knife

Chapter 402 A Dog Skin Plaster

It is not uncommon for powerful families to rise and fall because of one person.

The Kou family of Pengcheng had enjoyed great prosperity and influence for decades thanks to Kou Zhong, a period in which they were unparalleled in their power and influence.

However, beneath this magnificent scene lie many hidden worries.

The biggest problem is the lack of successors.

Among the next generation, neither in terms of civil administration nor military prowess could handle such a grand occasion.

Therefore, with Kou Zhong's downfall, the entire Qin state teetered on the brink of collapse, and the world once again entered a period of fierce competition among warlords.
The Kou family became the first target of everyone's attacks.

You're fat enough; the Kou family, having reaped all the benefits over the past few decades, has enough riches to share with everyone.
You've made enough enemies. When Kou Zhong was alive, he held absolute power, controlled the Black Ice Guard, and could decide who died and who lived. Despite his imposing presence, he had also accumulated countless deep-seated hatreds. Once the pillar supporting the sky collapsed, those enemies who had been suppressed beneath the water and unable to surface finally found their chance.

However, having weathered many storms, the current head of the Kou family, unable to support the family alone and with no way to seek help from outside, made a decisive move and immediately sided with their sworn enemy, Southern Chu.

For the State of Chu, this was like a windfall.

With such immense wealth, how could one not strive to seize it?
Lin Yunqi personally went to Pengcheng and meticulously planned the operation. Once launched, it immediately shook the world.

The Southern Chu Tiger Warriors and the Kou family's private army launched a two-pronged attack, causing the Donghai Commandery, whose main force was located elsewhere, to collapse instantly. After taking Donghai Commandery, Lin Yunqi did not stop there, but continued to advance, leading his troops to threaten Langya Commandery.

The southeastern direction, which had been relatively calm, was suddenly filled with towering waves.

Don't be fooled by Lin Yunqi's disastrous defeat at Li Dachui's hands outside the Great Wall, returning to Danyang in disgrace. His talent is not just empty boasting; it's just a matter of who he's up against.

When his opponent was no longer the monstrous Li Dachui, Lin Yunqi appeared incredibly powerful.

Of course, even more powerful than him was the young empress dowager behind him.

Hear thunder in the silence.

Upon receiving this news, Li Dachui's wariness of Jiang Qian deepened even further.

Chi Qiuyuan's intelligence network in the south was practically non-existent.

The Black Ice Guard was also severely suppressed in Southern Chu, making it almost impossible for them to infiltrate the upper echelons.

The Demonic Sect's infiltration of Southern Chu was indeed formidable, but those who managed to climb all the way to the top and seize power were all from Jiang Qian's faction.

Jiang Qian had just dealt with the young emperor's father and his gang, killing many people. The opposition within the country was not small. In addition, the rebellions of different factions of the Demonic Sect had never stopped. The situation in Chu was not much better than in Qin. Everyone thought that Jiang Qian would first quell these problems at home, but she suddenly launched an attack.

She succeeded again.

After Pengcheng, Donghai, and even Langya were incorporated into the territory of Chu, the internal conflicts of Chu would be suppressed for a period of time.

When domestic conflicts intensify, launching wars abroad to incite a sense of shared hatred and indignation among the people has always been a favorite tactic of rulers.

If such methods continue to bring enormous benefits, the chances of the domestic opposition surviving will become increasingly slim.

Jiang Qian's prestige will only increase.

What is Li Dachui most afraid of?
What he feared most was that before he could subdue the Qin state, the Chu state had already completed its integration, and was united and working together.

With the area outside the pass as the core and Shu County and Ning County as the two wings, Li Dachui has prepared a three-pronged strategy, but it still seems somewhat unbalanced and top-heavy.

Shu Commandery is still in the process of consolidation, and it will take time for it to become a significant force in the economy, politics, and military. However, Shu Commandery is currently teeming with powerful figures, such as Zhang Ruo, Zhang Songlin, and Wu De, who are all highly capable individuals. Give them time, and they can definitely give you a stable and powerful Shu Commandery.

But Ning County is still a toddler, learning to speak and taking its first steps. Every step is fraught with uncertainty, and it may perish if it encounters even the slightest storm.

Whether they are under He Yiming's command or Ke Wuji's command, it's hard to say whether they can integrate together and achieve a result greater than the sum of its parts.

Not to mention that a large number of people from outside the Great Wall will be entering Ning County next.

Only through concerted efforts and collaborative development among the three can this fulcrum become stronger and less weak in the shortest possible time.

Doing your own job well and becoming stronger is only one aspect.
On the other hand, of course, one should hope that the enemy becomes weaker and weaker. Li Dachui wanted to go to the State of Chu to take a look. Knowing oneself and one's enemy is the key to victory in every battle. Without understanding the enemy's weaknesses, one cannot prescribe the right medicine.

The state of Chu also had many internal conflicts.

Jiang Qian mostly resorted to violent suppression, which was naturally effective in the short term, but also had great potential for future problems.

