Chapter 94: Master Dong’s Sincerity

Seeing Zhang Zhiji, who clutched the strategy he had just written as though it were a priceless treasure, be helped back to his quarters by several trusted guards, still agitated and unable to calm himself, Li Yuanjing drained a cup of wine and suddenly could not help shaking his head with repeated laughter.

At the speed news spread in this day and age, and with Qianzi Village lying in such an utterly remote and desolate place, what the hell did he, Li Yuanjing, know about the tides of the realm?

Still.

Although the grand argument he had just given Zhang Zhiji was borrowed from the later warlord Li Zicheng’s campaign methods, for some reason this age’s rebel leader, Li Huangchao, bore a certain resemblance to Li Zicheng of later generations.

Even the geography of the entire Great Qian was strikingly similar to that of the later world.

It really did feel like a parallel universe.

In later history, after Li Zicheng had ravaged the northwest and the Central Plains in succession, he chose to march south toward Fengyang rather than head first into Shandong and then turn north toward the imperial capital. That was by no means a decision made on a whim; it was the distilled wisdom of the entire refugee-army decision-making circle after careful deliberation.

The reasons were much the same as what Li Yuanjing had just told Zhang Zhiji.

Later history had already proved it.

Li Zicheng’s strategy had been quite correct.

First seize Fengyang, then enter Huguang, then wheel around through the Central Plains and pacify the northwest.

And in the end, like a sharpened blade, he drove straight ahead and took the great capital itself.

At present, Li Yuanjing’s lofty rhetoric could certainly not sway Zhang Zhiji’s decisions, but under Zhang Zhiji’s earnest request, the entire argument had been recorded in writing by Li Yuanjing.

This, on the one hand, might give Zhang Zhiji and the advisers around him some inspiration. On the other hand, if the main force of Li Huangchao’s refugee army in the future truly took this route...

Then, much like predicting the World Cup champion before the tournament even began, it would be a feat worthy of legend.

Moreover, this was plainly Li Yuanjing’s sincerity toward Zhang Zhiji, and also a display of his own talent.

Even if it carried some risk, and might be seen as presumptuous or as meddling in current affairs, the reward was unquestionably greater than the danger.

Especially at this stage, Li Yuanjing absolutely had to make good use of Zhang Zhiji’s protection.

The next morning, just as the sky was beginning to lighten.

Li Yuanjing had finished tidying himself up and was preparing to go deepen his bond with Zhang Zhiji when Zhang Zhiji came looking for him instead.

With a smile, he said, “Sir, I will always remember the regard you have shown me. It is a pity that official business leaves me no time to sit with you and talk by lamplight tonight. But rest assured, once I have finished with military affairs before the year is out, I will certainly come find you again, and we shall drink together in earnest.”

“Young Lord, you are leaving already?”

Li Yuanjing was caught off guard as well; he had not expected Zhang Zhiji to be in such a hurry.

Zhang Zhiji smiled. “Sir, do you think I want to be in such a rush? I can only blame myself for not being my own master. Ah yes, Butler Fu, bring out the gift I prepared for the sir.”

“Yes.”

As Li Yuanjing was still standing there in a daze, an old guard at Zhang Zhiji’s side had already respectfully handed over a gift.

And Zhang Zhiji gave Li Yuanjing no chance to refuse, smiling as he said, “Sir, I heard that someone has been ill-disposed toward you these past few days. Rest assured, I have already warned them all. If anyone dares to try anything again, I will not spare him! Then I shall take my leave first. Once I have finished my proper business, I’ll come back and beg a drink from you.”

With that, the fellow swung himself neatly onto his horse and rode straight down the earthen slope under the escort of his guards.

As he descended, he even turned back to clasp his hands in salute to Li Yuanjing, flashing a confident smile.

Only after Zhang Zhiji and the others had gone far enough that no trace of them could be seen did Li Yuanjing finally come to himself, his gaze growing deep and unreadable.

Though Zhang Zhiji had not had time today to tell him what military business he was going to handle, he had revealed a little of it the night before.

From the way things stood now, although Zhang Zhiji had already been appointed military governor of Qi Prefecture, if he truly wanted troops of his own, he would still need time.

Li Yuanjing now analyzed the matter this way.

The reason Zhang Zhiji had taken time out yesterday to come see him was, first, that he wanted to ask for some calligraphy from him, partly for show and partly to draw closer to him.

