Chapter 123 Under One Person

"Brother Gao, you really disappoint me!
There are many people in this world who are in a worse situation than you, but they have not lost hope or the spirit of advancement!
Is it true that adversity makes people motivated, while prosperity makes people lazy? "

Zhu Chengwu frowned and looked at Gao Yao.

Zhu Chengwu was really disappointed by Gao Yao's loss of fighting spirit.

Zhu Chengwu even felt a little regretful about teaching Gao Yao the "Hunyuan Tongzi Gong" which could improve his innate strength to the peerless level.

As an internal skill that can improve one's physical constitution to a peerless level, "Hunyuan Tongzi Gong" is, to a certain extent, more valuable than the two unique martial arts "Fire Palm" and "A World Away" that Zhu Chengwu later taught Gao Yao.

"Brother Wu, although I was ignorant when I was young, the goals I set were ridiculous!
But I never said I would stop here!"

Gao Yao's face straightened, and he exuded an air of high spirits that was more manly than most real men.

Gao Yao's bitter smile and frustration did not mean that he would stop moving forward.

Gao Yao has never lost his ambition to improve himself in martial arts.

Gao Yao smiled bitterly only because he saw the huge gap between him and Zhu Chengwu.

Gao Yao was depressed only because he felt that he might never be able to catch up with Zhu Chengwu in this lifetime.

Not bad!

Catch up!

Gao Yao’s goal is to reach the top step by step. If there is still a Zhu Chengwu above his head, how can Gao Yao be considered to have reached the top?
Catching up with and surpassing Zhu Chengwu has always been Gao Yao's wish that he has never told anyone.

Although they were "good brothers", and even though Gao Yao surpassed Zhu Chengwu, he had no intention of betraying Zhu Chengwu and becoming the master.

But Gao Yao just wanted to surpass Zhu Chengwu.

It doesn’t matter about the right to speak or power... Gao Yao just wants to be able to "help" Zhu Chengwu one day.

"Help" Zhu Chengwu with a stronger attitude than Zhu Chengwu, instead of being just a vassal and subordinate of Zhu Chengwu as it is now.

Everyone has their own ideas!
Gaoyao, the same goes!
"Good! Brother Gao, I'm glad you still have such fighting spirit!
Cousin Xinghan’s foundation has been severely damaged and his potential has been exhausted because of the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Method!

In the entire Fu'an Marquis Mansion, besides me, you are the only one who has the greatest hope of becoming a grandmaster.

Moreover, with the "Hunyuan Tongzi Gong" here, when you practice the "Hunyuan Tongzi Gong" to the highest level, you will naturally develop a peerless root bone.

You don’t have to worry about the root bone level anymore!

As for magical skills, Brother Gao, I have four choices here, three magical skills with the same name and the royal family's secret Tiangang Boy's Skill...

Brother Gao, when I was teaching Shilin and Rongwei, I asked you the same question. Have you thought about it now?
Should I choose a magical skill now and study it, and then switch to it after I have mastered the Hunyuan Tongzi Kung? Or should I focus on the Hunyuan Tongzi Kung first, and then consider which one to switch to after I have mastered the Hunyuan Tongzi Kung and achieved a peerless root bone?"

Looking at Gao Yao in such a state, Zhu Chengwu also realized that he had misunderstood Gao Yao.

How could Gao Yao, who has such a high spirit, lose his enterprising spirit in martial arts?

Zhu Chengwu had high expectations for Gaoyao.

Gao Yao, who had experienced countless hardships since childhood, surpassed Zhao Xinghan in hard work and perseverance.

Moreover, Gao Yao has always been on Zhu Chengwu's side since he was a child, and has never had any experience of conflicting with other people or other forces.

Unlike Zhao Xinghan, who was born into the Zhao family and had an unclear relationship with the Zhao family for a long time...

"I'd better wait until I have mastered the Hun Yuan Tong Zi Gong!

It's easy to be distracted when you have too many skills! Hunyuan Tongzi Kungfu, A World Away, and Fiery Palm have taken up all my time!

Plus the internal affairs of the mansion...

Forget it, Brother Wu, you are right!
I have too much work on my hands, so just hand it over to County Lady Min'an!
I have no objection! "

Gao Yao still had the same attitude as when Zhu Chengwu first asked him more than a month ago.

