The Third Volume Chapter Sixty: Letting Go of the Cowherd Boy

  "Father, Yin Xu and Chen Ping have gone to Jiujiang!"

  In the mountain villa of Zhenze Pan, Fan Qing entered and reported. A middle-aged man stood by the window, who was Fan Yilan's father, Fan Wenxuan.

  "Oh? Went to Jiujiang?"

  "Yes, according to the news from Jiangbei, it's highly likely that the legitimate grandson of King Huai is in Jiujiang. Yin Xu has been sent there on a mission this time. At the Xue Di alliance meeting, Yin Xu was very confident and sincere, it seems he had a good grasp of things."

  "This young man is really not simple!"

  "Yes! Peng Chen did well in this battle and got the first achievement!"

  Fan Wenyuan shook his head and said, "Is it just luck? If you were in my shoes, would you dare to cooperate with Liu Pei, someone you don't know? Opportunities often favor those who are bold."

  Fan Yang said in doubt: "Yes, but there's something strange about finding the legitimate grandson of Emperor Hui. Chen Ping found a former Chu Kingdom guard and knew some inside information which is understandable. But what about Yin Xu? How can he be so certain?"

  "No need to ask so many questions, some things only he himself knows. Since he has made up his mind, let's just wait and see! If we can really find the legitimate grandson of King Huai, it will be extraordinary!" Fan Wenyuan's attitude was very calm.

  Now that's the case, isn't Xiang Liang using King Sun to control the other vassals? What about Song Yi's side, do they have any momentum now?" Fan Yang was somewhat worried.

  Fan Wenxuan smiled and said, "It's not like we've invested much, just a small matter. It's right to do some probing at this time. Let the news leak to him and see who is more capable. If Song Yi doesn't even have this ability, no matter how much money he spends, it will be like pouring water into a bamboo basket. Also, pay attention to that Liu Bang, Marquis of Pei, this person may have some potential."

  Fan Yang nodded: "Yes, the child knows what to do. But if Song Yi went, would he conflict with Yin Xu? Little sister's side..." The father and son understood each other without needing to say anything.

  Fan Wenxuan smiled lightly, with a profound meaning, and after a long time, he said: "Young people are still better off with some tempering, this is not a bad thing for him. As for Yilan..." Fan Lao Ye paused and spat out two words: "No harm!"

  "Yes, I'll go and take care of it right away!"

  Fan Yang turned around and walked out the door, Fan Wenxuan's distant gaze looked out the window, where the rippling waves reflected the passing flower boat. A young girl stood at the bow of the boat, wearing a purple dress that fluttered in the wind, looking like an immortal fairy.

  In the 24th year of Qin Wang Zheng, Qin destroyed Chu and established the Nine Rivers Prefecture. The jurisdiction was roughly equivalent to today's Anhui, Henan south of the Huai River, Hubei east of Huanggang, and all of Jiangxi Province, which is the largest range that the Nine Rivers Prefecture has ever had. It was governed from Shouchun, and was named after the many rivers and swamps in the area.

  Yin Xu didn't know much about Jiujiang Prefecture, except for its geographical location. He vaguely remembered that Ying Bu's fiefdom was in Jiujiang, but the area of the fiefdom was limited to only a part of the land north of the Yangtze River.

  Yin Xu and Chen Ping rode together, with Pu Jun and Su An leading three hundred elite cavalrymen following behind. This time coming to Jiujiang, it goes without saying that they were here to search for the legitimate grandson of Emperor Hui of Han. Chen Ping only brought a few of his household generals, as well as Qu Ming, who had once been a palace guard in Chu.

  Qu Ming, over 40 years old, with a tall and sturdy build, stood out among the relatively short-statured people of Chu. His sharp eyes, resolute expression, robust muscles, and agile movements told everyone that he was an exceptional swordsman. Many years ago, he had been one of the outstanding palace guards in the Kingdom of Chu.

  "Adults, it should be around this area!" Qu Ming, who had been silent for a long time, brought good news to everyone.

  "Oh, are you sure?" Chen Ping was so excited that he had been walking for over ten days and finally saw some signs of hope.

  Qu Ming looked around and pointed to a river not far away, saying: "That's right, I remember it was this river where I got injured and fainted back then." Talking about the past, Qu Ming felt a little heartbroken.

