Chapter 2053: Chapter 1829: Gathering from Eight Directions
"Wen Ruo, what are you going to do? It seems Gong Da and you aren’t on the same page concerning this matter," Chen Qun transmitted his voice to Xun Yu to inquire.
"Won’t you reconsider?" Xun Yu transmitted his voice back to Chen Qun to inquire.
"Why bother? It’s come to this point, among those present whose hands can reach out, which one wouldn’t extend a hand or two?" Chen Qun blandly transmitted back to Xun Yu, "Though I don’t know what your thoughts are, by and large, it’s to limit the Emperor?"
Xun Yu did not respond; he really did not want to tell Chen Qun that he had yet to employ his pawn in Chang’an. To be precise, Xun Yu was currently feeling very hesitant internally.
"Since you’re unwilling to speak, let’s leave it at that. I’ve suddenly found this Inner Cabinet system quite interesting; the Holy Emperor reigns while the world is governed under his auspices. Hey, the position of Chief of Staff is indeed intriguing." Chen Qun silently withdrew his transmitted voice, but Xun Yu heard the last words very clearly.
At this moment, Xun Youi wore a dazed expression as he pondered his own plan. After all, since Chen Xi had informed them of various political systems, they are obviously no longer individuals; behind them were groups of interests pertaining to them, and changes in political systems would lead to changes on all fronts.
[Never mind, whether the future generations of the Xun Family have my schemes is not important, their intelligence is enough to cope with any difficulties. Since that’s the case, I might as well sit high on the outside, watching the fog in Chang’an with indifference; but I wonder how far they will go this time?] Xun Youi thought silently.
After considering for days, Xun Youi decided to keep himself out of the matter. Anyway, when he heard about these things on that day, he had written a letter and sent it urgently to Chang’an, handing it to Zhong Yao; he indeed did not want to do anything, but if Zhong Yao had designs, he would certainly achieve some accomplishments now.
[Chen Zichuan is still tolerable, a sincere gentleman, albeit with some extravagant moments, his character is gentle. But Jia Xu and Li Youu... The Confucians might wish to stir the waters a bit, and at this opportune moment, a slight carelessness might lead someone to drag Lord into the water; one must not lack vigilance against others!] Cheng Yu thought silently.
[It seems I’ll have to rely on Bin Qing Gong for help. Chang’an is about to be thrown into chaos, since that’s the case, I can’t deploy anymore, so let everyone be as powerless as me to control the situation.] Cheng Yu shot a sidelong glance at Jia Xu and thought silently.
The Bin Qing Gong mentioned by Cheng Yu is actually the Old Grand Minister Zhao Qi, a ninety-year-old man who, due to his physical condition, could not travel far and had been in Chang’an recently.
This is a major figure of the Confucian Si Meng school, though in this era, this school hasn’t gained much popularity, not yet reaching the stage of being the Great Sect of Confucianism as in later generations, the stage of Confucius’ true heritage, however, the opponent is not merely a Confucian figure.
As someone who has experienced worldly matters, living and learning till old, he had already entered the Ultimate Form of the Miscellaneous School, generally speaking, he is someone who can stabilize the situation.
To be honest, Cheng Yu actually didn’t want to use this card, because playing this card might harm himself; however, at this moment, if chaos is to be stirred, only by bringing in these past generation figures can truly make everyone unable to see clearly.
One by one, whether Civil Official casually or with ulterior motives, whether for self-protection or ethics, various methods entered Chang’an at this time.
Just when the Northern Frontier army was still days from arriving in Chang’an, Liu Zhang and his cohort, carrying three hundred Elite Cavalry, traveled the Yangtze River, borrowing the route through Jingzhou, entered Sili Hongnong, and after passing through Tong Pass, finally entered Prefect of Jingzhao.
"Lord, rest for a bit; since we’ve arrived here, there’s no need to rush. Walking the main road, it won’t take more than three days to reach, and the news of Northern Frontier’s victory has indeed reached Chang’an, yet the news of the army’s return has not; it seems they have yet to arrive in Chang’an." Qin Mi said to Liu Zhang, who was sweating profusely. After all these years, Qin Mi seldom saw Liu Zhang exude the demeanor of a brave lord.
"Have they not arrived yet?" Liu Zhang, clad in Black Clothes, Precious Sword hanging at the waist, with a youthful physique, snorted lightly, emitting a demeanor of one who commands life and death.
"Indeed, they have not arrived. After all, this time, prisoners must be presented, and for such great merit, titles must be granted to Chang’an’s people, yet no news has come, thus it seems a few more days are needed." Zhang Song organized the collected information and then spoke.
"Is that so?" Liu Zhang glanced at Zhang Song, saw Zhang Song’s unsightly face, and couldn’t help but twitch his lips twice, feeling that Zhang Song somewhat lowered his own status.
Naturally, Zhang Song noticed the frustration in Liu Zhang’s eyes, feeling slightly helpless; after all these years, Liu Zhang was already accustomed to his ugly face, yet the cause of frustration is likely because he lowered the other party’s demeanor excessively.
Speaking of which, after completing the handover that day, their group of ten or more galloped back to CD, presenting the petitions of several small nations by Chen Qi to Liu Zhang, who swept away years of decadence and cowardice, displaying extreme excitement, and directly expressed his desire to personally journey to Chang’an to report to the Grand Ancestral Temple.
