Pingting County Government Hall.

"The tea that the Wu Family sent from Jiangnan some time ago, called Biluochun, I brought some together with Mr. Geng."

Watching the maid pour tea for him, Chen Mo suddenly remembered something and quickly called Sun Meng to bring the tea they carried.

"Has the Marquis allied with the Wu Family?" Just as Geng Songfu was about to drink tea, he quickly put down his teacup and asked upon hearing this.

Chen Mo shook his head: "I wish to, but the Wu Family is unwilling. Instead, they sent me three hundred thousand coins, hoping for mutual goodwill."

"That's good." Geng Songfu sighed in relief.

"Hmm?" Chen Mo was momentarily stunned on seeing this.

"At that time, I told the Marquis that after taking Yu State, he should seize Linzhou, thus establishing a territorial presence. Once the situation changes in the future, he can either advance to attack Huai State or retreat to Jiangdong. But who would have thought, the situation has changed so quickly now. The once-dominant Celestial Master Army is now on the brink of destruction.

Therefore, the next step for Prince Huai is bound to expand his territory and accumulate power in preparation for eliminating Xu Guozhong, with the Marquis as his target. Currently, King Chong's troops are aiding the Yuezhi Clan in Longyou. Once the warfare in Longyou ends, they could swiftly move south to attack Yu State. At that time, it will be difficult for the Marquis to withstand the offensive from both sides.

Therefore, before Prince Huai targets the Marquis, the Marquis must immediately take Jiangdong, so that even if the Marquis loses the war against Prince Huai, he can rise again." Geng Songfu slowly analyzed the current situation for Chen Mo.

However, if Chen Mo did ally with the Wu Clan, it would be inappropriate to then attack Jiangdong.

"But..." Chen Mo hesitated, saying: "The Wu Clan just gave me three hundred thousand coins; attacking them now would be a bit inappropriate, wouldn't it?"

"Didn't the Marquis just say, those three hundred thousand coins from the Wu Family are for improving the livelihood of the people, not for the Marquis to keep." Geng Songfu said.

Chen Mo: "..."

He realized that Geng Songfu also had a cunning side.

"If the Marquis really feels bad about it, you could return the three hundred thousand coins."

"Then let's forget it."

There's no point in returning what's already received.

As for feeling bad, so be it.

In his past life, the Song Dynasty paid the Jin Dynasty annual tribute every year, yet the Jin Dynasty attacked it anyway, without any sense of embarrassment.

Besides, Geng Songfu's right; Jiangdong has immense strategic importance for him.

Seeing Chen Mo pondering, Geng Songfu added: "I heard the Marquis wants to take the five thousand navy of the Celestial Master Army from Prince Huai?"

Chen Mo nodded: "That's the Nangong Family's navy. Also, my father-in-law is in that navy. Emotionally and logically, I must rescue them."

"That's excellent." Geng Songfu lightly tapped the table: "Once you have those five thousand navy soldiers, our army will have the capital to descend into Jiangdong."

Chen Mo narrowed his eyes, hearing that Geng Songfu intended to take over these five thousand navy soldiers.

In theory, this is a matter for the Nangong Family, and these five thousand navy soldiers are the foundation of the Nangong Family. Once rescued, they should return to the Nangong Family.

However, this also aligned with his own thoughts. Chen Mo also wanted to commandeer this navy; otherwise, why would he personally come to Qingzhou?

Is it really just to rescue his father-in-law?

It's merely incidental.

But this matter still requires careful planning, and Chen Mo started discussing the strategy of distant ally and close attack with Geng Songfu.

Similarly, this opened up new ideas for Geng Songfu.

He hadn't thought in this direction before.

The things he worries about exceed even Chen Mo - internal affairs of Qingzhou, providing suggestions for Chen Mo, and so on; he couldn't consider everything.

"Yang Xian, Captain Yang, and I once served as officials together in the court. The difference is, he was steadily promoted, while I…" As he spoke, Geng Songfu couldn't help but sigh.

Yang Xian hailed from a military lineage; his ancestors once followed the Grand Ancestor Emperor, though they didn't achieve much merit, so after the founding of the nation, their official position wasn't high, but not low either, as a Langzhong General.

Their descendants were also fairly standard, having undergone nearly four hundred years of development and operation, with each generation holding official status in the court. Now, the Yang Family of the Shu Residence also holds a certain renown in the Great Song Dynasty.

The Yang Family is deeply entrenched in the Shu Residence.

During the late Emperor's reign, Yang Xian's father, Yang Teng, entered the Capital and was appointed as Captain, holding military power.

After Yang Teng passed, Yang Xian took over his father's position, commanding his father's forces.

Later, Yang Xian noticed the unstable situation in the Capital and found an excuse to leave the Capital, taking his troops back to his hometown, the Shu Residence.

Afterwards, chaos erupted, and Yang Xian recruited soldiers and horses in the Shu Residence, eventually responding to Prince Huai's call to support the King and crusade against Xu Guozhong.

"During my time with Captain Yang in the Capital, we developed some rapport. If the Marquis wishes to ally with Captain Yang, I could write a letter... but..." Saying this, Geng Songfu suddenly shook his head, and said:

"Since it's an alliance, merely sending a letter seems insufficiently respectful. We should personally dispatch an envoy to the Shu Residence to discuss in detail with Captain Yang."

Chen Mo nodded; indeed, if it's an alliance, sending just a letter would be too perfunctory, leading the other side to think your intention for alliance is neither firm nor sincere.

"If it's an alliance, it would be best for the Marquis to personally go, but the Three States cannot be left without the Marquis. How about, if the Marquis trusts me, I am willing to replace the Marquis and make a trip to the Shu Residence." Geng Songfu said.

"Mr. Geng." Hearing this, Chen Mo was taken aback.

It's not that he doesn't trust Geng Songfu; it's precisely because he trusts him so much. At his age, he is willing to make a personal trip to the Shu Residence for his sake, which is truly moving.

Chen Mo isn't an emperor, but he feels that Geng Songfu is indeed his right-hand man.

"Mr. Geng is of an advanced age; how can I let you toil? I will send Sun Meng and Han Wu instead; one is my Captain of the Personal Guard, and the other is my sister-in-law's relative, sufficiently illustrating my sincerity." Chen Mo said.

However, Geng Songfu shook his head and said: "Marquis, an alliance is not child's play; it requires strategy. Captain Sun and Captain Han aren't quite suitable, whereas I once served as an official alongside Captain Yang, which makes me the most suitable.

As for Xiliang, Captain Sun and Captain Han can go."

Compared to the Shu Residence, Xiliang is farther from Chen Mo.

Hence, the alliance with the Shu Residence can be closer, while Xiliang can be slightly more aloof.

...

On the other side, at the Yi Family Courtyard.

Yi Shiyin had already returned to the Yi Family to see her parents, while the Xia Sisters stayed together.

At this time, the two women were soaking in a bath barrel together; sister bathing together - this had never happened before they became Chen Mo's women.

But after being with Chen Mo for a while, and serving him together countless times, the sisters had already adapted to being candid with each other, sharing skin-to-skin contact.

"Covered in that scoundrel's scent, it feels much better after washing off." Xia Zhining lazily said while soaking in the bath barrel.

During the journey, the conditions didn't allow, and the two sisters hardly washed up.

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