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"Where did you get this news from?"

Wei Gongzhan looked at his cousin before him with a sinister gaze, for the first time... he harbored thoughts of killing his cousin!

Even towards Mr. Heiyun, who was always probing into the secrets of Daqing Mountain, he didn’t care much, because although the man appeared serious on the surface, he, like Wei himself, was comfortably settled in Jiangnan.

But the man before him, who day and night thought only of how to destroy this place, was different.

In the past, he could be dismissed as a mere troublemaker, but now, he could actually get in touch with the Imperial Court!

"General Wei, is it?" The chubby middle-aged Official Lyu narrowed his eyes into slits with a smile, "I am Lyu Sheng. General, you need not doubt my information. All of it comes directly from the Capital City, and it’s absolutely reliable.

This time, the Imperial Court is raising an army of fifty thousand under the pretext of retaking control of Jiangnan.

The imperial edict has already been issued, stating that due to Chen Qing, the Lyuzhou Magistrate, having protected Jiangnan meritoriously, he is summoned to the Capital City and promoted to the Minister of the Military Department.

The former Commander Weichi Peng of Lyuzhou will temporarily take over, and the Imperial Court is sending in an additional fifty thousand troops to counter other rebellious threats! "

Wei Gongzhan: "....."

"The Prefectural Governor has not rebelled..." Wei Gongzhan took a deep breath and said, "He has preserved billions of Jiangnan’s populace for the Imperial Court!"

"So, that’s why the Imperial Court is bestowing such great rewards!

" said the Official with a laugh, "How old is Lord Chen? Barely past his twentieth year and already a Third Rank Minister. Such an honor is unprecedented, not just in this dynasty but also in the history of previous ones. Isn’t what the Imperial Court is offering enough? "

"And if..." the Official’s eyes flashed coldly, "with such a reward, Lord Chen still does not wish to leave Jiangnan, it would imply that he indeed harbors wolfish ambitions. Is it not right for the Imperial Court to send troops to suppress him, General Wei?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Gongzhan was suddenly silent, feeling a chill in his heart...

This day... was bound to come!

The other Officials looked at Wei Gongzhan’s demeanor, all wearing kind smiles.

In recent days, they had smiled more than in the past decades, and the reason for this was none other than the imminent restoration of order in Jiangnan!

Yes, all the local gentry now gritted their teeth in hatred towards Chen Qing, but upon hearing that the Imperial Army was coming, they felt gratitude for everything Chen Qing had created!

Yes, gratitude, because once the Imperial Court took control, the scholar-official class would regain its voice. Then, all the wealth of Jiangnan today would be within their reach to share.

Are they really hateful of the mountain deities sustaining billions of people?

Are they hateful of the various goods that could bring back fortunes as soon as they left Jiangnan?

Are they hateful of the productivity created by the disciples of the Mystic Academy and the Huang Academy?

No, what they hate is that all this has nothing to do with them!

The mistake of Chen Qing was that he did not share all this with the scholar-officials, who believe that only in their hands can they truly benefit the common people!

They had already decided that once Chen Qing was defeated and the Imperial Court retook control, they, unfamiliar with the local environment, would certainly need these Jiangnan scholar-officials to assist in governance.

And from then on, the Jiangnan families holding sway over the mountain deities would control the wealth of the Central Plains!

And those students who strayed from the orthodox teachings, who had been led astray by Jiangnan’s academic customs under Chen Qing, must be corrected.

Of course, they were not so domineering; they weren’t planning on completely abolishing those teachings, as they did have some benefits to the people.

As long as those students were willing to return to their proper places and were willing to benefit the people under the leadership of Confucianism, they could still exist but with restrictions!

Such techniques of creation, uncontrolled, would be more harmful than beneficial. Only under their leadership could stability be assured; otherwise, disorder in Jiangnan and the disruption of cultural traditions would lead to endless harm.

Seeing Wei Gongzhan silent, the big man immediately broke into a joyful smile, "Rest assured, General Wei, we will certainly report your meritorious acts to the Imperial Court. We have heard that you are now a First Rank Immortal Farmer on Daqing Mountain, humbly tilling the land under Chen Qing’s tyrannical rule.

It’s been tough, General, but what you control is worthwhile.

And General Weichi has even infiltrated to become one of Chen Qing’s major generals, ready to attack from within and without.

The traitor Chen Qing will certainly be turned to ash under the might of the Imperial Court! "

"Oh?"

Before Wei Gongzhan could respond, a piercing voice came from behind them, and he turned his head, surprised to see Weichi Feihu clad in military armor.

Seeing the young master of Chen Qing appear here, Wei Gongzhan felt incredibly conflicted inside.

He had heard many rumors about the young master’s bravery and prowess in battle over the past year and knew that the young master now commanded tens of thousands of troops as the Warrior General.

But there was one thing he had forgotten: the young master.

.. was a legitimate descendant of an influential family!

This status... was bound to ensure the young master wouldn’t stay here forever.

And moreover... it was unclear whether it was intentional by the Imperial Court, but the person leading the troops this time turned out to be the head of the Weichi Clan: Young Master Peng!

This was forcing the young master to turn against Chen Qing...

"Young Master, you have finally arrived!" Wei Gongzhan immediately lit up with excitement.

Being a sidelined Gate God’s Guard whom these scholarly officials sought out and treated with such courtesy was certainly not because of his own merit...

After all, what help could a minor gate guard provide to the Imperial Court?

He wasn’t even as useful as Shen Yuan from the academies, who at least was an academician of the Heavenly Institute, a distinguished figure capable of stealing various intelligence and information for the Imperial Court.

