Time Travel: The Best Doctor in Ancient Times

Chapter 170: Chapter 96 Changsheng Conspiracy Theory_2

Is there really a need to make such a clear distinction?

“No matter how precious the paper is, even if it’s made of gold and silver, it cannot match the wisdom of my master’s lifetime, wuu wuu…” Yuan Bao cried bitterly. The Master has been bewitched by Lady Changsheng, abandoned the Southern Fujian Camp to stand at his own threshold without entering, and even he was kept in the dark, coming directly here. And to agree to such an unreasonable demand…

Wuu wuu… Who will return his wise and valiant Master to him?

“I have seen the Clever Crossbow used by Elder Mo. The Mo Family is renowned across the various countries for their use of mechanisms, and his weapon only achieved precision, naturally, it is not invincible.”

“Thousand Catties Crossbow, a three-arrow burst with the power to exceed a thousand catties, able to penetrate Yang at a hundred steps, and penetrate iron armor within a hundred yards. I’ll use this in exchange for one defeat and five hundred Elite Guards.” Gu Changsheng’s voice was calm and unhurried, as he once again extended his hand.

In this era of cold weapons, creating something like this was already unfair to others, but she had to do it. She needed a bargaining chip, one that could give her the power to protect herself!

Upon hearing this, Yuan Bao was dumbfounded.

A crossbow that could fire three arrows simultaneously, penetrating Yang from a hundred steps and armor from a hundred yards, this could entirely be called a Divine Weapon!

“One defeat isn’t difficult, I’ve already given you the three thousand Elite Guards, why ask for another five hundred?” Zhou Mu asked, looking at the blueprint she insisted on pushing against his chest.

“I want five hundred Elite Guards, only loyal to me!” Only loyal to her! Not those who could be used by her but loyal to Zhou Mu!

Zhou Mu’s lips curved into a bitter smile, and he finally took the blueprint, no longer looking at her, but turning to Yuan Bao, “Issue my command: let her choose out of the three thousand Elite Guards. Those she selects, from today on, will only obey her alone and be loyal only to her.”

“Master?” Shouldn’t he confirm whether the blueprint is indeed a Divine weapon as Lady Changsheng claimed before making a decision?

“Since you insist on this, I will grant your wish. However, these three thousand Elite Guards, mostly subdued by me over the past decade, even if you take them under your command, whether you can win their loyalty will depend on your own abilities.” Zhou Mu didn’t even glance at Yuan Bao and turned to Gu Changsheng with a hint of helplessness in his eyes.

“This matter will be my concern.” Gu Changsheng returned a reassuring smile, “He who doesn’t have the diamonds shouldn’t do the fine porcelain work. Since I spoke up, naturally, I have my reasons.”

Zhou Mu looked at her with a deep gaze and asked, “What else is there? Is there anything else you wish to say?”

Gu Changsheng touched her nose and replied with an embarrassed smile, “About that, in a fit of anger, I think I might have slaughtered the City Lord’s Mansion…”

“This matter is of no concern. What about Uncle Song?” Slaughtering an entire mansion wasn’t considered a big deal, Zhou Mu was concerned about the consequences.

Gu Changsheng gave him a look that said ‘I knew you would understand’ and confessed without hiding anything, “I sent him to take your men to Prince Liang’s fief to collect grain…”

Prince Liang was quite capable, at a critical time for fighting for power and influence. Just look at the situation: apart from Zhou Mu, who earnestly stayed within his fief (not counting sneaking out), all the other Princes, Commandery Princes, they all clung to Capital City, refusing to leave.

Excuses like showing filial piety before the Court, claiming to be unwell… The variety of reasons was endless and colorful, with only one goal: to stay in Capital City, keeping a close watch on the Crown Prince’s Golden Throne and the bigger Golden Throne in the Taiji Hall!

“And?” Zhou Mu remained composed and unperturbed.

“Furthermore, I want you to put pressure on the Court under the pretext of defeat, to make Prince Liang cough up what he has swallowed!” Gu Changsheng replied straightforwardly.

“What has he swallowed?” Zhou Mu placed a hand on his forehead, looking at the spirited woman before him with utter helplessness.

“Grain, of course. Nearly seventy percent of Liuzhou Region’s grain has been devoured by him!” Gu Changsheng declared sincerely.

Not only did Zhou Mu place a hand on his forehead, but even Yue Xilou, who had been watching from the side, began to do the same!

If he remembered correctly, those grains had been properly settled by her orders…

“With such blatant lies, who would believe you?”

“Of course! If a lie is told a thousand times, it becomes the truth!” Gu Changsheng shrugged, “Besides, what if tens of thousands of people say the same thing?”

“So, you had Yuan Bao spread the word that someone maliciously hoarded grain, the City Lord’s Mansion felt something was amiss, conducted a thorough investigation throughout the region, yet coincidentally met their demise at the hands of Mountain Bandits on Baili Mountain, massacred, with the whereabouts of the grain unknown?” Zhou Mu rubbed his temples with a headache, feeling utterly powerless against her.

“As full of holes as it may be, don’t worry, with numerous mouths that can confound truth, as long as you apply the pressure well, there will naturally be wise people feigning ignorance. And Prince Liang, whether he admits it or not, will have to return that large quantity of grain.” Gu Changsheng’s smile was wicked.

“So, you anticipate that Prince Liang will definitely collect grain in his fief to settle the matter, yet you took the initiative by sending Uncle Song with men ahead of him. When the time comes, you’ll buy the grain at a low price and sell it to Prince Liang at a high price. The silver you have is not enough, so you used my name to move another two hundred thousand taels of silver out of my treasury?”

“Evildoer truly understands me. Don’t worry about the silver too much, illicitly gained silver shall be split fifty-fifty, the original grain of Liuzhou is yours, the illicit grain is mine, I need to pay my soldiers!” Gu Changsheng’s face was full of shrewd calculations.

“This game of chess is indeed masterfully played by you, using everything to its fullest, everyone to their abilities, you even planned how to divide the spoils. A woman too transparent and clever is not exactly a good thing!” Although Zhou Mu had already guessed Gu Changsheng’s plans, hearing her spell it out still made him feel exasperated, a woman too insightful is no simple matter!

“That’s right, with such a big game going on, and such easy money to be made, why didn’t you come to me?” Yue Xilou from the side felt aggrieved, two hundred thousand taels was nothing to him, such a business deal could be done lickety-split, yet Zhou Mu ended up with the sweet deal!

“Can you take the fall?” Gu Changsheng shot back a disdainful look.

Yue Xilou immediately fell silent! Alright, that was a pretty big pot, and he really couldn’t carry it!

“You’ve plotted too cleverly, but you’ve still overlooked something.” Zhou Mu couldn’t help but want to bring down a peg this overly triumphant woman.