At noon, Gao Jiancheng left the Palace and returned home for lunch.
After getting off the carriage and entering the house, he was not in the mood to eat and headed straight for the study. Housekeeper Fan Zhuan did not invite him to lunch and instead followed him to the study.
Gao Jiancheng appeared calm on the surface but was anxious on the inside. His mouth was dry. He didn't know how much tea he had drunk that morning, but he was still thirsty.
After he moistened his mouth, Fan Zhuan asked with a worried expression, "Master, how is the situation?"
Gao Jiancheng put down his teacup. "The leaders of the Flying Flower Pavilion and the Zhenling Institute are all hanging on the walls of Qingshan County. The situation in Nanzhou is not good. I heard that Shang Chaozong seems to be gathering troops to head toward Dingzhou."
"Ah! Is he going to attack Dingzhou? Would Shang Chaozong have the guts to do so? "Fan Zhuan was shocked.
Gao Jiancheng replied, "What guts? He still swallowed Nanzhou. Logically speaking, he wouldn't dare, but Tong Mo is already arranging for people to take stock of the troops, money, and rations in the provinces controlled by the court. He has also ordered the various departments to save money. It can be seen that he is already making preparations just in case. "
Fan Zhuan was a bit suspicious. "Just because they attacked Thatched Cottage Villa, Niu Youdao is going to raise troops to rebel. Will the three major sects just sit back and watch?"
"For a small Thatched Cottage Villa to be able to defeat such a powerful attack and even kill Zong Yuan, it is clear that they have long been prepared. Since they had foreseen this, Niu Youdao did not warn the three major sects and would rather take the risk. Then think about the Song Kingdom army pressing down on the border after Envoy Song was killed. Old Fan, I don't dare to think about this in detail. It is frightening to think about it. "Gao Jiancheng gently knocked on the table." Having planned this for a long time, I'm afraid Dingzhou will not be able to escape. "
Fan Zhuan seemed to be deep in thought and immediately asked worriedly, "Then what about you? Once Nanzhou shed all pretense of cordiality, how could you feel good? "
Gao Jiancheng sighed faintly. "That unfilial son's life or death is not important, but the Gao family is full of children and grandchildren. The hundreds of lives will probably be implicated by him. Looking at the current situation, there is a glimmer of hope. "
Seeing the treacherous look in his eyes, as if he had already made some plans, Fan Zhuan hurriedly said, "Master, if you have any plans, it's better to do it sooner rather than later!"
Gao Jiancheng said in a low voice, "It's fine if Shang Chaozong doesn't send troops. But once he does, the imperial court will never admit that Shaoming was sent by the imperial court. This is a glimmer of hope!"
Fan Zhuan was puzzled. "Where's the hope? Didn't Master say it himself? Niu Youdao has someone in his hands. I'm afraid he won't let this matter rest! "
"That's why we must stop Niu Youdao from making a fuss about Shaoming!" Gao Jiancheng tapped the table lightly. "The imperial court doesn't admit that they sent Shaoming to attack Thatched Cottage Villa. Niu Youdao also thinks that Shaoming doesn't exist. What will the result be?"
Fan Zhuan suddenly understood. "In this way, the imperial court won't shoot themselves in the foot. They won't let the people in the imperial court investigate Sir's whereabouts, and Old Master won't be implicated. The Gao family's crisis will be over! But … "He looked like he was in a difficult position." How can Niu Youdao be manipulated by us? "
Gao Jiancheng snorted coldly. "Doesn't he want money? Just give it to him! Compared to the survival and future of the hundreds of Gao family members, this bit of money is nothing. As long as we can protect what we have now, the money will come back in the future. "
Fan Zhuan was instantly confused. "Master, didn't you say that even if Niu Youdao took the money, everyone would know about it? Moreover, Niu Youdao asked for one hundred million gold coins! With the Gao family's assets, where can we get that kind of money? If we really make a big fuss about it, I'm afraid we won't be able to cover it up. "
Gao Jiancheng said, "Who said I'll give him one hundred million? Where can I get one hundred million to give him? Do you think you can fork out ten million? "
Fan Zhuan was puzzled. "Ten million is possible, but one hundred million becomes ten million. Isn't the difference too big? Will Niu Youdao agree?"
