Bab 70: Li Gang is captured?
As soon as his alchemy started gaining fame, Li Gang introduced new branches. He started trading formations and forging. The Renhuo brand had already gained fame on the continent, and with this brand, his formations and forging also started spreading.
The Wei Dynasty also saw its boom in finances. It flourished more and more under Renhuo trading, and this is where the problem lay.
Wei Han became alert to the growth of Renhuo trading. The power balance, which was concentrated toward royalty in the Wei Dynasty, was shifting toward Renhuo trading. Even though it was very slow, it was happening.
He could foresee that in the next 50 years, if he didn't do something, Renhuo trading would become powerful enough to overthrow them. However, this was not the only thing he was worried about. The major factor was that he had already seen through Li Gang's scheme.
He realized that Li Gang was introducing spies in the name of 'business'. This is something not difficult to conclude when someone is mass introducing unknown warriors in the name of 'business'.
One day, Wei Han called Li Gang privately to discuss the matter. Even though it was a private talk, how can a king like him stay unprotected?
General Gu Zhen and many other protectors stayed hidden in the shadows.
There are many ways of communication in this world. Among mortals, it is mainly speaking and writing. However, when it comes to warriors, the speed of sound is far slower than their movement and reaction speed. Thus, if they speak with their mouths, it would be too ineffective practically. When a person reaches intermediate warrior status, they learn spiritual communication. They mix spiritual essence into the sound they make. Spiritual essence can accelerate sound up to infinite speed. This is also why light in this world travels at infinite speed. It already contains traces of spiritual essence mixed within it.
The communication between King Wei Han and Li Gang was through sound transmission. This is another method of communication, where a person sends sound in the form of spiritual essence signals, which transform into sound signals when they enter the ears. It is very effective when you want to direct a conversation to a certain person without letting others know. You can direct the signal to any person. However, this method has a heavy drawback, due to which it is not used at higher levels. A person with advanced warrior cultivation has very high senses and processing speed. They can instantly sense such signals as soon as they are released into the air. They can also process them and deduce what the other person is conveying.
Thus, this method is only popular in the Northern Continent. People in other continents also use it, but only around intermediate warriors. Beginner warriors are incapable of using it, and advanced warriors can easily see through it! Of course, there are many geniuses who can use it even at the beginner warrior stage.
Once again, like a few years back, Li Gang was guided by Lord Zhen. This time, to the royal garden.
Li Gang had been here before. He glanced around and found many warriors protecting the place, probably to stop others from interfering with the king's rest.
The royal garden was a peaceful place, filled with rich spiritual essence and pure air. The breath here felt like heaven, with the ability to calm the mind.
Li Gang glanced at various spiritual trees in the garden and appreciated them. These were all at least Rank 3 spiritual trees.
He soon found Wei Han, wearing casual clothes, sitting on a cushion. Even with his casual clothing, no one could question his elegance. He didn't have his usual crown on his head, but a jade hairpin was fixing his long hair.
Wei Han glanced at Li Gang coming toward him and smiled. "Master Ren, please sit."
As he said that, he gestured toward one of the cushions.
Li Gang nodded and slowly sat on the cushion with unparalleled elegance, no less than the king himself. Over the years, he had also learned how to behave like royalty. His temperament had improved a lot.
He bowed slightly and said, "I have met the king."
Wei Han nodded. "It's been a while since we last spoke to each other."
Li Gang nodded. "Around two months."
Wei Han smiled. "The duties of Chief Alchemist, the management of Renhuo trading, while at the same time cultivating many youngsters, is really a heavy task. You are able to handle all of them together. It really surprises me. I hope you are doing well!"
Li Gang smiled. "It is indeed a difficult task, but it is all about time management. I have been used to working continuously without taking a break. Therefore, it is not difficult at all. For a warrior, this kind of thing is not tasking at all! It is an honor to serve the kingdom."
Wei Han appreciated. "The kingdom owes much to your skills and dedication."
