Wife, you didn't really drug me, did you?

Zhang Shicheng looked at his advisor, thought for a moment, and said, "I have some grudges against Chen Jiu Si. Can he help me?"

The strategist smiled and said, "My lord, precisely because we have a grudge, we should write to him in a grand manner, inviting him to join us in attacking Zhu Chongba."

“As long as our lord raises the banner of righteousness, you will be the one who upholds justice. Under the banner of righteousness, what do personal grudges matter? If Chen Jiu Si does not want to bear the reputation of betraying justice, then he must join our lord in attacking Zhu Chong Ba!”

"So what if he doesn't obey my orders and I don't beat Zhu Chongba?"

"Hehe, then he has lost his sense of righteousness. With righteousness gone, you will be the number one person to resist Qian. At that time, won't all the ambitious people in the world flock to serve your lord?"

"Besides, this is a business with no initial investment, so we won't lose money no matter what, don't you think?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Shicheng looked at the person beside him and asked, "Guanzhong, what do you think of this matter?"

At this moment, a young strategist appeared and said, "I think Mr. Tang's plan is useful. In any case, we must not abandon our righteous cause."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Shicheng nodded slightly and said, "Then let's do as Mr. Tang says. We'll kill the messenger, burn the imperial edict, and declare ourselves King of Wu. Furthermore, I will personally write a letter to Chen Jiu Si, inviting him to join me in eliminating the Han traitor, Zhu Chongba!"

"My lord is wise!"

At this point, many strategists and generals expressed their approval of Zhang Shicheng.

At this point, Zhang Shicheng asked, "Who will deliver this letter?"

Hearing this, everyone was taken aback. Delivering the message indeed required someone of importance. If it were just an ordinary soldier, the effect would be greatly reduced.

At this moment, the strategist surnamed Tang stepped forward and said, "My lord, shall I go?"

"Mr. Tang?"

Zhang Shicheng looked at the strategist in front of him, who said, "I am an old acquaintance of Chen Jiu Si, so it would be more appropriate for me to deliver this letter."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Shicheng thought for a moment and said, "Thank you for your trouble, sir."

……

After the meeting ended, the actual operations began immediately. Zhang Shicheng spent the night figuring out how to write the letter, while his advisors gradually left.

At this moment, the young strategist caught up with the strategist surnamed Tang and said, "Mr. Tang, please wait."

Mr. Tang turned to look at the young strategist and said, "Brother Luo, something's up."

Yes, this young strategist's surname is Luo, given name Guanzhong, and he is currently an advisor under Zhang Shicheng.

"Mr. Tang, you just said that you have a past relationship with Chen Jiu Si?"

Mr. Tang said, "Yes, indeed I have a past with him. Back then, I was also from Mianshui. The person I was assisting had some conflicts with him. I was Bai Zhishan, but unfortunately, I was outmaneuvered and had to flee in panic. Now that I think about it, it's really laughable."

"Mianshui?"

Luo Guanzhong said, "It is truly a blessed land that has produced such great talents as Chen Jiu Si and Mr. Luo, even though it is a small place like Mianshui!"

Mr. Tang said with a wry smile, "Compared to Chen Jiu Si, I am like a firefly compared to the bright moon. Don't flatter me."

Luo Guanzhong said, "Sir, please do not underestimate yourself. Your talent has enabled our lord to win the hearts of the people in Suzhou and Hangzhou in a short period of time and come up with the method of using bandits to join the army. Otherwise, how could we have the foundation of Suzhou and Hangzhou today?"

Mr. Tang said, "Hehe, do you really think we can succeed?"

Luo Guanzhong looked at Mr. Tang and said, "You think it's impossible?"

Mr. Tang said, "I heard that Brother Luo likes to write vernacular novels. I wonder how his writing is going?"

Luo Guanzhong said, "I have already written one set in the Song Dynasty called 'The Loyal and Righteous Water Margin,' and I am currently conceiving one set in the Three Kingdoms period."