Gao Jiancheng asked in a low voice, "How much is Yan's empire worth?"
"…" Fan Zhuan was dumbfounded, bewildered and hesitant. He wanted to say something but stopped.
Gao Jiancheng got up and went to his side. He said in a low voice, "Everyone knows about Shang Chaozong's ambition. This time's plot proves it even more. I have a high position in the imperial court and have been operating in Yan territory for many years. My disciples and old officials are everywhere. If I am willing to help, how can their ambition be compared to one hundred million gold coins? What do you think they will choose? "
Fan Zhuan understood his intention and naturally understood what it meant. He sucked in a breath of cold air.
Gao Jiancheng knew what he was thinking. He waved his hand and said, "Now that things have come to this, my Gao family has no way out. You and I both know what kind of people are in the imperial court. They are all jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards. If I collapse, the broken wall will be pushed by everyone, the broken drum will be hammered by everyone. They will trample me to death. At that time, even those cats and dogs will dare to do whatever they want to you. How can I watch the Gao family become worse than pigs and dogs in the blink of an eye? At that time, it will not only be my Gao family who will suffer, but also those disciples and old officials who are attached to me! "
Fan Zhuan said with a trembling voice, "Master, this is …" There were some words that he did not want to say, but he had to remind him, "Once the matter is exposed, it will be beyond redemption!"
Gao Jiancheng said, "If I don't act, it will be beyond redemption. I know Shang Jianxiong too well. Although he has the heart to strengthen the country, he is not a responsible person. He cannot tolerate loyal officials. Therefore, the imperial court is full of people who do not care about national affairs and flatter him. If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked. The current chaos in the Yan court is all caused by the evildoers in the imperial court. "
He raised his hand and patted Fan Zhuan's shoulder, "He will not take responsibility for my Gao family. I can foresee that my son is clearly working for him, but my Gao family will be destroyed and attacked by everyone. How can I be willing to let those jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards take advantage of it? Since he is heartless and unjust first, don't blame me for being disloyal! "
Fan Zhuan's eyes were red as he nodded, "I understand, this old servant understands. But the imperial court is still powerful!" He reminded him of the consequences.
Gao Jiancheng said, "Therefore, I cannot let others handle this matter. Only you can go and see Niu Youdao personally. You must not leak any information. I asked you to bring ten million not to ransom him, but to show my sincerity and help me stabilize him. As long as you explain your intentions to me, he will take Shaoming as a hostage. This will protect Shaoming's life. I only want Niu Youdao to give me an explanation and let the imperial court know that Shaoming is dead! This is not a difficult matter for him, but it concerns the life and death of everyone in my Gao family! "
Fan Zhuan understood, he understood everything. At this point, how could he still not understand? He nodded with tears in his eyes.
Gao Jiancheng grabbed his arm, "Old Fan, this matter cannot be delayed. You must hurry to Qingshan Commandery to see Niu Youdao. You must stop Niu Youdao before Niu Youdao makes a fuss about Shaoming. The Gao family's fortune and honor all depend on you!"
Fan Zhuan, "This old servant understands, but the journey is long. This old servant is afraid that there won't be enough time …"
Gao Jiancheng raised a hand to stop him, "You don't need to worry about this. Prince Long is in charge of the Shang imperial family. There is a large flying beast that the imperial court has matched with him. The imperial family is within the scope of this old man's supervision. I have suppressed many of the shitty things that the children of the Shang imperial family have done these years. Prince Long won't go so far as to not even give me this little bit of face. "
Fan Zhuan was in a bit of a dilemma, "This old servant is old. I can't endure flying around in the sky, and I can't control it. This matter is confidential. It's not appropriate to have cultivators escort him. "
"Have cultivators escort him and arrange for people after this …" Gao Jiancheng raised a finger and made a gesture of cutting his throat to silence him.
