It was already two hours later when Zhao Xuan's guards finished moving the luggage and setting up the stables. By the time the Zhao arrived at the lumberyard, it was raining so hard that they were unable to get dry firewood from the field, and it was Huang Zhong who brought them the firewood for cooking and warming up in the evening. Zhao Xuan was grateful and ordered Bo Yao to take out a deer leg from his luggage and send it to Zheng Yuming to express his gratitude, Zheng Yuming loaded two plates of roasted fish and meat and asked Da Niu to bring it over to him to return the gift, and for a while, the two caravans exchanged friendly exchanges and got along well.
After dinner, it was already nine o'clock, in Qin, people used to go to bed at this time. The people in the broken house were busy with traveling during the day, and they were all tired at this time, so Bo Yao and Ma Ren negotiated to send someone to keep watch outside the broken house at night, and then everyone rested in their own place.
"My lord!" Ma Ren finished his rounds around the broken house and returned to the broken house to burrow into Zheng Yuming's tent.
"What have you found out?" Zheng Yuming leaned back on the cushion and put the teacup in his hand to the side, Ma Ren's face was very serious, it looked like he had found something unusual.
"That Liang Xuan comes from an extraordinary background, humble servant just went outside to patrol, saw Liang Xuan's mount head and neck high, strong limbs, the whole body hair black and shiny, without a trace of miscellaneous colors, is really a good horse in a million miles, not ordinary merchants can have."
Ma Ren saw Zhao Xuan in the lumberyard trail, Zhao Xuan's mount was wet by the rain, the horse appearance woeful, Ma Ren momentarily did not see that the horse's good or bad, just held up the pine torch patrol, the torch shone Zhao Xuan's mount, the mount body hair has been dry, in the torch irradiation with a bright and ghostly luster, Ma Ren examined the horse is the more you look at the more amazed, the black horse is the best horse Ma Ren has ever seen, there is no one.
"Is it really not an ordinary businessman?" Zheng Yuming mused, Zhao Xuan's talk was not bad, definitely not the same as a pure businessman like Wu Mu.
The two were discussing in low voices when light footsteps sounded outside the tent, and the wood lying at Zheng Yuming's feet raised its head only slightly, as if to recognize who it was, and rested its head on the dog's paw again. From the wooden head's demeanor one could tell that the visitor was one of their own.
"Your humble servant has met with Your Excellency." Sure enough, it was Huang Zhong who lifted the tent and entered.
Intelligence collection about Daxian, has been in charge of by Huang Zhong, Huang Zhong on Gongsun Daxian recent situation is the most understanding, Zheng Yuming this Qimen Mountain trip, will be Huang Zhong brought in the side.
"Yellow Bell, what is it?"
"My subordinate thinks that Liang Xuan is suspicious, this Liang Xuan has an outstanding character, if my subordinate has seen it, he will not forget it. There is no such outstanding character among the children of the great families of the Chen Kingdom." Huang Zhong was familiar with the powerful nobles of his own country, as he first recommended himself to the king and the great nobles in his own country, and only after he was not used did he start traveling around the vassal states.
"In that case, Liang Xuan wouldn't be from the Chen Kingdom?" Zheng Yuming stroked his chin, how could a person who owned a rare horse come from an ordinary family, and could afford to use a dozen strong guards, these guards' mounts were also horses, the family lineage of such a person could only be a big family, and Huang Zhong didn't recognize it, it meant that this person wasn't a son of the Chen Country's family, and that this person was hiding his identity.
"Definitely not from Chen, but the guards under Liang Xuan speak with a Zhao accent."
Huang Zhong was very sure that when Zhao Xuan entered the broken house he and Da Niu were by the stream north of the lumberyard; Da Niu had caught fish and returned first, while Huang Zhong had cleaned what he was going to cook in the evening and fetched buckets of water before returning. When he learned from Da Niu that the group of strangers who had come were merchants from his own country, suspicion arose in his heart, and taking advantage of the opportunity of delivering dry wood to Zhao Xuan's horse team, Huang Zhong chatted with Bo Yao and Zhao Xuan's guards, and became more certain from the accent.
"Liang Xuan is from Zhao? Could it be Prince Zhao?" Zheng Yuming raised an eyebrow, Liang Xuan and Zhao Xuan just had different surnames, it could be Prince Zhao's alias, and with the instrumental appearance, this point also matched the information.
"My subordinate thinks it's about eight or nine."
Zheng Yuming tilted his head and looked at Huang Zhong with a narrow smile, "Huang Zhong, Zhao Xuan is said to be thirsty for talent, so you didn't go to join him?"
