Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 124 The Wind Rises
On the way back, Liu Daogui followed Yuan He.

When they were almost at the military headquarters, Yuan He suddenly stopped and said, "Daozhe, who do you think is so bold as to burn down a prison..."

Yuan Can brought his soldiers and deliberately separated the others.

Liu Daogui glanced at him sideways. He had always thought that he was the one who did it and that he was the only one who had the ability to do it, but now it seemed that this was not like his style.

This guy is very shrewd. He always lets others take the lead while he picks up the ready-made ones from behind.

Wang Du has deployed more than a hundred men in the prison, and he would never take risks at this time.

"If even Sima doesn't know, how could I know?"

Wang Du left and the matter was over. It is not a good thing to know too much these days.

"You really don't know?" Yuan He actually started to suspect Liu Daogui.

Liu Daogui pointed at the sky and said, "If I say even one lie, the sky will thunder..."

Before he finished uttering the word "劈", a flash of lightning streaked across the sky, followed by a loud bang.

Liu Daogui was completely dumbfounded. He didn't expect that God would be so disrespectful to him.

Yuan He looked up with a strange expression, and raindrops as big as beans fell again. "Dao Ze, it's better not to swear casually in the future, otherwise the heavens will not tolerate it."

Liu Daogui's face was filled with embarrassment. "This matter has nothing to do with me. I have neither the strength nor the courage to do this."

In Guangling City, he broke into the heavily guarded prison and burned it down, not sparing a single living person. How could Liu Daogui, a mere soldier, accomplish such a feat?
If it were in Lanling, it would still be possible.

Yuan He laughed and left quickly.

The Zhenglu Army Headquarters returned to its former tranquility, as if nothing had happened.

Liu Daogui eats when he should eat and drinks when he should drink.

After a few days, the tiger soldiers lurking in Tianshidao returned one after another, except for Wu Kanzhi and Shen Daoming.

Meng Ganzhi had two knife wounds on his body, and the others were not much better off, either suffering from arrow wounds or knife wounds.

"I'm ashamed. The Tianshi Dao discovered my connection and hundreds of them surrounded me. Wu Kanzhi fought bravely and died while leaving the rearguard. Shen Daoming was captured and, unwilling to burden the army, bit his tongue and committed suicide..."

Meng Ganzhi was young and full of emotion, and had already burst into tears.

"Who did this?" Liu Daogui's heart trembled. Of the twenty-seven Tiger Guards, two were gone at once.

In the early stages of a business, loyal and capable subordinates are the most difficult to come by.

No wonder I was feeling uneasy these past few days, it must be here.

"Lu Xun, Xu Daofu!" Everyone gritted their teeth.

"I will not be a human being if I don't avenge this!" Liu Daogui engraved these two names in his heart. He could only blame himself for being too weak. He was no match for Sima Daozi, Wang Gong, the Huan family, and the Tianshi Dao.

But a gentleman's revenge is never too late.

Jiangzuo is so small, we will meet again sooner or later.

Liu Daogui placed them in the rear guard camp and invited doctors to treat their injuries so that they could rest and recuperate.

During this period of time, I did nothing but stay in the General Zhenglu's mansion.

The Guangling incident was over, but the struggle in the court would never stop.

Sima Daozi suffered such a great loss and was besieged by the aristocracy led by Wang Gong. He would never surrender.

This wait lasted for more than a month, during which time Huan Hong was reprimanded by Wang Gong, but that was just a reprimand, nothing else.

No one ever mentioned the Yandu incident again...

The autumn harvest in Lanling is over. This year's harvest is slightly better than last year, but it is not a bumper harvest. It can just be enough to feed everyone.

As for the robbed money, it is all hidden in Qingguang Village. Now that the storm has not passed, it is not appropriate to make a fuss.

In September, just as Liu Daogui had predicted, news came from Jiankang that shocked the world: the emperor had passed away... The story was that he had "died in his sleep"...

But various rumors had already spread like wildfire on both sides of the river, saying that the emperor was suffocated to death by Concubine Zhang and her trusted palace maids.

