RPAGF Chapter 7259 Abstract Species
Chapter 7259 Abstract Species
Chapter 7259 Abstract Species
Liao Li arrived in Jiangling in early March of the eleventh year of Yuanfeng, and a few days later, Zou also arrived in Jiangling by waterway with his ship's cannons.
"So, what happened to you? How did you end up like this?" Chen Xi asked with a hint of surprise, looking at Zou Ta, who was extremely disheveled and even had a broken arm.
"I came from the Yunmeng Waterway. I really didn't know there was anything wrong with the Yunmeng Waterway," Zou said with a dry laugh, but there was a hint of apprehension in his words. "So all those things I fought in the small world during the Grand Martial Arts Competition were real? I almost got killed."
"You're lucky you're still alive. You actually dared to charge into the Yunmeng Waterway." Chen Xi shook his head repeatedly as he looked at Zou Ta. "It's only because you're strong enough, and you're escorting energy-type ship cannons with long-range suppression, and you're strong enough, otherwise you would probably have been shot dead there!"
"I don't know either," Zou said, looking quite embarrassed. "I only heard that there was a problem with the Yunmeng Waterway. I thought some kind of strange beast had appeared, and I figured I'd just take care of it since I was passing by. But, Lord Chen, you know how valuable strange beasts are. Whether you sell them or eat their meat, they're very valuable. I was thinking that with my strength..."
Zou kept talking, and Chen Xi had no doubts. This guy was just like that. After all, he was the number one in the Grand Martial Arts Competition, and the prize was awarded by Liu Bei and Chen Xi. They must have investigated his background beforehand. This guy was a miser. He was afraid of being poor when he was young and was trying hard to make money.
Even things like medicinal bath subsidies and special meal subsidies were all turned into money. This is why Chen Xi later strictly prohibited giving subsidies and insisted on watching the guy finish his meal after the injection. You really can't deal with someone like Zou who's willing to risk his life for money.
However, one good thing about Zou is that although he loves money, if he loses all his money in order to protect Liu Bei, Chen Xi, and his son, he will be extremely heartbroken and keep nagging while doing his best to protect them. So he is still a normal person.
"You're already strong enough not to have been killed," Chen Xi sighed. "The Yunmeng Waterway was sealed off before, but no clear order was given. It was just to prevent others from entering, and those who were preventing it didn't know why either. And then they ran into someone like you..."
Chen Xi was also helpless. He originally wanted to keep the matter within a certain scope, so he didn't explain it very clearly. But theoretically, with the ambiguous orders from his superiors, most ships would give up. After all, there was more than one waterway than Yunmeng Waterway, but Yunmeng Waterway was the closest.
The problem is that there's really nothing to say about having a lunatic like Zou. This guy actually has a very high rank and extremely strong combat power. He's practically a fortress in his body. He even dares to kick a strange beast that has lost its internal energy on the road. He's a T0-level ruthless person among the top veterans of the Han Dynasty.
Such ambiguous orders could not stop Zou Ta at all. Zou Ta even told the soldiers who were trying to stop him that they could rest assured, that he was strong enough to charge through even a bunch of dragons, and could even charge through several times to wipe out those strange beasts. Faced with Zou Ta's strength, the people blocking the way really had nothing to say.
After all, whether the person who issued the order was of a higher rank than Zou was a question!
"And then, how many demon gods did you kill?" Chen Xi looked at Zou Ta's arm, which was still in a sling, and said helplessly. However, he could understand it. If he had Zou Ta's strength and his love for money, he would have done the same thing.
The abstract nature of this thing includes, but is not limited to: hearing that there is a ferocious beast in the neighboring county, rushing over overnight to kill the beast and sell it for money; the money his superiors gave him to increase his nutrition and weight, which he then saved; and after more detailed calculations, selling a portion of the saffron medicine to other guys to make money. In short, he likes to do any job that can make money.
This is also why Zou is so terrifying in actual combat, able to survive until the final stage in such an absurd environment as the Grand Martial Arts Competition, and then get the top spot on the leaderboard.
A pure superhuman, he has experience fighting against all kinds of ferocious beasts, strange creatures, and bizarre species, and his fighting power will skyrocket as long as he is sure he can make money.
