knife

Chapter 690 Tiger Roar Plain

Tiger Roar Plain overlooks Boling and Fanyang from its high vantage point. Although it is only a hundred miles in circumference, it is like a sword hanging over the heads of these two prefectures. If they do not control it, they will have to keep an eye on this direction even when they are sleeping.

Even when the Qin Dynasty was at its peak, the central government never completely assigned Huxiao Plain to either side. Instead, it drew a line down the middle, dividing it into two halves: one for Fanyang and the other for Boling.

No one can gain an advantage over the other, and they can also check and balance each other.

This is the wisdom of the central leaders: they will never allow any one faction below to become dominant. Only when you fight amongst yourselves can the top remain as stable as Mount Tai.

Although both families only occupied an area of ​​about fifty li, they coincidentally set up a county seat and military camp on Huxiao Plain.

These are Longpan County and Huju County, which are located in Huxiaoyuan.

In reality, although Tiger Roar Plain is large and flat, it is not a suitable place for people to live and work in peace. This is because the plain is extremely short of water, and farming depends on the weather. If the weather is good that year, the harvest will be good and people will be able to live a life of plenty. However, if there is any disturbance, the people on the plain will not be able to support themselves.

The most important aspect of Huxiao Plain is its military significance.

During times of peace and prosperity, the two families naturally enjoyed a close and harmonious relationship, exchanging goods and services. Intermarriage between the two families was common, and there was frequent interaction between them, resulting in a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere on the plateau.

However, as the central government began to decline and local powers gradually gained strength, the situation began to change.

The two sides began open and covert struggles on the plain.

The tactics are all old-fashioned, but they are extremely effective.

First, they incited the villagers to move the boundary markers and seize the land. Then, a conflict broke out between the two sides. Then, clan forces intervened, the fighting escalated, and finally, the local governments from both sides intervened. After a struggle, the stronger side naturally won the final victory.

Later on, as one side declined further, the other side became even more unscrupulous. No longer satisfied with encroaching on territory with pretexts, they began to directly seize land. If you were not satisfied, then let's have a fight.

Over the decades, the Lu family of Fanyang now only retains a small piece of land in the northeast corner of Huxiao Plain, which is less than twenty miles in size. Even the county seat of Longpan County has been lost to the Cui family.

Lu Xin was determined to hold onto the remaining area no matter what, even though it was only one-fifth of Tiger Roar Plain. But as long as it existed, it would provide a foundation for a future counterattack. And if the two sides were to go to war in the future, at least there would be a stronghold here, which could buy Fan Yang some time to prepare.

This place called Baihu Village now has less than 5,000 people left. More than 1,000 of them are soldiers, and the remaining few thousand are mostly the soldiers' families. They usually farm for a living, which can also solve part of their food problem.

If Lu Xin hadn't successfully advanced to the Innate Realm two years ago, giving the Lu family top-tier martial prowess, White Tiger Stronghold would most likely have been lost.

This year, Boling County was under military threat from Yangguan. The Cui family thought of befriending the Lu family of Fanyang to jointly resist the Beiting Protectorate. Only then did their relationship improve. Baihu Village finally breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that this winter would definitely be better.

As long as the war continues in Boling, the White Tiger Plain should be at peace.

However, the people of White Tiger Village didn't enjoy their happiness for long.

Because Lu Zhi went up the mountain.

Lu Zhi is the current governor of Fanyang County and the eldest son of Lu Xin. His first order upon arrival was to declare martial law, and the entire White Tiger Stronghold was placed on high alert.

The arrival of well-equipped troops on the mountain made everyone in Baihu Village realize what was about to happen.

The patriarch intends to take advantage of the attack on Yangguan by Boling County to reclaim the land on the plains that was lost in previous years.

Linghu Zhishu personally led the team to Tiger Roar Plain. Accompanying him was a full three thousand well-equipped and well-trained Wolf Fang Brigade originally belonging to Wolf Castle.

After Yan Su took over Wolf Castle, Linghu Zhishu handed over all the power belonging to Wolf Castle except for the Wolf Fang Brigade, which he had devoted countless efforts to, and he kept it.

"Brother Linghu, as you can see, my White Tiger Stronghold only has this much manpower. It's definitely not enough for us to fight alongside you. We can only provide logistical support," Lu Zhi said to Linghu Zhishu.

