Yu Jin and Yue Jin exchanged glances and said to you, "Please speak clearly!"
You grinned widely, "Join !"
Before they could react, you added, "The world’s powers are entrenched across the Nine Provinces, mutually incompatible, with endless plots and sches. I, Li Muyun, although not exceptionally talented, aspire at least to secure so welfare for the people of the world. Both of you are capable and noble, with broad ambitions, and your brothers behind you are loyal and steadfast. I admire that!"
Yu Jin and Yue Jin fell silent; your strength was evident to all, but after all, they didn’t know you well. If it’s only your martial prowess, everyone might as well go ho and farm for a more stable life,
"I won’t say more than necessary; as they say, ’The benevolent see benevolence, the wise see wisdom.’ Everyone must walk their own path." You pointed to a secret passage blocked by stones behind you, addressing the people in front of you, "This passage contains six boxes of gold and silver, which are the private possessions of this village’s forr leader. After I destroyed this village, it naturally beca mine. If you brothers are willing to work with for the common good of the world’s people, these six boxes of gold and silver will be the foundation of our establishnt. Of course, if you are unwilling, then I will have to store these boxes elsewhere to prepare for future endeavors."
"Brother Li, just for your words, I, Yue Jin, am willing to follow you!"
With that, Yue Jin took the lead, and the people behind him also followed him to stand before you, all kneeling on one knee, shouting in unison, "Greetings, Lord!"
Yu Jin looked at you, took a deep breath, and also walked to Yue Jin’s side, leading the others to kneel together, "Greetings, Lord!"
Amidst bright laughter, you helped Yue Jin and Yu Jin up and also addressed the people behind you, "From now on, we are one family!"
"Oh!!!"
Two hundred people shouted in unison, startling countless birds in the surrounding forest.
After you moved the stones blocking the passageway, Yu Jin’s subordinates went in to bring out the things inside and placed them in the center of the group. The boxes were open, and under the sunlight, the gold and silver inside glistened alluringly.
This was your first test, and the result left you very satisfied. Among over two hundred people, not one showed a hint of greed; they all seed to take it for granted, as if these weren’t gold and silver but stones painted with varnish.
You and Yu Jin, Yue Jin sat on a high place nearby, with a map spread before you.
"Lord, look, this is where we are now." Yu Jin pointed to a place on the map.
You patted Yu Jin on the shoulder, laughing, "The term ’Lord’ sounds awkward, from now on you can just call Old Shu."
"But..."
"But what, Old Shu is the master, whatever he tells us to do, we do!" Yue Jin directly interrupted Yu Jin.
"Hahaha." You laughed and patted Yu Jin on the shoulder, "Wen Ze, you are stable, and Wen Qian is straightforward and brave, with you two, the world is our oyster."
"Master...Old Shu, you overpraise!" Yu Jin made a fist salute to you and said, "If I might say, we are weak and in a perilous situation, it’s probably very hard to have room for developnt. I suggest we move north to Jizhou. Although Jizhou has mixed powers, there is no strong ruler, and the land is vast, so our survival chances would greatly increase."
You just smiled and shook your head, "Co, listen to my opinion."
As you said this, Yu Jin and Yue Jin looked at you closely. You pointed to three places on the map: Yan Province, Qing Zhou, and Yang Zhou, "These three provinces are all wealthy lands. Although Jizhou is vast, it is relatively barren and bordered by northern nomads, offering relatively fewer developnt opportunities. Moreover, the key is that we should not imdiately establish our force, but navigate through various great powers, secretly gathering strength and waiting for the right mont."
"The right mont?" Yu Jin was taken aback, his originally calm expression imdiately turned excited, "Old Shu, have you also observed this clue?"
With a mysterious smile, you looked at Yu Jin and said, "Did you hear anything from Cao Cao beforehand?"
Yu Jin nodded directly, "Duke Cao said there will be great chaos under heaven, that although the Nine Provinces seem calm on the surface, internally they are full of turmoil."
"Duke Cao isn’t the only one who sees this?" You slighted up the corners of your mouth, "What we are doing now is akin to competing with tigers for food. Although it’s dangerous, if we succeed, we will benefit the living; if we fail, we will bless our descendants."
"Old Shu, you’re speaking too deeply, we these rough n don’t understand." Yue Jin brought you back to reality with one sentence and poked his own head, laughing, "Wen Qian is right, I’m a rough man, pretending to speak in flowery language. Simply put, we need to strengthen our own power, while expanding the lineup, also hide our true combat strength from everyone, so no one discovers our presence. Of course, this isn’t sothing clear in one or two sentences. For now, we need to first establish a base for ourselves."
You pointed your finger at Wuji County and said to Yu Jin and Yue Jin, "Let’s establish our base here first."
"Wuji County!?" Yu Jin and Yue Jin were very surprised, even worried.
"Why, is there sothing about this place that confuses you?" You tried to make your words as gentle as possible.
Yue Jin, a straightforward person, imdiately said with a bitter face, "Old Shu, you don’t know. This ti Xiahou Dun ca to Yan Province, firstly for a personal grudge, and secondly to seize the Great rchant Zhen Family in Wuji County."
Your brow furrowed slightly, within the Zhen’s Mansion there were already spies planted by Cao Cao, seemingly Cao Cao was determined to get the Zhen Family. Your fingers gently tapped on the map while you pondered, and as you pondered, it was so quiet around you that nobody dared to breathe loudly, only the mountain breeze making the leaves rustle.
"It seems, the trouble with the Zhen Family that my wife ntioned is brought by Cao Cao. This favor must be helped, and perhaps by then, we might even receive a good reward."
You thought it over carefully in your heart, then looked at Yue Jin and Yu Jin, "Can you two find a hidden place in the deep mountains near Wuji County?"
Yu Jin imdiately pointed to a mountain forest west of Wuji County on the map and said, "This place is called Xibaipo, surrounded by reed marshes. Setting up camp here would be most suitable. Originally, this place was the best stronghold prepared for besieging Wuji County by Wen Qian and , only half a day’s journey from Wuji County, and besides us, no one else knows about it."
"Good, then it’s settled here!" You imdiately clapped your hands to confirm.
Yue Jin, thinking and speaking frankly, looked at you and asked, "Old Shu, are you planning to take advantage of the Zhen Family’s misfortune?"
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