Lan Hong raised his hand to interrupt him. “For what do you think His Majesty has allowed him to misbehave? For the gold coins?” He said coldly. “Hmph! Haven’t you noticed that among those people Li Chunyang dealt with, apart from those who have resentment with the Li Family, the rest are all from Prince Qin Yang’s faction?”
Shocked, Lan Guang stood up from his seat as he said gravely, “Do you mean Li Chunyang has taken sides? Didn’t he support Prince Qin Yang before?”
“He used to be in favor of Prince Qin Yang, that’s all. At our level, if the situation is unclear, we will not easily choose sides. Moreover, the decline of the Li Family is an indisputable fact. The incident of Li Yi is the best touchstone for the Li Family. Once Li Chunyang falls and Li Changfeng is suppressed, the Li Family will definitely fall apart! Li Chunyang saw the situation clearly, and so did His Majesty, so he should not have chosen sides so hastily! What the hell is he thinking? Has he gotten any information we haven’t?”
Lan Guang was also puzzled. “Prince Qin Yang should have a better chance of winning, and that’s what people want.”
After pondering for a moment, Lan Hong said, “Could it be that he wants to put all his eggs in one basket? If he helps Qin Yue succeed in his accession to the throne, he will undoubtedly be the greatest contributor, and the Li Family will continue to prosper for hundreds of years! Hmph! Li Chunyang, you are really bold! If you lose, your family will be beyond redemption!”
“Father, shall we do something?”
“No!” Lan Hong said in a low voice. “We must be cautious right now. We’ve got a lot of talented juniors in our family, while the Li Family has no capable person apart from the recently emerged Li Yunxiao. However, this Li Yunxiao is somewhat mysterious indeed…”
Suddenly, his eyes lit up and he said in shock, “Is the reason Li Chunyang dares to put all his eggs in one basket…is it because that Li Yunxiao can cure Xiao Qingwang’s internal injuries?”
Lan Guang’s heart skipped a beat as he blurted out, “How is it possible? Xiao Qingwang’s injuries are beyond the power of the whole state! But…if he really supports Qin Yue, the final outcome will be even more uncertain!”
Lan Hong sighed and said seriously, “Lan Guang, you must remember that you cannot expose your intentions and strength too early under any circumstances during this period of regime change. Even if we don’t render any meritorious service, we must not make any mistakes. Only in this way can our family continue to pass on in Tianshui.”
“I understand, father!” Lan Guang bowed deeply.
While Li Chunyang was collecting wealth on a large scale, Qin Yang, the eldest prince, was in deep anxiety.
He was visited by his subordinate officials every day to complain. These people were all his direct subordinates, and many of them were secretly supporting him. If he let Li Chunyang continue to cause trouble and did nothing, it would chill the hearts of those who supported him.
He had visited the palace several times to seek an audience with the king, but he was rejected every single time. He knew that his father had shunned him. He also knew exactly what the king was thinking. Li Chunyang’s mischief had suppressed his power and slightly balanced the strength of the two princes, which was a situation the king would like to see. Of course, the king’s only dissatisfaction was how this incident had enriched the Li Family’s financial resources.
Qin Yang was extremely angry after being turned away several times, so he began to gather his men to find countermeasures. Some said that they should continue to endure while others said that they should raise their banner straightaway. The different opinions made his already agitated mood more violent.
Just then, a strong voice suddenly came from outside the door, “Let me provide Your Highness three plans to ensure that Your Highness can successfully ascend to the throne!”
Qin Yang’s face flickered, and his eyes burst with a light as he recognized the owner of the voice. “How could you, a spy from the State of Baizhan, still have the courage to come to see me? You are the one who caused all this! Since you are here, leave your head behind!” He cried out in a cold voice.
At his command, a large number of warriors poured in from everywhere and surrounded the three visitors. Seeing this, Li Yi burst out laughing. “Your Highness, you are already in a dangerous situation. Why do you still want to kill me, the only person who can help you now?”
Qin Yang said coldly, “What a joke! I am the prince of Tianshui, and you are a spy from Baizhan. It is only natural that I kill you!”
A murderous aura suddenly exploded out from the two men standing behind Li Yi, who were dressed in silvery white martial outfits. A chill immediately spread in the hall, causing the temperature to drop sharply. It was so cold that some civil officials were even shivering now.
