Chapter 335: Ding Yuan
Chapter 335: Ding Yuan
September 25, 2017
Lu HaiKong emerged from his meeting with Xi Zhi Cai, still without the answers he sought.
Xi Zhi Cai's silence indicated that his approach had been less than ideal, but Lu HaiKong couldn't quite pinpoint the issue at that moment.
Fortunately, Lu HaiKong wasn't one to dwell on minor details. He set the matter aside for the time being, as he had done all he could.
From this point on, Lu HaiKong's involvement in the unfolding events was limited. He could only wait for the outcome of Zhang He's mission.
The best-case scenario would be ideal, leaving nothing to worry about. In the second case, Lu HaiKong remained unfazed, knowing it would be just another battle.
Over the next few days, while closely monitoring the situation in Dingxiang, Lu HaiKong also began making conscious preparations for potential conflict.
Lu HaiKong personally shut down the trade channels with Dingxiang County for the time being. As for Qiangyin County, despite their initial fear due to Lu HaiKong's recent actions in Dingxiang, they promptly responded to his food orders.
On one hand, the Qiangyin Aristocracy didn't believe the Dingxiang Aristocracy would give up such a lucrative business opportunity. The profits were simply too astonishing to let go of easily.
On the other hand, Lu HaiKong's intimidating presence had grown stronger after the Dingxiang incident. Who would dare offend him now? After publicly committing murder outside Dingxiang City, eradicating a minor Aristocratic Family would be a trivial matter.)
Following Lu HaiKong's instructions, an endless stream of food and resources, including iron, coal, and other supplies, began flowing from Qiangyin County to Lu HaiKong's Bandit Camp the very next day after his return.
This move served not only as a war preparation but also as a powerful message to the Dingxiang Aristocratic Families and Zhang He.
'I'm genuinely prepared for a potential major battle, so you'd better figure out your next move.'
The Dingxiang Aristocratic Families were both helpless and terrified by this threatening posture. They could only rely on their influence to mitigate the impact of the incident.
Prior to the Dingxiang incident, Lu HaiKong had left an impression on the Dingxiang Aristocratic Families as a 'foolhardy' (first encounter with Zhang He) and 'wealthy' (recent business dealings) individual. However, after the incident, additional labels such as 'domineering,' 'arrogant,' and 'cruel' were attached to him in their eyes.
Naturally, these labels were most fitting for a Bandit Camp leader, and they were the ones that could intimidate others. At least with these labels and Lu HaiKong's previously demonstrated formidable strength in Dingxiang, no Aristocratic Family dared to harbor any ill intentions at this time. Their primary goal was to minimize the impact of the Dingxiang incident and restore the previous status quo.
With the Dingxiang Aristocratic Families' efforts, the impact of this incident could be easily contained.
In this society, who controlled the spread of information? Certainly not the common folk. It was the Aristocratic Families who held the reins of information flow.
They had the power to tightly control and contain the news, making it difficult for it to spread beyond their grasp.
The Dingxiang Aristocratic Families responded swiftly to the Dingxiang incident, and the news remained largely confined within the county, with only nearby areas like Qiangyin County becoming aware of it.
Logically, the next step should lead to a mutually beneficial and harmonious resolution.
Zhang Yang, having been ousted as a failure, was replaced by Zhang He, who resumed his position. The aristocratic families of Dingxiang continued their trade with Lu HaiKong, generating a steady stream of wealth amounting to hundreds of thousands of gold every month.
This scenario was a little too perfect and a little too unrealistic.
Whether this incident could be suppressed depended on whether the Zhang family could swallow their pride.
Zhang Yang, after all, was still a member of the Zhang family. Despite his recent rise to power, he had not yet fully established his position when he was abruptly kicked out, leaving not only Zhang Yang but also the Zhang family behind him in a very embarrassing situation.
In this situation, only if the Zhang family could swallow their pride could the situation in Dingxiang return to its previous stability.
Lu HaiKong believed that this was the greatest challenge of the entire incident. However, what Lu HaiKong didn't know was that this challenge wasn't the greatest, and it wasn't even a challenge.
Lu HaiKong had overlooked one aspect: factors beyond the Zhang family, which were the real variables and challenges.
Currently, it was still the year 182, a year and a half before the outbreak of the Yellow Turban Rebellion. Of course, this incident had no connection to the rebellion, but it was related to a historical figure who was quite famous. This person was none other than Ding Yuan!
At this time, Ding Yuan was not yet the Governor of Bingzhou. His original position was the Golden Shield Commander, and from his official position, Ding Yuan had no connection to Bingzhou. However, if He Jin, the brother of the Empress, was behind Ding Yuan, the relationship would be significant.
At this time, He Jin was not yet the Grand Commander, but he had already been appointed as the Imperial Attendant. With the Empress's sister as his backer, He Jin, the butcher, was quite influential as a true outsider.
In the year 189, a series of events unfolded!
Like He Jin, Ding Yuan was also of humble origins. Ding Yuan's family was not well-off, and He Jin was even a butcher by trade. In this era dominated by aristocratic families, it was not unusual for two relatively outstanding sons of humble backgrounds to band together.
However, when two people from humble backgrounds band together, is it really just for warmth?
Beyond their shared humble origins, Ding Yuan admired He Jin's power as an outsider, and He Jin also appreciated Ding Yuan's talent. In this situation, when the two came together, it shouldn't be just for warmth.
A few months ago, after a series of actions by He Jin, Ding Yuan successfully assumed the position of Governor of Wuyuan Prefecture. The appointment of such a person in Bingzhou was significant, and the underlying intentions were hard to ignore.
However, despite previous speculations, this personnel appointment was quite ordinary. Moreover, after Ding Yuan became the Governor of Wuyuan, he devoted himself to military training and was passionate about fighting against foreign tribes. He seemed like someone seeking military achievements before leaving. At this time, the Governor of Bingzhou, Zhang Yi, didn't pay much attention to Ding Yuan.
It wasn't until the Dingxiang incident occurred that Zhang He presented the matter to Zhang Yi, awaiting his decision.
In fact, Zhang Yi didn't have much of an opinion on the matter. After all, at first glance, it seemed too much like an internal struggle within the Zhang family.
Zhang Yang's attempt to take Zhang He's position was a little too ugly, but Zhang He's alliance with Lu HaiKong, the leader of the mountain bandits, was a bit out of line, but they maintained a sense of propriety. In this situation, Zhang Yi didn't want to exert any effort. Since Zhang He had won, it was best to temporarily let him return to his original position.
However, just then, Ding Yuan, whom Zhang Yi hadn't paid much attention to, delivered a decisive blow...
(End)
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