"They're not invincible. The ship's cannons are alright, and I can even fight the demons one-on-one, but killing them directly is really difficult. Their regenerative abilities are absurd. My injuries are all because six demons rushed onto the ship." Zou raised his broken arm. There was no other way but to finish the battle quickly, he had to use some special methods. His arm wasn't broken by the demons; it was a compression fracture caused by his attempt to unleash more damage.
However, Zou's recovery ability is quite good. I estimate that this compression fracture will heal in a few days. He should eat more nutritious food these days. But nutritious food costs money, so I'd better not eat it and let him recover on his own.
"One of the ships sank?" Chen Xi asked Zou.
"I'm really sorry, I didn't expect the demon to grow to that size. It feels like it's combined with some kind of strange beast. The ship was hit and got a hole. It could have been repaired, but a large number of demons were about to rush over, so I had no choice but to scuttle the ship." Zou also looked very serious.
As he said this, Chen Xi carefully observed Zou, confirming that Zou was telling the truth. Moreover, seeing the distressed expression on Zou's face, Chen Xi felt somewhat helpless.
"So only sixteen naval guns were transported?" Chen Xi didn't intend to pursue the matter further; he was just checking the inventory. The ship had already sunk, and Zou was telling the truth, so there was no point in pursuing it further. It wasn't Zou's fault that they took the Yunmeng waterway; the other side was also pursuing efficiency. And to be honest, for a god like Zou to be brought to this state, it was already a risky move to send equipment to the battlefield.
"Can I salvage the others later?" Zou didn't answer the question because only sixteen planes were actually transported; the others had sunk into Yunmeng with the ship. Zou was heartbroken when the ship sank, so he couldn't help but ask when Chen Xi asked.
“You…” Chen Xi sighed, suppressing an expression that made her unsure whether to scold or laugh.
“That’s all top-quality gun steel.” Zou looked depressed. “Even if we destroy it or scuttle it, the guns will definitely suffer heavy losses, but this steel won’t be damaged in the short term. Can I salvage some of it later?”
"Get out!" Chen Xi said irritably, pointing to the door. "You're obsessed with money, aren't you?"
“Um, there’s one more thing. The factory manager was worried that Governor Liao wouldn’t have enough naval guns, so he had me transport the first batch. The original plan was to transport the second batch after I returned, but after learning about the situation in Yunmeng, he decided to personally escort the second batch via a detour. It will probably take a few more days.” Zou quickly said, as this matter was very important.
"Go eat. There's a canteen specially prepared for you. You don't need medicine for your injuries. Eat something good, and you should be fine in a few days. We'll need you back on the battlefield later." Chen Xi nodded upon hearing this. There was no way to communicate with Zou. All this guy thought about was money and making money. He was insane. You're a super veteran with hundreds of millions of dollars, and you even have to be frugal with your food.
Zou Ta quickly ran away. Chen Xi watched Zou Ta's retreating figure and sighed. Then Zhou Yu came out from the inner hall at the back. Without turning his head, Chen Xi casually asked, "Gongjin, what do you think this is all about?"
"What it is is not important. What is important is whether you want to deal with it or just watch it go?" Zhou Yu said calmly. How could the two of them not know the tricks involved? Especially since Liao Li and Zhang Song had already sent over information about the Wu County Shipyard, and the two of them had a vague idea about the Kuaiji Shipyard.
"Forget it, the naval guns have been delivered, there's no need to pursue it further." Chen Xi thought for a while and was too lazy to care about the Kuaiji Shipyard's revenue-generating activities. If they could do it, that was their ability; there was really no need to investigate the rest.
"There's one more question," Zhou Yu said calmly as he walked over to Chen Xi.
"Are all the naval guns delivered this batch in good condition?" Chen Xi asked Zhou Yu before he could even ask.
"It seems you're aware of this as well," Zhou Yu said with a sigh.
