Chapter 368 - 230: Exchange of Interests

"The content of the letter is very important.

It mainly mentions two things.

First, it instructs the Beggars to prepare. The reason is that the Yunyang Prefecture’s military has been frequently entering the Jing Chu Mountain area to search recently, which has seriously disrupted their plans.

The Longxiang Army and Heavenly Saint Sect gathered a group of experts, planning to find an opportunity to sneak into Yunyang Prefecture and destroy the City God Temple with new gunpowder.

The second point is about them.

The letter does not mention ’Thunderclap Fire Scripture’, but it does say that a spy from the Yichang Thousand Households provided intelligence. The Magic Veins Zhushan Sect of Yichang will dispatch experts tomorrow to perform rituals to suppress and kill the river monster.

The Proper Xuan Sect and various Magic Veins all have specialized rites for the Suppression and Killing of spirit creatures, but the rituals last at least three days, and they must call upon the military and set up a sky-reaching and earth-spanning formation. At that time, the Captain Bureau will also send ships to retrieve the original Hundred Households.

If they want to act, they can only do it tonight!

The original Hundred Households sent a hawk back to the Thousand Households to pass the message and didn’t expect that the Longxiang Army would be the first to be provoked.

Li Yan shook his head and said, ’I think you should stop thinking about earning merits for the moment; with a major battle looming, if you cannot catch the insider, I’m afraid you will all be in trouble.’

’It’s worse than just trouble.’

The original Hundred Households said with a gloomy face, ’The brothers we sent into Tusi City can communicate with the locals perfectly, their customs and habits indistinguishable. Now that we’ve lost most of them, it’s clear that someone leaked the secret!’

As he spoke, his tone became dejected, ’The traitor’s rank must be no low, I’ve had an unfavorable start this time, and I fear I will face punishment upon my return.’

’It might not go that way.’

Li Yan calmly said, ’With so many elite soldiers from the Longxiang Army outside the cave, plus the remnants of the Green Mountain outlaws and a few fugitive Evil Cultivators, it should count as your merits balancing out the faults.’

’Besides, with this intelligence, if you can set up in advance, not only could the Yunyang City God Temple avoid disaster, but you might even catch a few more criminals.’

The original Hundred Households paused for a moment and after a long silence, he spoke, ’Young Hero Li... what do you want?’

It was clear from Li Yan’s implications: he wanted him to take all the credit, using it to turn the tables.

With these merits, and catching the insider, he might not only avoid punishment but also rise higher.

But their relationship was just average and Li Yan was no pushover.

To be so generous, he surely had his own demands.

Li Yan didn’t rush to answer but glanced aside.

The astute ones at the ship’s bow immediately sent the shipworkers elsewhere. For such matters, they wouldn’t even dare to listen.

Li Yan then spoke gravely, ’Original Hundred Households, we have been through life and death together, so I will speak openly.’

’The matter of the new gunpowder is no longer a secret. You have seen it: even those disorderly bandits and Evil Cultivators have such weapons. We would have trouble handling them if we encountered them...’

Upon hearing this, the original Hundred Households’s face changed, and he quickly shook his head, ’It’s forbidden by the court. The Yichang garrison only has two Divine Fire Guns and every time ammunition is used, it must be logged, and the Seal-bearing Thousand Households must approve.’

’I am of low rank and cannot procure such items.’

’The Hundred Households jests.’

Li Yan calmly said, ’To be honest, I’ve received some news. Not just the outlaws, but some powers in the pugilistic world and even the aristocratic families are secretly making these weapons.’

’This matter cannot be stopped; the officials in the court are many and wise, and I’m sure they have already thought of a solution.’

The original Hundred Households pupils narrowed, ’What solution?’

To tell the truth, he was curious as well.

Li Yan’s information and connections seemed to be even better than his own.

Li Yan indifferently said, ’Control the Spiritual Objects needed to make gunpowder!’

During his time in Chang’an, the Hidden Treasure Man Zhao Lvzi had given him a piece of coal spirit and mentioned that the Li family and the court’s military had already sealed off the Shanbei Coal Mine.

There, was where coal spirit was most abundant.

Previously, he had not cared, but after these events, he knew full well that the court was aware it could not maintain control, so it had preemptively tightened its hold on Spiritual Objects.

Making new gunpowder is impossible without ’coal spirit’ and ’potash’—Heavenly Spirit Earth Treasure—and the court had probably already secretly begun looking for it.

’Control the Spiritual Objects?’

The original Hundred Households nodded in agreement, ’Indeed, that is a method. The power of the Divine Fire Gun is considerable, but can only be used for deterrence, to use against experts.’

’Without gunpowder, they are useless.’

Thinking of this, he frowned and said, ’I can’t get those items, so what exactly do you want, Young Hero Li?’

Li Yan spoke gravely, ’Those aristocratic families obtaining firearms would mostly want to use them to open sea trading routes.’

’But by the law of the court, hoarding these weapons is a serious crime, equivalent to rebellion, not to mention mass usage. Do you think they’ll let this weakness remain indefinitely?’

The original Hundred Households, also astute, instantly understood, ’These people have significant influence in the court; they would certainly push the court to grant amnesty.’

At this point, he was completely clear, ’Young Hero Li also wants this right, but I’m afraid this is beyond what I can grant.’

’No need to worry.’

Li Yan said with a smile, ’Households Commander only needs to pay attention to this matter. Once there’s a move from the court, we’ll think of a plan.’

’Sometimes, once the lid is opened, it leads to leaks everywhere.’

’Alright!’

The original Hundred Households agreed without hesitation.

He knew the court far better than Li Yan did and was aware that the latter’s words were true; this kind of thing simply cannot be contained.

A single decree cannot stop those aristocratic families.

Once some powers obtain permission, other forces will follow suit.

The Captain Bureau, being an Imperial force, would not fall behind.

When the time comes, it would be no problem to make things convenient for them.

Seeing Li Yan come to agreement, Sha Lifei, undoubtedly the happiest, beamed a smile and bowed, ’We are indebted to Households Commander for handling this matter...’

As he spoke, he gently slapped his mouth, ’Look at me, speaking out of turn again; I should be calling you Households Commander now!’

The original Hundred Households was startled and then bowed solemnly, ’Thank you, gentlemen!’