On the other hand...

He was probably going to Fengcheng County to take over military authority. Passing by Qianzi Village, he had merely needed a place to camp.

Thinking of this, Li Yuanjing could not help feeling a little emotional.

He had originally been thinking about how to deal with the various powers of Old Master Dong, the great local magnate Xue, and the headman Ma.

Who would have thought that Zhang Zhiji would cut in from the perspective of a god, and in an instant dissolve all those problems that were not so easy for Li Yuanjing to handle?

With the force under Zhang Zhiji numbering more than two hundred elite cavalry, the difficulty of taking command of the troops in Fengcheng County would plainly not be too great.

What really mattered was how many useful soldiers he could actually secure.

After all, although these wealthy local strongmen did not dare oppose Zhang Zhiji openly, in secret, would Zhang Zhiji be able to withstand their methods?

Just as he was thinking this, Li Yuanjing casually opened the gift box Zhang Zhiji had given him, and at once froze.

Inside, neatly arranged, lay a large mass of gold leaves, surely no less than fifty taels in total...

This...

After breakfast with Yu Niang, Li Yuanjing gradually calmed down.

At the current exchange rate between gold and silver in Great Qian, one tael of gold could be exchanged for roughly seven or eight taels of silver, and on the black market even more; a rate of one to ten was hardly unusual.

These fifty taels of gold leaves could conservatively be worth four hundred taels of silver.

Yet holding this gold in his hands, Li Yuanjing felt remarkably steady, with almost no emotional fluctuation at all.

Because if Zhang Zhiji could give him such a generous gift, it meant that Zhang Zhiji still wanted to maintain ties with him.

If he had given nothing, or if Li Yuanjing had refused to accept it, then it would truly have been a one-time transaction.

After inspecting the progress at the big construction site behind the hill, Li Yuanjing was preparing to go see how the musket troops were training at the temporary firing range behind his old residence when Zhuzi hurried over to report.

“Master, Old Master Dong from Dagou Village is here again. He is waiting for you outside the public quarters...”

“Hm?”

Li Yuanjing could not help frowning slightly.

Yesterday, he had already spoken plainly with Old Master Dong, and the misunderstanding had more or less been cleared up for the time being.

What was this fool doing here again today?

After some thought, Li Yuanjing still decided to see him. After all, it would not cost him anything.

Soon enough, Li Yuanjing met Old Master Dong at the public quarters.

Old Master Dong was even more humble than the day before, truly flattering and ingratiating as he said with a servile smile, “Master Li, you truly are a man of great ability. Who would have thought that even the young lord has now publicly declared that anyone who dares make an enemy of you is making an enemy of him?”

Li Yuanjing’s eyelid twitched slightly, but his expression remained unchanged as he said with a smile, “Old Master Dong flatters me. I simply had a bit of luck.”

Yet inwardly, Li Yuanjing was somewhat speechless.

That fellow Zhang Zhiji really did have the temperament of a spoiled noble brat.

By making such ruthless remarks, he had indeed protected Li Yuanjing for the moment, but had he not also placed himself on the fire?

After all, in the present situation, Zhang Zhiji had basically gone head-to-head with the Prince of Qi. How easy was it to deal with that old fox?

“Master Li, you jest. Luck is still a kind of skill, is it not?”

Old Master Dong clearly meant to cozy up to Li Yuanjing and hurriedly chimed in, but he also seemed a little hesitant to speak further.

“Old Master Dong, between brothers, if you have something to say, just say it to me directly. So long as I can help, I will do my utmost.”

Li Yuanjing naturally saw his unease and his inner struggle. With a warm manner, he gave Old Master Dong enough face as he cupped his hands and spoke.

Seeing that Li Yuanjing could still remain so steady at such a moment, and that he showed no contempt or resentment toward him at all, Old Master Dong seemed to have made some sort of decision in his heart.

He hurriedly cupped his fists deeply and said, “Master Li, since you have not held my past offense against me, and since even now you still think so highly of this old frame of mine, if I, Chen Dong, still kept things hidden, would I still count as a man with balls?”

“However!”

“Master Li, before I speak of the matter, I want to tell you something first... something you may be interested in, as proof of my sincerity!”

“I know... who it was that stole the corpse of that new concubine of yours, Miss Zhao Yinling!”

“Hm?”

Li Yuanjing jolted sharply.