Chapter 612 The real plot!
It took Xu Zhaojie half an hour to calm down the sadness brought by Xu Kai's death and whispered:
"Come in·····················"

Hearing Xu Zhaojie's call, Liu Chaohu, the deputy general, immediately walked into the tent and came to Xu Zhaojie's side cautiously.

"How did Xu Kai die?" Xu Zhaojie lowered his head and asked in a deep voice:
Liu Chaohu organized his words and said:
"I have just inquired about this. Zeng Chao, the brother-in-law of Cao Changping, did this without telling Cao Changping. Zeng Chao's father and elder brother both died at our hands. He hates us to the core and has been clamoring for you to pay with blood. So this time, he got the news that Xu Kai had come to Licheng from somewhere, so he took advantage of the night and led his soldiers to raid the inn where Xu Kai was staying."

"Cao Changping had arranged a lot of guards for Xu Kai, so although Zeng Chao's attack was sudden, the guards still protected Xu Kai and helped him break out. Xu Kai was almost safe, but he was shot in the neck by an arrow from nowhere and died on the spot! Zeng Chao has been detained by Cao Changping, but I heard that many people in the Qi army pleaded for Zeng Chao. I think Cao Changping will not do anything to Zeng Chao in all likelihood."

Listening to Liu Zhaohu's story, Xu Zhaojie's eyes flashed with a gleam of light and he asked coldly:

"What has the Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Department, Su Yi, who was sent to Licheng by the Fengwu Army, done recently?"

"There is no news about him from Licheng!"

Liu Zhaohu shook his head and said, he seemed to realize something and asked Xu Zhaojie tentatively:

"My Lord, are you saying that the Fengwu Army is behind this?"

Xu Zhaojie's eyes flashed with sternness and he said angrily:

“No matter whether it has anything to do with the Fengwu Army, since my brother died in Licheng, someone has to be buried with him…”

"Tell our people in Licheng! Send Su Yi's head back to me within seven days. I want to use his head to sacrifice to my brother's spirit in heaven!"

"Yes!"

Seeing Xu Zhaojie so angry, Liu Chaohu's expression became serious. Fearing that he would be implicated, he immediately wanted to follow the order and leave. However, he was still a step too late. Just when he was about to walk out of the tent, Xu Zhaojie's voice came from behind him again.

"Is there any news from Dong Cheng now?"

Facing Xu Zhaojie's question, Liu Zhaohu was stunned at first, then turned to Xu Zhaojie and said;
"Not yet! But please rest assured, sir. We have been closely following the movements of General Dong's troops. We will send you the news as soon as we have it!"

After saying this, Liu Chaohu observed Xu Zhaojie's expression and added:
"Your Majesty, don't worry too much. Ye Mingsheng is only a human, not a god. Even if he racked his brains, he would never have thought that you would send General Dong to go through Qi and Lu to kill him. In my opinion, General Dong must have taken Ye Mingsheng's head by now, and will soon come back to tell you the good news!"

Although he knew that Liu Zhaohu's words were meant to comfort him, Xu Zhaojie still felt a little more comforted and felt much better after hearing these words···························
After a pause, Xu Zhaojie ordered in a deep voice:
"Send a message to Wang Dai, tell his 30,000 troops to stop advancing!"

Liu Chaohu was a little surprised when he heard this. He said in confusion:
"General Wang's 30,000 troops have already arrived in Bozhou. In two days, they will reach Xiaohe Mountain, and we can then launch an attack on Fengqiu! Now the main force of the Yu Army has been almost completely wiped out by the Fengwu Army. The Yu Army now only has Yujing City. As long as General Dong kills Ye Mingsheng, the Fengwu Army will be defeated immediately, and the Central Plains will be in your pocket!"

Xu Zhaojie shook his head and said:

"There is a popular saying, 'Eat as much rice as your stomach can hold!' This saying is crude but it makes sense. I don't have such a big appetite to eat up Ji and Yu, not to mention that we have to use troops in Ji and Yu. What do you think Feng Keqin will do?"

After hearing what Xu Zhaojie said, Liu Zhaohu suddenly realized and said with some shame:
"Your Majesty is far-sighted, and I am short-sighted. If Feng Keqin knew that we were going to deploy troops in Hebei and Henan, he would definitely launch a counterattack in the Kangyin area, trying to drive our army out of Huainan, and he might even attack Anqing. By then, our army would be in great trouble as we would be attacked from both sides!"

