The Great Martial Arts World: Hot Topics and Great Heroes

However, after pacing back and forth several times, Madam Guo finally said, "Protecting Xiangyang was my husband's lifelong wish, not for the sake of our family or one clan, but for the hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians in Xiangyang, and the millions of people of the Great Song Dynasty behind them. As long as the city stands, we stand; if the city falls, we die. This was true when my husband was alive, and now that he is gone, I will not go alone..."

This is not a question of whether Madam Guo and her family should stay or leave. If Madam Guo leaves, the chivalrous heroes of Xiangyang will surely exist in name only.

Just then, Madam Guo suddenly bowed deeply to Chu Luren. Upon seeing this, Chu Luren quickly stopped her, saying, "Madam Guo, what are you doing? You're making me feel uncomfortable..."

"I have a favor to ask of Alliance Leader Chu! I would like to ask Alliance Leader Chu..."

Chu Luren originally thought that Madam Guo wanted him to take Guo Fu, Guo Xiang, and Guo Polu away.

Xiangyang was indeed the place where Guo Juxia and his wife were connected throughout their lives, but after all, Guo Juxia was also a "mother" and would never want her children to live as precariously as she did.

But unexpectedly...

"Please, Alliance Leader Chu, take action and capture Lü Wenhuan. If the Righteous Alliance wishes to protect Xiangyang, I will coordinate with the heroes of Xiangyang to fully cooperate with the Righteous Alliance. If the Righteous Alliance is unwilling to intervene, the heroes of Xiangyang will take responsibility and will spread the word about my husband and Xiangyang!" Madam Guo's fierceness was beyond Chu Luren's expectations.

Are they really going to revolt on the spot?

"Capturing Lü Wenhuan would be easy, but..." Chu Luren really wanted to say—I was just saying that casually, please don't take it seriously!

Chu Luren wasn't afraid of causing any trouble, but he was worried about Madam Guo and the chivalrous men of Xiangyang—wasn't this just a free gift?

Seeing Chu Luren's hesitation, Madam Guo comforted him instead, saying, "The Mongol Yuan dynasty has also lost its national advisor this time, and they have already made a bet. Even if the Mongols don't want to abide by it, winter is approaching, so at least they should be able to get through this year."

Well, the winter in Xiangyang doesn't have much of an impact on people in the martial arts world, but it's still not suitable for the army to march.

Madam Guo also understood that if they occupied Xiangyang, the Song court might listen to what these江湖 heroes had to say; otherwise, who would care what Iron-Blooded Marquis had done to Guo the Great Hero?

If anyone would take charge, it would be Cao Zhengchun, the Iron-Blooded Marquis's mortal enemy—it doesn't matter what Guo Juxia does, but if he accuses the Marquis, then we're not going to be sleepy!

However, Guo Juxia had previously had a falling out with the Eastern Depot because he refused to bribe the eunuchs. Moreover, the eunuchs had a terrible reputation among the common people, especially on the front lines. Madam Guo did not want to smear her husband, so she never thought of taking advantage of the Eastern Depot's influence.

"Xiangyang... the Righteous Alliance members are all idle men, they can't possibly control Xiangyang. It's still up to Madam Guo to take charge. However, in this life-or-death situation, the Righteous Alliance members who have arrived now will do their best to assist Madam Guo." Chu Luren knew what was going on and didn't dare to make any promises.

It's impossible to expect the Righteous Alliance to become a disciplined and strictly enforced army...

It's more reliable to train a group of farmers than to form an army. Besides, the people from all walks of life among them, at most, will only prevent the Chu Lu people from doing anything too heinous in the open.

As the saying goes, "Bandits pass by like a comb, soldiers pass by like a brush"—an army with lax discipline, when mobilized, can be just as destructive to the people as an enemy cavalry.

One should use a bowl that matches one's appetite. Chu Luren is not Murong Jiu; he won't fantasize that he has the talent of an emperor just because some people in the martial arts world give him some face...

Therefore, the Chu Lu people naturally had no intention of taking over Xiangyang. Moreover, once the city fell and people perished, it would be impossible to expect the righteous men of the Righteous Alliance to die for them; they would surely scatter like birds and beasts.

At most, the Chu Lu people could only guarantee that the enemy would not dare to collude with them or flee in advance; that is, they were merely "supporting" the enemy.

"Thank you for your kindness, Alliance Leader Chu!" Madam Guo was about to bow again, but Chu Luren quickly helped her up.

For the Chu Lu people, capturing Lü Wenhuan alive was an extremely simple task.

At this time, the two people in charge of the army in Xiangfan were Lü Wenhuan and Lü Wende. Lü Wende was still in the manor, and Madam Guo had already sent people to monitor him, while Lü Wenhuan was in the city!

Chu Luren stealthily made his way into the governor's mansion without making a sound.

Lu Wenhuan seemed to have received the news; the guards at the Governor's Mansion were exceptionally tight, and Chu Luren had even spotted Shangguan Haitang...

However, no one discovered Chu Luren!