Standing next to Qin Yang, Gao Feng’s pupils constricted. He leaned over and whispered into the former’s ear, “These two men are extremely strong, both of them being Martial Lords. This Li Yi is not simple either. He has the cultivation base of a Great Martial Master.”
A sneer flashed on Li Yi’s face as he cocked his head triumphantly and said, “With the strength of the three of us, Your Highness will have to pay a pretty steep price if you want to take us down, and it will be a major blow to your current strength.”
Seeing Qin Yang remain silent, he went on, “Besides, the purpose of my visit is entirely to help Your Highness. Why don’t Your Highness let me present the three plans? Oh, I recently heard that Li Chunyang seems to have made contact with Qin Yue.”
Qin Yang’s expression finally changed. This was exactly what he feared the most at present. With anger surging in his eyes, he said in a low voice, “Tell me, then!”
Li Yi strode forward as he cleared his throat and said, “Li Chunyang’s strength has greatly improved after he came out of seclusion, and he seems to show a faint sign of breaking through to the realm of Martial Kings. Both his personal strength and the strength of the military he represents are going to be a tremendous help to Qin Yue, making it difficult for Your Highness to compete. Therefore, my first plan is to transfer Li Chunyang out of the capital!”
Qin Yang sneered, “Li Chunyang is a very powerful man with a senior status. Even His Majesty might not be able to transfer him out of the capital. If your other two plans are as whimsical and laughable as this, you don’t have to tell me anymore!”
A trace of anger appeared on Li Yi’s face. “Since I dare to say it, I naturally have great confidence!” He snorted coldly. “There is no need for Your Highness to worry about this, I will naturally do my best to make this work. When that happens, Your Highness just needs to make use of the favorable situation to push matters through!”
“Oh?” Qin Yang looked incredulous as he said suspiciously. “So, you have a way of transfering Li Chunyang out of the capital? Well, I’m very interested to hear it.”
Li Yi smiled, his eyes gleaming as he said lightly, “The city of Kunjin and the Great Python Mountain are on the border between Tianshui and Baizhan. The mountain is full of wild animals, including even legendary demon beasts, making it extremely difficult for ordinary people to pass through. In addition, the terrain there is high in the east and low in the west, forming a natural barrier. Your state has stationed an army, the Golden Lion Army, in Whitehead Town near Great Python Mountain, whose commander happens to be Your Highness’s man.”
Qin Yang’s pupils constricted as he said in a serious voice, “Say whatever is on your mind!”
Li Yi snorted softly as he narrowed his eyes and said, “I wish to borrow a written permission from Your Highness so that our troops can pass through Great Python Mountain and Whitehead Town, then march from the south and surround Kunjin, trapping Li Changfeng and his Flying Dragon Army, who are stationed in the city!”
Pa!
Qin Yang broke the armrest of his chair with a palm strike and bellowed, “In your dreams! If Whitehead Town and Kunjin are lost, then thirteen cities in the eastern part of our state will completely lose their barrier and be exposed to your heavy cavalry! At that time, what we will lose is not only one town and one city, but more than half of our land!”
Li Yi said hurriedly, “Your Highness, you need not be angry. The purpose of sending troops is only to help you. As soon as the task is completed, they will naturally withdraw from Kunjin.”
Qin Yang sneered, “Do you think I am a three-year-old child? Li Yi, I didn’t expect you to have a talent for telling jokes!”
Li Yi reddened slightly. “Your Highness, why don’t you listen to all my plans and weigh your gains and losses before giving me the answer?”
A trace of killing intent flashed through Qin Yang’s eyes as he sat back in his chair. Meanwhile, Li Yi continued, “As long as Kunjin is surrounded, we will cut off all its supplies of grain and fodder. Without provisions, Li Changfeng’s Flying Dragon Army of 400,000 men can last for three months at most. By that time, Li Chunyang, who is far away in the capital, will naturally not be able to sit still. He will definitely assemble an army and leave the capital to rescue his son. Once he leaves, it will be the best time for Your Highness to strike!”
