Chapter 1679 – Conquering Nan Sheng, Killing An Huan (Eighty-Seven)
“Sending the former Lord to the afterlife?”
Lü Zheng momentarily lost his bearings, but being the clever man he was, it didn’t take long for him to figure out what she had done.
“Liu Lanting!”
Lü Zheng pointed at her, trembling with anger, while Jiang Ji wore a smile, leisurely swatting his hand aside.
“What do you want to say, Shaoyin? Despicable and shameless? Or perhaps tricky and cunning?” she remarked with a laugh. “In battle, all’s fair! Devious schemes are allowed. It’s merely a contest of skills. I just used the conditions available to me to achieve my goal. Besides, I’ve even given you a merit, allowing you to quickly establish yourself here under my wing…”
Lü Zheng retorted, “In your eyes, Liu Lanting, am I Lü Shaoyin the kind of opportunistic, fickle character?”
Jiang Ji knew exactly what she was doing; Lü Zheng understood it was certainly a trap big enough to bury An Huan alive.
“I never doubt Shaoyin’s character, but… a good bird chooses the right tree to roost in, and a wise minister selects a suitable lord to serve. What kind of person is An Duohui? Is he worth your life hanging from his crooked tree? You can’t be that naive?” Jiang Ji confidently asserted. “If you’re the kind of foolishly loyal person, then fine, consider that I’ve said nothing. Whether you stay or go in the future, it’s up to you…”
Jiang Ji naturally wanted to recruit Lü Zheng. Talents were always in demand!
Once she took Nan Sheng, her ambitions would only grow, and she’d need even more capable people.
Lü Zheng, familiar with her background, felt increasingly at ease.
Treating the surrendered subjects of Langya Academy well, plus being an alumnus herself, acted as double insurance.
Mr. Yuanjing had taught at Langya Academy for so many years, producing many talented individuals and forming ties with even more renowned figures. With double protection, recruiting from this circle would be far simpler. For all these reasons, Jiang Ji had no intention of turning against Lü Zheng.
“You’re forcing me to betray An!”
Lü Zheng’s voluntary abandonment of An and the pressure from Jiang Ji were entirely different matters.
Even if An was a jerk, Lü Zheng had chosen him.
A lord chosen by oneself, even if they were a stone in a latrine, Lü Zheng didn’t want to be forced to throw that stone back.
Jiang Ji said, “How can this be called forcing? This is strategy, a common interplay of cunning. If they don’t see the pit under An’s roof and fall in, that’s entirely their own doing. It’s pathetic to blame oneself for being weak and foolish rather than blaming the enemy for being strong and clever.”
Lü Zheng took a deep breath and asked, “What did you do mimicking my handwriting?”
Even though Lü Zheng didn’t much like praising Jiang Ji—because she would take it a mile—it was hard to deny her talent in imitation was annoyingly enviable. Given what Jiang Ji just mentioned, it was easy to deduce that she must have taken his recent study notes and crafted a letter to lure An in, based on his handwriting.
As for…
What the letter contained and the pit Jiang Ji had dug, Lü Zheng wasn’t quite certain.
Jiang Ji replied, “Heh, just giving him advice, relieving his worries. Isn’t An facing severe food shortages lately? The logistics line is in trouble, and the frontline army risks starvation? How can we fight with insufficient supplies! I simply imitated your handwriting and tone to draft a suggestion for him to lead troops to raid my granary. I even drew a simple map in case he got lost.”
Lü Zheng closed his eyes upon hearing this.
That was a deathblow!
“How will An take the bait?”
Jiang Ji countered, “Why wouldn’t he? Shaoyin, do you have a misunderstanding of your own worth? You are Mr. Yuanjing’s student, a top graduate of Langya Academy, assisting An, this poor, lost soul, building what he has today. Even if he’s treated you coldly in recent years or even disliked you, when push comes to shove, he will instinctively trust you. Without your Lü Shaoyin’s help, An would still be a nobody, rolling around with just a few ragtag troops—he wouldn’t have the current glory!”
Lü Zheng had helped An stage a comeback once; he could help him do it again.
Jiang Ji continued, “Shaoyin, my clever plan modeled after your handwriting is bait—there’s no chance An won’t take it!”
Lü Zheng was stubborn verbally, but deep down, he had to admit Jiang Ji was right.
An was cornered, and Hua Yuan was stabbing him in the back; without trusting the bait, he had no other option.
Of course, An was careful and suspicious, so he might not believe completely.
“Aren’t you afraid of losing out instead? If you can’t ambush An, you’ll end up losing your own granary?”
Why did Lü Zheng and Cheng Jing have issues with Jiang Ji?
Even the students of Langya Academy weren’t too keen on this alumna?
Simply considering character, Jiang Ji was rather likable, even if she crossed some lines. But knowing limits was her unique shining quality. However, assisting a ruler wasn’t the same as being friends; the standards for judgment differed.
Friends could mess around, but a lord could not. Lü Zheng didn’t understand how Wei Ci and the others endured it.
For example, this time…
Using her own granary as bait to lure An in? If he turned the tables on her, and his feet were bare while she wore shoes—what then?
Jiang Ji revealed a somewhat weary and mocking smile.
“You underestimate me, Shaoyin. I dare set up a trap; naturally, I have my own confidence.” She retorted, “Have you ever seen a dealer lose?”
Lü Zheng felt a chill run down his spine.
“This chaotic world has lingered too long; it must end, starting with Nan Sheng. Next will be Zhong Zhao. After taking these two states, the remaining ones will pose no threat. Those who once looked down on me and hated me will just watch as I ascend to power. It’s rather satisfying to think about.”
Lü Zheng knew Jiang Ji was not joking.
“What does this world mean to you?”
“We’re all old classmates now. I won’t say the usual pretty words of ‘ensuring the common people live in peace and clearing chaos from the world’—you can tell those are lies.” Jiang Ji said, “For me, I want everyone, both the dead and the living, to open their eyes wide and see who truly deserves to be the master of this world. Anyone who disagrees should just simmer with their disbelief! And by the way, I want to show them what a true prosperous era looks like. Only I can achieve this. Not only will those before me fall short, but those after me will also find it impossible to catch up!”
Lü Zheng softly uttered two words.
“Arrogant.”
It was ambition written all over her face.
Jiang Ji made a carefree gesture and raised an eyebrow with a smile. “Shaoyin, that’s a warning—seasoned bait to be careful.”
Lü Zheng: “…”
Even though he didn’t know what “seasoned bait” meant, he had a feeling it wasn’t anything good.
“Take care of your health; I’m going to meet an old friend.”
With An down, no one could hinder her path.
