Don't ask where people go

Chapter 1875 Asking for help
"General!" An anxious voice interrupted Fu Congnan's words as soldiers rushed in, followed by the sound of heavy banging on the door.

"Who dares to trespass on my property?" Fu Congnan frowned. A soldier hurriedly replied, "It's a man from Miluo... the Prince Zhongzheng of Miluo has arrived!"

"Murong Qing?" Fu Congnan frowned even more. "What's he doing here?"

"The prince said..." Before the soldiers could relay the message, a loud crash was heard, and the gate of the mansion was knocked down.

Soldiers carrying torches filed in, illuminating the entire courtyard as if it were daytime. Murong Qing walked gracefully to the front of the hall and stopped, announcing loudly, "Murong Qing, the loyal and upright heir of Miluo, has come to escort his wife home."

This spectacle stunned not only Fu Congnan, but also Fang Zilan.

Murong Qing, who was sent to Dajing as a hostage from Miluo, openly led troops on Dajing's territory and even broke into the general's mansion to demand people. Did he have a death wish?
"It's the Silver Armor Army." Zhuge Yu's voice suddenly rang out, like a thunderclap, leaving everyone present speechless for a long time.

The Silver Armor Army was an army personally trained by Murong Xun, the Loyal King of Miluo. They were once renowned for their devastation and fearsome reputation. However, after Murong Xun sheathed his sword, the Silver Armor Army vanished without a trace.

Even when Murong Xun was forced to send troops to Dajing, he did not bring the Silver Armor Army. But now, this army has appeared openly in front of everyone, without any attempt at concealment.

In an instant, almost everyone's eyes were focused on Fang Zilan, who remained standing with her sword in hand, showing no sign of relaxation.

"General Fu, please hand over my lady, or else..." Murong Qing's voice grew colder, and the silver-armored soldiers in the courtyard said in unison, "Anyone who dares to touch the wife of the Loyal and Righteous Prince will be killed without mercy."

The silver-armored soldiers, their shouts growing louder and louder, startled all the birds in the courtyard, who fluttered away in panic. Those inside the hall wished they had wings to fly away like the birds; now that the silver-armored soldiers had surrounded the general's mansion, escape seemed impossible.

Fu Congnan's eyes showed obvious fear. The people in the room, who had been like puppets on strings, finally reacted. They were like ants on a hot pan, unable to stand or sit, yet they dared not move an inch.

Only Li Qiyou, supported by Zhuge Yu, walked to the door, looked at Murong Qing, who was pale but stood ramrod straight below the steps, and said with an imposing air without anger, "Loyal and upright Crown Prince, what are you doing?"

“I have already made my purpose quite clear just now,” Murong Qing said sharply. “My wife went to the General’s mansion for a birthday banquet, but has not returned home yet. As a husband, shouldn’t she come?”

He spoke so matter-of-factly that Li Qiyou was speechless for a long time. Fang Zilan, who was in the hall, heard this and thought to herself, "His so-called preparations are actually to besiege the general's mansion? But this move is so risky that it is tantamount to courting death. It is not like the actions of a cautious and precarious hostage."

But for some reason, Fang Zilan inexplicably felt that this was something Murong Qing was capable of doing. However, the underlying purpose was not as simple as just doing it for her.

Fang Zilan asked curiously, "It is said that people die for wealth and birds die for food. Persians pursue money to an extreme. In their eyes, is life less important than money?"

Zhuge Yu sighed softly, "I'm afraid so."

"Are you so willing to risk your life for money?" Fang Zilan frowned slightly and said, "But what use is money if you're already dead?"

“Sister Lan is right.” Although Zhuge Yu said this, there was not much agreement in her tone. “But it is precisely because the Persians value money so much as if it were a religion that there is a saying that there are no beggars in Persia, which has never been seen anywhere else.”

After listening to Zhuge Yu's explanation, Awan couldn't help but ask, "Since Persia is so wealthy, why didn't Dajing send troops to annex it?" "Annihilating Persia would be like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs," Fang Zilan said thoughtfully in a deep voice. "How many countries in this world wouldn't want to possess Persia's wealth? But if they were to forcibly seize it, no matter how many mineral deposits they had, they would just be wasting their resources. After all, the Persians' money didn't come solely from mining."

Awan paused for a moment, then realized and said, "You mean, the Persians' business acumen?"

“That’s right.” The person who spoke was Zhuge Yu. He said seriously, “What Dajing wants is not temporary wealth, but a continuous flow of wealth. It is far better for Persia to pay tribute every year and trade every year than for Dajing to expand its territory by adding another small piece of land.”

"Listening to what A-Yu said, one can truly appreciate the profound wisdom of someone in a high position." Fang Zilan sighed softly, "I am ashamed of my own inferiority."

"Sister Lan, why belittle yourself? Those in positions of power should fulfill their duties. I have been living in the capital for a long time and have been exposed to these things. Sister Lan, guarding the northern border is more about the country and the world. Why compare the merits?" Zhuge Yu comforted her, his expression softening. "Moreover, Sister Lan's ability to assess situations is far beyond that of ordinary people."

“Ayu, there’s no need to comfort me.” Fang Zilan smiled and shook her head. “It’s important for people to know their own limitations. I know my own worth.”

After she finished speaking, she looked at Deputy General Cao, who was leading the horses over with the caravan's grooms, and heard him say, "Boss, we've been away from Yanzhou City for quite a while now, it's about time we headed to the Western Border."

"Alright." Fang Zilan took the reins from Vice General Cao and mounted her horse.

Zhuge Yu and Awan beside her also took the horses from the grooms, and the four of them left the caravan and rode off towards the western border.

For several days, the four of them traveled non-stop, traversing the Gobi Desert and bypassing snow-capped mountains and forests, until the western border was within reach.

"Ah Yu, you must be exhausted from our journey, sleeping in the open like this." Seeing that Zhuge Yu's complexion was not good, Fang Zilan quickly reined in her horse and stopped. "We're very close to Xiguan City now, let's rest for a while."

"It's alright, I can still handle it." Zhuge Yu waved his hand, and Awan, who was standing next to him, also stopped her horse. "I had long heard that Young Master Zhuge was a sickly person, but I didn't expect him to be so resistant to hardship."

"A-Wan," Fang Zilan's tone suddenly turned cold, "take a look at A-Yu."

Seeing that her face had darkened, A-Wan didn't dare to speak rashly. She could only force a smile and say, "I'm young and don't know how to speak properly, Young Master Zhuge, please don't take offense. If you don't mind, may I take your pulse?"

Zhuge Yu was silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Miss Awan."

"Young Master Zhuge, you're too kind." Awan said as she stepped forward and took Zhuge Yu's pulse.

After a while, A-Wan stopped, and Zhuge Yu straightened his sleeves and said slowly, "What are your thoughts, Miss A-Wan?"

Awan said in a serious tone, "I wouldn't call it a brilliant insight, but Young Master Zhuge, your cough is something you've had since birth. Although you've been well-cared for since childhood and it rarely flares up, you still can't let your guard down."

(End of this chapter)