Zongwu: Aspiring to be the mastermind behind the scenes

Chapter 267 Human hearts are treacherous and easily deceived

Yi Jifeng's expression stiffened, then he let out a long breath and said in a deep voice, "Don't worry, I know which side I should stand on."

"That's good."

Gin nodded.

Although Yi Jifeng had become the leader of the alliance, he knew exactly how he had risen to that position.

That was in cooperation with the Sun Moon Cult, which would then strike at the businesses of numerous families, led by the Wang family, causing them heavy losses. Only then were they forced to abandon their original plans, join the Zhu family alliance, and acknowledge Yi Jifeng as the leader of the alliance.

The Sun Moon Cult was the one that put in a great deal of effort in this.

Having paid these prices, the Sun Moon Cult naturally had its own demands, namely, to occupy the fertile Jiangnan region.

This will inevitably greatly infringe upon the interests of many families within the alliance, whether it is the Zhu family or the Wang family!
Although Yi Jifeng is the leader of this alliance, as a collaborator of the Sun Moon Cult, he must not show mercy to this alliance or protect its interests.

This would create a direct conflict with the Sun Moon Cult.

Gin's words were a reminder to him to remember what his true interests were.

Not this alliance.

It was not his reputation, but the interests of Mingjian Villa.

Don't forget this most fundamental point just because you've become the leader of the alliance.

Fortunately, although Yi Jifeng was somewhat conceited, it was only because of the flattery people showed him as the leader of the alliance and the respect they had for the Famous Sword Manor.

As for the Zhu family, the Wang family, and other families, he still remembered what happened several months ago.

"However, according to the interests of the Sun Moon Sect, they will inevitably occupy this part of Jiangnan. As the leader of the alliance of major families in Jiangnan, am I also going to be defeated by the Sun Moon Sect's offensive?"

Yi Jifeng frowned: "This might damage my reputation."

Jin Jiu said, "Don't worry, I had this planned in advance. Have you noticed the current battle situation between the alliance of these major families and the Sun Moon Cult?"

Yi Jifeng nodded: "I am naturally aware of that. Right now, the two sides are locked in a fierce battle, and the major families have suffered heavy losses."

“That’s right.” Jin Jiu nodded. “If I’m not mistaken, these major families will soon propose peace talks?”

"Peace talks?"

Yi Jifeng was shocked: "The two sides are fighting so fiercely, and they still want to negotiate?"

Jin Jiu glanced at him and said, "What are you surprised about? Isn't this a tradition of the Song Dynasty?"

"Forehead……"

Yi Jifeng was speechless.

Not to mention the major merchant families, even the Song royal family often chose to negotiate peace when they were fighting fiercely with their enemies.

Sending silver to the enemy in order to secure peace.

"The current battleground is in the Jiangnan region, which is the stronghold of several major families. The more intense the war, the greater the damage to them. Therefore, even if they win in the end, they will still suffer heavy losses."

In contrast, the Sun Moon Cult, as an outsider, has no foundation here. Even if they destroy the entire Jiangnan region, as long as they ultimately succeed, they will still benefit.

Jin Jiu explained, "But that's only one of the reasons. Another major reason is that this family alliance simply cannot defeat the Sun Moon Cult."

You surely know this best.

Yi Jifeng nodded helplessly.

Despite the current fierce battle between the two sides, the six major families have basically given their all, while the Sun Moon Cult has only used a portion of its strength.

Putting aside everything else, the cult leader, Dongfang Bubai, has never shown himself.

In the Song Kingdom, the most powerful force was naturally the royal family, followed by high-ranking officials and aristocratic families, and then the various martial arts clans.

Finally, there are these merchant families.

They may seem wealthy, but in reality, they are just the money bags for those above them.

For example, the Wang family was actually a vassal of the Murong family.

However, the Murong family did not participate in this struggle. How could a few merchant families like them possibly defeat the Sun Moon Cult?

Can't win.

Moreover, the more they fight, the more they lose.

The major families will naturally choose to negotiate.

"Once they propose peace talks, Dongfang Bubai will come here in person. At that time, I will have her fight you, let you demonstrate the ultimate skills of Mingjian Villa, and then, out of respect for Mingjian Villa, I will make her agree to peace talks."

In this way, although you have lost, the alliance's demands have been met. While it may damage your reputation somewhat, it has boosted the reputation of Famous Sword Manor.

The gin was explaining its plans.

Yi Jifeng couldn't help but nod.

This plan is really good.

In his heart, the reputation of Mingjian Villa was more important than himself. Therefore, as long as it could elevate Mingjian Villa and belittle him, it wouldn't matter.

"Once the peace talks are over, you, as the leader of the alliance, can step down at any time."

Yi Jifeng was fairly satisfied with the result.

