Dynasty Call: Low-key Struggle for Hegemony

On the sixth day, Chu Qingyan and Chu Junyan had left unknowingly.

In the past few days, Ma Chao and Zhong Lizhen each led a large army to sweep through the counties of Zhongrong Mansion. As the Wang family left, each county surrendered to Kaicheng one by one.

Li Yuan, who was still in Red Eagle City, received Wu Yao's letter of surrender.

At the house, Li Yuan frowned slightly when he saw the contents of the letter, showing a look of embarrassment.

"Wen He, I want them from Linghong Mansion and Ling Cang Mansion, but I don't want to accept these people from Zhongyi Hall. What should I do?"

When Jia Xu heard Li Yuan's words, he shook his feather fan lightly and smiled very kindly:

"Your Highness, Zhongrong Mansion is under control. We can divide most of our troops into Linghong Mansion. As for the remaining people from Zhongyi Hall, they have taken refuge with His Highness. This is recognition of His Highness, and we can publicize it.

As for the two flag masters Wu Yao and Chen Feihai and some helmsmen, it is better to wait until we arrive at Linghong Mansion. After all, the sky is unpredictable and people have misfortunes and misfortunes. What if they were suddenly killed the night before we arrived at Linghong Mansion? The enemy killed him. "

Li Yuan nodded slowly, looked at Zhao Gao in the corner a little unconfidently, and asked:

"Zhao Gao, which one do you think will come first, tomorrow or the accident?"

"I think the accident came first." Zhao Gao said respectfully from the corner.

"So deeply lonely!"

At this time, a guard outside the door reported:

"Your Highness, someone wants to see you!"

"oh?"

"Can I tell you my identity?"

Li Yuan and Jia Xu looked at each other, with a flash of doubt. Who would be looking for them at this time?

"Tell your highness, they said they are from Huanzhou."

"Huanzhou?"

"Invite them in."

Zhao Gao in the corner lowered his head, and his dark red figure slowly disappeared.

Soon, a group of people entered the lobby.

At first glance, Li Yuan focused on the woman in red. Her long and powerful legs, graceful and undulating figure, like a continuous landscape, a few strands of hair floating to the ears, stunning face, and clear eyebrows But there was a faint hint of heroism.

The woman's movements were sharp and capable, and she cupped her fists and saluted Li Yuan in the main seat:

"Xu Fengwu pays homage to King Chu!"

Li Yuan was moved in his heart, but his expression remained unchanged and his tone was very calm, even with a smile:

"Miss Xu from the Black Dragon Gang, I wonder what the purpose of your visit today is?"

Jia Xu's eyes flashed, then he lowered his eyebrows and sat quietly.

Xu Fengwu smiled and said softly:

"I heard that the King of Chu is very handsome and majestic. However, he has not yet established a concubine, so he came here to ask for his hand in marriage!"

"Propose marriage!"

Not only Li Yuan and Jia Xu, but even everyone behind Xu Fengwu looked shocked.

"I wonder who Miss Xu is proposing to marry?"

"It's the little girl!"

The two asked and answered questions, and the hall suddenly fell into silence.

This made Li Yuan a little confused. Was he being proposed to by someone else?

It is said that the Black Dragon Gang is now joining forces with other forces to deal with King Ming. They are all enemies both emotionally and rationally.

But the Black Dragon Gang's sudden marriage to the royal family is a bit subtle.

Xu Fengwu's expression remained unchanged, and she still looked at Li Yuan with a faint smile, as if she was not the one asking for marriage.

And as Li Yuan's unmarried princess, she just left.

"Your Highness, Lord Xun, please see me!"

The silence in the lobby was broken. Li Yuan breathed a sigh of relief and said to Xu Fengwu:

"Miss Xu, I have some important matters to deal with, so why don't we talk about it another day."

"The King of Chu has many things to do, and it was the young lady who disturbed her. However, the young lady has just entered Red Eagle City and has no place to stay. I sincerely ask your highness to help find a place to stay."

