Summoning the Peak of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 2987 Zhang Liang fakes his death to quell the chaos in Qingnan, luring the enemy out of their hiding place to eliminate the threat.

Chapter 2984 Zhang Liang fakes his death to quell chaos in Qingnan, luring out the culprits and eliminating the threat.
It was clearly not easy for Guo Jia to explore the secrets of a hundred years ago. Even with Ying Hao's strong support, granting him the supreme authority to access all archives and classics, and the unconditional cooperation of all schools of thought, his path of exploration was still long and arduous.

The dust of history is so thick, and the fog of time so dense, that it is no easy task to penetrate the barrier of the past century and clarify the truth about Taoism and even the entire era.

Guo Jia needed a tremendous amount of time to unearth hidden stories and distinguish truth from falsehood, which was destined to be a long struggle against forgetting and falsification.

As for Ying Hao, as the protagonist of the era and the founding emperor, he naturally wouldn't sit idly in the deep palace, waiting for Guo Jia's investigation results.

The shock brought about by Hongjun's descent, and the subsequent chain reaction, weighed heavily on Ying Hao's heart like a boulder. However, such bizarre experiences involving time and space paradoxes were too shocking and the dangers and variables contained within were far beyond the comprehension of ancient people like Zhurong.

Ying Hao needed a negotiating partner who could truly understand his situation and offer a unique perspective, and many faces flashed through his mind.

Ren Hongchang? That's inappropriate.

Liu Mu? Not a good choice either.

……

Finally, a figure was clearly captured in the image – that was Ye Qingmei.

This extraordinary woman, who, like him, is a time traveler, possesses a vision that transcends her era and a profound understanding of the essence of the world's rules. She is undoubtedly the most suitable person to confide in and strategize with at this moment.

Just as Ying Hao was about to find Ye Qingmei and tell her about Hongjun's arrival across time and space, the chaos in Qingnan, thousands of miles away, finally came to an end.

----------------

The sounds of fighting within the Qi Prince's mansion, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, rippled across the three prefectures of Qingnan.

Under the desperate cover of Shangguan Haitang and her guards, Zhang Liang retreated into the depths of the backyard, his figure disappearing around the corner of the porch, leaving behind a scene of flashing swords and bursts of qi in the front yard.

After Jiang Qinglian, the leader of the Tianlian Sect, activated the forbidden technique 'White Lotus Blossom' from the White Lotus Sutra, her power level skyrocketed from the early stage of Grandmaster to the middle stage.

The White Lotus Sutra was created by Kui Gang, a disciple of Rahu and the founder of the White Lotus Sect.

Back then, Kui Gang did not obtain the complete version of "Blood Nerve". Not wanting to rely on luck, he searched all over the world for the prequel to "Blood Nerve" in the Styx River. Instead, he used half of "Blood Nerve" and the incomplete "Creation Green Lotus Scripture" as a basis. He eventually secluded himself for ten years and created the quasi-half-profound level technique "White Lotus Scripture", breaking through the bottleneck and advancing to the quasi-half-profound level.

The Shadow Assassins are a subordinate organization of the White Lotus Sect, and their martial arts techniques are also inherited from the same lineage. Those who rank high among the top ten Shadow Assassins are naturally qualified to read the White Lotus Sutra.

However, almost no one actively trains as a Shadow Assassin, for two reasons:

Firstly, the White Lotus Sutra is too dependent on talent; those who lack the aptitude cannot achieve great success, and even those who only achieve minor success are not much different from those high-level cultivation techniques.

Secondly, assassins live a precarious life, constantly walking a tightrope; they have no time to cultivate such a late-blooming skill.

Of course, the fact that few people study it does not mean that no one in the Shadow Assassins practices the White Lotus Sutra. Assassin Three is the only person in several generations of Shadow Assassins to practice the White Lotus Sutra.

"How can the power of your White Lotus Bloom be so overwhelming?"

Assassin Three was filled with shock, for it was precisely because he had cultivated this scripture that he knew the vast difference between the two.

"How could you assassins possibly comprehend the true meaning of the White Lotus?"

Jiang Qinglian's voice was cold and clear, her words filled with disdain for the assassin.

Although the Tianlian Sect originated from the White Lotus Sect, their inherited techniques are completely different. The founder of the Tianlian Sect was Kui Gang's most outstanding disciple. He innovated on the basis of the White Lotus Sect's techniques and has already embarked on a completely new path.

