Wu Gongling was not the only one who was afraid. Zhou Shouxian of Nanzhou and Xue Xiao of Dingzhou were also afraid of Meng Shanming.
In the beginning, both of them were afraid of each other, and after the fight, both of them were beaten so badly that they couldn't even defend themselves. In the end, one of them was forced to commit suicide, and the other one could only watch helplessly as Meng Shanming ran around on his horse!
Quan Taifeng's face darkened when he heard Wu Gongling's words. He warned in a low voice, "Wu Gongling, if you don't want me to cut off your tongue, keep your mouth clean!"
Wu Gongling was startled and suddenly came to his senses. He was not in the right state of mind just now and had forgotten who he was talking to. He quickly cupped his hands and apologized, "I was not in the right state of mind just now and spoke without thinking. I did not mean it. Please calm down, Elder Quan!"
Bang! A heavy sound came from inside the room. Everyone turned around to look.
Wu Gongling quickly entered the room and saw that the woman who was raped had hit her head on the wall. Her head was cracked and she fell to the ground in a pool of blood.
The others followed in and frowned.
Wu Gongling did not take this seriously. He had seen mountains of corpses and seas of blood. Things like sieging cities and plundering lands were commonplace for him. He would not take it seriously. He waved his hand and signaled his subordinates to wrap up the woman's body and carry her out.
Wu Gongling did not feel the slightest pity for the beauty who had died. He was not in the mood to think about it. He returned to the courtyard and asked Quan and Hui, "Everyone knows that the Nanzhou is backed by Niu Youdao. Since you two have sworn brotherhood with Niu Youdao, why don't you go to Thatched Cottage Villa and see if you can persuade Niu Youdao to get rid of this trouble?"
Quan and Hui, on the other hand, had a troubled expression on their faces.
Wu Gongling was puzzled, "You two often go to Thatched Cottage Villa. Why are you hesitating now?"
Hui Qingping said, "General, to tell you the truth, not long ago, we received a report from Niu Youdao. Niu Youdao said that the three Yan sects have set up an ambush at Thatched Cottage Villa and are waiting for us to walk into the trap. "
"…" Wu Gongling was puzzled.
Why did he make up his mind to betray Yan? In fact, he was deceived by Quan and Hui.
With the support of the Purple Golden Cave, the Tong Xian Pavilion's strength had reached a certain level over the years. The benefits of a prefecture could no longer satisfy the needs of the disciples in the sect. However, the sect master, Qu Yunkong, was obedient to the Purple Golden Cave and did not dare to expand. The Sect Leader's wife, who was also the daughter of the previous Sect Leader of the Purple Golden Cave, had also repeatedly warned everyone that the Tong Xian Pavilion's success today was all due to the Purple Golden Cave's support, and that everyone should be content.
How could one be satisfied with something like benefits? After all, there were so many people's needs, and it would be a problem if no one could satisfy them. After a long time, the disciples of the sect began to complain. They blamed the Sect Leader couple for not thinking about the sect and instead helping outsiders. The resentment had accumulated for a long time.
And between the Wu brothers of Cang Province, there was a faint feeling that one mountain could not accommodate two tigers. To Wu Gongshan, gathering troops to strengthen himself was already a last resort, and also to protect his group of brothers, he had no intention to encroach on Yan territory.
But Wu Gongling did not think this way. He did not think that his ability was weaker than his brother's, it was just that he was always suppressed by others and could not stand out. Otherwise, he would also be a feudal lord now. In the beginning, when Cang Province was just gathering troops, his emotions were still considered stable. But as time passed, he was forever under his brother, and he was more or less dissatisfied.
He repeatedly advised his brother, hoping to expand his territory, but Wu Gongshan did not agree. Gathering troops to strengthen himself was one thing, but attacking and occupying the imperial court's territory would make him a traitor.
Wu Gongshan did not want to be a traitor, nor did he want his brothers to die in vain. Gathering troops to strengthen himself was just to protect everyone.
Wu Gongling was very depressed because of this.
