Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

See Chapter 196

I originally planned to go back to Jingkou to reunite with my family, but the situation has changed so rapidly in recent years that I have fewer and fewer opportunities to go home.

Just as they arrived at Piling, they encountered a man sent by Huan Hong, who said, "The general has important matters to discuss with his military advisor."

"General Huan?" Liu Daogui was taken aback.

I don't know why Huan Hong is looking for me at this time.

Liu Huaizhen said, "There is most likely a change in the military government."

If Huan Hong had nothing important to do, he wouldn't have sent anyone to urge him. Liu Daogui said, "I will lead the Tiger Warriors ahead, and you will lead the soldiers behind. A-Zun, go home and put your family at ease."

Crossing the river with soldiers is a troublesome matter; although there are fewer than two thousand men, it will take at least half a day.

Liu Zun led a few people westward.

Liu Huaizhen nodded slightly, and Liu Daogui waved his hand, summoning twenty or thirty elite warriors who mounted their horses and galloped north with Liu Daogui.

When they arrived at the ferry crossing, sure enough, there were refugees everywhere, and there weren't enough boats to go around.

During the turmoil in the Three Wu regions, many people fled to Guangling and Jingkou.

When Liu Daogui arrived at the ferry, he saw that someone had set up a soup kitchen to provide food for the refugees. "Who is so kind and benevolent?" he wondered.

There are too few people doing good deeds these days. The aristocratic families are so rich that few are willing to give a single penny, while the common people are not even worth cattle or horses in their eyes.

After Meng Ganzhi led his men to inquire, he returned and said, "Yu Qiujin of Donghai once followed Governor Xie on the Northern Expedition and made meritorious contributions, and was enfeoffed as a Marquis within the Pass."

Having followed Xie Xuan on his northern expedition, he developed a close relationship with the Northern Army.

The Yu family was also a prominent clan in Jiangdong, with influence spread across both sides of the Yangtze River. Only local powerful families like them would cherish the local people.

Liu Daogui was busy on his journey and had no time to make friends. He crossed the Yangtze River by boat and arrived in Guangling.

Before he could even take off his military uniform, Huan Hong sent someone to summon him.

Liu Daogui rushed to the general's mansion in a great hurry.

Huan Hong looked worried. "My brother is finally back."

Liu Daogui bowed respectfully and asked, "What has happened?"

"I was dealing with Liu Yi when, unexpectedly, this fellow handed over dozens of salt fields in Yandu to Sima Yuanxian and was promoted to secretary."

The Huan family members are all fat. I saw Huan Xuan like that a few years ago, and now Huan Hong is the same.

I've been doing nothing for the past two years, staying home and indulging in delicious food and drinks, and my belly has gotten so big that I look like I'm pregnant.

The clerks recorded military documents, government orders, and military commands, and reported them to the imperial court. They were essentially the eyes and ears of the imperial court planted in the military government. The previous clerk was Huan Daozhen, who was in cahoots with Huan Hong, so naturally he wouldn't make trouble for him.

But now Liu Yi has come up.

The Huan family and the Sima family were sworn enemies, a fact known to everyone in the world.

It's as if Liu Yi has turned the tables and grabbed Huan Hong by the neck.

Liu Daogui never expected the situation to reverse so drastically. Not only did Liu Yi escape certain death, but he also turned defeat into victory.

The wages of avarice is death.

Yandu's annual income is at least tens of thousands of strings of cash. If it were fully restored, it would be forty or fifty strings of cash a year, which is practically a gold mine. Liu Yi said he didn't want it, which shows he's a local hero.

Huan Hong was upset, but Liu Daogui wasn't. They were happy to see each other fighting like dogs. "Is this really true?"

“Although I am the General Who Conquers the Barbarians, you know that I am just a figurehead. All the military power in my hands has been taken away by others.” Huan Hong deliberately emphasized the word “others”.

He paused, then added, "If this scoundrel isn't eliminated, neither of us will ever have peace. He also has quite a few things on you, brother."

Liu Daogui chuckled inwardly. If Liu Yi really possessed something substantial, he and Dai Qizhi would have reported it to Sima Yuanxian long ago and killed him. There was no need to wait until now.

