diskusbooks Chapter 308, Room 3
Chapter 308, Room 3
Xiangshui was originally the territory of the Dahe Gang, and the boats and people were also originally from the Dahe Gang, so Nianyao could easily command them.
The fleet sailed north smoothly without encountering any obstacles.
The smoother things went, the more uneasy Nianyao felt. Having been through so much, she knew all too well that beneath the calm surface lay an even greater storm.
When Nianyao arrived at Nanquan Island, she saw a row of boats neatly lined up on the opposite side, completely blocking the river.
At the very center of the ship's prow, Yan Zeyu stood proudly upright, bow and arrows slung across his back. His former subordinates were now facing each other as soldiers.
Nianyao raised her hand to stop the fleet and leaped onto Yan Zeyu's boat.
The people behind Yan Zeyu were on high alert and rushed forward to surround Nian Yao.
Nianyao looked at Yan Zeyu: "General Yan, may I come over to catch up with you all?"
Yan Zeyu laughed and waved his subordinates away: "Chief Xue, shall we go to the private room for a couple of drinks?"
Nianyao walked around Yan Zeyu once, then raised her hand and tapped the black iron bow on his back, making a clear, resonant sound: "General Yan, you've been wronged by the Great River Gang."
Yan Zeyu spoke very sincerely: "I am very grateful to all the brothers in the Dahe Gang for taking care of me during my years here."
Nianyao walked around to stand in front of Yan Zeyu and looked him up and down: "Actually, you're quite good-looking. You seem more mature and reliable than Luo An. You're probably the kind of person the elders would like..."
Yan Zeyu raised an eyebrow upon hearing this: "Does the guild leader want to introduce me to a wife?"
Nianyao said to herself, "If you had arrived at Chongming Island sooner, I feel like my father would have married me off to you..."
Yan Zeyu, who had remained calm until now, widened his eyes in shock.
Nianyao glanced at the people behind him; several clearly familiar faces lowered their heads slightly, avoiding her gaze.
Nianyao laughed and tried to pat Yan Zeyu on the shoulder: "Just kidding, don't take it to heart."
Yan Zeyu stepped aside to avoid her hand: "...Chief, this kind of joke is not allowed."
Nianyao said, "Right? If this gets out, it will be said that General Yan was flirting with the enemy's female general on the battlefield and neglecting his duties."
This is getting more and more outrageous!
Yan Zeyu had never known Nianyao was like this before. He stopped talking, took out his bow and arrow, and shot the arrow in one go.
With a whoosh, a lone wild goose fell from the sky and landed to Nianyao's right.
Nianyao caught it easily and praised, "Good bow, good arrow... good..."
Shouldn't it be good bow and arrow, good skills? Does Nianyao really not want to praise him?
Yan Zeyu bowed slightly: "This wild goose is a gift to the gang leader, to settle our brotherhood. From now on, we will each serve our own masters. Since you have addressed me as General Yan, I will address you as Lord Xue."
"Lord Xue, I was once a subordinate of the Great River Gang, and I am a man. Now that our forces are clashing, I should follow the example of the ancients and retreat as a sign of courtesy. Lord Xue, please return?"
Yan Zeyu made a gesture of invitation, his intention to see the guest out was clear and firm.
Nianyao held up the goose and shook it in front of Yan Zeyu: "General Yan, do you know that in ancient times, geese were tokens of love?"
After saying that, Nianyao flipped over and jumped back onto her own boat.
Yan Zeyu immediately ordered a retreat, and soon the fleet disappeared from Nianyao's sight in an orderly fashion.
Nianyao stood at the bow of the boat, staring at the river for a long time without moving: This was no ordinary sailor; this was a well-trained, highly skilled sailor.
Seeing that Nianyao seemed to be in a daze, Donggua stepped forward and tentatively asked, "General, shall we pursue them now?"
Nianyao threw the wild goose into the river: "I'm going to Nanquan Island to take a look. You guys wait for me here."