Seeing that Liu Chaohu had reacted, Xu Zhaojie nodded slightly and then asked again:
"What has Feng Keqin been doing in Anqing recently?"

Liu Zhaohu thought for a moment and replied:
“Initially, after being mediated by Shangguan Hongyuan, Feng Keqin ordered the Huai Army to remain vigilant and build camps in the Kangyin area to prevent our army from counterattacking. However, since they learned that our army turned north, Feng Keqin and his men have been celebrating and have relaxed their vigilance a lot. I heard that Feng Keqin married a mother and daughter a few days ago, and they are living a very happy life...”

Hearing this answer, Xu Zhaojie nodded with satisfaction and said:
"Mr. Feng is about to die this time!"

When these words were spoken, Liu Zhaohu was stunned at first, and then slowly seemed to understand something.

Just when he was about to ask something, Xu Zhaojie nodded to him and said:

"You're right! No matter whether Ye Mingsheng lives or dies this time, I'm going to kill Feng Keqin first!"

Hearing Xu Zhaojie's decisive tone, Liu Chaohu hesitated for a moment and said:
"But if Ye Mingsheng doesn't die and the Fengwu Army takes over Hebei and Henan, there will be no buffer zone between our army and the Fengwu Army, and Anqing will be exposed to the blade of the Fengwu Army!" Xu Zhaojie replied slowly:
"Do you know why I asked Dong Cheng to pass through Qilu this time?"

Without waiting for Liu Zhaohu to answer, Xu Zhaojie sneered and asked himself:
"I just want to drag Cao Changping into this. This guy is so naive that he thinks he can stay out of it. He puts all the blame on me. He thinks Ye Mingsheng is too simple. If Ye Mingsheng is not dead, he will definitely not let him off this time. However, Ye Mingsheng is best at pretending to be a grandson. Who can guarantee that he will ignore Cao Changping for the time being in order to smoothly capture Jiyu, and settle accounts with Cao Changping after capturing Yujing!"

“So I have to instigate further and let Su Yi die in Licheng. As long as Su Yi dies somewhere, Cao Changping will never be able to explain himself, and he will have no way to retreat. He can only fight to the death with Ye Mingsheng. Cao Changping still has 50,000 to 60,000 people under his command. With his help, the Henan Army can hold on for a while. This period of time is enough for us to capture Feng Keqin…”

Listening to Xu Zhaojie's plan, Liu Chaohu gave him a thumbs up in admiration and said:
"My Lord! You are really too powerful. You have manipulated Ye Mingsheng, Cao Changping, Feng Keqin and others into a trance!"

Feng Keqin did not say much about Liu Chaohu's flattery. His heart was full of emotion. Since the moment Cao Changping agreed to his plan, he had been invincible. The only difference was whether it was a big win or a small win. And Dong Cheng and the 5,000 elite cavalry were the price he paid. Regardless of whether they could kill Ye Mingsheng or not, their fate of being annihilated was doomed from the day they set out!
Moreover, with Ye Mingsheng's ability, even if Cao Changping and Gao Zongchang were tied together, they would not be his match. What's more, the Henan Army under Gao Zongchang has been defeated, and Cao Changping is the only one left. He can't do it alone and won't be able to hold on for long. The Fengwu Army may completely take over Qi, Lu, Hebei and Henan within this year. When they meet again, he will encounter a more powerful Fengwu Army. By then, even if he successfully takes over Huainan, his overall strength will still be far inferior to that of the Fengwu Army!
When Xu Zhaojie thought of this, he felt a huge pressure and his heart was full of bitterness and desolation. If he had got the opportunity in Anqing a few years earlier, the situation would never be like it is now. With a sigh, Xu Zhaojie clenched his fists, his eyes full of unwillingness. Although Ye Mingsheng now has everything going for him, as long as he has one breath left, he will fight Ye Mingsheng to the end, and fight to the death!
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Yijing, Renhou Street,
At 1:01 pm in the morning, several simple and elegant carriages, escorted by dozens of city patrol officers, stopped at the gate of the Bai Mansion. A plump and beautiful woman with a charming figure and jewels came in. With the careful support of her maid, she slowly got off the carriage and walked towards the gate. As if she felt the envious and jealous gazes of the people on both sides of the road, a proud smile appeared on her fair and charming face.

