kvmb Chapter 122 Like each other
Chapter 122 Like each other
"Uncle Huang, if this was just the case of Luo Yu and the Ministry of Revenue, they wouldn't have investigated further once they got to the First Prince. It doesn't matter if they capture or kill those quacks. It's impossible to implicate the Qin family, let alone shake the Fifth Prince's power in the court."
"After all this effort and the risk of exposing the Xingluo Guard's secret agents, is there nothing to gain?"
Tang Ling's heart was restless. He glanced at his writing, thinking it wasn't good. He changed the paper and wrote again. "Winter comes and summer passes, autumn harvests, winter stores." Tang Ling's writing seemed to be getting smoother, and the eight characters were quite good. He didn't rush to continue, but instead put his pen aside and continued talking to Huang Zexian.
"Uncle Huang, what do you think the Emperor of Chen wants to do most right now?"
"Hmm?" Huang Zexian frowned. What he wanted to do most was... "Send troops to Qi?"
According to information gathered at various government offices during the Mid-Autumn Festival banquets, the Emperor of Chen has authorized the establishment of military farms in Fenglin Mountain, Yuanzhou Prefecture, and will likely launch an attack on Qi next spring. Chen and Zhou had just concluded a war, and everyone assumed Chen would take advantage of the peace talks to recuperate. Who could have imagined that the Emperor of Chen, so aggressive in his military strategy, would turn around and attack Qi at this critical juncture?
"Yes, and no. He misses our Great Zhou and wants my father to send troops to Qi."
Huang Zexian felt as if his heart was hit by a heavy object, his head was buzzing, and he suddenly understood something.
The Chen Kingdom was a martial nation, and its emperor was warlike. He had ambitions to unify the Three Kingdoms, and he possessed both strength and, most frighteningly, patience. For years, he had fought against the Zhou and Qi Kingdoms on the Fenglin Mountain and Taihua River fronts, remaining undefeated. However, the strength of the Zhou and Qi states gradually weakened, especially Qi.
Although Great Zhou hadn't lost the battle at Taihua River, its treasury had been depleted, forcing it to sue for peace with Chen. If Chen had declared war on Qi the following year, it would have given Great Zhou a chance to recuperate, and the months of fighting at Taihua River would have been wasted. The Emperor of Chen couldn't bear such a loss. Therefore, the best strategy was to draw Great Zhou into the war, allowing Chen to sit on the sidelines and wait for the opportunity.
Tang Ling was assassinated after entering Chen. Qi's spies were rampant in Chen's territory, which was much more serious than the Xingluo Guards' spying. It was certain that they would raise an army to attack Qi, and Xun Anhou's anger could be used to good advantage to give Da Zhou a reason to send troops.
"Sir, your speculation is indeed typical of the Emperor of Chen. Shouldn't we discuss countermeasures with the Marquis now? What does it have to do with those quacks?"
Tang Ling shook her head slightly, setting aside the cursive writing she had just written. On a fresh sheet of white paper, she drew the territories of Chen, Qi, and Zhou, and said to Huang Zexian, "Can my father be so easily exploited? If Chen and Zhou fought a great battle, and if Great Zhou still had the strength to fight again, would my father have to bear the pain of sending me out as a hostage? Therefore, if you want my father to send troops, the Emperor of Chen must promise my father and Great Zhou something they can't refuse. This is the bargaining chip for our peace talks."
Huang Zexian nodded knowingly. He would lower his stance during the peace talks, but would not give in or compromise on his interests. After seeing Chen Guo's reaction, he would know whether Tang Ling's guess was wrong.
Tang Ling continued, "Attacking Qi will be in the common interests of Chen and Zhou, but before that, doesn't the Emperor of Chen owe me an explanation?"
The second assassination attempt on Tang Ling in Lanquan wasn't the work of the Qi State's Office. This is a thorn in His Majesty's heart. Who would have the guts to collude with the Dushifu under his nose? The Xuanji Battalion is investigating the second assassination in Lanquan.
If the Xingluo Guard can find it, the Xuanji Camp can definitely find it too.