Lü Wenhuan didn't go to sleep either, but instead kept the council hall brightly lit, surrounded by layers of guards. Shangguan Haitang was also in the hall, politely exchanging pleasantries with Lü Wenhuan...

Chapter 933 Military Counseling

"Don't worry, spies. All three hundred of my personal guards are in the mansion. Not even a mosquito can get in! Besides, although Master Guo and his wife are not obedient to the court and act rashly, they still have some chivalrous spirit. They won't abandon the overall situation just because some villains instigated them... Let's drink, hahaha!"

As Lü Wenhuan spoke, he had already prepared a late-night snack. Although it was late and not a grand banquet, guests and hosts were seated separately, and Shangguan Haitang's warning was not taken too seriously.

Of course, all the personal guards who needed to be called were summoned.

The brothers Lü Wende and Lü Wenhuan usually held Guo Juxia in high esteem, at least outwardly praising him as a "pillar of the nation"...

After all, these people from the martial arts world don't need much coaxing. Not only are they brave and daring, but more importantly, all the credit goes to these guards. All they need to do is offer them some wine and meat during festivals, which is the best deal.

In addition, Guo Juxia was always a man of principle, and his wife was always wise and resourceful. The Lü brothers usually consulted with Guo Juxia and his wife on matters of defense in Xiangyang.

But behind his back, tsk tsk, he confided in Shangguan Haitang at this moment—just a rebellious scoundrel!

Even so, Lü Wenhuan still defended Guo Juxia, saying he didn't believe the couple would be instigated by villains...

Chu Luren pondered for a long time, wondering who this "villain" was referring to.

“Governor Lü, you must not be careless. Although Chu Tai Sui was eccentric and at odds with Shen Hou before, he was still considered reasonable. But this time, for some reason, he has instigated the heroes of Xiangyang and the Protectorate Manor…” Shangguan Haitang’s eyes also showed signs of weariness.

She even suspected that Guo Juxia was colluding with the Mongol Yuan dynasty, but she didn't say it outright.

Moreover, she didn't understand why Chu Luren would still fight for Xiangyang if that were the case, since Jinlun and Kumārajīva had indeed been defeated.

Chu Luren: ? ? ?

Was I the villain?

Shangguan Haitang looked worried, while Lü Wenhuan ate and drank as usual, not taking anything to heart...

"I wasn't careless. No matter how powerful Chu Luren is, could he suddenly appear and point a mourning stick at my head?" Lu Wenhuan said playfully.

Lu Wenhuan didn't know why, but he always felt that the secret agent Shangguan was handsome and refined. What if he were a girl...?

Cough cough, Lu Wenhuan felt a little uneasy—he wasn't a common soldier, so he naturally had his own ways of satisfying his needs. Although he couldn't compare to the officials in the capital who had countless concubines, he shouldn't be in such a situation...

Lu Wenhuan then picked up the wine cup and drank to cover up his embarrassment. However, just because he glanced at the wine cup, Lu Wenhuan's hand went limp and he spilled most of the wine. Then he didn't dare to move at all!

Reflected in the liquor, Lü Wenhuan saw that someone else had appeared behind him at some point...

Shangguan Haitang noticed Lü Wenhuan's unusual behavior and looked up, only to have her pupils shrink instantly—Chu Luren had appeared behind Lü Wenhuan without her noticing!

Shangguan Haitang was a master of hidden weapons, and her skills were honed in her hands and ears, with lightness skills being the next best thing... However, even Shangguan Haitang did not notice when Chu Luren had sneaked in.

"Chu Taisui! What are you doing?" Shangguan Haitang quickly stood up, one hand on her waist, ready to throw a hidden weapon at any moment.

However, Shangguan Haitang also understood that even at this distance, if she and Chu Luren were to exchange hidden weapons, Chu Luren would probably be faster. Moreover, she and Lü Wenhuan were sitting separately with a few steps between them, while Chu Luren was already right behind Lü Wenhuan!

"A military remonstrance," Chu Luren said truthfully.

We're all civilized people, what's this talk of uprisings or not...

Lady Guo did not intend to start an uprising on the spot. After occupying Xiangfan, she would naturally raise the banner of "purging the emperor's inner circle" - so that her accusation against Zhao Wushi would carry more weight!

At this juncture, there's no way the Song court would send troops to attack the Xiangyang front...

As for whether the Song court would hold a grudge and settle scores with them, Madam Guo no longer cared. She even understood that the chances of a peaceful resolution were slim. Perhaps only if the Ming Cult rebels broke out and directly overthrew the Mongol Yuan dynasty would Xiangyang have a chance to survive.

After all, they would definitely be purged by the Song court afterward, and surrendering to the Mongol Yuan was impossible, but joining the anti-Yuan rebels was possible!

"Are you crazy? What military remonstrance? Do you even know what you're doing? What are you remonstrating for? Are you a soldier or a remonstrator?" Shangguan Haitang was so angry she was about to explode.

Chu Luren always felt like she was cursing someone...

"What military remonstrance? That old monkey Zhao Wushi has already murdered Guo Juxia in order to cultivate the 'Absorption Technique'!" Chu Luren said angrily.

