Chapter 608: Killing
Although Xu Kai's visit was a secret one, as the intelligence chief of the Coordination Office in the Qilu region, Feng Jin naturally knew his movements and had been trying to figure out Xu Kai's purpose. However, due to limited resources, Feng Jin's investigation had no clue...

As a captain of the General Coordination Office, Feng Jin certainly thought about assassinating Xu Kai. No matter what Xu Kai and Cao Changping were discussing in secret, their talks would break down due to Xu Kai's death, and it might even deepen the rift between them.

However, Cao Changping certainly understood the importance of Xu Kai, so they gave Xu Kai very strict protection. Not only did they arrange nearly a hundred soldiers to guard the Fushou Inn, but they also kept Xu Kai's meeting with Cao Changping strictly confidential, not giving him any opportunity to take advantage of.

It was also because of this that Feng Jin, who was afraid of alerting the enemy, never got the chance to assassinate Xu Kai. If Su Yi's idea was to kill Xu Kai, then for the sake of the overall situation, Feng Jin would not spare his life. He had already planned to sacrifice his life the day he was sent to Licheng!

Facing Feng Jin's question, Su Yi shook her head and said:
"It's best for us not to show up in public about this matter. We're trying to kill someone with a borrowed knife! I had someone leak the news to Zeng Chao, making him think that Xu Kai's arrival this time was because Cao Changping wanted to make peace with Xu Zhaojie. Zeng Chao's father and elder brother died in the Battle of Huainan. He hates Xu Zhaojie to the core and has always wanted to seek revenge on him!"

“So he is the one who least wants Cao Changping and Xu Zhaojie to make peace. What’s more, Zeng Chao is Cao Changping’s brother-in-law and has troops in Licheng. I have received news that he will lead his soldiers to raid Fushou Inn at three o’clock tonight. However, Zeng Chao’s soldiers only have dozens of people, and they may not be able to kill Xu Kai…”

"So Captain Feng, I need you to lead people to guard the perimeter. If Zeng Chao kills Xu Kai, that would be the best thing. You can just lead your people back safely. But if he can't take Xu Kai down, or the situation reaches a stalemate, then I need you, Captain Feng, to take over and fish in troubled waters. In a word, I don't want Xu Kai to see the sun tomorrow!"

Su Yi paused for a moment, then added:

"Killing Xu Kai is the primary goal! Secondly, it would be best to make it look like Zeng Chao did it, so that he can take the blame! If Cao Changping finds out that it was us who did it, things will become very troublesome!"

Listening to Su Yi's explanation, Feng Jin nodded and said in a deep voice:

"Director Su, I understand. Leave this matter to us brothers. We will definitely handle it for you!"

Feeling Feng Jin's firm gaze, Su Yi patted his shoulder and said:

"Take care of yourself!"

Upon hearing this, Feng Jin bowed to Su Yi, then quietly left and disappeared into the night. Looking at Feng Jin's departing back, Su Yi prayed silently in her heart, hoping that his imitation of Ban Chao would go smoothly this time.

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Zhuo County, Governor's Office
A battle situation briefing meeting was being held in the conference room. Zhang Guangzhi, a young staff officer of the General Staff, was reporting the latest battle situation on the front line to Ye Mingsheng, He Jingyun, and the generals in the headquarters.

"According to the latest battle situation on the front line, the First Army under Commander Yuan has occupied Moling County and is working hard to cut off the connection between Yujing and the surrounding areas. Gao Zongchang is trying to gather troops from other areas of Hebei and Henan to support Yujing, but because Wang Shouye's troops in Yecheng and Gao Dingshan's troops were annihilated, Gao Zongchang's control over other areas of Yujing has been greatly reduced!"

"In addition, the rebel army under Feng Sanxi started to cause chaos in the vast rural areas of Hebei and Henan, clearing out many landlords and gentry and tying up many militia groups. As a result, there were only a few thousand people supporting Yujing. Even among these thousands of people, most of them were defeated by the First Army outside Yujing City, so there were probably only a few hundred people who escaped into Yujing!"

"As for Fengqiu, Xu Zhaojie has personally led 20,000 Anqing troops into Hebei and Henan and is entrenched in Xiaohe Mountain. According to the intelligence from the General Coordination Office, another 30,000 Anqing troops will enter Hebei and Henan in the future. General Guo is closely monitoring the movements of the enemy and will attack them as soon as they leave Xiaohe Mountain!"