"Whose wife is this? She is so charming and attractive, and she has the City Patrol leading the way?"

"This Bai family is a new family, right? Why haven't I heard of them before?"

"This young lady has such a beautiful figure, her husband might die of exhaustion on her at night!"

"Brother, be careful with your words! This Bai family moved here from Liaoyang. It is said that they have a deep relationship with Marshal Ye!"

"I heard that the Bai family was originally a country bumpkin in Liaoyang, but the old man of the Bai family was good at giving birth. He gave birth to a daughter who was as beautiful as a fairy. She became the concubine of our Marshal Ye. Now, one of them has achieved success and the whole family has benefited greatly. His two sons, one civil and one military, have both become high-ranking officials in the Fengwu Army!"

"Ah! So, that young lady just now must be Marshal Ye's wife! Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

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Amid the faint sounds of common people's conversation, Bai Yuanyuan walked into the Bai Mansion. Her father Bai Wanhao, her two sisters-in-law Cui and Hu, as well as a group of maids and servants in the mansion were standing at the door waiting for her.

"My daughter greets my father!" Bai Yuanyuan bowed and said in front of Bai Wanhao:
As soon as Bai Yuanyuan bowed, Bai Wanhao, with a smile on his face, carefully helped his daughter up and said,

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry, but you have to be careful!"

"Ok!"

After talking to her father, Bai Yuanyuan went to meet her two sisters-in-law, Cui and Hu, one after another. Although they were sisters-in-law, because of the difference in status, Cui and Hu were very polite to Bai Yuanyuan, and even their expressions and behaviors were somewhat respectful.

Just a week ago, Bai Yuanyuan, who had been longing to be inseminated by Ye Mingsheng, finally got her wish and successfully became pregnant with Ye Mingsheng's child. Coincidentally, at this time, Bai Yuanyuan's father, Bai Wanhao, made a major decision to move his family to Yijing for the future development of the family. So at this time of double happiness, Bai Yuanyuan asked Ye Cui and An Miaoyi to let her go home to visit her parents.

Because Bai Yuanyuan and An Miaoyi have a very good relationship, with the help of An Miaoyi, Bai Yuanyuan successfully got permission to return to the Bai family to stay for a day. Since she entered the Ye Mansion, she has never seen her family again, so Bai Yuanyuan missed her family very much. After getting permission, she immediately took action.

After the conversation, the whole family came to the main hall and sat down. Bai Yuanyuan asked the maids and servants to give the gift she brought home to Bai Wanhao as if she was presenting a treasure.
"Dad, this is a glass lamp, a new product made by the Second Manufacturing Bureau. If you add some kerosene to it, it will burn brighter than a candle. My husband personally supervised the Second Manufacturing Bureau to make it. After it was made, Director Su immediately sent a batch to the Governor's Office. Now the Governor's Office uses this at night, which is much better than candles! Dad, try it. If you find it useful, I'll send some over in a few days!"

As she spoke, Bai Yuanyuan asked her maid to demonstrate the usage of the glass lamp. Looking at the brilliant firelight under the glass lampshade, Bai Wanhao and other members of the Bai family all showed surprised expressions.

Seeing this, Bai Yuanyuan showed a reserved and implicit smile on her face, then took out a jar of brewed wine from the gift and handed it to Bai Wanhao and said;

"Dad, this is the treasure of Ren De Tang. It is a medicinal wine made by Doctor Li Tuo of Ren De Tang using 30-year-old ginseng and dozens of auxiliary ingredients. It is a tonic. Doctor Sun said a few days ago that you are not energetic enough. You can use this to replenish your body!"

If he was just surprised by the glass lamp just now, then when he saw the jar of medicinal wine handed over by his daughter, Bai Wanhao's eyes were full of surprise. Li Tuo of Rendetang was a well-known miracle doctor in the whole Zhou Dynasty. It was rumored that this old gentleman had the ability to revive the dead. What kind of medicinal wine could he make with his own hands?

Although he liked it very much, Bai Wanhao did not lose his composure. He looked at the jar of medicinal wine with some regret, then looked away and shook his head to refuse:

"Yuanyuan, this is a priceless treasure! Doctor Sun has already prescribed other medicines for Dad, and Dad can't use this one! Listen to Dad and take it back. Who knows what the Governor's Mansion may need it for something..."

(End of this chapter)