My lord, spare his life!

He Ning listened in silence, without uttering a word.

Until Wang Ba asked, "I remember you've met Lord Boyuan?"

He Ning nodded: "It's fate that we've met."

"What is the appearance of Lord Boyuan like?"

He Ning knew his adoptive father wanted to hear about Zhang Yang's erudition, but after thinking for a long time, the Zhang Yang he remembered didn't seem to fit the description, at least not showing much of the characteristic of being knowledgeable. However, she did get along well with her adoptive brother.

He Ning said, "Lord Boyuan is very strong."

Wang Ba: "Anything else?"

He Ning added, "He has an almost celestial quality, with a clear mind and refined features."

"Young people your age are indeed more likely to notice the appearance of the opposite sex." Wang Ba laughed heartily, but his expression stiffened for a moment as he turned to look at his adopted son, who was also staring at him with innocent eyes. A bizarre thought surged into Wang Ba's mind—was his adopted son implying that Wang Qi's change was perhaps due to other emotions? But, Wang Gongsun?

Although Wang Ba always held a biased view of Wang Qi, he had to admit that Wang Qi's emotions and desires were merely human-like, mimicking rather than being genuine. Wang Ba never imagined that Wang Qi would ever be driven by lust; the two concepts were completely unrelated.

Wang Ba hesitated: "Wu An, are you serious?"

He Ning had no intention of acting as a messenger, but simply stated the facts he knew: "My son is not sure either, but my sworn brother has met Bo Yuanjun. He did not address Bo Yuanjun by his honorific name or courtesy name, but instead called him 'Mountain Spirit.' He seems to want to kill Bo Yuanjun rather than feel admiration for him."

I tried to kill him, but failed.

Wang Ba couldn't help but scratch his head and ask, "The Mountain Spirit? The one who rides a red leopard, followed by a civet cat, in a magnolia chariot with a cassia banner?"

"Yes."

He Ning knew his sworn brother's educational level best; it was strange that he could remember such a difficult sentence. Before his sworn brother took the initiative to learn, the other man could even misread a few capital numbers.

Wang Ba twirled his beard with his fingers, his expression strange: "Haven't I told you that there were unusual signs before your sworn brother was born? His mother had a strange dream the day before he was born?"

"This doesn't seem to have been mentioned."

Wang Badao: "His mother dreamt that she fell from a great height, and when she woke up, she was in a desolate, brownish-red land. A blood-red full moon hung in the pitch-black sky, and crimson fire spewed from the ground, some of it solidified, some still flowing. In the dream, she didn't see a single tree or animal, and she didn't know how long she had been walking..."

"and then?"

"As she was about to wake up, she saw a woman dressed in green leaves and flowers. The woman had golden-red pupils and long hair that reached over ten feet to the ground. She was holding fire in her hands to quench her thirst. Her mother was too tired from walking, so she immediately cried out to the woman for help, wanting to ask where she was. As soon as she cried out, she woke up from the dream, and then went into labor and gave birth to your sworn brother."

"So, who is this mountain spirit?"

"His mother believed that the woman she dreamed of was a mountain spirit, and I guess that's why your sworn brother is still thinking about the mountain spirit."

He Ning shook his head: "It doesn't seem like it."

Bo Yuanjun and the woman in his adoptive mother's dream had no resemblance.

Wang Ba didn't believe in dreams: "After all, it was just a dream. His mother really liked 'Nine Songs' during that time, and even made illustrations for all eleven chapters. It must have been something she thought about during the day and dreamed about at night."

"Those paintings hanging in my godfather's study?"

"Um."

Unlike Wang Qi's "I'm illiterate, so I'm right," his mother was not only studious but also extremely talented. Wang Ba thought their child would inherit this trait, but the result was that the child was smart, just a little mischievous and unruly, but he would be fine once he calmed down.

"If my sworn brother really did it because of..."

Wang Ba thought for a moment and said, "It's not important."

Whether it was Zhang Yang's patient guidance that led Wang Qi to correct his ways, or whether Wang Qi was simply lusting after Zhang Yang, it was no longer important to Wang Ba. What Wang Ba valued more was Zhang Yang's abilities and the benefits he could bring; other factors were merely icing on the cake.

"In chaotic times, there are two kinds of people you don't need to guard against: petty people and virtuous people. Petty people are inherently evil, as everyone knows, so we will naturally be wary and vigilant against open and covert attacks. But virtuous people are upright and honest, so even if they are not vigilant, they don't worry about harming themselves. They don't bow down to local wealthy and powerful people, they refuse to collude with them, and they don't take advantage of natural disasters to make money. That's enough to call them virtuous people. So why should I be wary of them?" Wang Ba said this with great candor.

He Ning silently made a note of it.

Wang Ba wrote a letter to inquire as soon as he returned.

Since Thunder happened to be back, I had it deliver the message. Oh, wait, that unfilial son said Thunder has now changed its name to Zhang Daji.

Wang Ba Rui commented: "It's so vulgar, unbearably vulgar."

No one knows a son better than his father. Wang Ba knew his son's bad temper well, and he was too lazy to seal the letter. It's only because he's in school now that he's studying. If it were a few months ago, Wang Qi probably wouldn't even know what was written on it when he opened it. He Ningke, who could help read the letter, wasn't by his side.

Zhang Yang stared blankly as he read the letter.

Not only is the frail and helpless Yuan Xie unharmed, he also pulled off a masterful maneuver to win over Wang Ba. If their cooperation can be successfully realized, it will definitely be a huge surprise for Dou County!

As for the conditions that Yuan Xie made on his behalf?

Just as Yuan Xie said, Zhang Yang didn't care at all.

She didn't care, but Wang Qi did.

"Is the mountain spirit angry that Yuan Youzheng acted on his own initiative?"

