Qin Shi Ambitious

Page 81

"Such powerful internal energy!"

Mei San Niang, who was preparing to fight back, could sense the chilling aura from afar. Not daring to be careless and take it head-on, she changed the direction of her hand and used the other end of her sickle to strike the approaching enemy in a way that was closer to a hammer.

Lu Wei neither dodged nor evaded; his palm froze over, and he actually managed to block the powerful hammer blow with his bare hand. Although the ice was smashed into countless ice flowers, the immense force was also completely dissipated along with the creation of these ice flowers.

"not good!"

Seeing the chill creeping from Lu Wei's other hand, Mei San Niang focused her energy and could only brace herself against the Hall Master's Spring Chill Severed Palm.

*Smack!* The palm struck her solid abdomen. Mei San Niang felt a chill run through her body as the cold air broke through her hard protective barrier, sending her flying.

At the same time, the Jade Soul Sword, falling from the sky due to gravity, landed precisely in the right spot. Lu Wei flashed forward, chasing after the sent-down Mei San Niang, his right hand gripping the hilt in mid-air, and with a whoosh, he drew the sword from its sheath...

When the disciples and the Wei people holding hoes saw the situation on the field again: Mei San Niang was kneeling on one knee, one hand on the ground and the other covering her abdomen, her face was bluish-purple, obviously fighting against the cold in her body.

At the same time, a jade sword was held against Mei San Niang's neck, and the sword's owner was holding the hilt in reverse behind her.

"You should be a person of integrity."

With a clang, the sword was sheathed, and after the blade was removed, a line of blood could be seen flowing from Mei San Niang's neck.

...

Mei San Niang held a high position in the Armored Clan. Her master, the leader of the Armored Clan, was originally a general of the Wei Kingdom, commanding the renowned Wei Wu Zu.

But perhaps the position of Grand General in various countries is cursed, for this man, a grandmaster in martial arts and equally imposing in power, was ultimately murdered...

Mei San Niang is straightforward and fiery, stubborn and inflexible. She firmly believes that her master was killed by the 'bastard' King Wei, and is unwilling to let the Armored Sect serve the Wei Kingdom any longer.

But the eldest disciple of the sect, Dian Qing, thought differently. He decided to accept the King of Wei's offer and lead the Wei Wu soldiers to continue protecting the country.

Mei San Niang was extremely disappointed. She could not possibly be a subordinate of her enemy, so she left the Armored Gate and wandered the martial world.

This year, the State of Wei has suffered many disasters. The King of Wei even offered the city to Qin before the Qin army arrived... Mei San Niang saw this but was powerless to change it. She could only rely on her own strength to protect the safety of some people as much as possible.

When Lu Wei asked Mei San Niang about these experiences, she made no attempt to hide anything and told him everything in a straightforward manner.

In the end, looking at the disappointed Wei people from afar, she still knelt down and begged Lu Wei to give them a meal.

Lord Hall Master always keeps his word. We haven't even reached the territory of Zhao yet. He leaves some here and some there. How much will be left when we reach Dai?

So he left no room for negotiation and refused outright.

Mei San Niang was helpless. She now knew that these supplies were meant to aid the people of Wei after the devastating earthquake. But as a Wei native, Mei San Niang naturally favored the people of Wei.

After searching her entire body, she used all her valuables, including her weapon and sickle, to buy a bag of grain from the caravan at twice the price of the same period last year. With a heavy heart, she ran to deliver it to the refugees.

While the refugees were overjoyed that Mei San Niang had found food for them again, they were also terrified when they learned that she was leaving with the transport team, and they knelt down and begged her to leave.

Mei San Niang resolutely refused, and even angrily rebuked the people she had protected for so long: When she travels the world, she always keeps her word. If she loses a bet, she must bear the consequences of her loss!

With a dark expression, Mei San Niang turned and left the group of refugees, heading towards the farmers' transport team. She didn't glance once more at the kneeling refugees...

The transport team finally had a capable disciple to protect them. Although Mei San Niang's internal injuries were quite severe, she still managed to drive away the thieves with great ease along the way.

The Master hardly needs to use the carriage anymore.

They joined up with the transport team of Siyue Hall outside Daliang City, making the team even more bloated and increasing the difficulty of keeping an eye on them from all sides. Fortunately, as soon as the team entered Zhao territory, elite cavalry came to protect them.

A cavalry force of two hundred men could easily split into several groups and launch a charge on the battlefield. Now, they were to escort this leisurely troop, bearing the name of Lord Wu'an, straight to the Dai region.

