Jiangshan Fengwuzhi

Chapter 306 Call the shots
"Rebel!"

Gu Beiming, who was fast asleep, frowned and looked angry. He almost gritted his teeth as he uttered two words.

He dreamed again of the moment when he came closest to freedom.

At that time, the Xiaoyi Army had just driven back the Rui army that had entered Jusai City. Lü Maozheng was about to rush forward to save him, but was blocked by an arrow shot by Gu Jingnian.

That rebellious son even shouted in front of all the brave soldiers, "Lü Maoxiu, you colluded with Shen Jichi to lead the Rui army into the fortified city, are you trying to betray my father?!"

Gu Beiming was about to rebuke him when he suddenly sat up on the bed and woke up.

Sunlight streamed through the paper window, and a few flower branches were arranged in a vase on the table. The scene was much better than the dungeon where he had previously lived.

He had appeared at Gu Jingnian's wedding, and the ensuing upheaval had aroused suspicion among his trusted generals about Gu Jize and Gu Jingnian. From then on, it would not be as easy for those two rebellious sons to imprison him as before.

"Someone come here," Gu Beiming called out.

He felt his strength had returned, but something was subtly wrong with his body.

Soon, the door was pushed open, and a group of soldiers entered.

The young man at the head of the group was thin and pale, looking quite sickly. He said respectfully, "The Marshal has woken up. I will go and summon the two young masters."

"Ah."

Gu Beiming was more eager to see his trusted general. He looked the soldier up and down and asked, "What's your name? When did the Xiaoyi Army have someone as weak as you?"

“A-Xu”.

"Which general's command?"

"Reporting to the Marshal, I am a Zhiren, originally a prisoner," Axu replied.

Upon hearing this, Gu Beiming immediately realized that he could not possibly turn this person against him. The other party was Gu Jingnian's confidant, who had specially arranged to guard him.

After waiting for a while, the brothers Gu Jingnian and Gu Jize came side by side.

Gu Beiming leaned back on the couch and looked over. He saw that Gu Jize's face still looked somewhat defeated; Gu Jingnian, on the other hand, was as if nothing had happened, showing neither pride nor guilt.

A-Xu led his men away and stood guard outside the door; only the father and his two sons were inside.

"Now that Father is awake, we should have a talk."

Gu Jingnian spoke first, appearing as the most confident and powerful person as if he were the master of the place, since his father and brothers dared not speak first for fear of revealing their hand.

“My sons were ignorant in the past and failed to understand their father’s good intentions. Now they have come to their senses, and from now on we, father and sons, should work together.”

These words sounded official and insincere.

Gu Beiming couldn't help but say, "You've learned to be hypocritical too."

“Then I’ll be frank,” Gu Jingnian said. “In the past, when Father was refining supernatural beings, my fourth brother and I both opposed it. Now, our views have changed. From now on, we will refine them together, but we must follow my method. How about that?”

This time he didn't use official jargon, and his words were even less pleasant to hear.

Upon hearing this, Gu Jize's expression turned somewhat unpleasant. He hesitated for a moment, then ultimately said nothing.

Gu Beiming nodded and said, "It's good that you've come to your senses."

“Alright, then let’s talk about our positions and division of labor,” Gu Jingnian said. “First, let’s talk about our positions. The Gu family betrayed Rui and surrendered to Yong. This time, my father and brother are wavering again. I’m afraid it will be difficult for Yong to trust us again. So there is only one way out: follow me and serve the God.”

As for Gu Beiming, he did not understand the God Venerable, but he knew that the God Venerable's strength was not necessarily inferior to that of Emperor Rui. Given his current situation, it was not difficult for him to make a decision.

On the contrary, Gu Jize had not completely abandoned his ideals and still hoped that mortals could unify the Central Plains, so he showed a pained expression.

"Fourth Brother?" Gu Jingnian urged.

"it is good."

Gu Jize knew he had no choice, and agreed in a hoarse voice.

“Alright, let’s talk about the division of labor.” Gu Jingnian said, “I will manage the refining plant, and my fourth brother will handle the military and political affairs of Jusai City. Although Father is getting old, he can no longer be as indifferent as before. Please give me and my fourth brother more guidance in the future, okay?”

Gu Jize was very surprised.

This time, he was captured by the Xiaoyi Army, but in the end, it was Gu Jingnian who turned the tide. Gu Jingnian now has the strength and prestige to control Jusai City.

Unexpectedly, Gu Jingnian was still willing to relinquish power.

"Eleventh Brother, I'm afraid I can no longer command respect from the masses," Gu Jize sighed.

This is also true.

Gu Jingnian simply said, "Then Fourth Brother should discuss it further with Father."

Gu Beiming could accept this, at least he had more freedom and power than before, and he would surely have plenty of opportunities to escape in the future.

Up to this point in the conversation, Gu Jingnian had been very open-minded and tolerant of his father and brothers, but then he suddenly changed his tone and became much more stern.

