Spreading Rumors (Combined)

Bai Xiaowen laughed and said, "Then these two should be promoted. They might even catch the eye of your boss, Xu Hai."

Luo Longwen shook his head and said, "The second-in-command won't release them easily."

Bai Xiaowen asked in surprise, "Is that so? Does Second-in-Command Xu Hong dare to disobey First-in-Command Xu Hai's orders?"

Luo Longwen said, "This is an unwritten rule within the pirates. Every Leader Tier figure has several capable subordinates. As the supreme Boss Tier, Master Xu wouldn't easily ask the other leaders for men. Of course, if Master Xu were to ask, Master Hong probably wouldn't dare to object, but such a thing is taboo and could easily cause resentment among the other Boss Tier."

After a pause, Luo Longwen added, "Master Xu and Master Hong are cousins. Moreover, Master Xu once received care from Master Hong's father, Old Master Xu Weixue. Back when he was under Wang Zhi's command, if it weren't for Old Master Xu, Master Xu would probably have been killed by Wang Zhi long ago. With this connection of blood ties and brotherhood, Master Xu treats Master Hong exceptionally differently."

Bai Xiaowen smiled and said, "I see, I understand now."

"Master Bai, please send a few capable men with me to the island. After I give the secret letter to Madam to read, she will write a reply. After all, I am one of Master Hong's men, and repeatedly making excuses to go out will easily arouse suspicion, so it's not appropriate for me to come again. Therefore, I will have to ask your men to bring back this reply."

Bai Xiaowen smiled and said, "I'll go with you personally—but once my identity is verified, I'll need your help to cover it up a bit."

Luo Longwen nodded. "Immortal Bai is indeed highly skilled and daring. Don't worry, as long as Immortal Bai is careful with his words and actions and doesn't deliberately reveal any flaws, I guarantee that no one on the island will discover your identity." As he spoke, he took out several bamboo tokens and handed them to Bai Xiaowen.

Bai Xiaowen took the bamboo plaque and saw that it was engraved with a ghost head statue, the carving of which was very rough.

[Japanese Pirate Identity Token: This is proof of identity for Wokou Pirates low-ranking pirate under Xu Hai's command. Holding it will make you a neutral or friendly target in the eyes of pirates within Pirate Xu Hai Faction. If they discover your true allegiance, the identity token will automatically become invalid.]

According to Luo Longwen, this seemingly simple bamboo plaque actually contains as many as seven coded cuts, making it difficult for someone unaware of the inside story to pass forge it.

Bai Xiaowen thought to himself that the wisdom of the ancients should not be underestimated. Isn't this just like the anti-counterfeiting features of RMB? The Ming Dynasty pirates from hundreds of years ago already understood these things.

Bai Xiaowen and Li Shuyi each changed their attire, adopting the tattered clothes given to them when they first Jiajing Plane world, as per the Spirit Realm Rules. They then smeared dust on their faces, thus revealing the image of two low-level pirates.

Afterwards, Bai Xiaowen called over a few personal guards, who were slightly disguised and given bamboo tags identifying them as Wokou Pirates. They then boarded Luo Longwen's small boat and rowed towards the main island of Wusha Reef, the place where the Wokou Pirates Boss Tier Xu Hai was temporarily staying. The famous courtesan Wang Cuiqiao naturally accompanied Xu Hai.

Seeing that Bai Xiaowen was willing to board the small boat, the scholar Luo Longwen became less wary of Bai Xiaowen. After all, the government's offer of amnesty was still far from being finalized, and if Bai Xiaowen were to go ashore with him and enter the Wokou Pirates ' Main Base, there would be no way he could escape with his life if it were a trap.

Bai Xiaowen Luo Longwen Bai Xiaowen's courage in attending the meeting.

However, Luo Longwen didn't know was that Bai Xiaowen was an Awakened One, not a person from the Spirit Realm. When he realized something was wrong, as long as he wasn't in combat mode, he could leave the Jiajing Plane World and return to Earth in ten seconds.

Therefore, awakened beings are generally much bolder than native inhabitants of the Spirit Realm.

Bai Xiaowen and Luo Longwen sat facing each other in the cabin of the small boat, sipping a pot of turbid wine.

As a college student in the Common Era, a web novelist, and a student at a key university in the Psychic Energy Era, Bai Xiaowen has a deep understanding of classical Chinese. Chatting with Luo Longwen, a scholar, about the past and present, made Luo Longwen feel as if they were kindred spirits.

This is actually quite normal. What kind of people does Luo Longwen, this scholar, usually face? Brutal pirates and ruthless Wokou Pirates. As the saying goes, highbrow art is often appreciated by few, and no one likes to listen to his erudite classical Chinese poetry and rhymes.

After three years in the army, even a sow can rival Diao Chan a legendary beauty in Chinese mythology). Luo Longwen, having been an outlaw for many years, would naturally find an "intellectual" pleasing to the eye – it's the same principle.