The cause was that the emperor was drinking with Concubine Zhang in the Qingshu Palace in the harem. When he was drunk, he joked that Concubine Zhang was old and ugly, and could not give birth to a son, so she was occupying the title of Concubine Zhang in vain. He said that he would abandon her tomorrow and find a young and beautiful person.

Concubine Zhang took the initiative to gain strength, and she took action that very night...

After the emperor's death, power naturally fell into the hands of Prince Sima Daozi. He did not even investigate Concubine Zhang and hastily enthroned the ten-year-old Crown Prince Sima Dezong.

The new emperor Sima Dezong had the temperament of a puppet since birth. He could not speak, did not know the cold or heat, and his every move was not his own.

Such an emperor is deeply loved by the noble families...

Although Sima Yao did not achieve much during his reign, he relied on the fame of the Battle of Feishui to squeeze out Xie An and his nephew Xie Xuan, and became the only emperor with real power in the eighty years of the Jin Dynasty's migration to the south.

Although the Jin Dynasty stopped the Northern Expedition, it generally maintained political stability and the balance among various factions.

Now that he is dead, the various forces that were already ready to make moves have become even more unscrupulous.

The major clans want to redistribute their interests, the poor are unwilling to be outdone, the people are full of complaints, and the Tianshi Dao is stirring up trouble...

The Jin Dynasty was confined to the Jiangzuo area and unable to expand outward, so it could only engage in fierce internal fighting, squeeze out some people, and seize more benefits.

A new era has arrived...

"How cruel! He even killed his own brother!" Liu Zun gave a thumbs up.

"Isn't the Rebellion of the Eight Princes just the Sima family's uncles and brothers killing each other?"

Anyone who is not stupid will know that the emperor's death is not that simple. The two Jin dynasties were best at internal fighting.

Jingzhou was taken by Yin Zhongkan, Beifu was occupied by Wang Gong, and the emperor was already sharpening his sword. If Sima Daozi didn't take action, in a few years, he would either be deposed, imprisoned, or die of an inexplicable illness...

This is what the Sima family is best at.

The struggle for power is always a fight to the death, with no way out.

Since Sima Yi's oath at Luoshui, the internal strife in the Two Jin Dynasties has been unprecedentedly fierce. Everyone is scrambling to climb up, and many people have died.

However, the Eight Princes Rebellion caused by the Sima family dragged the entire Chinese nation into the abyss...

At this time, Gao Xun came trotting in, "Daozhe, there's news from Jingkou. Prince Xiang has summoned Lord Wang Lingjun to the court to mourn!"

Liu Daogui couldn't help but smile bitterly, "This is a bit too fast."

Sima Daozi summoned Wang Gong to the court at this time. Everyone knew what Sima Zhao was thinking. He didn't even bother to pretend and wanted to kill Wang Gong directly.

"My uncle has sent me news that Wang Lingjun has summoned the generals of the Northern Court in Jingkou and contacted forces such as Yin Zhongkan, the Huan family, Yang Qunqi, and Zhu Xu, preparing to raise an army to jointly attack Sima Daozi..."

Gao Xun was a descendant of a noble family, so he had faster access to information.

"Is there any news about the Tianshi Dao?" Liu Daogui was hoping for revenge.

Sima Daozi has a grudge against the Tianshi Dao, so he should not let them go.

"It's strange to say, the people of the Tianshi Dao have become much more restrained. They no longer sell illegal salt, nor do they expand their Taoist followers. Many leaders have disappeared overnight..."

"They are truly cunning and scheming, waiting for the imperial court to slaughter each other. During this period of time, I plan to return to Guangling."

The wind is blowing and the clouds are flying.

All parties are ready and are ready to share the meat. Liu Daogui also wants to eat meat at the table, break the shackles of his humble family, fulfill his mother Xiao Wenshou's long-cherished wish, and revive the Liu family...

"Soldier, there are two beggars outside. They say they are old friends and have come to seek refuge with us." Meng Ganzhi came in to report.

"Old friend?" Liu Daogui didn't remember any old friend becoming a beggar.

Liu Zun waved his hands impatiently, "Go away, get out of here, tell them to get out of here. It's already late, and even beggars dare to blackmail us. What bad luck!"

(End of this chapter)