First practice the Hunyuan Tongzi Gong to the highest level, and then consider practicing other magical skills.

Zhu Chengwu did not object to Gao Yao's decision.

There is actually not much difference between the two choices, and Zhu Chengwu respects Gao Yao's own decision.

However, when Gao Yao replied, he thought about the past two months, when he was busy with many tasks, which resulted in no time to practice martial arts, and his martial arts had made no progress in the past two months. Therefore, he no longer opposed Zhu Xiumin's decision to take over the internal affairs of the Marquis' Mansion.

This was a pleasant surprise for Zhu Chengwu.

As a superior who possesses extraordinary powers and is an absolute backbone who is not too worried about his subordinates' betrayal, Zhu Chengwu hopes that his subordinates can work together instead of wasting time and effort and holding each other back.

Deliberately creating conflicts among subordinates in order to achieve the purpose of mutual checks and balances is not very practical for Zhu Chengwu.

"Brother Gao, I'm glad you can figure it out.

Whether it is you or Min'an, I hope you can keep up with my pace and accompany me.

When people live in this world, worldly affairs are inevitable, but I hope you don’t spend all your energy on them.

Martial arts is what you should devote more energy to!
As for resources, Brother Gao, the Marquisate will do its best to meet your needs for cultivation."

Zhu Chengwu expressed his happiness that Gao Xiang had come to his senses and agreed to hand over the internal affairs of the Marquisate to Zhu Xiumin.

At the same time, the importance of martial arts was emphasized again.

He also promised Gao Yao that he would try his best to provide him with the resources he needed for his practice.

"Brother Wu, the venue for the martial arts competition at Jiuhua Mountain outside the city has been almost completed.

Lord Cui Zongyan and Zhu Chengcheng, a member of the Zhu clan, have made great contributions to this matter. Do you want to meet them?"

Gao Yao didn't care too much about the resource supply issues that Zhu Chengwu had promised again.

As Zhu Chengwu's absolute confidant and one of the three heroes of the Marquisate, Gao Yao has never lacked resources.

Although they are not as good as Zhu Chengwu's high-level resources, Gao Yao has never been short of ordinary resources.

This is also the important reason why Gao Yao can follow Zhao Xinghan and achieve first-class results at this age, and even retain the hope of reaching the Grandmaster level!

Moreover, now that Zhu Chengwu has successfully defeated the Grandmaster, his prestige has greatly increased, and the resources of the Marquis' Mansion will surely increase as well.

Of course, Gao Yao was certain that Zhu Chengwu would not be short of his cultivation resources, and that Zhao Xinghan's potential had been exhausted and no one could compete with him anymore...

Many times, luck is more important than hard work!

Just like Gaoyao now.

Therefore, Gao Yao directly changed the topic to Cui Zongyan and Zhu Chengcheng.

Over the past month, Gao Yao has been in charge of the overall work of the Fu'an Marquis Mansion and has had a lot of contact with Zhu Chengcheng. He has seen Zhu Chengcheng's ability and level of experience.

Gao Yao felt that Zhu Chengcheng had room to develop in the Fu'an Marquis Mansion.

You can also obtain a good position in the Fu'an Marquis Mansion.

As for Cui Zongyan, Cui Shuyun's biological father, they have only met for ten days.

But Cui Zongyan's ability, ideals and determination deeply impressed Gao Yao. Cui Zongyan has now been promoted from a fourth-rank official...

Although because of Zhu Chengwu's existence, Gao Yao's ideal of climbing to the top step by step is impossible to achieve.

But Gao Yao still has to strive to get the position second only to the first person.

Being second to none is Gao Yao’s latest goal.

However, Gao Yao was, after all, a eunuch who had been castrated, and the imperial court and Zhu clan members were the first issues Gao Yao needed to consider.

Cui Zongyan and Zhu Chengcheng were the allies chosen by Gao Yao to deal with the Ming court and the Zhu family's Dazongzhengyuan.

The small mountain culture that has been looming in the Fu'an Marquis Mansion recently was brought up by Gao Yao.

Therefore, Gao Yao would certainly strive to get his own ally to appear in front of Zhu Chengwu and get the opportunity to be valued by Zhu Chengwu.