Mr. Tang said, "Since we have nothing else to do, why don't you come into my room and let me take a look at your manuscript?"

Luo Guanzhong said, "I would be more than grateful for your kind correction, sir!"

……

Inside Mr. Tang's study.

"Great, what a loyal and righteous Water Margin! Haha, well written, well written!"

Mr. Tang praised it highly, but when he flipped to the last signature, he saw only three words: Shi Nai'an.

Ok?
"Why is your signature Shi Nai'an instead of Luo Guanzhong?"

Luo Guanzhong smiled and said, "This is a pseudonym. Some details in the book might offend a ruthless hero like our lord, so it's best to be discreet about them."

"So that's how it is. Shi Nai'an is actually me, haha... Brother Luo, you still have quite a childlike side."

"There are indeed some parts of this book that are disliked by those in power, so when I published it, I said it was written by my master. But there is no master, it is actually me!"

Mr. Tang chuckled and said, "Wonderful, wonderful."

"What are your ambitions, Brother Luo?"

Luo Guanzhong laughed heartily and said, "Mr. Tang, what do you think?"

"To be granted a title and appointed prime minister?"

"The boy doesn't have that kind of strategy."

Mr. Tang asked, "Extremely wealthy?"

"Gold and silver, you're all just money!"

"Writing books and establishing theories?"

Mr. Tang asked again, and Luo Guanzhong replied, "I do not possess the talent of a great Confucian scholar. My ambition is merely to write some legends in books, so that these legends may be passed down to the world in the future."

"Folk fiction, that's ultimately a minor genre, isn't it?"

Mr. Tang said, and Luo Guanzhong said, "Too many people take the main road, but taking the side road is also a good path!"

After saying that, Luo Guanzhong said, "Mr. Tang, I have a request."

"you say!"

"I want to go with you to meet Chen Jiu Si."

"why?"

Luo Guanzhong said, "Only by seeing a real dragon can I write about a real dragon. If I have never seen a dragon, how dare I write about a dragon?"

Mr. Tang chuckled and said, "Hehe, alright, then I'll take you to see the real dragon!"

……

In September of the fifteenth year of the Zhizheng era, Zhang Shicheng publicly executed the imperial messenger, burned the imperial edict, and declared himself King of Wu.

In the same month, he dispatched his advisor Tang Ziyue with a letter to travel north along the river, heading straight for Huangzhou Prefecture!
"Tang Ziyue?"

When Chen Chun relayed the news to Huangzhou Prefecture, Chen Jie felt a sense of familiarity, as if he had heard the name somewhere before. It was only after Su Yunjin reminded him that Chen Jie remembered.

Back in Mianshui County, when he was vying for the position of gang leader with Nan Batian, the leader of the fishing gang, there was a subordinate of Nan Batian named Tang Ziyue who had a white paper fan.

At that time, he was considered a rival to Bai Mosheng, the White Paper Fan of the Canal Gang.

Bai Mosheng has been sent overseas to serve as the deputy to his third brother, the Dragon King of the Sea, while Tang Ziyue has arrived. Moreover, Chen Jie remembers that Tang Ziyue was kidnapped by him back then, but she later broke free and ran away, and there has been no news of her since. It's been seven or eight years now.

Chen Jie said, "Since he's an old friend, let's invite him in."

Chen Chun nodded immediately.

"My lord, how about arranging the location in the back office?"

Chen Jie said, "Okay."

Having arranged everything, Chen Jie took some time to meet Zhang Shicheng's messenger and this old friend from Mianshui. In fact, if they weren't old friends from Mianshui, Chen Jie wouldn't have been interested in having this meal with him.

The banquet was arranged in the afternoon.

Chen Jie arrived at the venue and sat in the main seat. Soon, the food and drinks were served, and at this time, Tang Ziyue also arrived with Luo Guanzhong.

