Chapter 1639 – Conquering Nan Sheng, Killing An Huan (Part 50)
Enemies lurked outside, eyes sharp as tigers, while hidden dangers thrived within…
The growing pressure and constant plots had caused Nie Qing to lose weight day by day, and soon he was nothing but skin and bones.
As the heavy burdens fell squarely on this young man’s shoulders, his once lush black hair turned visibly gray in just a few months.
Furthermore, Nie Qing often appeared in a daze, his haggard appearance tugging at the heartstrings of those who beheld him.
Who would have thought that this frail, emaciated youth was once a spirited, carefree aristocrat just two years ago?
Anyone who had witnessed Nie Qing’s transformation couldn’t help but sigh.
However, sighing was just sighing—no one would abandon their ambitions out of sympathy for Nie Qing.
Even though Nie Qing was keen on uniting the various factions within Zhong Zhao to form an alliance against Jiang Ji’s forces, those who clung to the past wouldn’t heed his call. To them, the Nie Clan was a dead camel that’s still bigger than a horse; Nie Qing remained an obstacle they needed to remove! Even if someone was willing to cease hostilities for the greater good, Qi Guanrang and Sun Wen were not to be trifled with.
How could they allow Nie Qing to rebuild the disjointed factions of Zhong Zhao?
As soon as Jiang Ji took her troops to Zhangzhou, the two quickly conspired to formulate a series of plans aimed at Zhong Zhao.
After much deliberation, they finally decided to covertly support a puppet faction.
Though described as a puppet, this faction had its own connections and resources within Zhong Zhao and was considered a native force.
Had it not been for the fear of the Nie Clan’s oppressive force and Nie Liang’s ruthless methods back in the day, its leader wouldn’t have so easily bowed down in submission.
“Tsk, calling it submission, but it’s actually a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” Qi Guanrang chuckled as he perused the intel on this individual and curiously remarked to Sun Wen, “It’s a shame that their ambition exceeds their lifespan. With such aspirations, why didn’t Nie Liang take care of them before he died? Leaving behind such a threat, even if we don’t exploit it, it’ll end up being a major headache for Nie Qing…”
Sun Wen couldn’t even be bothered to raise an eyebrow.
“True, Nie Liang had talent, but he was no deity. Zheng Hao has ambition but also possesses intelligence. So many hidden dangers with ambition were eliminated by Nie Liang, only for Zheng Hao to slip through the cracks. Either his scheming runs deeper than we envisioned, potentially deceiving even Nie Liang’s scrutiny, or his ambition doesn’t align with his capabilities, and Nie Liang didn’t regard him as a threat.” Sun Wen was not too worried about Zhong Zhao, as after the chaos stirred by their lord, it had already been severely damaged and was ripe for plundering.
Qi Guanrang smiled, “You make a fair point.”
“What do you think, Wen Zheng?”
Qi Guanrang didn’t answer, and the two old foxes exchanged knowing smiles while the one they conspired against remained blissfully unaware of his looming fate.
Their conversation had no barriers, and while Feng Yi could barely understand, Sun Lan remained completely befuddled due to his lack of expertise in schemes.
“I have a question.”
He was a keen learner, always eager to ask when he didn’t grasp something.
Now with elders nearby to guide him, it was best to learn and ask as much as possible; who could he rely on in the future when he had to stand on his own?
Sun Wen inquired, “What’s your question?”
Sun Lan asked, “Since Qi Guan Military Advisor says Zheng Hao has the heart of a tiger and wolf and won’t settle for being a puppet, won’t our support lead to a backlash against us?”
Training a dog only to be bitten in return would surely be an embarrassment.
Sun Wen simply smiled without answering, as Qi Guanrang turned to Feng Yi, “What’s your take?”
Feng Yi replied, “As Sun Military Advisor mentioned, Nie Liang’s purges missed Zheng Hao. I believe he falls in the latter category.”
Ambition less than ability.
Qi Guanrang further queried, “What’s your reasoning?”
Feng Yi responded, “Though Nie Liang was Nie Qing’s father, spoiling a child is akin to killing one. If he cleared all the small stones for Nie Qing just before he died, leaving him without a worthy opponent to train against, he’d ultimately be harming him rather than helping him grow.”
Qi Guanrang and the others showed little reaction, prompting Feng Yi to continue, “Furthermore, since both military advisors chose Zheng Hao… I have the audacity to presume that Zheng Hao won’t have the opportunity to turn against us, and thus… I’m not worried…”
If those words came from anyone else, it might carry the scent of flattery.
However, Feng Yi was someone they had watched grow; they knew his temperament well.
Qi Guanrang remarked, “I didn’t think you resembled Feng Zishi that much, but now I see a trace of that family trait.”
Feng Yi asked, “What trait?”
Qi Guanrang said, “Cleverness!”
Feng Yi didn’t need a long-winded analysis to derive his conclusions from simple data.
While there was an element of opportunism, simplifying complexity was also a skill.
This kid Feng Yi had a promising future!
In response to his uncles’ teasing, Feng Yi offered a shy smile.
Having settled on their plan, Zheng Hao, as the supported puppet, did not consider himself a controlled marionette.
His collaboration with Qi Guanrang and the others was one of mutual aid; their positions were equal.
While Qi Guanrang and company aimed to scheme against Zhong Zhao through him, he too could gain support from Qi Guanrang to build his influence, growing strong enough to turn the tables later.
Both sides harbored secret ambitions.
To illustrate, while both sides pretended to shake hands peacefully and sign a contract, behind the scenes, they were sharpening their knives for each other.
Qi Guanrang was waiting for the right moment to strike, while Zheng Hao was biding his time.
With Qi Guanrang’s covert support, Zheng Hao gradually absorbed many territories, gaining confidence and even disregarding Nie Qing’s directives and commands. Under Qi Guanrang’s instruction, he also set up numerous obstacles for Nie Qing’s proposed alliance plans.
Zheng Hao’s advisors were somewhat anxious about the current situation.
“General, both Qi Guanrang and Sun Wen under Liu Xi are her confidants. Their presence at Zhanjiang Pass isn’t good news. Collaborating with them is akin to seeking skin from a tiger… This matter really should be reconsidered…”
Zheng Hao cut his advisor off with a wave.
He sighed, “I certainly understand this logic! However, this is our only opportunity to free ourselves from the Nie Clan. After barely surviving Nie Liang’s demise, now his son has risen above me. Just a naive, incompetent little brat—what authority does he have to command me? Knowing full well Qi Guanrang’s intentions may not be good, I still want to give it a shot…”
The advisor understood Zheng Hao’s ambition but still felt uneasy.
Zheng Hao’s actions, for Zhong Zhao, amounted to treachery!
If the aristocracy of Zhong Zhao found out, they’d lose the public’s trust and be condemned for a thousand years!
Was it worth sacrificing one’s name for a moment’s ambition?
Zheng Hao declared, “Naturally, it’s worth it. Moreover… who will win or lose, who is using whom… that’s still uncertain.”
