The Prodigal Son

For the next few days, Qi Dachui and Qin Xiong helped Liang Hongqiao train her troops at the East Camp.

Taking advantage of this time, Qin Yu also secretly contacted the people Zhao Luan had arranged here and gave them some instructions.

On the evening of July 13th, Qin Yu was talking to Lü Si, who had returned home sweaty after a long day, about his learning progress when Yan Li sent someone to deliver a message.

Yan Li has already arrived at Zhu County.

He will first go to inspect the military base tomorrow, and then meet with Qin Yu at Wanquan Mountain the day after tomorrow.

"no problem!"

Qin Yu readily agreed, and then told the messenger, "Go back and tell His Highness the Crown Prince that I have prepared fine wine, and we will certainly drink to our hearts' content!"

"yes!"

The visitor bowed and took his leave.

After seeing the visitor off, Lü Si couldn't help but curl his lip: "Yan Li has become the crown prince, and his arrogance has grown considerably."

"that is!"

Qin Yu nodded and smiled, teasingly saying, "I have to say, it's you, Young Master Lü, who has kept your original intentions. Look at you, you've become the Empress Dowager's adopted son, but you haven't become any more arrogant than before."

"Go away, stop making fun of me!"

Lu Si wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and asked, "How do you plan to talk to Yan Li?"

Qin Yu: "Of course, we need them to send troops to contain Northern Qi!"

"That might be a bit difficult, wouldn't it?"

Lu Si frowned. "The Yan people are fickle. Don't be the kind of people who take our benefits and then turn around and scheme against us."

Lü Si had a bad impression of the Yan people before, and he still does now.

In his eyes, the people of Yan were fickle and ungrateful wolves!

When dealing with the people of Yan, one must be careful to prevent them from going back on their word.

Qin Yu smiled, "We definitely need to be wary of them, but we don't need to worry too much! Yan Li, at least for now, is relatively trustworthy! Last year they said they were withdrawing from Guanzhou, and they did, didn't they?"

"That's because they're useless just occupying that worthless Guanzhou!"

Lu Si snorted, "Let me warn you, don't easily believe any promises Yan Li makes!"

"good!"

Qin Yu nodded and smiled, "You'll be attending the meeting too, just remind me then!"

"I definitely have to go!"

Lü Si stiffened his neck and patted his chest, saying, "You're the mastermind. If there are some unpleasant things you can't say, leave them to me! We absolutely cannot let the Yan people gain any advantage for nothing!"

"Um."

……

July 15th.

As soon as it was light, Qin Yu set off with Lü Si, Song Xian, Zhu Songlan, and a few others.

In addition, there were several hundred guards accompanying them.

Lu Si yawned and complained to Qin Yu beside him, "Why did we go so early? Are you stupid? The earlier we go, the more anxious Yan Li will think we are!"

Qin Yu smiled calmly: "Now that we're the ones asking for your help, we have to show some sincerity."

To be honest, after studying in the army for a few days, Lü Si actually became quite adept at it.

They also knew that arriving too early would be disadvantageous for them.

That's why I say, people need some kind of motivation to do anything!

He had seen Lü Si's efforts over the past few days.

Lü Si was definitely not stupid; in fact, one could say he was quite clever.

That guy is just lazy and irresponsible; he can't find any reason or motivation to do anything worthwhile.

Now I have a reason and motivation to get down to business.

However, what they want now is to make Yan Li think they are in a hurry!

Only in this way can they lull Yan Li into a false sense of security and make him firmly believe that they are going to fight Bei Qi!

"What sincerity?!"

Lu Si, dissatisfied, suggested, "Let's find a place to rest later and then proceed at a leisurely pace! Don't make it seem like we have to beg Yan! No matter what, we can't lose in terms of momentum!"

"That's unnecessary."

Song Xian chimed in, "We arrived so far ahead of schedule, do you think Yan Li would believe us if we said we weren't in a hurry? Instead of that, we might as well just show our sincerity."

Lu Si was speechless, and nodded helplessly.

Yes!

They arrived in Panyang so far ahead of schedule. How could Yan Li not know if they were in a hurry?

Damn it!

Hopefully, that grandson Yan Li won't ask for an exorbitant amount!

The group continued forward.

Along the way, Qin Yu also kept observing the terrain.

Hmm, I'll find some time to climb to the top of Wanquan Mountain and take a look.

It's time to put my treasured possessions, which I've kept hidden away for so long, to good use!

Qin Yu pondered all the way.

Just after 9:00 AM, they arrived at the meeting place.

The Yan state had already sent people to build a pavilion here in advance.

About ten miles north of here is the market opened by both countries in the direction of Panyang. Merchants from both countries can choose to trade here or transport their goods to the other country for sale.

Most merchants choose to trade at the market.

After all, with both sides stationed at the market, there was at least no fear of having their goods stolen.

Next to the pavilion is a clear spring, whose water flows from Wanquan Mountain.

Qin Yu walked to the spring, scooped up a handful of water, and put it in his mouth.

It was indeed sweet, refreshing, and cool.

Since Yan Li hadn't arrived yet, Qin Yu ordered someone to fetch some spring water to boil and make tea.

"You still have the mind to drink tea?"

Lu Si looked at Qin Yu with suspicion.

For some reason, he felt that Qin Yu was in a hurry, but also seemed not to be!

I have no idea what this bastard is up to.

Or perhaps, they were confident of success?

"Anyway, I have nothing else to do."

Qin Yu chuckled, "You should try some later. This is a fine new tea that Xuan Cailing gave me."

"It's not like I haven't tried it before."

Lu Si pursed his lips, but secretly began to ponder.

He was thinking, if he were the mastermind, how should he talk to Yan Li?

It's best to be wary of being tricked by the Yan state, and perhaps even take advantage of the situation to swindle them!

Just like when they negotiated with the State of Chu.

Qin Yu smiled and lowered his head, then turned to look at Zhu Songlan and the others standing behind him: "You only bring your ears, not your mouths! Anyone who dares to speak out of turn, don't blame me for being impolite!"

"yes!"

Everyone accepted the order.

Qin Yu got up and stretched, then called Zhu Songlan aside, "How have you been feeling these past few days?"

"Aside from being a little tired, I don't feel anything."

Zhu Songlan gently shook her head.

Got it!

That means you're not tired enough!

Let's keep going!

There are some things that you can't tell him, but he won't listen.

He has to figure it out himself!

He'll understand when he's too busy to handle things and needs help, or when he encounters situations he's unable to manage and needs to ask for assistance.

No matter how great he is, can he be as great as Prime Minister Zhuge?

No matter how capable he is, can he handle everything in the world by himself?

Qin Yu sighed inwardly, then asked, "What about Lü Si? What do you think of him?"

"good."

Zhu Songlan glanced sideways at Lü Si in the pavilion. "If he can continue to learn so diligently for another month, he won't be much worse than the quartermaster in the camp!"

"Then you should take care of him more!"

Qin Yu then gave Zhu Songlan another task.

"this……"

Zhu Songlan finally frowned, and said with some difficulty, "I'm afraid I can't do this."

Why?

Qin Yu asked with a smile.

Zhu Songlan replied, "He seems to have some issues with me, or rather, he doesn't like me very much."

"Then you should definitely mentor him!"

Qin Yu's smile deepened: "You're incredibly talented; there's nothing you can't do! I believe in you; the people you train, no matter how bad they are, won't be too bad!"

Zhu Songlan's cheeks twitched slightly, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated...