novelAbuy Chapter 4 Xu Longxiang's Ambition! A Four-Step Plan to Seize the Qin Empire!
Chapter 4 Xu Longxiang's Ambition! A Four-Step Plan to Seize the Qin Empire!
Zhenyue Hall is an important meeting place in the Prince's Mansion, and ordinary servants are not allowed to approach within ten zhang (approximately 33 meters).
The interior is furnished in a simple and ancient style, with portraits of past Zhenbei Kings and war trophies hanging on the four walls.
There are the banners of the Northern Mang King, bone ornaments of barbarian leaders, and blood-stained armor.
Hanging on the north wall is a huge horse-slaying sword, its blade dark and its edge gleaming coldly. It was Xu Xiao's sword, "Po Jun," which he used when he was alive.
Xu Longxiang sat on the tiger-skin armchair in the center, dressed in a black outfit that made his figure appear even more upright and tall.
Five people were standing in front of him.
These five people are of different appearances and ages, but they have one thing in common.
Each person had a faint flow of the power of heaven and earth around them, which was the unique aura of a Celestial Realm expert.
The first person on the left is an old man with white hair, a withered face, and deep-set eyes, but his eyes are as sharp as an eagle's.
His name is Sikong Xuan. He is Xu Longxiang's chief advisor and has followed Xu Xiao for thirty years. He is proficient in military strategy and tactics and his cultivation has reached the mid-stage of the Celestial Phenomenon realm.
The second was a middle-aged scholar, dressed in a blue robe, holding a feather fan, with a refined and scholarly appearance, but with a hint of sinister intent hidden between his brows.
He is Fan Li, a disciple of Guiguzi, skilled in Qimen Dunjia and cunning schemes, and at the early stage of celestial phenomena.
The third was a burly, bald man with a hideous scar running diagonally from his brow bone to the corner of his mouth.
His name was Tie Tu. He came from the Northern Army and was known for his decisiveness in killing. He was in the early stage of the Celestial Phenomenon.
The fourth woman was a beautiful woman who looked to be no more than thirty years old. She wore a red dress and had a spring-like smile in her eyes, but her gaze was as cold as ice.
She is Liu Hongyan, the "Red Serpent Fairy," skilled in poison and seductive arts, and at the early stage of the Celestial Phenomenon realm.
The fifth person was a mysterious figure shrouded in black robes, his face hidden in shadow, with only a pair of eerie green eyes visible.
He is Mo Shen, a Gu master from Miao territory, whose Gu techniques are incredibly advanced, and he is at the early stage of the Celestial Phenomenon realm.
These five men were Xu Longxiang's greatest reliance in his struggle for the world!
Five celestial advisors.
"The first step of the plan has been completed."
Sikong Xuan's voice was hoarse like a broken gong, particularly jarring in the silent hall.
"Jiang Qingxue has successfully entered the palace and has been given the title of Xue Cairen. Although she is young, she is meticulous and loyal to the Crown Prince. With her as an inside agent in the palace, the dog emperor's every move will not escape our eyes."
Xu Longxiang nodded slightly, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest: "Qingxue... she's been wronged."
His voice was soft, carrying a subtle, complex emotion.
Fan Li waved his feather fan and replied, "Those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with trifles. Miss Jiang is a woman of great principle, willing to sacrifice herself for the young master's great cause. Once things are accomplished, the young master will naturally not treat her unfairly."
Xu Longxiang was silent for a moment, then raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as lightning: "How is the other three steps of the plan progressing?"
Tie Tu stepped forward, his voice booming:
"The military is progressing smoothly. Of the 300,000 troops in the Northern Frontier, 120,000 are now completely under our control. In the past six months, we have successively placed seven members of our own clan into key positions, such as Xu Tianlang in charge of the cavalry battalion, Xu Pojun in charge of the crossbow battalion, and Xu Zhenshan in charge of the scout battalion... Most importantly, the commander of the Tiger Guard, one of the three guards in the Northern Frontier, has been replaced by one of our own."
A glint of light flashed in Xu Longxiang's eyes: "The Tiger Guard is the elite of the Northern Frontier, with 30,000 men, well-equipped, and with combat power comparable to 100,000 ordinary troops. Taking down the Tiger Guard is equivalent to completely seizing half of the military power in the Northern Frontier."
"That's right." Tie Tu clasped his hands in a fist salute. "However, the commanders of the other two guards, the Dragon Soaring Guard and the Eagle Soaring Guard, are both former subordinates of the late emperor. They are very wary of us and it will be difficult to infiltrate them for the time being."
"No rush," Xu Longxiang waved his hand. "Take your time. The next step is to focus on winning over the deputy generals and captains of these two guards. Wealth, beauties, official positions—give them whatever they want."
"yes!"
Liu Hongyan stepped forward gracefully, her red dress trailing on the ground, her voice soft and alluring: "Nineteen officials from outside the three northern states have secretly surrendered. Here is the list."