The various conflicts and loopholes in Cang Province had long been targeted by people with ulterior motives.
When Han Song went to the Tong Xian Pavilion, he first found the Tong Xian Pavilion's Elder Dan Dongxing. Dan Dongxing was easy to talk to. He knew the internal situation of the Tong Xian Pavilion could be resolved at any time, but he had his concerns. The local people did not rebel, and it would be a joke for the Tong Xian Pavilion to rebel against Yan territory.
So Han Song went to find Wu Gongling, but Wu Gongling was also a bit hesitant and afraid.
Frankly speaking, he was afraid of Nan Zhou, or rather, he was afraid of Meng Shanming, especially when news of Meng Shanming taking Nan Zhou and attacking Dingzhou had spread. The treasured knife was not old, and this made him very afraid.
However, after Quan and Hui made a trip to Nanzhou, everything changed.
Niu Youdao had already become sworn brothers with the two of them. The two of them said that they had already stabilized Niu Youdao. The two of them then used the reason that Nan Zhou had taken three counties of Dingzhou as an excuse to ask Wu Gongling, how could Nan Zhou help the court quell a rebellion? The imperial court wanted to put Niu Youdao to death!
Wu Gongling was deceived by this and immediately had no more misgivings.
Thus, the internal conflict with the Tong Xian Pavilion exploded. Sect Leader Qu Yunkong and his wife were overthrown by the disciples of the sect. Without the protection of the Tong Xian Pavilion, Wu Gongshan was directly poisoned to death. They did not kill him with knives and swords, but they were afraid that the signs of murder would be too obvious. After all, to Wu Gongling, someone had killed his elder brother.
After that, with the help of the Tong Xian Pavilion, Wu Gongling very smoothly and quickly carried out an internal cleansing.
This was also the real reason why Cang Zhou did not rebel before, but rebelled after Quan and Hui returned from the Thatched Cottage Villa.
Later, when Niu Youdao asked for ten million to rob them of the grain, Wu Gongling even persuaded the people of the Six Sects to give it to Niu Youdao as soon as possible.
However, it was not so easy to give out ten million, and it was impossible for them to give as much as Niu Youdao wanted. Quan and Hui told Niu Youdao that their two sects had pooled together five million. That was just a nice way of putting it, but in reality, it was the five million that the six sects had pooled together. It was not that a single sect could not afford this amount of money, but this was a matter of the Six Sects. How could the High Heaven Pavilion and the Fairy Sect bear it alone? Everyone would definitely share it equally, and each sect would not receive a million.
Later, when Niu Youdao requested the rebel army in Cang Zhou to strengthen their offensive, Wu Gongling cooperated with him with all his might.
How could Wu Gongling not be depressed when the news of the Southern Prefecture suppressing the rebellion suddenly came?
The Supreme Palace Elder said to Xiang Tianguang, "I think that Niu Youdao is deliberately tricking you. The main forces of the three Yan sects have been mobilized to the heavily guarded borders, and they still have to protect the Yan imperial palace. How can they spare any capable people to set up an ambush at the Thatched Cottage Villa? You two can rest assured and go."
Are you kidding me? You are not the one taking the risk. Of course, it is easy for you to say that! Quan Taifeng snorted in his heart and glanced at him. "Why don't you go on our behalf?"
Xiang Tianguang chuckled. "He is not my sworn brother." Why would he take the risk? What if it was really a trap?
Speaking of the matter of becoming sworn brothers, Quan Taifeng and Hui Qingping were also depressed. In order to incite Wu Gongling to rebel against the Yan, the two of them had already caused such a ruckus that it would not take long for the whole world to know about it. When the news of the Southern Prefecture suppressing the rebellion came out, the two of them were filled with regret. They felt as if they had lifted a rock and dropped it on themselves.
…
"Yan has appointed Shang Chaozong as the Great General of Suppressing the Rebellion?"
In the tent by the river, Luo Zhao, who was sitting behind the desk, stood up after hearing the news. He stared at Wen You who was reporting the news in surprise.
Wen You nodded and passed the report to him.