He paused and then continued, "I wonder, what is the progress of the alchemy students you have been cultivating for our Wei Dynasty?"
Li Gang replied calmly, "It's going fine. I have taught them most of the theoretical concepts. Now they are learning practical experience. The third prince, Wei Chan, is especially talented and has reached Rank 2 alchemist already. He has recently encountered a bottleneck, but it will be fine. In the next fifteen years, he should be able to break through to Rank 3. I believe his future will be even better."
In fact, there were better talents than Wei Chan among the students sent to Li Gang. However, Li Gang devoured these talents shamelessly. He trained them privately while hiding their real abilities. He planned to include them under him. The reason he made Wei Chan the best among all externally is to get on the king's good side. Even though it is very minimal, the king would feel better hearing his own son is getting better and better under Li Gang. His appreciation for Wei Chan would increase.
Wei Han nodded. He said, "It's all the hard work of Master Ren!"
Li Gang also said modestly, "I dare not take credit, it is their own talent and hard work that helped them reach higher."
Wei Han sensed the atmosphere and directed the conversation to his real objective. "I heard you trained many civilians as well. You have also transferred them secretly within the court and also into the Wu and Shu dynasties?"
Li Gang murmured inwardly, "As expected, he has called me for this!"
Li Gang was already aware that his plans would have been exposed to the king. Even though he tried to hide it, it is impossible to erase all traces when he did it in such large numbers, especially when most of the warriors he introduced as spies are from the Northern Continent itself!
Li Gang nodded. "Yes, I have been making my own subordinates to help me. You know the business is expanding, and so is the burden. I can't make enough pills to supply the entire Northern Continent. Thus, I have been training various subordinates to take on the task of pill refinements, especially for lower grades which are in heavy demand. Even for selling those products, the warriors should have some basic theoretical and practical knowledge."
Wei Han nodded. "I understand. But what about those warriors you have secretly introduced into the court?"
Li Gang paused. His eyes narrowed and he murmured inwardly, "It's faster than I expected."
Seeing his silence, Wei Han said calmly, "You are quite ambitious, Master Ren. But you forgot, you are an outsider. You have been in the Northern Continent for only a few years, and you thought you could control us with these petty tricks? There have been countless invaders who tried such ridiculous methods. They all failed miserably."
Li Gang narrowed his eyes. His face turned serious.
Yes, he planned to introduce many spies secretly into the court. In the name of business, he wanted to create his own faction slowly and then spread his influence. After his influence reached a certain level, he planned to cause conflicts among the dynasties and take advantage as a fisherman.
However, he underestimated the Northern Continent. These people had already encountered such tactics before and were able to easily overcome them even at that time.
Wei Han smiled and waved his hand.
Many guards came and surrounded Li Gang. Among these warriors, Wei Han and General Gu Zhen were Rank 5 themselves. Other than that, there were ten Rank 4 warriors.
With Li Gang's battle strength, it was impossible to defeat them!
Li Gang glanced at Wei Han and asked lightly, "Is this what you want, your majesty?"
Wei Han said coldly, "I can let you live, but Renhuo trading must come under Wei Dynasty from now on."
Li Gang smiled. "You are smart. Even when facing a traitor, you are able to think rationally."
Wei Han felt a bad premonition. Li Gang looked too confident.
He said coldly, "You have no way to escape, Ren Ying."
Li Gang laughed. "Indeed, I have no way to escape."
Wei Han glanced at Li Gang and immediately realized that he didn't want to cooperate. He told Gu Zhen, "Take him away, and give him special care!"
Gu Zhen nodded.
In this way, Li Gang was 'captured' by Wei Han. However, the information was completely suppressed. Li Gang's status was significant, and Wei Han also wanted something from him, which is why he didn't want the news to leak. This information was known only to him. Even Gu Zhen and the warriors who surrounded Li Gang to capture him didn't hear a single conversation between them, as they communicated using sound transmission.
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