He glanced at Qin Yang and found that the prince was expressionless while quietly listening to him, so he went on, “There are three military forces in the capital—the armed force belonging to the Li Family headed by Li Chunyang, the Imperial Guards under the king’s command, and the force headed by Your Highness. As long as Li Chunyang leaves the capital and we can pull Long Qing to our side, the whole capital will be in Your Highness’s hands. That will be the time to carry out my second plan—kill Xiao Qingwang!”
With a murderous look, he said coldly, “Xiao Qingwang has not recovered from his internal injuries. Whether that little bast*rd Li Yunxiao can really cure him or not, his strength will be greatly reduced. Your Highness won’t need to do anything, as I’ll send someone to carry out this plan for Your Highness!”
“Why should I kill Commander Xiao?” Qin Yang snarled. “You are making me destroy my own shield! If he’s gone, who else in my state can resist the Martial Kings from your state?”
“Your Highness, if Li Yunxiao really cured Xiao Qingwang, is he on your side or Qin Yue’s side?” Li Yi sneered. “At that time, Qin Yue will have not only Zhong Lishan, but also Xiao Qingwang. If that happened, Your Highness will not be able to achieve what you want even if Li Chunyang is transferred out of the capital!”
A trace of shock mixed with anger flashed through Qin Yang’s eyes, and he then fell silent. He was originally in a good situation, but it seemed that the situation had become precarious ever since Li Yunxiao appeared. “Then, I will kill Li Yunxiao straightaway so that he can’t treat Xiao Qingwang!” He said furiously.
Li Yi also became very angry when he heard the name and said with a towering killing intent, “Li Yunxiao must be killed, but we cannot let Xiao Qingwang go either. Your Highness had once sent someone to assassinate Qin Yue and Li Yunxiao, but what was the result?”
He deliberately glanced at Gao Feng, who was standing beside Qin Yang, and the latter’s face suddenly turned cold. Not only did the assassination fail, they even lost a deputy commander of the State Guardians. The failure had made both Gao Feng and Qin Yang extremely furious!
“Once we have killed Xiao Qingwang, Commander Gao will be the commander-in-chief of the State Guardians!” Li Yi continued. “With all five units of the State Guardians, as well as the whole court under control, tell me, Your Highness, do you think you can achieve what you want?”
Lan Hong raised his hand to interrupt him. “For what do you think His Majesty has allowed him to misbehave? For the gold coins?” He said coldly. “Hmph! Haven’t you noticed that among those people Li Chunyang dealt with, apart from those who have resentment with the Li Family, the rest are all from Prince Qin Yang’s faction?”
Shocked, Lan Guang stood up from his seat as he said gravely, “Do you mean Li Chunyang has taken sides? Didn’t he support Prince Qin Yang before?”
“He used to be in favor of Prince Qin Yang, that’s all. At our level, if the situation is unclear, we will not easily choose sides. Moreover, the decline of the Li Family is an indisputable fact. The incident of Li Yi is the best touchstone for the Li Family. Once Li Chunyang falls and Li Changfeng is suppressed, the Li Family will definitely fall apart! Li Chunyang saw the situation clearly, and so did His Majesty, so he should not have chosen sides so hastily! What the hell is he thinking? Has he gotten any information we haven’t?”
Lan Guang was also puzzled. “Prince Qin Yang should have a better chance of winning, and that’s what people want.”
After pondering for a moment, Lan Hong said, “Could it be that he wants to put all his eggs in one basket? If he helps Qin Yue succeed in his accession to the throne, he will undoubtedly be the greatest contributor, and the Li Family will continue to prosper for hundreds of years! Hmph! Li Chunyang, you are really bold! If you lose, your family will be beyond redemption!”
“Father, shall we do something?”
“No!” Lan Hong said in a low voice. “We must be cautious right now. We’ve got a lot of talented juniors in our family, while the Li Family has no capable person apart from the recently emerged Li Yunxiao. However, this Li Yunxiao is somewhat mysterious indeed…”
Suddenly, his eyes lit up and he said in shock, “Is the reason Li Chunyang dares to put all his eggs in one basket…is it because that Li Yunxiao can cure Xiao Qingwang’s internal injuries?”
Lan Guang’s heart skipped a beat as he blurted out, “How is it possible? Xiao Qingwang’s injuries are beyond the power of the whole state! But…if he really supports Qin Yue, the final outcome will be even more uncertain!”
