Chapter 599 – Your Majesty Can Row Dragon Boats in His Belly (Part 2)
Looking again at the social standings of Jiang Pengji’s current team.
Feng Jin has the highest status, being the second son of the esteemed Feng family in Dongqing, hailing from a prestigious lineage.
Wei Ci is a descendant of a declining gentry family; the Hejian Wei family moved to Zhong Zhao Bianzhou, and now he’s all alone.
Feng Zhen can be considered down on his luck. His parents died young, his relatives are unreliable, and yet he still manages to be quite the spendthrift.
Excluding these three, the others have even lower social standing.
From the composition of these individuals, it’s clear that Jiang Pengji currently lacks the capital to attract talented allies.
However, if the Feng family expressed their willingness to stand by her side, the situation would be entirely different.
There would be capable individuals and ambitious figures lining up to join her, without needing Wei Ci to scheme or trick them.
This is the allure and reputation of the Feng family among the refined scholars.
Xu Ke is well aware of the potential pitfalls and hopes Jiang Pengji will weigh her choices carefully.
If she agrees too easily, wouldn’t that be inviting trouble?
A family that could switch sides at any moment—Jiang Pengji actually considers their terms to be insignificant?
“Lord, this isn’t like you…”
Xu Ke shook his head, a puzzled expression gracing his face.
This isn’t the way of their Lord; allowing the Feng family to leave would mean sending a wealth of talent and resources to a future rival.
At this moment, Jiang Pengji was still live-streaming, and among the viewers were some expert classical scholars who translated the letter’s content and dissected the underlying circumstances.
Though the viewers were merely spectators, they had certainly read plenty of political intrigue novels and were well-versed in conspiracy theories.
【Today’s Third Update】: Streamer, don’t you think agreeing to these terms is a bit of a loss? According to handsome Feng Zhen, the military strength of Shangyang County won’t hold up until next summer; a direct attack wouldn’t require much effort. If you capture the Feng family now, but they seek other paths later and stab you in the back, that would be too miserable. It might be better to be ruthless now and prevent trouble beforehand.
【Tomorrow’s Fourth Update】: Don’t rush, the streamer must have her own considerations. Any wise guy want to analyze this? Watching this stream makes me feel like my IQ isn’t enough. I’m off to find Tao Niang and buy a hundred bucks worth of IQ to boost my spirits.
【Genius Guo Fengxiao】: I think the streamer is right to act this way.
【Musician Zhuge Qinmo】: Taking a genius ID, do you really think you’re Guo Jia? So shameless.
【Genius Guo Fengxiao】: You, young one, if Jia didn’t kneel early, how would there be the time to divide the world in three parts?
The live stream isn’t exactly a peaceful place; controversies can break out daily thanks to just one ID.
【Old Driver Alliance】: Nowadays, the young folks can’t be trusted. Let me analyze and throw out some thoughts. First, remember the strategy the streamer set before? She aims to weaken the aristocratic power; during the early development, she certainly can’t let the aristocracy hold too much initiative. If the Feng family joins, she would likely be at a disadvantage. Second, having the Feng family jump in so early would attract too much hatred; it’s said that the bird that sticks its neck out gets shot first. If Changshou Wang and the Emperor join forces to eliminate her during an internal strife, what then? Third, Feng Jin is still working under the streamer; they are friends, and he must give some face to the Feng family… although I find that third reason a bit far-fetched; the streamer isn’t the soft-hearted type, but throwing it in makes her seem more personable.
【Genius Guo Fengxiao】: Of course, the most important point is, the Feng family looks down on the streamer.
This comment sparked a flood of “666,” “That hit hard, bro,” and “Spitting some real truths.”
Jiang Pengji took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to beat up these spectators.
Don’t they know that being too honest typically doesn’t end well?
“Forcefully picked fruit isn’t sweet but bitter and dry,” she scoffed; she knew well the importance of the Feng family, but she was aware they could not be forced, “Rather than creating enmity, it’s better to go with the flow and build some goodwill. Your Lord has a broad mind; he can row a boat and compete in dragon boat races. I agree to these terms, and as a show of sincerity, I will personally visit Shangyang.”
“Absolutely not, how can the Lord just leave without permission?”
Xu Ke, the steward, was in a fluster. How can the oss not stay in her lair and be wandering around?
Is she not afraid of getting caught and hunted down alone?
Jiang Pengji clicked her tongue and said, “If I don’t go to Shangyang, Huaiyu will dare to come back after the new year.”
Xu Ke was at a loss for words; how could their Lord still be fixated on this matter?
Feng Zhen couldn’t help but chuckle, saying, “Worried? If the Lord goes to Shangyang, I fear she might not want to come back even after the New Year.”
Using the excuse of catching negligent employees to escape work, their Lord was certainly quite the slippery one.
Jiang Pengji shot a glare at Feng Zhen—couldn’t he just have a little mutual understanding?
Xu Ke still wanted to protest, but Wei Ci interjected, “If the Lord goes to Shangyang, have you thought about who you will take with you?”
The trend seemed to be wavering, and Xu Ke felt utterly exhausted.
Jiang Pengji thought for a moment and said, “I originally wanted to bring Wen Zheng; with his steady demeanor, he’d be reliable for maintaining order. However, considering he has been separated from his wife for over a year and has only just been reunited, I’d rather not be a nuisance. The others each have duties and can’t leave easily… How about Zixiao accompanies me… but with your condition, I wonder if you can handle the labor of travel?”
Wei Ci’s expression changed. “My health is fine, but with busy government affairs, I fear I can’t spare the time. Why not let Zishi…”
Jiang Pengji interrupted him. “You’re still recuperating; you really can’t handle heavy matters. Just throw it over to Jing Rong; he’s worth two men on his own, no need to waste it… You’re diligent, and I have high hopes for you.”
Wei Ci: “…”
Yang Si, who had been singled out as “worth two men,” merely snorted coldly.
He was still in the government hall; did he think he was transparent?
What does ‘no need to waste it’ mean; doesn’t your conscience hurt?
Yang Si hadn’t yet agreed to join, but he was momentarily reluctant to leave due to the appeal of good food.
Relying on delicious meals to be brazen, how thick-skinned could Liu Xi be?
Does he even know how to write the words “shameless”?
Wei Ci held great hopes for Xu Ke, urging him to keep a tight rein on their Master and never let her run into trouble.
When you’re outside your own territory, everything feels perilous.
Did no one see how the most promising warlords vying against the Great Xia’s Taizu fell apart during the Sixteen Kingdoms’ turmoil?
It was merely because one warlord loved hunting; thinking himself skilled, he wandered around and got shot through the heart by a foe.
Without a heart to anchor them, their descendants fought among themselves, and officials rebelled, causing their immense power to collapse.
He worried Jiang Pengji might encounter the same unexpected fate.
It wasn’t safe outside. Although the Red Lotus Sect and the Green Garment Army were in decline, many rampaging mobs still lurked.
Jiang Pengji had no such concerns, opting for simplicity with only about forty to fifty guards.
To ensure backline defense, she only took Dian Yin, Feng Zhen, and Wei Ci along; the middle one had purely attached himself shamelessly.
She originally wanted to take Jiang Nongqin, but she was busy overseeing winter training in the female camp and hadn’t been seen recently, so that plan fell through.