The power of this move, "White Lotus Blossoms," is even greater than the original!
After Jiang Qinglian activated the White Lotus Blossom, she single-handedly blocked the three Shadow Assassins, number two, three, and seven, but it was still a drop in the ocean compared to the overall situation.

A mere mid-level Grandmaster cannot control this complex situation.

The number of teams chasing Zhang Liang kept increasing, but the number of teams protecting Zhang Liang also increased. Although their numbers were not as large as the opposing team's, each of them was quite strong.

Looking around, the Black Ice Guards protecting Zhang Liang and the assassins from all sides chasing him were constantly playing out a life-or-death drama of chasing and fleeing, with one coming to his aid and the other covering his retreat, turning the entire palace upside down.

Just as the assassins were about to break through the defenses, at this critical moment, a cold and aloof figure appeared quietly, like a plum blossom braving the snow. It was none other than the master of Plum Blossom Manor—the Plum Blossom Hero.

The Plum Blossom Hero stepped forward and, with his exquisite swordsmanship and near-Grandmaster cultivation, forcefully carved a bloody path to escape to the backyard, allowing Zhang Liang to break through the encirclement.

Led by Baihu and Qilin, the Shadow Assassins, along with numerous Ming Dynasty spies, were determined to make their escape.

Like sharks that have smelled blood, they relentlessly attacked Ren Qianxing and his men, using their flesh and blood to build a defensive line for Zhang Liang.

Ren Qianxing temporarily halted the pursuers' momentum with his domineering sword move "One Sword Separates Worlds," but he had greatly depleted his internal energy. His tiger's mouth was split open, and the blood overflowing from the corner of his mouth showed that he had suffered internal injuries and was no longer able to defeat the White Tiger.

"Chase them! We absolutely cannot let Zhang Liang escape!"

With a sharp cry, Baihu moved like a ghost, bypassing Ren Qianxing's sword attack and leading several elite assassins straight to the backyard.

She knew that if Zhang Liang were to completely leave the battlefield, this all-out assassination attempt would be in vain.

The road to the backyard was clearly not easy. The Qin army's elite troops, who had been prepared in advance, set up layers of defenses, firing arrows and crossbows, and forming battle formations to block the enemy.

However, the assassins and undercover agents were highly skilled in martial arts and outnumbered the enemy, making the battle exceptionally fierce, with every step forward coming at a price.

Just as the two sides were engaged in an even fiercer battle, a shrill scream rang out from the backyard. Then, the Plum Blossom Hero emerged carrying the body of Zhang Liang, who was dressed in the official robes of the Governor of Qingxu, pale-faced and lifeless.

"grown ups."

Shangguan Haitang, her clothes stained with blood, staggered over. Upon seeing the corpse in the hands of the Plum Blossom Hero, she let out a piercing scream, her voice filled with unbelievable grief. "You, you dare, you dare..."

Shangguan Haitang looked utterly devastated, while Ren Qianxing also looked as if the sky had fallen.

With Zhang Liang dead, he will certainly be held accountable, and his official career will come to an end.

"Traitors, I'll fight you to the death!"

With a roar, Ren Qianxing moved swiftly, like a lone goose skimming the shadows, and charged towards the Plum Blossom Hero with his sword raised.

Seeing this, Jiang Qinglian and Shangguan Haitang rushed over together in unison. After all, even if they couldn't save the person, they had to at least retrieve the body and eliminate the murderer.

Seeing the three grandmasters attacking him from both sides, the Plum Blossom Hero calmly tossed the corpse into the air, beheaded it with a sword, and then decisively kicked the corpse towards Ren Qianxing and the other two, while simultaneously tossing the head towards the White Tiger.

Seeing this, Ren Qianxing disregarded everything else and hurriedly caught the corpse. After catching the head, Qilin muttered to himself in disbelief, "Did we succeed just like that?"

This scene was witnessed by many assassins and undercover agents who rushed into the backyard.

Shangguan Haitang's lament, Ren Qianxing's angry rebuke and grief, and that lifeless "corpse" all pointed to one thing: the Plum Blossom Hero who had previously rescued them had turned against them.

"What's going on?"

"Don't you understand? The Plum Blossom Hero pretended to escort Zhang Liang, and took advantage of Zhang Liang's lowered guard to launch a sneak attack."

