Transmigrating To Start As A Mountain Bandit Chapter 687: Changsun Hong - Novel Cool

Chapter 687: Changsun Hong

Chapter 687: Changsun Hong

September 25, 2017

The name Li Chen, the Governor of Shangjun, was not new to Lu HaiKong. Their conflict had begun over a year ago when Lu HaiKong first assumed the position of Governor of Bing Province and the Wuxian army of four hundred thousand troops was pressuring the borders. Lu HaiKong had sent Li Xiong to borrow troops from him, but none of the five counties provided significant support. However, their attitudes were tolerable, except for Li Chen, who not only refused to lend troops but also had Li Xiong detained, intending to imprison him.

As soon as Li Xiong was forced out of the Governor's Mansion, the Ghost Shadow Guards rescued him.

The Ghost Shadow Guards lingered outside the Governor's Mansion for several days, causing great embarrassment to the Governor of Shangjun. From that moment on, Lu HaiKong held a grudge against him.

Due to this grudge, after Lu HaiKong became the Governor of Bing Province, the Governor of Shangjun was the most rebellious among all the county governors. Under his leadership, the five counties of Shuofang, Shangjun, Xijun, Taiyuan, and Shangdang joined forces to open a livestock market in Shuofang County.

Over the past few months, the Governor of Shangjun had publicly criticized Lu HaiKong on multiple occasions, becoming the symbol of resistance against him.

Today, that symbol fell, as Lu HaiKong took action.

The assassination attempt by the Black Cloak Man infuriated Lu HaiKong, prompting him to act earlier than planned.

However, this time, Lu HaiKong did not send the Ghost Shadow Guards or a large army to suppress the rebellion. Instead, he casually issued an administrative order, removing Li Chen from his position as Governor of Shangjun.

Who was Lu HaiKong? He was no longer just a bandit leader. He held the titles of General Who Conquers the North, Governor of Bing Province, and was also engaged to the imperial consort, with a promising future in politics. Not to mention, as the Governor of Bing Province, he wielded immense administrative power.

In theory, Lu HaiKong had the authority to appoint and dismiss any official in Bing Province.

Logically, with Lu HaiKong's appointment, the Governor of Shangjun should have been removed from office. However, the situation did not unfold as expected.

Initially, the Governor of Shangjun considered Lu HaiKong's dismissal order a joke, ignoring it completely.

He had the confidence and strength to do so, not only because of the person backing him but also due to his family background.

His family was one of the oldest and most influential in Bing Province, controlling various aspects of Shangjun. Moreover, over the past few months, Li Chen believed he had united the power of the five counties' families. In his opinion, regarding Lu HaiKong's dismissal, the Governor of Shangjun thought he could ignore it if he wanted to. If he was unhappy, he could make Lu HaiKong pay the price anytime, anywhere.

Therefore, he not only ignored the dismissal order but also publicly demanded that Lu HaiKong apologize and beg him to return as the Governor of Shangjun.

With this statement, he had set the stage, ready to strike and teach Lu HaiKong a lesson.

However, he never expected that before he could make his move, someone else would boldly take action.

The very next day after his declaration, his son was arrested for abducting a civilian girl. While he was still in shock, someone dared to challenge him, the formidable Tai Sui Ye?

As he was about to retaliate and punish this reckless individual, he found himself in a precarious situation.

Outside the Governor's Mansion in Shangjun, Li Chen, the forty-something overweight man, glared angrily at the group of soldiers surrounding him.

He was shocked that as soon as he received the news of his son's arrest, he was immediately surrounded.

The soldiers were clearly well-prepared, and his guards were no match for this wolf-like group.

"Who are you? How dare you block my way? Get out of my path immediately!" Li Chen shouted at the soldiers.

Despite his anger, he couldn't hide his panic. Even a fool would understand that someone daring to make an arrest outside the Governor's Mansion meant serious trouble for him.

In fact, Li Chen sensed something amiss from the moment his son was arrested.

He couldn't comprehend who in Shangjun had the power and audacity to challenge him, especially in such a blatant and fearless manner.

Who gave them the courage? Was it Lu HaiKong? When did that bandit leader gain such terrifying power that a single dismissal order would prompt others to act on his behalf?

As Li Chen pondered, the guards surrounding him parted, and a familiar figure appeared before him.