Yan Zeyu is the General of Dongyang, and he wouldn't come to the Dahe Gang simply because of personal grudges.
Nianyao had previously thought that Prince An sent Yan Zeyu to the Dahe Gang to gather intelligence, but now it seems that it was more than that.
After the Great River Gang disbanded, its members farmed and fished on various islands, but Nanquan Island remained desolate. Cobwebs clung to the eaves of the council hall, weeds withered and yellowed in the garden, and the windows in the backyard were broken and dilapidated…
Nianyao wandered around but didn't find anything. Just as she was about to return to the dock, she suddenly heard a sound like a chair being moved coming from the council hall.
Nianyao shouted sharply, "Who?"
No one answered. Nianyao kicked open the door to the council hall. Inside, the dust was thick, the tables and chairs were scattered, and the place was in a mess. There was no one there.
Nianyao released her longsword, about to laugh at herself for being paranoid, when a dark shadow flew towards her from the beam. She didn't have time to draw her sword, dodging to the side in a rather dangerous and disheveled manner.
It was a big black cat. It landed in the yard, nimbly climbed up the camphor tree, and disappeared among the branches and leaves.
Nianyao returned to the ship and ordered a return voyage. The soldiers' faces all showed their disapproval, and they whispered amongst themselves. Nianyao pretended not to hear them.
Xu Sheng seemed completely unsurprised by her return without a fight, and asked in a very casual tone, "You're back?"
Nianyao didn't understand Xu Sheng's indifferent attitude: what did a serious war mean to Xu Sheng?
Is it just a game? Just something to play around with? In Xu Sheng's eyes, the flesh and blood of others have no meaning or value whatsoever?
Xue Yunfan asked worriedly, "Sister, what happened to your shoulder? Why aren't you wearing armor?"
Nianyao turned her head and noticed that the cat had torn the clothes on her shoulder. Luckily, she was wearing thick clothes for winter, otherwise she might have bled.
Nianyao asked, "Where is Uncle Zhou?"
Zhou Yan was not on Jiangxinzhou. He led his troops north and handed Jiangxinzhou over to Xu Sheng.
Wherever Xu Sheng goes, he seems to be the natural protagonist, something Nian Yao truly admires.
Nianyao briefly explained the matter to Xu Sheng: "Your Highness, if I'm not mistaken, Yan Zeyu started making arrangements in Xiangshui as soon as he joined the Dahe Gang, or even before he joined."
Previously, when Ji Kongming established himself on the Xiang River, it was likely that Yan Zeyu's men were instigating and creating chaos. At that time, the brothers from the various islands of the Xiang River gradually disappeared. Now it seems they didn't settle ashore, but were instead placed there by Yan Zeyu.
Xu Sheng nodded: "I believe what you said."
Nianyao analyzed, "Yan Zeyu has been operating in Xiangshui for several years, so his foundation should be more solid than we think. Their ships don't need to turn around; they can sail in both directions. Their soldiers are also well-trained and in no way inferior to ours. Since Prince An values him so highly, it proves that he has real ability."
Xu Sheng nodded again: "That's a correct analysis."
Nianyao was very honest: "I don't have the confidence to win."
Xu Sheng nodded again: "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. A general does not act rashly. Being able to bend and stretch is the mark of a great man. Lord Xue, you have done very well."
Is that three compliments? Nianyao wasn't sure. As she hesitated, Xu Sheng said, "It's a pity we didn't get our token of love back."
Nianyao suppressed the urge to roll her eyes: "Your Highness, what good plan do you have?"
Xu Sheng turned to Xue Yunfan: "Second Young Master, your sister single-handedly forced the enemy to retreat three paces, demonstrating the true colors of a military family. Now it's your turn to take the stage."
Nianyao frowned: "Your Highness..."
Xu Sheng interrupted, "Changing the general is also a good strategy, Second Young Master, what do you say?"