Chapter 1055 Reactivated!

Hearing his son's countermeasures, Lu Jianchao nodded slightly and said:
"Hou De said it very well! The men in our Lu family are also courageous!"

“We are not those lackeys under Mr. Ye. No matter what conditions he sets for us, we have to accept them and kowtow to him in gratitude…”

After Lu Jianchao finished speaking, Lu Yun and Lu Houde also echoed him. After the three of them had unified their thoughts, Lu Jianchao's confidence increased greatly and he immediately instructed Lu Yun:
"Yun'er, doesn't Ye Mingsheng always like to hold military exercises to show off his strength and intimidate others?"

"We will give them a taste of their own medicine this time. We will also hold a military exercise to show our strength to the Fengwu Army!"

Hearing this, Lu Yun nodded excitedly and said:
"Uncle, this is a great idea. We should have done this a long time ago. Now this Ye bully has come to our doorstep and is just short of sitting on the Lu family's head and shitting. We should teach him a lesson!"

"But uncle, where are we conducting military exercises? How many people have we mobilized for the military exercises?"

"If we hold the military exercise in Lin'an, the Fengwu Army won't be able to see it, and if the number of people in the exercise is too small, it won't have a deterrent effect!"

Hearing what Lu Yun said, Lu Jianchao thought for a moment and then made the decision:
“It will be during the military exercise in Guangshou! As for the number of soldiers in the exercise, Yun'er, all the soldiers under your command will participate in the exercise. Pull out all the muskets and cannons. Let the Fengwu Army have a good look at the strength of our Jiangnan Army. This time, the military exercise must show the prestige of our Jiangnan Army…”

Lu Yun was eager to give a sermon:
"Yes! Don't worry, uncle. Just wait and see!"

Lu Houde, who was standing by, looked at the two people who were so excited and couldn't help but feel a little worried!

Guangshou is located on the border between Jiangnan and Huainan provinces. One hundred miles to the north is the area controlled by the Fengwu Army. The troops under Lu Yun's command are the main force of the Jiangnan Army, with as many as 50,000 people.

Therefore, conducting a military exercise of 50,000 people in Guangshou sent a strong signal of provocation and demonstration to the Fengwu Army. What would these arrogant and powerful Fengwu Army do in this case?

Any accidental firing between the two sides could lead to the direct outbreak of war!
Thinking of this, Lu Houde wanted to dissuade them, but seeing how excited his father and cousin were, Lu Houde hesitated and finally shut his mouth!

If I try to dissuade him now, not only will I fail to prevent the military exercise from happening, but I will be blamed instead. In this case, I might as well take it one step at a time, or I can privately warn my cousin Lu Yun to exercise restraint!

After the three of them discussed some details, Lu Jianchao seemed to remember something and asked after a pause:

“I heard that Song Weijie has been gaining momentum recently. Not only has he added tens of thousands of soldiers and horses, but he has also wiped out some other small vassal towns in Sichuan and Shu…”

"Hou De, you have extensive connections in Sichuan and Shu. If a war breaks out between us and the Fengwu Army, is it possible for Song Weijie to come out from Sichuan and Shu to support us?"

"Of course we won't let him help us for nothing. Didn't he want to ask us for money and food before? As long as he sends troops, money and food can be negotiated!"

After these words were spoken, not only Lu Jianchao, but also Lu Yun looked at Lu Houde, expecting the answer from Lu Houde.

Under the gaze of his father and cousin, Lu Houde shook his head and said:

"This time, Song Weijie designed to transfer some soldiers who were dissatisfied with him out of Sichuan and Shu, and then used the Fengwu Army to kill people with a borrowed knife. Then he took the opportunity to wipe out Sichuan and Shu in one fell swoop!"

"Although Song Weijie has seemingly unified Sichuan and Shu, he still has a long way to go before he can fully integrate Sichuan and Shu's human and material resources!"

"He did add tens of thousands of soldiers, but many of them were just to make up the numbers. Many of them were old, weak, sick, and disabled. Moreover, the Sichuan Army was poorly equipped. There was basically only one set of armor for every three or four people, and there were very few firearms!"

"If you ask them to defend Sichuan and Shu with the help of the terrain, they may clash with the Fengwu Army. But if you ask them to leave Sichuan and fight the Fengwu Army, I don't think they have the strength to do so. They will basically just be sending their heads to the Fengwu Army!"