  "That year, Shouchun City was broken, the king saw that the situation had already gone, and ordered us to take the young prince in his swaddling clothes to escape. Who knew that the Qin army received the news and came to pursue and kill, in order to cover up the young prince's safe departure, we were responsible for the rear guard and fought a fierce battle with the swordsmen of Qin here, several brothers all died, I was injured and fell into the river, and managed to save one life."

  Qū Míng's words were understated, but the shocking scar on his left cheek down to his jawline revealed just how brutal the battle had been when he escorted the young master.

  "Did Little Prince escape safely?" Su An couldn't help but ask.

  Qu Ming said with a gloomy expression: "Yes, at that time we suffered heavy losses and the assassins of Qin were almost completely annihilated. That year, a eunuch and a wet nurse took the prince away to escape, but I lost contact with them after I woke up from my injuries. The people of Qin didn't find them either, they kept sending people to search for them. For the safety of the young prince, I found another infant of the same age and had him die in his place, deceiving the people of Qin."

  "I think that the imperial guard and wet nurse are hiding in the nearby mountains, the queen had instructed them that if the Great Chu cannot be restored, never tell the prince about his identity. For the young prince's safety, I didn't continue searching for him either. Last year when Chen Sheng rebelled and Xiang Liang led an army, just as Mr. Chen found me, there is hope for the restoration of the Great Chu!"

  Qu Ming, as a palace guard of the Chu State, had an infinite nostalgia for his hometown in his heart, and this matter was emotionally stirring within reason. Yin Xu saw it with his own eyes, and couldn't help but shake his head secretly. In the matter of searching for the legitimate grandson of King Huai, the purposes of Xiang Liang, Chen Ping, and even himself were self-evident. Perhaps only Qu Ming truly wanted to revive the Chu State, unfortunately, it could only be a dream forever.

  Thinking of Xiong Xin's future fate is heartbreaking, reality is always so helpless.

  Chen Ping said: "So to speak, Wang Sun is just around here?"

  "Already so many years have passed, perhaps it's still there?"

  A sudden surge of emotions swept over Kuai Ming's heart, after years of silence and anxious waiting, could the legitimate grandson of Emperor Wu be found? Filling his inner self with unease, he suddenly became uncertain.

  Yin Xudao said, "Since that's the case, let's search carefully within a hundred miles. If Wang Sun has moved elsewhere, we'll make other plans." For now, this was all they could do, and Yin Xudao understood Qu Ming very well. He firmly believed in one thing - that the cowherd boy Xiong Xin would definitely be found.

  "It seems that's all we can do, why don't we split up and search separately?" Chen Ping's suggestion was reasonable, this way they could indeed increase their efficiency.

  At this point, Yin Xu led Pu Jun and Su An, while Chen Ping led Qu Ming, each leading over a hundred elite soldiers, to search separately.

  At present, the anti-Qin uprising is in full swing, with fires burning everywhere. The entire Nine Rivers region is basically under the control of the righteous army. With over a hundred elite soldiers guarding us, there shouldn't be any safety issues. Yin Xu and Pu Jun are both top-notch experts, and Qu Ming, who is by Chen Ping's side, was once a palace guard in Chu, so his martial arts skills naturally won't be lacking.

  "General, it seems that splitting up is not in our favor!" Su An hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping for a long time.

  Yin Xu smiled faintly: "Are you afraid that Lord Chen will find it first?"

  Su An nodded slightly, although the eldest grandson of Emperor Hua had a strong puppet quality, the first person to save the emperor was always a bright symbol. In comparison, Pu Jun seemed very calm, after all, he had been with Yin Xu for a long time and understood the young master's temperament well.

  Yin Xu smiled and patted Su An's shoulder, "Bo Zhou, it doesn't matter much, don't worry about it! Besides, can Chen be sure to find it first?"

  "Hmm... But Qu Ming is the only one who knows about it, and he'll definitely have an advantage..." Su An's concern was not unreasonable.

  "It's unlikely, from now on, we'll pay attention to every village and remember to leave a cowherd boy!" Yin Xu's words were profound and unpredictable.

  "Letting Niwa go?" Su'an's eyes widened in surprise, unsure what kind of trick Yin Xu was up to.

  Pu Jun was also shocked, but he had always known about the young master's mysterious ways, so he just followed orders and didn't ask too many questions.

  "Right, go find the cowherd boy!"