"It's natural."

Li Yuan asked the reporting guard to take them down to find a place to stay.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Xu Fengwu didn't delay at all, and brought everyone to leave with the guards.

As soon as Xu Fengwu walked out of the door, she saw Xun Yu walking in.

Xu Fengwu met Xun Yu's scrutinizing eyes, smiled calmly, and nodded slightly to him.

Li Yuan looked at Xu Fengwu's leaving figure and nodded slightly to Xun Yu who walked in.

"Interesting, isn't Xu Fengwu afraid that the Black Jiao Gang will be retaliated by the Huanzhou Alliance and Fengzhou Alliance?"

"Xu Fengwu? The eldest lady of the Black Dragon Gang?"

Xun Yu immediately knew the identity of the woman just now, looked at Jia Xu and asked:

"The Black Dragon Gang wants to cooperate with us?"

"It's not cooperation, it's marriage!" Jia Xu said with a smile.

"Marriage? Miss Xu and His Highness?" Xun Yu flashed a light, then nodded slowly:

"interesting."

"It seems that the Huanzhou Alliance has a problem that we don't know about."

The two counselors asked and answered, and then looked at Li Yuan.

At this moment, Zhao Gao was also revealed in the corner, with a cold look in his eyes:

"Your Highness, someone from the Zhongyi Hall just sent news that the Black Jiao Gang has contacted Wu Yao. Wu Yao's second option is to join the Black Jiao Gang."

"Has the Black Dragon Gang been looking for Wu Yao?"

Jia Xu's eyes moved, "Then will other forces also invade Lingzhou?"

Xun Yu nodded slowly: "Ximen family!"

"These forces want to take Lingzhou and surround Yizhou."

"Because there were many forces in Lingzhou before, it was difficult for them to intervene because they were afraid of being jointly targeted. But now only our Prince Chu's Palace and the Ximen family who have suffered heavy losses are left in Lingzhou. It is the best time for them to invade."

At this moment, Zhao Gao frowned and said: "The day before yesterday, the net was used to track the departure of the Ximen family, but after they entered Huanzhou, their whereabouts disappeared."

Li Yuan showed a sense of urgency, and it would take time to control Lingzhou.

"It seems that Xu Fengwu should know a lot of news."

Jia Xu and Xun Yu looked at each other, and Xun Yu saluted respectfully:

"Your Highness, if the Black Dragon Gang can unite with us, it will not only reduce the pressure on King Ming, but also help us block the invasion of Huanzhou forces, and we can also invade Huanzhou in the future."

"But is this the intention of the Black Dragon Gang or Xu Fengwu's personal intention?"

Li Yuan just noticed the surprised looks of everyone in the Black Dragon Gang behind Xu Fengwu.

………………

In a large courtyard not far from the Chu Mansion, Xu Fengwu's powerful men were guarding the surrounding area. The female venerable woman was frowning and asking Xu Fengwu.

"Miss, if you make the decision without permission, the gang leader will be angry."

This female venerable is over a hundred years old, has a middle-aged appearance, and has taken care of Xu Fengwu since she was a child.

"Aunt Shan, where do you think the future of the Black Dragon Gang lies?"

"Then you shouldn't make decisions on your own. If the alliance forces find out, our Black Dragon Gang will cause public outrage, especially the Zhou family."

"Haha, the Zhou family, my stupid brothers really want me to marry Zhou Yan, and step by step weaken my prestige in the Black Dragon Gang."

Zhou Yan, the young master of the Zhou family, the top aristocratic family in Huanzhou.

Xu Kuang, the leader of the Black Dragon Gang, has three daughters and seven sons. Xu Fengwu has been as resourceful as a man since she was a child, and is vigorous and resolute in doing things. Among all Xu Kuang's children, she has the highest prestige in the Black Dragon Gang.

Aunt Shan knew that Xu Fengwu had her own strategic ideas, but she still couldn't help but said:

"I know you don't like Zhou Yan, but you can't find someone from the royal family. The King of Chu is our opponent."