At this moment, Tang Ziyue came forward and immediately bowed, saying, "Tang Ziyue, strategist under the King of Wu, greets Prefect Chen."

Luo Guanzhong, who was standing to the side, also bowed and said, "Luo Guanzhong, a strategist under the King of Wu, greets Prefect Chen."

cough cough...

Chen Jie was leisurely sipping his tea, but upon hearing the name Luo Guanzhong, he couldn't help but choke. Then he thought about it and realized it made sense; history books said that Luo Guanzhong was Zhang Shicheng's strategist.

Chen Jie, who had just lost his composure, immediately laughed and said, "Haha... Brother Tang, it's been almost ten years since we last met. You've transformed yourself into the strategist of a regional overlord. It's quite a twist of fate."

Tang Ziyue immediately replied respectfully, "I dare not compare myself to the Lord of the Manor. Several years have passed since we last met. When we meet again, the Lord of the Manor has become a powerful ruler. The difference between us is immense!"

Chen Jie chuckled and said, "Sit down!"

Tang Ziyue and Luo Guanzhong immediately expressed their gratitude.

At this moment, Chen Jie asked, "What brings you two here with such fanfare?"

Chen Jie's boastful arrival was not just empty talk; it was a genuine display of force. Tang Ziyue and her group arrived under the banner of the King of Wu, making a grand entrance as if they wanted everyone to know they had come to Huangzhou Prefecture.

Tang Ziyue said, "Lord Chen, my master has a letter. Please take a look."

Upon hearing this, Chen Jie took the letter that Tang Ziyue handed him with both hands, tore it open, and glanced at it. The contents were nothing more than righteous indignation, urging him to unite with Tang Ziyue against Zhu Chongba. The letter vehemently denounced Zhu Chongba, calling him a traitor and a national disgrace.

The letter stated that he and Chen Jie, a righteous force, must unite to eliminate the traitors to the country.

After reading the letter, Chen Jie immediately said to Chen Chun beside him, "Yes, what Zhang Wuwang said is very true. However, Zhu Chongba and I are old acquaintances. How could I harm him?"

Tang Ziyue said, "Lord Chen, we cannot abandon our principles. Zhu Chongba accepted the rewards from the Great Qian Dynasty and is a traitor to the Han people. We should unite and destroy him."

Chen Jie looked at Tang Ziyue and said, "Hehe, Ziyue."

"Back then, you also participated in my struggle against Nan Batian. Now, Zhang Shicheng and Zhu Chongba are like Chen Jiusi and Nan Batian, fiercely competing. I am now in Liu Laoguai's position. Whether it is Chen Jiusi or Nan Batian, they are my enemies. If I help either of them, it would be aiding the enemy."

"So, you can't just talk about it."

"You agree, right, Ziyue?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Ziyue looked at Chen Jie and asked, "What does Lord Chen mean?"

"There must be some benefit to it, right?"

Tang Ziyue frowned upon hearing this, then looked at Chen Jie and said, "Master Chen, if you speak now, could it be that you are taking advantage of the situation?"

Chen Jie said, "It's just taking advantage of someone's misfortune, how can there be any suspicion?"

"Ziyue, we've known each other for a long time. Don't you know who I am? You think I'd help Zhang Shicheng fight Zhu Chongba just because of a letter from him? There's no way I'd do that."

Tang Ziyue looked at Chen Jie and asked, "Then what do you want to do?"

"Add more money!"

Tang Ziyue said, "What do you want? If you send troops to fight Zhu Chongba, all the territory you conquer will be yours. How about that?"

"Ziyue, that's not fair. The territory we conquered originally belonged to me. Now you're taking my things and asking me to work for your king. That doesn't make sense."

“We farmers in Mianshui all know that you have to pay someone to work. You can’t just order people around without paying them.”

Tang Ziyue looked at Chen Jie and asked, "Isn't Lord Chen afraid that Zhu Chongba will become too powerful?"

