Wei School's Three Good Students

Chapter 20 Doing Homework by Lamplight

Outside Zhuzhou City, in the central army camp.

At the entrance to the camp, two sentries were chatting.

Soldier A: "Have you heard? The commander is hosting a banquet for the four major local families, Li, Sun, and Su, in Zhuzhou City."

Soldier B: "So what? They won't listen to reason, so they'll have to suffer the consequences! Our General Yuan Chang taught them a lesson before, so they wouldn't dare not come now!"

Soldier A: "Hey, I heard that General Hengyu went to the city for a banquet. Why is our General Yuanchang still in the camp?"

Soldier B: "The main camp must have someone left to guard it. The commander has already planned it out. If those people in the city have any disloyal intentions, General Hengyu is brave and unparalleled and can break out. Our main camp must be led by General Yuanchang to break in and ensure that there is no risk."

Soldier A: "Oh, I thought it was because the Commander-in-Chief favored certain relatives. I heard General Yuan Chang is the Commander-in-Chief's nephew, while General Heng Yu is his son. The Commander-in-Chief will hold the position of Commander-in-Chief~"

Before he could finish speaking, Soldier B quickly stopped him: "Stop talking nonsense, someone's coming. You'll get yourself killed if you keep talking like that."

…the footsteps beside her moved away silently…

Unbeknownst to the two soldiers, their conversation was overheard by Wu Fei, who was patrolling the camp.

Wu Fei simply laughed off the gossip of these lowly guards.

If we consider this matter from the perspective of sowing discord, Wu Fei could think of even more: After Wu Hengyu attends the banquet, the four great families of Zhuzhou and Shui, after sending their disciples to join the army as Wu Hengyu's personal guards, will urge Wu Hengyu to gain his father's approval, reclaim the position of the next military leader of the Wu family, and defeat that villain (Wu Fei himself).

Furthermore, if one truly intends to be an enemy, it's not enough to merely speculate; one must be willing to spend money and take action. For example, one could send people with money to both one's own camp and Wu Hengyu's camp to befriend them and then instigate conflict. The people behind these rumors are far too stingy; they haven't spent any money or effort to bribe their own army's commanders.

Wu Fei had read the "Espionage" chapter in military books. As for Xuan Chong, he was insightful and remembered a classic historical teaching case from his previous life: Chen Ping in the early Han Dynasty demonstrated how to incite conflict between Xiang Yu's clan and generals of other surnames.

The core of the conflict between the Xiang clan and generals from other clans was Xiang Yu's unfair distribution of benefits.

As a military commander, one must guard against such espionage. If it's impossible to prevent suspicion from subordinates, one must remain calm and carefully observe who is most aggressive. If the conflict cannot be resolved, then the person who provoked it should be identified and eliminated. In other words, upholding military law ensures that even temporary stability is still stability.

The Wu family soldiers are currently visiting troops, and Wu Fei has already secretly memorized the battalion to which this sentry group belongs. Their words are definitely not unfounded; it must be the complaints of the battalion commanders that their merits are far inferior to those of Wu Hengyu's troops.

…Xuan Chong is a meticulous person, but as a commander, one must be broad-minded…

Wu Fei knew that what he had been doing in Zhuzhou recently was not well received!

They emptied the six fortified villages of the four major clans, seizing enough provisions to feed the Wu family army for four years. They also forced the local powerful clans to bow their heads and hand over millions of strings of cash as "thanks to the army for rescuing their families" as a form of protection money. Otherwise, they threatened to kidnap and kill people.

These powerful families may appear cheerful on the surface, but they are secretly seething with resentment, and it's normal for them to gossip and make irresponsible remarks behind the scenes.

In the words of these local clans, the Wu Xiaoque in the south and the Guiche bird in the north are both harmful birds, one a gold-draining creature and the other a deadly one.

Therefore, Wu Fei, the "bird thief," did not intend to go directly to the banquet and provoke the local families.

According to Wu Fei's "Longzhong Plan" for Wu Hanluan: This expedition should maximize the interests of the Wu family army, not only by making a profit from the powerful families in the two places, but also by recruiting the talents of these two places and making them like a listed stock to lock them in.