"Hiss~~ He actually succeeded in the assassination."

"He truly deserves to be called the number one swordsman in Qingnan, but after killing Zhang Liang, I'm afraid his life is in danger as well. The Great Qin will definitely send out a Grandmaster to eliminate him at any cost."

Despite the crowd's discussion, the Plum Blossom Hero, who had committed a terrible crime, seemed completely unconcerned about his impending death. He calmly said to the White Tiger and the Qilin, "The agreement has been reached. Please keep your promise and release my son."

The Plum Blossom Swordsman lived up to his name, possessing a noble character and a proud, aloof nature. Apart from the way of the sword, there was only one thing that could move his heart: to have a son to carry on his swordsmanship.

After having thirteen women in a row, the Plum Blossom Hero finally had a son, whom he cherished dearly.

Just as the assassins kidnapped Yan Zangfeng to coerce Yan Qianling, they also kidnapped his newborn son in order to control this master swordsman and force him to obey their orders.

Qilin's eyes flashed with doubt upon seeing this. She didn't know how the Plum Blossom Hero had killed Zhang Liang in the backyard, but she felt it was too easy. However, everything before her eyes seemed to leave her no choice but to believe it.

Shangguan Haitang's grief seemed genuine, and the Plum Blossom Hero's anger was also heartfelt. Most importantly, "Zhang Liang" was indeed lifeless, and there was no sign of his head being disguised.

After carefully examining the head, Qilin decisively ordered, "Mission accomplished, retreat."

After the order was issued, the news of Zhang Liang's death spread like wildfire from the Qi Prince's residence.

Zhang Liang is dead!

"The Governor has been assassinated!"

"The Qin army is leaderless in Qingnan!"

Various versions of rumors spread wildly in Linzi City. The Ming Dynasty's spies, who had been observing and hiding, were greatly encouraged by the news, and their long-suppressed impulses drove them to take action.

Some began contacting their former subordinates, attempting to regain control of the city;
Some spread panic and incited discontent against the Qin army.
Even worse, some directly revealed their identities, gathered armed forces, and attacked government treasuries and offices, attempting to create chaos before the Qin army could react.

Upon hearing the news, the brothers Zhu Youxiao and Zhu Youjian were overjoyed, believing that Zhu Di's gamble had paid off. They immediately activated the backup plan, attempting to integrate the forces of all parties and reclaim Qingnan in one fell swoop.

However, they were unaware that they were stepping into a trap carefully woven by Zhang Liang.

In a secluded chamber beneath the Qi King's mansion, the real Zhang Liang lay unharmed on a reclining chair, receiving messages from various parties with a playful expression through special channels.

"Fortunately, Hua Daochang's disguise skills have been upgraded, and I also found a substitute whose appearance is 70% similar to mine, otherwise it would not have been so easy to fool these shadow assassins."

Zhang Liang knew that although Qilin temporarily believed the head to be real, it was only because he had no time to carefully examine its authenticity. If the head were brought back for a thorough examination, the subtle flaws would eventually be difficult to conceal.

Zhang Liang clearly wouldn't give the other side a chance to react, and this plan was precisely to seize the gap in the other side's actions and catch them off guard.

By the time the other party realizes they've been scammed, it's too late to turn the tide, and they'll have completely lost any chance to turn things around.

"Your Excellency, the remnants of the Sea Shark Palace rebels have gathered at the western docks of the city, attempting to seize the ships."

“Some of the former Ming soldiers who surrendered were incited to cause a disturbance outside the military camp.”

……

Zhang Liang stared intently at the map of the three counties of Qingnan hanging on the wall. With the rapid reports from the intelligence personnel of the Black Ice Guard, he quickly marked the emerging rebellion sites and active secret agents with his brush.

"The Zhu brothers appeared in the slums of the south of the city, and it is suspected that they set up a temporary command post."

"Signals of rebellion have broken out across Qingnan, with seventeen clear signs of rebellion..."

As he listened to the series of bad news reports, a smug, knowing smile crept across Zhang Liang's lips.

As expected, his feigned death acted like a powerful medicine, forcing out all the pus and blood from the deep-seated sores hidden within Qingnan's body.

Even Zhang Liang had not anticipated that this sore would be so vicious, or that the remnants of the Zhu Ming forces would possess such immense power.

(End of this chapter)