Huang Zhong's complexion became embarrassed as he touched his nose and whispered, "The subordinate went down."
"Then how come you don't recognize Prince Zhao?" Zheng Yuming secretly thought, Huang Zhong wouldn't be so miserable that Zhao Xuan wouldn't even want to meet him.
"When my subordinate went to the Prince of Zhao's residence to seek an audience, the Prince of Zhao happened to be away, and he had taken a mission to the Kingdom of Yan to ask Lord Yan to marry Lord Yan's sister. Zhao Xuan's disciples thought that my subordinate was a mediocrity and did not treat my subordinate well."
Huang Zhong was received by Zhao Xuan's housekeeper, who, after asking him a few questions, decided that Huang Zhong had no great talent and treated him coldly. Huang Zhong was treated coldly and left Zhao for other vassal states in despair.
Zheng Yuming saw Huang Zhong recalling the past with a hard look on his face, he could not help but exit to comfort, "Luckily Prince Zhao's butler was contemptuous, otherwise, how could Yuming get a capable right hand man?" Huang Zhong has patience, observes carefully, reasoning the development of things from the smallest, is a good hand at doing intelligence.
"My subordinate is fortunate to have met the Premier Minister and the Great General, who do not mind that my subordinate does not have great talent in ruling the country." Huang Zhong's words came from his heart.
"Huang Zhong don't be mean to yourself, you are just as talented as Ma Ren, Yu Kui, Zhou Cheng, Wei Qing and the rest of them, when your talents are gathered together, you are great talents in ruling a country." Zheng Yuming felt that a country didn't need too many great talents, it only needed all kinds of screws, and the functioning of the country depended on the connection and fixation of all kinds of screws.
The corners of Huang Zhong's eyes were moist, his heart was touched, and the heart of Ma Ren next to him was unusually hot, Zheng Yuming was affirming their value.
"My lord? Since this merchant caravan is pretending to be Prince Zhao, shouldn't we take advantage of the opportunity..." After Huang Zhong was moved, he remembered that Chu Chao Hui always said that Zhao Xuan would be a great enemy of Wu in the future, and now since he had met a great enemy, he might as well slaughter this future enemy.
"Not bad, my lord, Prince Zhao and the others are definitely not wary of us, we can take advantage of their defenses in the middle of the night and cut them down in one fell swoop." Ma Ren also jumped into action.
"Unavailable." Zheng Yuming shook his head. "If the King of Zhao knows that his son was killed in Wu, he will definitely send troops to attack Wu, our Wu Kingdom is now full of holes after the civil unrest, it's the time when we need to recuperate the most, we can't afford to be tossed around. If Liang Xuan is the Crown Prince of Zhao, we not only can't move him, but we must also protect his safety, we can't let anything happen to the Crown Prince of Zhao in Wu."
"But my lord, this Prince Zhao must have come to Qimen Mountain to invite the Great Sage out of the mountain, are we to watch Prince Zhao invite the Great Sage to the Kingdom of Zhao to add wings to the fierce tiger that is the Kingdom of Zhao?" Huang Zhong was anxious, Zhao Xuan's purpose of running to Qimen Mountain disguised as a leather goods merchant could be guessed without thinking.
"Well, of course we can't let Zhao Xuan invite the great sage to Zhao."
Zheng Yuming frowned in contemplation as he waved his hand towards Huang Zhong and Ma Ren. "Huang Zhong and Ma Ren, you guys go rest, how to stop Zhao Xuan from inviting Xian, I'll figure it out."
The next morning, the spring rain stopped, the clouds cleared from the sky, and the sun jumped out. The trees around the lumberyard became more alive after the overnight rain, birds chirped merrily in the treetops of the forest, and small animals in the grass congregation scurried around in search of food.
"The view here is nice!" Zhao Xuan stood in front of the broken house, and the view in front of him was refreshing.
"Yes, this place looks like a fairyland on earth, no wonder the Great Sage didn't mind the remoteness of this place and chose to live here." Zheng Yuming walked behind Zhao Xuan to concur.
"People with great talent are always different." Zhao Xuan turned his head towards Zheng Yuming at the sound of his voice.
A green dress Zheng Yuming, standing in the sunlight, eyebrows like a painting, skin white as if transparent, the whole person has a kind of thrilling like exquisite, Zhao Xuan had a moment, the sanity a little trance.
"However, Chu does not feel that the Great Sage's name is as good as it is, and the reason why the mountain people call Gongsun, who is secluded here, a Great Sage, is that the mountain people are too stupid." Zheng Yuming's face was suddenly slightly disdainful.
