The Emperor Reigns Them All

Chapter 414 Wu Gou

Chapter 414 Wu Gou

The south was already quite hot but the north was relatively cooler. The lush foliage of the trees let everyone know summer had come. In the second courtyard of the Xuzhou Zhongwu commissioner’s manor were two old locust trees, the shade of which had cast a large shadow on the granite pavement.

At this moment a young man dressed as a scholar was standing in the shade. He raised his hands and looked up at the star-like sunlight in the gaps between the leaves. His eyes narrowed slightly, as if he were thinking about something.

He had an average build to go with an average-looking face. His looks couldn’t be further from the word ‘handsome’. The ladies on the streets and the female Jianghu cultivators would not even take a second look at him.

But he was well-dressed and neatly trimmed. Standing there, he not only revealed the temperament of a scholar but also a sense of maturity that was much older than his actual age.

From time to time, his eyes would reveal a flash of lightning-like sharpness.

“Administrator Wu, the ambassador is expecting you.” A clerk approached the young man with a respectful salute.

Wu Gou nodded to the man and followed him through the corridor. They passed the third courtyard and went straight into the Eastern Study Room.

The Zhongwu Army commissioner, Qin Zongquan had already gotten out of his seat to great them. He was all smiles and said, “Mr. Wu, you’re here! Please sit down.”

Qin Zongquan was originally the Inspector General of Caizhou. The reason why he could occupy Xuzhou was because he and his army had defeated the Zhongwu army commissioner, Zhou Ji. In that battle of rebellion, the young scholar in front of him had come up with a great battle plan, which had worked to a charm. So Qin Zongquan was really intimate with Wu Gou.

The way Qin Zongquan looked at Wu Gou now was like gems had befallen on him from heaven. In fact, this young man was indeed like a gift from heaven.

Back when Qin Zongquan was still the Caizhou Inspector General and he was recruiting soldiers, he had heard that a common scholar asked to see him. After finding out his birth, Qin Zongquan denied him, because he was not of a noble birth.

He wasn’t from an aristocratic family, nor was he taught by famous teachers. His family couldn’t provide him with the necessary training, so how good could he be?

It was said that Kong Ming was a farmer in the village of Nanyang. But in fact he was not some common folk. His ancestors had all been court officials and the Zhuge name was the famous gentry family in Langya. Kong Ming’s acquaintances were also famous aristocrats.

Wu Gou was so persistent that he went to the Inspector General’s manor every day and in the end, Qin Zongquan just couldn’t refuse him. Plus he was recruiting talent, and that he did want to leave behind a bad reputation of being prejudiced against scholars, so he reluctantly met with him.

During a discussion, Qin Zongquan unexpectedly discovered that the scholar was exceptionally knowledgeable and quick-witted. Especially towards the suggestions for the affairs in Caizhou. Qin Zongquan was no ordinary man either, so he took Wu Gou in as his guest and hosted him courteously.

After an exchange of amenities, Qin Zongquan returned to the main seat and asked, “To what do I own the pleasure, sir?”

Wu Gou clasped his hand in a salute and replied calmly, “I wonder what the minister thinks about the Prince An defeating Li Keyong, Li Maozhen attacking Chang’an, and Zhu Wen sending troops to Pinglu?”

Qin Zongquan replied with a smile, “The world is in chaos, so I, along with my Zhongwu army, will naturally take advantage of this opportunity to rise!”

Wu Gou nodded and said, “Then I’ve come to ask the minister to send me as an envoy to Hedong.”

Qin Zongquan was a little taken aback, so he asked, “What do you want to do in Hedong?”

Wu Gou replied, “To make an alliance with the Prince An and help him deal with Zhu Wen.”

Qin Zongquan’s expression was respectful. He glanced at Wu Gou a few times before adding slowly, “When the Prince An was attacking Hedong, I took advantage of the situation and took Zhongwu. This had antagonized the imperial court. I’d consider our own lucky if the Prince An doesn’t turn around and attack Zhongwu. How could we then join forces with him to fight Zhu Wen at this time?”

