Chapter 973: Zhang He
Chapter 973: Zhang He
September 25, 2017
Aid from neighboring states had arrived in Bingzhou, and the defensive constructions planned by the youth in the green robe were in full swing, while Lu HaiKong's troops were effectively contained.
Everything before them seemed to be developing in a positive direction, and it was going remarkably smoothly.
As the southern alliance leader of Bingzhou, Li Yi was naturally thrilled by the initial progress.
Witnessing the once-invincible Lu HaiKong finally being held back in northern Bingzhou, and seeing the defenses rising to block Lu HaiKong's path, the overwhelming excitement Li Yi felt was indescribable.
However, this excitement didn't last long.
After the initial surge of enthusiasm, Li Yi's hot-bloodedness slowly receded, and he gradually regained his composure.
Calmly reevaluating the situation, Li Yi suddenly felt a sense of unreality.
The origin of this feeling eluded Li Yi, and he couldn't pinpoint any specific discrepancies, but everything felt slightly surreal, as if the events were a mere illusion.
It was common knowledge that after Lu HaiKong's rise to power, he had become the de facto ruler of Bingzhou.
Lu HaiKong's strength and dominance had instilled a subtle fear in the bones of Bingzhou's aristocratic families, even Li Yi, the leader of the anti-Lu HaiKong alliance, held a hint of reverence for Lu HaiKong deep within his heart.
Moreover, to counter Lu HaiKong, Li Yi had gathered all of Lu HaiKong's experiences over the years, studying and analyzing Lu HaiKong's personality to an extent that surpassed ordinary understanding.
Previously, Li Yi had been excited, and with the sense of urgency that opportunities might be lost, he inevitably lost some of his calmness. His mind was filled with the desire to seize the moment, and in that state, Li Yi even consciously abandoned his composure.
Given the circumstances they faced, if everything were analyzed calmly, he could indeed see the essence of the problem more clearly, but at the same time, he could only see more despair, and what destiny needed the least was despair, they were struggling out of despair. In such a situation, Li Yi needed was impulsiveness!
So, when it was time to take action, Li Yi abandoned his calmness, biting his teeth and directly taking charge, the result was surprisingly smooth.
However, as he seemed to succeed, calmly reexamining the situation, Li Yi was astonished to find that Lu HaiKong's reactions were completely different from what he had understood about Lu HaiKong!
Despite Lu HaiKong's reasonable explanations, just like every successful step they took, it was all so lucky and coincidental, as if the heavens were specially favoring them.
But this didn't reduce Li Yi's sense of unreality; instead, it intensified.
In this situation, a rather chilling possibility flashed through Li Yi's mind: Could Lu HaiKong have left a trump card, preparing to strike them at any moment?
This thought lingered in Li Yi's mind, refusing to leave.
Given Li Yi's understanding of Lu HaiKong, this possibility was quite plausible. If it weren't for this explanation, even if there was a rebellion in the grasslands, Lu HaiKong's treatment of them would still be absolutely unyielding.
So, Li Yi immediately took action. On one hand, he summoned the youth in the green robe to assist in the investigation, determined to uncover any remaining trump cards Lu HaiKong might have.
On the other hand, Li Yi himself started to act, initiating another round of inspections within the troops under their command.
In Li Yi's view, if Lu HaiKong had any remaining trump cards, they would certainly be within the military. So, to uncover Lu HaiKong's trump card, Li Yi began from there.
However, several days passed in a flash, and Li Yi's efforts still yielded no results, as if Lu HaiKong had no remaining trump cards.
Facing this outcome, Li Yi should have been happy, but at that moment, he couldn't bring himself to feel joy.
Because the uneasiness in his heart, and that sense of unreality, were brewing, not dissipating, but intensifying. He firmly believed that there was a problem, a remaining trump card.
With no findings from the military inspections, Li Yi's attention turned to the people around him.
Perhaps due to his understanding of Lu HaiKong, or rather, his fear of Lu HaiKong, at that moment, Li Yi seemed to have become slightly neurotic, his gaze toward everyone filled with suspicion.
Yet, at that time, he appeared to be the most lucid one among the southern aristocratic families of Bingzhou.
As the truth slowly unravels, the once-confident Li Yi finds himself in a state of shock and disbelief. The revelation that Zhang He, the grandson of Zhang Yi, might not be an enemy after all, but rather a potential ally, is a significant twist. Li Yi's mind races with the implications of this discovery.
But the situation is far from over. Li Yi's suspicions grow as he learns more about Zhang He's true identity and his connection to Lu Hai Kong. The information he uncovers suggests a deeper plot, one that might have been in motion for months.
According to Li Yi's sources, Zhang He had been in contact with the southern aristocratic families half a year ago, indicating that their plan might have been in the works for quite some time. Furthermore, Lu Hai Kong's involvement in the recent events, such as the 'locust plague' and the construction of the 'Iron Blood City' on the grasslands, adds another layer of complexity.
"This 'locust plague' might not be a natural disaster as we initially thought," Li Yi muses. "It could be a part of Lu Hai Kong's plan, designed to throw us off balance. And if Zhang He's identity has been exposed, it gives us an opportunity to turn the tables. We can use this to our advantage and potentially stop Lu Hai Kong from consolidating his power in the northern part of Bingzhou."
Li Yi's mind, sharp as ever, analyzes the situation. Despite the darkness that surrounds him, he sees a glimmer of hope. Zhang He's loyalty to the aristocratic families and his potential betrayal of Lu Hai Kong might be a game-changer. Li Yi's heart races with the possibilities that this revelation presents.
Indeed, not everyone in the aristocratic families is a mere figurehead or a fool. Talented individuals like Li Yi exist, but Lu Hai Kong has never shown interest in nurturing such talent, instead pushing them towards opposition.
However, Lu Hai Kong's focus on the aristocratic families means that such talented individuals are of little use to him. The discovery of Zhang He's true identity and his potential betrayal might just be the key to turning the tide against Lu Hai Kong.
(End of Chapter 1)
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