CHAPTER 1081: CHAPTER 595: ENTERING THE HALL WITH SWORD (PART 1)

A year has passed, and Dean Wu, with a crippled leg and a wooden crutch, looked even older. When he saw him, he was stunned for a moment, but after hearing the voice clearly, he exclaimed in surprise:

"Mr. Lin?"

Zhao Douan nodded, pointed to the face mask, and explained with a smile:

"Caught a cold, worried about passing it to the children."

Dean Wu suddenly understood and eagerly invited him in, while Qian Kerou and others, disguised as servants, began unloading cotton clothes, charcoal, and food from the carriage.

Zhao Douan used his cold as an excuse not to see the orphans in the courtyard, only chatting with Dean Wu, explaining which parts of this year’s sponsorship were on behalf of Jin Jian.

Dean Wu was greatly surprised, not expecting Mr. Lin to also know the young lady who came to donate in previous years.

He asked about Princess Wen Zhu, who had come with Zhao Douan last year, and only nodded when he learned that she had left the Capital.

Then it was Zhao Douan asking questions, mostly about people’s livelihood.

"This winter is particularly difficult, everything in the city is going up in price. Without the sponsorship, I wouldn’t know what to do," Dean Wu sighed.

Zhao Douan remained silent, only comforting him by saying that things would improve when the war calmed down next year.

During the conversation, Dean Wu, a retired old soldier, asked about his old superior Zhao Shixiong, expressing that even someone like General Zhao could be deceived, but thankfully found his way back. He then praised "Commander Zhao" highly.

"That Commander Zhao doesn’t have a good reputation; many scholars call him a traitor. You’ve never met him, yet you admire him?" Zhao Douan asked with amusement.

Dean Wu replied sternly:

"Winning battles is what makes one a great hero. I, old Wu, might not be educated, but I know achievements aren’t just words. In my view, those scholars slandering Commander Zhao are the real disasters for the nation."

"Commander Zhao would be pleased to know that," Zhao Douan said with a smile.

Dean Wu suddenly looked worried and said:

"Mr. Lin, you come from a distinguished background; surely you know about the court’s peace negotiations? What’s going on? I’ve heard the rebels want to cede territory? Does the Emperor intend to compromise?"

Zhao Douan’s expression changed slightly: "Who told you this?"

Dean Wu shook his head and said:

"I don’t know where it started, but it’s what everyone in town is saying. If Mr. Lin is curious, you could try asking around some taverns, but in those high-priced restaurants, the respectable gentlemen surely wouldn’t dare speak such things."

"...I understand. There are no results on the peace talks yet, and the Emperor will not compromise," Zhao Douan said.

"Really?"

Old Wu smiled and said:

"That’s good, that’s good."

...

Upon leaving the orphanage, Zhao Douan felt increasingly uneasy.

"Sir?" Qian Kerou noticed something was wrong with his mood and asked softly.

Zhao Douan halted, telling her:

"Distribute the remaining supplies according to the list I wrote. Also, remember to inform the Red Flower Society to behave themselves; if they dare target this batch of goods..."

Qian Kerou smiled and said, "Don’t worry. We understand."

The round-faced secretary also had a fierce side.

"Hmm." Zhao Douan nodded, watching his subordinates leave, then turned alone, stepping over the snow toward a nearby tavern.

He did not choose a high-end restaurant.

He selected an "Inexpensive Tavern" to enter, ordered a few dishes, and sat down in an inconspicuous corner.

Gradually, more guests filled the tavern, and without needing to inquire, they began discussing the topic of "peace negotiations" on their own.

"Have you heard? It seems the Emperor might relent and make concessions in the peace talks," a small merchant said in a low voice.

Those at the same table were shocked: "How could that be? The envoys were adamant about ’claiming the mountains as territory’. If agreed, wouldn’t that create two ’nations within a nation’?"

"Hey, logically, there should be no retreat, but with the army at the frontlines already fighting, what can be done? It’s winter; they’re still fighting, showing how determined they are," another person joined the discussion.

"But there’s still the border army..."

"If the border army were effective, why haven’t they eliminated them yet? Why have things reached peace talks?"

"But there’s still Commander Zhao, and Marshal Xue too."

"Ha, that Commander Zhao is indeed capable, but ultimately, he’s just one person. Currently, he’s stuck on the west side of the Huai River, unsure how many troops it’ll take to pacify Yunfu. And don’t forget, there’s still Prince Jing. Not enough manpower means having to compromise, to surrender."

"Bang!" Amidst the discussions, a drunken poor scholar suddenly slammed the table heavily, causing a big commotion. The poor scholar staggered to his feet, angrily saying:

"Today, ceding one city, tomorrow, ten cities. The rebel king plots treason, leaving people in misery, and with Commander Zhao winning victory after victory, even Mr. Dong has laid down his pen to join the western front, struggling to defeat Prince Heng and the Mu Prince, now yet having to cede territory and compromise?

Where does this nonsense come from? How can it be justified to the fallen soldiers on the frontline? If it’s truly so, the Emperor might as well abdicate..."

Initially, everyone listened seriously, but later, their expressions changed.

The barkeep, startled and irritated, came forward and pulled the drunken scholar away.

Is such talk even permissible?

Although they knew some things couldn’t be said, the patrons’ faces showed no disapproval of the scholar’s words but rather a vague sense of agreement.

All this was observed by Zhao Douan from the corner.

He stood up silently, paid the bill, and then left the tavern.

In the following hours, Zhao Douan wandered through various taverns and teahouses in the city, quietly listening to public opinion.

By the afternoon.

After paying the bill once again and stepping outside, he returned first to the Imperial Court and found that Qian Kerou and others had already completed the tasks he had assigned.

"Sir, the tasks are done. Here is a record of the supplies required by different charities." Qian Kerou handed him a document.