From Luo Longwen, Bai Xiaowen learned a great deal about the major events within the Wokou Faction.

For example, Xu Hai Faction and Ye Mazi Faction are fighting fiercely for territory, with Xu Hai Faction clearly having the upper hand and making Ye Mazi suffer greatly.

For example, another Wokou Faction, led by Chen Dong, appeared and tried to mediate between Xu Hai and Ye Mazi. Xu Hong, the second-in -Wokou Pirates command, cursed him for this. Chen Dong was probably worried that Xu Hai Faction would become too powerful after annexing Ye Mazi Faction, so he stepped in to mediate.

Upon hearing this, Bai Xiaowen asked, "Mr. Luo, do you think this mediation will be successful? After such a long struggle, will Xu and Ye agree to mediation?"

Luo Longwen sighed, "It should be successful. Ye Mazi has suffered repeated losses of key generals and is already on the verge of collapse. It is said that Chen Dong's intervention to mediate this time was secretly arranged by him. Xu Ye's side also dares not ignore Chen Dong and continue fighting. If Chen Dong and Ye Mazi join forces, even with Xu Ye's great power, he will not be able to withstand them."

"So, what about this offer of amnesty? How likely do you think it is, Mr. Luo?"

After pondering for a moment, Luo Longwen said, "It's hard to say... Madam is very willing to accept the amnesty, and has tried to persuade Master Xu many times. However, Master Xu has never shown any intention of accepting the amnesty. It's hard for outsiders to guess what he's thinking."

Bai Xiaowen frowned and deliberately said, "So, Xu Hai knows nothing about the matter of being granted amnesty. What hope is there then?"

Luo Longwen hurriedly explained, "Outsiders can't fathom Master Xu's thoughts, but Madam is certainly quite perceptive. Her decision to have me contact the government troops subtly suggests that Master Xu may also be considering surrender. After all, being a pirate at sea means enduring harsh weather and living a life of luxury; it's better to accept amnesty and become a wealthy man."

"What about the other leaders?" Bai Xiaowen asked, tapping his fingers lightly. "What are their attitudes? If Xu Hai were willing to offer them amnesty, would they all agree?"

Luo Longwen hesitated and said, "I can't say for sure. I'm just Master Hong's subordinate; I don't know much about that."

"You must know what Xu Hong is thinking, right?" Bai Xiaowen said with a smile. "From what you've said, he and Xu Hai are cousins, so he should be on Xu Hai's side, right?"

Luo Longwen remained silent.

Bai Xiaowen understood a bit of what was going on.

Bai Xiaowen used this as an excuse to probe Luo Longwen about the inside story of why he joined the Wokou Pirates. However, Luo Longwen dodged the question and remained tight-lipped about the reasons why he joined the pirates.

Bai Xiaowen only asked one question, and when Luo Longwen didn't answer, she didn't ask any further.

Upon arriving at the main island of Wusha Reef, Luo Longwen arranged a secluded bamboo house for Bai Xiaowen and the others to rest, while he quietly left with a secret letter.

It was already dawn, and the bright moon was setting in the west.

Bai Xiaowen called over several of his personal guards, "You all rest for a while. When it's light, go and spread the news."

The guards were all a bit confused. "What message are you spreading?"

"You guys were just chatting among the lower-ranking pirates... saying that the chief might be offered amnesty and had even sent an envoy to the Ming Army. The attack on Chen One-Eye's fleet that day was one of the conditions of the secret agreement with the Ming Army! Who told Chen One-Eye to break into Quanzhou Prefecture and make the Ming Army governor lose face?"

The personal guards Bai Xiaowen selected all spoke with a Jiangzhe accent. Among the fake Japanese pirates in the Wokou Faction, many were bankrupt fishermen and street ruffians from the coastal areas of Jiangzhe Fujian, and their accents would not give them away.

One of the guards hesitated and said, "Master Bai, is this... really feasible? Aren't we here to deliver a secret message?"

Bai Xiaowen said calmly, "What did the Grand Eunuch say when he agreed to let you go to sea?"

"... I will obey Master Bai's orders." The guard bowed his head.

Bai Xiaowen nodded. "That's right, spreading rumors is also the Eunuch's intention, so you should do as he says."

"Yes." Several guards nodded in agreement, and then went to rest.

Bai Xiaowen and Li Shuyi strolled outside, looking at the dilapidated rows of bamboo houses on this desolate island. Occasionally, they could see a few drunken Wokou Pirates lying by the roadside, reeking of alcohol. The two secretly communicated through the Team Channel.

Li Shuyi: "With so many Wokou Pirates sleeping, do you think no one would notice if we secretly killed a couple?"

Bai Xiaowen sighed helplessly, "Hold on, a small act of impatience could ruin a big plan."

