Chapter 568 - 324: Sudden Winds Rise, Frost Covers the City
Chapter 568: Chapter 324: Sudden Winds Rise, Frost Covers the City
"Losing a Grand General like you, I must say it is a pity on behalf of the Lord."
After some thought, he still did not agree. "Whether your eldest son can stay by my side is not up to you, nor is it up to me."
Liu Hong understood that he was referring to the "Lord," so he nodded. After organizing his thoughts, he recounted everything that had recently happened in Shu State exactly as it occurred.
"...Tonight, just as the plague began to spread, the Xiao Family took action and even produced a Medical prescription to treat it. This should be Liu Wu’s doing."
Song Jinjian’s eyes lit up slightly. "In that case, this ’Dragon Tiger’ does indeed have some skill."
Liu Hong hummed in agreement and pointed at the chest on the nearby stone stool. "Not just that. He schemed against the people from the Ji State Trading Company, making them give away a million piculs of grain, only to get a pile of waste paper in return."
Song Jinjian glanced at the fake silver notes in the chest and chuckled involuntarily. "You didn’t lose unjustly.
"From Lv Jiunan to Asutai, then to Du Cang and the Five Poison Sect, even the Ji State Trading Company was completely outsmarted by him.
"No wonder you handled this long-planned matter so poorly."
Liu Hong refilled their cups but didn’t toast. He took a sip on his own and said, "It is destiny.
"Before tonight, I had many complaints about His Lordship, so I planned to risk my life one last time. Unfortunately, I lost everything."
After finishing his wine, Song Jinjian’s hand paused as he set down the cup. He sighed and said, "It’s not just you.
"The failure of this plot has extremely far-reaching consequences, and the Lord is suffering an endless headache because of it.
"However, since things have come to this, even he has no other choice but to try his best to salvage the situation."
Liu Hong fell slightly silent. After downing the wine in his cup, he asked, "When will the Holy Emperor’s decree arrive?"
"In three to five days at the shortest, or eleven to twelve days at the longest."
"Ten days... I’m afraid the Xiao Family won’t be able to hold back anymore."
"The Xiao Family?" Song Jinjian shook his head and sighed. "The most troublesome part is the Xiao Family.
"Originally, according to the Lord’s plan, the Xiao Family would certainly be eradicated from Shu State after this. What would follow next is the fight for the position of commander-in-chief of the Dingyuan Army."
Liu Hong nodded silently. "Now that the Xiao Family has freed themselves, trying to put them to death again will be difficult."
Song Jinjian glanced at him. "Not necessarily."
"Oh? Does His Lordship have another plan?"
"Forgive me, Lord Liu. I don’t know either, but...
"But there is one thing I can tell you. The Holy Emperor wishes to become an unparalleled sovereign who outshines all throughout history, and his greatest hope is to march south and conquer the Barbarian Race."
"What about the north?"
"Those barbarians have been constantly crusaded against by past dynasties. Why would the Holy Emperor take them seriously?"
Liu Hong understood clearly in his heart. "Thus, I can An Xin and go on my way."
Song Jinjian paused, then poured two cups of wine again. Raising his cup with both hands, he offered a toast and said, "Rest assured, Lord Liu. The Lord will certainly not forget your hard work."
Liu Hong returned the toast. "In that case, I will entrust my son to you, Mr. Song."
Song Jinjian looked at him in silence for a moment, then nodded, saying, "I will give it a try."
He continued to ask, "Liu Taoyao at least has some quick-witted intelligence, but your second son..."
Without waiting for him to finish, Liu Hong lowered his head slightly. "Let him accompany me to the underworld on the same Dao."
Hearing this, Song Jinjian knew he had already made his choice.
"Before coming here, the Lord instructed me to act according to the circumstances, but he somewhat underestimated you, Lord Liu.
"Speak. Aside from Liu Taoyao, do you have any other unfulfilled wishes? If it’s within my power, I will definitely accomplish them on your behalf."
Hearing this, Liu Hong initially wanted to shake his head and say no, but he suddenly remembered someone. "If it is convenient for you, bring Liu Zhaoxue along with you as well."
"Oh? The daughter of the first branch?"
"Yes, Zhaoxue is intelligent. She definitely won’t disappoint you."
Song Jinjian gave him a deep look and agreed with a smile. "It’s just adding an extra pair of chopsticks anyway."
Liu Hong remained silent.
Seeing this, Song Jinjian said no more. He stood up, patted his shoulder, and walked outside. "Alright, I should go do some real business now. If I have caused any offense, I hope Lord Liu can forgive me."
"Please go ahead..."
Not long after.
The Cyan-clothed Guards inside and outside the Liu Family quietly changed faces, along with all those Maids and servants. From the inside out, not a single one escaped. Although Liu Hong didn’t see it with his own eyes, he figured it should naturally be this way. A person without any use value was worse than a dog. Not to mention those who were meant to be dogs in the first place?
Liu Hong looked at the cold minced meat on the table. He picked up his chopsticks, grabbed two pieces of meat, and chewed them slowly in his mouth, feeling somewhat like a hero reaching the twilight of his life. He knew very well that with Song Jinjian’s arrival in Shu State, both he and the Jing State Liu Family had no way out. Even if His Lordship didn’t make a move, he still couldn’t escape death. It was just a matter of sooner or later.
Was he unwilling to accept this? Liu Hong was naturally unwilling. He thought back carefully and didn’t feel he had taken a wrong Step anywhere. Piece by piece, event by event, everything had gone according to his expectations. Yet, the outcome was far from satisfactory.
"If not for ’Dragon Tiger,’ the Xiao Family would have been doomed.
"’Dragon Tiger’ Liu Wu... I will be waiting for you in the underworld!"
Just then, Liu Taofang ran outside the pavilion and shouted with a look of terror, "Father, Father, something happened!"
Liu Hong’s expression remained unchanged. "Sit down and talk."
How could Liu Taofang sit down? He spoke in a panicked tone, "Father, something huge has truly happened in the manor!
"Just now, the Maids in my courtyard were all replaced! I—I don’t recognize a single one of them..."
Liu Hong raised a hand to interrupt, saying, "I ordered them to be replaced."
Liu Taofang froze for a moment before his face relaxed. He sat across from him and asked in confusion, "Father, why did you suddenly replace everyone? You scared me to death."
Liu Hong didn’t explain, only telling him to pour the wine.
Liu Taofang didn’t hesitate in the slightest. He poured him a cup of wine, poured one for himself, and downed it with a smack of his lips.
"Father, I saw my elder brother leading people away in a hurry just now. Did something happen?"
"A plague broke out in the city. I asked him to go to the Government Office to help out."