“Xu Zhaojie also sent someone to the Governor-General, with a handwritten letter from you. The letter will soon be delivered to Zhuo County. Judging from the current situation, Xu Zhaojie’s large-scale interference in the situation in Hebei and Henan is a foregone conclusion. General Guo has a new combat idea, which is to expand the situation. Since Xu Zhaojie can come to Hebei and Henan, our army can also give full play to the advantages of our cavalry’s mobility and take advantage of the opportunity to enter Anqing and turn Xu Zhaojie’s old nest upside down…”

As soon as these words came out, everyone's eyes lit up, and they all began to silently think about the pros and cons of Guo Zhiping's idea. At this time, a guard walked into the meeting room and handed Wang Xuecheng a note. After reading it, Wang Xuecheng was immediately shocked. He did not dare to be negligent. He walked directly to Ye Mingsheng, handed the note to Ye Mingsheng and whispered:

"Director Su sent the information from Licheng!"

Looking at the contents of the note, Ye Mingsheng smiled and said with great emotion:

"Xu Zhaojie is indeed Xu Zhaojie. He really didn't disappoint me!"

Hearing Ye Mingsheng's sigh, He Jingyun and others all looked at Ye Mingsheng with some curiosity, guessing what was written on the note. Feeling everyone's gaze, Ye Mingsheng waved his hand to signal Wang Xuecheng and handed the note to He Jingyun. He Jingyun took the note and his expression changed immediately. He said to Ye Mingsheng very seriously:

"Sir, I suggest that the Seventh Division be withdrawn immediately! Your safety cannot be compromised!"

Ye Mingsheng nodded with a smile and said:
"Since Xu Zhaojie has given me such a great gift, wouldn't it be unfair to him if I don't eat it? Let Zhang Meng lead his troops back and make plans carefully!"

"Yes!"

Following Ye Mingsheng's order, He Jingyun immediately began to make arrangements. The first step was to order Zhang Meng's troops of the Seventh Division, which had just entered the Hebei-Henan area yesterday, to withdraw to Zhuo County within two days, otherwise they would be subject to military law!
The second order was to impose a curfew and martial law on Zhuo County, and to mobilize all the surrounding militia to enter Zhuo County to assist in defending the city. Only after completing these two steps in one go did He Jingyun disclose the battle situation to all the staff officers of the General Staff Department...
Cao Changping was very angry about the Fengwu Army's southward invasion of Hebei and Henan. He knew that after the Fengwu Army took over Hebei and Henan, the next target would most likely be him. However, facing Gao Zongchang's request for help, Cao Changping, as the governor of Hebei and Henan, knew very well that he did not have the ability to resist the Fengwu Army. If he rashly stood up for Gao Zongchang, he would instead bring trouble to himself and attract the Fengwu Army.

Therefore, under the various benefits promised by the Fengwu Army and the dissuasion of his subordinates, Cao Changping finally chose to acquiesce, pinning his hopes on the Fengwu Army keeping its promise and making a strategic shift, stopping its southward advance and moving westward instead, making him a buffer zone between the Fengwu Army and Xu Zhaojie.

Although he hoped so, Cao Changping was still unable to sleep or eat under the powerful military threat of the Fengwu Army. At this time, Xu Zhaojie noticed the changes in Cao Changping's heart, and sent his cousin Xu Kai to visit Cao Changping and proposed a deadly plan.

The specific content of this plan is that Xu Zhaojie personally led a large army to the southeastern part of Hebei and Henan, pretending to be ready for a decisive battle with Ye Mingsheng in Hebei and Henan, so as to attract Ye Mingsheng's attention to him.

At this time, Xu Zhaojie’s favorite general Dong Cheng will lead 5,000 Anqing cavalrymen, and will secretly start from Suzhou, pass through Teng County of Qi and Lu, and the surrounding areas of Yicheng, and rush 800 miles straight to Zhuo County. The primary target is Ye Mingsheng who is now stationed in Zhuo County. The secondary target is to destroy all the supplies of the Fengwu Army stationed in Zhuo County, and what Cao Changping has to do is to withdraw all the Qi troops along the way...
It has to be said that Xu Zhaojie's move was really accurate and ruthless. He wanted to completely destroy the Fengwu Army regime in one fell swoop. He knew very well that although Ye Mingsheng had Ye Jingren as his heir, Ye Jingren was too young to take power. In order to ease the class contradictions under his rule, strengthen his power and expand fiscal revenue, Ye Mingsheng almost implemented a high-pressure rule on the privileged class headed by the aristocratic families under his rule.

