My lord, spare his life!

A hint of confusion appeared on Zhang Yang's face.

Judging from his appearance alone, He Zhi looked to be only twenty-five or twenty-six, but his actual age was definitely much older. The level of detail in his modeling was so high that even if he wasn't the modeler's own son, he was still an adopted son. Perhaps due to his years of imprisonment, he possessed an inherent melancholy air, a somewhat broken and fragile feeling, while also exuding a mature charm.

Zhang Yang's impoverished vocabulary cannot accurately describe the problem.

Suddenly, the words of a certain observation sample popped into my mind.

[A married man who has been widowed for many years.]

Zhang Yang openly began to drift off, unable to resist praising the precise summarizing abilities of the observed samples. After a few moments, she regained her composure and asked, "Why kill those people? Their fate, even if not their own, was determined by the Eight Winds."

He Zhidao said, "For the sake of justice."

Zhang Yang hadn't expected this answer: "Fairness?"

"If it's only right for Lü Bafeng to avenge the massacre of her family, then it's also reasonable for me to kill those people. She cut off my lineage, so it's perfectly reasonable for me to kill her lover. I can never have any other children in this life, so why should she be able to continue her lineage?"

Zhang Yang: "..."

"Or do you think that if she killed one of my children, I should wait for her to have another child before we're even? But that's far from fair and just." He Zhi was too lazy to wait for Lu Yuan to have another child.

Zhang Yang vaguely understood He Zhi's strange thought process.

"...So, that's why you wanted to see me?"

For Zhang Yang, He Zhi was a special person.

So far, this person is the only one who has proactively approached Zhang Yang with chips in hand, without expecting anything in return. Even a three-year-old would know something's wrong with this kind of kindness. Zhang Yang was initially puzzled, but after hearing He Zhi mention "fairness," she understood.

He Zhi chose her simply because Lu Yuan was also there.

He admitted it frankly.

"Yes, just as you think, sir."

Zhang Yang was He Zhi's best option at the moment. He had brought an army with him to join Zhang Yang, along with the isolated Imperial Throne City, which he had tricked into handing over. The Imperial Throne City was strategically located, offering both offensive and defensive advantages, almost in the center of this mountainous territory. These two assets, combined with his talent, made him roughly equal to Lü Yuanyi, who was using Zhang Yang to help him seek revenge.

Under the same lord, his enemy, Lü Yuan, was right under his nose—He Zhi couldn't chemically sterilize Lü Yuan, but he could ensure she would never be able to conceive again. If He Zhi chose another lord, he would lose control over Lü Yuan's every move.

Whether Lu Yuan chooses to find a new lover or have another child, he can't stop him. But why? Why is it that he's infertile while the culprit can still be so carefree and promiscuous?

When Lu Yuan was burdened with the hatred of her family, her child was a vessel to perpetuate her hatred. But once she had avenged her family, would her child become a discarded child to be easily replaced? When He Zhi thought of this possibility, he could no longer suppress the resentment and hatred in his heart.

Killing Lu Yuan directly would be too easy for her.

He then decided to remain a psychological shadow for Lu Yuan for the rest of his life.

He Zhi said, "To me, fame and fortune are far less important than revenge. If she finds a new lover, I will kill him; if she dares to have a child, I will kill him too. As long as Lü Bafeng is not forced to his death, I will have no disloyalty to you, my lord."

therefore--

There's no need to doubt his motives.

There's even less need to worry about him turning against us halfway through.

His knife is perhaps sharper than any knife in Zhang Yang's hand, the latter need not worry about his stance or motives.

Zhang Yang: "..."

Other NPCs participate in the political struggles of a chaotic world not for survival, for their families, but for material possessions and to achieve some kind of social accomplishment. He Zhi, however, is different; he's doing it purely for an abortion. This bizarre reason opened her eyes.

However, considering the game's background in the homestead side map, madness seems to be the norm. Zhang Yang scratched her head in worry. The Imperial Throne City was crucial for her to conquer the mountain prefectures; otherwise, this place would become a major problem—as an isolated pass, whoever controlled it would have the confidence to wage a protracted war. The enemy would either have to take it down or wait to be constantly harassed and have their rear cut off.

To take over the Imperial Throne City, one must also take over He Zhi.

He Zhi and her adopted daughter, Lu Yuan, have a huge conflict.

Zhang Yang thought for only a second before putting on her signature sly smile and saying, "If you doubt someone, don't use them; if you use someone, don't doubt them. I certainly don't doubt Fei Ye's loyalty. On the contrary, it's Fei Ye who doesn't look down on my meager family fortune and sincerely brings people to join me. I'm truly ashamed. I'm just worried that my little shallow beach can't hold onto a dragon like Fei Ye."

He said that, but he had a different thought in his heart.

One monkey, one leash.

Similarly, each fish has its own flavor.

