Chapter Thirty-Two: You Indulge in Black Magic

  "How can this be good?" Wang Lin's face was full of worry.

  Delighted, he smiled and said: "Uncle doesn't have to worry too much, before coming, I had already anticipated it, and I also had some plans in mind, but I still need Uncle's help!"

  Wang Lin heard this and his spirit was lifted. He looked at Gao Xing with a sincere and determined expression, saying in a low voice: "Young Master, just speak your mind, Wang Lin will definitely help you to the best of my ability!"

  Delighted, he said: "In my humble opinion, Father's official position will not last long. The Duke's title is also a calamity. This time when we return, I'll discuss with Father to resign and retreat from the world, to avoid disaster!"

  "This——" Wang Lin hesitated, his face filled with surprise and regret. Although he also held the title of king and had a high position and wealth, he did not gain the emperor's trust, and was dissatisfied with his situation, but compared to Gao Changgong's circumstances, it was much better. Wang Lin was an outsider, unable to shake the foundation of Northern Qi's imperial power, whereas Gao Changgong was different, as a member of the imperial family's direct lineage, not only talented but also famous outside, posing a great threat to Gao Wei.

  He sighed helplessly and said, "There's no other way to do this, unless..." He laughed at himself and said, "Don't mention my father being heartless, even if he had a heart, we're still powerless!"

  Wang Lin was suddenly startled and cautiously looked outside the door, but didn't see anyone. Only then did she let out a sigh of relief in her heart. Although she didn't say it out loud, Wang Lin had been rolling around in the political circle for so many years, how could she not hear the implication behind those two words "unless".

  In this era where imperial power is supreme, when the emperor orders a minister to die, the minister cannot but die. If Gao Changgong wants to completely get rid of the sword hanging over his head at all times by Gao Wei, he has no choice but to kill Gao Wei and become the emperor himself, which is treason.

  After finishing speaking happily, he quietly looked at Wang Lin, who, except for a slight change in complexion, had returned to calmness and was also quietly looking at Gao Xing.

  Wang Lin wanted to see something from Gao Xing's eyes, but what made him regret was that Gao Xing's eyes were as calm as water and as deep as a cold pool. The bright and dark pupils showed the vicissitudes of experiencing countless storms, which did not match his young face at all.

  The two of them gazed at each other quietly for a moment, and then suddenly smiled strangely. He turned his head towards the courtyard outside, looked at the starry night sky, and said: "My father has always loved the people, and what he can't put his mind at ease is also the hundreds of thousands of citizens of Xuanyuan. If my father leaves Xuanyuan, then the citizens of Xuanyuan will have to trouble Uncle a lot!"

  Wang Lin assured: "Xian Zhong, rest assured that it will be fine." After finishing speaking, Wang Lin smiled and said: "Xian Zhong has many worries, the court may reward King Wang because of this, who knows!"

  Delighted to curl up the corners of her mouth, without a word, Wang Lin herself also knew that this possibility was extremely small.

  Heaving a sigh, he said happily: "Uncle, it's getting late, I should also go back, thank you for your hospitality!" After happily bowing and bidding farewell, he slowly walked out of the hall.

  Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly stopped and turned around to say to Wang Lin: "Uncle, if one day there's a chance to attack Jiankang City, I hope you won't miss it!"

  Wang Lin was taken aback, and the excitement had already taken a big step back, but his smile with profound meaning and eyes had left a deep impression on Wang Lin's mind.

  The next day at dawn, Gao Zhan bid farewell to Wang Lin and led his troops back to Xunyang City. The people of Yangping City saw them off along the way, all the way to several miles outside the city.

  Yangping War lasted for three months, and finally ended with Huang Fahu's defeat. Although the Qi state won in the end, it was a miserable victory. The Qi army that followed Wei Pohu to assist Qin Prefecture was almost completely exhausted, and Qin Prefecture could not be kept and was incorporated into Chen Prefecture. Yangping City was also severely damaged, with more than two-thirds of its supplies consumed, half of its buildings destroyed due to the war, and over 50,000 military personnel and civilians killed or injured.

  The second day after the lifting of the siege of Yangping, Wang Xiangui, the governor of Huai State, led 10,000 soldiers to arrive late, with great fanfare, intending to assist Yangping. At this time, Huang Fahu had already been defeated and fled south, and Wang Xiangui came only to steal the fruits of victory. Wang Xiangui stayed in Yangping City for half a month, showing off his military prowess everywhere, making Wang Lin feel very uncomfortable.

