My lord, spare his life!

"Is the Mountain Spirit so worried about Yuan Youzheng?"

Zhang Yang spoke frankly: "I'm not overly worried. Wang Ba has Youzheng, and I have you. If anything happens to Youzheng, I won't let you off easy, unless he doesn't care about your life or death. It's just that Youzheng is weak and can't take care of herself..."

"Too weak and unable to take care of herself?"

"Youzheng's health isn't good; he can't take a scare."

Zhang Yang had never seen what Wang Ba looked like, but she had seen Wang Qi. Wang Qi was unpredictable and his attire when they first met was so primitive. How could Wang Ba be a reasonable person? What if Wang Ba lost control of his emotions and accidentally injured Yuan Xie?

Regardless, Yuan Xie went on this business trip for her sake. As her lord, wouldn't it seem too heartless of him not to worry at all?

"It's no wonder someone with so many schemes can't be healthy." Wang Qi pulled out an unsealed letter from his pocket and handed it to Zhang Yang. "This is a letter the old man wrote to you. Take a look for yourself."

"Was this written to me by Wang Ba?"

The letter was still unsealed.

Either Wang Qi had already opened and read it, or Wang Ba wasn't writing this letter as the leader of Dongxian. Unlike Wang Qi's illegible handwriting, Wang Ba's handwriting was sharp and his word choice and sentence structure were very refined and restrained.

The content contained neither accusation nor outrage.

Some only inquired whether Wang Qi had troubled Zhang Yang during this time, or caused her any distress, and expressed great gratitude for Zhang Yang's efforts in reforming Wang Qi. If it weren't for Zhang Yang's encouragement, his son probably would never have wanted to study or learn to read. Wang Ba thought He Ning's statement that Wang Qi was self-taught in his early education was already a pleasant surprise, but he never expected that Wang Qi's reading wasn't just a passing fancy! He had actually finished reading the Four Books and was even seriously studying military strategy and policy…

The emotional value that Wang Qi's actions brought to Wang Ba was almost equivalent to winning the championship in three consecutive rounds; he was so happy that his teeth were practically sticking out.

Zhang Yang ordered Lu Yuan to block the trade routes and checkpoints.

How could Wang Ba, as a member of the Dongxian forces, not have discovered this?

He guessed that something had happened in the mountain prefectures and vaguely suspected Zhang Yang, suspecting that she had other plans behind the scenes. However, Wang Ba chose to turn a blind eye—Zhang Yang had done her part in detaining his unfilial son, even if she hadn't done anything meritorious. Although he didn't know what Zhang Yang was planning, as long as it didn't harm his interests, he could turn a blind eye.

Until Dou County sent a force.

Wang Ba then realized that the changes in the mountain region were far greater than he had imagined. Chesi County, which even its former master had failed to conquer, had been sold by Lü Yuan to Zhang Yang. The Zongzheng, Zongren, and Bo Du were all struggling to survive, and nearly half of the mountain region had changed hands in a short period of time.

Although he was stunned inside, Wang Ba remained outwardly calm, making it impossible to discern his true emotions.

"Let alone the fact that Dongxian hasn't had any contact with you for many years, even if there had been contact, it would have been a bitter feud. Why are you telling me, an outsider, about your family's affairs? Do you expect me to uphold justice for you?" Wang Ba said with a cold snort, not even bothering to pretend.

"My lord says that the past is the past." The Dou County envoy, unfazed by Wang Ba's coldness, calmly straightened his robes and confidently said, "It was not Lord Hongtu who once raised troops to invade Chesi County, intending to attack the mountainous region. Since Lord Hongtu took charge of Dongxian and other places, the region has been peaceful, and he has not violated the mountainous territory in the slightest. Over the years, the people of both places have long since put aside their past grievances, resumed exchanges, and are now as harmonious as ever."

Wang Ba sneered, "No need for beating around the bush. I, Wang Hongtu, am a rough man and dislike such roundabout ways. Just state your lord's conditions directly; there's no need for any other nonsense."

The envoy from Dou County took out a secret letter.

This secret letter painted a very rosy picture for Wang Ba.

As long as Wang Ba sends troops to help contain Zhang Yang's forces and coordinates with Dou Jun and other forces from within, they can drive Zhang Yang out. Afterwards, they can divide Zhang Yang's troops and territory among themselves. The letter also emphasized that Zhang Yang, this suddenly rising warlord, has a very deep foundation.

Saying that he had a deep background was really just saying that Zhang Yang was a fat sheep.

Dou Jun sent out spies who, after much effort, learned the incentives Zhang Yang offered. After each battle, she directly paid out rewards: gold, silver, cloth, grain, promotions… and generous compensation for casualties. If Zhang Yang didn't have considerable wealth, failing to deliver on her promises would have caused a mutiny within the entire camp, with the soldiers killing her first. Besides these, Zhang Yang also plundered extensively after acquiring several locations in Chesi, and is now truly rolling in money.

Wang Ba read it carefully twice.

He placed the letter face down on the table.