Chen Jie looked at Tang Ziyue and said, "I'm also afraid that your King Wu will become too powerful, not to mention that we have a grudge between us."

Tang Ziyue thought for a moment and said, "Lord Chen, you're not trying to have your cake and eat it too, are you? You asked us for benefits today, and you'll ask Zhu Chongba for benefits tomorrow. Aren't you afraid that we'll unite and attack you?"

Chen Jie said, "You won't succeed. Although Huangzhou Prefecture used to be very wealthy, after the rebellions of Tang Bao and Tong Wei, the people's livelihood was impoverished. Now, the wealthiest place in China is Jiangnan, and it also has the largest population. If any of you can take over Jiangnan, you might be able to lead a million armored soldiers."

"Therefore, you will not touch my lands in Jiangnan. You will settle the score in Jiangnan and then come to fight me. That is your idea."

“Especially you, King of Wu, are separated from me by Zhu Chongba. If you want to come and fight me, or even if you join forces with Zhu Chongba to fight me, do you think Zhu Chongba will let you pass through?”

"So don't talk to me about these unrealistic things."

As Chen explained, Tang Ziyue remarked, "Lord Chen is truly insightful."

"Speak, what are your conditions for helping our King Wu deal with Zhu Chongba?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Jie looked at Chen Chun and said, "You told me today that our Huangzhou Prefecture still has a shortage of 300,000 shi of grain. This matter needs to be resolved!"

Upon hearing this, Tang Ziyue stood up abruptly and said, "Three hundred thousand shi, isn't that a bit too much?"

Chen Jie said, "I don't think it's a big deal. You should go back and discuss it with the King of Wu. Maybe he'll agree?"

Tang Ziyue frowned at this moment, and Chen Jie looked at Luo Guanzhong beside him and said, "Strategist Luo, you look very young."

Luo Guanzhong was deep in thought when he was startled to hear Chen Jie suddenly call his name. He immediately clasped his hands in greeting and said, "Lord Chen."

Chen Jie said, "No need for formalities, no need for formalities. By the way, I heard that Strategist Luo likes to write vernacular novels. Has he published any new works recently?"

Luo Guanzhong was taken aback and looked at Chen Jie, saying, "Lord Chen even knows about such a small matter. I am indeed currently working on a novel about the Three Kingdoms."

Chen Jie looked at Luo Guanzhong and said, "Oh, this sounds like a masterpiece."

Luo Guanzhong said, "Ah, Lord Chen, please don't tease me. What great works could I possibly write?"

Looking at the now very humble Luo Guanzhong, Chen Jie thought to himself, "If I hadn't read Romance of the Three Kingdoms in later generations, I wouldn't have known that you could write it so well."

Chen Jie said, "Strategist Luo, I have always enjoyed making friends. If I need inspiration when writing a book, my military generals, including myself, are all happy to share some stories."

"Ah, thank you very much, Lord Chen."

Luo Guanzhong was surprised that Chen Jie would open such a convenient door for him. Chen Jie continued, "My Huangzhou Prefecture has a university, and we are about to open a literature department. If you have time, strategist Luo, you can be a professor and teach the students how to write novels."

"This……"

Luo Guanzhong was very moved by these words, but in the end he said, "I am grateful for your kindness, Lord Chen, but a loyal minister does not serve two masters, so please forgive me for being unable to comply."

Chen Jie said, "Never mind, this is entirely in accordance with Strategist Luo's own ideas."

After saying that, he looked at Tang Ziyue and said, "Mr. Tang, would you be interested in coming to Huangzhou Prefecture for a high-ranking position? Your old rival, Bai Mosheng, is now in a very powerful position. If you come, Mr. Tang, Huangzhou Prefecture will certainly not treat you unfairly."

Upon hearing this, Tang Ziyue looked at Chen Jie, clasped her hands in a fist salute, and said, "I apologize, Lord Chen, but I am also unable to comply. However, I will convey your suggestion to my lord, Prince Wu!" (End of Chapter)