A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

"Just how many men do you think our Emperor has prepared at his disposal?"

Even in such a tense environment, Yang Jian could still laugh easily.

Changsun Sheng thought carefully and summarized the various intelligence reports: "It should not exceed 3000 people. Any more and His Majesty will not be able to support them."

"3000 people is quite a lot."

Yang Jian nodded; he thought so too.

"The Yang family has deployed 10,000 elite troops, which I have gradually drawn from the border troops over the past ten years."

"Each one is a killing machine on the battlefield, each one capable of taking on ten opponents."

A smile appeared on Changsun Sheng's face. Apart from that, compared to the elite troops, the three thousand assassins sent by Emperor Qianyang were nothing.

……

The Prince of Yan's Mansion.

"Hao'er, what do you think?"

Wei Ying and Wei Hao sat in a pavilion in the middle of the lake, with a chessboard placed between them.

"On the surface, His Majesty only has three thousand elite soldiers, while Yang Jian has prepared ten thousand elite troops in advance. It is impossible for His Majesty to break through Yang's residence."

"The people His Majesty arranged in the Yang residence have long been under the watchful eyes of Yang Jian and Changsun Sheng. To win this game, these people alone are certainly not enough, even if they are not discovered."

"But His Majesty has endured for so many years, surely he wouldn't only have this one plan?"

There must be a backup plan.

Wei Hao unceremoniously captured Wei Ying's piece before slowly speaking.

"What kind of backup plan do you think they might have?"

Wei Ying calmly placed a piece, as if he wasn't the one whose piece was captured.

"have no idea."

Wei Hao showed an interested expression, "I never expected that our Emperor would have such means to deceive us right under our noses. If it weren't for some clues, I wouldn't believe that His Majesty could have made arrangements without our knowledge."

"Guess."

Wei Ying placed another piece, causing Wei Hao to frown.

Why can't I understand his father's approach?

Why are the drops so scattered?

Wei Hao gripped the chess piece, constantly simulating the game in his mind, analyzing the current situation with the remaining momentum.

"His Majesty wants to control the government, and the Yang family is an insurmountable obstacle. He is determined to kill the Yang family."

"If we can't break through from the front, we can only break through from the inside."

"So, we planted spies in key positions in the Yang family mansion and turned a group of internal personnel against us. According to the information we gathered, it was the second steward of the Yang family mansion, a man who had risked his life for the Yang family and was granted the surname Yang."

Wei Hao hesitated for a long time before deciding not to capture Wei Ying's piece, and instead placed it in an unrelated spot.

Although he didn't know his father's purpose in doing this, he knew that if someone wanted you to do something, you should never do it.

If your opponent wants you to capture a piece, you should never capture it.

So he gave up the opportunity that was right in front of him.

"However, given Yang Jian and Changsun Sheng's abilities, this person should be right under their noses."

Wei Hao added.

"That's right, Yang Fa, the second steward of the Yang family, is indeed His Majesty's man."

Wei Hao nodded, then asked, "How did Your Majesty subdue this person? Even the Wei family's intelligence doesn't record it?"

Wei Ying's expression was somewhat complex, containing feelings of emotion, admiration, and regret.

"Yang Da, the chief steward of the Yang family, is a servant who has served the Yang family for generations. He is also one of His Majesty's men."

When Wei Ying saw that Wei Hao wasn't falling for the tricks in the game, he chuckled and didn't seem to care.

When you reach a high level in chess, you no longer care whether your opponent falls into a trap or not.

Stepping on it will result in a loss, but not stepping on it will fall into another trap.

No matter what happens, it's all under his control.

He continued to place his pieces in meaningless places, seemingly oblivious to the flaws Wei Hao had left behind.

"The head steward of the Yang family?!"

"If I remember correctly, this person has been working for the Yang family for five generations, hasn't he?"

Wei Hao exclaimed in surprise, forgetting even the chess pieces in his hand.

"You said it yourself, it's before the Five Dynasties period."

……

Why?

"It was you!"

Yang Jian stared in disbelief at Yang Da, the chief steward of the Yang family.

He knew that there were people from the Emperor's household in the palace, and he even knew who these people were.

Yang Fa, who was second only to Yang Da, was always under his watchful eye, and his every move was monitored, which made him feel that victory was in his grasp.

But what happened today slapped him hard in the face.

He poured all his energy into Yang Fa's arrangements, but he never expected to be stabbed in the back.

He instructed Yang Da to send men to keep an eye on the group of people bribed by Yang Fa, and to take them down immediately if they made any unusual moves.

But unexpectedly, Yang Da did intend to take someone down, but it wasn't Yang Fa he took down; it was him.

Fifteen minutes ago.

A fierce battle broke out outside the Yang residence, which was the signal agreed upon between Yang Fa and the emperor.

Yang Fa led the men he had persuaded and bribed toward the study.

Upon receiving the news, Yang Jian ordered Yang Da, who had already made arrangements, to eliminate Yang Fa.

The moment Yang Da saw Yang Fa, he knew he had been exposed. Looking at the large number of people Yang Fa had brought, he was ready to kneel down and surrender.

But to his surprise, Yang Da produced a token.

If he wasn't seeing things, this should be the identity token in the hands of the person His Majesty sent to deliver the message to him.

How did this token end up in Yang Da's hands?!

That's right, if he's been exposed, then this person must have been exposed too.

Presumably, Yang Da found this information on the person after killing him.

"Everyone, whether you live a life of wealth and glory or go to hell depends on this wave."

"All of them are here, at my command!"

Before Yang Fa could finish speaking, Yang Da across from him said, "We're on the same side. I'm also His Majesty's man."

A familiar figure stepped out from behind Yang Da; it was the owner of the token.

Yang Fa fell silent. His biggest opponent, and also his biggest obstacle today, turned out to be one of his own!

His Majesty didn't mention this!

……

"Uncle Da, you're one of the elders in the family. If I remember correctly, if you trace your lineage back five generations, you'll find that you've already joined the Yang family."

"What exactly did His Majesty promise you?!"

"Given your position, you should know that no one will trust you afterward!"

"All promises may not stand!"

"And what His Majesty can give you, I can give you too!"

"Even if you help His Majesty, what kind of status will you have?"

"But you are the powerful and influential chief steward of the Yang family!"

Yang Jian couldn't understand how Yang Da could betray him!

It doesn't make sense from any perspective, whether it's about interests, feelings, or anything else.

A look of reluctance flashed in Yang Da's eyes. "Patriarch, I will go with you."

"If there is an afterlife, I will repay my master even if I have to be his ox or horse."

Yang Da closed his eyes, waved his hand, and all the people surrounding Yang Jian drew their weapons, ready to rush forward and kill Yang Jian.