met free Chapter 45 Bi Gan's Invitation
Chapter 45 Bi Gan's Invitation
As night deepened, the study in Zhang Kui's mansion was brightly lit. He had just finished studying today's market price report and was staring blankly at several different types of cowrie shells and a small pile of grains on the table. His fingertips unconsciously caressed the cool surface of the cowrie shells, the sounds of bustling transactions from the daytime market echoing in his mind.
"The way to weigh things lies in equivalence, but even more so in recognizing the situation..." Zhang Kui murmured to himself, trying to connect those fragmented impressions of the game of the marketplace with the profound Daoist principles inherent in the Treasure Coin. He vaguely felt that if he could get help from a high-ranking official like Bigan, who held a part of the economic lifeline of the country, he might be able to see more clearly the macro-level structure of the "trade" rules of this human dynasty.
Just then, Wu Wenhua's rough voice rang out from outside the door: "General, the steward of Bi Gan's residence requests an audience, saying that Lord Bi Gan has important matters to discuss and requests that you come to the residence for a talk."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Kui snapped out of his reverie. Bi Gan had invited him? A slight thought crossed his mind. Perfect, he also had some questions about commerce and taxation; perhaps this was an opportunity to consult this wise minister and verify his ideas. He didn't think much of it, treating it merely as a routine banquet or consultation.
"Reply to the steward, I will be there shortly." Zhang Kui stood up, changed into a more formal everyday outfit, and did not wear armor. He simply put the treasure-dropping coins close to his body, and then, accompanied by two personal guards, headed to Bigan's residence under the cover of night.
However, upon arriving at the gates of Bigan's residence, Zhang Kui sensed something unusual. Several carriages and horses were already waiting outside, all in the style of royalty, heavily guarded, and the atmosphere was tense. The steward leading the way, his expression respectful yet slightly nervous, meekly led Zhang Kui into the residence.
Passing through several courtyards, they arrived at the banquet hall, which was brightly lit and filled with many people. Zhang Kui's gaze swept across the room, and his heart immediately tightened. The number of people present far exceeded his expectations. Not only was the host, Bi Gan, present, but also King Wu Cheng Huang Feihu, Wei Zi (the younger brother of the late King Di Yi), Ji Zi, and Yang Ren, the official known for his uprightness.
"What's going on? Such a display..." Zhang Kui's heart was filled with alarm bells, but he remained calm on the surface. He quickly stepped forward and bowed to each of the important officials present. "This humble general Zhang Kui greets King Wucheng, the Chancellor, His Highness Wei Zi, His Highness Ji Zi, and Physician Yang."
Huang Feihu's expression was resolute, and he nodded slightly. Bi Gan rose to greet him, his face bearing a gentle yet worried smile: "General Zhang has arrived, please take a seat."
Zhang Kui's gaze swept across the seating arrangement, and he instinctively wanted to move to the last seat—everyone present, regardless of rank, seniority, or official position, was far superior to him. However, Bi Gan reached out and stopped him, pointing to a seat of honor next to Huang Feihu, saying, "General, you are the pillar of the nation. At today's gathering, you are the protagonist and should sit here."
Zhang Kui was even more surprised and suspicious, and quickly declined, saying, "Your Excellency is too kind. I am of little experience and would never dare to overstep my bounds."
"Hey, General Zhang, why be so modest?" Huang Feihu spoke up, his voice booming with the boldness of a military general, but his eyes were sharp as an eagle's. "I've heard that General Zhang's cultivation is profound, having already reached the realm of celestial immortals. It's truly admirable!" As he spoke, there was a faint sense of rising qi and blood around him, clearly indicating that he was also a person with extremely high attainments in martial arts.
Bi Gan immediately chimed in, "What King Wu Cheng said is absolutely right. I recently exchanged letters with Grand Tutor Wen and learned that General Zhang Kui has repeatedly performed extraordinary feats on the front lines of Beihai, capturing enemy generals and flags with remarkable skill. It is truly a waste of his talents to be relegated to the capital as the Deputy Commander of the Northern Army." His tone was earnest, as if he genuinely felt sorry for Zhang Kui.
Hearing this almost blatant flattery, Zhang Kui felt no joy, but rather a growing chill. A powerful military figure, the Prince of Wucheng, and a high-ranking chancellor overseeing all political affairs—two of the court's top officials were jointly praising him? This was hardly a good omen; it was likely a banquet that would turn into a bad one.
He quickly bowed, his tone becoming even more humble: "Your Highness and Prime Minister are too kind. My cultivation breakthrough was merely a fluke, and my foundation is still shallow. I am truly unworthy of the title 'Profound Realm'. As for the merits of the Northern Navy, it is entirely due to Grand Tutor Wen's strategic planning and the bravery of the soldiers on the front lines. Zhang Kui has only done his duty and dares not claim credit."
