Jiuxi

Chapter 842 [Finally Clues Appear]

“There’s no end to killing people like this.”

Lu Chen didn't want to discuss this topic too deeply, because it was not something that could be fully explained in just a few words, so he said concisely: "Even if I can kill people and make them bleed like a river, they will eventually resurrect and revive. Maybe their strength will not be as strong as before, but they will never be eradicated."

Wang An showed admiration on his face. Even though he and Zhai Lin Wang were in a sense the insignificant people mentioned by Lu Chen, he admired the maturity and thoroughness of Lu Chen's thinking.

Only such people can accomplish great things. Those who rely solely on killing will eventually be deserted by their friends and relatives.

"What the Duke said is very true, but the most important question at the moment is, even if the Duke makes concessions again and again, are they willing to stop here?"

Wang An's eyes were sharp as he said slowly, "I came to you today because I have been thinking about it for the past few days and I am really worried. Although the Wang family of Zhailin has returned to the rule of the Great Qi, they still want to return to their homeland one day. Besides, the fate of the Wang family now depends on the Duke, so I can't just sit back and watch. In my opinion, perhaps the move that the emperor is about to use is his last test of the Duke, but it is definitely not the end of the court struggle."

Lu Chen picked up the teacup and took a sip slowly, then asked, "Why did you have this thought, uncle?"

"In the early autumn of last year, the emperor suddenly summoned me to the palace. It turned out that he wanted me to convey the matter of his reward to you."

Wang An shook his head and smiled, then continued, "The emperor's attitude is indeed a bit hard to let go, but from my observation at the time, the emperor did have some genuine guilt towards you. At that time, I thought that the dispute between the emperor and his subjects could be controlled within a safe range and would not get out of control. However, after you entered the capital this year, the emperor's actions were very different from his mentality last year, which made me very confused."

"Uncle, are you saying that after the Jing army was defeated last year, the emperor felt guilty for hastily launching the Northern Expedition and wanted to ease relations with me?"

Lu Chen narrowed his eyes slightly and thought quickly in his mind.

Wang An nodded and said, "Whether it's out of guilt or because he realizes your irreplaceable role, it seems to me that he really wants to do this."

Not only is he the head of the Wang family of Zhailin, he was also the former prime minister of the Pseudo-Yan. He also severely damaged the powerful forces of Heluo under the nose of Qing Yugong and then escaped. Such a person is not incapable. On the contrary, Lu Chen was concerned about his ability and the background of the Wang family, so he deliberately suppressed and balanced him.

He gave a clear judgment at this moment, how could Lu Chen underestimate it?

After thinking for a while, Lu Chen said slowly: "Uncle is right. From last autumn to before entering the capital this year, I have not had any conflict with the emperor. Logically, he should maintain the idea of ​​taking it slow instead of being so impatient. From this point of view, it should be that someone keeps whispering slander in his ear, causing him to misjudge the situation and force me to give in."

“That’s what I’m most worried about.”

Wang An laughed at himself, then said earnestly: "Duke, you must not underestimate the background of the aristocratic families, especially those in Jiangnan who have controlled military power. They will inevitably develop some cruel habits. Having said that, all crows are evil. I know very well that when the so-called aristocratic families face real threats, they will definitely try to band together for warmth, and at the same time, they will plot and scheme in secret, and use bloodless means to achieve their goals."

These words were undoubtedly of great benefit to Lu Chen.

Previously, at the Li family's ancestral home in Jinlin County, Li Daoyan had said something to Lu Chen, but because of the old man's own position, he couldn't say it too bluntly and thoroughly.

Lu Chen could understand this. If one wanted to force an elderly man in his seventies to put aside his country and family and think only about Lu Chen, regardless of whether such an idea was selfish, the key point was that it was impossible.

But Wang An is different. He has the same lofty vision and rich experience. At the same time, he is in the same position as Lu Chen, so he can explain the pros and cons to Lu Chen in a simple and straightforward manner without holding back.

Wang An looked at Lu Chen who was lost in thought and continued, "The overall situation in the world today is different from the previous two years. When the previous emperor was alive, even though the Duke led the army to a great victory in Yongqiu, the military strength of Jing State was still stronger than our dynasty, and it was reasonable that the status of the border army officers and soldiers would rise. But last year's battle gave many people a wrong understanding. Even though Han Zhongjie caused the great defeat in Kaocheng, after the Duke took control of the army again, the Jing army seemed to be vulnerable."

He paused, and said with a complicated expression: "It was from this time that many people thought that the offensive and defensive situation had reversed. Even without the Duke, the Da Qi army could still defeat the Jing army. Even if our army could not win, at least we could hold the defense line along the river, and this is the effect that the Jiangnan clans wanted to achieve!"

Lu Chen's eyes narrowed slightly, and he said in a deep voice: "After all, it is still a battle for the Northern Expedition."

"Yes."

Wang An calmly analyzed, "Let's put aside the question of whether the Duke has any intention of disloyalty. Even if everyone believes that the Duke is always loyal to Da Qi, when you lead the army to retake the old capital, how will the Jiangnan clans cope? Once the capital is moved back to Heluo, it will be the center of Da Qi, and the world's talents and wealth will flock to it. Even if Yongjia can become a secondary capital, the situation will change dramatically. Duke, there is a saying that it is hard to leave one's hometown."