He naturally understood that this was already a very good ending.

Without the help of the Sun Moon Sect, he wouldn't even have been able to become the leader of the alliance, let alone make the name of the Famous Sword Manor resound in the martial arts world.

The fact that the Sun and Moon Gods gave him such an exit was already a great favor.

Thinking about this, he felt a little relieved.

"However, the Sun Moon Sect's goal is likely the entire Jiangnan region. If they were to negotiate, they would probably only be able to cede some territory to those major families. Would Dongfang Bubai be willing to accept that?"

Jin Jiu laughed and said, "Peace talks don't mean the end of the battle. It's just that they've suffered too many losses right now, so they have no choice. Don't worry, after a while, they'll tear up the peace agreement themselves and start fighting again."

Yi Jifeng was taken aback: "Tear up the peace talks? They have the guts?"

Jin Jiu said, "You forgot, Murong Fu is only temporarily tied up with other matters and unable to leave, which is why you were made the alliance leader. Once he returns, the Wang family and other local families in Jiangnan will naturally have the confidence to compete with the Sun Moon Divine Sect. That will be the time to tear up the peace agreement."

Even now, proposing peace talks is not only due to the enormous losses involved, but also partly because the Wang family has once again caused trouble. Of course, this is also because the Zhu family has gone too far recently.

Yi Jifeng fell silent.

The current alliance is a new alliance formed by the Zhu family after the original alliance failed, with the Wang family and other families forced to join.

In order to gain the alliance's protection, the Wang family and other families naturally paid a considerable price.

However, the Zhu family was truly greedy. After acquiring those assets, they continued to encroach on the interests of other families by leveraging their own advantages after the alliance was established.

The Wang family's proposal for peace talks was partly driven by this desire to immediately end the conflict between the two sides, even if it meant sacrificing some resources to the Sun Moon Cult, rather than allowing the Zhu family to continue to profit.

When Murong Fu returns and they break the peace agreement, they will naturally form a new alliance with Murong Fu at its core.

At that time, families like the Zhu family will likely have to give up all the benefits they have already gained, and may even have to pay a higher price to qualify for joining the alliance.

It can only be said that this entanglement of interests comes and goes like the tide.

Unless you experience it firsthand, you probably wouldn't know about the tides.

Jin Jiu said, "When that time comes, Dongfang Bubai will naturally go all out to defeat the Murong family and completely take over the Jiangnan region. However, that has nothing to do with you... Well, it does have some connection. Dongfang Bubai rose to power by stepping on the Murong family, but he gave Mingjian Manor face and chose to negotiate, which can be considered as giving Mingjian Manor another boost."

Yi Jifeng's eyes lit up.

If things really develop this way, then the reputation of Mingjian Manor will be even greater.

In an instant, Yi Jifeng suddenly felt extremely fortunate.

I'm glad I joined the organization and chose to cooperate with the Sun Moon Cult.

Otherwise, it would be incredibly difficult and costly to restore the reputation of Mingjian Manor.

After all, human nature is just too complicated.

The first alliance was already fraught with trouble due to the conflict arising from the differing interests of the major merchant families.

In the second alliance, the Zhu family held the upper hand, which in turn fueled even greater greed.

The Wang family is currently at a disadvantage, but they have already begun planning a third alliance to reclaim their interests and even more.

as well as……

Standing outside of all this, yet holding the entire human condition in his hands, Ginju.

The martial world... is too treacherous!
If he hadn't been personally involved and had Jinjiu explain the intricacies to him, how could he have possibly understood it?
I'm afraid I'll be taken advantage of without even realizing it.

Just like the Zhu family before them.

Before Jin Jiu revealed the truth, Yi Jifeng was truly grateful to the Zhu family!
"Have you thought about where you'd go after leaving this alliance?" Jin Jiu asked.

Yi Jifeng was somewhat bewildered for a moment.

But he quickly realized what was going on and hurriedly asked, "You have new plans for me?"

“That’s right.” Jin Jiu nodded. “How about going to the North? It’s not as peaceful as the South. To really make a name for yourself there, you need strength, not connections. I think with your abilities, you should be able to do better in the North.”

The differences between the north and south of the Song state were enormous.

In the south, those who wanted to rise to prominence faced mostly a network of bureaucrats and aristocratic families.

But in the north, as long as you have the strength to kill foreign tribes, you can make a name for yourself.

In the martial arts world, Murong Fu of the South and Qiao Feng of the North are equally famous and are representative figures of the younger generation.

But in reality, the difference in their abilities is enormous.

Murong Fu's fighting prowess wouldn't even rank in the top ten within the story of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, let alone in the current Zongwu Song Kingdom.