"What nonsense are you talking about? My godfather has been in the capital all along... What happened to Master Guo? Weren't you fighting against the Mongol Yuan masters together before? Were you ambushed then?" Shangguan Haitang couldn't understand what Chu Luren was saying at all.

This story just feels incredibly absurd...

"You can't even recognize your own godfather? That was Zhao Wushi at the Heroes' Gathering! He killed Guo Juxia before!" Chu Luren said angrily, kicking Lü Wenhuan to the ground and then stepping on him, saying, "Speak! Guo Juxia was killed by the Iron-Blooded Marquis. As a fellow countryman from Xiangyang, aren't you going to do anything about it?"

Shangguan Haitang went through Chu Luren's words again and finally understood the logic behind Chu Luren's "story".

No wonder Chu Luren called Guo Juxia "Zhao Wushi" at the Heroes' Gathering...

"How could you think that?" Although Shangguan Haitang was not stupid, the information she received from childhood showed that her godfather was a completely positive figure, and what Chu Luren said made no sense to her, so she naturally could not believe such words.

"Ouch..." Lu Wenhuan cried out in pain.

Chu Luren pressed on even more firmly—Aren't you disappointed that there's no "mourning stick"? Seriously, who's spreading rumors that I use a mourning stick as a weapon?

"Stop!" Shangguan Haitang shouted in a hollow voice, while her feet moved almost imperceptibly.

"Is Master Shangguan planning to abandon Lord Lü first, obtain the military tally himself, and then use the token of the Dragon Guard Manor to command the Xiangyang garrison to act as he sees fit?" Chu Luren suddenly exposed Shangguan Haitang's plan.

"Sir, spies! The military tally is on me. Even if you have the token of the Dragon Guard Manor, my soldiers won't recognize it! You can't leave!" Lü Wenhuan shouted hurriedly.

Shangguan Haitang was furious upon hearing this!

At this moment, the guards outside also noticed the noise inside and rushed in, but Chu Luren simply leaped up from the ground, smashed through the roof, and then let out a long howl...

"Iron-Blooded Marquis Zhao Wushi plotted to murder Guo Juxia! The imperial court is conducting a thorough investigation of Guo Juxia's supporters in Xiangyang City; none of you will escape!"

The voice of Chu Luren echoed throughout the entire city of Xiangyang...

Chapter 934 Zhao Wushi's Plan

In critical moments, swift and decisive action is necessary!

Chu Luren subdued Lü Wenhuan, and then, while trying to sway the city's garrison, he also sent signals to the chivalrous heroes and Beggar Clan members outside Xiangyang—Madam Guo was already prepared...

Although they haven't taken any action against Shangguan Haitang yet, they are using her as "bait".

Chu Luren secretly targeted any of Lü Wenhuan's subordinates who wanted to make contact with Shangguan Haitang...

After Chu Luren left, Shangguan Haitang did indeed go out of her way to inform the generals she considered trustworthy. Some of them were trustworthy according to intelligence, while others had received favors from the Dragon Guard Manor!

however……

Little did she expect that Chu Luren's perception range was already no less than that of Yaoyue before her breakthrough.

After handing Lü Wenhuan over to Madam Guo, Chu Luren secretly returned amidst the chaos.

Before they could organize their troops to resist, the Chu Lu people "called out" them one by one, from highest to lowest rank, and wiped out all the generals who might resist!

As a result, there was very little resistance in the city. By daybreak, there was no open fighting in Xiangyang City. Everyone had reached an agreement... no, they had reached a consensus.

Soldiers and civilians alike learned what had happened from the notices and the speeches of numerous righteous individuals!

It turns out that Guo Juxia was murdered by Zhao Wushi of the Protectorate of Dragon Mountain Villa. The imperial court is also planning to purge the Xiangyang garrison. It is said that they intend to send spies from the Protectorate of Dragon Mountain Villa to investigate, and anyone who has expressed admiration for Guo Juxia will be thoroughly investigated...

Governor Lü and Commander Lü, being of great righteousness, have already submitted a memorial accusing the Protectorate of Dragon Mountain Villa of harming the country, killing the people, and slaughtering loyal officials. The soldiers of Xiangyang will also vow to fight to the death to seek justice for Guo Juxia!

They demanded that the court in Lin'an execute Zhao Wushi to set an example, otherwise the Xiangyang army would have no choice but to march east into Lin'an to "purge the court of corrupt officials."

This is the version spoken to ordinary people and soldiers. The version circulating in the martial arts world is more specific. It not only points out that Zhao Wushi harmed Guo Juxia in order to cultivate the "Absorption Technique", but also reveals that more than 20 years ago, Zhao Wushi massacred masters from various sects and then framed Gu Santong.

Regardless of how many people believe it, this saying has become a common belief in the martial arts world.

The entire government and the public were in an uproar!

Zhao Wushi had not expected that Madam Guo would be so resolute—if he had known this, he might have spared Guo Juxia's life instead of letting Murong Fu deal with him hastily.