Four People Form an Alliance

At that time.

After achieving merit, the Martial Scholar, upon returning to Shan'nan Dao, was promoted several ranks. He also gained the appreciation of Governor Wang—his status would no longer be that of a mere Martial Scholar.

She wouldn't be losing out by marrying off her daughter.

Under heavy rewards, there will surely be brave men.

Soon.

Three or four Martial Masters expressed their willingness to follow the government's arrangements and join the Wu Yun Tower as undercover agents.

At this moment, Wei Tu's gaze fell upon the Martial Master "Fu Zhizhou," who had taken the lead in refusing earlier. Seeing that he was unmoved by the rewards, Wei Tu also put aside his worries.

A reward of a hundred gold pieces.

Marrying the Prefect's legitimate daughter...

These two additional rewards from Prefect He still couldn't move Wei Tu.

He clearly remembered the warning given to him when he was training martial arts at the Dan Family.

—It's acceptable to use the Martial Way to pursue an official career and improve one's status, but remember to avoid disputes and fights, and preserve your life.

He had a bright future ahead of him; there was no need to fight to the death with someone over trivial matters.

At this moment.

The rewards from the Prefectural Yamen.

Although substantial in Wei Tu's eyes, it would be foolish to waste his life for them.

Wei Tu recognized all the dozen or so Martial Masters who had entered the hall. These were all famous individuals who had participated in the Dao Examination and Martial Arts Examination.

Fu Zhizhou, in particular, was a strong contender for the top spot in this year's Martial Arts Examination.

Seeing that no one was paying attention to him, Wei Tu walked over to Fu Zhizhou, poked his elbow using Wei Fei's previous method, and asked, "Martial Master Fu, do you still stand by your earlier decision? I feel the same way..."

Prefect He had increased the rewards. If any Martial Master was still foolish enough to refuse this task...

The consequences could be imagined.

This would be offending the parental official of a prefecture and a Marquis of a Thousand Li.

Therefore, if Wei Tu wanted to refuse this matter, he would need to find a few people to join him in applying pressure, thereby reducing Prefect He's resentment towards him.

Fu Zhizhou's reaction was similar to Wei Tu's. Seeing such an action from someone he didn't know well, his brows furrowed slightly.

However, after hearing Wei Tu's subsequent words, his brows immediately relaxed, and his gaze towards Wei Tu became more amicable.

"I share Martial Master Wei's sentiment and refuse this task."

"Firstly, the risk is too great for a dozen people to conspire. Even if you and I are of clean background, have bright futures, and our relatives are in the local area, preventing us from leaking secrets... there's still risk..."

"Secondly, I'm not interested in the rewards."

"Thirdly, Prefect He... has only one year left in his tenure in Qing Feng Prefecture."

Fu Zhizhou pondered for a moment, then pulled Wei Tu to a corner of the hall and said in a low voice.

"Martial Brother Wei and I think alike." Seeing that they shared the same goal, Fu Zhizhou generously revealed his thoughts, and Wei Tu changed his address to him, calling him "Brother Fu."

Upon hearing Wei Tu call him "Brother Fu," Fu Zhizhou's face also showed a faint smile, and he changed his address accordingly, calling Wei Tu "Brother Wei."

The two began addressing each other as brothers.

At this point, the two of them joining forces to refuse Prefect He and jointly resist the pressure was equivalent to comrades in the same trench.

Furthermore.

They both had the same official career prospects.

Both were Martial Scholars from this year's examination.

They already had the camaraderie of fellow candidates.

"Let's pull in a few more people, preferably four or five." Fu Zhizhou said.

Hearing this.

Wei Tu nodded, not refusing.

The more people who refused, the less danger and pressure he and Fu Zhizhou would face.

"Martial Master Wei..." Wei Tu scanned the entire venue. Seeing that Wei Fei was one of the few Martial Masters not gathered around Prefect He, he walked over to Wei Fei and explained the matter he had discussed with Fu Zhizhou.

"Good."

"Count me in."

Wei Fei agreed without much hesitation.

A moment later.

Fu Zhizhou also pulled in a friend from the same county and walked towards Wei Tu and Wei Fei.