Lu Wei separated from the main group at the border: the transport team would not go to Handan, but he would go there, where Li Mu was waiting for him!

As for Mei San Niang, the hall master ordered her to first go with the team to Dai Di for a round trip. After the Dai Di mission was completed, she did not need to return. She could go directly to Yan to report to Lu Qiu Pavilion in Ji City.

"Is Lord Wu'an still well?"

On the way to Handan, Lu Wei did not travel alone. He chatted amiably with a young cavalryman accompanying him.

This cavalryman was actually three years older than Lu Wei, but he had a youthful face and was not as tall or strong as the hall master, so he looked younger from the outside.

"The general was extremely worried about the people of Dai, and it was thanks to the generosity of his farmers that he was able to help them."

The young cavalryman loosened the reins, clasped his hands in gratitude, and looked at Lu Wei.

“I am also a Zhao citizen. Lord Wu’an is the Great Wall of Zhao. I am truly happy to be able to help him solve his problems.”

"Oh, where is Hall Master Lu from?" The young cavalryman perked up and asked.

"I don't know either. I only know that it belongs to the territory of Lord Fengyang. I was young at the time and later fled to the State of Yan."

Being a deserter is not a glorious thing, but given the current status of the Hall Master and the supplies he sent to Daidi, Lu Wei is not worried that he will be scolded for it.

Sure enough, when the young cavalryman learned that he had also served in the military, his tone became even more friendly, and he even made excuses for Lu Wei's past desertion:

"I know about the war that year. Many generals were unwilling to fight that war! Your Majesty was also in the opposition."

"Moreover, some powerful and influential people in our country are really going too far! The military regulations clearly stipulate that only men who are fourteen years of age or older can be conscripted into the front-line units... Fortunately, Master Lu is a lucky man."

We had a pleasant chat along the way...

Upon arriving in Handan City, Lu Wei did not immediately visit the residence of Lord Wu'an. Instead, he parted ways with the young cavalrymen and went to find the residence of Zhao Yi.

A year has passed, and now the gatekeepers here are disciples of the Farmer's Clan, and they even have the title of "Guardians of the Tantai" hanging on the Tantai platform. The fact that Lu Yu arranged for them to be at the gate means that he gave them special instructions, and they also know about the Seven Star Pearl Grass of the Hall Master. They let Lu Wei in without reporting to him.

After inquiring about the current situation at the mansion, it was learned that Zhao Yi had gone to Zhao Cong's mansion for a banquet and drinks, and only Steward Yu was at the mansion.

Following the directions, they found Lu Yu in the guest accommodation area. Amidst the latter's delighted shout of "Brother Lu," the two sat facing each other in a side hall.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Lu Yu reported to the Hall Master on his work in the Zhao Kingdom over the past year:

The Zhao State had a considerable number of disciples, but on the one hand, very few of them were actually useful, and on the other hand, not all of these disciples were registered under the Gonggong Hall.

On the contrary, a closer look reveals that among the disciples of the Zhao state's agricultural school, there are actually more who belong to the Chiyou Hall and the Siyue Hall.

However, Tian Hu and Situ Wanli paid no attention to these disciples, who claimed to be disciples of the Farmer's School, but their identities were not actually recognized.

Lu Yu's solution was to follow the example of Luqiu Pavilion in Yan State and use the name of Tantai to classify all these people under the name of Tantai disciples.

Then, once these people have gotten used to calling themselves Tantai disciples, inform them that Tantai belongs to Gonggong Hall, and then further assign these people to Gonggong Hall.

In this way, within a year, the number of Gonggong Hall disciples increased by 3,000, bringing the total number close to 30,000.

This sounds like a significant boost to Gonggong Hall's strength, but if more disciples cannot fully utilize their abilities, they will become a burden.

For example, in the earthquake zone of Dai, more than 500 disciples of the Gonggong Hall of the Zhao State were also affected by the disaster.

As to how to deal with these people, Lu Yu contacted Lu Shan in Jicheng, and Lu Qiuge reluctantly ate the food.

The biggest problem is how to accommodate more disciples, but apart from that, Ayu has handled other aspects quite well.

Lord Pingyuan, Zhao Yi, once trusted the Hall Master very much. After a year apart, although his trust had decreased slightly, the decrease was transferred to the steward, Lu Yu, so it was practically the same as no transfer at all.

Regarding the plan that her brother Lu initially devised to get close to Li Mu, A Yu, who was by Gongzi Yi's side, had already met this Lord Wu'an twice, and had met Sima Shang even more times.

