Did he trick the young marshal into becoming sworn brothers and then go south to Huangpu Military Ac

Looking at Zhang Hanqing's pained and conflicted face, Lin Qi couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

Silly brother, do you think it's only Yang Yuting who wants to kill me?

If your bearded father, who spouts righteousness and chivalry, hadn't pretended to be ignorant and secretly approved it, Yang Yuting wouldn't have dared to use a sniper right under your nose, even if he had ten times the courage.

Lin Qi recalled a classic internet joke about the old man from later generations: "General Zhang's credit score is so bad. If he lived in modern times, he would probably get a credit score warning even if he scanned a shared bicycle."

Seeing this today, I can confirm that the netizens were right. This old man's ruthless and cruel methods of turning his back on people and discarding them after they've served their purpose are simply masterful.

If Zhang Hanqing goes back and tells the truth, exposing Yang Yuting's assassination attempt, how will the old man deal with it?

He would absolutely fly into a rage, berate Yang Yuting, and might even pretend to kill Yang Yuting in front of his son.

But the final result will definitely be to lift it high and then put it down gently.

They will use various excuses such as "misunderstanding," "lack of real evidence," or "putting the greater good first" to completely cover up the matter.

Because killing Lin Qi was his intention, and Yang Yuting was merely the executor. The old man couldn't possibly cut off his own arm to punish a loyal, vicious dog that bit people for him.

By then, Zhang Hanqing would not only fail to gain any justice, but would also embarrass the old man, creating an irreconcilable rift between father and son.

At the same time, Lin Qi himself will end up being accused of "sowing discord" and "acting like a petty person."

Political maneuvering is never about clear-cut right and wrong, but rather about compromise and balance among various forces.

Thinking of this, Lin Qi suppressed the coldness in his eyes and put on a gentle expression that showed he was wholeheartedly concerned for Zhang Hanqing.

"Hanqing, listen to my advice. No matter what, you must not tell the old marshal the truth about this matter."

Lin Qi leaned closer and said earnestly.

"Let's use a more subtle approach. Tell the old marshal that on his way to the station, he suddenly received an urgent telegram from the Guangzhou headquarters. The old man's condition has worsened, and the preparations for the second phase of the Whampoa Military Academy have run into serious trouble. As the vice principal, I must immediately go south to take charge of the situation."

"The incident happened suddenly, and the military situation was urgent. I didn't even have time to return to the Marshal's Mansion to say goodbye to the old Marshal in person. I can only ask you to convey my apologies and gratitude to him. Tell him that I, Lin Tuozhi, have been treated very well by the Marshal in Fengtian, and I will repay him tenfold in the future."

Zhang Hanqing frowned. How could such a clearly fabricated excuse possibly fool his father?

"But brother, it's a fact that Yang Yuting wants to kill you! Regardless of whether it's true or not, I think we should explain it to the old man, let him see Yang Yuting's true colors, and severely punish this two-faced scoundrel!"

Zhang Hanqing still couldn't swallow this insult.

"Punishment? What kind of punishment?"

Lin Qi chuckled softly, his tone carrying a hint of world-weariness.

"If I leave unscathed, Yang Yuting will at most be considered an attempted assassination. Do you have any evidence? Did you catch the assassin he sent? Did you get his order to assassinate me? Nothing."

Lin Qi patted Zhang Hanqing's hand.

"The old marshal and Yang Yuting have been ruler and subject for decades, their relationship is deeply intertwined. If you expose this matter, it will only put the old marshal in a difficult position. Punishing Yang Yuting is not an option, since there is no evidence; but if you don't punish Yang Yuting, you, as his son, will feel uncomfortable. In the end, it will only cause a rift between father and son, and alienate the general and the commander."

"So, it's better to play dumb and do as I say, muddy the waters."

Zhang Hanqing fell silent.

Although he was impulsive, he wasn't really stupid.

