Chapter 14 What, I became a substitute?
The whole world was shocked when the manifesto was released, and naturally Gu Qingyuan was also shocked.

He was packing up his things in his study and was looking for something when Huang Xu pushed the door open.

"My benefactor, what are you looking for?" Huang Xu asked.

"Didn't you say a few days ago that Zhang Lu issued an edict to denounce Dong Zhuo? I was just about to go and see what was going on." Gu Qingyuan stopped strolling when he saw Huang Xu coming in.

"Don't be anxious, benefactor. Please sit down first. I have two important matters to report to you." Huang Xu invited Gu Qingyuan to sit in the main seat.

"Yes, Old Huang said." Gu Qingyuan sat down obediently, took out a watermelon from his arms, exerted his innate energy, and immediately split it into eight pieces. He handed a corner of the watermelon to Huang Xu.

Huang Xu pretended not to see how the watermelon was taken out, and took the watermelon calmly: "First of all, my benefactor, you are an official now."

"What?" Gu Qingyuan heard this before the watermelon even reached his mouth.

"Didn't my benefactor ask me to present the potatoes to the capital a few days ago? The reward from the court has come down. The post of Governor of Qingzhou belongs to you, my benefactor." Huang Xu said. As for the money and power transactions involved, there was no need to let Gu Qingyuan know about such despicable deeds.

"You... Hey, Old Huang, didn't I tell you that I'm not interested in this?" Gu Qingyuan naturally knew that Huang Xu must have been the one to orchestrate this, otherwise how could a high-ranking official like the head of a state be exchanged for a potato? Giving him a plaque with the words "Wanjia Shengfo" and five hundred gold and silver would be good enough, and at most it would be just some empty title.

"Although your benefactor is not interested in this, I must plan for you, otherwise the real credit will fall into the hands of others." Huang Xu had a thorough understanding of Gu Qingyuan's character. Without waiting for him to refuse again, he gently placed the thing in his hand on the table.

"This is the seal of the governor, please accept it." Huang Xu said.

Gu Qingyuan picked it up curiously and looked at it, then threw the seal back. When Huang Xu caught it in a panic, he smiled and said, "I know what you mean, Old Huang, but I'm really not cut out for it. You can take the seal and govern Qingzhou however you want. I don't care about anything anyway. It's tiring for me to stamp everything."

Huang Xu looked at the seal in his hand, put it in his arms, and bowed with both hands: "Xu bows and thanks you for your trust."

"What's one more thing?" Gu Qingyuan started eating the watermelon.

"According to Xu's investigation, the benefactor's background is quite mysterious. He is actually the descendant of King Jing of Zhongshan and the great-great-grandson of Emperor Jing. According to seniority, the current emperor should call the benefactor the emperor's uncle."

"Poof, what did you say?" Gu Qingyuan spat out a mouthful of watermelon.

Huang Xu clapped his hands and Jian Zheng walked in.

"Master Gu..." Jian Zheng bowed.

Huang Xu interrupted and said, "Your Excellency has now been appointed as the governor of Qingzhou, and you have cultivated great virtues. You have the mandate of heaven, and you have a broad mind that can accommodate the world. Don't you deserve to be called Lord by Brother Jian?"

Jian Zheng, who had already had a long conversation with Huang Xu all night to express his feelings, straightened his hat and tied his belt, and turned to Gu Qingyuan with full courtesy: "Jian Zheng greets the lord."

Gu Qingyuan glanced at Huang Xu, who smiled slightly. Gu Qingyuan knew that this was Huang Xu's plan to force the emperor to abdicate, but Jian Zheng was so formal that he had to respond to the call of "My lord" even if he didn't want to.

"Mr. Jian, please stand up quickly. How could I, Gu, deserve your favor?" Gu Qingyuan hurriedly helped Jian Zheng up, with an expression of harmony between a king and his subjects.

"Brother Huang once asked me to find out the details. When our lord fell into the hands of the Demon Cult, there was indeed a village nearby. After verifying with the village elders and looking through the family tree, I am certain that our lord is a member of the imperial family." Jian Zheng took out the family tree from his arms.

Gu Qingyuan didn’t inherit much of his original body’s memories, so how could he have known there was such a thing.

I said I have never met Uncle Liu, so I became Uncle Liu? No, it should be Uncle Gu.

The founding emperor of the Great Xia was named Gu Changqing. He rose from humble origins, wielding his magical weapon, the Dragon Sparrow Sword, he conquered the world and established a legacy that would last for generations to come.

"Your Excellency has the blood of an imperial family, and he also has the magical weapon Dragon Sparrow Sword at his side. It is destiny that has entrusted you with the task of restoring order." Huang Xu also said.

