Chapter 364: Chancellor Zhang
Chapter 364: Chancellor Zhang
September 25, 2017
Lu HaiKong and Ding Yuan's first battle left both sides feeling they had come out on the losing end.
Ding Yuan lost a million-gold Mechanical Beast, countless county troops, and two thousand Flying Wolf Cavalry under Lu Bu's command. He almost lost Lu Bu and Ding Li themselves, and despite such heavy losses, they failed to breach the enemy's walls. Instead, the originally fifteen-meter-high wall suddenly grew by five meters. Could this situation be any more infuriating? Wasn't Ding Yuan at a significant disadvantage?
On the other hand, Lu HaiKong also felt he had been wronged.
He lost a Mechanical Iron Tiger and a 'Tombguard Legion Summoning Token'. These two losses alone were enough to leave Lu HaiKong in excruciating pain.
Each of these items was worth at least a million gold, and after using these two precious resources, Lu HaiKong could only watch as Lu Bu and his forces escaped. It was a painful sight for Lu HaiKong.
Not to mention, his first subordinate, Wang Chao, had sacrificed himself from the very beginning.
What made Lu HaiKong even more frustrated was that the system had just notified him of three Golden Treasure Chests and one Silver Treasure Chest available for collection. But just as he was about to claim them, the system suddenly provided another prompt.
"You are currently in a Mega Battle, and rewards will accumulate until the end of the war."
This was clearly a system patch. After all, in battles between players and NPCs, the players' advantage in gaining rewards from each campaign was significantly greater.
The system locked the rewards until the war's end, which was understandable. However, this only worsened Lu HaiKong's mood.
Fortunately, the soldiers' rank promotions were not blocked. Among the Bodyguard Legion, who had contributed the most in the battle, some members advanced to become Bandit Guards, and the remaining troops also improved in various ways. This slightly improved Lu HaiKong's mood.
Initially, Lu HaiKong had planned to launch a night raid while Lu Bu was severely injured. However, Ding Yuan was not Zhang Yan, and his camp was heavily fortified with defensive structures. Moreover, the vigilance during the night had not decreased but increased, making the entire military camp resemble a porcupine. Lu HaiKong had no chance to launch a sneak attack and had to abandon the idea of a night raid.
...
Luoyang, Chancellor Zhang's Manor.
Chancellor Zhang returned from the palace with an impatient expression and encountered a middle-aged man in the main hall.
Upon seeing Chancellor Zhang, the middle-aged man quickly stood up and bowed, "I am Zhang Li. It's an honor to meet you, Chancellor Zhang."
Chancellor Zhang's mood was evidently not pleasant. He walked with an air of arrogance to the main seat in the hall and waited for the servants to bring him a cup of hot tea. After taking a sip, he glanced at Zhang Li and spoke leisurely.
"So, you're Zhang Li? You've been sending gifts to our family for more than half a year, but we haven't seen any action. We thought we had met a sincere person, but it seems you've finally shown your true colors. Nevertheless, considering your contributions over the past six months, speak up if there's anything you need help with."
Zhang Li, from the Shanyou family, had enjoyed the business benefits of Lu HaiKong's bandit camp. Moreover, they were not insignificant. Unlike other aristocratic families, Zhang Li made an investment, pouring almost all the money he had earned in the past six months into Chancellor Zhang.
Zhang Li was always a smart man, and his vision was far-reaching. He could see the flaws in Lu HaiKong's identity, and he had even known about Lu HaiKong's current situation beforehand. All his investments were made for this very moment.
Zhang Li showed no concern for Chancellor Zhang's attitude, maintaining a respectful demeanor.
"I have come to offer you, Chancellor Zhang, a great fortune. If this matter comes to fruition, I dare not speak of the specifics, but there will certainly be tens of millions in annual profits."
As Zhang Li spoke, Chancellor Zhang's teacup trembled slightly in his hand.
"How much did you say?"
"Tens of millions! Not a penny less," Zhang Li reaffirmed.
Chancellor Zhang, having witnessed countless grand occasions, quickly regained his composure, thanks to years of courtly intrigue that had honed his mental fortitude.
"Such a large chunk of meat might not be easy to swallow."
"It may be difficult for others, but for you, it's merely a matter of making a move," Zhang Li said, knowing full well that the elderly eunuch was intrigued. Even if he wasn't, Zhang Li had a plan to ensure his involvement.
"Tell me more. What is this about, and how can I take a bite out of this opportunity?"
At Chancellor Zhang's words, Zhang Li's eyes lit up with excitement. After organizing his thoughts, he explained the rivalry between the two major powers in Bingzhou and the connection between Ding Yuan and He Jin, the latter being a prominent figure in the court.
Historically, the royal family had used the maternal relatives and eunuchs as checks and balances against the power of the aristocratic officials. From this perspective, they should have been close allies, but in reality, they were often at odds with each other, more often engaging in fierce competition.
Zhang Li's words about Ding Yuan and He Jin caught Chancellor Zhang's attention. He narrowed his eyes, understanding why Zhang Li had sought him out.
At present, among the court officials, only Chancellor Zhang could and would be willing to help.
Zhang Li meticulously explained the situation, emphasizing the conflict between Ding Yuan and the Zhang family, as well as the total volume of business over the past six months.
With the conflict between Chancellor Zhang and He Jin on one hand and the enormous potential profits on the other, Zhang Li had played all his cards. Now, he anxiously awaited Chancellor Zhang's decision.
For Zhang Li, this was the biggest gamble of his life. If successful, he would have Chancellor Zhang's support and the backing of Lu HaiKong, ensuring both power and wealth. The future of the Zhang family in Bingzhou could soar to new heights, perhaps even surpassing the current rulers.
However, if he failed, there would be no significant loss; at most, he would be out a few million.
While it seemed that Zhang Li had nothing to lose, he was still incredibly nervous. He couldn't bring himself to look at Chancellor Zhang, instead fixing his gaze on the ground as he waited for the eunuch's decision.
Chancellor Zhang observed Zhang Li, and with his extensive experience, he could easily discern the man's ambition. But ambition was not his primary concern; there were plenty of ambitious people.
What interested Chancellor Zhang was the potential to use this matter to reprimand the recently rebellious He Jin and the possibility of gaining tens of millions in profits.
After much deliberation, Chancellor Zhang finally spoke, "Give me a reason, a reason for me to get involved in the affairs of Bingzhou..."
Hearing this, Zhang Li couldn't help but smile. The deal was as good as done.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