"Do you think I'm a three-year-old? You only talk about dividing, but you haven't said how. Dividing it in half is dividing, dividing it in ten percent is dividing, dividing money is dividing, dividing land is dividing..." Wang Ba frowned unhappily. "What if you use me and then try to get rid of me with some money? Who can I reason with then? If you're really sincere, shouldn't you first explain how to divide Chesi County, Zongzheng County, Zongren County, and Bodu County? How many counties or districts will you give me? How will you divide the trade routes controlled by Chesi County? You haven't given me any of this; are you just trying to fool me?"

The envoy from Dou County couldn't help but frown.

They wanted Wang Ba to send troops, but they had no intention of involving him in the division of territory. Wang Ba occupied Dongxian, and he couldn't possibly want the Zongzheng, Zongren, or Bodu. In chaotic times, even one's own territory is easily lost, let alone unconnected enclaves.

For Wang Ba, Che Si County was the most attractive. Controlling Che Si County meant controlling the lifeline of the mountain region, allowing Wang Ba to consolidate his forces and threaten other parts of the mountains at any time. For Dou County, this was tantamount to inviting a wolf into the house. But if they didn't give Wang Ba what he wanted, that old bastard wouldn't send troops at all.

Don't release the hawk until you see the rabbit.

The envoy from Dou County had been instructed before his arrival, so he was not flustered by Wang Ba's challenge: "My lord said that as long as it is within reasonable limits, he can grant Hongtu Gong any request. Compared to life and death, all other interests are trivial."

"Oh, that sounds pretty generous." Wang Ba said, shifting his posture and twirling his beard. "I want Che Si and Zong Zheng. Besides those two places, I want half of the spoils after they're taken, and 30% of the prisoners are the most elite. How about that?"

The envoy from Dou County had a slightly darker complexion.

His lips were taut into a line.

He knew Wang Ba was greedy, but he hadn't expected him to be this greedy. Not only did he want two counties, but also spoils of war and prisoners—and thirty percent of his most elite troops. Why didn't he just say he wanted all the elite troops? Was this an outrageous demand or a provocation?

"Excuse my bluntness, but Hongtu Gong's sincerity is minimal."

Both parties benefit from the cooperation; how can one party keep all the benefits for themselves?

That's such an unsightly way of eating.

"These are my conditions. Don't you see how much money a war costs? When you fight a war, you can just open the door and see people. But when I fight a war, I have to travel day and night. Along the way, don't the men and horses need to eat? How can we fight if we're not well-fed?"

As Wang Ba spoke, a roguish smile appeared on his face.

He said, "You complain that I'm asking for too much, but I'm complaining that you're not giving enough. Do you really think I'm happy to move? Do you know what time it is? Because of the Xuanwu Decree, there's conflict everywhere, and my Dongxian is also affected. I'm afraid of being betrayed by some enemy. If I send troops to help you, what will happen to my base?"

Before the envoy from Dou County could say anything more, Wang Ba had already dismissed him.

"Get lost, you're in my way."

The first round of talks between the two sides ended unhappily. Only after the envoy left did Wang Ba's anger vanish, replaced by coldness. He ordered his horse to be prepared: "Go, go see Yuan Youzheng."

I thought Yuan Xie was staying in the house arranged by He Ning, but when I inquired, I found out that he had been living in a tent on the construction site, eating and sleeping with the laborers. Even He Ning found those living conditions difficult to endure, yet the refined strategist remained completely silent.

Not a single complaint.

He Ning followed Wang Ba, leading the way, subtly probing his adoptive father's motives for his sudden appearance and specifically requesting to see Yuan Xie. Based on He Ning's years of experience with his adoptive father, he suspected his father was harboring resentment. He Ning was somewhat worried about Yuan Xie's health.

If it wasn't something serious, he would have taken the blame for Yuan Xie.

Wang Ba: "Do you know Yuan Youzheng's motives for helping us control the floods? Tsk, it's not what he said at the beginning. He was just using a feint to secretly advance his own forces. Our lord has already conquered half of our mountain territory, and we're only now finding out what he's been up to..."

He Ning exclaimed in surprise, "Is that really true? That sworn brother—"

He thought of Wang Qi, who was still being held hostage.

Wang Ba also thought of his own "filial son".

It's somewhat understandable that Zhang Yang kept Dongxian County in the dark, since the two places are far apart and it's inconvenient for spies to find out anything. However, Wang Qi is being held hostage in Tianyue, and that bird Lei Ting has been frequently traveling between the two places recently. With such a good opportunity, Wang Qi didn't even think to remind his father, always siding with outsiders.

"Your sworn brother never mentioned it to me."

He Ning: "...Is Godfather going to hold Youzheng accountable this time?"

Wang Ba remained silent and did not respond.

Before long, the father and son rode to the camp.

The camp was inhabited by laborers working on flood control projects; some were ordinary people conscripted from Dongxian, while others were Wang Ba's retainers. Looking at the camp, Wang Ba couldn't help but admire its excellent layout, finding it quite beautiful. Even in the event of an enemy attack, it could maximize the warning, relaying the message throughout the camp and minimizing losses. Wang Ba attributed this to He Ning's efforts and praised his adopted son.