Before Zhu Chengwu could accomplish his great cause, Gao Yao was already laying the groundwork and making plans for what would happen after Zhu Chengwu ascended the throne...

I have to say that Gao Yao is a visionary!
"Zhu Chengcheng, I remember him. I previously asked him to connect with various forces in Xuzhou City to carry out rescue work for the disaster-stricken people, and he did a very good job.

Before I went into seclusion, I had met him once and even gave him a position as a deacon in the External Affairs Office of the Marquis of Fu'an's Mansion.

Let him make full use of the advantages of the generations of Yanhou lineage in business to help Fa Yan open up new trade routes. Why is he now going to Jiuhua Mountain to build a venue for the martial arts test?"

Zhu Chengwu looked at Gao Yao in confusion.

“Brother Wu, although Zhu Chengcheng is a descendant of the Salt Marquis, after his title was stripped, the Salt Marquis lineage rarely engaged in business anymore!

If it weren’t for Director Zhu Chengcheng, he wouldn’t be able to stay in the Foreign Affairs Office!
So after discussing with Chief Steward Dai, I seconded Zhu Chengcheng to help me oversee the construction of the venue for the Jiuhua Mountain Martial Arts Competition.

I have had too many things to do in the past period of time, and there are not many people in the Internal Affairs Department who can be used!"

Gao Yao explained.

Zhu Chengwu knew that the Internal Affairs Department was indeed short of talent.

After all, the main responsibility of the Internal Affairs Department is to serve Zhu Chengwu, and the main skills of the staff of the Internal Affairs Department are focused on serving and waiting on people.

Even Gao Yao, under Zhu Chengwu's instructions, trained and mastered the armed force of the Death Squad.

But since they are called the Death Squad, it is self-evident where their skills lie.

However, if Gao Yao is really short of staff to this extent, is it necessary to recruit people from Dai Fayan’s Foreign Affairs Office?

Zhu Chengwu felt that this might not be entirely true!

You know, in order to open up new trade routes, the Foreign Affairs Office headed by Dai Fayan is in urgent need of staff.

Moreover, Gao Yao is short of people. With the current power of the Fu'an Marquis' Mansion, which one of the Xuzhou government offices, the Xuzhou county government, and all the major forces in the city would not provide great assistance?
At this moment Zhu Chengwu finally reacted. Gao Yao initially reacted so strongly to Zhu Chengwu handing over the internal affairs of the Marquis' Mansion to Zhu Xiumin.

I'm afraid it's not just because of the conflicts in childhood...

And Gao Yao's initial frustration with martial arts...

"Zhu Chengcheng is gone for now!
I will wait until the martial arts competition starts and I see with my own eyes the results of the construction of the competition venue before I say anything!
As for Cui Zongyan, he is Cui Shuyun's father after all, and he has made a great contribution by sending Min'an safely to Fu'an Marquis Mansion. You should find a time to bring him here!
Also, Brother Gao, please tell me about the situation in Xuzhou City, especially my grandfather’s updates!

I don’t seem to sense my grandfather’s presence in Xuzhou City!

Did he leave or did he deliberately hold back his breath?
And how is Fayan's new trade route going? Do you have time to come and see me?
You have been in charge of all the affairs of the Fu'an Marquis Mansion during this period. Please tell me the key points of the changes in the court and the martial arts world!"

Zhu Chengwu finally decided not to meet Zhu Chengcheng first, but to meet Cui Zongyan instead.

As for the reason, let Gao Yao and Zhu Chengcheng figure it out themselves!
Moreover, Zhu Chengwu also specifically mentioned Dai Fayan, and Zhu Chengwu thought he had made it very clear.

If Gao Yao and Zhu Chengcheng insisted on pretending not to understand, then Zhu Chengwu would have no choice.

But in that case, Zhu Chengwu would have to take some actions and change his tendencies.

At the same time, Zhu Chengwu began to understand the martial arts world during his seclusion, especially the movements of the people in Xuzhou City and Zhao Yuguang of the Zhao family.

Zhu Chengwu decided to delegate power, but this does not mean that Zhu Chengwu will no longer be in charge of anything.

Zhu Chengwu still needs to understand what he should understand.

