Jiang Fugui was stunned for a long time.
He was not deaf; he could hear every word clearly, but for some reason, he couldn't understand when they were put together.
"Master, how could Ze Prefecture be lost? Although Ze Prefecture is vast and convenient for cavalry, those barbarians are just grandchildren on horseback. If they wander around and don't return, aren't they seeking death?"
Barbarians raiding southward was common, but they rarely stayed for long.
Because they had almost no logistical support, their southward raids were just for plundering.
After looting, each person would be burdened with a pile of goods, making them unable to engage in combat.
Sometimes, there was no need for the Great Qian to dispatch troops.
The major cities that defended themselves could make them dare not stay for long.
Once the Great Qian's army arrived, they were undoubtedly doomed.
Qin Mian on the side said, "It's probably not as simple as barbarian cavalry. Local forces might be colluding with the barbarians to rebel. I heard that the court is already preparing to recall the General of Zhen Guo."
"So, Fugui, you should go south first, which can also be considered as leaving me a way out."
Gu Wen turned to Qin Mian again and said, "Thank you, Qin Ten Generals. This fifty taels of silver is a token of appreciation. If you ever want to take refuge in the south in the future, you can come with me."
Qin Mian's face showed joy, knowing that he was halfway under Gu Wen's command.
He quickly clasped his hands and said, "Master Wen is too kind."
However, Gu Wen didn't believe him.
It was impossible to hide the fact that he arranged for Jiang Fugui to go south.
At the same time, he was testing the Zhao family's attitude through this matter.
If he didn't leave, could his subordinates leave?
The next day, Gu Wen received news that Jiang Fugui failed to leave successfully and was detained by the Transport Bureau for lacking the necessary documents.
Later, through some connections, he managed to send Jiang Fugui and his family out.
From this, Gu Wen confirmed that the Zhao family had never intended to let him go from the beginning, but probably not because they sensed his cultivation level.
The reason was that he could use connections to send people out.
Because any command had a time limit, the initial orders would be very strict, but if there was no movement later on, they would become more relaxed.
In this way, there must be spies in the mansion, personal guards, servants, and courtyard protectors, all with issues.
Gu Wen called Qin Mian and the two met privately.
He went straight to the point, "Qin Ten Generals, what do you think of the current situation in Da Qian?"
Currently, he was the least suspicious because if he were a spy, Jiang Fugui wouldn't have been able to leave Bianjing.
Qin Mian was taken aback for a moment, not answering immediately but observing Gu Wen's expression.
Gu Wen continued, "I think Bianjing is not safe now. There have been years of fighting between the barbarians and the border troops in the north, and the barbarians have occupied a whole prefecture in the south. I bought some land in Nanshui in my early years and want to temporarily leave Bianjing. I'd like to hear Qin Ten Generals' advice."
Such straightforward actions and words meant that Qin Mian didn't need to hide anymore.
He said, "Returning to Master Wen, the border troops have been in a state of tension, and now the General and some elite troops have been recalled to suppress the rebellion. The border will be vulnerable."
"But the court has no choice but to do so. If the barbarians establish themselves in Ze Prefecture, the land of the capital will be completely exposed to the enemy's iron hooves. So the court will definitely suppress the rebellion, and Master Wen need not worry."
Gu Wen said, "It's just temporary. It's better to stabilize our position in Nanshui and live a peaceful life in the second half of our lives."
It was normal for him to want to leave.
At least, outsiders couldn't find fault with it.
It would be strange for a merchant not to think of escaping in troubled times.
"Master Wen, what do you mean?"
"I have something for you to do, to get a travel permit. If you're willing, you can come with me to Nanshui."
A travel permit was equivalent to a pass in Da Qian.
Normally, it was impossible to buy one, but the selling of official items in Bianjing and even Da Qian was rampant.
With connections and money, one could buy almost anything.
Qin Mian was delighted and said, "Yes."
Originally just a small Forbidden Army soldier, he was now a Ten Generals, all thanks to Gu Wen.
As a member of the military camp, Qin Mian actually had little faith in Da Qian.
He was well aware of how corrupt the Da Qian army had become.
The border troops were still manageable, under the governance of General Wen Renwu, their combat effectiveness was unquestionable.
But apart from the border troops, the armies in other parts of Da Qian, including the Forbidden Army in Bianjing, were already semi-paralyzed.
If he could run, he definitely wanted to.
Qin Mian acknowledged Gu Wen's abilities, and following him for a meal was not a problem.