Wu Gou smiled.

This smile was full of calm and seemed wider than mountains and rivers. It was also like a rushing river that had found a gap and the water was rushing out of it.

He then replied, “Minister, you did violate the order of the imperial court by taking Zhongwu. And because of this, it is imperative that you help the Prince An at this moment. This way he would not take vengeance on you afterwards. As a matter of course, it would then be logical for the Prince An to recognize your status as the commissioner.”

Qin Zongquan was silent and fell into a muse.

Wu Gou continued, “Regardless of whether Zhu Wen is successful with attacking Ping Lu, but he would definitely attack Xuanwu’s surrounding vassal states afterwards to take the Central Plains. By then, how could Zhongwu match up against a Taoist sect supported Zhu Wen? Without the Prince An’s help, Zhongwu won’t stand a chance.”

Qin Zongquan nodded in agreement.

Wu Gou also added, “Minister, you have great ambitions. Taking Heluo in the north and Huaihe River in the south is a part of your plans. Yet if Zhu Wen gains expansion enough, your plans will be disrupted because there is no room for two tigers in the Central Plains. Apart from you, minister, there should not be another strong vassal state.”

Qin Zongquan’s eyes lit up as he looked at Wu Gou with hope. “Are you sure you can convince the Prince An to ally with Zhongwu?”

Wu Gou answered with his mouth slightly raised, “If I fail, I’ll come back with my head at your disposal.”

Ten days later, Wu Gou led the messenger team of the Zhongwu Army to set off to Xuzhou City from the North Gate. Qin Zongquan personally sent them out of the city.

The bright rays of the sun writhed in the yellow dust rising under the horse’s hooves. The team of a hundred or so messengers traveled with great fanfare. Different raking officials dressed in different colors followed Wu Gou under the protection of the armored guards. There were also high-leveled Qi-refining cultivators in tight-fitting robes following them closely.

Qin Zongquan gave Wu Gou the confidence he deserved. They were about to see the Prince An after all. There were nearly ten carriages following them, which were filled with gifts that Qin Zongquan brought to the Prince An.

Wu Gou glanced back at Xuzhou City, and they were already 1,500 meters apart. Qin Zongquan and his officials were still watching in front of the gate. When pedestrians on both sides of the official road saw this scene, they all cast their awe at Wu Gou. The young ladies and the female Jianghu cultivators looked at Wu Gou excitedly.

Wu Gou retracted his gaze and looked to the front of the official road. He suddenly smiled and said to himself, “It’s better to be famous early.”

...

They went northwards, bypassing Xuanwu. After many days of trekking, Wu Gou finally reached the suburbs of Taiyuan City.

Inside and outside the pavilion beside the road, many people who were about to travel was saying goodbye to the people who came to send them off. In this gloomy morning, the sadness of parting was overwhelming as many people had tears in their eyes.

Wu Gou retracted his eyes and smile slightly. He then said to himself, “Counterproductive are the tears as loved ones part.” As he looked at the towering Taiyuan city wall, he was extremely excited.

Behind the guard standing at the front of the tower, there was a young man whose dark robes were fluttering in the air. Their eyes met unexpectedly.

Meanwhile, a white-robed swordsman rode past the team of messengers on his blue-maned horse.

Wu Gou’s expression suddenly turned somber. He had felt extraordinary temperaments coming from both the young man in black robes standing in front of the city tower, and the white-robed swordsman galloping by. One was overbearing like an emperor and the other was as elegant as an immortal.

“Taiyuan City, seeped in thousands of years of history, is really amazing,” Wu Gou muttered in his heart. He had a newfound respect for this city.

After Li Ye sent off Nangong Diyi, he went back to process the official documents. Before long, he received a report that the Zhongwu commissioner, Zhou Ji’s envoy wished to see him.