In contrast, Qiao Feng, as a young man in his thirties, could barely be considered middle-aged, yet he could fight against those old guys in their fifties, sixties, or even seventies and eighties.

It is precisely because Murong Fu's reputation was fabricated, while Qiao Feng's reputation was earned through genuine achievements.

Yi Jifeng's strength is absolutely outstanding among his peers. His unique move of combining four swords into one is no less powerful than that of a grandmaster, enough to make him famous in the north.

In fact, if he hadn't fought the Sun Moon Cult to the death in the south, but had gone directly to the north, his path to fame would never have been so tortuous.

"Going north? No problem."

Yi Jifeng said, "I suppose you already have plans for what I should do after I go to the North?"

Based on what he'd learned over this period, Jinjiu never did anything meaningless, and he certainly wouldn't personally intervene for any reason.

The establishment of the alliance of several major families, the cooperation with the Sun Moon Cult, and even his becoming the leader of the alliance.

Jin Jiu never appeared in person; he only contacted them through the Heavenly Secret Tablet.

But this time, he personally appeared and asked me to go to the north to develop my career.

Without a doubt, this is the beginning of another plan.

You have a very deep misunderstanding about me.

Jin Jiu shook his head helplessly: "However, there is indeed something I need you to do."

Yi Jifeng remained silent.

Is this a misunderstanding?
This is the truth!
"what's up?"

"Apricot Grove Incident, are you aware of it?"

"Apricot Grove? I heard that many high-ranking members of the Beggars' Sect are supposed to be gathering there to do something, but I don't know anything else."

Yi Jifeng shook his head.

It happened just yesterday, so it can't spread that fast.

Moreover, most of the people involved in Xingzilin were captured by Xixia Yipintang, and the few who escaped had no time to spread any news in the martial arts world.

Therefore, Yi Jifeng naturally had no way of knowing what had happened.

Jin Jiu then briefly explained the situation: "...Right now, the Beggars' Sect's high-ranking members and many martial arts elders are imprisoned by the Western Xia First-Class Hall. If you can rescue them, then your development in the North will have made the best possible start!"

"it is good!"

Yi Jifeng's eyes lit up.

The Beggars' Sect is the largest sect in the world. Saving the leaders of the Beggars' Sect means incurring a huge debt of gratitude!
Compared to this, what is a small alliance of a few wealthy merchant families in the Jiangnan region?
Suddenly, Yi Jifeng thought of something: "Now that Qiao Feng has been driven away, the Beggars' Sect is without a leader. Do you think I could take on this role?"

It's not unprecedented for the Beggars' Sect to choose outsiders as its leader; in fact, it's happened more than once.

Now that Qiao Feng has been driven away, he has stepped in to save the entire Beggar Clan's leadership.

Perhaps, besides the Beggars' Sect leader, there is some hope.

However, as soon as he finished speaking, he noticed that Jin Jiu was looking at him as if he were a fool.

"Yi Jifeng, these major families all had their own interests when choosing an alliance leader. The Beggars' Sect, the number one gang in the world, had many high-ranking members join forces to drive out their leader. Tell me, don't they also have their own interests?"

Yi Jifeng was taken aback, then quickly said, "Okay... I was just being too optimistic."

Jin Jiu said, "After driving out the leader, the Beggars' Sect will definitely be rife with intrigue and scheming for the position of the new leader. No matter how great the debt of saving a life is, can it be greater than the position of leader?"
Moreover, although the Beggars' Sect had a great reputation, it was actually just a bunch of worthless people. Without Qiao Feng, it would only continue to decline.

Or do you think that someone like you, who can't even handle a few wealthy merchant families in the Jiangnan region, can handle the Beggars' Clan, which is famous in the north and is known as the number one gang in the world?
Having this one chance to save the lives of those high-ranking members of the Beggars' Sect and make them owe you a favor is already the greatest benefit you can gain.

Don't think about anything else!

"I know...I know."

Yi Jifeng shrank his neck, suddenly feeling a sense of urgency, like when he was a child and was scolded by his grandfather for slacking off during sword practice.

Seeing this, Jin Jiu softened his tone slightly and said, "Not only has Qiao Feng lost his identity as the leader of the Beggars' Sect, but he has also revealed his Khitan bloodline. The saying circulating in the martial arts world now, 'Murong in the South, Qiao Feng in the North,' will definitely change in a few years."

What do you think of the saying, "Murong in the South, Jifeng in the North"?

Murong in the South, Jifeng in the North!
Upon hearing this, Yi Jifeng's blood boiled with excitement.

"Can it be done?"

"Don't worry, with my help, anything is possible!"

Jin Jiu nodded emphatically, thinking to himself: Young people are easier to fool. Dealing with him is much simpler than dealing with that Yu Luosha guy.

(End of this chapter)