“These sixteen ships that have arrived are definitely good,” Chen Xi said seriously. “I just don’t know what your nephew is thinking. I think Zou really doesn’t know there’s a problem with the Yunmeng Waterway. At most, he knows that the ship’s cannons might be faulty, but he can’t be sure if the cannons on the ship that sank are faulty. You’d better give your nephew a talking-to; he’s gone a bit too far.”
Zhou Jun's method of breaking the deadlock was completely clear to people of Zhou Yu's level. Zhou Yu knew what was going on with his nephew, while Chen Xi had seen this kind of operation in history that turned bad things into good things. However, the question just now made Chen Xi realize a fact: Zou really didn't know what was in the Yunmeng Waterway.
Damn it, it's only thanks to Zou's combat power being even more exaggerated than Lian Yue's, and the fact that he replaced the flagship's cannons with energy-type cannons, and most importantly, that the main force of the Demon God has gathered in the Jiangling direction at this stage, otherwise, given Zou's lack of understanding of the battle situation and his direct passage through the Yunmeng waterway, it's possible that only Zou himself would survive in the entire fleet.
Well, given Zou's character, if all his brothers were wiped out and he was the only one left alive, he would definitely choose to die fighting there. He loves money, he is loyal, he is used to forming separatist forces, but he still wants to eat the food of a unified nation. People are just that complicated and abstract.
Chen Xi was also aware of this, so he didn't bother to investigate what role Zou was playing here. It was nothing more than making some money. Chen Xi had already clearly realized the various abstract behaviors that Zou was engaging in when he reviewed the investigation materials.
After all, the Grand Martial Arts Tournament was a chaotic battle between veterans from the Han Dynasty, Rome, and the Kushan Empire. If Liu Bei and Chen Xi didn't conduct a thorough background check and carefully examine the files when they won the individual points competition in such an occasion, it would be a real slap in the face for them if something went wrong later.
Therefore, Liu Bei and Chen Xi knew that Zou was only good at making money. He wouldn't dare to actually do anything like murder or arson, but he wouldn't hesitate to fight for the country and risk his life on the front lines. So they gave him the first prize without hesitation.
Therefore, Zou's role in transporting the naval guns can be set aside for now, and we should only consider Zhou Jun's role in this matter. And it is clear that Zhou Jun went a bit too far.
“My nephew, though he’s a bit wicked, he wouldn’t really be so foolish as to think of throwing all these people into Yunmeng. Besides, if all the escorting cannons were to sink, do you think we wouldn’t get suspicious?” Zhou Yu said with a hint of coldness. We’re all old foxes, who are you trying to tell a ghost story to?
“I guess your nephew’s confidants are among the group that came with Zou.” Chen Xi shook his head and said, “Forget it, this matter is not important. As long as the follow-up naval guns are delivered, that’s fine. I’m not going to give you the merit award. You can decide what to do with it.”
Meanwhile, Zou went to report to Liao Li. Liao Li remained calm when he heard that the naval cannons had been delivered, but when he heard that a ship had sunk, he realized what had happened. When Zou told him that Zhou Jun was personally leading the team to transport the second batch, which would arrive in a few days, Liao Li fully understood that Zhou Jun was using him to gain merit. What was even more outrageous was that Liao Li could only thank Zhou Jun.
Just tell me if the naval guns have been delivered. Yes, they have.
You tell me, did the Huiji Shipyard risk crossing the war zone to deliver supplies to you? Yes!
You said that after the first batch crossed the war zone and suffered losses, even the leader Zou was injured, I, Zhou Jun, as the director of Kuaiji Shipyard, organized a second batch to detour through the war zone again to deliver supplies to you, right? Yes!
Delivering naval cannons is not a meritorious deed, but simply a matter of procedure. Liao Li personally went there and took action, but this is neither rewarded nor punished. It is the responsibility of the Kuaiji Shipyard to deliver them on time, in the required quantity and with the required quality. It is simply what they are supposed to do. After all, this is what the Kuaiji Shipyard and Wujun Shipyard do. Delivering them is what they are supposed to do, and there is nothing to say about it.
The second point is a bonus, especially since Zou really crossed the war zone and actually fought the demon god, and was even delivered. Don't worry about me sinking a ship and losing four aircraft, but this isn't the fault of our Kuaiji Shipyard. You didn't tell us before that Yunmeng was a war zone. We did this to speed things up. If you try to pin this blame on us, the bureaucratic system will definitely not criticize Kuaiji Shipyard, but will instead criticize Liao Li.