Lu Jianchao, who had been gradually getting excited and thinking of joining forces with Sichuan and Shu to have a fight with the Fengwu Army, gradually lost hope after hearing his eldest son's well-reasoned words. He could only nod helplessly...

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Yijing, Ye Mansion

Under the guidance of Ye Cheng, Ji Xian entered Ye Mingsheng's study with a thick stack of documents.

"Sir, Director Ji is here!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Mingsheng, who was reviewing the memorial, also raised his head and looked at Ji Xian with some scrutiny. Under Ye Mingsheng's gaze, Ji Xian bowed and handed over the document in his hands with both hands, saying:
"Marshal, Director Huo died suddenly of illness in Dajing County. This is the document I found in the study room of Director Huo's home!"

"I got these documents from Director Huo's home half an hour ago. I immediately sent them to you, Your Excellency. No one has read them in the meantime!"

Hearing this, Ye Mingsheng glanced at the thick stack of documents. The next second, Ye Cheng immediately took the documents and placed them on Ye Mingsheng's desk.

Ye Mingsheng did not immediately open the documents on the desk, but asked Ji Xian calmly:

"Did Huo San say anything?"

Ji Xian heard this and preached without hesitation:
"Before he died, Director Huo said, 'I'm sorry to disappoint you, Marshal, but I'm willing to follow you if there's a chance in the next life!'"

Ye Mingsheng's expression became somewhat amused when he heard this. Seeing that Ye Mingsheng was hesitant to speak, Ji Xian asked tentatively:

"Can we start the Black Wind Plan, Marshal?"

Ye Mingsheng nodded slightly and said:

“Let’s start! You have to settle Huo San’s family. Don’t let them get harmed by others…”

"I understand the humble position!"

Ye Mingsheng waved his hand after receiving the answer, and Ji Xian bowed and left. Ye Mingsheng immediately flipped through the confidential documents that Huo San had hidden in front of him. Some of these confidential documents were considered by Huo San to be his life-saving talismans, and they were also the fundamental reason why some people regarded Huo San as a thorn in their eyes!
After just a quick look, Ye Mingsheng's face couldn't help but darken. Although he knew that this group of people were not good people, he didn't expect that they would say one thing in front of him and another behind his back.

If I hadn't captured Huo San this time and got these documents from him, I wouldn't know how long I would be deceived!

After watching for about half an incense stick of time, Ye Mingsheng was so angry that his head hurt. However, after rubbing his temple, Ye Mingsheng called Ye Cheng in and instructed:

"Go find Wang Xuecheng!"

"Yes!"

An incense stick later, Wang Xuecheng, who was working in the Legal Affairs Bureau, heard Ye Mingsheng's summons and rushed over immediately.

"I, Wang Xuecheng, pay my respects to the commander-in-chief!"

While greeting each other, Wang Xuecheng secretly glanced at Ye Mingsheng's face. Seeing Ye Mingsheng's gloomy expression, his heart suddenly tightened. He has been very honest and upright recently and has not done anything bad!

Could it be that some things in the past were dug up? But that’s not necessary, I have never made any big mistakes...
Just when Wang Xuecheng was feeling uneasy, Ye Mingsheng threw him a booklet and said in a deep voice:

"Do you know who owns all these properties?"

Wang Xuecheng opened the booklet in a puzzled mood. Looking at the dozen or so properties recorded in the booklet, his expression became very interesting. Although he wanted to say he didn't know, but feeling Ye Mingsheng's scrutiny, Wang Xuecheng gritted his teeth and said, "Your Excellency, these should be properties under the name of the eldest lady!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Mingsheng said in a deep voice:

"Yes is, no is not. What does it mean to be?"

Wang Xuecheng hesitated for a moment but finally made up his mind:

"Your Excellency, these are the Madam's assets!"

After getting the answer, Ye Mingsheng continued to look at Wang Xuecheng with cold eyes. Seeing this, Wang Xuecheng felt even more uneasy.

At the same time, Wang Xuecheng was also very confused. What did these ladies' properties have to do with him? Huo San had always been close to the ladies in the Coordination Office!

Although the relationship between me and the eldest lady is not bad, we have always kept our distance. What does the Lord mean now?

