The girl in the green cloud pattern cross-collared jacket held a bead in her hand, a White Tiger Pearl from the Xue Family. It was said to be obtained from the ancestor General Xue, allowing it to conceal one’s presence. Otherwise, she would have been discovered by the boy as soon as she approached.
How could it have been such a joke otherwise?
Li Guanyi asked, "Has anything significant happened in the world in the last month?"
Behind the curtain, the girl smiled and lowered her eyes, saying, "Changes are brewing in the world, with many developments here and there. The Western Desert, Turkic Grasslands, Northern Domain’s Gate—what specifically would the gentleman like to know?"
Li Guanyi noticed the natural shift in address from the opposite side.
This year, Changfeng Building was gradually becoming more standardized. No longer was it like a year ago in Zhenbei City, where the tower master of one building could know Li Guanyi’s true identity. Li Guanyi slightly raised his eyes and said, "Then, please let the tower master detail it."
The girl opened a scroll, then placed her finger on one sheet, flicking it gently. The scroll shot across the curtain, landing in front of Li Guanyi, as she said, "If you ask, there has been significant change on the Turkic Grasslands."
"The Turks have begun to restrict trade with other countries, and even the Xue Family is greatly impacted. These people of the grasslands, both bold and cunning, have started to massively purchase tea bricks and salt iron while substituting horses with cattle and sheep in their goods."
"What does the gentleman think of this?"
Li Guanyi replied, "The grasslands don’t produce vegetables, and tea bricks are a necessity to prevent many diseases. War horses, salt, and iron are instruments of war; the Great Khan of the grasslands is preparing for a war."
The girl’s voice was clear: "The Xue Family discovered that Chen Country has also begun to restrict, but Ying Country seems unaware, supplying the Turks with tea bricks and refined salt."
She handed over another scroll, which described in detail the responses of Chen Country and Ying Country to the changes regarding the Turks. From these changes, Li Guanyi instantly realized that the person responsible for this part in Chen Country had been replaced by the famous general Lu Youxian.
In Ying Country, it seems that Mr. Po Jun’s strategy had succeeded.
Ying Country and the Turks must have formed some sort of alliance.
The World’s Number One Divine General in Ying Country and the World’s Second Divine General, who is also the strongest armored cavalry commander, with the Turkic Great Khan forming a chaotic times alliance? Li Guanyi felt a great pressure.
At this time, with the gathering of intelligence, the sense that time and trends were slowly advancing was palpable. Li Guanyi himself had gained something, even a great deal, with the academy, reputation, and an alliance agreement with Ji Zichang.
And while the Emperor of Ying Country was fishing and drinking, a wordless ’alliance’ with the Turkic Great Khan had already been formed. Such an alliance may not be amicable, possibly forcing the Great Khan into such a stance.
The Turks changed their trade exchanges, Chen Dingye of Chen Country and Lu Youxian were also restricting Chen Country’s commerce, and Jiang Wanxiang almost simultaneously limited the Xue Family. Signs of chaotic times are becoming more evident.
This is the struggle to cross.
The meaning of the struggle to cross lies not in crossing, but in the struggle, striving to be first.
If in these chaotic times, heroes rise, commanding strong armies and fierce generals, strategists and wise men, and everyone sees from their own path the strategy to conquer the world, then indeed it is a race to be first.
Whoever can occupy the strategic position first will win.
Po Jun’s strategy, Lingjun’s situation, Wen He’s people, are all seeking that first move to remain undefeated.
Li Guanyi felt a slight sense of urgency within him.
Elder Xue is a hero, a rich merchant, while Chen Dingye and Jiang Wanxiang are kings setting the rules. Li Guanyi looked over the changes recorded in the scrolls and said, "Chen Country is restricting commerce, is the Xue Family doing well?"
The girl’s voice was calm, unhurried as she replied:
"Of course, the Xue Family is affected in many ways."
"These are the major events recently happening in Chen Country..."
She seemed prepared, arranging the corresponding scrolls one by one. Having already provided two sheets, before Li Guanyi could ask further, her finger was already on the third scroll, pushing it gently forward:
"Emperor Chen established the son of Empress Xue as the Crown Prince and announced it to the world. Although the Xue Family still maintains overall order under the old family head’s guidance, popular sentiment is tumultuous. Once Chen Country gains the upper hand, the Xue Family will become imperial relatives."
"These four words hold immense allure for the Xue Family’s disciples."
"The hearts of people have been stirred."
"Chen Dingye appointed Lu Youxian as the Great General to address the Western Regions."
"Chen Dingye appointed the father of Yan Daiqing from the eighteen states’ state city in Jiangnan as the Vice Minister of Rites, bestowing upon him the jade belt and titles such as Grand Academician and Silver and Green Guanglu Doctor, becoming the center of attention."
Li Guanyi observed each of Chen Dingye’s actions, exhaling a slight breath.
Suddenly, he felt even more apologetic.
Yan Daiqing had only joined later in the Qilin Army, and within the Qilin Army, there were somewhat critical voices considering him an outsider, not having experienced the twenty-thousand-li trek and the bloody pacification of Jiangnan.
In such circumstances, Chen Dingye was also rewarding Yan Daiqing’s father.
With this information reaching the Qilin Army, distrust and suspicion naturally arose.
In such a scenario, Yan Daiqing needed to restrain the aristocratic families and appease the populace while also facing some internal pressure and skepticism from the Qilin Army, resolutely implementing various policies.
Li Guanyi felt an immense apology, only thinking that when these silver coins could be transported back to Jiangnan, it might allow Yan Daiqing a bit of relief.