Li Ye took the report but did not receive Zhou Ji’s envoy. Instead, he asked his people to host the envoy at a hostel.

After two days, Li Ye had decided to set off for Chengde. Before leaving, he met with Wu Gou.

After browsing through Qin Zongquan’s letter, Li Ye placed the letter on the table and looked at Wu Gou up and down, who was standing in the hall.

Qin Zongquan’s letter was very respectful. Most of the letter was touting Li Ye’s extraordinary cultivation and how much he admired Li Ye and so on. The latter half explained his intention of sending the messenger.

In this part, Qin Zongquan first scolded Zhu Wen, saying that he was a rebel, scourging the Central Plains. Death alone could not atone for his sins. And then he expressed his willingness to form an alliance with Li Ye to defy Zhu Wen and restore peace to the Central Plains.

Wu Gou had recognized the Prince An standing before him was the man in dark robes who stood in front of the tower a couple of days ago. On the receiving end of Li Ye’s examination, Wu Gou could only stand up straight. However, to his surprise, Li Ye did not use his cultivation to oppress him.

As such, Wu Gou did not dare to be careless. Upon entering the manor, he had discovered that there were countless Great Cultivators outside, and the Manor was as vast as the sea.

Even without these cultivators, Wu Gou had to be respectful because he knew that Zhongwu’s fate and that of his own were all in the hands of the man in front of him.

Before seeing Li Ye, Wu Gou had imagined the scene countless times in his mind. He had thought about what their meeting would be like and how he would deal with Li Ye’s reactions and attitude.

However, what surprised Wu Gou further was that Li Ye did not ask about Xuzhou. He didn’t ask why Qin Zongquan dared to take Zhongwu, nor did he reprimand Qin Zongquan for his contempt of court authority. He did not even comment on Qin Zongquan’s touting and gifts.

Li Ye slowly added, “”Which field of study did scholar Wu major in?”

Before he left, Qin Zongquan had given Wu Gou the post of secretary, which could be regarded as recognition of his talents.

In the face of Li Ye’s question, although Wu Gou was surprised, he quickly answered, “I can barely be called a humble scholar.”

Li Ye smiled and said, “Confucianism?”

Wu Gou said earnestly, “In my humble opinion, a scholar should be a learner of all the schools and not be restricted to just one. This way, one can really make a difference, and not make mistakes.”

Li Ye let out a hit of surprise as his interest was rising. “Secretary Wu, at such a young age, you are already proficient in all the schools of learning?”

Wu Gou replied humbly, “I dare not say that I am proficient, but I know a thing or two.”

There was a hint of playfulness in Li Ye’s eyes. “In that case, how do you think I, the solitary king, should deal with Qin Zongquan?”

Wu Gou was startled.

Because Li Ye used the words “deal with”.

Wu Gou remembered that the former Zhongwu commissioner Zhou Ji, who earned a lot of merits following Li Ye in during the Huang Chao Uprising. He definitely did not believe that the Prince An did not have a relationship with Zhou Ji. But now Qin Zongquan had taken Zhongwu and imprisoned Zhou Ji, so naturally, Li Ye was not pleased.

However, Wu Gou had already anticipated this question. He thought for a bit and immediately answered, “Zhu Wen went against the law and even violated Pinglu. This is an outrageous sin. Ambassador Qin is aware that he makes no contributions to the state, so now he is willing to make up for it and follow Your Highness to deal with the evil rebels. Let us restore prosperity to the great Tang Empire...”

Li Ye sneered and interrupted, “Union? Alliance? What qualifications does Qin Zongquan have to make an ally with me, the solitary king? Now you go back and tell Qin Zongquan that he has created chaos in the vassal state and defied the authority of the court. His crimes shall not be pardoned. If he wants to make up for his crimes, he should obey my commands and immediately send troops to Bianzhou. Otherwise, I, the solitary king, will behead him!”