The saying goes, people rely on clothes, Buddhas rely on gold; as one born in the Imperial Clan, commanding as a Feudal Lord King a demeanor with the power over life and death, although previously cowardly and ignorant, lacking achievements, so not outstanding.
This time, holding petitions from dozens of small nations by Chen Qi, Liu Zhang truly possessed confidence. Coupled with donning Feudal Lord robes, speaking with confidence, Liu Zhang unexpectedly displayed a demeanor of a Feudal Lord King looking down on a domain.
At least now, as Liu Zhang rode past, even without saying anything, ordinary officials and commoners would naturally avoid him, unlike the previous false appearances.
"How many days left? Head to the post station, switch to a carriage, and send someone ahead to deliver Chen Qi’s documents to Chang’an, report to the Minister of Ceremonies and the clan there, and have Hongmen Post prepare the Feudal Lords’ carriage and ceremonial guard." Liu Zhang thought for a moment and issued orders to everyone.
Very soon, Yan Yan brought over a luxurious carriage, and Liu Zhang dismounted and switched to the carriage. At this point, traveling on the official road by cart barely suited Liu Zhang’s status.
After Liu Zhang switched to the carriage, the elite soldiers led by Yan Yan also donned armor and began to proceed towards Chang’an at a measured pace along the official road, estimating that they would arrive in Chang’an in another three days.
Two days later, as Liu Zhang traveled along the official road, an equally imposing army of over two hundred people escorting several carriages slowly approached Liu Zhang’s convoy.
"All soldiers, remain vigilant." Yan Yan, upon seeing such a convoy behind from afar, showed a wary expression. The military display was more intimidating than the elite forces he had carefully selected in Sichuan and Shu, and on this road, Liu Biao, falsely claimed by Sun Ce, had once disappeared.
Of course, in the eyes of others, the real Liu Biao had been eliminated on this official road under the protection of hundreds, so this road might not be safe.
While Yan Yan was vigilant, Guann Hai was also on guard against the convoy ahead. After all, generally speaking, whose convoy would require hundreds of obviously elite soldiers for escort?
"Zhang Du, Fann Zhe, stay vigilant." Guann Hai turned to two Yellow Turban Commanders and said, and upon hearing the words, they immediately rode out to guard both sides.
Back when Zhang Du and Fann Zhe first saw Guann Hai, they thought they were dreaming, shedding tears and snot everywhere, but the next day they realized it was not a dream, feeling awkward but internally thrilled, which completely overshadowed their embarrassment, chatting endlessly despite years of separation without becoming distant.
"General Yan, has something happened?" Liu Zhang, sitting with eyes closed in the carriage, heard the clashing sounds of armor and couldn’t help but open his eyes and inquire.
"A convoy appeared behind us, and I ordered the soldiers to be on guard." Yan Yan calmly replied to Liu Zhang’s question.
"I see, just a mere convoy, yet it makes you so vigilant." Liu Zhang said with a smile, then opened the window to glance back, instantly understanding there was no issue with Yan Yan’s caution. Although Liu Zhang was not well-versed in military matters, the convoy behind clearly looked like a protected army, well-trained.
"General Guann, is someone blocking the way ahead?" Ji Xiang asked curiously. During the journey, no one dared to rob due to the formidable protection.
"Miss Ji, please wait a moment, I’ll handle it immediately." As he spoke, Guann Hai activated his faint white Legion Talent, and the soldiers’ morale sharply increased.
This time, not only Yan Yan was unsettled, but even Liu Zhang in the carriage, Zhang Song riding on the other side, and Qin Mi were equally unsettled. This escalation in morale indicated a Legion Talent.
"Create a bigger display, don’t give the other side any face." Zhang Song turned and advised Yan Yan, who immediately activated his Legion Talent after hearing the suggestion, and even unleashed the Inner Qi Manifestation, elevating the momentum of Liu Zhang’s escort as well.
"This is bad!" Guann Hai also unleashed his aura, and the soldiers behind similarly exerted full force, managing to equal the opposite side with their more elite soldiers.
[An Inner Qi Separation, two Qi Refining to Gang Peaks, who are they escorting? All the renowned figures in the Central Plains have gone north, let alone using Inner Qi Separation as escort; the person in the carriage must have considerable status.] Both sides instantly harbored doubts.
"Perhaps it’s a Commandery Princess, or Princess Wannian’s carriage." Zhang Song stared at the carriage guarded by Guann Hai for a long time, then turned to Yan Yan and said.
"Stop the vehicle, I must see which Commandery Princess dares act so brazenly; as for Wannian, she’s still in Chang’an!" Liu Zhang immediately ordered Yan Yan to halt upon hearing this.
Yan Yan hesitated slightly but still stopped the carriage, and all soldiers quickly formed a formation to protect Liu Zhang’s carriage in the center, then stared at Guann Hai’s carriage.
At this moment, Guann Hai also felt uneasy; fighting an Inner Qi Separation wasn’t the issue, the problem would be if something happened to Ji Xiang, which would truly be bad. His purpose on this trip was not only to head to the Western Regions but also to protect Ji Xiang.
Both sides surrounded their respective carriages, while others solemnly watched the opposite side without moving, yet the imminent tension between them since Liu Zhang halted was indeed no joke.