Gu Qingyuan didn't care. There were so many royal bloodlines. It was just a title at most. He was just the emperor's uncle. He patted his butt, stood up and said, "Okay, that's it. Is it okay? I'm busy watching the fun. The princes are fighting against Dong. I have to watch it."

Huang Xu looked at Gu Qingyuan's light and simple appearance, and his face was a little strange. He said, "My benefactor, you are not planning to leave like this, are you?" Gu Qingyuan was a little puzzled: "What else?"

"Well, although Qingzhou is in ruins, it still has capable warriors. Although Xu is not talented, he has still recruited local warriors. Five thousand armored soldiers are waiting for your inspection in the parade ground."

Gu Qingyuan's hands trembled when he heard this. "We even have an army. How many things are you hiding from me, Old Huang?" He glared at Huang Xu fiercely and ran to the parade ground. "I have never seen an army before. I must go and see it!"
Huang Xu and Jian Zheng looked at Gu Qingyuan's back and exchanged glances. "The lord is of true character, don't blame me, Brother Jian," said Huang Xu.

"Of course I know that. But can Brother Huang take care of the whole matter of the title of the Emperor's uncle?" Jian Zheng said to Huang Xu, holding the family tree.

"Of course it's clean. So clean that I can't find any flaws." Huang Xu said to Jian Zheng.

Jian Zheng was shocked. Could there be something else going on? "Brother Huang, what do you mean by that?"

"I wanted to fabricate a royal noble identity for my lord to justify justice, but I didn't expect..." At this point, Huang Xu was also a little amused, "The more I investigate, the more confused I am. My benefactor seems to be the bloodline of Taizu. Tracing back to the source, it really can't be too true. Or maybe it's really God's will. God will not destroy Daxia, and sent a miracle man like my benefactor to save the situation."

"This..." Jian Zheng was really confused.

Gu Qingyuan ran all the way to the parade ground, where five thousand people were standing in four square formations. Leading the way were Zhao Dingshan, Huang Hanshu, and two unknown generals.

Huang Xu and Jian Zheng also rushed over.

"There is no need to introduce Dingshan and Han Shu. They are the warriors recruited this time, and they are also brave enough to resist any enemy. One of them is surnamed Xu and named Xuhu, and the other is surnamed Dian and named Dianlai. Although they are not talented commanders, they can easily kill generals and seize flags." Huang Xu pointed at the two men and introduced them to Gu Qingyuan.

Gu Qingyuan strolled up to the two men. Both of them were big and fat, but one of them looked a bit honest and the other had an ugly face.

"Nice to meet you. Wow, you have such a strong body. Come here, this is a gift." Gu Qingyuan patted someone on the shoulder and took out two jars of wine from his arms.

Gu Qingyuan was very familiar with gift-giving. He would give calligraphy and paintings to scholars and fine wine to warriors, and he was always successful.

When Gu Qingyuan walked past, Xu Hudian grinned.

"My lord, you have really strong hands!" said Xu Hu.

Dian Lai nodded and looked at the wine jar in his arms: "My lord, I have great power, but I don't know if this wine is really as delicious as General Zhao and General Huang said."

The two of them thought of the nostalgic look on the two men's faces when they talked about it, and they couldn't help but swallow their saliva.

"Hey, Zhang Xiaoer, why are you here too?" Gu Qingyuan looked up over the two of them and saw a familiar figure.

"Brother Gu...No, my lord!" a young man in his twenties shouted loudly.

"Just call me brother. How's your father's health?" Gu Qingyuan waved his hand. This man's father had indigestion, and it was Gu Qingyuan who cured him.

After a round of walking, Gu Qingyuan discovered that he actually knew most of these 5,000 soldiers. Some had treated a family with illness, while others had provided food to a family.

Huang Xu looked at Gu Qingyuan's busy figure and said to Jian Zheng, who was slightly surprised, "Earlier you said that it was a taboo for a general to not know the soldiers. Are you convinced now?"

"I am convinced. I didn't know that my lord is so popular." Jian Zheng was sincerely convinced.

"For these 3,000 soldiers, I deliberately gave priority to those from Qingzhou's own families. When the benefactor came to Qingzhou, he only did two things. One was to treat illnesses, and the other was to supervise the distribution of grain. The people were all benefited by his kindness. When the recruitment order was issued, everyone rushed to fight for it and were willing to die for it. This shows that the people's hearts can be used. There are also talented generals who are training and performing martial arts. With these 5,000 death warriors, I will eliminate the banditry in Qingzhou, break them up and incorporate them into the army. With these 5,000 people as a support, we can form an army of tens of thousands in a short time. There is no need to worry about not being able to accomplish great things." Huang Xu looked confident.

The military parade ended in a noisy manner, and with Gu Qingyuan's order, the army set out.

(End of this chapter)