There are no anglers who never catch a fish; there are only anglers who use the wrong bait or go to the wrong spot. For He Zhi, this big, fat fish, his adopted daughter, Lu Yuan, was the bait that made him take the bait regardless of everything.

He Zhi's smile also softened a bit.

"My lord is no ordinary man; why be so modest?"

Being overly modest can backfire.

Lu Yuan had been suppressed by the former Prefect of Chesi for so many years without being able to take revenge, yet with just one more variable, he launched a rebellion, demonstrating the immense power behind Zhang Yang. Even if he is temporarily trapped, he possesses boundless potential in the long run, which gives He Zhi confidence.

Even if we take a step back—

It doesn't matter if Zhang Yang doesn't have that potential; he will force his enemy to his death and then give him a dignified end.

Everyone likes to hear nice things, including Zhang Yang.

She just didn't understand why He Zhi's name would switch from green to red in an instant, so quickly it was almost an illusion.

She checked the system logs for conversations.

They spent most of the day trying to find the problem.

At that moment, a brand new conversation suddenly appeared in the system log.

Lu Yuan angrily shouted at the map, "What a wild beast!"

Before the people arrive, the sound comes first.

He Zhi smiled at the map and said, "You heard everything?"

With Lu Yuan's hearing, he could hear it at that distance. He Zhi did not hide his malice: "Now that you know, General Lu, please be more careful in the future and do not cross the line."

Lu Yuan was so angry that his face turned ashen.

He Zhi: "You don't need to panic or be afraid. Our child is still young, and I naturally can't bear to see her lose her blood relative at such a young age. As long as General Lü acts cautiously, there will be no worries."

Don't even think about abandoning his child.

Lu Yuan clenched his fists so tightly they cracked.

He angrily retorted, "Fine, fine, you can get away with this now, but don't blame me for doing it again later. You really think you can defend yourself?"

He asked lightly, "Oh?"

For some unknown reason, Lu Yuan's eyes, which had been brimming with anger, suddenly lit up, and the grotesque arc of fury on her face transformed into a bizarre smile that sent chills down one's spine. She abruptly retorted, "He Feiye, have you forgotten that you have a nephew?"

He Zhi's confident expression froze for a moment.

Zhang Yang: "..."

This was truly a crazy showdown.

He Zhi could indeed keep a close watch on Lü Yuan and pursue him relentlessly, but if Lü Yuan allowed his cousin to become his lover, or even conceive their child, could He Zhi, as his uncle, really harm a member of his own clan? Remember, during the years He Zhi was faked to die, this cousin remained steadfastly by his side, firmly believing that He Zhi's death was suspicious. How could He Zhi kill him? Not only could he not kill him, but he was also filled with guilt.

Zhang Yang looked at He Zhi, wanting to see how the other party would respond.

He Zhi was so angry that his veins throbbed and his face turned ashen. Then, under the watchful eyes of Zhang Yang and the other man, he clutched his chest and coughed up blood.

Zhang Yang: "..."

Lu Yuan was also startled, his anger interrupted.

"How can he have such a bad temper?"

Regardless of personal grudges, He Zhi is still a useful person.

The Imperial Throne City was a tough nut to crack that the previous prefect had wanted to crack, but he hadn't been able to take it for many years because of the special stance of the city's garrison commander. This man had some connection with He Zhi, and the latter had persuaded him to relent. However, later, Lü Yuan intervened and faked He Zhi's death, so the negotiations between the two sides naturally came to an end.

If anything happens to He Zhi, the agreed terms will be void.

They hurriedly summoned a doctor to examine He Zhi. The doctor said He Zhi was suffering from emotional distress and needed to rest quietly, avoiding anger, otherwise his blood and qi would easily attack his heart. Lu Yuan only cared about one thing: "Will he die?"

The doctor said, "That's not the case."

He Zhi also possesses stellar energy protecting him, making his meridians far more resilient than those of ordinary people. To reach the point where someone's vital energy and blood attack their heart, they would have to be so enraged that the heavens and earth would collapse.

Zhang Yang curiously peered over: "Then how did you get so angry that you vomited blood?"

"A troubled mind and an empty heart."

There are some things the doctor doesn't tell the truth about.

He Zhi had vague signs of depression, and once the illness manifested, he would be unable to control his emotions. These symptoms were easily attributed to evil spirits causing trouble within his body. It's good that he's vomiting blood now; it exposes the ailments that have accumulated in his heart for many years, and they can be cured.

Lu Yuan raised his voice: "Is there something troubling you?"

The doctor said, "He is confined to one place year-round."

Ritsumoto: "..."

If this doctor weren't one she frequently used, just listening to his words, she would have thought he'd been bribed by He Zhi. She pressed her aching temples and said, "I understand—"

She had hoped to take the opportunity to bring her daughter back, but now she has given up on the idea. In any case, Ho Chi is taking good care of her. She has had too little contact with her daughter, and building a relationship should be done gradually rather than forcing it.