And him? A fellow discarded by the War God Army, so insignificant that even the Gate God’s Guard showed him no regard, except for being able to offer these gentry a bit of meat and quality grain, he had no significant use.

The reason he was so valued was simply because of his relationship with the Junior General.

The Junior General, under the pseudonym Huang Feihu, had made a great name for himself in Yunzhou. To promote the bravery of the Warrior Army, Chen Qing had hired a number of storytellers in the countryside to extol those who had risen from the ranks to become generals.

This was also Chen Qing’s tactic to foster martial valor among the common folk, but it also made the Junior General’s fame spread throughout Jiangnan!

Now, the Junior General had both prestige and actual power within Chen Qing’s Warrior Army, making him a core figure. Such a character, should he be willing to collaborate with the Imperial Army from within and without, would indeed be capable of great achievements!

Wei Gongzhan stared at the somewhat unfamiliar Junior General, speechless in a daze.

After a year apart, the Junior General had grown much more robust, his youthful features fading, clearly showing the composed demeanor unique to the Family Head of the Weichi Clan.

It appeared that the storytellers hadn’t lied; the Junior General had experienced and grown a lot over the past year.

He should have been quite happy, given he had brought his own Hongshen Wine to properly celebrate with the Junior General.

But now... he suddenly had no desire to drink at all...

"Junior General, when did you arrive?" Wei Gongyan eagerly stepped forward, with a demeanor of utmost intimacy!

"I’ve been here for a while," Weichi Feihu replied indifferently, scanning the other party briefly before turning to the Officials: "I have been listening to the esteemed gentlemen’s high opinions for some time now."

"This must be General Weichi, right?" The portly Official smiled even more amicably and took the initiative to step forward with a bow: "It’s said that seeing is believing, General Weichi. Your vigor and spirit are impressive! No wonder you could slay enemies in all directions even within the enemy’s camp, truly a legitimate scion of the Weichi Clan! "

The flattery towards Weichi Feihu was decidedly sincere from the Officials, a stark contrast to the superficial amiability and underlying disdain they showed Wei Gongyan.

After all, what was the use of someone who, despite being of noble blood, had been reduced to a mere lowly gate guard in the Gate God’s Guard for a year without any improvement, even worse off than some country bumpkin?

If not for his ability to reach Weichi Feihu, they wouldn’t bother interacting with such an utter waste.

Weichi Feihu approached and scrutinized the man claiming to be a distant relative of Minister Yang, Official Lyu: "Are these all your people? With this few, you plan to scheme against Chen Qing and aid from the inside and outside?"

"Certainly, it’s not just us..." Official Lyu quickly conveyed in a rush of urgency: "The group we represent includes the gentry throughout Jiangnan. Now, not just Lyuzhou, but Yunzhou, Yangzhou, and Nanyang City—all the former gentries suppressed grievously by Chen Qing—are awaiting the Imperial Army’s arrival to restore order!

As long as the Imperial Army arrives, with our help, we will surely take down the traitor Chen Qing with ease.

With the people of Jiangnan’s scholarly circle within, we can also ensure the utmost stability of the people’s livelihood.

Such a meritorious service will indeed secure you a place in the Weichi Clan! "

"Hmm..." Weichi Feihu nodded: "It sounds... reasonable."

"Junior General..." Wei Gongzhan opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say.

"That’s right, Junior General!" Wei Gongyan echoed, delighted with the prospect.

Having originally fled to Jiangnan, he had long since given up on the thought of sharing in Weichi Feihu’s glories. Yet, unexpectedly, such an opportunity had arisen!

If they were to help the Imperial Court recapture Jiangnan this time, by his achievements, the Junior General would at least secure the position of a provincial Governor-General, and he, as the second-in-command, would undoubtedly get the station of Commander of a Provincial Government Office!

Of course, as a vassal’s offspring, one generally couldn’t become the chief military official of a locality, but the rank was certainly attainable.

With rank came the opportunity to secure a noble title for his own mother, and his position within the Wei Family would not be low; at least he would live up to the reputation of the legitimate offspring of the Wei Family, wouldn’t he?

"How do you wish me to assist you all?" Weichi Feihu continued to approach with a smiling inquiry.

Upon hearing this, the Official’s face lit up with genuine joy: "Junior General need not be anxious.

Once the Imperial Army advances, directions will naturally come.

As the Junior General, you hold a high position here, commanding tens of thousands of the Warrior Army.

If you can incite defection, it would be best; if not, causing command confusion is also a great service.

With cooperation from within and without, we will certainly catch Chen Qing off guard! "

"Hmm..." Weichi Feihu nodded at the words, then added: "You just mentioned you represent the scholarly gentry of Jiangnan. May I ask exactly who you are representing?"

"This..." The Officials looked at each other, seemingly at a loss for a moment.

"How so?" Weichi Feihu’s smile suddenly turned cold: "You expect me to risk so much, yet you won’t even reveal your collaborators to me? Am I to be beheaded at your whim?"

"Junior General, please calm down..." With Weichi Feihu’s prowess nearing the Super First Rank, how could the Officials, with their bellies full of fat, withstand such pressure?

They were asked so fervently they felt weak in the knees and hastily replied: "Tomorrow, there will be a scholarly meeting.

The entire gentry circle of Lyuzhou will be present, and as for the others from the various provinces, since that bastard Chen Qing has used witchcraft to isolate each state in Jiangnan, we can only communicate by letters. "

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes, yes..."

"Where?"

"Baisheng Hall on North Street."

"Good!" Weichi Feihu revealed a smile once more, but his eyes shone with an unspeakably chilling light!