Chapter 226: The Fear of the Strong Yin Family
Chapter 226: The Fear of the Strong Yin Family
September 25, 2017
The Strong Yin Family, led by Lu HaiKong, had no intention of letting go of the allied elite families that had formed against them.
Of course, Lu HaiKong couldn't possibly deal with every family the same way they did with Wang Hao, directly annihilating them. Such a massive act of eliminating seven elite families in a row would likely not go unnoticed by the imperial court. Moreover, there was also the fact that truly eradicating these families would not actually benefit Lu HaiKong in any way.
Lu HaiKong's decision to directly target Wang Hao was a result of prior discussions with Li Xiong and Wang Jun. While Wang Hao was plotting incessantly to eliminate Lu HaiKong, Lu HaiKong was no pushover either. He was well-informed about Wang Hao's situation and had made preparations to counter him.
Through the intelligence gathered by Li Xiong, Lu HaiKong and his allies concluded that if Wang Hao dared to make any unusual moves, they could directly wipe him out.
It was common knowledge that although Wang Hao was from the Dingxiang Wang Clan, his relationship with the clan had been strained ever since he rose to power. A significant reason for this was the clan's covetousness of Wang Hao's Ridge City. They had tried several times to exert control over the city, but Xin Ping had thwarted their attempts each time.
From the perspective of the Wang Clan, Wang Hao had gone too far. They believed that as someone from an elite family who had risen to power with the clan's support, it was unreasonable for him to want to sever ties with them after achieving success, not even allowing the main family to benefit from his accomplishments.
Due to this, the conflict between the Wang Clan and Wang Hao deepened over the course of several months. Particularly among the younger members of the clan, there were even some who approached Li Xiong, subtly implying that if Lu HaiKong were to eliminate Wang Hao, the clan would not only refrain from pursuing the matter but could also help cover it up.
So, Lu HaiKong directly annihilated Wang Hao, and before doing so, they had informed the Wang Clan. Initially, Lu HaiKong thought the clan would symbolically pursue Wang Hao as a gesture of seeking revenge. However, after the fact, they directly occupied Ridge City and never mentioned revenge. Instead, they proactively informed the authorities in Dingxiang Prefecture that Wang Hao had died of natural causes.
This gave the impression of an internal conflict within the Wang Clan, completely removing Lu HaiKong from the equation. A significant reason for this was that they were intimidated by Lu HaiKong's swift and decisive actions. On the same day that Lu HaiKong sent word of their intention to eliminate Wang Hao, he was wiped out that very evening.
Furthermore, the two thousand soldiers guarding the Lord's Manor were left untouched, a testament to Lu HaiKong's formidable strength. The Wang Clan, in their right minds, would not dare to confront such ruthless and formidable opponents.
For them, simply taking over Wang Hao's Ridge City was more than enough. As for Lu HaiKong, an unparalleled and ruthless figure, it was best to avoid any future dealings.
The Wang Clan, however, was relieved. Although they might have lost some face, they gained substantial benefits. They not only avoided any losses but also profited from the situation. But what about the five elite families of Strong Yin? Were they doomed as well, especially the next day when they learned of Wang Hao's sudden death?
The upper echelons of the five families turned pale upon receiving the news. Although they despised Wang Hao for dragging them into the conflict with Lu HaiKong and then fleeing, none of them could genuinely laugh upon hearing of his demise. All they could feel and experience was fear.
At that moment, Li Xiong's words echoed in their minds repeatedly. Although they had already regretted their actions when the elite family coalition suffered total annihilation, at this point, they could only feel regret and fear, with no room for any other emotions.
That night, the leaders of the five families gathered, continuously discussing countermeasures.
There was a suggestion to mobilize forces from the county, or even the province, to encircle and suppress Lu HaiKong's mountain camp. This was the most radical and hardline proposal made overnight, and possibly the most likely to succeed.
For the Strong Yin Clans, this wasn't an ideal solution, despite its simplicity. The cost they would have to bear, however, was immense.
Don't assume that by simply reporting to the county, they would eagerly rush over. If they claim to have annihilated the five-thousand-strong Elite Alliance, then how many troops would the county need to mobilize to truly eliminate Lu HaiKong? Ten thousand or twenty thousand?
Deploying such a massive army would incur significant expenses for food, drink, and other necessities. Not to mention the potential casualties and the compensation for the fallen soldiers, all of which would require a substantial amount of money. Who do you expect to foot the bill? The Emperor himself is struggling to make ends meet. This final cost would ultimately fall on the heads of the five Strong Yin Clans who instigated this.
The amount would be terrifying. The five Strong Yin Clans would likely be squeezed dry by the county officials.
This was still the most optimistic scenario. If the battle became a stalemate, and the county couldn't take down Lu HaiKong for a while, or even if they were pushed back once or twice, the situation would become dire. The appearance of such a bandit force within Bingzhou would trigger a major earthquake in the officialdom. The first to be implicated would undoubtedly be these five clans.
However, if they didn't resort to this option, they had no other way to deal with Lu HaiKong. Wang Hao's death was still fresh, and no one knew whose head the next blow would fall upon.
One option was to go bankrupt and possibly continue as tyrants, while the other was to face direct annihilation. At this moment, the Strong Yin Clans deeply resented Xin Ping. If it weren't for him taking Li Xiong away, they wouldn't be left without a single channel for communication.
Now, they had completely lost their connection with the mountain camp, leaving them with no room for maneuver. They had no choice but to pick one of the two options presented.
After much deliberation, the Strong Yin Clans finally chose the first option, as it wasn't a difficult decision to make.
When this choice was made, all the elite clan members softened, their expressions turning somewhat ghastly. Their faces revealed more pain and anguish, though it was unclear who this pain was directed at.
This decision ultimately didn't make it out of the Zhao Family Hall. It wasn't that they vetoed the resolution themselves, but as they were worked up into a frenzy to eliminate Lu HaiKong, the hall suddenly fell silent.
In the 1619th chapter, a book, a bar, and a look!
The candlelight on the table dimmed, and then the door seemed to be pushed open from outside, allowing a cold breeze to blow in.
Everyone felt a chill, and as the candlelight brightened, a tall and slender figure appeared at the doorway, accompanied by over a dozen dark shadows. These figures stood silently, giving off a sense of illusion and nothingness.
As the figure at the doorway stepped into the hall, the candlelight illuminated his face, adding a touch of gloom to his already somber expression.
Soon, he reached the center of the hall and addressed those present, his mouth curling into a sinister smile as he introduced himself: "My name is Ma Pen, and I bring greetings from my lord to all of you."
These words were like a thunderclap, shocking the elite clans in the hall, causing them to sit down on the ground in fear...
(End of Chapter)
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