Recognizing the person, Li Chen's gaze intensified. It was none other than his brother, Li Yong, with whom he had struggled and been suppressed for most of his life.

Li Yan, upon seeing his younger brother, whom he had fought with for most of his life, suddenly calmed the panic on his face and asked indifferently.

"You've sided with Lu HaiKong?"

"I guess so," replied Li Yong without denying it.

Li Yan's face instantly contorted with rage. "Oh, my dear brother, I never thought you'd betray the family for the position of Governor. You've joined Lu HaiKong! You're going to destroy our family!"

"No, no, Governor, you're wrong. It's not him who's going to ruin the Li family, it's you!"

Suddenly, a clear voice interrupted, causing Li Yan to startle and turn to see a scholar in a light blue robe standing next to his brother. Li Yan's expression changed instantly as he recognized the man. "Changsun Hong?"

Li Yan had heard of this scholar, but not of any remarkable deeds. However, the fact that he was treated as a VIP by dozens of prestigious families within a few months was no small feat. Li Yan paid extra attention to this person.

"Yes, it's me, student Changsun Hong," he said with a slight bow.

"You're with Lu HaiKong?" Li Yan immediately understood why Li Yong had suddenly sided with Lu HaiKong. It seemed Changsun Hong had convinced him.

"Yes!"

"Good, good, Changsun Hong. You managed to convince my foolish brother to join Lu HaiKong with just your silver tongue. Impressive! But don't think that by convincing him, you can help Lu HaiKong control the Upper Province. Don't joke. In our Li family, he's just a waste. He's lived in my shadow for decades. What can such a person do? How can he harm me?" Li Yan sneered with disdain.

"What else do you want to do? Delay for your reinforcements? Give up. Don't you understand yet? Why did I dare to arrest you outside the Governor's Mansion? It's not just me who's joined Lu HaiKong, it's our entire Li family!" Li Yong said calmly.

His calm tone, devoid of strong emotional fluctuations, was like a thunderbolt striking Li Yan's heart.

"Impossible! This can't be true! My family wouldn't betray me!" Li Yan roared.

"Betray you? At this point, won't you wake up? From the beginning, your family didn't agree to work with my family. It's not that your family betrayed you, but that you betrayed your family!"

Changsun Hong stood up, laughing coldly, and gently waved his folding fan.

"Who is your family head? Is he the General Who Conquers the North, the Governor of Bing Province, or an outsider who married into the imperial family? With his power and imperial favor, does your Li family really have the qualifications to be our opponent? No, they never did. These past few months, our family head has been busy with affairs and hasn't bothered with you. That's why you've been able to act so freely. Once he has time, taking over your Li family will be as easy as turning over his hand!"

As Changsun Hong spoke, he strode over to Li Yan and said, "Governor, don't think that the person behind you can protect you from my family head. You're thinking too much. If he had that ability, my family head wouldn't be the Governor of Bing Province. The Governor should be Ding Yuan!"

Li Yan's expression changed, wanting to refute, but he was left speechless. Changsun Hong didn't say more and nodded to Li Yong, who quickly took action.

"Men, remove Li Yan from his post as Governor and take him away for disobeying orders!"

With a wave of Li Yong's hand, his soldiers immediately seized Li Yan.

As Li Yan was taken away, a glint of determination flashed in Changsun Hong's eyes.

The first step of the plan had begun, and it was time to cast the net.

Changsun Hong's previous words to Lu HaiKong were not empty boasts. As he said, he would give Lu HaiKong a Bing Province!

This statement wasn't quite accurate; Changsun Hong should help Lu HaiKong take control of Bing Province, and he had the ability to do so.

In the past few months, Changsun Hong had met with countless prestigious families and understood their mindset like the back of his hand.

Changsun Hong was well aware of what these families desired.

These families never wanted to directly confront and clash with Lu HaiKong; they knew they didn't have the ability. If they truly angered Lu HaiKong, their fate would be miserable.

Moreover, these families were never as united as they seemed. With enough effort, Changsun Hong could easily break the alliance among the five provinces' prestigious families.

Li Yan was the first step in breaking their alliance. With this first chess piece removed, the alliance among the five provinces' prestigious families was on the verge of collapse...

(End of Chapter)

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