As for the third item, that's a huge bonus. Zou sent a batch first, but some were damaged while crossing the war zone. But it doesn't matter, the shipyard in Huiji still has enough. Our reserves are very sufficient. Even if the first batch is damaged, there will be a second batch. It will definitely be delivered in just a few days!
To be honest, this is like taking a dump on Liao Li's head, but Liao Li can't do anything about it. He has to admit that Kuaiji Shipyard is indeed helping, helping like crazy!
"Are you sure you can arrive in five days?" Liao Li looked at Zou Ta, his expression unreadable.
"The factory manager said he wanted me to come first, and he would take a detour via another waterway. It should only take about five days," Zou said with a hint of reminiscence.
To reiterate, it was difficult for Zhou Jun to retrieve twenty naval cannons in the first five days, but it would be easy for him to retrieve forty naval cannons in the second five days. What Zhou Jun needed was this buffer time, letting Zou leave first and then himself, creating a time difference. Zou then crossed the Yunmeng battlefield again. This back and forth not only solved the previous problem but also greatly contributed to the victory.
What's worse is that, normally speaking, even if Liao Li could figure this out in a flash, there's no way to break it. He can only accept it, since it was Liao Li who went to steal the ship cannons, and the people in Kuaiji gave him face and delivered them all. What more do you want?
So even if Liao Li knew everything afterward and knew that he had been tricked by the Kuaiji side, he still needed to report his achievements to the Kuaiji side after resolving the battle in Yunmeng.
Unfortunately, Chen Xi and Zhou Yu are both in Jiangling. They could tell what was going on with just one glance. One has the historical advantage of being able to deliver a devastating blow, and the other knows what kind of abstract being his nephew is. Plus, their levels are roughly equal, enough to take down Zhou Jun directly. So...
"Thank you, Zou Zhonggeng." Liao Li suppressed the urge to hit someone, bowed to Zou, who returned the bow, and then left.
After coming out, he saw Peng Cai emerge from the veterans' canteen and tell him about the recent events. Zou Ta didn't think there was anything wrong with what he heard. Incidentally, Zou Ta still didn't realize a crucial point: he didn't know why the Yunmeng Waterway was blocked, or if Zhou Jun knew. After all, this was the Zhou family, a powerful family with its own channels!
"Brother Zou, I thought you couldn't deliver them." Peng Cai looked around before mouthing the words. Zou rolled his eyes. How could they not deliver them? Who did they think they were? Their ship cannons were all very well maintained, shiny and gleaming.
"Forget it, let's go eat first. My mouth has been so bland lately, I need to eat something like braised pork knuckle." Zou was too lazy to pay attention to Peng Cai. He knew that this matter was over, and he could just do whatever he wanted from now on. Going to Yunmeng to fight those monsters in the Grand Martial Arts Tournament was no problem. As long as he didn't encounter a situation where he was surrounded, with his fortress and basic qualities, what was a demon god to him!
"Brother Zou, you..." Peng Cai looked at Zou speechlessly. You are a sixth-level fusion cultivator, stronger than me, Peng Cai, yet you have to be so frugal with your meals. How much money would it cost you to eat well?
"Don't even mention it. That brat at home is going to spend money, so I have to be careful," Zou said, waving his hand dismissively, not wanting to talk about money.
“Alright, later on, people at our level might need to clear out the scattered demon gods. Let’s do it together then. You beat the demon gods to a pulp, and I’ll suppress the demon gods you’ve scattered and prevent them from recovering. That seems to be the best approach right now,” Peng Cai said, following behind Zou Ta.
Brother Zou might be a bit abstract, but his fighting ability is still trustworthy!
Zou Ta was abstract, and so was Zhou Jun. Zhou Jun's plan was almost thwarted by Zou Ta's strength. If it weren't for Zhou Jun's confidant seizing the opportunity to sink the ship with several nearly scrapped naval guns, Zou Ta would have actually transported all the guns to...