“I have ordered people to guard the spices left by Pei Wugou. The rampant activities of the strange people in Jusai City must not be allowed to happen again. Father and brothers probably do not want to see that scene again, so let us work together to revive the Gu family business.”

This was a threat, letting Gu Beiming and Gu Jize know that he could relight the incense at any time and use his supernatural abilities to control Jusai City.

"Don't worry," Gu Beiming said, "I will support you."

"That's good."

Having said everything he needed to say, Gu Jingnian got up and walked out without lingering. Gu Jize, unwilling to be alone with Gu Beiming, followed him.

Watching their retreating figures, Gu Beiming cursed inwardly once more, "You unfilial son."

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After leaving the Marshal's Mansion, Gu Jingnian looked at the sky and headed towards the city gate.

He had already asked Shen Jichi about the whereabouts of Wei Yushi, who was in the valley below Jusai City. He then sent people to search for him, and they should be back by now.

After waiting on the city wall for a while, I didn't see Wei Yushi. Instead, Yin Wanqing came over first.

"Has Marquis Chengye already brought stability to Jusai City?"

"It's all thanks to my father and brothers," Gu Jingnian said.

Yin Wanqing took a few steps closer and stood beside him, gazing at the distant mountains and rivers. She said, "Have you reached an agreement? After this incident, you must be able to completely control the Gu family now."

“No interest.” Gu Jingnian shook his head and said, “The Gu family is still my father’s and brothers’ Gu family. If the princess has anything she wants to talk to, she can go to them.”

Why give up the power you've already gained?

"I've always been annoyed by family matters since I was a child."

Yin Wanqing smiled.

She had a fairly good relationship with Gu Jingnian, and if Gu Jingnian could take over the Gu family, it would be the best outcome for her.

But everyone has their own ambitions, so she didn't force her. She simply said, "Alright, but no matter what, Yong Kingdom will tolerate the Gu family. I can pretend that your refining of the supernatural beings never happened."

After saying that, she pointed to the large flag standing not far away.

"As long as the flag of Yong can still fly on the city walls of Jusai."

"it is good."

“There’s another group of superhumans at that refining site,” Yin Wanqing said. “Hand them over to me.”

Gu Jingnian countered, "Anything else?"

He's been so busy lately that he didn't notice that Yin Wanqing had only taken half of the strange people with her.

Just as they were about to ask for more details, a group of knights rode up on horseback along the mountain road outside the city.

As the group drew closer, it became clear that Wei Yushi was the one being surrounded by them.

Gu Jingnian then personally went out of the city gate to greet them.

"Brother."

Upon seeing Gu Jingnian, Wei Yushi instinctively called out to him. But as soon as the words left her mouth, she thought of what she had seen and heard during the transmission of the image and wanted to take back the address.

"No...it's not my brother anymore..."

"It's alright," Gu Jingnian said. "No matter what happens, I will always be your brother."

"That's great."

Wei Yushi verbally agreed, but couldn't help but lower her head, thinking about the marriage Shen Jichi had mentioned. It seemed that Gu Jingnian was planning to renege on the agreement again.

Over there, Lu Junhao was in the group behind Yin Wanqing, his eyes fixed on Wei Yushi.

When he was in Yongjing, he heard Emperor Yong, Yin Yuhe, ask him if he would be willing to marry the daughter of the Yue Kingdom princess. From then on, he took notice of Wei Yushi, after all, the Yue Kingdom princess was about to become empress.

Now that we know Wei Yusi's biological father is Shen Jichi, and that the Yong and Rui kingdoms are in peace talks, this does not affect her identity. The only problem is that Shen Jichi has been captured by Gu Jingnian.

Lu Junhao thought to himself that he needed to discuss this matter with his father.

He had to wait for Lu Song to come out from underground.

--------

"DaDaDa..."

With a series of sounds, large and small red pills landed on the tray in front of Gu Jingnian.

"What is this?" Gu Jingnian asked. "I asked you to bring Lu Song and those strange people here. Princess Changming is waiting to see them."

"Wing King, they're all here."

Zhao Boheng pointed to the pills on the tray.

After saying that, his gaze narrowed slightly, and he picked up a larger pill with two fingers.

"This is Lu Song."

Gu Jingnian watched for a while and said, "I remember the refining plant has already stopped operating."

“Yes,” Zhao Boheng said. “But they wanted to capture Huo Bo, so Huo Bo had to use a mechanism to imprison them. Unexpectedly, he accidentally triggered a mechanism deep inside the furnace… This is true. I would like to ask Prince Yi to see it.”

"That's good. Is Uncle Huo alright?"

"Rest assured, King Yi."

As he spoke, a smile appeared in Zhao Boheng's eyes. He pointed to the plate full of pills and asked a question in a low voice.

"Does the Wing King know just how much power these represent?"

(End of this chapter)