Page 215

Although he didn’t think highly of Gu Beiquan and his gang, Shen Yuan did care about the topics Gu was talking about.

After all, now he didn’t want Chen Qing to be besieged by the Imperial Court at all.

In the past, what he couldn’t bear to lose were the treasures of the academy, but now.

.. it was the city of Lyuzhou that he couldn’t bear to part with.

Frankly speaking, the world under Chen Qing’s rule was something he had never dared to imagine.

He truly hoped such a place could last longer.

But he also knew it would be difficult!

Chen Qing’s model was declaring war on the noble families of the world, not just the bloodline noble families, but also the ordinary gentry families. The order under Chen Qing’s rule was undermining those landlords’ foundations!

"I have found out clearly through the colleague who is working as an accountant under Zhou Haitao in the past two days!

" Gu Beiquan said excitedly, "Chen Qing is mobilizing troops on a large scale and not even sparing remote places like Yunzhou.

According to the numbers he disclosed, based on the huge amount of food and provisions as a calculation, Chen Qing this time is mobilizing at least three hundred thousand soldiers, and including the laborers, it is at least over a million! "

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuan stared at him blankly.

"Do you know what this represents?"

"It means Chen Qing has developed really quickly.

.." said Shen Yuan, swallowing his saliva. Although he had always been at the academy and didn’t pay much attention to the affairs of the War God Army, he knew how formidable the War God Army was, as he had seen with his own eyes how they cleared out the zombies and protected the rural population back to Lyuzhou when he was in Baishui County.

He was not a common farmer’s son who lacked experience; he had made friends with sons of bloodline noble families and was very clear about the combat power of the Warrior Army. Such an army, Chen Qing could now mobilize three hundred thousand soldiers at will?

It had only been a year...

But thinking about it, it seemed rather normal, the way Chen Qing’s Warrior Army strength was passed on was unreasonable.

As long as there was a person, once they joined the Warrior Army, they could gain strength and be trained into fighters.

As for the food supply, he also had many friends from agricultural academies, probably understanding some of the new products’ yields.

Nowadays, in Jiangnan, feeding a million descendants of noble bloodline families was really not an issue. ..

So... had Chen Qing become that strong?

Listening to Shen Yuan’s response, Gu Beiquan suddenly felt a bit uncomfortable, "What ’quick’ development? They’re just a rabble. Can Chen Qing’s soldiers recruited from the countryside be compared with the Imperial Court’s elite troops?"

Shen Yuan fell silent. Honestly, he felt that if the Imperial Court didn’t dispatch troops like the Golden Dragon Guard or the Northern Flying Dragon Guard, the regular soldiers heading to Jiangnan might be beaten to a pulp!

"The key isn’t how many soldiers Chen Qing has, but what it means that Chen Qing is amassing so many soldiers.

Do you know what this represents?" Gu Beiquan said excitedly, "It must mean there is external pressure, and isn’t that obvious? The Imperial Court must have realized Chen Qing’s wild ambitions and dispatched troops to suppress him! "

Shen Yuan was taken aback, murmuring to himself, "Has the day finally come?"

"Brother Shen must also be looking forward to this day, right?" Gu Beiquan continued excitedly, "Once the Imperial army’s cavalry suppresses these rebels, we’ll be able to return to our former status. But we can’t just wait around and do nothing.

That Chen Qing, not only has he bewitched the people of Jiangnan, but the sinister tactics he possesses are also troublesome.

As subjects of the Imperial Court, we need to alleviate the Court’s worries! "

I’m not looking forward to it one bit...

Shen Yuan secretly scoffed but asked them cooperatively, "How do we alleviate the worries?"

"Intelligence!" Gu Beiquan whispered, "We have abandoned our posts, and although we were calculated by that treacherous evil Chen Qing, it’s also a fact. If we want the Imperial Court to take us seriously, then we need to offer something they want. I’ve already got my friend to scout out their food supply through Zhou Haitao’s connection.

Brother Shen, you need to mainly gather intelligence on Chen Qing’s so-called Sorcerer Academy.

I’ve heard that Chen Qing has built a kind of big ship, and something known as ’cannons’ that can kill enemies from a kilometer away. "

"Those practitioners of the nine schools and their bizarre techniques, crafting things that violate heaven and earth, they truly deserve death. We cannot let them use such things to hinder the Imperial army. Brother Shen, while you’re at the academy, can you steal the schematics for the cannons and the blueprint of the Sea God? "

Shen Yuan: "...."

Was I really ever a part of this shameless gang?

On one hand, they despise technical studies as inferior, and yet, they’re worried about the threat posed by technology and want to steal others’ academic achievements.

What’s that about playing both sides?

I’ve seen it now.

"Even if I could steal what you want... who do you plan to give it to?" Shen Yuan asked curiously.

He was very curious as to how this group of idlers, who were just waiting for their death each day, had the gall to plot such big schemes. Not to mention if it was a reckless move, who gave them such boldness?

Gu Beiquan and the others glanced at each other, seemingly hesitant to disclose certain information.

Seeing their hesitation, Shen Yuan couldn’t hide his impatience as he stood up, "It seems like Brother Gu doesn’t trust me much.

In the Engineering Institute, military projects have always been confidential, and even the masters cannot participate.

Do you know how much risk I would have to take to steal the schematics?

You’re asking me to take such a big risk just based on a few words of persuasion?

Do you think I’m a three-year-old child? "

With these words, he did not hesitate to leave, brushing off his sleeves!