Lu Chen nodded and said, "The Jiangnan clans have been operating here for hundreds of years, and took advantage of the opportunity of the court's migration to the south to rise, accumulating countless wealth in just twenty years. The Northern Expedition was very costly, and in the future, when the capital returns to Heluo, their biggest worry is that they will not be able to continue to control the power of the court."

"From the change in the emperor's mentality, we can see that there is a huge force secretly influencing the emperor, just to further alienate the relationship between you and the emperor. The emperor wants to reinstate Han Zhongjie, so Li Shizhi gave up the position of right prime minister that was within his grasp, and Ding Hui willingly went to Dingzhou to endure your pressure. They did this obviously to take advantage of the fact that you would not give in, so that you and the emperor would fight each other. Although Duke Rong helped you once, the emperor asked you to leave your family in the capital next time, and no one can help you to stop it again."

Wang An looked solemn and whispered, "But will this be the last step? Even if you take the initiative to give in, and the emperor stops when he sees the opportunity, will those people stop?"

Lu Chen exhaled slowly. Listening to Wang An's clear and logical statement, some of the doubts in his mind were answered.

During this period, he appeared calm and composed, but secretly he never relaxed. Tan Zheng and other confidants had been helping him to explore the secrets under the water. At this moment, he suddenly realized a problem.

Could the set of coded words left by Imperial Hospital Doctor Masakazu Akira be a trap?
According to Wang An's analysis, on the one hand, the emperor's suppression of him was indeed due to his own will, and on the other hand, someone was instigating him in order to completely intensify the conflict between the monarch and his subject.

Following this line of thought, if the clues left by Gui Qiuliang were a trap, making Lu Chen believe that someone had tampered with the emperor's worsening condition, then his first suspect would definitely be Li Zongben.

Coupled with Li Zongben's suspicion and suppression of him, under the double pressure, Lu Chen might get into a dead end.

Thinking of this, he looked at Wang An and said sincerely: "Thank you, uncle, for your guidance."

"Don't thank me."

Wang An sighed and said frankly, "To be honest, I feel very familiar with the turmoil in the capital over the past few months. There are actually many similar records in the secrets left by the ancestors of the Wang family. Unless it is absolutely necessary, aristocratic families like us will not personally take action, but will use the connections and background accumulated over hundreds of years, and use some shady means to make the situation develop in the direction we want. Specifically speaking about the conflict between you and the emperor, I am worried that those people behind the scenes want more than just you to give up power."

"They want to kill me?"

Lu Chen simply stated it directly.

Wang An was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "They will not do it themselves, but will borrow the hand of the emperor, just like those people borrowed the hand of Emperor Chengzong to kill Yang Guangyuan."

Lu Chen said expressionlessly: "What a calculation."

Wang An said softly, "The aristocratic families may look glamorous on the outside, but they are filthy and evil on the inside. They are capable of doing anything, no matter how sinister it is. You must be extra careful. Although I can guess what they want to do, after thinking hard these days, I still can't figure out how they are going to do it. You can only rely on yourself to deal with it as it happens."

At this point, a trace of guilt appeared on his face.

Lu Chen couldn't help but be quite touched. He temporarily suppressed the surging thoughts in his heart and asked seriously: "Uncle, there is something I don't understand."

Wang An responded: "You say."

Lu Chen thought for a moment and said, "Uncle, you explained the secrets of the aristocratic families so clearly today. Aren't you worried that I will have a prejudice against the Zhai Lin Wang family because of this?"

"It's not prejudice, it's an opinion you have."

Wang An smiled gently and said sincerely, "You said before that we can never be killed. I agree with you, but I know you have your own ideas and have made plans for the future. Although I don't know how you will change this world, you will not allow the aristocratic families to always control countless wealth. I made this judgment in my heart when I saw you beating up those powerful people in Heluo City."

In fact, he had another consideration that he did not state, which was that Lu Chen's suppression of the Wang family's children in the past two years was enough to show that he had thought deeply about the issue of the aristocratic families' dominance.

Lu Chen couldn't help but show admiration in his eyes.

Wang An let out a long sigh, his eyes filled with cunning and sophistication, and continued, "Instead of waiting for you to attack the Jinlin Li family and the Zhailin Wang family in the future, why don't I take the initiative to save you some worries? At least for Chu Long and Xin Yi's sake, you won't let the Wang family lose everything, right?"

Lu Chen sighed: "Uncle is wise."

Wang An put away his smile and said with hope and concern: "But before that, you have to overcome the difficulties in front of you first."

Having said this, he stood up and said goodbye.

Lu Chen personally sent him out of the mansion and watched the carriage he was riding in slowly leave.

When he turned around, there was a look of determination in his eyes.

The arrangements and arrangements he had made originally could ensure his safe departure from the capital, but now it seemed that they were not enough.

Since those people are still determined to commit evil, we have no choice but to let them get what they want.

(End of this chapter)