For instance, the Wu family has both harmful birds and auspicious beasts. The main theme is the contrast between "yin and yang".

Just as there is Wu Fei, a man with a smile but a knife, who is greedy for money, there is also Wu Hengyu, a man of fierce courage and ability.

When Wu Hengyu's five hundred cavalrymen quelled the rebellion so swiftly, and quickly sheathed their weapons without much bloodshed, leaving behind a formidable reputation, Wu Fei was already thinking about maximizing his profits.

The loser will admire the strong. Especially in regions with waterways and a strong commercial atmosphere, self-proclaimed knowledgeable "talented individuals" will actively follow the most capable fighter, even if that strongest person has defeated them in the past.

In Xuan Chong's past life memories, Japan and Korea were people with a strong business culture who lived near water. Despite the fact that Japan stationed troops in the lighthouse, ran people over with cars, committed rape, and discharged sewage, they were still the two countries' most important allies.

People from mountainous regions tend to be resilient and less likely to compromise when facing powerful enemies, as they can simply retreat into the mountains. In ancient times, when the Qin dynasty expanded eastward and encountered the Zhao state in the Taihang Mountains, it gradually conquered them, almost causing a major setback. In modern times, the "graveyard of empires" has also made many major powers shudder.

The above is Wu Fei's insight into the "Harmony of the People" chapter of military strategy, a very obscure topic he recently read. This chapter has no annotations in the family's books, but Wu Fei manages to understand it on his own and apply it flexibly.

…separated by city walls, brightly lit dividing lines…

At the banquet in Zhushan City, amidst the revelry of numerous noble families and the pleasant buzz of everyone's spirits, just as the local gentry were preparing to lead a toast, hoping to pressure General Wu Hanluan into making a promise that "even a powerful dragon cannot suppress a local snake," and urging him to relinquish the fertile town where the Wu family army was stationed, and even further, to strike while the iron was hot and request the general's compassion for the people and the release of their "robbed slaves" from bandits...

Wu Hengyu stepped forward and accepted the toast!
Wu Hengyu arrived at the center of the banquet, lifted the large cauldron in full view of everyone, and carried it to the tables of the heads of various wealthy families. He used one hand to hold the cauldron and the other hand to pour wine with a ladle.

When the heads of each family saw the enormous cauldron weighing a thousand pounds hanging overhead, they swallowed all their words.

Undoubtedly, the Wu family could shoulder this heavy responsibility of serving everyone wine, or they could "accidentally" drop it. The wine flowed in an arc into each person's porcelain cup, splashing up pearl-like bubbles.

After a round of toasts, Wu Hengyu steadily helped everyone present hold the giant cauldron hanging above their heads, earning him a round of praise.

…two days after the banquet…

Personnel changes occurred within the Wu family army camp.

In the eyes of the locals, Wu Hengyu, who was capable of lifting a heavy weight, was envied. Wu Hanluan took back Wu Hengyu's five hundred cavalry and gave them only the remnants of the defeated soldiers he had gathered from the local area to Wu Hengyu, in order to wipe out the bandits on the roads between the state and Zhuzhou.

This appointment stirred the ambitions of the local powerful clans, who had just been impressed by Wu Hengyu.
The so-called rebellion of the republic was actually a contradiction between the growing power of local elite families and the inability of them to acquire corresponding political power, and the existing political system. These elite families accumulated vast wealth and produced numerous offspring, but could not openly display their wealth.

Therefore, these powerful clans played the game of the hidden clan and the visible clan. The visible clan was highly respected in the local area, while the hidden clan acted as kings in the mountains and did dirty work for the family. The young people of the visible clan might not know the uncles and elders of the hidden clan, but they would notice that some distant relatives would often come to the family. The clan elders also emphasized that they should be friendly and loving towards these distant relatives and should not bully or insult them.

Behind these rebellions in both regions lies the rebellion of hidden members of local powerful clans! The reason why the republic was able to reignite within forty years is that these local powerful clans needed a way out within the central government to accommodate their overflowing power.