"opponent?"

"What force is not our potential opponent in this troubled world?" Xu Fengwu chuckled nonchalantly.

"But the royal family is our common enemy. Only by overthrowing the royal family can we establish ourselves as kings and control our own territory."

Aunt Shan continued to persuade, obviously she strongly disagreed with Xu Fengwu's decision.

"Can you overthrow the royal family?"

Xu Fengwu's calm eyes flashed with coldness:

"At the beginning, the plans of various forces have been cracked by Emperor Yu. Now Emperor Yu is dead, but the four targets he set are still there. Do you think which state has defeated the four kings now?

Each force wants to preserve its strength and let other forces rush to the front. Now, the longer it takes, the more advantageous it is to the four kings. "

Thinking of this, Xu Fengwu's inner thoughts became more and more determined. If all the forces had no reservations at the beginning and sent out all their strength to destroy the four kings, even if they could not directly solve the four kings, they could also comprehensively suppress the four kings and eliminate one or two.

But they knew that this method was the fastest and most direct, but they couldn't work together. They all wanted to preserve their strength for the final battle for hegemony.

As a result, the four kings have not yet been destroyed, the Zhenguo Mansion has not yet emerged, and the imperial court is appeasing the neighboring states of Tianzhou. The combined strength of the various forces is indeed stronger than the royal family, but can they work together?

"Miss, you should know better than me. We are all testing each other now, and the war will become more and more intense. The four kings have been locked up around us, and our troops in the rear are constantly increasing. Sooner or later, the four kings will be eliminated."

"Does it have anything to do with me?"

Xu Fengwu's expression was indifferent, "In the eyes of my father, I will get married sooner or later. Even if the royal family is overthrown and the leaders of various forces establish themselves as kings, I will not be a concubine in the future!"

"Then why don't I go directly to the King of Chu and become his concubine!"

"Then why are you looking for King Chu?" Aunt Shan was even more confused. Although King Chu had defeated Chu Junyan now, his strength was far inferior to the other three kings.

However, just four sages are not enough to guard one state, so how can they attack other states.

It would be better to find King Ming!

If King Ming marries the Black Dragon Gang, he can at least drive out the Zhou family.

Xu Fengwu's eyes sparkled and she was full of heroic spirit:

"The other three kings have strong support behind them, and they already have their main concubines. Do I still want to be a side concubine?

Among the four kings, only King Chu has no power support, and Chu Qingyan has left, so it is destined to be impossible. He is my best choice! "

"What about the gang leader?"

Now that Aunt Shan knows that Xu Fengwu has made up her mind, she will not change. Her eyes show anxiety. What if the alliance discovers that they will kill the Black Dragon Gang first?

Xu Fengwu lightly raised the jade cup, took a sip of tea, and said calmly:

"Actually, my father allowed me to go to Lingzhou. He had already made some assumptions and acquiesced. As long as he was given an acceptable condition and a way to break away from the alliance."

Aunt Shan was shocked and asked:

"Then how do we break away from the alliance without being counterattacked by them?"

"You need to ask King Chu about this."

A beautiful smile appeared on Xu Fengwu's delicate face.

………………

With the departure of Chu Junyan and Chu Qingyan, the one who has the greatest impact is Prince Xuan.

"Lao Wu, Lao Wu, you have posed a difficult problem for the emperor."

In a large city in Danzhou, gunpowder smoke filled the air, and the faint smell of blood floated in the air. It was obvious that a great battle had just occurred.

Knowing that Chu Junyan and Chu Qingyan had left Lingzhou with more than 100,000 elite soldiers, King Xuan showed a helpless smile.

But he was not angry, because if he were in Li Yuan's position, he would let them go and save his energy.

It would take Chu Junyan at least two months to rush back to Zhaozhou from Lingzhou. Two months was enough to change a lot of things, and he still had time to prepare.

"Xingyu, when do you think the fifth child will join forces with the second child?"