His airtight answer caused Huang Feihu and Bi Gan to exchange a glance, seemingly somewhat helpless. The atmosphere in the hall became momentarily heavy and oppressive.
Finally, the straightforward Yang Ren couldn't stand it any longer. He slammed his wine cup on the table with a loud thud, breaking the awkward silence. His face flushed with excitement, he interrupted the insincere pleasantries and said loudly, "General Zhang, everyone here is an acquaintance, so I'll be frank. I've invited you here because there's a matter of utmost importance concerning the safety of the nation, and we need your assistance."
Zhang Kui secretly breathed a sigh of relief; finally, they had gotten straight to the point. His expression turned solemn, and he cupped his hands, saying, "Please speak, Doctor Yang. As for anything beneficial to the state and a subject's duty, I will do my utmost without hesitation."
Seeing this, Bigan knew there was no point in beating around the bush any longer, so he sighed and said frankly, "General Zhang, this is what happened. His Majesty has issued an edict that the Marquis of Xibo, Ji Chang, will soon be transferred from the Chaoge prison to Youli City for imprisonment."
Zhang Kui's gaze sharpened. Youli City was a city near Chaoge that was specifically used to imprison important criminals.
Huang Feihu interjected, his voice even lower, tinged with resentment: "But I received a secret report that the wicked concubine Daji has secretly colluded with Fei Zhong and You Hun, intending to assassinate Ji Chang during his transfer or in Youli City. And His Majesty... seems to have tacitly approved of this."
Ji Zi added with great sorrow: "In the southeast, due to the deaths of Jiang Huanchu and E Chongyu, undercurrents are already surging, and the feudal lords are becoming increasingly disloyal. If the highly respected Marquis of the West were to meet with misfortune at this time, the feudal lords of the two hundred towns in the west would surely undergo a major upheaval. At that time, the world would be shaken, war would break out everywhere, and the foundation of the Shang Dynasty would be in grave danger."
Bi Gan looked at Zhang Kui with burning eyes: "After much deliberation, we believe that no one but General Zhang is capable of undertaking this important task. Firstly, General Zhang possesses profound cultivation and extraordinary supernatural abilities, sufficient to handle any potential assassinations or evil spells; secondly, General Zhang has only recently assumed his post and is a low-key person, unlikely to arouse excessive suspicion from Fei Zhong and others. Therefore, we would like to ask General Zhang to find a way to protect the Marquis of Xibo, at least to ensure his safety while he is imprisoned in Youli."
After listening, Zhang Kui quickly calculated in his mind. Protect Ji Chang? This was indeed a major matter, concerning the overall situation of the Investiture of the Gods. If Ji Chang died, the process of the Investiture of the Gods would inevitably be thrown into chaos. However, according to the original story, Ji Chang was not destined to die at this time. He would face seven years of calamity, but would eventually turn the tide.
However, his own transmigration has already caused some unforeseen changes, and there's no guarantee that unexpected events won't occur. Moreover, while this matter is risky, it's not entirely without benefits. Youli City is far from the vortex of Chaoge, which allows him to avoid court intrigues, focus on his cultivation, and observe the local conditions more deeply, putting his "way of balancing" into practice. Furthermore, protecting the future King Wen of Zhou—this karmic connection might be beneficial in the future.
After a moment's thought, he decided that the benefits outweighed the drawbacks, and without further hesitation, he bowed and agreed: "Gentlemen, you have worked tirelessly for the country and its people, which I greatly admire. Protecting the Marquis of Xibo from the clutches of treacherous individuals is also a way to stabilize the nation and its people. This humble general is willing to go!"
Seeing Zhang Kui agree so readily, Huang Feihu and the others showed expressions of relief. Huang Feihu said, "Good! General Zhang is very righteous. Later, I will issue a formal military order to the General in the name of the central government, ordering Zhang Kui, the Deputy Commander of the Northern Army, to lead his elite troops to relocate to Youli City, and to be responsible for recruiting 30,000 soldiers there and intensifying their training in preparation for possible unrest in the east and south."
Zhang Kui understood perfectly well that protecting Ji Chang was the primary objective, while training troops and preparing for war was Huang Feihu's way of preparing for potential upheavals in the world. This suited him perfectly; having military power made things easier, and the training process itself provided access to a large amount of resource allocation and personnel management, making it an excellent setting for practicing "trade" and "rules."
"This humble general obeys! I will certainly do my duty to protect the safety of the Marquis of Xibo and do my best to train the troops to repay the court," Zhang Kui solemnly replied.
With the matter settled, the tense atmosphere in the hall eased considerably. The group drank a few more cups, discussed some details, and then Zhang Kui rose to take his leave.
As I left the Prime Minister's residence, a cool night breeze brushed my face.
Zhang Kui looked back at the dimly lit mansion, knowing in his heart that from the moment he agreed, he had been drawn even deeper into the vortex of the Investiture of the Gods.