The Evil

Lu Gaosheng could not help but chuckle softly: "Minister Song, Minister Song, you have calculated for a lifetime, but I wonder if you are getting old, or if there are indeed some changes in the court. This time your plan is too hasty!"

Lifting a rock to smash one's own foot, the intelligent ends up being misled by their own intelligence. This whole matter can be described as such.

Lu Qingming's voice sounded in his ears again:

"Lu Gaosheng, Song YanShi is clearly trying to destroy this batch of grain."

"He has done so much just to gain control of the Zhenbei Army. He certainly won't give up easily. He must want Wang Jue to be defeated so that he can seize power!"

"We can't let Song YanShi succeed. We can't let the people of Hanwu Commandery starve."

"Protect the grain. You should go protect the grain."

Every time Lu Qingming's voice sounded, Lu Gaosheng felt his headache grow deeper.

Lu Gaosheng roared angrily: "Are you an idiot? Can't you see the letter Song YanShi sent me?!"

The letter Song YanShi had sent in his daughter's name, Lu Gaosheng had read over and over again. From Song YanShi's words that contained a hint of pleading but no panic, Lu Gaosheng understood very well that someone like Song YanShi would not place all his hopes on him.

Moreover, even if Lu Gaosheng exposed this letter from Song YanShi, from the wording, there was no major issue.

He hadn't written what he planned to do to the grain. He only asked his son-in-law to properly assist the transport officer in delivering the grain, and to report to him if needed. It would be best to also inform him of the convoy's route, so he could notify the commanderies and counties along the way.

All this was for the common people of Hanwu Commandery!

From this it was clear that Song YanShi was not in a panic.

Lu Gaosheng understood very well that to defeat someone like Song YanShi, things must be completely beyond Song YanShi's expectations and control as the Left Chancellor.

Lu Qingming's voice rang out: "What do you plan to do then?!"

Lu Gaosheng's gaze turned vicious as he said, "Seize the grain! However, I will give this 30,000 dan of grain neither to Song YanShi nor deliver it to Hanwu Commandery, because no matter which side gets the grain, I, Lu Gaosheng, will no longer be able to influence this matter."

Lu Gaosheng knew very clearly that if he wanted to defeat someone like Song YanShi, he had to make things completely beyond Song YanShi's expectations and control as the Left Chancellor.

"Lu Gaosheng, what are you trying to do?!"

Lu Gaosheng said coldly, "Go big or go home!"

"Song YanShi wants to destroy this batch of grain, but I won't destroy it. After seizing the grain, I will let the starving commoners of Hanwu Commandery revolt and starve to death. I will let Wang Jue's troops be defeated and retreat back within the passes! I will completely escalate this matter until the whole realm knows! Finally I will arrange where this grain goes, and use this opportunity to overthrow Song YanShi!"

Lu Qingming's voice suddenly grew louder, giving Lu Gaosheng an even worse headache: "Lu Gaosheng, are you crazy? Do you know how many people will die? You're willing to do all this just to overthrow Song YanShi?!"

Lu Gaosheng endured the headache and chest tightness, and let out a cold laugh. He enunciated each word clearly: "A true man should be ruthless and vicious!"

Lu Qingming's voice became more and more anxious.

But Lu Gaosheng started laughing.

Laughing wildly.

Laughing sinisterly!

As a result, Lu Qingming's voice gradually weakened until it disappeared.

Lu Gaosheng was left in peace and quiet. He sneered coldly, "What's wrong? Has the vengeful spirit finally dispersed?"

Lu Qingming, when all is said and done, what can you do to me?

"Song YanShi, Song YanShi, I thought I'd have to wait seven or eight more years before I could confront you in court. But what a pity, this time I, Lu Gaosheng, will personally set up the game. I'm afraid you won't last until seven or eight years from now!"

Indeed, as Bai Fang had said before.

Lu Gaosheng's ruthlessness was comparable to, if not greater than, Song YanShi's.

...

However, things were not as simple as Lu Gaosheng had imagined.

