"Commander Jiang, I know you have some misunderstandings about me, but I hope you understand that we are on the same side now. Internal strife will only give outsiders an opening to exploit."
After the Wind Camp clique finished talking, Gou Buren and the other two left the inner hall together. When they reached the entrance, he stopped and called out to Jiang Che, speaking those words.
"Commander Gou, have you let go of the grudge over your younger brother?"
Jiang Che asked with an amused smile.
"Bu Yi brought this upon himself. I warned him long ago not to be so ruthless in his dealings. Sure enough, he later fell into your hands. If I said I did not hate you, I doubt you would believe me.
"But if you ask how deep that hatred runs, it is not deep enough for us to tear each other apart before we have gained a firm foothold. Once that is done, you and I can have an open and honest match to settle those grudges once and for all. What do you say?"
Gou Buren stared ahead and spoke in a low voice, his expression utterly sincere.
Jiang Che narrowed his eyes slightly, then nodded.
"That would be best."
"Before I go, let me give you one more word of advice. Sometimes, standing too tall in the wind is not a good thing. The waters of Yanggu County run deep. They are not something you can grasp." Gou Buren smiled at Jiang Che, then turned and left.
Outside Zhu Manor, Jiang Che and Liu Zhi watched him depart.
"What does my lord think of Gou Buren's words?"
Jiang Che glanced at Liu Zhi.
Liu Zhi pondered for a moment, then looked back at Zhu Manor without saying anything. Only after pulling Jiang Che some distance away did he speak.
"What he said is also what I wanted to warn you about. As the saying goes, the tree that rises above the forest is the first to be toppled by the wind. Your talent in martial arts is exceptional, and Captain Zhu values you greatly.
"But have you considered what you will do if Captain Zhu no longer values you? Your current arrogance and dominance are because Captain Zhu, newly appointed as he is, deliberately forged you into a blade.
"A blade wounds others, but it also wounds itself. Once Captain Zhu no longer needs you—or decides to trade you for greater benefits—do you know what he will do?"
"Break me with his own hands."
Jiang Che answered solemnly.
"It is good that you understand. You should make preparations early as well. At first, I thought Captain Zhu intended to take you as his son-in-law, but now, his attitude seems somewhat different."
Liu Zhi was no fool himself. He could detect details in the smallest of subtleties.
Jiang Che knew the reason. It was because he had rejected Zhu Qingqing.
"As for Gou Buren, you must be doubly careful of him from now on." Liu Zhi abruptly changed the subject.
"Hmm?"
"I used to think Gou Buren was nothing special. He merely relied on his seniority to thrive in Wind Camp. But things are different now. A man who can set aside the hatred of his brother's murder is seeking something far greater."
"This subordinate understands."
From beginning to end, Jiang Che had never relaxed his vigilance.
The less the other party seemed to care, the more wary he became.
"What do you plan to do with the goods the Cao Gang had withheld?" As the two chatted, they soon brought up Jiang Che's rampage at the Cao Gang docks.
"Sell them off in batches and turn them into silver. When the time comes, my lord will have a share as well." Even if Liu Zhi had not mentioned it, Jiang Che would have included him. After all, relationships bound by profit were always more solid.
"I cannot accept that."
After weighing it over, Liu Zhi shook his head. The reason he had been willing to follow Zhu Sheng to a local county was that he had already begun thinking of retirement and did not want too many twists and turns.
That was why he had handed his authority to Jiang Che.
Though Jiang Che was nominally the deputy commander now, the authority he held was in truth no different from that of the actual West City Commander.
Jiang Che smiled, disagreeing with Liu Zhi.
"If you do not take it, how can I take it? If I do not take it, how can I send any to Captain Zhu? And if we do not send any to Captain Zhu, how can the two of us keep rising through the ranks?"
"You brat, you certainly have one crooked argument after another."
Liu Zhi was amused by Jiang Che's words and ultimately agreed to take a share of the silver.
Time slipped away in the blink of an eye. Three days passed, and news of Jiang Che's conflict with the Cao Gang continued to ferment. Yet to everyone's surprise, the Cao Gang chose to endure it.
For a time, rumors sprang up everywhere.
"My lord, this is the profit from the final batch of goods."
At West City Martial Camp, Xu San'er neatly placed a box of silver on the table.
This was already the third batch. At this point, all the goods from that entire Cao Gang ship had been sold off cheaply, bringing in several hundred taels of silver. Had they not been in such a hurry to sell, they could have made another twenty percent.
Jiang Che nodded, very satisfied with Xu San'er's ability to get things done.
He was also very satisfied with that shipload of Cao Gang goods.
Aside from some grain, the ship had held large quantities of medicinal herbs, bolts of cloth, and spices. It had truly left Jiang Che stuffed to the brim in one bite.
Of course, something like this could only be done once. If he kept doing it, it would not be long before people began targeting him. After all, the Cao Gang itself was an enormous conglomeration of interests.
This silver had to be distributed among many people.
Once those people suffered losses, how could they keep swallowing their anger?
"Wait a few days, then distribute this silver. Do not chill the brothers' hearts." Jiang Che took out half, then pushed the other half of the box toward Xu San'er.
He had already made a preliminary division: Zhu Sheng would receive thirty percent, Jiang Che himself forty percent, Liu Zhi ten percent, and the remaining twenty percent would go to Geng Dabiao, Xu San'er, and the soldiers beneath them.
"Thank you, my lord."
Xu San'er bowed slightly.
"Also, it is time to put acquiring property on the agenda. See to it."
"This subordinate takes his leave."
"My lord, someone outside has sent you a letter."
Just as the two finished speaking, Geng Dabiao entered the inner hall close behind.
Jiang Che unfolded the paper. There was only one short line written on it.
"The thing you wanted is ready. Come collect it at the inn."
There was no need to guess who had sent it.
"This is what you wanted."
Inside an inn room, Kou Yuansheng opened a wooden box, revealing what lay within.
It was about an inch long, crimson in color, speckled with tiny green spots, and carried an unusual fragrance when smelled.
It was precisely the Corpse Blood Mushroom described in the book!
Jiang Che glanced at it, took the box and closed the lid, then nodded.
"The Cao Gang's methods truly are extraordinary."
He had indeed sheared the right sheep.
"Do not forget what you promised me before." Kou Yuansheng stared at Jiang Che. His attitude was no different from before, revealing nothing out of the ordinary.
"Gang Leader Kou, rest assured. Jiang has always kept his word. But it seems I mentioned something else before, did I not?" Jiang Che wore a faint smile. With ten more strands of yin energy, he would be able to cultivate the Three Absolute Shocking Fiends.
"To find the Yin Sha Land Captain Zhu wants, this gang leader has paid no small price."
"What Gang Leader Kou gives today, you will surely reap many times over in the future."
"The Yin Sha Land is in Black Mountain Valley, more than ten li outside the city. Tomorrow at noon, I will have someone wait for you here and take you there to confirm it. But there will only be this one chance.
"If you still cannot arrange a meeting with Captain Zhu, then do not blame Kou for turning hostile."
After giving a cold snort, Kou Yuansheng flicked his sleeve and turned to leave, a trace of chilliness in his eyes.
"Of course."
Looking at the now-empty doorway, Jiang Che leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Third update—please vote!