Chapter 117: Let You Accept Your Defeat Convincedly
Jinmao finally gave in.

He has already offended Zhang Tie, and he won't get any benefits from the eunuchs. If Sun Jian gets nothing here, he will suffer a great loss.

"Brother, you should tell me what to do."

Jin Mao pretended to be confident and said, "I don't want us to have any rift over this little thing."

"We are both disciples of Qiantang Marquis. Even if we can't cooperate, we still have righteousness."

"Brother, what do you think?"

Sun Jian smiled happily, he had made the right bet!
"Brother, what you said is absolutely right."

"How about this, let's target the District Star Thief Leader, and I'll take the blame for this crime."

"Who makes me the older brother?"

After saying this, Jin Mao cursed inwardly, "You shameless bastard!"

The matter was settled. Seven days later, both parties set out from Yichun County, with all food and supplies provided by Jinmao.

At this time, Sun Jian made a request: "Brother, please don't be surprised. My thousand men are just soldiers. I need to recruit some civilians in this county to transport food and supplies."

"Ah?" Jin Mao asked in surprise, "Do you still need civilians to transport food and supplies? Didn't Qiantang Hou teach you that soldiers can also transport them?"

Sun Jian was even more surprised: "The Marquis of Qiantang also teaches this? How come I don't know this?"

"Perhaps Qiantang Hou saw that I had great talent and only taught me."

Jin Mao began to ask pretentiously: "Did the old man give you a military strategy?"

He asked himself again and answered, “I do!”

Now it was Sun Jian's turn to feel jealous. He had always believed that he was Zhu Jun's true disciple, and the two were both teacher and friend!

Unexpectedly, Zhu Jun fell in love with someone else so quickly.

"No!" Sun Jian suddenly realized the problem: "If that's the case, why did he tell me that Jin Mao colluded with the eunuchs?"

Sun Jian suppressed his confusion and said helplessly: "The troops have not moved yet, but the food and fodder have gone first. If there is no one to deliver the food and fodder, how can we fight this battle?"

Jin Mao nodded and said, "How about this, I will bring two thousand more soldiers to transport food and grass, and I will be responsible for your share."

"When the time comes, the spoils of war will be divided equally based on the number of enemies killed and captured. Winning or losing will be determined based on this!"

Sun Jian frowned. He didn't expect that he would be the one being looked down upon!
On second thought, he didn't lose out.

Not only did he successfully borrow 3,000 soldiers, but he didn't even have to provide for their food and supplies himself!
To take a step back, in this situation, if he still loses, it means that he has misjudged Jinmao all along.

"If that's the case, it would be a good idea to let Ce'er follow Jin Mao to gain experience."

Thinking of this, Sun Jian decisively agreed.

The two went back to arrange matters for their trip to Yichun County.

Nanchang County, County Magistrate's Office.

Jin Mao and Xi Zhicai sat opposite each other. The latter was very confused about Jin Mao's decision and couldn't understand why he treated Sun Jian so differently.

Jin Mao couldn't tell the later generations' evaluation of Sun Jian, so he made up a story: "Zhicai, you saw it too."

"Sun Wentai is a fierce tiger from Jiangdong. I dare say there is no one in the whole Yangzhou who can match him!"

"My Lord, you are right." Xi Zhicai said, "But have you ever thought that a tiger will not yield to humans?"

"Yes, I didn't want the tiger to surrender!" Jin Mao said as a matter of course: "I just like the young tiger."

Sun Ce became famous at a young age, and Xi Zhicai had already inquired about him, so he could accept it.

but!
"Are you so confident that you can defeat this tiger?"

Jin Mao laughed and said, "Zhicai, you look like a fool."

"Don't you realize that our journey here has been too smooth?"

"Arrogant soldiers will be defeated!"

"Now, just a small victory has made the underground soldiers go crazy and forget their own limitations!"

Jin Mao snorted coldly: "I hope they can lose and stop being arrogant and impatient."

Xi Zhicai understands all these principles, but it also depends on the person!

Sun Jian was watching Jin Mao with eager eyes, and if Jin Mao showed any weakness, Sun Jian would pounce on him and bite him without hesitation.

Too risky.