This Martial Master was named "Kou Liang," and he was also a formidable figure in this year's Martial Arts Examination.

"Four people, which is about one-third of the Martial Masters present."

Wei Tu's gaze shifted slightly, giving him the confidence to refuse Prefect He.

An official career was secondary.

(The results of the Dao Examination were difficult for the Prefectural Yamen to interfere with.)

Even if Prefect He held a grudge against him, it would be difficult for him to do anything to them, these Martial Scholars. At most, when they were appointed as military officials, he could manipulate things and send them to remote areas.

Compared to the dangers of going to Wu Yun Tower, this was insignificant.

"If the four of us refuse Prefect He together, we'll incur his resentment..."

"After we leave the Prefectural Yamen, let's become sworn brothers."

"Then, if any of us are in trouble, we'll help each other!"

As the Martial Master who had taken the lead in refusing Prefect He earlier, and with the best results in the Martial Arts Examination, Fu Zhizhou naturally became the leader among the four.

Fu Zhizhou glanced at Wei Tu and the other two, his expression solemn, and said in a deep voice.

"Good!"

"After we leave, we'll become sworn brothers!"

Wei Tu and the others were also moved by his words. After a moment of thought, they all nodded.

Fellow candidates, fellow provincials, and fellow disciples were the easiest to form factions.

At this moment, the four of them each had friends from the same county, and they were all Martial Scholars from this year's examination... It was perfectly normal for them to "form factions" when facing Prefect He.

Prefectural Yamen.

Backyard living room.

"Martial artists value profit; the ancients did not deceive me." Prefect He looked at the group of Martial Masters surrounding him, a faint smile on his lips, thinking that the situation was in hand.

As long as one person was tempted and agreed, the others would follow suit. This was his experience accumulated over many years in office.

As for one or two troublemakers, he would entice them with benefits afterward and use threatening words, and they would obediently comply.

However—

Just as Prefect He was feeling smug, he saw four Martial Masters walk over with their heads held high and chests puffed out. They cupped their fists in a salute to him and said something that greatly displeased him.

"Prefect He, the four of us are naturally clumsy and not suited to go undercover at Wu Yun Tower. We request that you grant this matter."

Said Wei Tu and the other three.

Instantly.

The entire hall fell silent.

All eyes in the hall, Prefect He's, the group of Martial Masters', and the other servants', converged on Wei Tu and the other three...

Apart from Prefect He's shock, everyone else's eyes were filled with surprise and disbelief.

Prefect He's expression darkened slightly, and he looked coldly at the four of them in the hall.

If one person refused, it would be one thing.

When herding sheep, there was always one animal that would run astray and be disobedient.

Let alone people.

But—

The four of them speaking together, with unified words, made it different.

It was obvious they had colluded beforehand!

"The ancients said, 'If a ruler is not discreet, he loses his ministers; if a minister is not discreet, he loses himself'..."

"Prefect, you have gathered so many Martial Masters here, over a dozen people. If there is... a risk of leakage..."

"We must decline this matter of risking our lives."

Fu Zhizhou led the way and spoke.

"Fu Zhizhou?" Prefect He clearly recognized Fu Zhizhou. He looked him up and down carefully. Although he didn't speak, everyone present could sense his anger.

His official authority was like a mountain!

Did he not know the risk of leakage when over a dozen Martial Masters discussed this matter?

But it was precisely because of this that he would not "make a mistake" in this matter.

If the action failed or was leaked in the future, the investigation would fall upon the other Martial Scholars who came together, and it would not implicate him, the Prefect.

At most, he would be accused of being careless.

In a year, he would be transferred out of office.

Who would care about the mess at Wu Yun Tower?

PS: There are foreshadowing in the plot...

Regarding Prefect He, some readers said that over a dozen people posed a great risk of leakage. I can only say... you don't understand how officials work. Was Prefect He looking for intelligence on Wu Yun Tower? He wanted to give Governor Wang an explanation and show that he was taking action.

With over a dozen people strategizing, these individuals had clean backgrounds and were all reserve military officials, so the risk of leakage was small. Even if the undercover operation failed in the future, they could find a reason to shift the blame here.

This is the shrewdness of an official.