The next day, the travel permit was obtained.
Gu Wen confirmed that Qin Mian was fine, and at the same time, the surveillance of the Zhao family on him had neither weakened nor suddenly strengthened.
"The Zhao family still doesn't know about my cultivation level. If they did, the Forbidden Army would have surrounded this place long ago."
He had no intention of running because Bianjing still allowed him to quickly obtain Tianzui and Emperor's Essence.
And as his strength continued to improve, just like a snowball rolling downhill, Gu Wen's speed of acquiring resources would only get faster.
Stirring up trouble now would only alert the enemy.
It was better to refine the medicinal fruits first.
With strength, all actions of the Zhao family would be in vain.
In the afternoon of the same day, Gu Wen received a letter from the commander of the palace guards, delivered by Qin Mian.
Unaware of the enmity between Gu and Zhao, Qin Mian entered the room with a joyful expression.
"Great news, Master Wen, Ninth Prince is not dead!"
Gu Wen, who was eating, had a slightly cold look in his eyes.
He gently put down his chopsticks, took the letter and glanced at it.
The general content was that Zhao Feng was not dead and was currently recuperating in the imperial hospital.
He genuinely smiled and said, "It's good that he's not dead. I was really afraid he might be."
If Zhao Feng had died, he wouldn't know what to do in Bianjing besides collecting Tianzui.
Twenty years of Tianzui.
Gu Wen looked at the sack of medicinal fruits that was now less than half full.
Due to consuming too many medicinal fruits, he felt nauseous at the sight of red fruits.
But most of life was about eating crap; even if he didn't need it, he had to swallow it.
He closed his eyes and continued to refine the medicinal properties.
His Qi Hai had already transformed from a bucket to a large bath, and after breaking through the third level, it should become a pool.
At midnight, Gu Wen opened his eyes, put on his night clothes, and took the Dragon-Tiger Pill and Condensing Dao Pill.
Today was the agreed time to buy weapons, and the seller was a descendant of the Qianlong Mountain Villa, the second in the military.
Gu Wen wanted to buy a spiritual treasure from him to make up for his lack of weapons and further enhance his strength.
-
Under the moonlight on Longqiao Bridge.
He Huan and a strong 'man' stood under the bridge, the river reflecting the moonlight, with the moon moving along with the river waves.
Recently, Longqiao was heavily guarded, and their stay here should have quickly attracted the attention of the Forbidden Army, but an invisible film concealed their figures.
Gu Wen, using his magical power to condense his eyes, could barely see the two people from a distance.
He used the Falling Moon Step, moving like a ghost, and in three leaps, he landed ten steps away from He Huan.
He Huan and the big man turned their heads and saw a figure in black clothes and a bamboo hat approaching.
The former greeted with a smile, and He Huan slightly revealed his aura, saying, "Brother Hong Chen, after taking the Condensing Dao Pill, has your Dao Foundation improved? Although I haven't taken the pill, I have fortunately broken through to the second level of the Dao Foundation."
As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Wen's faint aura was revealed, with a faint red dragon hovering around him.
The extremely thick and full aura, at the peak of the second level of the Dao Foundation, was no different from entering the third level.
In He Huan's eyes, it was clearly the third level of the Dao Foundation, and not in a state of depletion after breaking through.
He Huan's smile froze.
Gu Wen's voice was deep as he said, "This humble Daoist has also fortunately broken through."
When away from home, face was given by oneself.
Cultivators divided themselves based on their cultivation levels when communicating.
Concealing weaknesses was to protect oneself, while showing off was to make others cater to and flatter oneself, enhancing one's value.
The same business talk, the same price, negotiating with Gu Wen and negotiating with Jiang Fugui often led to different results.
Jiang Fugui needed to haggle, while Gu Wen unilaterally made demands without speaking.
Without Gu Wen needing to speak, the 'big man' behind him had already stepped forward and bowed, saying:
"Eighth on the Earth List, descendant of the Qianlong Mountain Villa, Murong Suyue, greets Brother Dao."
His voice was soft, like the yellow flowers of spring.
Gu Wen looked puzzled.
He reevaluated the other party and suddenly remembered the nine feet and six inches mentioned by Yu Hua before.
The person in front of him was probably over ten feet tall.
The moonlight happened to shine on the other's face, and the features seemed quite gentle, like a woman.
There was no Adam's apple on the neck, just thick muscles, as if cast from bronze.
Seeing Gu Wen staring blankly, Murong Suyue.