This kind of high-pressure rule was naturally not a problem when Ye Mingsheng was alive. Ye Mingsheng firmly controlled the military power and his prestige among the people was at its peak. Anyone who said no would have their property confiscated and their family exterminated the next day. At least on the surface, no one in the Youyan and Liaoyang areas dared to go against Ye Mingsheng.

However, as long as Ye Mingsheng dies, no one in the Fengwu Army will be able to stand up with enough prestige and ability to balance the interests of all parties within the Fengwu Army. Those aristocratic families suppressed by Ye Mingsheng will certainly think of counterattacking. So there is no doubt that the Fengwu Army, which now seems to be invincible and warmongering, will fall into a state of disunity.

Of course, even if Ye Mingsheng was lucky enough to escape the disaster, he must know that Zhuo County was the logistics center of the Fengwu Army in the Hebei-Henan war. A large amount of supplies shipped from Youyan and Liaoyang were stored here and then transported to Hebei and Henan.

Originally, the southward march to swallow up Hebei and Henan was not in the Fengwu Army’s plan. It was a war decided by Ye Mingsheng who wanted to seize the strategic opportunity. Although the Fengwu Army’s finances had been greatly increased due to a series of reforms implemented by Ye Mingsheng...
However, due to Ye Mingsheng's continuous export of wars, the treasury has not saved much money and grain. This time, he went south to swallow up Hebei and Henan, and he had to grit his teeth to support himself financially. Therefore, as long as the Fengwu Army's supplies in Zhuo County were destroyed, the Fengwu Army would not be able to gather enough logistical supplies in a short period of time, and the war in Hebei and Henan would inevitably be unable to continue. In this way, the 100,000-strong army would be forced to retreat.

If Ye Mingsheng missed this opportunity, he would not know when he would launch a war to the south. Xu Zhaojie bought himself time to take Huainan.

Don’t be fooled by the fact that Ye Mingsheng was chatting and laughing in front of everyone just now, as if nothing had happened, but in fact he was just pretending.

Upon learning the news that 5,000 Anqing cavalrymen had launched a surprise attack on Zhuo County, Ye Mingsheng felt a little scared. After all, in order to take over Hebei and Henan as soon as possible and avoid turning the war into a protracted war of attrition, in addition to leaving Lin Huaiwu's Second Army in Yunbing to guard against Shangguan Hongyuan, and leaving troops in Yijing for defense, he had already tried his best to put all the troops in his hands into the battle in Hebei and Henan, in order to end the battle in Hebei and Henan as soon as possible and reduce financial expenditure and burden.

Therefore, apart from the local militia, the regular troops of the Fengwu Army in Zhuo County are only the 1,000-man guard battalion brought by Ye Mingsheng and the 1,000-man Zhuo County City Defense Battalion. If they had not received the news and were able to make preparations in advance, but were suddenly attacked by 5,000 elite cavalry from Anqing without any preparation, the consequences would be disastrous!
It has to be said that Xu Zhaojie had calculated everything to the core, but he had never expected that the news would leak out. As a result, the 5,000 cavalrymen, who had lost their surprise, would be transformed from the sharp knife that could kill Ye Mingsheng into a delicious meal for Ye Mingsheng...
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Yijing, Governor's Mansion

The Great Zhou ruled the world with filial piety. Filial piety was taken very seriously both in the court and among the people. There was also a rule in the Ye family governor's office that every ten days, female relatives from all parties would come to meet Ye Cui under the organization of An Miaoyi to demonstrate filial piety.

There is no fixed content for this regular meeting. Generally, the old lady will chat with Ye Cui, eat, watch plays, and stroll in the garden. Or, because Ye Cui is a devout Buddhist, the old lady will recite Buddhist scriptures with her. There is no fixed time limit. If it is fast, it will be half an hour, and if it is long, it will be a whole morning. Those who are very popular with the old lady, such as An Miaoyi and Jinyu, may stay with her longer.

Ye Cui's preference for the women around Ye Mingsheng was actually very simple. Because they were all from aristocratic families, she would look up to women like An Miaoyi who came from a noble family and had a clean background. She would also like to take care of people like Jinyu around her.

People like Bai Yuanyuan, Pei Zhixiu, and Shen Yutong are not very popular and their attitude is a little cold. However, Ye Cui is not a mean person. Although she doesn't like you, she will not make things difficult for you or embarrass you on purpose.

Based on this principle, Murong Qingwu, who came from the top family of the Great Zhou Dynasty and was known as the most talented woman in the world, was naturally liked by Ye Cui. Of course, considering An Miaoyi's feelings, Ye Cui was not too enthusiastic about Murong Qingwu...
(End of this chapter)