"Hey, Brother Shen, Brother Shen!" The group hastily tried to stop him, especially Gu Beiquan, who was so anxious that he was sweating profusely. They had made a guarantee to a certain official, and if they couldn’t deliver what they had promised, how could they rely on new achievements to climb the ranks?

Looking at Shen Yuan, who wore a face of cold indifference and wasn’t swayed by persuasion, Gu Beiquan knew that mere words wouldn’t be enough to convince Shen Yuan to take the risk.

After exchanging looks with the other gentry, he finally said, "Allow me to introduce, this is Official Lyu, a cousin to the Minister of Rites in the Capital City."

"Oh?" Shen Yuan glanced skeptically at the fat squire who had been introduced and reluctantly paid his respects, saying, "It appears I’ve been unobservant."

"Not at all, not at all. Shen Bangyan is immensely talented and promising at such a young age. We should’ve sought closer relations earlier," the fat Official Lyu chuckled.

"Are you implying there’s news from the Capital City?"

"Yes..." Gu Beiquan nodded, "As everyone knows, Chen Qing has already started organizing trade caravans out of Jiangnan. Although many people in Jiangnan have been bewitched by Chen Qing, there are still many who are loyal to the Imperial Court. Seizing the chance to trade out of Jiangnan, they’ve reported Chen Qing’s treacherous ambitions to the Imperial Court! "

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuan nodded, realizing where the leak was!

He was also aware of this; Jiangnan lacked horses, and even with the miraculous presence of a Mountain God, Chen Qing still needed base horses for research.

Additionally, the large ships of Jiangnan were short of timber, and the towering trees from the east were goods that Chen Qing urgently needed to import.

As early as six months ago, Chen Qing had already begun organizing trade caravans out of Jiangnan.

Most of the participants were quite bold, including former maritime traders.

The high-quality grains, tea, and silk produced within Chen Qing’s power far surpassed the former quality of Jiangnan’s, hot on the market when sold.

The horses, air-dried timber, and other martial resources brought back in exchange were heavily sought by Chen Qing, who was willing to buy them with considerable Fragrant Silver.

This resulted in those daring maritime traders making a fortune!

Under such circumstances, someone actually went to the Capital City to report on Chen Qing?

Have they lost their minds?

However, with the forest so vast, it’s unsurprising to find all kinds of birds. Shen Yuan wasn’t too shocked.

He then said, "If the Imperial Court has received such intelligence, why not dispatch a large army to encircle and suppress immediately, instead of resorting to such petty acts of stealing technology?"

"Brother Shen’s words are not exactly fair," Gu Beiquan hastened to retort. "How can it be called a petty act? Chen Qing relies on crooked ways to produce these things. Although the Imperial Court is not afraid, if we can know ourselves and our enemy, thereby reducing casualties, it would be a great merit, wouldn’t it? With internal and external collaboration, how many soldiers’ lives could we spare?

How many wives, children, and daughters wouldn’t lose their husbands and fathers? Brother Shen can understand, right?"

Shen Yuan: "...."

This guy’s skin was truly thicker than anyone could imagine. You’re yearning for dominance over Jiangnan, yet have you considered the families of these soldiers? Now feigning compassion, who are you performing for?

"I want to know, is this truly the Imperial Court’s intent?" Shen Yuan, unwilling to squabble over trivial matters, asked his most pressing concern directly.

Gu Beiquan glanced at the fat Official Lyu, who eventually produced a letter: "This is a personal letter from my elder brother. As someone who’s come through the Imperial examinations, you surely recognize the Chief of Staff’s handwriting, right?"

Shen Yuan nodded slightly, as the Minister of Rites would provide comments on every Imperial Scholar’s essays. Naturally, anyone who had achieved the Imperial Scholar status would have seen the Minister of Rites’s handwriting.

Moreover, on the letter, there was also the seal of the Ministry of Rites belonging to the Nine Ministers.

This indeed wouldn’t be mistaken...

But something was still not quite right.

The reason is simple: if the Imperial Court was really planning to attack Jiangnan on a large scale, shouldn’t the matter of intelligence fall to the Bureau of Military Affairs?

Even if not, the Ministry of War would be expected to handle it.

When did it become the Ministry of Rites’ responsibility?

This means either Gu Beiquan and this fat squire had concealed something or, even more likely, the Imperial Court itself had differing attitudes towards Jiangnan!

Frankly, he was more inclined to believe the latter.

What should he do then?

For the first time, Shen Yuan found himself somewhat perplexed; even if the Imperial Court was divided, with his current status, he couldn’t avoid these matters anymore.

He... ultimately had to make a choice!

In fact, he knew this day would come when he joined the academy.

Chen Qing... would inevitably stand against the Imperial Court, and one day, he too would have to choose between Jiangnan and his family.

The other party already had channels of communication with the Capital City. If he refused today, once their letter returned, his family might completely sever ties with him!

What... should he do?

"Brother Shen?"

"Give me some time...." A highly conflicted Shen Yuan took a breath, and said almost subconsciously, dragging his words, "As I mentioned earlier, the materials related to shipbuilding and firearms by the Huang Academy are confidential. I’m a disciple of the Heavenly Institute, and my study is focused on Magician Arrays, accessing documents from the Huang Academy requires time. ..."

"Of course, of course..." Gu Beiquan quickly responded with a flattering smile, but then he added, "However, Brother Shen, a great battle is imminent, and time waits for no one. You must act quickly!"

Shen Yuan: "...."