184: Chapter 64 Qiu Qianzhang's Intentions

"This is too much!"

Hearing Qiu Qianzhang's "if you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext" argument, Guo Jing slapped the table in anger on the spot.

Lu Chengfeng was equally indignant but tried to propose a solution: "This manor has some prestige in the Jiangnan area. Why don't we unite various Jianghu figures to resist the Jin Dynasty together?"

Hearing this, Qiu Qianzhang's eyes twitched. He raised his hand to dissuade him: "Don't be impulsive yet. Using weapons is not the best strategy."

Seeing this, Huang Rong asked tentatively: "Could it be that Senior already has a strategy to resist the Jin Dynasty?"

Qiu Qianren nodded: "There is indeed a way."

"Please speak, Hero Qiu," Lu Chengfeng said.

Qiu Qianren stroked his beard and said: "It's simple. Since the Song Dynasty is destined to perish, why don't we change sides and join the Jin Dynasty first? By working from the inside, we can help the Jin Dynasty enter Song territory sooner and unify the world."

"In this way, not only will the common people suffer less from the ravages of war, but we ourselves will be preserved, and even enjoy high official positions and endless wealth."

As soon as these words came out, Guo Jing and Mu Nianci were furious, and Lu Chengfeng and Lu Guanying's faces also turned dark.

But before they could erupt, Meng Li laughed first: "Good idea!"

Guo Jing and the others were stunned and subconsciously looked at Meng Li.

Meng Li seemed oblivious and asked Qiu Qianzhang with a smile: "However, although the Jin state is powerful, there are many factions within it. Not to mention others, there are several princes and kings alone. I wonder, in Hero Qiu's opinion, which one should we join?"

Hearing this, Guo Jing wanted to say something but was stopped by Huang Rong.

Lu Guanying was also stopped by Lu Chengfeng.

Mu Nianci was thoughtful.

Qiu Qianzhang smiled: "The Third Prince, Wanyan Hongxi, of course."

"As far as this hero knows, this Third Prince was once a great rival of the Prince of Zhao, Wanyan Honglie, in the Jin Dynasty. Now that Wanyan Honglie has been assassinated, the Third Prince stands alone as the most powerful, truly second only to one and above ten thousand. When the Jin Emperor passes away, he will surely inherit the throne."

"Therefore, people flocking to join him are as numerous as crucian carp crossing a river."

"Even Jianghu experts like Master Lingzhi and Sha Tongtian, who were originally under Wanyan Honglie's command, have one after another switched to his side."

Master Lingzhi and Sha Tongtian switched to Wanyan Hongxi?

Meng Li was a little surprised, but not much.

In the original story, these people were recruited by Wanyan Honglie relying on power and wealth; they had no loyalty to speak of. Among them, Master Lingzhi was a fence-sitter. In the original story, before Wanyan Honglie even died, he had joined Wanyan Hongxi, and later seeing Wanyan Honglie rise again, he defected back.

Guo Jing, Huang Rong, and Mu Nianci were somewhat surprised by this news.

Then, Huang Rong glanced at Qiu Qianzhang and sneered in her heart.

Just now, the other party had belittled the Five Masters as worthless, yet called Master Lingzhi, Sha Tongtian, and others Jianghu experts. His true colors were plain to see.

At this time, Meng Li asked again: "Then I wonder if Hero Qiu has a way to introduce us to this Third Prince?"

"I do!" Qiu Qianzhang replied without hesitation, then said: "This hero has met the Third Prince and can personally introduce you. However..."

"Hero, please speak plainly," Meng Li said.

Qiu Qianzhang twisted a strand of his beard and said: "This hero said just now that too many people want to join the Third Prince. In this case, even if I am willing to help introduce you, you may not necessarily be valued by the Third Prince."

"Then what should we do to be valued by the Third Prince?" Meng Li asked.

Qiu Qianzhang stroked his beard and remained silent.

Lu Chengfeng saw that Meng Li wanted to bait Qiu Qianzhang into talking. Seeing this, he cooperatively poured a cup of wine for Qiu Qianzhang: "Please give us some guidance, Hero Qiu."

Qiu Qianzhang then smiled with satisfaction and said: "This matter is not difficult to say."

