Jia Wuqun wasn't in a hurry to leave Nanzhou. To be precise, he didn't want to be led by the nose by Niu Youdao.
Niu Youdao suddenly told him to leave, and he was going to leave? No, he subconsciously suspected that there was something wrong with this. He didn't follow the other party's rhythm.
He stayed to see if there were any unusual clues.
He didn't participate in the useless negotiations and didn't worry about his safety. Each of them brought a follower and began to stroll around the Nanzhou Prefecture City. Sometimes, they got on their mounts and rode out of the city to check the surrounding villages and towns, giving people the impression that they were on a sightseeing tour.
In reality, however, they were interviewing the people. The main point was to see if there were any changes in the governance of the Shang Dynasty after Niu Youdao's death. They wanted to know if the governance of the Shang Dynasty was smooth and unimpeded. They also wanted to know if the Shang Dynasty was affected by the cultivation forces.
On the other hand, he had already sent a message to Zi Pingxiu, asking him to gather information about the business forces.
He wasn't the kind of person who would make decisions casually, nor would he be led by the nose by others. He would only make decisions after grasping a certain situation.
He was the focus of Niu Youdao's attention this time. His whereabouts naturally couldn't be hidden from Niu Youdao's eyes.
With the surveillance information in hand, Guan Fangyi immediately sent it to Niu Youdao's hands.
Niu Youdao flipped through it while Guan Fangyi muttered, "You asked him to go back, but he didn't have the intention to go back. Not only did he not go back, he didn't even participate in the negotiations. Instead, he spent all day enjoying the scenery, eating and drinking. It's obvious that he didn't take your words seriously. I think you've miscalculated."
Niu Youdao looked at the things in his hands and smiled. "Some people don't board all the boats when they come to the seaside. They don't have the interest to row a few laps at the seaside. They will first check the condition of the boat and see if it's suitable for a long voyage … This person is really interesting."
Guan Fangyi said, "What the hell? Eating, drinking, and sightseeing? What's so interesting about that? "
Niu Youdao put down the things in his hands. "I've been in contact with all kinds of people. Hong Niang, don't look at people with the eyes of a cultivator. Some people's actions are not as simple as they seem on the surface. If they could be easily seen through, they wouldn't have been able to keep a low profile for so long. The more powerful they are, the more discreet they are! "
Guan Fangyi asked, "You mean, he has already decided?"
Niu Youdao smiled and said, "At least I've gone to the seaside to enjoy the scenery … It's easy to get a thousand troops, but it's hard to find a good general! Continue to keep an eye on him. If he doesn't want to wander around anymore, immediately inform His Highness. If that happens, we can end the negotiations and let the people of the other countries go home. "
Shang Chaozong didn't want to waste any more time. He was completely cooperating with Niu Youdao. Once the notification arrived, it ended cleanly. If they couldn't come to a conclusion, then they wouldn't talk anymore!
Everyone returned. Jia Wuqun also returned with the people from the Song Kingdom.
Zi Pingxiu attached great importance to Jia Wuqun's trip. He wanted to know why Shang Chaozong was secretly contacting the people from the Song Kingdom. After learning about the return of the people from the Song Kingdom, Zi Pingxiu returned home early and waited at home.
As soon as Jia Wuqun returned, Zi Pingxiu went straight to the small courtyard where he lived.
When the two met, they greeted each other and sat down in the courtyard. Zi Pingxiu couldn't wait to ask, "Mister, do you know what Shang Chaozong's intention is?"
Jia Wuqun reached for the brush and was about to write a reply. However, when he lifted the brush, he was stunned.
First, he looked at the brush in his hand, then he touched the inkstone. Finally, he touched the new writing board in front of him. His eyes flickered.
Seeing this, Zi Pingxiu smiled and said, "Mister's stationery is old. I asked the housekeeper to give you a new set. Why don't you try it?"
Jia Wuqun looked at him in bewilderment. He dipped the brush in the ink and wrote on the writing board, "Why does the Prime Minister want to change it?"
Zi Pingxiu pointed at the writing board, "Isn't it because it's old?"
Jia Wuqun shook his head. With a serious expression, he wrote again, "No, there must be a reason that prompted the Prime Minister to change it!"
It was just a small matter. The other party shouldn't be someone who would fuss over such a small matter. Zi Pingxiu didn't understand why Jia Wuqun paid so much attention to it. However, he could see that Jia Wuqun's intention was very important. Moreover, he was certain that there was an external reason that prompted him to make this decision.
After thinking about it, he felt that there was indeed a reason. He explained, "A few days ago, I heard a servant say that Mister's stationery is old and doesn't seem to be suitable for you anymore. After thinking about it, I realized that Mister's stationery had indeed been used for a long time. So, I told the housekeeper to get a new one for you. What's wrong? Does Mister feel that the new stationery isn't as good as the old one? "
Jia Wuqun shook his head and wrote again, "Where is the servant who is gossiping?"
How could Zi Pingxiu know about this? He was so busy that he didn't have time to care about a servant. However, he felt that Jia Wuqun's reaction wasn't right. He tried to ask, "Mister, what do you mean?"
Jia Wuqun shook his head again and wrote, "I'll have to trouble the Prime Minister to find that servant!"
Zi Pingxiu realized that there might be something hidden behind this matter. He immediately became serious. He turned around and called for the housekeeper.
However, as the Prime Minister, he didn't know the servant's name. He only gave a rough description of the servant's appearance.