Several of Li Mu's cavalrymen, because they had various kinship ties with the disciples of Tantai, also joined the peasant family.

It's highly unlikely that these people would betray Zhao Jun, and they would likely be reported. But once the mole is planted, there will always be a time when they'll be needed.

In short, Lu Yu made every effort to arrange anything that could be related to Li Mu or the people around him.

Through these channels, he collected a large information booklet about Li Mu, which could help the Hall Master understand this person from other perspectives before meeting him.

While gathering this intelligence, Ayu also discovered that other forces were doing the same thing: they were most likely from the Qin state.

This was expected.

Having memorized these messages, Lu Wei was received by Lord Zhao Wu'an that evening.

"Master Lu was willing to lend a helping hand in our time of crisis. I will never forget such a great kindness!"

Li Mu had an ordinary appearance, wore no armor, and dressed plainly. His demeanor was calm and unassuming, like that of a farmer in the fields.

But this seemingly ordinary person has earned him renowned titles such as Lord Zhao Wu'an, God of War, and Wolf Hunter, making his ordinariness extraordinary.

"I am but a wandering swordsman, but I am moved by the compassion of the ancestral master Shennong and have done my best to contribute. I am truly grateful to Lord Wu'an for hosting this banquet."

Lu Wei feigned politeness, deliberately walking a step slower than Li Mu on the way to the banquet. This small action was noticed by General Li, who was at the peak of his power, and he directly grabbed Lu Wei's wrist and walked alongside him.

"Master Lu, there's no need for you to be so polite today. Mu needs the help of the peasant family. If you act petty today, I won't be able to ask you for anything else!"

After taking his seat, Li Mu's eyes suddenly deepened, revealing a slight hint of the imposing aura of this Marquis of Wu'an...

Chapter 104 You already have a way to die

There were about ten people attending the banquet hosted by Li Mu.

Besides Lord Wu'an himself and Lu Wei, there were several junior officers from the manor, including the young cavalryman who had accompanied the head of the hall from the border of Zhao and Wei all the way to Handan.

He waved to Lu Wei without flinching.

Throughout the banquet, although most of the guests were meeting Master Lu for the first time, they were able to chat freely with each other, thanks to the mutual cooperation between the two sides.

The soldiers spoke boldly and directly, making the banquet extremely lively.

Before the banquet began, Li Mu said meaningfully, "I still have something to ask of the farmers." Judging from the passage of time and the content of the banquet's casual conversation, he did not intend to mention this important matter during the meal.

Lu Wei thought it over and over, and realized that the peasants could offer very little help to this Lord Wu'an, especially since time was already running out for the six kingdoms...

Next year, a country will perish.

After the banquet, under a clear moon and sparse stars, Li Mu invited Master Lu to a private room.

"Master Lu, did you enjoy yourself tonight?"

Li Mu's hair and beard were jet black, but upon closer inspection, one could see many white hairs hidden beneath the black. Although Zhao had won all the wars against Qin in recent years, it had also caused this "God of Military Formations" to be troubled and anxious.

"I've heard that Lord Wu'an is also a straightforward person. May I ask what Your Majesty meant by 'having a request' before the banquet?"

Lu Wei didn't stand on ceremony and presented the question frankly. The person in front of him was not just an ordinary general who marched and fought on the battlefield. He could vaguely sense that the other party's martial arts and internal strength were not weak at all!

It can even be described as very strong!

“Alright, since you’re so straightforward, I’ll speak frankly.” Li Mu sat down calmly, and then his aura suddenly changed. The sounds of clashing swords and galloping horses seemed to be vividly present on his body: “Hall Master Lu came from Qi, and you should have seen the suffering of the people of Wei along the way.”

"This year has really not been a good year. The earthquake in Daidi has displaced hundreds of thousands of people. This is no less than the loss caused by a bloody war."

"The signs of drought have exacerbated the already dire situation. Zhao's harvest has declined significantly this year, and most of the surplus grain has been used for military purposes and to prevent the Qin army from taking advantage of the situation."

"The reason why the State of Zhao ignores the Dai region is not because it is unwilling, but because it is unable to."

As Li Mu spoke, he stood up, walked to a corner of the room, picked up his Zhenyue Sword, drew it halfway out, stared at the inscription on it, and then swiftly shoved it back in, the action emitting a sharp sword cry:

"Based on the observations of the Imperial Observatory and past experience, this year's drought is only minor, but by next year's planting season, the severe drought is very likely to continue!"

"This was not only something we could have foreseen; Qin spies have probably already relayed the situation in Zhao back to Xianyang..."