Find her weakness and sow discord, but Li Dachui's main purpose in this trip to Southern Chu was...

However, now there's a leech following me around.

Jiang Ping was not as harmless as she appeared. On the boat, Li Dachui noticed some clues about her.

Compared to Jiang Ping, Han Zheng is a truly good child.

Li Dachui couldn't figure out Jiang Ping's purpose in insisting on staying by his side.

Saying that they're tired of being watched so closely and want to roam freely with me—that's just kidding.

There must be something about me that Jiang Ping is interested in.

It's just that I can't figure it out right now.

Or perhaps they've simply grown tired of gourmet food and suddenly developed an interest in wild herbs, wanting to observe them up close?
But it doesn't matter. With someone who knows Jiang Qian well by my side, I can use my skills to extract some secrets from her, no matter how tight her defenses are.

Some little secrets and trivial matters that the other party might consider harmless are actually much more precious to Li Dachui.

Based on these seemingly insignificant details, one can completely deduce Jiang Qian's personality, psychology, and temperament. If there is enough information, one can even deduce her behavior patterns and general action plans.

This is crucial.

The room door opened, and Jiang Qian changed into an ordinary dress. The exquisite jewelry she wore was gone, replaced by an ordinary silver hairpin.

The clothes Jiang Ping wore earlier looked ordinary, but anyone who really knew about fashion would know that they were things that money couldn't buy. Wearing those clothes out was practically telling you, "I'm extraordinary, so come and investigate me!"
"Li Bao, how did you know my size? You didn't even ask me, and it fits perfectly the moment I went out to buy it?" Jiang Ping twirled around in front of Li Dachui, pulling at her skirt, and said with a grin, "And also, the color is one I like."

Li Dachui coughed twice and said, "I have a younger sister at home, and she's about the same size as you. I bought this for you based on her measurements. As for the color, well, we've been on the same boat for so long, so I have some observational skills!"

“Li Bao, everyone says the men from beyond the Great Wall are fierce and cold-blooded, but I never expected you to be so thoughtful. And you can cook too, your barbecue is absolutely amazing. Of course, your martial arts are also very good, such a young ninth-rank Xuan Yuan!” Jiang Ping became more and more excited as she spoke: “I’ve found that you are a rare find, what a pity!”

"What's a pity?" Li Dachui asked.

"I don't feel sorry for you, I feel sorry for myself!" Jiang Ping sighed and sat down. "You come from beyond the Great Wall, and your background is just a small fortified village. Otherwise, I would definitely have begged my sister to let you become my son-in-law!"

Li Dachui, who was drinking water, spat out his entire mouthful of tea.

Is this something a little girl should say?

"Sigh, we two are definitely not meant to be. But Li Bao, when we get to Danyang, I'll introduce you to someone else!" Jiang Ping said. "Although she can't compare to me, she's definitely a lady from a respectable family!"

Li Dachui's face darkened: "If you don't even look down on me, then why would other young ladies from respectable families look down on me?"

“That’s different!” Jiang Ping said, “Because my surname is Jiang, there’s nothing I can do about it. The man I’m going to marry in the future will either be Han Zheng, Wang Zheng, or Luo Zheng or something. I know my place! So while I’m still free, I’ll travel around as much as I can! I need someone as talented as you, so I’m not worried about not having anyone wanting you!”

"Thank you in advance!" Li Dachui snorted, "I have a wife outside the Great Wall, so you don't need to bother with this!"

"What's there to be afraid of if you have a wife?" Jiang Ping's eyes widened. "Your wife must be a woman from some village, right? If you become an official in our Great Chu, when you achieve success in the future, bring her here. Even if you don't mind her humble origins, giving her the position of a secondary wife would be fair to her, wouldn't it? Besides, women from beyond the Great Wall are thick-waisted and broad-shouldered. How can they compare to the delicate and beautiful women from our Jiangnan region?"

Li Dachui said with a forced smile, "I'll definitely introduce you to my wife when I have the chance. She'll be very, very happy to have you!"

"Qin is in such chaos now, it won't be long before our Great Chu can launch a northern expedition. We'll sweep through the land and unify the world in just a few years. Li Bao, your kung fu is so good, seize this opportunity, and you might become a great general someday!" Jiang Ping laughed. "If you're willing, I can find you a good position!"

"I'd better take a look first!" Li Dachui laughed heartily. "Seeing is believing, hearing is deceiving. So far, I still think we are stronger outside the Great Wall! Have you ever seen tens of thousands of cavalry galloping into battle? Have you ever seen a blitzkrieg where you pursue the fleeing enemy, covering a thousand miles by day and eight hundred miles by night? I have personally experienced all of these."

"Unifying the world isn't just about military force!" Jiang Ping laughed. "Alright, go south and see for yourself which is stronger, the Great Chu or the Qin. As for the area beyond the Great Wall, forget about it. What great things can you accomplish by staying in a remote corner?"

(End of this chapter)