knife

Chapter 825 The Best Candidate

Cui Cheng never doubted Zhou Gang.

This is because Zhou Gang's father, Scholar Zhou, took a huge risk to obtain the imperial edict ordering Linghu Ye to enter the pass and defend the emperor.

Because of this incident, countless people died both inside and outside the palace. The emperor's most trusted minister was beaten to death in the process.

The reason why Scholar Zhou was able to escape was due to his great reputation among scholars and the efforts of countless old friends to rescue him. Even so, he was stripped of all his titles and official positions and then placed under house arrest in Chang'an.

Therefore, the world regards the Zhou family as staunch supporters of Linghu Ye.

However, no one could have imagined that while Scholar Zhou was indeed a supporter of Linghu Ye, Zhou Gang had joined Zhi Qiu Yuan through Zhang Qingyun long ago, becoming the highest-ranking spy Zhi Qiu Yuan had planted in Wolf Castle.

This time, Zhou Gang couldn't really be blamed for Chang Lei's actions. Because of Chang Lei's cautious nature, he specifically requested that only Yan Su cooperate with the operation. This kept Zhou Gang in the dark until after the incident.

However, by the time you react, it's already too late.

It wasn't until Chang Lei swept through the southeastern half of the country with unstoppable momentum that Jiang Qian realized what was happening and began to set up defenses in Zhongli County. At the same time, this forced Jiang Qian to make up her mind to release the plague in Liyang County.

With 70,000 to 80,000 people dying from the disease within days, and with a huge risk of the disease spreading further, it would be a lie to say that Jiang Qian wasn't worried.

However, Jiang Qian herself is a risk-taker, which is what made this matter possible.

If this had happened in Liyang County, Li Dachui wouldn't have dared to make this decision.

Because he knew better than anyone what a disaster it would be for the whole world if the spread and speed of the epidemic could not be controlled.

Sometimes, ignorance is bliss, and that is indeed a wise saying.

Even though Zhou Gang wasn't entirely responsible for the incident, he was still extremely annoyed. In his view, the fact that this had happened right under his nose and caused such significant damage to the South, almost ruining the entire project, was due to his incompetence and dereliction of duty.

Therefore, Zhou Gang was eager to make a great contribution to wash away his stains and prove his abilities again in Zhi Qiu Courtyard.

Now, there is nothing more suitable than turning Cui Cheng against his will and getting Luoyang, the eastern capital, to defect to the south.

As for those who want Luoyang, the eastern capital, to change its allegiance and status, only the military commissioner Cui Cheng currently possesses the prestige and power. Before Chang Lei arrived in Luoyang, Cui Cheng had always been the most powerful person in the eastern capital. More importantly, he was the eldest son of the Cui family of Boling. Although the main branch of the Boling Cui family had now submitted to Li Dachui, Cui Cheng still wielded considerable influence in other places, especially in many areas within the Guanzhong Plain.

This influence is not limited to the Cui family. Powerful families have built intricate networks of relationships through marriage. Cui Cheng's defection will inevitably affect a considerable number of people, and indirectly, it will also influence some forces in Chang'an and Gansu.

Releasing Cui Haogu is the first step in this matter.

"Ninth Brother!" Holding Cui Haogu's hand, Cui Cheng smiled happily. He was genuinely happy to see Cui Haogu again.

Among the Cui clan, Cui Haogu was one of the few who firmly supported Cui Cheng, and his cultivation of the ninth rank of Xuan Yuan also gave him considerable influence within the Cui clan.

This is also why, when he was exiled, Cui Haogu was also implicated and driven out of the Boling clan. The two were determined to make a name for themselves outside, but unfortunately, during the process of developing Nanyang, Cui Haogu was captured alive by the enemy.

“Since you were caught in the crossfire, I haven’t heard from you at all. I thought you were gone. Come, let’s drink this cup to our reunion as brothers. Tell me about your experiences over the past year!” Cui Cheng raised his cup and said, “They haven’t made things difficult for you, have they?”

"No, not at all!" Cui Haogu clinked glasses with Cui Cheng, drank his wine in one gulp, and laughed, "It's just that they sealed all my cultivation, and I suddenly became an ordinary person. It took me a long time to get used to it, but otherwise I'm fine. I have food and drink, and people to chat with, so I'm not doing too badly!"

“They’ve been keeping you locked up in that poor, remote place like Moshan. What kind of good life can you expect?” Cui Cheng thought Cui Haogu was just trying to comfort him and keep him from worrying.

“No, that’s not true!” Cui Haogu said, “Actually, I only stayed in Moshan for a few months. Then one day, Li Dachui came up to Moshan and had a meal with me. After Li Dachui left, they specially sent two people to accompany me down the mountain. Then I just wandered around the eight towns of Jiangnan!”

Cui Cheng picked up a piece of food for Cui Haogu and said thoughtfully, "Ninth Brother, you can tell me about what's going on over there. You know our current situation, but I really can't decide how to take the next step. Ninth Brother, you know I've already made several wrong moves. This time, I'm afraid it's the most crucial one, and the last move I can make on my own. If I make another mistake, there will be no future!"

Cui Haogu picked up the wine pot, filled the wine cup in front of Cui Cheng, and said with a smile, "Brother, you know I've always followed you closely, but since you've asked for my opinion this time, I'll just say it directly!"

"Of course, although we are only cousins, we are closer than blood brothers, so we can speak frankly!"

“Actually, my elder brother has already made a decision in his heart. The reason he is hesitant is because of my second brother, right?” Cui Haogu said.

Cui Cheng sighed: "He's always ahead of me. Even when he surrendered to Li Dachui, he was ahead of me. If I'm slow in one step, I'll be slow in every step. The thought of being overshadowed by him for the rest of my life makes me uncomfortable!"

Cui Haogu shook his head and said, "That's not how it is!"

"What do you mean?"

“Before I came back, I talked for a long time with Zhang Qingyun from Zhi Qiu Yuan!” Cui Haogu said.

“This woman…” Cui Cheng took a sip of his drink, shook his head, and said, “She’s someone special!”

“Li Dachui from beyond the Great Wall is very concerned about suppressing the powerful clans. The powerful clans beyond the Great Wall, including the Chang family, have now been divided and disintegrated. How can the Cui family of Boling be an exception?” Cui Haogu said, “It’s just that with the great war approaching, in order to appease the people, we haven’t rushed to deal with the Cui family of Boling. But if we deal with them after we win the war, it will inevitably give people the feeling of discarding a useful tool after it has served its purpose. When the birds are all gone, the good bow is put away; when the cunning rabbit is dead, the hunting dog is cooked. I think Li Dachui is unwilling to bear such a reputation!”

“Of course!” Cui Cheng said, “Li Dachui wants to be emperor, so he will naturally pay extra attention to his reputation.”

"So the Cui family is still going to fall apart, what should we do?" Cui Haogu looked at Cui Cheng.

"Me!" Cui Cheng suddenly realized, pointing to himself and saying, "I am the best candidate, so Li Dachui will definitely use me to deal with the Cui family in the future. This will cause infighting within the Cui family, and it will be me, the abandoned pawn, taking revenge on the Cui family for expelling me back then!"

“Brother, are you willing? The Cui family will be torn apart in your hands and will never regain its former glory, but you can use this to gain a considerable position in the new court!” Cui Haogu said.

Cui Chengyi tilted his head back and finished his drink, then said coldly, "Second brother holds Father's dying wish and the family's token, so what relationship do I have with the Cui family? Ninth brother, if I really did that, would you still follow me like this?"

"I've always followed my elder brother!" Cui Haogu smiled and raised his glass.

(End of this chapter)