…
Outside the Dingzhou Provincial Governor's manor, the sound of horses galloping came to a stop. One by one, the generals received orders and hurried over.
Most of the people had arrived. Xue Xiao hurriedly gave the order to mobilize the troops.
After the generals had all received their orders and left, another two groups of cultivators arrived at the same time and ran into each other at the entrance of the Provincial Governor's manor.
The two groups of cultivators were the two sects in Dingzhou. They were the Tianhua Cavern and the Immortal Cloud Sect.
As long as it was a territory controlled by the imperial court, it was unlikely that a single sect would dominate. First of all, they were worried that it would not be easy to control and needed checks and balances. Secondly, the high-ranking officials in the imperial court all wanted to fight for the sects in their hands. Therefore, the situation of two sects coexisting was the minimum. In some prefectures, there were even several sects that coexisted.
And those sects were also waiting to slowly grow stronger so that they could be like the Heavenly Jade Sect and the Great Zen Mountain, able to rule over a region.
"Brother Wan is also here."
The two sect leaders met in front of the door. The sect leader of the Tianhua Cavern, Gai Huan, greeted them first.
The sect leader of the Immortal Cloud Sect, Wan Qingyan, said in a low voice, "How could I not come?" She waved her hand to invite them in.
The two of them led their people in and went straight to the government hall. They saw Xue Xiao, whose face was dark.
They were not in the mood to be polite. The moment they met, Wan Qingyan asked, "Prefecture Overseer, I heard that the army of Nanzhou attacked Dingzhou because your subordinates killed Shang Chaozong's people, robbed Shang Chaozong's money, and even robbed Shang Chaozong's woman. Is this true?"
Xue Xiao's face twitched. He handed an intelligence report to the two of them and said in a low voice, "Do you believe such nonsense, Brother Wan and Brother Gai? This is news from the defending general of the border army. The robbery had just happened, and the people of Nanzhou directly charged in. With such great teamwork, this is clearly a deliberate provocation by Shang Chaozong! "
After reading the intelligence report, Wan Qingyan said with a straight face, "There is no meaning in saying this now. The crux of the matter is, did your people rob Shang Chaozong's woman? Was it your people who provoked them first?" Hua hua waved the paper in her hand. "Now they are caught red-handed and have irrefutable evidence. Even your own people have admitted it. You can't even deny it. Can you explain it clearly? They didn't force you. They were just passing by. It was your people who pretended to be robbers and took the initiative to rob them. You did not discipline them well. What right do you have to say that they dug a trap? "
Xue Xiao's face was livid. "I have already reported it to the imperial court. The imperial court knows very well whether or not Nanzhou provoked them. It is useless to say this now. The two of you came at the right time. I was about to invite the two sects to fight the enemy with me! "
Gai Huan said, "How do we fight? Many of the people of Dingzhou have been moved to defend the Han and Song Kingdoms. Many of the elite disciples of our sects have gone with the army. Dingzhou is empty. Will our two sects be able to stop Great Zen Mountain, or will Sir Xue's people be able to stop Shang Chaozong's army of tigers and wolves? There is no way to fight this battle! "
The sullen Xue Xiao finally couldn't resist exploding. "Then what do the two of you say? Sit back and do nothing? Do we not resist? After this, will the imperial court spare me, or will they spare your two families? The plan now is to fight even if we don't want to. Even if we can't win, we have to fight! "
Clang! Wan Qingyan kicked a chair to the side away to vent the anger in her heart.
Gai Huan said with a taut face, "Immediately have the imperial court contact the three major sects and ask them to stop this!"
Xue Xiao spread his hands. "Do I still need to teach Yan's current troop deployment? Once the news gets out, the imperial court will definitely look for the three major sects. Perhaps the intelligence agency has already reported the situation before me. Right now, we can only hold on. Even if we have to pay a huge price, we have to hold on until the three major sects show up to solve this. If we let Shang Chaozong's army march in, none of us can bear the responsibility! "
PS: Something delayed me. The next chapter will be slightly later. Waiter, serve the durian!
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