He Ning dared not accept this praise.

Wang Ba realized what was happening: "It's Yuan Youzheng?"

He Ning: "Mm."

Before long, Wang Ba saw Yuan Xie, covered in mud and wearing a straw hat, clearly having just returned from the riverbank. The last time he saw Yuan Xie, the man was dressed in the refined attire of a scholar; now, he seemed even thinner and darker. It was evident that he had put his heart into this flood control effort, his attitude sincere and not merely going through the motions.

This lessened Wang Ba's desire to punish him.

Yuan Xie couldn't hear, but he could feel the unfamiliar gazes directed at him. After a while, he noticed Wang Ba beside He Ning. He stepped forward and bowed, assuming that Wang Ba had come to inspect the progress.

Wang Ba: "..."

Yuan Xie is so polite.

He couldn't just get angry right away, that would be bad—because of his eldest son Wang Qi, Wang Ba had extraordinary patience and tolerance towards Wang Qi's peers—until Yuan Xie went to wash up and get ready, Wang Ba looked through the detailed progress of the flood control work written by Yuan Xie.

"Sigh, you're quite serious."

It's not a shoddy job at all.

"Can so much be done with such a small amount of money?"

The more Wang Ba observed Yuan Xie, the more he realized he was a master steward, as almost every penny was spent wisely. Having managed Dongxian for so many years, Wang Ba knew better than anyone how rare this was.

Even those trusted confidants who had risked their lives for them couldn't help but use their power to seek personal gain. Wang Ba knew this perfectly well, but he turned a blind eye.

Yuan Xie, an outsider, was able to do this.

"If this person were to assist your brother, I could rest in peace even after I pass away." Wang Ba wasn't so uncomfortable with Zhang Yang's scheming against his faction. "It's just a pity that such a good person belongs to someone else..."

He Ning said, "With my sworn brother's demeanor..."

Wang Ba interrupted him, saying, "You don't need to say anything nice to that unfilial son. Do you think I don't know what kind of temper and abilities he has? Fortunately, the heavens have opened their eyes and made him realize his mistakes and know how to improve himself."

Thinking of Wang Qi, a smile appeared on Wang Ba's face.

"Lord Hongtu, we've been waiting for you."

"Your lord is quite capable. Back then, Dongxian raised an army but failed to completely take over Chesi. They even ran into a tough opponent and suffered heavy casualties. Zhang Boyuan bribed Lü Bafeng and got Chesi to change hands..." If I had known it could be done this way, I should have focused on this aspect back then.

That's what he thought, but Wang Ba also knew it was impossible.

He stared intently at Yuan Xie, watching how the other party would react.

Yuan Xie was only stunned for a moment before calming down.

"Times have changed. How can Chesi County today compare to what it was back then? My lord just happened to get a good deal." Yuan Xie showed no guilt on his face, instead staring calmly at Wang Ba. "The fact that Lord Hongtu is willing to tell me these things instead of killing me as soon as he arrives shows that he appreciates my lord more than he intends to hold him accountable."

Those in positions of power generally dislike having their true thoughts exposed.

Wang Ba had clearly come to interrogate him, but Yuan Xie's words only made him feel powerless, like punching cotton. He deliberately put on a stern face: "That's a real pity, you guessed wrong. I didn't kill you, naturally because I want to keep you alive to exchange for the hostages."

Yuan Xie: "..."

Wang Qi doesn't seem like a hostage at all.

Who else has the same freedom as him as a hostage?

How did Yuan Xie know this?

This is naturally because He Ning remarked to Yuan Xie that his sworn brother had finally grown up and knew how to strive for success. From this, we can infer that Wang Qi had been maintaining contact with Dongxian through methods unknown to others.

In addition, Wang Qi is also very strong.

"With your son's abilities, if he wanted to return, it would be difficult to stop him." He might not be stronger than Zhang Yang, but even if Wang Qi was determined to escape, he couldn't be stopped. Therefore, Wang Ba's reasoning didn't hold water. "If Hongtu Gongxin trusts me, why don't you tell me about the situation at the front?"

How did Wang Ba learn about the situation in the mountains?

Did you find this yourself?

Or did someone inform you?

Yuan Xie preferred the latter.

Wang Ba said calmly, "It was Dou County that sent people, promising huge benefits, asking me to help send troops to restrain Zhang Boyuan's army. If it succeeds, they will at least get a share of Chesi County. However, my appetite is too big, and this small place is not enough to satisfy me."

Yuan Xie chuckled and shook his head: "This is a trap. These promises are not to be trusted. If I were from Dou County, I would agree to whatever Lord Hongtu wants without hesitation. After I've used him and recovered the lost territory, I would close the trade routes and passes without giving him a single penny."

Wang Badao said, "I share this concern."

Yuan Xie's smile brightened considerably.

"I do have a plan."

? ?|??w?`)

Wang Ba: Putting aside all those schemes, my son has learned his lesson.