"Provide me with at least one hundred scouts familiar with the situation on the plain!" Linghu Zhishu didn't insist. This time, he secretly detoured through Fanyang and then ascended Huxiao Plain from Fanyang, intending to catch the Cui family off guard.

“No problem. The Cui family’s armored men have gone down to the plains, and what’s left behind are just auxiliary soldiers and militia, who are no match for them!” Lu Zhi laughed. “Brother Linghu, these are the elite border troops, so they will surely be unstoppable.”

Linghu Zhishu laughed heartily: "Thank you for your kind words. The Lu family has cooperated with us in this battle, providing sufficient food and logistical support. After the mission is accomplished, the imperial court will certainly not treat your Lu family unfairly!"

“My father is also preparing to go to Chang’an to follow the commander and make a name for himself!” Lu Zhi flattered, “If Brother Linghu doesn’t mind, I would also be willing to serve under your command in the future.”

"I would be more than happy to have a talent like Brother Lu!" Linghu Zhishu laughed heartily.

His current position is somewhat awkward. He is suspected by Linghu Ye's two sons. He has been kept in Boling since he was relieved of his command of Wolf Castle. This is also related to this matter. Being able to rely on a local power like the Lu family is something he would be very happy to do.

When he went to the plains to fight this time, Lu Zhi accompanied him all the way and claimed that he would be stationed at Baihu Village to provide him with logistical support. He also regarded this as a way to get closer to Lu Zhi and pave the way for the future.

Having more capable friends is always a good thing.

He probably never imagined that while Lu Zhi and he were drinking and chatting, plotting how to launch a thunderous attack on the strongholds occupied by the Cui family and quickly take over the entire Huxiao Plain, another important figure from the Lu family appeared in Huju County, the most important stronghold of the Cui family in Huxiao Plain.

When Lu Ping saw Cui Shu, he was truly startled.

The one stationed in Luju City was Cui Xin from the Cui family, a master of the Xuan Yuan Eight Peaks. He and Lu Ping had a good personal relationship. It was because of this that Lu Zhi sent Lu Ping to inform him that Linghu Zhishu was about to take action against the Cui family. However, he never expected that Cui Shu, who was rumored to be seriously injured, would actually appear in Luju City.

Of course, Cui Shu was indeed seriously injured, missing an arm, and his complexion looked extremely bad, but a master of innate skill is a master of innate skill. Wherever he poked, Lu Ping immediately shrank by half.

Cui Shuke was on par with his own father, Lu Xinping.

"Linghu Zhishu wants to seize Hujuyuan?" Cui Shu thought to himself that the old man was truly a master strategist; the Linghu family indeed wanted to kill two birds with one stone. "But since your Lu family lent them passage, why did you come to deliver a message to us?"

Lu Ping smiled and said, “Uncle, the kings may change their flags atop Chang'an, and we can’t control what their final surname is. But Boling and Fanyang have always been surnamed Cui and Lu, respectively. Although our two families have had our share of petty squabbles, they’ve never been serious. If Tiger Roar Plain falls into the hands of the Linghu family, Boling and Fanyang will likely have to change their surnames as well. Our Lu family can see through this subtlety. So, my brother thinks this is an opportunity. After it’s done, we just need to restore the old system!”

"Just by sending this one message, you want to take half of Tiger Roar Plain? Isn't that a bit too much?" Cui Shu sneered.

Lu Ping glanced at Cui Shu's severed arm and said meaningfully, "Uncle will also receive my father's strong support! Right now, neither the Cui family nor the Lu family is having an easy time. Sticking together for warmth is the best thing to do!"

Cui Shu pondered for a long time. The cooperation Lu Ping mentioned was not just about dealing with Linghu Zhishu on Huxiao Plain, but also about the alliance between the two parties. If it could be achieved, giving him half of Huxiao Plain would not be a big deal.

"Alright, out of respect for Patriarch Lu Xin, I agree!" Cui Shu laughed. "Once I capture Linghu Zhishu alive, you can return to Longpan County!"

"Thank you very much, Uncle!" Lu Ping bowed in gratitude. "Then I will return now and tell my elder brother the good news!"

He was eager to return home and needed to let Lu Zhi know as soon as possible that Cui Shu had gone to Huxiao Plain!

(End of this chapter)