Zhu Chengwu doesn't want to become a blind man, a complete martial arts puppet.

What Zhu Chengwu needs to do is: be able to give up power, but also be able to take it back at any time.

Hearing Zhu Chengwu's question, Gao Yao organized his words and said, "Wu Ge'er, Chief Steward Dai's new trade route is going smoothly. And taking advantage of your success in defeating the Grand Master, Chief Steward Dai not only opened up one new trade route, but three at the same time, including a sea trade route. Don't even think about seeing Chief Steward Dai in the Marquis' Mansion in the short term! But if Wu Ge'er wants to see Chief Steward Dai, the next time Chief Steward Dai returns to Xuzhou Prefecture, I will send someone to notify him and ask him to come back to the Marquis' Mansion!"

Gao Yao's narration was beyond Zhu Chengwu's expectations.

Zhu Chengwu never expected that Dai Fayan would be so reckless and so hardworking that he actually opened up three new trade routes. You know, although Zhu Chengwu had previously said that the Foreign Affairs Office and Xuzhou Chamber of Commerce under Dai Fayan's charge would open up a few more new trade routes to ease the financial pressure on the Marquis' Mansion, that was under the condition that Zhu Chengwu tacitly agreed to cooperate with the Cui family, and the number was just an imaginary number, not that Dai Fayan really had to meet a certain standard~~
Zhu Chengwu didn't know that Dai Fayan was also forced into a corner by Gao Yao and Zhao Xinghan.

After Zhu Chengwu became a martial arts legend, the Fu'an Marquisate was about to rise. Dai Fayan did not want to fall behind at the last moment before success and be killed by Gao Yao and Zhao Xinghan!

Become the first one to fall behind among the three heroes of Fu'an!
If you don't have enough martial arts or talent, then make up for it with merit!

This is Dai Fayan’s idea.

"No need, since Fayan is out and it's important business, there's no need to disturb Fayan!
When Fayan finishes his work and wants to see me, he will naturally come back to see me!

What about other things?

Zhu Chengwu stopped Gao Yao from disturbing Dai Fayan's efforts to open up new trade routes and recalled Dai Fayan's suggestion.

Then he continued to ask.

"Brother Wu, Lord Zhao left Xuzhou City not long after you went into seclusion. No one knew what he was doing at the time.

However, considering the subsequent situation, the first time Lord Zhao left was exactly three days after Princess Min'an fled the palace!

Lord Zhao, you must have received relevant news...

After that, Old Marquis Zhao returned to Xuzhou City twice, but at that time, Wu Ge'er, you had been in seclusion, and Old Marquis Zhao asked us not to disturb you.

Therefore, we did not inform you of the news that Lord Zhao returned and left again.

The last time Marquis Zhao appeared in Xuzhou City was nine days ago. At that time, Princess Min'an and Lord Cui had already arrived at Marquis Fu'an's Mansion.

Old Marquis Zhao once came to Marquis Fu'an's mansion to visit County Lady Min'an, but because Old Marquis Zhao had driven everyone out at that time, no one except Old Marquis Zhao and County Lady Min'an knew what they talked about.

But before leaving, Lord Zhao found me and asked me to give you a message after you, Wu Ge'er, come out of seclusion.

It is said that he will not participate in the Jiuhua Mountain Martial Arts Test Conference. His good friends Feng Qingyang, Red Flower Ghost Mother, Chongxu Taoist, and Nie Kunpeng have already confirmed that they will be present, so you, Wu Ge'er, don't need to worry too much.

He also said that Wu Ge'er, you are his grandson and his closest relative. The Zhao family will fully support you, so you don't have to worry too much!

Finally, Lord Zhao asked me to tell you, Brother Wu, that he has taken away Zhu Chengqing, Zhu Zhiying, and Princess Changning and her husband! He will definitely ask Prince Ming, the Grand Zongzheng Court, and the Marquis of Xibei to give an explanation for the previous assassination of you and the siege two months ago.

"As for the affairs of the court, Lord Zhao told Wu Ge'er that you don't have to worry about them. Wait until you are ready before returning to the capital. Don't panic or you will be caught by others!"

Gao Yao reported all the information related to Zhao Yuguang and Zhao Yuguang's instructions in one breath.

(End of this chapter)