After Wu Hengyu established his own camp, some local strongmen immediately came to join him and helped him to eliminate local bandits.

As for the bandits, they all scattered and fled when Wu Hengyu led his army to the scene. A small number of them were killed, while the heroes of the outlaw world chose to join them.

Wu Fei, reviewing historical records, observed: "This place is full of shrewd people, but the Wu family is the kind who can truly dominate. With chaos looming, Wu Hengyu is recruiting thousands of talented individuals in these two regions to fight their way out and establish their own power. In short, all the actions following the banquet in Zhuzhou City were Wu Hanluan helping Wu Hengyu to create an army out of thin air."

…As for Wu Hengyu, after he led his troops to form another battalion, his words towards Wu Fei became even more arrogant…

After the region was completely pacified, local heroes would often praise Wu Hengyu while simultaneously putting down Wu Xiaoque.

Given Wu Fei's meticulous and calculating nature, it's impossible for him not to get angry upon hearing such a dig. However, because Wu Fei is indeed meticulous, even if he were angry, he would never vent it in a way that would harm his own interests.

Despite his anger, Wu Fei still had to be humble, because it was his own suggestion to Wu Hanluan to package Wu Hengyu into a listed stock!

According to the predictions of the current Imperial Astronomer and various sects, "a great calamity is imminent."

For military strategists, what are the two most important resources in times of chaos?
Money and prestige. Money can support an army, and prestige can recruit soldiers.

In times of peace and prosperity, money is important. Because when an army is constrained by regulations and cannot expand, money is key to ensuring the combat effectiveness of an existing force of a fixed size.

In chaotic times, reputation is extremely important. Because whoever expands their team the fastest becomes the most powerful!
In other words, relying solely on the Wu family army, the number of good men they can muster right now is limited. If a major defeat occurs, not to mention the current 500 casualties and cripples in the central army, the Wu family army will be severely weakened and unable to function for ten years.

If thousands of people die, then the family will decline.

Even if all the able-bodied men in a chaotic world were mobilized to their fullest extent, they could only muster an army of 6,000 men at its core, with various laborers and auxiliary troops totaling 20,000 to 30,000. If 5,000 of those 6,000 men were to die, they would have no face to face the elders of Jiangdong.

Wu Hanluan is currently grooming Wu Hengyu, but the central command's seal remains in Wu Fei's hands. The reason? Wu Fei has a strong destiny and is steady in his actions. As for his son's stock investment, he can invest however he wants; whatever the profit, it's all good. But the initial public offering (IPO) shares must be held securely.

Returning to Wu Fei, based on the above information, his long-term plan is that, since the world is not yet in chaos, the Wu family should acquire a batch of "prestige" as soon as possible!
…A few days later, someone's capacity was once again filled…

Upon hearing "Little Sparrow" again, Wu Fei comforted himself, muttering: "In the future, I'll use other families' children to build my family's legacy. Yes, I won't suffer any losses, I won't suffer any losses," Wu Fei tried to convince himself, and his initial frustration at being trampled on gradually subsided.

Wu Fei: There's no need to put up with this. Wu Hengyu's fighting style carries countless risks in the future. What I need to do now is to preserve my troops as much as possible and withdraw from here back to my base area.

Wu Fei has taken over the shady business of making money in Zhuzhou and Zhouzhou. One can't have it both ways, so Wu Hengyu has taken on the role of idol in the fan circles of both Zhouzhou and Zhuzhou.

As for the locals' rude attempts to put him down? Wu Fei accepted it! His fingers clenched so tightly they cracked.

Since I'm the one you're all trampling on, I'll lay my cards on the table: I'm here to make money. The harder you trample on me, the more I'll rake in.

Wu Fei was indeed getting a bit angry from being provoked by these local losers. If he couldn't persuade the show-off Wu Hengyu, could he at least teach them a lesson?
Seventeen-year-old Wu Fei, far from being shrewd enough, gritted his teeth and muttered: "Scrape the local stuff, take 30% home, spend the rest locally! Forced sales, love to run up accounts, your new daddy is me..."