Lan Hong sighed and said seriously, “Lan Guang, you must remember that you cannot expose your intentions and strength too early under any circumstances during this period of regime change. Even if we don’t render any meritorious service, we must not make any mistakes. Only in this way can our family continue to pass on in Tianshui.”
“I understand, father!” Lan Guang bowed deeply.
While Li Chunyang was collecting wealth on a large scale, Qin Yang, the eldest prince, was in deep anxiety.
He was visited by his subordinate officials every day to complain. These people were all his direct subordinates, and many of them were secretly supporting him. If he let Li Chunyang continue to cause trouble and did nothing, it would chill the hearts of those who supported him.
He had visited the palace several times to seek an audience with the king, but he was rejected every single time. He knew that his father had shunned him. He also knew exactly what the king was thinking. Li Chunyang’s mischief had suppressed his power and slightly balanced the strength of the two princes, which was a situation the king would like to see. Of course, the king’s only dissatisfaction was how this incident had enriched the Li Family’s financial resources.
Qin Yang was extremely angry after being turned away several times, so he began to gather his men to find countermeasures. Some said that they should continue to endure while others said that they should raise their banner straightaway. The different opinions made his already agitated mood more violent.
Just then, a strong voice suddenly came from outside the door, “Let me provide Your Highness three plans to ensure that Your Highness can successfully ascend to the throne!”
Qin Yang’s face flickered, and his eyes burst with a light as he recognized the owner of the voice. “How could you, a spy from the State of Baizhan, still have the courage to come to see me? You are the one who caused all this! Since you are here, leave your head behind!” He cried out in a cold voice.
At his command, a large number of warriors poured in from everywhere and surrounded the three visitors. Seeing this, Li Yi burst out laughing. “Your Highness, you are already in a dangerous situation. Why do you still want to kill me, the only person who can help you now?”
Qin Yang said coldly, “What a joke! I am the prince of Tianshui, and you are a spy from Baizhan. It is only natural that I kill you!”
A murderous aura suddenly exploded out from the two men standing behind Li Yi, who were dressed in silvery white martial outfits. A chill immediately spread in the hall, causing the temperature to drop sharply. It was so cold that some civil officials were even shivering now.
Standing next to Qin Yang, Gao Feng’s pupils constricted. He leaned over and whispered into the former’s ear, “These two men are extremely strong, both of them being Martial Lords. This Li Yi is not simple either. He has the cultivation base of a Great Martial Master.”
A sneer flashed on Li Yi’s face as he cocked his head triumphantly and said, “With the strength of the three of us, Your Highness will have to pay a pretty steep price if you want to take us down, and it will be a major blow to your current strength.”
Seeing Qin Yang remain silent, he went on, “Besides, the purpose of my visit is entirely to help Your Highness. Why don’t Your Highness let me present the three plans? Oh, I recently heard that Li Chunyang seems to have made contact with Qin Yue.”
Qin Yang’s expression finally changed. This was exactly what he feared the most at present. With anger surging in his eyes, he said in a low voice, “Tell me, then!”
Li Yi strode forward as he cleared his throat and said, “Li Chunyang’s strength has greatly improved after he came out of seclusion, and he seems to show a faint sign of breaking through to the realm of Martial Kings. Both his personal strength and the strength of the military he represents are going to be a tremendous help to Qin Yue, making it difficult for Your Highness to compete. Therefore, my first plan is to transfer Li Chunyang out of the capital!”
Qin Yang sneered, “Li Chunyang is a very powerful man with a senior status. Even His Majesty might not be able to transfer him out of the capital. If your other two plans are as whimsical and laughable as this, you don’t have to tell me anymore!”
A trace of anger appeared on Li Yi’s face. “Since I dare to say it, I naturally have great confidence!” He snorted coldly. “There is no need for Your Highness to worry about this, I will naturally do my best to make this work. When that happens, Your Highness just needs to make use of the favorable situation to push matters through!”
“Oh?” Qin Yang looked incredulous as he said suspiciously. “So, you have a way of transfering Li Chunyang out of the capital? Well, I’m very interested to hear it.”