"What do you mean by 'acting on one's own initiative'?"

Wang Qi: "Making promises without the lord's consent is a serious taboo for such self-righteous subordinates."

If it were him, he wouldn't allow Yuan Xie to live.

"Is it that serious?"

"have."

"This can only be considered an expedient measure in an emergency. We shouldn't blame Youzheng; on the contrary, we should praise his quick thinking." After thinking for a while, Zhang Yang felt that this was the case. "At least he saved me from a lot of trouble."

"What he did was self-preservation, not loyalty."

That's well said, but Zhang Yang wouldn't listen.

Wang Qi: "...Even if you really want to thank someone, you should thank me. I kept it a secret for you from that old man."

If he had revealed anything to Wang Ba, things would be different.

"What you're doing is self-preservation, not for my sake."

Zhang Yang was indeed capable of killing Wang Qi.

"Mountain ghost——"

Zhang Yang: "..."

Once again, he skillfully maneuvered his way out of Wang Qi's blade.

Wang Qi missed his strike and was whipped, feeling a mix of anger, pain, and a strange sense of satisfaction. He ran his fingertips along the red whip marks that stretched from his jaw to his collarbone, feeling a stinging, tingling pain where his fingertips touched, his expression one of lingering enjoyment. Even Guan Si would have considered it perverse.

Tsk, why not just whip him to death?

Zhang Yang, carrying Wang Ba's letter, discussed the matter with Fan You and others.

It was clear to everyone that Wang Ba's willingness to agree to the alliance was not only due to Yuan Xie's efforts, but also to the significant role played by Wang Qi. Zhang Yang nodded and said, "I have already rewarded him."

Those unaware of the situation might think Zhang Yang was very generous.

Those in the know fell silent.

They suspected that the "reward" might be something amiss.

"Daji is back." Wang Ba reached out and took the letter tube that Zhang Daji had hidden in his wings. He glanced at Zhang Yang's reply and burned it. "Wu'an, go and invite Yuanjun over to discuss this."

As soon as Yuan Xie arrived, he asked him questions.

"Which of my children do you think is capable of fulfilling this role?"

Since it's a scheme within a scheme, a betrayal behind Dou County's back, they can't just go through the motions on the surface. At least when attacking the trade route passes, they must put in real effort and not let anyone suspect anything. Wang Ba plans to have one of his sons or daughters lead the troops, but he's having trouble deciding on a candidate.

Why is it so hard to book?

Because these children are no pushovers either.

Wang Ba wanted to hear other people's opinions.

According to the plan, Wang Ba would send a part of his troops to attack the trade route, while the other part would march swiftly along the Youyuan Mountains to "reinforce" Dou County from another mountain range. There were two mountain passes in the mountainous region, one controlled by Chesi County and the other by Dou County.

As for whether Doujun is willing to let Wang Ba's troops enter the mountains?

Doujun naturally agreed.

The envoy hesitated: "This—"

The dangers of Wang Ba's troops being blocked outside the trade route are vastly different from those of his troops entering the mountainous region. Before the Dou County envoy arrived, the Dou County government had simulated various difficulties Wang Ba would create, including this one. They were willing to back down, but not too easily, lest Wang Ba become overconfident.

Wang Ba: "Isn't what I've done righteous enough?"

The envoy said, "His grand ambitions and righteousness reach the heavens."

"Then what are you still hesitating for? Could it be... that you really intend to play me for a fool? To use me to hold back the enemy's troops, and then discard them after you've used them, and deny everything?" Wang Ba narrowed his eyes dangerously, unleashing his fierce aura.

The envoy felt an invisible force squeezing his chest, making it hard to breathe, and cold sweat broke out on his back: "I dare not. My lord values ​​righteousness and keeps his promises above all else. How could he possibly have the slightest intention to take advantage of Lord Hongtu? Every word I have spoken to form this alliance comes from the bottom of my heart, and I have no ulterior motives."

Wang Ba leaned forward slightly, his voice low and questioning, "If you all have a clear conscience, then why—don't you answer?"

The envoy asked Wang Ba, "How many troops does Lord Hongtu intend to lead?"

Wang Badao said, "Three thousand is enough."

The envoy pondered for a long time. Three thousand soldiers were indeed not many, fewer than the envoy and his men had anticipated. Even if these three thousand men were all elites, and even if these elites entered the mountainous region, it would still be insufficient to seize the mountainous area.

It's best if Wang Ba has no ambition, even if he does—

Once the matter is accomplished, it will not be difficult for Dou County to annex these three thousand.

The envoy from Dou County bowed deeply.

"Therefore, everything depends on Lord Hongtu."

Wang Ba chuckled and clapped his hands: "Easy, easy."

The messenger said, "Three thousand troops have borrowed a route through the Right Wall Mountains, and there are other forces along the way. When will Lord Hongtu arrive with his troops?"

Wang Ba twirled the jade bracelet in his hand: "Don't worry about those forces. I have some connections with them. If things are cleared up, borrowing a passage won't be a problem. As for the time, let's set it for three days first."

The Youyuan Mountains are much shorter than the Dongfan Mountains.

This amount of time is sufficient.

The messenger bowed again: "In that case, we await your arrival."

A smile appeared on his face, and Wang Ba smiled too.

Both parties are very satisfied with this cooperation.

At this very moment, on the border of Zongzheng County.

Having just flown over the Imperial Throne City, Zhang Daji, who had been shuttling between two locations, was slightly distracted. Realizing what it had seen, Zhang Daji made a sharp turn in mid-air and swooped down.

? ?|??w?`)

The fan title event post is out! Both new and old readers can participate. New readers who meet the requirements can get a title, and those with a fan title have a chance to win event funds… The event funds are a bit small, but better than nothing _(:3」∠)_

PS: Today's is shorter.