Sima Yuanxian's placement of Liu Yi in this position was clearly aimed at Huan Hong. It's best for someone as insignificant as myself to stay out of the power struggle between the Huan and Sima clans.

Seeing that Liu Daogui remained silent, Huan Hong simply stated bluntly, "Right now, the only person I can rely on is you, my brother."

The implication was that Liu Daogui should kill Liu Yi.

But Liu Yi was like a cockroach, extremely resilient. He was tricked by Xun Xinzhi but didn't die. Instead, he kept jumping around and became more and more prosperous.

As a local tyrant, he had a diverse and powerful group of people under his command.

If Liu Daogui were to fight him, it would only result in mutual destruction, allowing Huan Hong to gain an advantage.

Moreover, even if Liu Yi is killed and Sima Yuanxian is enraged, he will still be pushed out as a scapegoat.

Huan Hong wouldn't protect himself, and Liu Laozhi certainly wouldn't...

Liu Daogui was very self-aware.

While Liu Yi and Huan Hong were engaged in open and covert struggles, Liu Daogui reaped the benefits...

"Every man for himself, or he'll be damned by heaven and earth." Huan Hong kept calling me "brother," asking me to do such a big thing, but he wouldn't promise me any benefits. He was simply treating me like a three-year-old child.

Even if cooperation is to be pursued, there should be sincerity.

With a "smack," Liu Daogui slammed his hand on the table and stood up, drawing his ring-pommel sword from his waist.

The movement was so sudden that Huan Hong's fat face trembled in fright. Clang, clang, clang... More than a dozen armored soldiers rushed out from the back room, their gleaming knives glaringly conspicuous in the hall...

"Misunderstanding...Misunderstanding...What are you doing? Quickly step back, don't disturb my brother Daoze." Huan Hong said with a forced smile.

I don't know what he meant by arranging so many armored soldiers.

Liu Daogui's face flushed red. "That scoundrel Liu Yi, if he goes against the general, he goes against me, Liu Daogui. I will never let this scoundrel get away with this!"

With a single slash, the table was broken in two.

Huan Hong's face lit up with a smile. "Brother Liu is a kind and honest man."

Liu Daogui said with righteous indignation, "General, rest assured, I will immediately expand our forces and ensure that the scoundrel cannot harm you in the slightest!"

Huan Hong's smile froze on his face. "Brother... with your strength, dealing with Liu Yi is more than enough. In my opinion, there's no need to create any more complications, lest things get complicated."

He couldn't wait for Liu Daogui to clash with Liu Yi right now, causing them to fight each other and severely weaken each other so that he could regain control of the military.

Liu Daogui wouldn't be that stupid.

The struggle within the Zheng Lu military government was not limited to Huan Hong, Liu Yi, and Liu Daogui; it also involved the Huan and Sima clans.

Huan Hong and Liu Yi both have powerful backers, and they naturally want to stir up trouble. Liu Daogui has no powerful backers, and Liu Laozhi is not very reliable. He would not offend Sima Yuanxian for his own sake.

"General, you are unaware that Liu Yi has many fierce generals under his command and has recently taken in no less than eight or nine thousand refugees. I only have a little over a thousand men, which is insufficient. It would be a small matter if I were to be defeated and die, but I fear that it would delay your important matters..."

Taking advantage of the situation, Liu Daogui demanded military power.

The Zhenglu Army should have 5,482 regular soldiers, but the actual number of soldiers was less than half. Furthermore, Xie Yan had transferred Tanqi and Gaoxun's troops away. In addition, there were casualties from the expedition, so expanding the army was inevitable.

However, expanding the army required his approval as the General Who Conquers the Barbarians.

"Eight or nine thousand?" Huan Hong's eyes widened, clearly not believing Liu Daogui's fabrication. "Brother, you can take it secretly..."

If he could assassinate Liu Yi, he would have done it long ago; it wouldn't have been his turn.

"The soldiers are exhausted from fighting in the Three Wu regions. In my opinion, this matter should be discussed at length and should not be rushed. As you know, General, Liu Yi has powerful backers."

To expect Liu Daogui to rush in and risk his life without any real knowledge is simply wishful thinking.

(End of this chapter)