Xi Zhicai likes to take risks, but that is based on his absolute confidence in his own strategies. So what is Jin Mao so confident about?
Xi Zhicai couldn't figure it out, and seeing that Jin Mao had made up his mind, he said goodbye and left.

It was getting dark. Xi Zhicai walked and walked and unconsciously returned to the government office. Inside, the lights were bright. Gu Yongzheng was looking at the bamboo slips carefully, and occasionally he would write a few words on them.

During this period of time together, Xi Zhicai would increasingly compare Gu Yong with Xun Yu, and could not help but draw the two closer together.

"Yuan Tan, what should I do if there is something I think is wrong but the lord insists on doing it?"

Gu Yong put down the bamboo slips in his hand, thought carefully, and then said: "As subjects, we cannot question or change the decision of the master, but we can influence him before he makes a decision."

"As counselors, we are here to help our lord solve problems. Since you think this matter is dangerous, then we should try our best to solve the problem!"

Xi Zhicai suddenly realized and bowed to Gu Yong, saying, "Yuan sighs at your great talent! Zhicai admires you!"

Gu Yong asked, which was unusual: "I heard that Yu Zhongxiang once compared himself to Xun Wenruo. What do you think of me?"

Since ancient times, scholars have looked down on each other. Xi Zhicai never thought that Gu Yong also had such a competitive spirit. In his eyes, Gu Yong has always been a synonym for diligence and silence.

However, the two of them are now considered good friends, so Xi Zhicai silently compared them in his heart and said, "Yuan Tan is not as good as him."

Gu Yong smiled and said, "Very good!"

Xi Zhicai was stunned for a moment, then joked: "Zhongxiang is not as good as Yuantan, Yuantan is not as good as Wenruo, Wenruo is not as good as me, doesn't that mean Yuantan is not as good as me!"

Gu Yong chuckled and said, "Not as good as that."

Xi Zhicai laughed, so this is this kind of Gu Yong!
...

Nanchang County Post Station.

Zhang Tie has been here for ten days!
The resentment in his heart grew stronger day by day.

That day, Zhang Tie heard a report that Jin Mao had finally sent someone to see him.

"not see!"

Zhang Tie said sharply: "Tell Jin Mao that he is dead this time!"

"Why does Huangmen Ling say that?"

Zhang Tie looked at the scholar who had barged in and said sternly, "How dare you!"

"Someone come! Kill him!"

"Zhang Tie! The entire Nanchang County is under the control of my master. How can you kill me?"

The man who came was Xi Zhicai. He smiled and said, "If you were smart, you should have left Yuzhang County before making any harsh remarks."

“How many people feed the fish in the Yangtze River every year?”

Zhang Tie was frightened. His face, which was originally covered with powder, turned even paler, like a dead person's face. He trembled and said, "You... you dare?"

"Empress Huang, stop slandering me." Xi Zhicai said shamelessly, "I'm just stating a fact."

Zhang Tie couldn't help but take a step back and asked, "What do you want?"

Xi Zhicai cupped his hands and said, "It's not what I want, but what do you want?"

Zhang Tie no longer concealed anything and told all his cards.

"I am just a messenger, not the master. Please say a few good words to Governor Jin."

Xi Zhicai bowed and said, "Please rest assured, my lord will accept all the books, papermakers, and all kinds of craftsmen."

"But please go back and report back peacefully. You don't want the emperor to know about the forged imperial edict, right?"

Zhang Tie was so frightened that he peed his pants. He fell to the ground, totally at a loss.

Xi Zhicai felt contempt in his heart, but on the surface he was "polite" and walked out.

That night, Jin Mao received Xi Zhicai's report and praised him with satisfaction: "Zhicai, you did a great job!"

"I'll leave this matter entirely to you. I don't want to see these eunuchs again!"

"Remember to give more money and goods. Although the eunuchs are hateful, it is not advisable to offend them too harshly."

"Here!"

The next day.

Zhang Tie returned with a full load, the boat was full of vegetable oil, a total of 5,000 barrels!

"Governor Jin is kind and righteous!" Zhang Tie looked at the distant Nanchang City and thought, "I'll just say a few good words for him, just to make a good relationship with him."

He is just a small person.

(End of this chapter)