Chapter 147: Chapter 127: Murder, Arson, and Surrender? (2)

As for his resolve to use force... Qian Jin had already made it clear.

Is there any other way in Yizhou City?

Nothing more than opening the city to surrender and carrying on, regardless of who holds Yizhou City, the people’s lives will continue.

At this point, Du Chengfeng realized that this Yizhou Governor Qian Jin, although not formidable in martial arts, had articulated the pros and cons very clearly through his rhetoric—as the other party said, Da Chen would not rashly act against a martial expert with evil qi for the sake of two dead people. And under such favorable terms, it seemed unnecessary for him to fight Da Chen to the death?

At this moment, Qian Jin spoke again.

"If the General doesn’t believe me, it’s normal. After all, this matter is important and needs careful consideration, which is only human nature... How about this, I’ll first petition the court, showing Yizhou’s sincerity, and you, General, can linger a few more days in Yizhou, what do you think?"

"Release my people first."

Du Chengfeng thought for a while and decided to first get a tangible gain.

After all, his visit to the Governor’s Mansion was to capture Qian Jin to force the capturers to release his people. As for after the release... at worst, he could escape with them directly.

Given his current skills, few in Yizhou City could stop him.

"Naturally, it was all a misunderstanding, and it seems our hospitality was lacking."

Saying this, Qian Jin directly called his subordinate and sent someone to the capturers to notify them to release the detainees.

Meanwhile, Qian Jin stayed to entertain, continuing to drink with Du Chengfeng, without mentioning official matters again.

After three rounds of wine and five flavors of dishes, Du Chengfeng realized that Qian Jin was indeed a clever person—while not fit as a Governor based on martial arts, his ability at the dinner table was extraordinary. He was polite when needed and witty at other times, occasionally telling some table jokes to the point where even Du Chengfeng, the enemy, couldn’t help but laugh heartily.

In Du Chengfeng’s impression, it was only Liu Bolun who had such skill.

However, in terms of personality, Qian Jin and Liu Bolun were entirely different. Liu Bolun was prone to sighing and expressing melancholy when drinking, drawing others into his mood, but Qian Jin ensured the guests and host had a joyful time.

Comparing these two distinct figures, Du Chengfeng found it hard to judge who was superior at the drinking table.

Fortunately, he didn’t need to make any judgment now.

Because Liu Bolun had already been brought in by several capturers.

"Why, it’s you, old dog!"

Upon entering, Liu Bolun shouted and charged towards the table.

Immediately, he grabbed a gourd from his waist and smashed it on Qian Jin’s head.

Instantly, what was a joyful banquet turned chaotic, with crockery and utensils scattered all around. The capturers wanted to break up the fight but hesitated upon seeing Du Chengfeng, sitting aside—and Du Chengfeng, still under the influence of alcohol, hadn’t fully reacted, thus leaving Liu Bolun beating Qian Jin single-handedly.

"This..."

Seeing Qian Jin’s face covered in blood from the gourd, Du Chengfeng, coming to his senses, felt it was too much.

"Old Liu, wait, if you keep hitting you’ll kill him... Do you know this person?"

"He’s my godson, how could a father not recognize his son?"

Saying this, Liu Bolun was about to continue hitting.

But during this exchange, Qian Jin managed to rise and escape, even grabbing a low table to use as a shield.

The fight thus had Liu Bolun at a disadvantage due to his limited strength, and Du Chengfeng was curious as to how Liu Bolun’s peer, Qian Jin, ended up as his godfather. After clearing the table, Du Chengfeng pulled Liu Bolun to sit down.

After Liu Bolun spoke, Du Chengfeng learned that these two drinking war gods indeed had a past.

It turns out that Qian Jin used to not be called Qian Jin, but Qian Jin, a brilliant student at the Imperial Academy in the Capital City, and he was Liu Bolun’s former classmate—though both were students, their fates were different. After excelling academically, Qian Jin used connections to enter the National University while Liu Bolun...

Listening to Qian Jin’s advice, Liu Bolun tried Ruan Shantao’s path, only to be transferred to Northern Yan Province by official decree.

"Your mentor was the problem! It wasn’t me! How can you blame me for this?"

Holding the low table, Qian Jin argued his case.

"I asked if you wanted to go to the National University with me! You said you had enough of studying? How can you blame me?"

"Do you think I hit you just for that?"

Spitting on the floor, Liu Bolun turned to Du Chengfeng.

"Brother, nothing truthful ever comes out of this old dog’s mouth. We must leave soon, or court experts will come from the Capital City."

"What do you mean there’s no truth! I gave good advice!"

Hearing Liu Bolun’s words, Qian Jin stood his ground.

"As long as he becomes the recruiting general, the problem’s solved, otherwise what can you do? Are you really going to rebel with those refugees? He might survive, but will you? As if rebellion would stop the court experts from coming."

"You dog!"

Furious, Liu Bolun raised the gourd again.

But this time, he couldn’t bring himself to strike.

He knew, deep down, despite his anger, Qian Jin’s words contained the harsh truth—no matter how much the recruitment seemed a trap, it only seemed that way. The title of recruiting general did solve the issue, and the court experts might not come at all.

However, if they truly raised a rebellion, the pursuit by court experts would be certain.

Moreover, were they ready for rebellion?

The refugees likely didn’t wish for rebellion; they just wanted peaceful lives. The Ziyang Mountain Academy scholars, following Ruan Shantao’s virtuous philosophy, likely didn’t intend for rebellion. As for Du Chengfeng’s few companions... Li the carpenter was much like a refugee, and the sword-obsessed Cui Yuan probably didn’t even understand rebellion. As for himself, despite his constant sighing about Da Chen, he couldn’t truly raise a rebellion.

As for Du Chengfeng...

Throughout their time together, Liu Bolun realized that even this real rebel held no real rebellious spirit.

Whatever happened to Da Chen meant little to Du Chengfeng, even if the emperor was replaced with a prairie khan; it likely made no difference to him—initially, Liu Bolun thought Du Chengfeng might possess some unique trait like other experts. Still, after their time together, he realized Du Chengfeng was much like the refugees. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

They all just wished to live peacefully, and grandiose battles for the world were none of their concern.

"Indeed, I don’t wish to rebel."

As Liu Bolun thought, Du Chengfeng spoke.

"But I do want to find a place to spar with the court’s experts."

"...wait, what?"

Liu Bolun’s mind couldn’t process this.

What does he mean by finding a place to spar?

"So hurry, bring your court experts over."

Then Liu Bolun saw the excitement in Du Chengfeng’s eyes.

The thrill, the eagerness, and the inexplicable anticipation... were exactly the same as when he slew Qi Jinshan in the depths of the Yanzhou arsenal!

"I count on you, surely you can bring them here, right?"

Grasping the exaggerated halberd, Du Chengfeng patted Qian Jin’s shoulder.

"I can hardly wait!"