Chapter 971: The Rebellion Erupts
Chapter 971: The Rebellion Erupts
For the powerful aristocratic families of Bingzhou, led by Li Yi, the locust plague presented a rare opportunity.
"Strike while the iron is hot, for it may never be hot again!"
After the plague's outbreak and a month of brewing, the families took decisive action.
Li Yi, the Grand Administrator of Shangjun, raised the banner of righteousness, enumerating twelve charges against Lu HaiKong.
The specifics of the charges were less important than the act of accusing itself. The significance lay in the symbolism of the accusation, a declaration of war.
Once the charges were made, Li Yi swiftly took action, and their move was formidable.
Lu HaiKong might have underestimated the power of these aristocratic families. These families had deep roots in Bingzhou, having survived and thrived for centuries.
Although their current strength might not rival Lu HaiKong's, their determination to make a move was not to be underestimated.
Within three days of the charges, Shangjun was under the families' control.
This was not an entirely surprising turn of events. After all, the southern Bingzhou, where Lu HaiKong's governance was not as firm, and the families' rebellion was a natural outcome.
The intriguing part was that Shangjun's army fell under Li Yi's command.
It was common knowledge that Lu HaiKong's control over southern Bingzhou's civil affairs was not as strong, but when it came to military matters, his grip was formidable.
In the midst of chaos, if Lu HaiKong couldn't maintain control over the southern Bingzhou's army, then the southern Bingzhou couldn't truly be considered his territory.
The fact that the families could wrest control of Lu HaiKong's army, his most prized possession, demonstrated their power. Even more striking was their determination to defy Lu HaiKong.
However, a question lingered. If Li Yi couldn't control Shangjun's army, where did he find the courage to challenge Lu HaiKong?
As news of Shangjun's rebellion spread, all eyes in Bingzhou, and even across the realm, turned towards the rebellion.
After all, Lu HaiKong was one of the two most powerful figures in the realm. When trouble struck him, it was as if a spotlight was shone upon him.
In an instant, everyone's attention was drawn to the scene, watching and waiting to see how Lu HaiKong would respond to Shangjun's rebellion.
Yet, days passed without any sign of Lu HaiKong's retaliation. This lack of response was peculiar.
Just as everyone was puzzled, another explosive piece of news emerged.
Lu HaiKong's army stationed at the Shangjun border, along with the army near Taiyuan, had both rebelled in these past days.
This news was like a lit match to a powder keg, and southern Bingzhou exploded into chaos.
To be precise, the aristocratic families' long-suppressed anger against Lu HaiKong was ignited, burning into a fire of hope. Within a few days, all of southern Bingzhou responded to Li Yi's call, and the families' rebellion was not a chaotic uprising but an organized and disciplined movement.
Across Shangjun, Xihe, Taiyuan, Shangdang, and Shuofang, all five counties fell into the families' hands. The county armies were also largely under the families' control.
At the same time, the families contributed their private armies, and within a mere ten days, a formidable alliance of tens of thousands of private soldiers emerged in southern Bingzhou.
From the locust plague's appearance to the southern Bingzhou families' full-scale rebellion, the entire process took just over a month.
In a little over a month, southern Bingzhou changed hands, and the aristocratic families, long suppressed by Lu HaiKong, rose up and took control.
This sudden turn of events caught many off guard, especially those who lived near Lu HaiKong, cautiously guarding against his potential wrath. They feared that Lu HaiKong might, on a whim, annihilate them. Seeing this situation, they were stunned and then delighted in Lu HaiKong's misfortune.
Lu HaiKong's dominance had left many nearby powers struggling to breathe. Even Ye Junru, an ally of Lu HaiKong, maintained a cautious stance against him.
Witnessing Lu HaiKong's downfall, these powers couldn't help but feel a sense of schadenfreude.
Especially in Jizhou, where Yuan Hong was engaged in a bitter struggle against Yuan Shao, the news of Lu HaiKong's downfall brought a smile to Yuan Hong's face.
Yuan Hong's hatred for Lu HaiKong ran deep. If not for Lu HaiKong's interference, Yuan Shao would have been defeated long ago, and Yuan Hong would have secured Jizhou. Now, despite Lu HaiKong's setback, Yuan Hong was content, wishing he could offer some support to the aristocratic families.
The Grand Chamber in Xihai County was bustling with activity as the meeting, led by Li Yi, was in full swing. The young man in the green robe, who had been so active in the previous meeting at the Grand Chamber in Shangjun County, was now the center of attention.
"First, I'd like to congratulate everyone. Our actions have achieved, and even surpassed, our expectations." The young man in green smiled, his voice filled with satisfaction.
"Now, let me give you an update on the situation."
As he spoke, he unfurled a map, bringing it to the center of the room. The young man in green pointed to several locations on the map, his eyes gleaming with confidence.
"Of the nine counties in Bingzhou, five are now under our control. Meanwhile, Lu HaiKong's First and Second Armies are in disarray, though this chaos won't last long. But it doesn't matter; with five counties as our base, Lu HaiKong's First and Second Armies are now isolated."
The young man in green circled the locations of the First and Second Armies on the map, his eyes filled with determination.
"We've stationed our forces here, surrounding these two legions. Despite their strength, our well-prepared defense lines can hold them off. With their limited food supplies, they'll run out of provisions within half a month, and then we can easily take over Lu HaiKong's First and Second Armies."
The gathered scions of the aristocratic families smiled at the young man's words, but some of them couldn't help but look worriedly at the map. Their eyes were fixed on the locations of the First and Second Armies.
The young man in green, noticing their concern, smiled confidently.
"I know what's on your minds. Rest assured, Lu HaiKong's main forces won't be able to move for some time. And even if they do, we have a coalition army of twenty thousand here in Xihai County, ready to counter them."
"Moreover, we'll build an impregnable defense line here, here, and here, ensuring Lu HaiKong can't advance an inch into southern Bingzhou!"
As he spoke, he drew circles on the map, indicating the planned defense lines.
The aristocratic families looked at the circles on the map, those who understood the strategy smiled, but soon their smiles faded, replaced by grim expressions.
Indeed, while they could set up these defenses, it would require a massive amount of resources.
The young man in green, sensing their hesitation, smiled again.
"Don't worry. The money for these defenses, and even for the army's provisions, won't come from us. Believe me, there are many who'd be more than willing to foot the bill for us!"
The aristocratic families, hearing this, were momentarily perplexed. They didn't quite grasp the young man's meaning.
The young man in green, seeing their confusion, opened his folding fan and spoke, his voice filled with certainty.
"You're like fish in a mountain stream, unaware of the dragon's might. Lu HaiKong's dominance isn't just in Bingzhou; it extends across the realm. As far as I know, his reach is long at this time."
"His existence puts pressure on many aristocratic families and factions nearby. By acting now, we're essentially shielding them from his blade. Though few in the realm may believe we can stand against Lu HaiKong, there are certainly many who'd be willing to lend us a hand, as they all want to see this tiger caged."
"Trust me, it won't be long before people start sending us money and troops."
Chapter end
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