She took out a roll of silk from her sleeve and presented it with both hands.
Xu Longxiang took the unfolded document and quickly scanned the names on it.
Nineteen names, followed by their official titles, the prefectures where they resided, and the conditions for their surrender.
Some wanted money, some wanted official positions, some wanted protection for their families, and some wanted secret martial arts manuals.
"Zhang Jiuling, the governor of Qingzhou, wants 100,000 taels of gold, plus his son's appointment as an official in the capital... He has quite the appetite."
Xu Longxiang sneered, "Give it to him. As long as he can cut off Qingzhou's food supply to the capital at a crucial moment, what is 100,000 taels of gold?"
"Wang Lang, the governor of Youzhou, wants a Heavenly Rank cultivation technique..."
He continued reading, "Go to the armory and get a copy of the 'Mysterious Yin True Scripture' for him. Tell him this is just a deposit; there will be a generous reward after the deed is done."
"As for this Chen Ping, the Sima of Liangzhou, he actually wants you, Hongyan, to spend the night with him?"
Xu Longxiang looked up at Liu Hongyan, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
Liu Hongyan covered her mouth and chuckled softly, but there was no smile in her eyes:
"He's just a lecherous old man who doesn't know his own limits. If Your Highness grants my request, I'll go and meet him, and I guarantee I'll make him obey."
"No need."
Xu Longxiang threw the silk back to her, "This kind of person is greedy and cowardly, he will never achieve anything great. Just send him a couple of beauties to get rid of him. If he continues to pester you, I'll have Mo Shen plant a Gu curse on him."
The black mirage in the shadows nodded slightly, its eerie green eyes flashing in the darkness.
Fan Li closed his feather fan and said solemnly, "Now only the last step remains: the Imperial Guards of the Imperial City."
The atmosphere inside the hall froze.
The Imperial Guards were the last and most important line of defense for the capital.
The Qin Imperial Guard had a strength of 50,000 men, each a battle-hardened elite, equipped with the finest armor and weapons.
More importantly, the Imperial Guards were stationed in the Imperial City year-round and had a thorough understanding of the palace's terrain and defenses.
To control the Imperial Guards is to control the lifeline of the capital.
"Meng Fang, the commander of the Imperial Guard, was a trusted confidant promoted by the late emperor and was extremely loyal to the Qin family."
Sikong Xuan said in a deep voice, "This man is completely unyielding. We have tried all sorts of methods. He returned 100,000 taels of gold intact, and he even threw the beauties we sent out of the mansion."
Xu Longxiang frowned slightly: "Does he have any weaknesses?"
"have."
Fan Li continued, "Meng Fang is not greedy for money, lustful, or power-hungry. He has only one weakness: his only son, Meng Yi."
"Meng Yi?"
"He is eighteen years old this year and serves as a captain in the Imperial Guard. His martial arts skills are mediocre, but he is righteous and likes to make friends in the martial arts world."
A calculating glint flashed in Fan Li's eyes. "Three months ago, he got into an argument at the Drunken Immortal Restaurant in the west of the city and accidentally killed the son of a wealthy merchant. The Ministry of Justice has suppressed the matter, but if it gets out, according to the laws of the Great Qin Dynasty, murder is punishable by death."
Xu Longxiang's eyes lit up: "Is this really true?"
"It's absolutely true. Everyone present at the time was silenced by Meng Fang with money and power. But we have both witnesses and physical evidence."
Fan Li took out a stack of papers from his sleeve. "These are the eyewitness statements, this is a copy of the coroner's autopsy record, and this is the stub of the silver note used by Meng Fang to smooth things over."
Xu Longxiang took the evidence, quickly flipped through it, and a cold smile gradually crept onto his lips.
"Good, very good. With these in hand, we're not afraid of being deceived or refusing to comply."
He looked at Fan Li:
"You're in charge of this matter. Don't rush to confront him; take it slow. Tell Meng Fang that as long as he opens the Xuanwu Gate at the crucial moment and lets our army into the city, we can suppress his son's affair forever. After it's done, he'll not only be promoted three ranks, but also granted the title of a king of a different surname."
"Understood, Your subordinate." Fan Li cupped his hands in greeting. "However, Meng Fang has a fiery temper, and pushing him too hard might cause unforeseen circumstances. Your subordinate suggests proceeding cautiously, starting with his son."
"You can decide for yourself." Xu Longxiang stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the bright moonlight outside.
The moonlight shone on his face, illuminating his resolute features and the burning ambition in his eyes.
"A four-step plan, proceeding step by step. Once Qingxue steals the palace defense map and the Qin family's hidden experts, military power in the northern border will be entirely in my hands. Officials in various regions will secretly provide support, and the Imperial Guards will open the city gates..."
He slowly turned around, his gaze sweeping over the five people in the hall.
"By then, with a million troops besieging the city, the Qin dynasty will have to be ruled by the Xu family."
The five men bowed in unison: "We are willing to die for the Crown Prince!"