The next day, Li Xing, who had used all means to investigate, returned and reported two pieces of news that were not exactly good.

First, they still could not find out the convoy's route for now, but it was known that Tang Li had called upon a prominent figure from the capital's military headquarters to personally escort the grain. Judging from current information, it should be 'Xu Guo', who was slated to become the imperial capital's Emperor's directly commanded Zhenguo General.

This person came from a military family, was skilled in military strategy, and had received guidance from the top generals of both the Zhennan and Zhenbei Armies. His own martial arts had already reached the pinnacle of the Earth rank.

Just like the Black Shanhu and Black Shanke brothers' status in the jianghu, Xu Guo could be called the 'Small Heaven rank' expert of Dawu Country's military, and could step into the Grand Master realm at any time.

This person had also brought his personal guards, as well as two thousand carefully selected men from the capital's Golden Armored Guards to form a protection force.

Second, JinWan Pavilion had rejected Lu Gaosheng's offer of help to investigate the grain convoy, but also brought a piece of news.

The Black Heaven Gate and Dark Building also seemed to have issued special missions regarding these 30,000 dan of grain.

However, they had also been rejected by the two major underground factions, who also spread the word that they would not take any action regarding this grain convoy, and would not investigate it at all.

Sitting in the study, Lu Gaosheng kept fiddling with the white jade spinning ring on his right hand while deep in thought.

After keeping his eyes closed for a while, Lu Gaosheng spoke lightly, "Tang Li's side should have guessed that someone harbors ill intent towards this batch of grain. They've even called upon the Imperial Guards and Xu Guo, so their determination to protect the grain seems solid. But... only two thousand, so few?"

Li Xing reminded, "Sir, have you forgotten that the elite forces of our central commanderies have already been sent to aid the north? I believe it must be the same in the capital city. I'm afraid these two thousand men were barely squeezed out by Tang Li."

Lu Gaosheng nodded. It was mentioned before that when war broke out in the north, the elite troops under the commanderies of the central region had all left their stations.

The Zhennan Army also had important duties and could not act rashly. And even if the Zhennan Army could dispatch men, the Zhennan Grand General was Song YanShi's disciple, so Tang Li would not choose them.

Moreover, if it really was an escort of tens of thousands, the convoy's speed would definitely be slowed.

So having Xu Guo lead the Imperial Guards was actually an optimal choice.

Firstly, a smaller number would facilitate faster travel.

Secondly, quality over quantity. The strongest of the capital's guards, the Golden Armored Guards, were comparable in strength to the personal guards of the Grand Generals of Zhennan and Zhenbei.

Undoubtedly, they were absolute elites. Even if there were only two thousand, their might could match that of ordinary armies of ten thousand men.

As for the three underground factions...

Li Xing asked, "Sir, besides that, isn't it also a bit strange with the three underground factions this time?"

Lu Gaosheng said, "It's simple. Since Song YanShi came to me, he certainly also went to the Black Heaven Gate and Dark Building. We speculated before that Song YanShi has connections with the two major underground factions, right? JinWan Pavilion's information is as accurate as Knowing Hall's, so they certainly won't make a move this time."

Li Xing asked, "But why, Sir? Your subordinate doesn't quite understand. Offending Song YanShi shouldn't be a good choice for the jianghu."

Lu Gaosheng frowned. He thought to himself: With the three major underground factions not making a move, I'm afraid this can only be the work of 'them' behind the scenes. Baijun Marquis, you're ruthless enough for that unrealistic 'search for immortality' plan of yours.

To be able to influence the three major underground factions, there was no doubt that the Baijun Marquis of that most mysterious jianghu family, the Bai Family, had made a move!

Now, with the secret maneuvering of the Bai Family, one of the most mysterious families in the jianghu, as well as...

Lu Gaosheng muttered to himself, "Xu Guo, the Imperial Guards, these two tough bones will be hard for me to bite through with my current strength."

Gradually, Lu Gaosheng began to abandon the thought.

The Small Heaven Rank Xu Guo and the Golden Armored Guards were indeed not something the current him could match.