Just when Wang Xuecheng was puzzled, Ye Mingsheng said calmly:
"Go to the Coordination Office now and bring some people to take over and confiscate all these properties!"

Wang Xuecheng was stunned when he heard this, and he couldn't believe his ears, but he quickly reacted and said:

"I understand. I'll do it right away..."

After saying this, Wang Xuecheng bowed and took his leave. At the same time, he was becoming more and more confused. What on earth had happened? He hadn't heard any rumors recently. What on earth had happened to make the Marshal make such a big fuss?
Just as he was about to walk out of the study, Ye Mingsheng's low voice sounded behind him.

"Huo San died of a sudden illness in Dajing County two days ago!"

As soon as these words were spoken, it was like a bomb exploding in Wang Xuecheng's head, causing him to immediately open his eyes wide in disbelief!

That year, he was promoted by Ye Mingsheng to be the deputy director of the Coordination Office. Nominally, he was assisting Huo San in his work, but as the deputy director, he and Huo San had both cooperation and competition!

So Wang Xuecheng knew very well how treacherous and cunning Huo San was. He never expected that Huo San would die like this?
Even though Ye Mingsheng said that Huo San died suddenly of a serious illness, considering the current situation, Wang Xuecheng certainly doesn't believe that this is really the cause of Huo San's death. He thinks that the cause of Huo San's death must not be that simple!
Just when Wang Xuecheng pondered for a moment and turned around to say something to Ye Mingsheng, Ye Mingsheng lowered his head and continued to work at the table, as if what he just said was not what he said...

Seeing this, Wang Xuecheng hesitated for a moment and didn't say anything more. After respectfully bowing to Ye Mingsheng, he also withdrew from Ye Mingsheng's study!
Wang Xuecheng walked out of the study, seeming to have realized something, and his mood could be said to have cleared up!
Due to being implicated in some matters, he was transferred from the position of deputy director of the Coordination Office to the position of deputy director of the Legal Affairs Bureau.

Although Wang Xuecheng was promoted in terms of rank, he himself was very clear that he was promoted in name only but demoted in reality!

After all, although the Coordination Office is only at the department level in name, it can spy on military intelligence externally and monitor the officials and generals of the Fengwu Army internally. It can also report directly to the Marshal without being accountable to anyone else!

There is no doubt that the Coordination Office is the core department of the Fengwu Army. Therefore, even though he was not the head of the Coordination Office at the beginning, he was under pressure from the Director Huo San!

But in fact, the power held by Wang Xuecheng was no less than that of the director. Because of this, after being transferred to the Legal Affairs Bureau, Wang Xuecheng was very frightened. In order to prevent further punishment from Ye Mingsheng, he immediately donated all the money he had made over the years in an attempt to save his life.

Seeing that he was so sensible, Ye Mingsheng did not touch him. After all, Wang Xuecheng was still of some use...
From then on, Wang Xuecheng just honestly worked as the deputy director of the Legal Affairs Bureau and no longer dared to have any evil thoughts!
Before meeting Ye Mingsheng, Wang Xuecheng thought that this was the end of his career. He would work as deputy director for a few more years, and then wait until the Marshal founded a new dynasty. He should be able to obtain a title based on his previous merits, and then he would be sent out to other places if nothing unexpected happened, or simply retire!
Although such an outcome was something Wang Xuecheng had never dared to imagine, Wang Xuecheng, who had truly held power and seen the world, was still somewhat unwilling to accept it!

Although he was unwilling and felt regretful, Wang Xuecheng knew very well that he was a tainted person and it would be difficult for the Marshal to use him again. For this reason, Wang Xuecheng often drank alone, fantasizing that one day he would be able to return to the Coordination Office!

However, what Wang Xuecheng never expected was that the day he dreamed of actually came!

Although the Marshal didn't say anything, Wang Xuecheng could vaguely sense what he was thinking. Huo San's sudden death this time was most likely related to him being too close to the First Lady!

And now the Marshal has asked me to confiscate the eldest lady’s property, which is a test for myself!

And if I can pass the test successfully, what will be waiting for me?

Realizing this, Huo San's eyes suddenly lit up, and he couldn't help but apologize to An Miaoyi in his heart...

(End of this chapter)