"Chu Di, what do you mean by that?" Zhao Xuan was stunned, Zheng Yuming gave him the impression of a modest gentleman last night, such a modest gentleman, how could he denigrate a great sage after one night?
"Chu summed up what Daxian did and found that Daxian is actually just someone who knows some general knowledge of astronomy and some Qi Men techniques." Zheng Yuming shook his head, indicating that he saw through the Great Sage's true colors.
Zhao Xuan was displeased at the sight: "Xian Di, isn't being able to predict the wind and rain and being proficient in the techniques of Qi Men not a great sage?"
"Haha, if being able to predict wind and rain is a great sage, there are many great sages in Chu's family." Zheng Yuming laughed.
"There are many great sages in Chu Di's family?" Zhao Xuan frowned more and more, feeling that Zheng Yuming was too credulous.
"The fellows in Chu Mou's family who run around in business all year round have encountered more climatic conditions and summarized the laws, and they can also predict weather changes." Zheng Yuming recited the weather proverbs he knew. "Sunset northwestern clear. Rainbow rain at morning, rainbow clear at sunset. The earth returns to the tide, and there is rain arriving. Warm after wind, cold after snow. Heat generates wind, cold rains. East rainbow sun and west rainbow rain. Look southeast at dawn, northwest at night. Thunder in the sky, heavy rain. When spring is cold and fall is hot, there must be a rainy season..."
"Cold spring and hot fall must have rain?" Zhao Xuan thought about it, yes, it was raining yesterday after it cooled down. "What about the technique of Qi Men?"
"It is not unusual for a great sage to be able to build waterwheels; ordinary artisans in the Wu Kingdom of Weishan do, and there are several artisans in Chu's family who can build waterwheels."
"In that case, the Great Sage is a vain name?" Zhao Xuan's brows furrowed as he felt that Zheng Yuming had a point.
"Not really, this Gongsun knows more than ordinary people and is considered talented, but the name of Great Sage cannot be claimed." Zheng Yuming laughed.
"That's also a capable person. "Zhao Xuan's heart for seeking a virtuous man was a bit battered.
"My lord, how can you denigrate the Great Sage!" A disgruntled yell suddenly came from behind the two men from Da Niu.
Zhao Xuan turned his body, only to see that Da Niu's face was red and he was exhaling roughly, obviously, he had heard all the conversation between Zheng Yuming and Zhao Xuan.
"How dare you! Is there such a thing as speaking to the master's family?" Zheng Yuming was annoyed, as if he had lost face, and sternly scolded, "Back off!"
"I... I..." Da Niu blushed even more. "Dongjia you can't talk nonsense about Daxian."
"What great sage, but just more ability, how can you call yourself a sage?" Zheng Yuming snorted coldly.
"No! A great sage is a great sage! The proprietor belittles Great Sage in such a way, Da Niu is not convinced!" Da Niu was so angry that his hands flailed.
"You're nothing more than a guide hired by my Chu family, how dare you disobey the main family's words, do you still want to get paid?" There was a threat in Zheng Yuming's words.
"Humph! I don't want to be paid, I can't hear the proprietor belittling Daxian, so Da Niu will take his leave!" Da Niu was very hard-headed, making a haphazard bow with both hands towards Zheng Yuming, and left the lumberyard straight away, heading towards the outside of the lumberyard road entrance.
"This person is too unruly, Chu Di, how about my brother help you teach him a lesson?" Zhao Xuan had never seen an underling who contradicted his master like this, and for unruly underlings, Zhao Xuan punished them harshly.
"Alas! Forget it, this mountain folk is quite straight, let him be." Zheng Yuming, who originally had a tough stance, suddenly softened his attitude.
"Xian Di is too gentle." Zhao Xuan shook his head, disapproving of Zheng Yuming's appeasement of his subordinates.
"It's a pity that the following journey will be delayed without a guide." Zheng Yuming sighed, what he meant was that without a guide, purchasing medicinal herbs would require him to find someone to ask for directions.
"Where is Chu Di going to procure herbs?"
"It's near the Great Wise Residence." Zheng Yuming grimaced bitterly.
"Chu Di, Mister Liang is also going to that place to pick up furs, so it just so happens that we're on the same path." Zhao Xuan invited with a laugh. "The Great Sage's residence is not far away, we just need to find the mountain people and ask."
"Not bad! Brother Liang is right! Without that reckless man, we can still walk to our destination!" Zheng Yuming spread his face, his already handsome features were even more eye-catching because of his smile, shaking Zhao Xuan to stare for a long time.
On the trail outside the lumberyard woods, Da Niu was darting around, trying to lure Daxian away from his residence before Zhao Xuan could find him.