  However, Wang Xiangui didn't come for nothing. After all, the Yangping city was already in a state of disrepair, and if Chen's army were to quickly regroup and attack, it would likely fall in no time. With Wang Xiangui's 10,000 soldiers intimidating them, Wang Lin could rest easy and focus on repairing the city walls and recruiting and training new soldiers. That's why Wang Lin didn't say much more.

  Gaoxing returned to Xuyi City in just two days, instructing Shang Buqi to arrange for the soldiers to rest well before hurrying home.

  After three months of development, Xuyi City has become much more prosperous. Although Chen Yu's military might is near at hand, the people have little worry, with the brave and unparalleled Langya Wang sitting in town, they have no need to be anxious.

  Moreover, Langling Wang was generous and kind, loving the people like his children. The taxation in Xuyi County was low, and the tax collection was very low throughout the country. After being severely suppressed by Gao Changgong, the unscrupulous landlords and gentry in the city no longer dared to cause trouble, which made all the poor people applaud. Many workshops have emerged in the city, where women can go to work if they have little land, with reasonable wages that are enough to supplement their family expenses.

  Within three months, the exquisite and comfortable wooden furniture of Xuyi City was sold all over the country. Countless royal nobles and wealthy merchants competed to buy it. There were improved looms, and the output of Xuyi cloth doubled, with excellent quality, which also attracted countless businessmen to come to Xuyi, making this small city on the front line extremely prosperous.

  Walking happily on the street, looking at the wispy smoke under the sunset, the satisfied smiles of passersby, the innocent and cheerful laughter of children, a warm joy in his heart. This is the result of his efforts with Gao Changgong for three months, he hopes such laughter appears on every face in the land of China, hoping this era of hardship will end soon.

  However, Yang Ping's victory inevitably touched Gao Wei's sensitive nerves, and it was unknown what other disasters awaited that doomed and tragic absolute beauty.

  Heaved a sigh of relief and continued walking home, suddenly feeling a bit heavy in his heart.

  "Hey there young man, wait a minute!" A warm and magnetic voice of a middle-aged man rang out.

  He stopped in his tracks, turned around and looked at the speaker with surprise.

  This man is about forty years old, wearing a simple and unadorned blue Taoist robe that makes his tall figure even more upright. He has sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, a wide mouth and a prominent nose, with a smooth and white complexion, as warm and gentle as clouds, and a warm smile on his face that makes people feel close to him. His three-foot-long black beard is shiny and flowing, paired with the feather duster in his right hand, and the Taoist topknot on his head, which gives him a somewhat immortal and elegant appearance.

  Delighted, he reported with a fist bump and asked doubtfully: "Sir, are you calling me?"

  He smiled and nodded: "If you can hear it, then it's you."

  Gao Xing furrowed his brow and said: "I don't know what advice you have for me, sir?"

  The Taoist walked forward, shook off the floating dust in his hand, and looked up and down with excitement. As he spoke in a low voice, his sharp six senses couldn't make out what he was saying.

  Before long, the Taoist stopped his muttering, suddenly straightened up and let out a loud cry: "It's gone wrong!"

  Delighted to be looked at in a daze, he was suddenly frightened by the sudden change. Just as he was about to ask, the Taoist priest opened his mouth and said: "Young brother, I observe that your forehead is black, it seems that misfortune has arisen, recently you may have encountered a bloody disaster! Fortunately, you met me..."

  Delighted at first, a suffocating feeling arose in her heart, and she directly interrupted him saying: "Are you implying that fortunately you met me, only then can the calamity be resolved?"

  The Taoist priest was startled and looked at him with delight, exclaiming: "Young brother is indeed clever, I only mentioned it to you and you understood, truly not an ordinary person!"

  Delighted to wave his hand impatiently: "Alright, your deceptive tricks are outdated, remember to innovate next time. I don't have the patience to bother with you, go home!" Delighted said and left, unexpectedly, the street fortune-telling scams of later generations were passed down from this moment on.

  "Hey, little brother, wait!" The Taoist priest called out from behind, confused.

  "Here you are, take it!" He happily didn't even turn his head back and lightly tossed a silver ingot behind him.