knife

Chapter 643 Transformation
One fence has three stakes, and one hero has three gangs.

Whether you are a hero or an ordinary person, you have more or less friends.

However, you absolutely cannot tell who your true friends are when you are at the peak of your life.

Because at this moment, everyone around you would love to lay bare their hearts and souls before you, to prove their unwavering loyalty.

Only those who remain loyal and supportive during your lowest point in life, and who are willing to put in the effort to help you, truly deserve to be called friends.

However, by this point, most people find themselves unable to repay these true friends.

Often, those who are cold and indifferent to you are the ones who are truly good to you, while those who constantly shower you with sweet words are the ones who want to destroy you.

But most people in this world rarely experience such dramatic ups and downs, such great joys and sorrows, and they basically live their lives in a daze.

Therefore, many things are no longer so important.

True friends or false friends,
Only in life do we realize that all things are empty.
If you believe someone is your true friend until the day you die, then they are a true friend.

Regardless of the truth!

But Zhou Gang is different.

He experienced the glorious moments of riding high in Chang'an, dressed in fine clothes and riding a spirited horse.
They also experienced the bleak times of struggling to survive, living hand to mouth.
He had a deeper understanding of human nature than most people.

When one is riding high, a throng of people surrounds them, and flattery can make one's heart flutter with joy.

When you're down on your luck, your door is deserted, and you're hated by everyone.

Therefore, Zhou Gang is now as calm as still water. The calamity has worn away his superficiality, and the experience of being put in a life-or-death situation has given him the ability to be pragmatic and enterprising.

Strip away the glitz and glamour, and you'll find the true essence.

He and Zhang Qingyun can now be considered the same type of people because they have experienced the same things.

He also liked Zhang Qingyun very much.

But after Zhang Qingyun made it clear to him that a relationship between the two of them was impossible...
Zhou Gang would never pester him again.

There are so many things in this world that he needs to strive to accomplish.
If a beautiful love and pursuit cannot be realized, then letting it become a beautiful memory is actually a good choice.

Moreover, this relationship laid a solid foundation for their subsequent cooperation.

Although the two are now on opposing sides
But this does not prevent them from having a foundation of trust.

"General Zhou, congratulations!" The solemn hand rested on a letter of appointment, staring at Zhou Gang in front of him.

Actually, he didn't like Zhou Gang.

Like Zhang Quanyi, Yan Su also came from a humble background, and naturally distrusted Zhou Gang, who came from a prestigious family.

However, Zhou Gang has indeed achieved considerable success.

After Zhou Xueshi worked for Linghu Ye and used his position as Grand Minister to forge an imperial edict to allow Linghu Ye to enter the pass, the Zhou family collapsed and the whole family fled in panic.

However, Zhou Gang remained hidden in Chang'an, making connections and gathering a considerable number of people, which greatly contributed to Linghu Ye's final conquest of Chang'an.

They had sought refuge with Linghu Ye much earlier. It's likely that this father and son were more trusted by Linghu Ye than they were by themselves.

Scholar Zhou is a master in poetry, calligraphy, and painting, but he is mediocre in practical matters and governance. Zhou Gang used to be a spoiled brat who didn't know his own strength, but now he has indeed shown signs of a complete transformation.

However, Yan Su still didn't like him.

From a serious standpoint, Wolfsburg had a more suitable candidate than Zhou Gang for the position of Commander-in-Chief in Luoyang.

But there is no way.

Because Zhou Gang came from a prominent family.

Linghuye's biggest base of support consists of his tens of thousands of powerful personal guards who have been trained in the area outside the Great Wall for many years, while his supporters are all long-established aristocratic families.

Therefore, Zhou Gang became the Commander-in-Chief of Luoyang without any suspense.

Fortunately, Yan Su still has the authority to appoint a deputy commander.

"The Eastern Capital is a strategically important place, and it has always been a gathering place for spies from all directions!" He stared intently at Zhou Gang: "I hope Commander Zhou will not fail the earnest expectations of the Grand Secretary and the ministers, and will do his job well!"

Zhou Gang laughed heartily, reached out and took the letter of appointment, and said with a smile, "Commander, please rest assured, even if I am not up to the task, isn't there still Jin Chuan? And if Jin Chuan is not up to the task, aren't there still you?"

Yan Su's face darkened, but before he could speak, Zhou Gang continued, "You can only eat what you're capable of, Commander Yan. I know my strengths. As for business matters in the future, Brother Jin Chuan should share more of the burden. My main task is to communicate well with Commander Cui and provide good logistical support for Brother Jin Chuan."

Hearing Zhou Gang say this, his serious expression relaxed considerably.

"I also hope that the two of you can work together sincerely. Jin Chuan is good at doing things and has a lot of experience, but he has a bad temper!"

"A bad temper is no big deal!" Zhou Gang smiled slightly. "As long as he's not arrogant, that's fine. As long as Brother Jin Chuan always remembers that in Luoyang, I am the highest commander of Wolf Fortress, that's all that matters!"

Watching Zhou Gang walk away with the letter of appointment in hand, Yan Su took a deep breath.

Zhou Gang's meaning was clear: this was not an easy person to deal with. It seemed he would have to give Jin Chuan a few more instructions. Zhou Gang couldn't do anything to him, but dealing with someone like Jin Chuan would be a piece of cake.

Thinking of the omnipresent net behind Zhou Gang, Yan Su felt a headache coming on again.

Zhou Gang was able to take the lead this time and forcefully suppress Jinchuan because the focus of the work in Dongdu was on some long-established aristocratic families in Nanchu.

The court's focus will shift for the next half to the struggle with the Northern Protectorate, while the other half will be dedicated to the domestic economic recovery. After several years of war and fighting, the entire Central Plains is devastated and the people are suffering. If the current situation is not reversed quickly, it is feared that even the soldiers' salaries will not be paid.

As for the South, the only option is to exert effort covertly, inciting Jiang Qian, who controls the eight towns of Jiangnan, and Danyang to fight each other and restrain each other.

However, Li Dachui was not idle either. He cleverly used his methods to ensure that the Chu Kingdom would inevitably be embroiled in internal strife. Regardless of who won or lost the battle between Xiang Ying and Na Wei, the Chu Kingdom would suffer a great loss of strength.

Getting these two to cooperate sincerely is probably as difficult as climbing to the heavens.

Although the chaotic state of Chu posed no threat to Chang'an, it was also unable to remove Li Dachui, the thorn in Jiangnan's side!
He stood up solemnly, his brows furrowing deeply as he looked at the small patch of bright yellow on the map hanging on the wall behind him.

Does the Beiting Protectorate really want to take action now?
The Central Plains are indeed very weak right now, but how much better off can the Northern Protectorate be?
The Chu Kingdom, which originally had a relatively stable output, was thrown into chaos by Li Dachui's actions. From this moment on, this era has truly entered a time of great contention.

The Northern Yuan collapsed, but the Qin and Chu states were still clinging to life.

(End of this chapter)