The housekeeper also found it strange that the two of them were actually concerned about a servant. However, after listening to Zi Pingxiu's words, he understood what was going on. He replied, "Prime Minister, the servant's name is Wu Xiaobao. He's not in the residence right now. A few days ago, he applied for leave and went back to his hometown to visit his relatives."
"What?" Zi Pingxiu immediately stood up, and his expression instantly changed. Being able to stand tall in the imperial court, he was not a fool. Jia Wuqun suddenly cared about this matter, and that servant suddenly left. Putting everything together, he immediately realized that there was definitely something wrong with this matter. It was definitely not that simple. It was very likely that he had been used as a tool. He said in a low voice, "Bastard! Who allowed him to apply for leave? Where is his hometown? Immediately send someone to find him. You must capture him for me … "
"Hehe …" Jia Wuqun suddenly burst into laughter. However, this laughter contained an indescribable meaning.
He finally understood. He finally confirmed what was going on with that set of stationery in the Southern Region. Exactly the same? How could it be exactly the same? That set of stationery was something that belonged to his family. It was taken away by someone and finally placed in front of him in another place, giving him a fright!
At that time, he was really scared. Even the things that he had been using for a long time could be replicated in such a realistic manner. Even the details were exactly the same. How much had he been infiltrated? Did he still have any secrets to speak of from others? What a ghastly sight!
It could be said that he had lost his composure on the spot. For a moment, he didn't know how to defend himself. It was as if he was standing naked in front of someone else.
In the end, after making such a ruckus for so long, he discovered that the Southern Region was just playing a joke on him. Wasn't it just a joke? They didn't intend to keep deceiving him, and they didn't force him to agree to anything. They just let him come back knowing that he would definitely know the truth.
As he laughed, it gradually turned into a bitter smile and he shook his head.
Although it was a joke, he clearly understood that it wasn't a joke. For someone to make such a joke over a set of stationery, what did that mean? It meant that the other party had really spent some effort on him. This was not a joke!
The housekeeper stood to the side in a daze. It was rare to see Jia Wuqun lose his composure like this.
Zi Pingxiu was also bewildered. He asked in confusion, "Why is Sir laughing?"
Jia Wuqun sighed and raised his brush to write again, "A set of stationery is not worth mentioning. There is no need to pursue this matter further!"
Zi Pingxiu was unwilling to accept this. He said in a deep voice, "There is definitely something fishy about this matter. How can we not investigate it!" What he was shocked about was that he didn't know what was hidden behind this small matter.
How could Jia Wuqun not know that there was something fishy? He knew better than anyone else. No one present knew better than him what was going on. He also wrote, "I am already well aware of this matter. Prime Minister, listen to me and let that servant go. Nothing happened. There is no need to pursue this matter any further. Just don't mention it again!
What else was there to pursue? He could also think of it. That servant was just a dog's fart visit. The Southern Region wouldn't kill him for such a small matter. It wasn't a big deal. There was no need to make this matter bigger. Therefore, that servant must have already obtained a sum of money and ran away. Even if they caught him, what could they do? They wouldn't be able to find anything.
More importantly, he didn't want this matter to cause the Prime Minister's Residence to wantonly pursue a servant. The losses would outweigh the gains.
For a set of stationery, it wasn't worth it for this matter to spread throughout the Prime Minister's Residence. For a set of stationery?
It wasn't without reason that he was able to hide in the Prime Minister's Residence for so many years.
Hearing him say this, Zi Pingxiu was silent for a moment. Then, he said to the housekeeper, "Do as Sir says. You can withdraw first."
The housekeeper felt a bit uneasy. He had all sorts of speculations, but he still cupped his hands together and accepted the order. "Yes!" He then withdrew.
Without outsiders, how could Zi Pingxiu not ask, "Since Sir knows there is a problem, why didn't you investigate?"
Jia Wuqun: There is no need to investigate. It was done by the Southern Region. I have seen that set of stationery in the Southern Region and used it again.
"What?" Zi Pingxiu was even more shocked. A set of stationery actually caused the Southern Region to use this method. Did they have nothing better to do? He couldn't help but earnestly ask, "What is the meaning of Mister Mou's stationery? Could it be that Mister Mou is hiding some secret in the stationery?"
Jia Wuqun: Prime Minister is worrying too much. I am not a skilled craftsman and am not good at fortification. There are no secrets in the stationery. The Southern Region's actions are only to attack this Jia's heart!
"Heart attack?" Zi Pingxiu was even more puzzled. "Why did Mister Mou go to the Southern Region?"
This time, Jia Wuqun pulled out a piece of paper from the side. He raised his brush and began to write. His dense handwriting outlined his experiences on this trip. He didn't conceal what Shang Chaozong wanted him to do. After he finished writing, he pushed it to Zi Pingxiu.
Zi Pingxiu took it and read it carefully. The more he read, the more puzzled he became. After he finished reading, he asked doubtfully, "Shao Pingbo? This … no matter how capable this Shao Pingbo is, since the Southern Region has such detailed information about Shao Pingbo, they can do it themselves. Why did they send Mister Mou to target Shao Pingbo? "
Jia Wuqun wrote two words: Recruitment!
Zi Pingxiu glanced at it and instantly understood. He couldn't remain calm. He was still wondering why the Southern Region was secretly recruiting him. It turned out that they were here to poach him. He even took the initiative to send Jia Wuqun over for a face-to-face discussion. What was this? The Southern Region's methods were too malicious. Their foresight was also very sharp!
It should be known that Jia Wuqun was his trusted advisor, even more than his left and right arms. After so many years, he naturally knew how useful Jia Wuqun was to him. How could he let others poach him so easily?
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