From Hoarding to Time-Travel: My Supplies Saved Him

Chapter 526: Chapter 528: Replaced

Ah Da quickly agreed, "I’ll have our men keep a closer watch.

But keeping these people locked up in the government office’s cells all the time isn’t a long-term solution. Marquis, do you think we should...?"

Zhou Shixiong replied, "They have indeed been too idle. Go ask Mr. Gu if there’s any newly scouted wasteland. Let these people pay back some interest."

Ah Da said, "...Marquis, that’s not what I meant. I was just thinking that these people are foreign nobles, after all. If the higher-ups were to investigate us for keeping them locked in cells, it wouldn’t be good for you, Marquis."

Zhou Shixiong looked at Ah Da. "It seems that following the Empress all these years has smoothed out your edges.

Whatever their status may be, right now they are nothing more than my prisoners."

"But..."

"Spend less time with Li Ji. I have my own reasons for doing things."

Ah Da replied, "Yes, sir."

***

Gu Wenheng hadn’t expected Li Ji to be so thick-skinned. The man had shown up uninvited and had been droning on at his side for over an hour.

"Mr. Gu, locking a Prince in a dungeon... if word of this gets out, it will damage our nation’s prestige. Do you think you could discuss it with General Zhou? Perhaps we could arrange a small courtyard and place him under guard there."

Gu Wenheng had long since lost his patience. He had been able to humor him before, but now he retorted directly, "What’s improper about it? These people are prisoners of war. Am I supposed to provide them with fine food and wine? Give them residences, find them wives, and let them have a few children?"

Li Ji said, "Well, not to that extent. But we’ve locked up their Prince. If this leads to war between our two nations, it would be far from ideal."

Gu Wenheng was surprised that after walking just a few steps, the man was still droning on behind him. "Perhaps I should have a word with General Zhou..."

"An excellent idea! General Zhou needs someone like you, Mr. Gu, to..."

"...I should tell him that detaining them without reason is not a long-term solution.

Coincidentally, the ships they arrived on have just been repaired. A kind man like General Li surely wouldn’t want to see them suffer any longer.

So why don’t you go on behalf of the Rong Dynasty and inform their King to come and ransom his people back?

We suffered great losses before, but we won’t be too demanding. Just have them return everything they plundered from us in full."

Li Ji’s face froze. "Mr. Gu, you must be joking."

Gu Wenheng said, "Why would I be joking? Judging by your earlier words, General Li, I imagine their King will treat you favorably.

With nothing but your silver tongue, you could solve such a major problem for the Holy Emperor. We would be endlessly impressed.

If you have no objections, General, I am certain I can persuade General Zhou on your behalf.

This is a great deed for the good of the nation and its people. I’m sure General Li would be happy to do it."

Li Ji was speechless. ’Why didn’t anyone tell me Gu Wenheng had such a venomous tongue? I only said a few words, and now he wants to send me to my death?’

He gave a dry laugh. "That won’t be necessary, will it?"

Gu Wenheng stopped and clapped him on the shoulder. "General Li, you are a righteous man. The journey may be a bit dangerous, but once you reach their lands, I’m sure they will, just as you imagine, give a warm welcome to an envoy like yourself."

Li Ji remained silent. ’A welcome to my death, more like,’ he thought.

Seizing the opportunity, Gu Wenheng quickly called over Lu Shenggen. "Mr. Lu, the autumn harvest is approaching. Let’s go discuss..."

They were about to discuss official business. No matter how much Li Ji wanted to persuade him, he couldn’t follow them now.

With a dark expression, he flicked his sleeves and stalked away. As he reached the main gate, he ran right into Wu Yichen. Seeing the gleam in the other man’s eyes, Li Ji felt an inexplicable chill run down his spine.

"General Li, were you looking for this subordinate?

It’s been a while. We should go for a few drinks later.

Just wait a moment, I’ll go get Mr. He and the others."

Li Ji finally understood the source of his ominous feeling. His hand unconsciously went to his coin purse. The last meal had cost him over half a month’s salary. If it happened again, he’d be eating nothing but air for the rest of the month.

Seeing the man’s smile grow ever more enthusiastic, Li Ji wished he could turn tail and run. However, he managed to force a smile. "I have matters to attend to today. Let’s find the other gentlemen for a drink next time."

The moment the words left his mouth, he wanted to slap himself silly. Talk about putting your foot in it.

Wu Yichen wasn’t disappointed at all. He beamed and said, "We’ll be waiting, then. Next time we’re on leave, we’ll all go find you, General Li."

Li Ji could barely maintain his smile. "Great... great."

Wu Yichen said, "In that case, I won’t see you out today, General Li. Next time, we won’t go home until we’re drunk!"

Li Ji suspected that if he listened any longer, his expression would crack. He hastily cupped his hands in a farewell and fled as if escaping.

"Honestly, he wasn’t like this the last time we met. What’s he running so fast for?" Wu Yichen shook his head as he spoke, not forgetting to add to the arrest officer beside him, "General Li must have some important business today.

He’s usually so enthusiastic when he invites us for drinks."

Fan Changxi asked, "So, Mr. Wu, you and General Li get along quite well?"

"Not really. We’ve only had drinks once. We’ll get to know each other better after a few more times."

...

As Li Ji fled the government office, he felt waves of cold on his back, and couldn’t help but quicken his pace to get away from that troublesome place.

***

Seeing that no one was around, Lu Shenggen brought it up again. "Mr. Gu, that Assistant General Li doesn’t have a very good reputation in this border city."

Gu Wenheng patted his shoulder. "He’s just a buffoon. Later, go inform Mr. He and the others. We really need to make some arrangements for the autumn harvest."

That was the most critical issue they faced right now. With grain in hand, there was no need for panic, but they still had to guard against another attack from those bandits.

Although they had captured the so-called Prince Zuo and his several thousand men, who knew if the enemy would regroup and attack again.

Until the grain was safely in the granaries, they had to maintain all necessary defenses.

***

When Zhou Shixiong heard the Hidden Guard’s report, he curled his lip in disdain.

Li Ji was really getting worse and worse, trying to incite Gu Wenheng to lead the charge.

’As if Gu Wenheng, a top scholar, would be so easily manipulated,’ he thought.

"Since he likes to court death, let’s teach him a lesson. It’ll save him from thinking he can just keep hopping around causing trouble just because I’m ignoring him for now.

Ah Da, Li Ji will definitely be sending a letter to the Capital soon. Have someone intercept and replace it."

Ah Da agreed. "What should we replace it with?"

Zhou Shixiong said, "It must be hard for him, playing the double agent here. It’s time for him to claim some credit from his master and ask for a reward."

"...In that case, this subordinate will ask for an exorbitant price."

Zhou Shixiong warned, "Don’t make them suspicious."

"Yes, sir."

Whether the other party would plant other spies was of no concern to Zhou Shixiong.

As long as the border was stabilized, these people wouldn’t be able to find any fault, even if they tried.