Li Yi smiled, his eyes gleaming as he said lightly, “The city of Kunjin and the Great Python Mountain are on the border between Tianshui and Baizhan. The mountain is full of wild animals, including even legendary demon beasts, making it extremely difficult for ordinary people to pass through. In addition, the terrain there is high in the east and low in the west, forming a natural barrier. Your state has stationed an army, the Golden Lion Army, in Whitehead Town near Great Python Mountain, whose commander happens to be Your Highness’s man.”
Qin Yang’s pupils constricted as he said in a serious voice, “Say whatever is on your mind!”
Li Yi snorted softly as he narrowed his eyes and said, “I wish to borrow a written permission from Your Highness so that our troops can pass through Great Python Mountain and Whitehead Town, then march from the south and surround Kunjin, trapping Li Changfeng and his Flying Dragon Army, who are stationed in the city!”
Pa!
Qin Yang broke the armrest of his chair with a palm strike and bellowed, “In your dreams! If Whitehead Town and Kunjin are lost, then thirteen cities in the eastern part of our state will completely lose their barrier and be exposed to your heavy cavalry! At that time, what we will lose is not only one town and one city, but more than half of our land!”
Li Yi said hurriedly, “Your Highness, you need not be angry. The purpose of sending troops is only to help you. As soon as the task is completed, they will naturally withdraw from Kunjin.”
Qin Yang sneered, “Do you think I am a three-year-old child? Li Yi, I didn’t expect you to have a talent for telling jokes!”
Li Yi reddened slightly. “Your Highness, why don’t you listen to all my plans and weigh your gains and losses before giving me the answer?”
A trace of killing intent flashed through Qin Yang’s eyes as he sat back in his chair. Meanwhile, Li Yi continued, “As long as Kunjin is surrounded, we will cut off all its supplies of grain and fodder. Without provisions, Li Changfeng’s Flying Dragon Army of 400,000 men can last for three months at most. By that time, Li Chunyang, who is far away in the capital, will naturally not be able to sit still. He will definitely assemble an army and leave the capital to rescue his son. Once he leaves, it will be the best time for Your Highness to strike!”
He glanced at Qin Yang and found that the prince was expressionless while quietly listening to him, so he went on, “There are three military forces in the capital—the armed force belonging to the Li Family headed by Li Chunyang, the Imperial Guards under the king’s command, and the force headed by Your Highness. As long as Li Chunyang leaves the capital and we can pull Long Qing to our side, the whole capital will be in Your Highness’s hands. That will be the time to carry out my second plan—kill Xiao Qingwang!”
With a murderous look, he said coldly, “Xiao Qingwang has not recovered from his internal injuries. Whether that little bast*rd Li Yunxiao can really cure him or not, his strength will be greatly reduced. Your Highness won’t need to do anything, as I’ll send someone to carry out this plan for Your Highness!”
“Why should I kill Commander Xiao?” Qin Yang snarled. “You are making me destroy my own shield! If he’s gone, who else in my state can resist the Martial Kings from your state?”
“Your Highness, if Li Yunxiao really cured Xiao Qingwang, is he on your side or Qin Yue’s side?” Li Yi sneered. “At that time, Qin Yue will have not only Zhong Lishan, but also Xiao Qingwang. If that happened, Your Highness will not be able to achieve what you want even if Li Chunyang is transferred out of the capital!”
A trace of shock mixed with anger flashed through Qin Yang’s eyes, and he then fell silent. He was originally in a good situation, but it seemed that the situation had become precarious ever since Li Yunxiao appeared. “Then, I will kill Li Yunxiao straightaway so that he can’t treat Xiao Qingwang!” He said furiously.
Li Yi also became very angry when he heard the name and said with a towering killing intent, “Li Yunxiao must be killed, but we cannot let Xiao Qingwang go either. Your Highness had once sent someone to assassinate Qin Yue and Li Yunxiao, but what was the result?”
He deliberately glanced at Gao Feng, who was standing beside Qin Yang, and the latter’s face suddenly turned cold. Not only did the assassination fail, they even lost a deputy commander of the State Guardians. The failure had made both Gao Feng and Qin Yang extremely furious!
“Once we have killed Xiao Qingwang, Commander Gao will be the commander-in-chief of the State Guardians!” Li Yi continued. “With all five units of the State Guardians, as well as the whole court under control, tell me, Your Highness, do you think you can achieve what you want?”
