Chapter 316 - The Siege of the Jiang Family (1/2)
Father…
Ling Zhang gazed at Ling Zhaowu, somewhat stunned. He’d never expected to hear such words from his father, which he found quite enlightening.
“Dai Cheng and w.a.n.g Cai are the second threat you’re faced with. Currently, apart from the Southern City Garrison Battalion and the garrison of Cangzhou, the garrison of Yanzhou are also in Cangzhou. Though they have suffered some casualties, they are still a ma.s.sive force. Once he turns against us, we won’t be able to defend this city against his attack. Also, you should dismiss the illusion that the rebel army in Cangzhou are holding Dai Cheng back. All those rebels were originally common folk. They rose in revolt because they had no other choice. The uprising could be suppressed by force, but it’s also possible that the rebels would accept amnesty and surrender if the terms are appealing enough.
When you’re considering how to use the Fang family to eliminate all restive rivals in one fell swoop, you’re overlooking the fact that the Fang family and the Eighth Prince should be the least of your concerns.”
A deathly hush descended in the room after Ling Zhaowu finished his remarks.
The Right Prime Minister suddenly rose to his feet, stepped up to Ling Zhaowu, made a bow with hands folded in front, and then straightened himself to look at the others. “Brother Ling is right. Presently, the Jiang family and Cangzhou are our greatest threat.”
Zhao Zheng also came to himself. “The Jiang family have been quiet all along over the past few weeks, but I’m afraid that might be a spurious impression.”
“Now that we’ve come to realize this, it’s not too late to act. We still have time. The Jiang family have shut their front gates and stopped receiving visitors, so even if they have covertly done something, it shouldn’t have been very fruitful, given the restrictions they’re under. The Jiang family is different from the Fang family. Those roped in by the Fang family are no doubt uncertainties, but those that could be swayed by the Jiang family don’t necessarily have the intention of helping the Eighth Prince, so we should not show the Jiang family any mercy. We must snuff it out before it gets too strong,” added Ling Zhaowu.
“What do you have in mind, Brother Ling?” The Right Prime Minister looked at him.
“Just fabricate a charge against the Jiang family and have the troops besiege their house. Kill anybody who tries to go in or out of the house without permission. The Jiang family have lost their power, and the imperial household couldn’t even protect themselves. The Jiang family naturally wouldn’t be able to make any trouble if they couldn’t leave their house. Take a firm hand with them, so that those swayed by the Jiang family would see that taking the Jiang family’s side is not a smart move,” said Ling Zhaowu.
“Maybe we should just kill them,” suggested Commander Xie.
Ling Zhaowu looked at him. “If we kill them right now, there will be resistance, which is totally unnecessary.”
“The Jiang family… Well, it’s common knowledge that the Jiang family maintained a growing network of influential contacts in Cangzhou for many years. If the Jiang family are found involved in the Cangzhou insurrection, that should be a crime serious enough for their residence to be ringed by troops,” said the Right Prime Minister.
Ling Zhaowu gave him an appreciative look, feeling that this man was worthy of his post, that he thought faster than anybody else after coming to realize the situation. He probably had already figured out what the next step should be.
“I’ll handle the Jiang family. I need you to cooperate with me, Commander Xie.” The Right Prime Minister looked at Commander Xie.
“No problem. Just tell me what you want me to do.”
“What about Cangzhou?” Zhao Zheng sounded a trifle hesitant. “Can we just kill Dai Cheng?”
“Killing Dai Cheng is a must. Hasn’t Yuwen Tong already sent someone to Cangzhou to keep things in check? We need to give him a hand,” observed Ling Zhaowu. “Speaking of killing Dai Cheng, you are all civil officials and I’m afraid your knives might not be sharp enough. Leave it to me.”
Ling Zhang was secretly amazed, but he didn’t show it on his face.
The Right Prime Minister and the others watched Ling Zhaowu casually talk about killing Dai Cheng, and then looked at Ling Zhang’s calm face, all of them rather shocked.
…
“Your Lords.h.i.+p, who’s that Ling Zhaowu guy exactly? This person doesn’t seem like a n.o.body at all. Not only were his remarks pungent, he was also emanating a blood-curdling air.”
After Ling Zhang and Ling Zhaowu left the residence, Zhao Zheng and the couple of others cl.u.s.tered around the Right Prime Minister and one of them expressed his opinion in a carry-over of fear.
The Right Prime Minister shook his head. “I don’t know that either. It seems that the Marshal indeed never does anything without a plan. Ling Zhang and his father have a force at their back which is unknown even to me. It is these two people who are the most powerful weapon Yuwen Tong deployed in this city.”
All the others were privately taken aback at these words.
The Right Prime Minister cast them a glance. “I think all of you heard that remark of Ling Zhaowu’s just now. If any of you once had connection with the Jiang family, I suggest you forget about it completely. Otherwise…”
His piercing eyes swept across them, lifting the hair on their scalp.
…
On their way back home, Ling Zhang looked at Ling Zhaowu. “Father, is there anything you’re not telling me?”
Ling Zhaowu’s conduct at the meeting had come as a great surprise to him. For an instant, he had even felt that the man sitting beside him were Yuwen Tong. The air about him had been so reminiscent of Yuwen Tong’s…
Ling Zhaowu said, “I’ll tell you some secrets when the time is ripe.”
Their eyes met. Ling Zhang gazed fixedly at him, eager to ask him whether or not those secrets had anything to do with the questions that had been baffling him all this time, but for some reason, he was unable to say those words that had sprung to the tip of his tongue. Subconsciously, he felt that that was too absurd.
After a few moments’ silence, Ling Zhang sat up straight and withdrew his eyes.
“Just now you told them to leave that to you. When do you plan to do it? Yue Qi had orders from Yuwen Tong to go to Cangzhou to deal with two things. Offering a.s.sistance to the General Zhongwu (AKA the General of Loyalty and Valor) is one of them. The other is to kill Dai Cheng.”
“It’s not me who’s going to do anything. Right now I have limited powers and I’m not capable of handling a task like that. It’s your grandfather who’s going to do it,” replied Ling Zhaowu.
“Grandfather?” Ling Zhang was astonished. “Grandfather is going to Cangzhou?”
“Your grandfather had Ji Chaofang go to Cangzhou. He set off on the journey when we left home this morning. The Millennium Pavilion probably has covertly planted some men in Cangzhou as well. Though not in big numbers, they’re all capable of handling important tasks. Dai Cheng won’t be able to survive.”
“Did you mean it when you said that Dai Cheng would choose to offer the rebels amnesty in exchange for their surrender if he stays alive?”