers in their attitude or changes their cooperation due to the change of the family head, or if someone within the family takes the opportunity to cause trouble, wanting to renegotiate the price or even terminate the cooperation, it will be a major blow to the financial resources of Zhuojun and the road construction plan."

Ju Shou pondered for a moment and said, "The Zhen family is a powerful and influential family in Jizhou, with deep roots and complex relationships with other aristocratic families. When Zhen Yi was alive, his personal prestige and decisiveness allowed us to be deeply bound together. Now that he has passed away, it is hard to guarantee that other forces will not take the opportunity to win them over, sow discord, and induce the Zhen family to change their allegiance. This is not only about money, but also about our influence and network of allies in Hebei's business community and even some scholars."

The atmosphere inside the hall was somber.

This is the chaos of the times; death is not merely a source of emotional grief, but also the beginning of a reshuffling of the power structure.

Even after a person has passed away, the living will still scheme and fight over the power vacuum and wealth he left behind.

As Ji Xuanyuan listened to everyone's analysis, his finger unconsciously tapped the table.

After a long while, he looked at Zhao Yun, whose expression was sorrowful and somewhat bewildered, and said gently, "Zilong, according to etiquette, a married daughter must return home to observe mourning after her father's death. As for Zhen Tuo, as her husband, you should accompany her back to the Zhen family in Wuji County to pay your respects, fulfill your duties as a son-in-law, and help her through this difficult time. This is also your duty."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yun clasped his hands in a fist salute and said, "Brother, I understand. I will go and make preparations to escort Tuo'er back to Wuji."

Ji Xuanyuan nodded, signaling him to wait a moment, and then said to Guo Jia, "Fengxiao, in my name, draft a condolence document, prepare generous gifts, and make sure the words are sincere, remembering the support that Lord Zhen gave me in the past, expressing gratitude for the cooperation between our two families, and conveying Zhuojun's sincerity in continuing to work hand in hand with the Zhen family to overcome difficulties together."

Guo Jia understood: "I understand, I will definitely choose the right words."

Then, Ji Xuanyuan's gaze fell on Zhao Yun, his voice lowered but sounded more solemn: "Zilong, on your journey to Wuji, besides comforting Zhen Tuo, there is one more thing you need to keep in mind."

Zhao Yun raised his eyes, a questioning look in them.

"observe."

Ji Xuanyuan slowly said, "Observe the atmosphere within the Zhen family, the reactions of each branch, especially... the state of Young Master Zhen Yan and his ability to control the situation. With the sudden passing of Lord Zhen, the next head of the family is highly likely to be Zhen Yan. Although he has cooperated with us extensively and has a close relationship with us, times have changed. With the change of the head of the family, the weighing of family interests, and the fickleness of people's hearts, you need to carefully observe whether the attitude of the Zhen family towards continuing to cooperate with Zhuojun remains the same. Are there any dissenting voices? Is Zhen Yan himself resolute or has his resolve wavered?"

He patted Zhao Yun on the shoulder and said earnestly, "This matter concerns our rear's financial resources and long-term plans, so it is of utmost importance. However, you must remember that the primary purpose of this trip is still to offer condolences and comfort. When observing, you must do it naturally and without leaving a trace. Do not let the Zhen family feel that we are taking advantage of the mourning period to force the emperor's abdication, or that we are cold-hearted and ungrateful. You must be very careful to maintain a proper balance."

Zhao Yun took a deep breath, suppressing the sorrow in his eyes and the heavy responsibility on his shoulders, and solemnly said, "Brother, rest assured, I know what is important and will act properly, both to fulfill the proper etiquette and to live up to your trust."

Watching Zhao Yun's tall figure prepare to leave, Ji Xuanyuan sat back down in the main seat, gazing at the darkening sky outside the window.

The flames of war rage on the northern frontier, and the first reports of victory have arrived.

However, the business alliance in the south suddenly encountered unexpected changes, with undercurrents surging beneath the surface.

In this chaotic world, you'll never be able to focus on just one aspect of the game.

He must stabilize the rear so that his brothers on the front lines have no worries.

It is also necessary to understand the movements of allies in order to ensure that the massive plan does not collapse halfway.

"Zhen Yan... I hope you won't disappoint me," Ji Xuanyuan murmured to himself.

If the Zhen family, this pillar of the family, truly becomes unstable, he will have to consider activating some backup plans in advance, and even...

In a more direct way, we can ensure that the financial resources and the hearts of the people at the southern gate of Youzhou do not slip out of our control.

……

P.S.: Thank you Shuiyue Wuhua for the extra update and all the big spenders who sent gifts. There's an extra chapter today.