Chapter 1461 – Cutting Off Nie Liang, Attacking Yang Tao, Aiming for the World (1)
Jiang Pengji glanced at the barrage, amused.
Let alone carrying a crystal, even if she were to haul around spring water, she could still blow up the so-called protagonist.
“Zai Dao is already convinced that Nie Liang won’t last long. So, let’s discuss how to make that overly thoughtful, shocked, and angry guy?” Jiang Pengji said with a smile. Next to her, Feng Yi, who was taking notes, accidentally shook his wrist, and the ink from his pen dripped onto the paper, forming a dark spot.
Should this content be recorded too?
Feng Yi’s expression showed some hesitation. Seeing that the uncles around him looked unfazed, after a moment of struggle, he chose to accurately record the events. If this content were to spread to future generations, it would ruin the grand image of the lord and might even label her as cunning and treacherous.
As he quickly wrote, Feng Yi was carefully documenting the words, actions, and expressions of everyone present, becoming increasingly puzzled.
Once the meeting wrapped up, Feng Yi privately asked Qi Guanrang.
“Adviser, there’s something I don’t quite understand.” Before joining the army, Feng Zhen had privately asked Qi Guanrang to look after Feng Yi, and told Feng Yi that if he had any questions, he could seek Qi Guanrang for clarification. Naturally, Feng Yi wasn’t going to waste this opportunity.
Qi Guanrang lightly shook his jade fan, and with his eyes half-closed, he opened a crack and asked, “What do you not understand?”
“Since Nie Liang has little time left, why isn’t our army defending Zhanjiang Pass, dragging it out for half a year?” Feng Yi puzzled. “Earlier… It sounded like the lord intends to gather military strength and confront the Nie clan head-on. Isn’t that going to result in a huge loss for our army?”
Qi Guanrang responded, “Your thinking isn’t wrong, but you’ve overlooked the situation within the Nie clan.”
The moment Feng Yi heard this, he immediately adopted an attentive posture, his eyes lighting up.
Qi Guanrang continued, “After Zhong Zhao fell, the Nie clan hastened to recruit troops, stabilizing the situation while using connections and prestige to attract talents and families to their cause. However, not everyone is genuinely loyal to the Nie clan. A significant portion are just going with the flow; they have other thoughts but have to align with the Nie clan due to its power. To put it bluntly, the internal power of the Nie clan is fragmented, and people’s hearts are not united. If Nie Liang were to suddenly die, and the frontline suffered defeats, internal strife would inevitably occur within the Nie clan, leading to fragmentation.”
To make a comparison, the Nie clan is like a magnet, forcibly attracting surrounding metal fragments.
Once it loses its magnetic pull, wouldn’t those metal fragments be free?
“The longer Nie Liang lives, the more stable the Nie clan remains, giving him more time to pave the way for his successor. Even if he were to die suddenly, the successor could still stabilize the situation, which would be incredibly unfavorable for our army.” Qi Guanrang continued, “If our army were to hold Zhanjiang Pass, the morale of the Nie troops wouldn’t be impacted, maintaining a high state. Even if Nie Liang were to die unexpectedly, their morale could still help them struggle on for a while…”
Feng Yi listened intently, slowly sorting through the connections.
“The adviser means… right now, the Nie clan is transitioning. Once Nie Liang dies, the Nie troops’ morale will drop, and the rear forces will also become unstable, causing the factions that previously relied on the Nie clan to have different intentions? If they can fragment, the lord would be able to gradually pick them off?”
Qi Guanrang smiled, “That’s about right.”
Feng Yi’s hypothesis was confirmed, and a bold thought emerged in his mind.
“Is the lord planning to take over Zhong Zhao in the process?”
Not only to swallow Yang Tao and crush An Huan, but also to lay a finger on the Nie clan’s cake in Zhong Zhao?
“This is only a matter of time.” Qi Guanrang replied, his expression indifferent, revealing no delight or anger. “If we can induce the Nie clan into fragmentation… then capturing the majority of Zhong Zhao would be as easy as reaching into a pouch. The lord changing her mind in the heat of battle is also intending to act upon this plan.”
Feng Yi immediately understood and bowed in gratitude to Qi Guanrang.
“Thank you, adviser, for clearing my confusion.”
Qi Guanrang displayed a rare smile, saying, “You understand better than your father.”
Feng Zhen, that guy, when asking for favors, always has the air of a lord, unlike his son, who shows understanding and courtesy.
Sun Wen returned to the main camp unscathed, with the two armies facing off at Zhanjiang Pass, the atmosphere tense and charged.
Meanwhile, in the Nie clan’s ancestral land in Bianzhou.
“Ah Yang, Ah Yang, I have great news! Father has allowed me to go to the battlefield!”
Nie Qing had thought he’d only be handling trivial matters in the rear but was surprised by the arrival of a messenger from his father.
Growing up, Nie Qing had always seen his father, Nie Liang, as a model to pursue and learn from, hoping to gain his recognition and praise.
Unfortunately, due to his dull-witted nature, he could never meet his father’s standards.
This time, while Nie Liang led the troops into battle, Nie Qing had been ordered to stay behind to hold down the fort, leaving him feeling quite dejected.
Upon hearing this, Nie Yang suddenly opened his narrowed eyes, appearing shocked and horrified.
“Why has Uncle suddenly changed his mind? Didn’t he remind you to protect the rear just earlier?”
Nie Yang asked this, but his mind was racing through various scenarios.
At this time, calling Nie Qing to the front lines wasn’t likely due to Nie Qing’s competence. It was probably because Nie Liang was unwell, prompting this call. If something were to happen to Nie Liang during the battle, Nie Qing could act as the successor to stabilize the situation and take over the military power.
With that thought in mind, Nie Yang quickly grasped the intent behind Nie Liang’s move.
Nie Qing said, “Father has his reasons for doing this.”
Nie Yang clasped his hands and smiled, “Then, little brother, I congratulate you in advance. Await your triumphant return.”
Nie Qing replied, “No need to wait for my return; you should go with me.”
Nie Yang was taken aback, saying awkwardly, “If Uncle has you go, it’s not quite right for me to tag along.”
Nie Qing insisted, “What’s wrong with that? I can guess part of Father’s intentions. If the situation really deteriorates to that extent, it would be dangerous for Ah Yang to stay here. It’s better to go to the front lines with me. Although I can’t compare to Father, I can still keep you safe.”
If something were to happen to Nie Liang, internal strife within the Nie clan would be inevitable.
Nie Yang, who usually stayed close to him, would likely be mistaken for his confidant and could end up killed.
After thinking this through, it felt safest to keep Nie Yang by his side.
Moreover, with over two hundred thousand troops at the front lines, as long as he held military power, those sneaky individuals would have to think twice before acting.
After listening, Nie Yang hesitated for a moment, then gratefully said, “Thank you, cousin!”
At that moment, the System’s mocking voice rang out.
With Nie Qing and Nie Liang both absent, now was the perfect time to act. If you followed Nie Qing to the front lines, what would happen to those factions you secretly gathered with such effort? Nie Yang was being too self-absorbed, changing plans without discussion; the System hates feelings of uncontrollability.
Nie Yang inwardly scoffed.
The older he got, the more he felt this thing was a hassle.
You say, if Nie Liang and Nie Qing both die on the battlefield, who would be left to stabilize the situation?
Even if just temporarily, Nie Yang had his ways to make that temporary military power last permanently.
