Outside, there were enemies eyeing covetously. Inside, there were hidden dangers. Everything was in chaos …
The increasing pressure and the ever-present schemes caused Nie Qing to lose weight day by day. Not long after, he was so skinny that he was only left with bones.
When all these heavy burdens fell on the young man's shoulders, his fine black hair turned white in just a few short months.
Not only that, Nie Qing would often fall into a trance, his haggard appearance making people feel bitter.
Who would have thought that this thin and frail young man in front of them was a high-spirited and carefree noble son of a landowning household two years ago?
Anyone who saw Nie Qing's transformation couldn't help but sigh.
However, no one would give up their ambitions just because they sympathized with Nie Qing.
Even if Nie Qing had the intention to unite all the forces within Zhongzhao and form an alliance to resist Jiang Pengji's forces, would those who flaunt their seniority listen to Nie Qing? To them, the Nie family was like a starving camel that was still bigger than a horse. Nie Qing was still a stumbling block in their way and had to be removed! Even if someone was willing to temporarily stop fighting for the sake of the big picture, Qiguan Rang and Sun Wen were not just for show.
How could they allow Nie Qing to reunite the scattered forces of Zhongzhao?
As soon as Jiang Pengji led her troops to Zhangzhou, the two of them got together and formulated a series of plans against Zhongzhao.
After picking and choosing, they finally decided to secretly support a puppet force.
Although it was a puppet faction, it had a certain amount of connections and resources in Zhongzhao. It was a local faction that was born and bred in Zhongzhao.
Back then, if it weren't for the fear of the Nie Clan's despotic power and Nie Liang's methods, the leader of this force wouldn't have so easily submitted.
"Tsk, you say that you're subservient, but you actually have the heart of a tiger." Qiguan Rang smiled as he read through all the information about this person. He said to Sun Wen curiously, "It's a pity that his heart is higher than the sky, but his life is thinner than paper. If he was so ambitious, why didn't Nie Liang deal with him before he died? If we leave such a disaster alive, even if we don't make use of him, he will become a huge problem for Nie Qing in the end … "
Sun Wen didn't even bother to bat an eyelid.
"Although Nie Liang is talented, he is not a god. Zheng Hao was ambitious, but he was also smart. So many ambitious hidden dangers had been eliminated by Nie Liang, allowing Zheng Hao to slip through the net. Either Zheng Hao's schemes are deeper than we expected, and he even deceived Nie Liang's calculations. Either this person's ambition doesn't match his ability, and Nie Liang doesn't take him seriously. " Sun Wen wasn't too worried about Zhongzhao. After his lord's torment, Zhongzhao had already been beaten half to a pulp and had become a fish on the chopping block.
Qiguan Rang smiled and said, "Zaidao is right."
"Which category do you think Zheng Hao belongs to, Wenzheng?"
Qiguan Rang did not answer. The two old foxes looked at each other and smiled. Those who had been tricked by them did not know what would happen to them in the future.
Feng Yi could barely understand what they were saying, but Sun Lan, who was not good at scheming, was still confused.
"Junior has a question."
He was a studious student. If he didn't understand something, he would ask.
Now, there were elders to guide him, learn more, and ask for guidance. When he could take charge of things by himself in the future, who else could he count on?
Sun Wen asked, "What is it?"
Sun Lan said, "Military Advisor Qiguan said that Zheng Hao has the heart of a tiger and a wolf. He won't be willing to be a puppet. If we support him, will we really not be bitten?"
It was too embarrassing to be reared and trained by a dog, and then be bitten by the dog in the end.
Sun Wen smiled but did not speak. Qiguan Rang asked Feng Yi, "What do you think, Rong Li?"
Feng Yi said, "Military Advisor Sun also said that Nie Liang's calculations left Zheng Hao out. Junior thinks that Zheng Hao belongs to the latter. "
Ambition and ability don't match.
Qiguan Rang asked again, "What's the reason?"
Feng Yi said, "Although Nie Liang is Nie Qing's father, he spoils his son like he kills his own. If he helps Nie Qing clean up even the small gravel before he dies, he won't be able to become a practice target for Nie Qing to use magic stones on. This isn't really helping him, it's harming him. "
Qiguan Rang and Sun Wen didn't react. Feng Yi continued, "Moreover, since the two military advisors have chosen Zheng Hao … junior boldly judges that Zheng Hao will not have the chance to grow into a dog that bites back. Therefore … junior is not worried …"
If these words came from someone else's mouth, it would inevitably sound like flattery.
However, Qiguan Rang and Sun Wen had watched Feng Yi grow up. They were well aware of her temperament.
Qiguan Rang said, "I originally thought that you and Feng Zi didn't really look like father and son, but now that I see it, there is one thing that you two share the same origin."
Feng Yi asked, "What is it?"
Qiguan Rang said, "Clever!"
Feng Yi didn't use a long explanation to reason and analyze. She only used the simplest information to deduce a conclusion.
Although there was some element of opportunism, turning complicated things into simple things was also a kind of skill.
This fellow Feng Yi has a bright future!
Feng Yi smiled bashfully at the good-natured teasing of her uncles.
Qiguan Rang and the others had finalized their plan. As a puppet being supported, Zheng Hao didn't think of himself as a puppet being controlled.
His cooperation with Qiguan Rang and the others was mutually beneficial. Their positions were equal.
Qiguan Rang and the others could plot against Zhongzhao through him. He could also obtain support through Qiguan Rang, accumulate resources, and then counterattack when he matured.
Both sides had their own ulterior motives.
To use an analogy, both sides were peacefully shaking hands and signing a contract on the surface, but behind the scenes, they were sharpening their knives.
Qiguan Rang was waiting for the right time, while Zheng Hao was "enduring hardships to gain courage."
With the secret support of Qiguan Rang and the others, Zheng Hao gradually annexed a lot of territory and slowly gained confidence. He could even ignore Nie Qing's dispatches and orders. Under Qiguan Rang's instructions, he even caused Nie Qing a lot of trouble, sowing discord in the alliance plan proposed by Nie Qing.
Zheng Hao's advisor was a little worried about the current situation.
"General, Qiguan Rang and Sun Wen under Liu Xi's camp are both her confidants. She left the two of them at Zhanjiang Pass with ill intentions. Cooperating with them is tantamount to asking a tiger for its skin … We might as well reconsider this matter … "
Zheng Hao waved his hand to interrupt his advisor.
He sighed heavily and said, "Do you think I don't know this? However, this is our only chance to get rid of the Nie family. It wasn't easy for Nie Liang to die, and now his son has climbed over my head. He's just a naive and incompetent brat. What ability does he have to order me around? I know Qiguan Rang has ill intentions, but I still have to try … "
The advisor was also aware of Zheng Hao's ambition, but he still felt uneasy.
To Zhongzhao, Zheng Hao's actions were treason and treason!
If the aristocrats of Zhongzhao found out, not only would they lose the hearts of the people, but they would also be reviled by their descendants for thousands of years.
Was it worth paying the price of eternal infamy for a moment of ambition?
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
