Chapter 107 Weird
"Your Majesty, you know me. I am usually very busy! Things like lobbying..."

Zhao Mu looked around and talked about something else.

If you want to help me, you have to show some sincerity!
"I understand, and I will certainly not let His Royal Highness Prince Mu work in vain!"

Zhu Houcong was very clear about Zhao Mu's little thoughts. This kid would not do anything without benefits. He would not ask for this without some benefits!
"Yancheng is connected to Nanyang in the north. If I take over Liaodong, Nanyang will belong to you!"

Hearing this, Zhao Mu couldn't help but laugh.

To the west of Nanyang is Beiliang, to the south is Yancheng, and to the southeast is Xiangyang, which was originally surrounded by Liyang.

During these years, Wu Sangui guarded Nanyang, but he also kept in touch with the Liyang court in secret.

That place is dangerous. As a bridgehead in the south of the Ming Dynasty, Nanyang could be annexed by Liyang at any time.

Wu Sangui had long had evil intentions, and Zhu Houcong was planning to kill him with a borrowed knife.

Nanyang does not mean much to Zhu Houcong.

At least compared to Liaodong, Nanyang seems less important.

If Li Yang wanted to occupy that place, he just needed to wave his hand.

Instead of focusing energy there, it would be better to give Nanyang away in exchange for peace in the north.

What's more, this move can also shift the conflict to Zhao Mu.

You know, Nanyang controls the eastward route of Beiliang.

Whoever occupies Nanyang will become a thorn in Xu Xiao's side.

Zhu Houcong's move was indeed brilliant.

But Zhao Mu was indeed attracted to Nanyang.

His alliance with Xu Xiao was not solid. If he could take Nanyang, and if Xu Xiao refused to obey him in the future, Nanyang could stop him. And if he united with the world, Nanyang, as his rear base, could cut off his retreat.

This place means a lot to Zhao Mu.

"Your Majesty really knows how to do business!"

Zhao Mu took a deep breath and said, "I promised. I will go to discuss the matter with Japan!"

"It just so happens that I also want to meet that person!"

Zhu Houcong stopped, turned around, raised his hand, took out a token and handed it to Zhao Mu.

"This is my personal order. With this token, you can mobilize the Liaodong Army! I hope Your Highness will not let me down!"

Zhao Mu took the token and turned to leave.

He knew that this thing was just a symbol, and Zhu Houcong would never entrust his fate to others.

This is true when dealing with Zhu Wusi, and also when dealing with yourself.

After leaving the palace, Zhao Mu returned to the inn.

"How? Who won?"

Piaoxu hurried over to meet him.

"I don't know. It doesn't matter who wins or loses!"

Zhao Mu had no interest in the competition between Ye Gucheng and the other man. To him, it was just a show.

The moment Ximen Chuxue and the other person realized the meaning of this, their victory or defeat was already decided.

"Where's your father? He left, didn't he?"

Now that Zhu Wushi's rebellion has failed, Hulong Villa will inevitably be liquidated. As Zhu Wushi's external aid, Yagyu Tajima-no-kami is better kept secret as much as possible, even though Zhu Houcong already knows about his relationship with Zhao Mu.

"Don't worry, if father wants to leave, no one can stop him!"

Piaoxu said this with confidence.

Zhao Mu firmly believed in this.

Although Yagyu Tajima-no-kami's cultivation level is only at the Grandmaster level, his ninjutsu is indeed mainly based on escape. If he wants to leave, even the Grandmaster cannot stop him.

"Go find your father first and tell him to arrange a meeting between me and Hayato Tenin. I will go to Liaodong later. This time, I will also fulfill the promise I made to your father!"

When Piaoxu heard this, she immediately perked up and was about to get ready, but suddenly stopped. "Um... don't you want me to follow you on the road?"

"I'm going to Liaojin first. Before that, you should meet up with your father and get ready!"

Zhao Mu didn't want to bring anyone else with him. The fewer people who knew about this, the better.

It’s not that he didn’t believe Piaoxu, but that he didn’t believe Zhu Houcong.

The target was too obvious with two people, so he planned to go alone.

By then, it will be much easier to get rid of the tail!

Although Piaoxu was not very happy, she had no choice but to carry out Zhao Mu's orders obediently.

The next morning, Piaoxu left the inn and rushed to meet up with Yagyu Tajima no Kami.

Zhao Mu also packed up and left the capital.

Due to the war in Liaodong, the area north of the capital was sparsely populated.

Many people have already fled.

In recent years, the Jurchens have frequently moved south, causing this land to become scorched.

The dilapidated ruins I saw were countless.

Along the way, there are only a few post stations connecting this once prosperous ancient road.

However, not long after Zhao Mu left the capital, he turned to a small road.

He doesn't want to be stared at all the time.

The post stations along this route were all built by the Ming Dynasty. If I take the official road, my every move will probably be seen by Zhu Houcong.

Although Zhao Mu was not afraid of exposing anything, the feeling of being stared at made him uncomfortable.

Fortunately, Liaodong is flat and the road is not difficult to travel.

But this silent mountain seems desolate.

As night gradually fell, Zhao Mugang lit a bonfire in a dilapidated temple beside the mountain path.

Then several people in strange clothes walked in.

Those people looked strange, wearing ragged clothes and looking dirty, as if they were fleeing from disaster.

However, their temperament revealed their identities as practitioners.

"Hey, young man, we are fleeing and passing by here. Please be kind and let us rest here for a night!"

One of them was a tall and thin man, limping up with a wooden crutch. His face was stiff and he tried hard to force a smile, but he looked as horrible as a zombie!
"Please feel free to do so!" Zhao Mu raised his hand, and the others walked aside and sat down.

Zhao Mu noticed that they were all surrounding a woman and protecting her very well. After the woman sat down, the others went to look for firewood.

The woman looked a little old, with wrinkles all over her face and dark skin. Her gray hair looked messy and dry under her linen cloak.

But Zhao Mu noticed that the woman's hands tucked into her sleeves were unusually white and tender.

Obviously this woman has changed her appearance.

Soon, those people also lit a bonfire and gathered around it to keep warm.

"Brother, long time no see!" The tall and thin man came up and said, "Where are you going, brother? We are lost and want to ask for directions!"

"Shenyang!" Zhao Mu took a look at the tall and thin man. The man's face was gloomy and there was a dark cloud between his brows. It was obvious that he was poisoned.

But looking at the mountain, it seemed as if nothing had happened. It was probably poisoned by some kind of insect poison.

"What a coincidence, we are going to Shengjing too! If you don't mind, can you take us with you?"

The tall and thin man squatted down and said with an embarrassed look on his face!

"This is the first time for all of us to come to Liaodong, and we are not familiar with the roads here!"

"Well, don't worry. We are all martial artists. We can protect your safety on the road!"

"Oh, by the way, according to your rules, we will also pay for the travel expenses!"

(End of this chapter)