Just as Wu Fei was writing furiously in his tent, devising how to draft an "unequal treaty" for the local area, outside the tent, Yao Sangu was embroidering with her head tilted to the side, her pretty brows slightly furrowed. At this moment, her fingertips were retracting two threads, but beads of blood appeared on her fingertips.

These two lines were originally connected silently to those two talkative soldiers!

Both Yao Sangu and Xian Daoren are the representatives of the "Immortal Venerables" in the mortal world, and leading the powerful figures to fight amidst changes is the essence of the "Immortal Venerable Game".

Just now, when Aunt Yao moved the golden fate line she had chosen again, she failed again, unsurprisingly.

But this time she wasn't as angry as before, because her senior brother "Eye of the Future" had also been backfired when he touched this golden destiny line. His "Eye of the Future" was shrouded in a mist, and he lost his grasp on the external environment. He could only leave Wu Hanluan's side by accompanying the chosen one through this misty storyline.

In the darkness, Yao Sangu spread her wings, and the Eye of the Past between her brows slowly opened, absorbing the energy from the "stars" in the sky. Suddenly, she revealed an interesting expression: the more difficult a mortal is to enlighten, the more valuable they are to enlighten!

A clear, melodious laugh, like the tinkling of stars, appeared on her face. This is something that those lacking extraordinary wisdom cannot comprehend.

However, after a short while, Xuan Chong came out of the tent, moved a stool and sat down in front of Yao Sangu, indicating that she should continue her cultivation while he used the light to work. Although the oil lamp was very bright at night, it was very hot inside the tent. Now, outside the tent, Sangu's wings were emitting a cold light, and the light emitted by her angelic wings—well, her blue wings—was exceptionally bright.

Aunt Yao paused, gazing at Wu Fei, who was keeping accounts. The radiance emanating from her wings was the "Light of Universal Knowledge" of the "Immortal Venerable," which, in theory, would activate any carrier of knowledge, such as written language, when illuminated by such light! But at this moment, this "stubborn" one of hers actually allowed the divine lord to shine upon her willingly.

She watched for a while, then took the initiative to stand behind Wu Fei, spreading her wings to provide light. However, the words Wu Fei was writing remained motionless, like black iron wire. —Yao Sangu, who was currently enjoying the company of her lover, hesitated under these circumstances, wondering whether to open the eye between her eyebrows. But! A sense of foreboding washed over her, and in the end, she obediently completed the entire lighting work for Xuan Chong.

To outsiders: White hair cannot be replaced by snow; to meet again is already the best possible outcome.

Xuan Chong: "System, how did my homework go?"

Xuan Chong displayed a "Twenty-One Demands" treaty that only someone from his previous life could understand, showing off his ability to apply it flexibly to the system.

Here, the system says: "Oh, the streetlights you found are good."

Xuan Chong nodded, pretending to understand: "Isn't she a teaching aid?"

Xuan Chong already knew that this Yao Sangu possessed sorcery and evil magic capable of bewitching people. However, realizing that the system could help him resolve the situation, he began to explore the fringes of this situation, mainly to gauge the system's attitude.

The system says: "You can use teaching aids when you are doing your homework, but you are responsible for your own actions in other situations."

Xuan Chong nodded obediently: "I understand, I will definitely do my homework carefully."

…The dividing line for the end of the probing…

After Wu Fei finished collecting the bamboo slips, he said to Yao Sangu, "I've finished my business. You can continue."

Yao Sangu: "General, my wings are a little sore. Could you help me... put them away?"

Wu Fei turned his head and glanced at it, then smiled apologetically, "Oh, sorry, my hand is a little sore too."

Having confirmed that this woman was a femme fatale, Wu Fei dared not continue to flirt with her when the system wasn't protecting him. The system had clearly noticed his misbehavior, and the highly emotionally intelligent Wu Fei felt that the system was definitely considering arranging a lesson, so he shouldn't give the system a bad example so soon.

So Wu Fei left in a flash, coming in a huff and leaving just as quickly.

(End of this chapter)