Luo Zhao quickly read the report and asked, "But the news from the Southern Prefecture was not announced to the world by the Yan Court. Is the news true?"
Wen You: "It should be true. The spies in the Southern Prefecture have discovered that the Southern Prefecture has mobilized their troops. The soldiers said goodbye to their families that they are going to suppress the rebel army in Cang Prefecture."
Luo Zhao: "Meng Shanming is old and disabled. Will he go with the army or stay in the Southern Prefecture?"
Wen You: "With Meng Shanming, the treasured sword, in the current situation, if the Southern Prefecture really wants to suppress the rebellion, they will definitely do their best. They will probably go with the army. Even if Meng Shanming stays in the Southern Prefecture, he will not ignore the situation. It is inevitable that he will go back and forth to remind Shang Chaozong. "
He was good at analyzing the situation. Just like his judgment on Meng Shanming and Huyan Wuhen, there was a reason for it. This was also why Luo Zhao regarded him as a trusted aide. He could provide him with powerful suggestions.
Hearing this, Luo Zhao nodded in agreement. He walked to the map and looked at it. Slowly, he said, "Wugong Ridge is in trouble if they fight with Meng Shanming. I don't know how long they can last. This is not the time for the Yan Court to restrict the Southern Prefecture."
Wen You: "One thing is for sure. The five feudal vassals do not want to risk their lives. They all want to preserve their strength. This is also the reason why the Yan Court put aside their differences with the Southern Prefecture. The feudal vassals are not cooperating. Now that Wugong Ridge has two million soldiers, it will be difficult for the Southern Prefecture to suppress Wugong Ridge. "
Luo Zhao did not think so. He stared at the map and shook his head, "Two million soldiers are mostly a motley crew. Even the Southern Prefecture's army may not be able to defeat Meng Shanming. Wugong Ridge's army has been fighting for a long time. The soldiers are tired and the frontline is expanding too fast. They are not ready to attack and defend. This is a big problem. Contact Wugong Ridge immediately. Ask him to shrink the frontline and focus on defense. As long as they can delay the enemy, they will win. With so many soldiers, the Yan Dynasty will not be able to hold on for long! "
Wen You hesitated and said, "Governor, last time we asked Wugong Ridge to shrink the troops, but we were ridiculed. Will he listen to us this time?"
Luo Zhao turned around and said, "He is an old general. Can't he feel the chill? Even if he doesn't listen, I will remind him. At most, I will let him ridicule us again! "
"Okay!" Wen You accepted the order and left.
… …
Surrounded by the lake and mountains, the army was in camp. There were a few warhorses drinking and eating grass by the lake. It was a peaceful scene. There was no urgency.
Haozhou Provincial Governor Su Qitong was strolling by the lake with Xiao Yao Palace's Elder Shi Sheng.
Shi Sheng had just arrived and personally took charge. The five Elders of the three Yan Sects who were related to the five feudal vassals also came to take charge.
After the continuous defeats, the Southern Prefecture sent the army. This was the last force of the Yan Dynasty. The three sects had to be cautious and urged the five Elders to come here personally.
After exchanging some pleasantries, Su Qitong probed, "I've heard the news that the imperial court has already conferred the title of Commandery Prince Yongping as the Great General of Suppressing the Rebellion, commanding all the troops to suppress the rebellion. Is this news true?"
Shi Sheng, who was walking with his hands clasped behind his back, nodded and said, "It is true. I came here personally for this. This is related to the fate of the country and our future. This time, we have to cooperate well!"
Su Qitong had a complicated feeling. He followed King Ning in the past. He didn't expect that he would have to listen to the orders of King Ning's son, especially when he received the letter from Meng Shanming. Su Qitong was a little emotional. He promised in a deep and firm voice, "Don't worry, Elder Shi. The people of Haozhou will cooperate fully!"
Shi Sheng, who was walking in the green grass, stopped. He clicked his tongue and frowned. He turned around and stared at Su Qitong, saying, "Qitong, I told you to cooperate well. You don't seem to understand me."
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