He Zhi's involvement did indeed bring about a significant chain reaction.

Even Xiao Sui couldn't help but marvel at her master's good fortune.

"With the Imperial City in hand, the elite troops of Che Si County were not held as bargaining chips by the Zongzheng and Zongren Counties, saving us the trouble of paying for their redemption. Apart from the losses on the day of the mutiny, Che Si County's strength is well preserved." It is even stronger than Tianyue's side.

Tianyue County was severely weakened by the chaotic seasons, and before that, it had been exploited to the bone by the Dou Kingdom's royal family, almost to the point of collapse. If it weren't for the lord's divine intervention to eliminate the local forces in Tianyue County, and his efforts to absorb refugees and revitalize the county's economy, Tianyue County's overall strength would probably not even be as good as a strong county like Chesi County.

Xiao Sui thought for a moment and sighed sincerely once again.

"You're really lucky."

Xiao Sui tidied up the internal affairs of Che Si County and found that it was not easy to capture the place with normal troops and change the ownership of Che Si. However, the governor of Che Si County had a subordinate named Lü Yuan, who was driven by revenge. Zhang Yang happened to have the part that Lü Yuan needed most.

She didn't even use Tianyue's troops. The main force consisted of Zhang Yang, Guan Si, and Wang Qi. Guan Si hadn't formally submitted, and Wang Qi was still a hostage of Dongxian. This deal could be described as a risk-free transaction, with minimal investment yielding maximum returns.

Both sides complemented each other's strengths and weaknesses, and quickly reached an agreement.

"Our lord is ordained by Heaven."

"That's natural."

Zhang Yang remained calm and composed. For a player destined to complete the game's main storyline, the player is destiny itself.

Xiao Sui paused, her hand holding the knife fan still.

She had truly never met someone so frank. Others would humbly make self-deprecating remarks in response to such praise, but Zhang Yang was different. He acknowledged it with complete ease, as if it were something he was born with. Such confidence and composure were truly rare in the world.

He Zhi surrendered, and his cousin also readily joined him.

His reasons were simple and straightforward.

"Lü Bafeng's wicked intentions are still alive. Given your straightforward and honest nature, Uncle, she will surely humiliate and deceive you. I am truly worried. Serving any lord is the same to me, whether they are surnamed Zhang or something else." He advised the previous prefect, not because the man possessed any particular personal charm. To put it bluntly, it was simply a matter of making a living in chaotic times, just trying to earn a living.

All warlords are equally corrupt; they're all the same.

When she learned that the two actually had a child, she felt dizzy and fainted. No matter how He Zhi tried to persuade her, she insisted on staying.

He Zhi: "..."

He couldn't very well tell his nephew the truth. If it were up to Lu Yuan, she might actually do something like that, even if she was desperate.

The nephew asked, "Uncle, are you worried about me?"

He Zhi shook his head.

From another perspective, it would be dangerous to send her nephew to serve in another post, because he would be out of her sight. Lu Yuan is a military man with power; she secretly thought it would be very convenient to kidnap someone along the way. These considerations couldn't be voiced, as it would frighten people.

Even though he didn't say it, his nephew knew.

He said with heartache, "Uncle has been imprisoned and humiliated by her for so many years. I'm so sorry for the injustice you've suffered. It was my negligence in not taking good care of you that allowed her to take advantage of the situation. We will settle this score with her one by one in the future..."

The rest of the words were left unsaid.

He saw a strange girl peeking her head out of the door.

His anger was released all at once.

He thought to himself, "Adults may have committed sins, but children are always innocent, especially one who carries half the He family bloodline." He looked at the child's eyes, so bright and lively, just like his uncle's when he was young. Thinking of this, he lowered his voice.

"Come in, little sister."

By seniority, this child is his sister.

The girl was allowed to enter to visit her sick elder.

Her nephew asked her, "Where is your mother?"

The girl said, "I'm discussing it with my grandmother."

My nephew was momentarily stunned.

"What grandmother?"

Not to mention that Lu Yuan's side is all dead except for her, even on her uncle's side, the He family line only has the uncle and nephew left.

"Grandma told me to call her that... Mother calls Grandma 'godmother'..." the girl said worriedly, "Did I call her the wrong way?"

Uncle and nephew He Zhi: "..."

The two of them closed their eyes in a tacit agreement, as if they had headaches.

For a moment, it was unclear whether Lu Yuan was so afraid of death that she had shamelessly recognized the new lord as her adoptive mother, or if there was something else troubling them. Since things had come to this point, the uncle and nephew could only take it one step at a time. Their first priority was to find out what their lord's resources were.

He Zhi had limited information, but his nephew knew quite a lot.

"...The new lord should be the new leader of the Eastern Frontier Army."

To put it nicely, they're soldiers; to put it bluntly, they're thieves.

They were still wicked and tyrannical bandits.

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