Cooperation

The next day, the Mount Hua Sect's large contingent set out. Yue Lingshan and Lin Pingzhi had originally intended to travel with Wang Jingyuan. However, Wang Jingyuan considered the two of them to be useless weaklings who would only get in his way. He therefore insisted that Yue Buqun take them away.

Wang Jingyuan returned to Huiyan Tower, ordered a table of food, and had the waiter deliver it to Commander Chen's residence. He requested only aged wine and a fat chicken. Wang Jingyuan wasn't short on money now, and if he could use external favors to gain NPC favorability, why not?

When Wang Jingyuan arrived at Commander Chen's grand residence with the waiter from Huiyan Tower, he found only two old servants inside besides himself. No one else was there.

Wait for the waiter to nervously set out the food and wine before leaving. Wang Jingyuan didn't stand on ceremony. He sat down at the table and asked, "Old Chen, where are your wife and kids? Call them out to eat with us!"

Commander Chen shook his head. "I am not yet married and have no children."

"I see, no marriage, no kids, stay safe and sound," Wang Jingyuan mused, shaking his head. "Wait, that's not right. Women nowadays are reliable, why aren't you getting married?"

Commander Chen glared at Wang Jingyuan impatiently. "I am already betrothed. I just need to complete my term here, return to the Yanshan Left Guard, and take my father's place as Vice Centurion. Then I will get married."

Wang Jingyuan poured wine for Commander Chen and brewed himself a cup of tea. "Alright, since there are no outsiders, let's talk business. Tell me, how do you want to invest in me? As an angel investor."

Commander Chen swirled the wine in his bowl, the rich aroma wafting out. He recognized it clearly as the most expensive kind from Huiyan Tower. "Although I am Imperial Guard, I cannot claim the title of 'angel.' Also, I don't drink well. This jar of wine is enough for both of us."

Wang Jingyuan waved his hand. "I just don't like drinking. When I was out in the market, those scoundrels could barely hold their liquor, so I had to drink it all. I've had enough. If possible, I'd prefer to abstain completely."

Seeing Wang Jingyuan with a chicken leg in his left hand and a pig's trotter in his right, looking nothing like someone who was just being polite, Commander Chen stopped trying to persuade him and asked, "What kind of support do you need?"

Wang Jingyuan probed, "Since you are a Centurion, you probably have dozens of men under you, right?"

Commander Chen shook his head. "My family has served in Yanshan for generations. Currently, the men under my command are not my direct subordinates. With so many people, it's difficult to use them lightly."

Wang Jingyuan nodded. "Alright, your greatest advantage is your official position and your subordinates. If your subordinates cannot be used, can you support me through your official status?"

Commander Chen shook his head again. "I am, after all, part of the Emperor's personal army. I cannot afford to give anyone grounds for criticism, so there isn't much I can do to help you. I thought about it all night. The only thing I can offer you now is probably just one thing."

"What is it?"

"Fire oil."

In fact, people had discovered this substance during the Song Dynasty, but it had little use at the time. At most, it was used for heating and lighting, or the ashes left after burning petroleum were collected and used as ink.

It was only later that it began to be used as a weapon. For example, many firearms of the Ming Dynasty utilized fire oil.

"That's great. Although this stuff isn't as strictly controlled as crossbows or armor, it's still not easy to get. How did you get it? How much can you get?"

Commander Chen continued, "The task of collecting and storing fire oil in the Great Ming is handled by old acquaintances of my family. This item is important in some ways, and not important in others. Moreover, there are always losses during transportation and storage. It's incredibly easy to get some fire oil. The amount I can get is enough for you to attack Blackwood Cliff."

Wang Jingyuan clapped his hands. "This is good stuff. Speaking of which, your family is from the Imperial Guard, how do you know people in that line of work?"

Commander Chen glanced at Wang Jingyuan. "My ancestor, Duke Chen, whose given name was Qi, was the Vice Centurion of the Yanshan Left Guard during the Hongwu reign."

Wang Jingyuan asked further, "You already said that. What does that have to do with this?"

Commander Chen looked at Wang Jingyuan for a long moment. "Before my ancestor followed the founding Emperor, he was the captain of the Blazing Fire Banner of the Ming Cult."

Wang Jingyuan understood. The Blazing Fire Banner of the Ming Cult was most skilled in fire attacks. The original story of The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber mentioned that the area around the Ming Cult's main headquarters, Bright Summit, was rich in fire oil. Oil gushed out from the rocks day and night, igniting when exposed to fire. The men of the Blazing Fire Banner each carried an iron chest filled with fire oil, spraying it to burn their enemies, making them difficult to resist.

"So, the descendants of the Five Elements Banners are still doing the same old thing in the new dynasty?"

"That's right."

"That works. Honestly, fire oil is quite useful to me. Can you get gunpowder?"

Commander Chen was taken aback. "I can get some, but it's watched quite closely. I can't get much."

"Then it's settled. How should I contact you later?"

"I will be stationed in Hengyang City. When you need me, I will take you to the storeroom at night. If I return to Yanshan someday, I will send a letter to Mount Hua to inform you.

However, since we've started cooperating, there's something I need you to handle recently."

Wang Jingyuan thought for a moment and guessed, "A fake imperial edict?"

Commander Chen nodded. "Some matters are big, some are small. Every year, there are idle villagers who claim to be the Son of Heaven and set up their own 'court' in the village.

However, even if such a thing reached the Emperor's ears, he would only treat it as a joke. But today's incident was a bit too much, and it just happened to be witnessed. Therefore, I cannot ignore it."

Wang Jingyuan stated directly, "It was Fei Bin of the Songshan Sect."

"Their methods of silencing witnesses today were so crude, I guessed as much long ago. But I need evidence."

Commander Chen's words puzzled Wang Jingyuan. "Does the Imperial Guard need evidence to solve cases? Go to the Mount Tai Sect, arrest that idiot from Songshan, and under the three planks, there's no question you can't get answered."

Commander Chen looked at Wang Jingyuan with a faint smile. "The Songshan Sect is a major sect. If they retaliate, my men won't be enough."

"But you can... Oh~ You want to keep it all for yourself? I understand, I understand. It's best to keep it all for yourself. I originally planned to take advantage of the situation and finish off those from the Songshan Sect, but it seems I'll have to wait. Anyway, crippling the Songshan Sect is part of my plan. I'll leave Fei Bin for you then."

Commander Chen picked up his wine cup and took a sip, scrutinizing Wang Jingyuan. "Although I can see you're a capable person, so I want to try and support you. However, I'm curious, why are you so confident that you can accomplish these things?"

"Because I'm a Player, and I have cheats."

"What?"

"Don't you understand? Fine, let me give you another reason. My bottom line is lower than most people in this world. To defeat an enemy, you have to be more despicable than them. It's hard to find anyone more despicable than me in this world."

"..." Commander Chen was speechless.

Wang Jingyuan left Commander Chen's house after eating his fill, preparing to get down to business. However, he was intercepted by a disciple from the Hengshan Sect, who said that Liu Zhengfeng wanted to see him before they departed.