"To tell you the truth, this hero's departure from seclusion this time is to handle a very important matter for the Third Prince. If this great matter is accomplished, when the Jin Dynasty moves south in the future, it will surely be unstoppable and destroy the Great Song in one fell swoop. At that time, there will certainly be extraordinary merit."

"If you can assist this hero in accomplishing this matter, and then with my introduction, you will surely gain the Third Prince's favor."

"I wonder what the great matter Senior wants to handle is?" Huang Rong asked curiously.

Qiu Qianzhang unanswered with a question: "Have you heard of Wu Mu's Testament?"

Lu Chengfeng and Huang Rong were taken aback, obviously having heard of it.

Guo Jing and Mu Nianci were somewhat bewildered.

Meng Li felt strange in his heart; could the matter Qiu Qianzhang was talking about be finding Wu Mu's Testament?

"What is Wu Mu's Testament?" Guo Jing asked.

Meng Li explained: "Wu Mu's Testament is a miraculous book on military strategy left by the famous anti-Jin general Yue Fei, also known as Yue Fei. It is also called the 'Secrets to Defeating the Jin.' It is said to contain not only methods for dealing with the Jin state but also Yue Fei's lifelong insights into military operations."

Guo Jing and Mu Nianci then understood.

Qiu Qianzhang said: "Correct."

"The great matter this hero is going to do this time is to find Wu Mu's Testament and then present it to the Third Prince to help the Jin Dynasty destroy the Song Dynasty."

Guo Jing was stunned: "That Wu Mu's Testament was left by Marshal Yue to deal with the Jin people. How can it be given to the Jin people to turn around and deal with the Great Song? It should be given to the Great Song so that the Great Song can be saved, and perhaps even destroy the Jin state."

"Naive! Childish!"

Qiu Qianzhang sneered and then said: "The Jin is strong and the Song is weak. The destruction of the Song Dynasty is the general trend. How can a book of military strategy change that?"

"Let alone a testament, even if Yue Fei were reborn, he would be powerless to turn the tide."

"Back then, Yue Fei was indeed capable and drove the Jin people back repeatedly. And the result?"

"He was killed on a trumped-up charge."

Guo Jing was speechless.

Huang Rong also didn't know what to say.

Lu Chengfeng and Lu Guanying were also silent.

Mu Nianci glanced at Meng Li.

Meng Li: "..."

He wanted to say it had nothing to do with him, but remembering that in this life his surname was Zhao, he swallowed his words and could only secretly think, 'The sins of the predecessors are paid for by the descendants.'

Thinking of this, Meng Li had no heart to ask further.

Because he had already obtained Wu Mu's Testament long ago.

It was impossible for Qiu Qianzhang to find it.

Even if he exhausted his efforts researching literature and data, at most he would only find the empty box left by Shangguan Jiannan in the Song Dynasty imperial palace.

As for the Iron Palm Sect's Forbidden Ground...

In the original story, only Qiu Qianren knew about it. Huang Rong and Guo Jing both discovered it by accident from the painting stolen by Qu Lingfeng. Now that the former was dead, the painting containing the clues was sitting in Meng Li's portable space along with Wu Mu's Testament.

After a moment, Huang Rong asked: "Then does Senior know where Wu Mu's Testament is?"

Qiu Qianzhang replied: "Hangzhou."

"Really?"

"Naturally it's true," Qiu Qianzhang affirmed, then explained: "To tell you the truth, the reason why Prince of Zhao Wanyan Honglie recruited Jianghu people like Master Lingzhi and Sha Tongtian was for the purpose of finding that Wu Mu's Testament."

"Wu Mu's Testament is in Hangzhou, which is the result of their many analyses and inquiries."

Huang Rong nodded and asked again: "Where in Hangzhou?"

Qiu Qianzhang glanced at her: "If this hero knew, why would I need your help?"

"So that's how it is. Then Senior wants us to go to Hangzhou to find Wu Mu's Testament?"

"Indeed."

"Aren't Senior's ears and eyes spread all over the north and south? You can even find out the military secrets of the Jin Dynasty's preparation to move south. With such powerful intelligence capabilities, finding Wu Mu's Testament should be no problem. Why do you need our help?"