He racked his brains a lot while waiting for Lu Xiaojia for more than an hour.

Yang Yuting was his father's most loyal dog. Although Yang Yuting sometimes didn't respect him, Lin Qi was, after all, the master's special envoy, representing the master. Killing him was equivalent to killing the master.

If this matter is exposed, relations between the North and the South will deteriorate instantly, and Yang Yuting simply cannot bear the consequences.

Therefore, in this assassination mystery, the role played by his own father is probably very, very dishonorable.

Zhang Hanqing dared not think any further. He felt a chill run down his spine. He closed his eyes and nodded with difficulty.

"I understand, brother. I know what to say when we get back."

Looking at Zhang Hanqing's expression, which seemed to have aged ten years in an instant, Lin Qi knew that the seeds of political intrigue had already taken root in his brother's heart.

……

Fengtian City, Senate President's Office.

The room was still dimly lit, and thick smoke almost completely covered the ceiling, with a pungent smell permeating the air.

Yang Yuting sat on the sofa with his eyes slightly closed, his fingers gently tapping his knees in time with the Peking Opera drumbeats coming from the gramophone.

He was waiting, waiting for the sound of gunfire from Erdaogou that would be enough to change the course of the world.

"Bang!"

The office door was suddenly pushed open forcefully.

Yang Yuting suddenly opened his eyes, his pupils instantly contracting. Standing in the doorway was the adjutant he had sent to arrange the sniper.

The adjutant was sweating profusely and panting heavily.

Yang Yuting's heart sank suddenly, and an ominous premonition instantly enveloped him.

He forced himself to calm down and stubbed out the cigarette that was still half-smoked in his hand.

"How could it be so fast? It hasn't even been an hour. Did they succeed?"

The adjutant swallowed hard and shook his head.

"Reporting to...Reporting to the Chief of Staff...We didn't succeed. The target...the target didn't even go to Erdaogou!"

"What?!"

Yang Yuting jumped up from the sofa and rushed to his adjutant.

"They didn't go to Erdaogou?! How is that possible! I saw them get on the bus with my own eyes! Where did they go?!"

Yang Yuting's first reaction was—Lin Tuozhi is a cunning kid, did he guess something and run away in advance?! If he is allowed to run back to the south, like releasing a tiger back into the mountains, then he will have truly made a formidable opponent!

The adjutant stammered, "Reporting to the Chief of Staff... the young marshal's car hadn't been out of the city long when it suddenly turned around and headed to the military freight station in the north of the city! He said... he said hunting in Erdaogou was boring, so the young marshal arranged a special train to take Lin Tuozhi to Changbai Mountain to hunt bears!"

"Changbai Mountain?!"

Yang Yuting was stunned, his mind racing as he quickly analyzed this sudden turn of events.

Going to Changbai Mountain? By special train?

"Are you sure you wanted Lin Tuozhi to come on the special train?! Did anyone at the station see him in person?! Could it be a smokescreen?!"

Yang Yuting's voice suddenly rose in pitch.

The adjutant nodded repeatedly, his tone extremely certain: "Absolutely certain! There are many people watching on the platform! And the special train should have only just departed!"

"The train just left? What have we been waiting for all this time?" Yang Yuting frowned.

"The young marshal sent a driver to take him back to the marshal's residence."

"They said they were worried Lu Xiaojia would be bored alone at home, so they specially sent a carriage to pick him up and take him to Changbai Mountain to broaden his horizons..."

"To pick up Lu Xiaojia?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Yuting was stunned again.

Five or six seconds passed.

"Pfft..."

Yang Yuting suddenly burst out laughing, and then the laughter grew louder and louder until it became unrestrained laughter.

"Pick up Lu Xiaojia! Let's go hunt bears in Changbai Mountain!"

"I thought you, Lin Tuozhi, were some kind of expert who could see through my trap. Turns out, I was just overthinking it. Birds of a feather flock together; you're all cut from the same cloth!"

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