Behind Prince Xuan, there were two people following him as he walked in the corridor of the mansion.

One of the literati folded his fan lightly and responded:

"According to King Chu's current strength, even if there is no interference from other forces, it will take at least a year to control Lingzhou. Only after Lingzhou is stabilized can we send out troops."

"One year..."

Prince Xuan shook his head slowly, too slowly.

"I wonder how many talents my father has left for Lao Wu?"

King Xuan obviously also suspected that Xun Yu, Jia Xu, Zhong Lizhen and others were left to Li Yuan by Emperor Yu.

The data and intelligence of Li Yuan's generals and counselors were placed in front of various forces for analysis.

It's easy to say that the counselors and writers are good.

But Tianwu realm generals like Zhong Limei and Ma Chao all need training to grow, and they are capable of commanding troops whenever they appear.

Lu Xingyu lowered his head in silence. Just listen to these words. Who dares to talk nonsense about the late emperor? I don't know if the King of Chu can make it to the end. It's not too late to discuss it after they become opponents.

And King Xuan was not even envious. He had many ministers and powerful generals under his command. He was just lamenting Emperor Yu's methods.

"Your Highness, Chu Junyan is about to return. The Danzhou Alliance seems to be in contact with the Zhenguo Mansion more frequently. After Chu Junyan returns, the Zhenguo Mansion is likely to send troops."

The speaker is another counselor named Yan Hong, who is of medium build and ordinary appearance, but has a special temperament.

Prince Xuan's brows showed solemnity. The mountain of Zhenguo Mansion had been pressing on his heart, and there was no room for him to be careless.

"If Chu Junyan returns, where do you think the Zhenguo Mansion will take action?"

"Qingzhou!" Lu Xingyu said firmly.

Yan Hong on the other side also affirmed: "When Chu Junyan was on his way to Qingzhou, he probably entered Qingzhou with a double attack from the Zhenguo Mansion!"

There were twelve states in the Yu Dynasty, with Zhongzhou located at the center and adjacent to five states.

They are Lianzhou in the east, Fengzhou in the south, Yangzhou in the north, Yanzhou in the northwest, and Qingzhou in the southwest.

Beyond Qingzhou is Danzhou.

Zhaozhou is located between Qingzhou, Danzhou and Yanzhou.

Because there is a Zhenguo government in Zhaozhou, the powerful forces in Yanzhou do not dare to cross Zhaozhou and go around to Danzhou to deal with King Xuan.

Now Qingzhou, which has taken refuge in King Xuan, is fully holding back the attack of Yanzhou forces.

Qingzhou is empty inside. If the Zhenguo government sends troops to join forces with Chu Junyan to attack, Qingzhou will be in danger.

If the Zhenguo Mansion captures Qingzhou, Danzhou will be surrounded by the Zhenguo Mansion.

Prince Xuan frowned, it was indeed a difficult problem.

"Since the Zhenguo Mansion has not taken the bait during this period, we should get rid of these rebels in Danzhou!"

Lu Xingyu and Yan Hong looked at each other and nodded.

"Now the hidden families of the Danzhou Alliance, the He Family and the Yuehai Pavilion, have secretly taken refuge with us. As long as we want to, we can decide the outcome in one battle."

There are a total of five major forces in Danzhou, and Yuehai Pavilion, the weakest of these five forces, is comparable to the Ximen family.

Prince Xuan was not happy when he heard Lu Xingyu's words, "But how should the Zhenguo Mansion be on guard? If the Zhenguo Mansion's army suddenly appears during the war, the consequences will be serious."

Lu Xingyu also frowned, which was why they had not resolved the Danzhou Alliance.

Yan Hong had thought about this problem a long time ago, so he said confidently:

"Your Highness, it's time for us to cooperate with Prince Yu."

On the other side of Yanzhou is Yangzhou, and on the other side of Yangzhou is Liangzhou where King Yu is located.

On the surface, half of the forces in Yangzhou supported King Yu.