The weak scholar in the end of ancient times

Chapter 124 Should I Avoid His Edge First?

Mu family.

Commander Mu's feelings are very complicated right now.

I never expected that just asking Wen Gu a few questions at the gate of the Zhao residence would lead to such rumors spreading overnight!

At first, I was completely bewildered.

Then anger.

Then, I fell into deep thought.

Actually... if this fake thing becomes real, it would be pretty good.

Wen Gu is now a rising star in Xinzhou, with a very impressive status and abilities.

The Mu family only had one eligible girl—his youngest sister, the late Mr. Mu's daughter.

However, when Commander Mu led the first group of people north, he didn't bring many family members with him. He was still waiting for his family members to come over, so now he couldn't even arrange for the two sides to meet.

"Commander, how should we deal with the rumors circulating outside?" asked the attendant beside him.

"Let's wait and see what Wen Gu does," Commander Mu said hesitantly.

"I just don't know what the person behind these rumors is trying to achieve," the attendant said with great concern.

Ordinary people can't even afford to eat, they're hungry all the time, and as the weather gets hotter day by day, they live in fear and anxiety. How could they possibly pay attention to rumors like Wen Gu Chuan?

It must have been orchestrated by someone with ulterior motives.

"This kind of thing is definitely aimed at Wen Gu's side. Our Mu family's success is purely due to luck..."

Commander Mu initially thought it was bad luck, but then he reconsidered, and realized it wasn't all bad; if he could turn the deception into reality...

"Well, our Mu family was simply dragged into this. Let's find out who started the rumors first."

In times of peace and prosperity, such rumors would certainly be dealt with swiftly. However, marriage alliances between large families often involve complex intertwined interests, and such rumors must not be allowed to disrupt these alliances.

But in today's chaotic world, it's not so important. There's time to observe and wait, and to remain calm while waiting for the right moment to act.

Commander Mu now wants to see how Wen Gu will react.

It's rare to have gossip news in Xinzhou City again. There are many people watching the excitement, and the anxiety and tension caused by the gradually warming weather have eased a little.

I just want to see how the two sides react to this rumor, and whether the rumor is true or not.

However, neither the Mu family nor Jingxingfang made a move!

Commander Mu, as always, led his men on patrol missions every day.

Jingxingfang also made no major moves.

Busy with affairs, Young Master Zhao also wondered in his spare time: Could it be that he was going to engage in "debate without debate, the innocent will clear themselves" and "rumors will stop with the wise"?
Or perhaps... the rumors are true?
Jingqing Public Office.

Wen Gu looked at the newly received message in his hand.

The source of the rumor has been traced back to the He family, who recently arrived in Xinzhou City.

It wasn't difficult to investigate, and the other party didn't hide anything, displaying a completely fearless attitude.

"The He family."

Once a renowned noble family in the capital, with relatives of the emperor bestowing titles upon them. Although not as prominent as before, the accumulated wealth over generations still allows them to maintain a vast network of connections and immense fortune.

The He family presented a large amount of grain and goods as soon as they arrived in Xinzhou, and with their existing reputation, they certainly had the confidence to do so.

While investigating the source of the rumors, some rumors were also found. It was said that the He family wanted to form a marriage alliance with a certain family in the city, but that family preferred Wen Gu. In a fit of anger, the He family spread the rumors.

Wen Gu glanced at the message recorded on the paper and tossed it aside.

Such privileged and powerful families, who have accumulated power over generations, are certainly not making a big fuss over something as trivial as this.

The key point is not the rumor itself, but what the other side will do next.

During this time, the Shen brothers came over and jokingly brought up the matter. Upon learning that Wen Gu had already made arrangements, they said, "Alright, even though I don't understand, I'll just follow their instructions."

Zhao Mu and his group, who were planning to build a shop, also came to ask and received the same reply, so they decided to wait and see for the time being.

Wen Gu called He Da and Tao San over and gave them some instructions.

He then asked, "Is there still no movement from the Mu family?"

Tao San replied, "I heard that Commander Mu was very angry at first, and when he heard the rumors while on patrol, he also shouted at him... Other than that, he did not show any other reaction."

Commander Mu's attitude in refuting the rumors seems neither firm nor intense enough.