"What grand scheme do you have?" Li Shuyi asked with a half-smile. "Why are you spreading rumors? I've been following you the whole time, and I've never heard Hu Zongxian make this request."

Bai Xiaowen laughed, "Of course, it's to set a trap for the other two awakened beings in the Jiajing Plane World."

"You mean Zhao Zhixiong, and that Tai Shuisheng?" Li Shuyi's face turned cold at the mention of those two names. However, she then asked with a hint of doubt, "What does spreading rumors about being recruited have to do with them?"

Bai Xiaowen held up one finger. "First, these two joined the Wokou Pirates because they wanted to make a big splash. If they are successfully recruited, the prestige they have painstakingly built up in Pirate Xu Hai Faction will be lost. Do you think they would be happy about that?"

Li Shuyi shook her head.

"Therefore, after hearing the rumors of being offered amnesty, these two will definitely take action; this is the premise for setting a trap for them."

Bai Xiaowen raised a second finger. "The Boss Tier these two are currently following is Xu Hong, the second-in-command and Xu Hai's cousin. Based on my conversation with Luo Longwen, I can preliminarily conclude that Xu Hong is very resistant to being offered amnesty."

Li Shuyi asked in confusion, "Why? Luo Longwen didn't say that, did he?"

"Although he didn't say it, in that situation, silence was tantamount to acquiescence. When facing me, the imperial envoy for amnesty, Luo Longwen would definitely only report the good news and not the bad, exaggerating one point of hope into five, and five points into ten. His silence meant that the truth was that there was not even a one in ten chance that Xu Hong would agree to the amnesty."

Li Shuyi nodded in agreement.

"So, I spread the rumors of being offered amnesty in advance to give Zhao Zhixiong and his man an opportunity to act," Bai Xiaowen said. "If we were in Zhao Zhixiong's position, and the top leader wanted to offer amnesty while the second-in-command opposed it, what should we, as the second-in-command's subordinates, do?"

"... Persuade the second-in-command to set up his own household?" Li Shuyi thought for a moment and tentatively asked.

"This is the choice of a 'good person'," Bai Xiaowen said with a smile. "But Zhao Zhixiong is different from you. From my brief contact with him, this guy is prone to extremes; he either doesn't do anything at all or he goes to extremes! So I can almost conclude that his choice will definitely be... to incite Xu Hong to rebel against his superiors and take over Xu Hai! He will then use his prestige as the second-in-command to take over all of Xu Hai's power!"

Li Shuyi's beautiful eyes widened, revealing a look of shock.

"Actually, making this prediction isn't difficult. It mainly comes down to two words: profit. Think about it, how much benefit would Zhao Zhixiong gain by killing Xu Hai and supporting Xu Hong to take over?"

"First of all, killing a Advanced Boss like Xu Hai —and possibly Rare Boss —would yield a substantial treasure chest reward!"

"Furthermore, after Xu Hong takes power, in order to consolidate his position, he will inevitably promote his cronies extensively. Therefore, Zhao Zhixiong, who has made great contributions, will quickly rise to the top ranks of the Wokou Pirates and become a great pirate like Chen One-Eye, who commands a fleet and is able to plunder prefectures and counties!"

Li Shuyi nodded. "The profits are indeed substantial. So, how do you plan to deal with him?"

Bai Xiaowen smiled and said, "Right now, I only have a rough outline of the plan in my mind; I still need to think about some specific details."

Li Shuyi: "Don't let things backfire... If Zhao Zhixiong really gets such a big benefit, I'll be furious."

Bai Xiaowen laughed and said, "Don't worry, you have to be willing to use the bait to catch a big fish. I'm not sure if Zhao Zhixiong still has the same escape or return items as before, so I went to the trouble of setting this trap. Once I make a move, I'll take his life and not give him any time to react!"

Bai Xiaowen has never been a magnanimous person. He was tricked by Zhao Zhixiong and would have died if it weren't for the Life Sharing. How could he not avenge this?

Revenge should not be delayed! Bai Xiaowen, who always believed in an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, planned to take down Zhao Zhixiong in this Jiajing Plane World.

After daybreak, several guards wandered around the island, spreading rumors of being offered amnesty.

The island is teeming with pirates, numbering in the thousands. The pirates under the various Boss Tier are strangers to each other, which gives the personal guards room to spread rumors.

Bai Xiaowen and Li Shuyi waited at the bamboo house until noon, when Luo Longwen finally arrived in a hurry, followed by two people dressed in black robes.

Upon meeting, Bai Xiaowen rushed forward, grabbed Luo Longwen by the collar, and said, suppressing her anger:

"What on earth is going on? How could the secret of the amnesty be leaked? Pirates have already started inquiring about my background! I trusted you so much, and this is how you treat me!"

Today's featured work is on the cover, and there's a message about it in the related section~ Mwah!