Your Majesty was able to allow the Qin and Gongsun families to engage in factional strife for many years. He watched coldly from the sidelines, controlling the overall situation and maintaining a balance between the two sides, but he would never tolerate either side trying to use the power of other countries to seize power.
Qin committed a big taboo.
Tang Ling said slowly, "Those Jianghu people are just a decoy, a stone thrown to test the waters. The ones who will really have to work hard are the Xuanji Camp. In the past, His Majesty would have turned a blind eye, but not this time. With any luck, he'll help me find the people from the Dushifu and avenge me."
Huang Zexian looked at Tang Ling and the pen in his hand, which had already roughly drawn the map of the Three Kingdoms' territory with every stroke of ink.
Tang Ling smiled slowly and looked up at Huang Zexian: "Don't worry, Uncle Huang. Qi Xiao will help me."
"... Young Master... He is, after all, the Ninth Prince of Chen." Given Qi Xiao's status and position, how could he possibly help? He was probably powerless. Besides, love was an unpredictable thing. How could Tang Ling trust him? Could she trust him so foolishly as to abandon his position and status, risking his own life, to help Tang Ling and the Great Zhou?
Qin's secret collusion with the capital was a grave taboo. Tang Ling and Qi Xiao's actions... weren't they even worse?
Tang Ling saw through Huang Zexian's thoughts at a glance and said with a smile, "It is precisely because Qi Xiao and I are so close and he is not helping me for power that His Majesty can let him go. It is also because Qi Xiao is powerless that His Majesty will protect him even more. After all, if the Qin family falls, the Gongsun family will dominate, and he will have to help someone else to rise up."
Huang Zexian sighed silently. Even if what Tang Ling said and expected was true, he still felt uneasy. It was not for anything else, but for the four words "mutual affection".
***
At the same time, on Qi Xiao's side, Chi Yue pointed out the names of Qian Chong, Li Sheng, and Wang Tangyi.
"Do they know each other?"
"Qian Chong is from Xiping, while Wang Tangyi was born in Puyang. They're both famous for their swordsmanship, and they're about the same age. They're often compared in the martial arts world, but I haven't heard of them being acquainted with each other. This Li Sheng is a swordsman from Qi. He's been traveling the Three Kingdoms in recent years, seeking challenges everywhere. He probably doesn't know the other two."
"If you don't know them, how do you know they are all related to the Qin family?"
Chi Yue laughed: "I guessed it."
"..." Qi Xiao had thought he could rely on the spies from the Xuanji Camp, but he hadn't expected Chi Yue to rely on guesswork. Was he trying to trick him?!
"Your Highness, please don't be angry. Let me explain."
"Okay, give me a few words. Go ahead."
Chi Yue was glared at by Qi Xiao and dared not laugh anymore: "The eight people on the list are all good at martial arts, but these three came to the capital alone and have no connection with the court on the surface. To murder an official appointed by the court, you need to find someone with great skills and courage."
Qi Xiao looked at Chi Yue, tapping his fingers on the table, shaking his head and saying, "Your guess can't convince me. Chi Yue, you'd better not be so clever."
"I dare not, I dare not, Your Highness asks questions, how dare I not report in detail." Chi Yue lowered his head slightly, looking obedient, and said, "Your Highness, do you still have the map I drew before?"
Qi Xiao nodded and put the map on the desk.
Chi Yue took it, pointed at the map and said, "Mr. Li lives in the Qi State Merchants Alliance Hall in Pingxiangfang, while Qian Chong and Wang Tangyi both live in Xuanzhengfang." These were the two directions that Qi Xiao and others speculated the assassin escaped from when they were investigating the Luo Yu case.
This inference is reasonable. What the hell are you guessing?
"Chi Yue, next time there's something that requires me to ask you again and again, don't blame me for not warning you." Qi Xiao put away the map and said it casually, but his voice was cold and Chi Yue could understand it.
"Yes. Chi Yue won't dare to do that anymore. Your Highness, please calm down." Even the obedience on Chi Yue's face disappeared. He was silent and cold, but his expression was more serious than ever before.
"Let's go, let's start with Mr. Li."