"Well, we don't need to pay attention to the Mu family for now," Wen Gu said. "You all prepare yourselves." Meanwhile, in the neighborhood where the powerful and wealthy gathered in Xinzhou City.

The He family mansion.

A servant hurried into the room and bowed respectfully to the person seated in front: "Master, everything has been arranged!"

Master He lazily squinted his eyes, leisurely sipping his tea. Hearing his subordinate's words, he casually hummed in agreement.

They were the ones who started this rumor in the city.

He did want to form a marriage alliance with a certain family, and that family did indeed favor Wen Gu, but choosing to target Wen Gu was not the main reason.

When their family first arrived a while ago, they complained that the house here was too small and dilapidated, and they needed to get a batch of building materials.

However, building materials are in short supply now, and with the weather getting hot, various neighborhoods are urgently building isolation and defense facilities, making it difficult to obtain bricks, tiles, and timber.

After looking around, I managed to intercept a few pre-orders using my connections and reputation, but that's far from enough.

So he set his sights on the building materials being delivered to Jingxingfang.

The next few batches of building materials were all destined for Jingxingfang, some belonging to the Zhao family, some to the Shen family, and others to the Jingqing Guild Hall.

Compared to the Zhao family and the Shen family, the Jingqing Guild Hall is definitely easier to control.

A friend who was drinking tea with him advised him: "Wengu is now a rising star here, and both the Zhao and Shen families value it highly. You should avoid its sharp edge for now and instead target someone else."

Master He laughed in anger: "Should I avoid his sharp edge first?"

Laugh to death!

I will not only not shy away from the challenge, but I will also face it head-on!

Despite repeated attempts to dissuade him, his friend shook his head, sighed, and took his leave.

Master He sat alone at the table, lost in thought for a long time.

His old friends and acquaintances know his temperament, but who among the well-meaning people would accurately step on a landmine when offering advice?

However, the timing was quite good this time.

Although he seemed easily swayed and arrogant, Master He had his own logic and purpose.

In other words, they wanted to stir up trouble and make a name for themselves in Xinzhou by instigating this.

They couldn't choose a target that was too weak, as that wouldn't showcase the He family's capabilities. A target that was too strong would be a liability, a net loss. It was better to target someone like Wen Gu, a rising star in the middle, somewhere in between.

Wen Gu lacked the support of a large family and was therefore weak and isolated.

Shen family?

But Wen Gu doesn't have the surname Shen!
It's a fact that there's a layer between you and the Shen family; it's not always convenient for them to get involved. And once the Shen family makes a move, it proves that your ability to review things isn't as strong as you claim.

Also, is the Wen family a big family? Even if it is, only Wen Gu and his cousin are still alive... let's say one and a half, and that idiot is half.

Master He looked down on it.

All in all, the advantage is with me!

The He family, going back three generations, all held titles; they were truly a family of dukes and marquises!
Although they were granted titles by relatives of the emperor and did not have much political power, they were indeed powerful and influential!

Through generations of hard work, it's no exaggeration to say that nearly half of the nobles in the city are related to the He family!

Recalling his past glory, Master He sighed heavily again.

Unfortunately, his generation was not so lucky. He did not have a distinguished family background and encountered a strange and chaotic era.

Actually, they were not optimistic about the Zhao family at first, but the major families with which they had good relations all went to Xinzhou to place their bets. After weighing the pros and cons, Master He still brought his family over.

They also brought over a lot of food and supplies.

They used to maintain a high standard of living, with their manor houses and warehouses on the outskirts of Beijing overflowing with goods.

This northward migration brought over a batch of supplies, but they couldn't handle the rest. However, they informed the Zhao family of the exact location, and the hunting army will bring the goods over this winter.

These supplies are enough for the He family to stand tall and receive proper treatment in Xinzhou.

The supplies he presented as tribute were only what he had mentioned. Like most wealthy and powerful individuals, he kept other goods hidden away.

When it comes to strategies for avoiding disaster, those from aristocratic families understand it best.

Unless they willingly hand it over, we'd rather let those things rot than reveal a single word!
Therefore, Mr. He is very confident this time.

With grain and goods in hand, and a powerful network of connections, what makes you, a fledgling "newcomer" without family backing, stand against me?!
(End of this chapter)