Chapter 80: Provocation

The stars across the sky gathered into a silvery river hanging in the summer night sky.

In the darkness, a suppressed scream suddenly rang out in the Zhang Family's secret chamber.

The Steward, Zhang Yue, who was guarding outside the door, could not help but shiver; that was the voice of Zhang Kang.

"Spare me, my lord, spare me." Zhang Kang knelt on the ground, using his hands to block the whip that Tuoba Lie was swinging down.

But the more he did so, the higher Tuoba Lie raised his whip.

"Do you see the wounds on your face? This is what the Great King bestowed; this is all your doing, isn't it?" Tuoba Lie whipped Zhang Kang fiercely once again.

Seeming tired, he did not continue, but sat down before the table. "Back then, you suffered endless bullying in the Zhang Family; it was I who racked my brains to have you marry into the Yuan Family so you could have today, and this is how you do things?"

Zhang Kang felt pain all over his body as if he were being cut by knives, but he dared not show a hint of resentment. "Commander, it is this lowly one's fault, it is this lowly one's incompetence that caused you to be reprimanded by the Great King. This lowly one has already beaten the brat who was tailing us half to death and thrown him into the Water Prison. I guarantee that such a slip-up will never happen again."

Tuoba Lie breathed heavily. "It had better be so, otherwise I won't survive, and don't think you will live either. But this humiliation cannot just be let go; I must vent this anger."

Zhang Kang crawled to Tuoba Lie's feet. "My lord, this lowly one has a way to make Yan Wang look bad without us wasting any effort."

"Speak." Tuoba Lie's eyes were full of anger; he had never suffered such a great grievance before.

While killing Yan Wang during the Autumn Hunt was indeed part of the plan, he wanted to make Yan Wang uncomfortable before that as well.

"My lord, this time not only did the Great King gain nothing, but the Yuan Family also gained nothing. This lowly one has already written a secret letter prepared to be sent to Fanyang. Yuan Li has always been stingy and tyrannical; upon learning that his things were snatched by Yan Wang, he will certainly make things difficult for Yan Wang."

He paused, then continued: "Moreover, the Yuan Family has always viewed Yanzhou as their own backyard. Yan Wang is recruiting soldiers and buying horses in Yan Commandery, which already displeased him, and the last time Mo Di came, it made Yuan Li even more suspicious."

Tuoba Lie nodded. "But are you not afraid he will blame you for leaking the news of this transaction?"

Zhang Kang said: "This lowly one will just say that there was a traitor in Qingfeng Stronghold, and incidentally expose the matter of Tianxiang Lou. By then, I fear even Tianxiang Lou will be in trouble."

"Hmm, you still have some brains." Tuoba Lie turned his anger into a smile. "Also, you must find Song Ya first; he cannot fall into the hands of Yan Wang, otherwise your entire Zhang Family will be finished."

Zhang Kang's face turned pale.

After being ambushed by Yan Wang's army, Song Ya's life or death remained unknown to this day.

But as Tuoba Lie said, Song Ya held many secrets.

If Yan Wang captured Song Ya, Yan Wang would possess hard evidence of the Zhang Family and the Yuan Family's dealings with the Northern Di, and that would be troublesome.

"This lowly one has already sent people to look for him. Once he is found, immediately..." Zhang Kang made a throat-slitting gesture.

Qingfeng Stronghold was already finished; now, Song Ya had no value to him, and instead had become a burden.

Tuoba Lie's tightly furrowed brows relaxed, as if he approved of Zhang Kang doing so.

Remembering the task Kutu had given him, he said: "Of course, the most important thing is the Autumn Hunt. From now on, you are to select death-sworn men to infiltrate Yancheng. You must ensure that even if the Zhang Family is slaughtered to the last by Yan Wang, these death-sworn men will provide support as scheduled."

"Yes, my lord." Seeing Tuoba Lie's serious expression, Zhang Kang's heart rose to his throat.

Tuoba Lie seemed tired and waved his hand, letting Zhang Kang leave.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Zhang Kang bowed and hurried out of the secret chamber.

At this moment, he saw Zhang Yue waiting outside the door, and his anger flared; he slapped Zhang Yue across the face repeatedly.

"Trash, what kind of people did you find? You can't even handle such a small matter," Zhang Kang cursed.

Zhang Yue only nodded and bowed, not daring to argue.

Just then, a servant walked over hurriedly. "Master,

the brat in the Water Prison has stopped breathing."

"If he's dead, throw him in the mass grave," Zhang Kang roared impatiently and headed straight back to the study.

Inside the study, he sealed the secret letter and sent someone to deliver it to Fanyang.

"Yan Wang, I am not having a good time, and you won't be comfortable either." Zhang Kang gritted his teeth, wishing only for the day of the Autumn Hunt to arrive sooner.

One day later.

Yuan Li received Zhang Kang's secret letter, read its contents, and slammed the letter onto the table.

"Yan Wang, it's Yan Wang again!" Yuan Li looked at the sword hanging on the wall, picked it up, and left. "Someone, mobilize five thousand Cavalry and follow me to Yan Commandery."

"Prefect, what has happened to you?" Seeing Yuan Li read the letter and immediately prepare to mobilize troops, Guo Tu was shocked.

Yuan Li ignored him and walked straight outside.

Guo Tu was stunned and hurriedly picked up the letter to read it.

"My lord, you must not be reckless." Understanding the cause and effect, Guo Tu hurriedly chased after him.

"This brat Yan Wang is truly an eyesore. Not only is he recruiting soldiers and buying horses and flirting with Mo Di, but now he dares to reach his hand to me." Yuan Li cursed as he walked.

He had already received news from Jingshi that his impeachment of Mo Di was not only useless but had actually allowed Yan Wang to obtain the military supply list.

Now, all of Jingshi was praising the miraculous effect of this medicine, and several powerful clans were even thinking of hoarding some.

The Emperor had even sent people to Yan Commandery to appease Yan Wang.

He had been sulking for several days over this matter.

Now that his Refined Iron was gone and three thousand Warhorses were gone, how could he not be angry?

Guo Tu chased and advised, "My lord, three thousand Warhorses are a small matter, but you must absolutely not admit to this incident; otherwise, if it reaches the Imperial Court, it will be disadvantageous to you."

Yuan Li stopped his steps; Guo Tu had reminded him. This matter was extremely sensitive, so naturally, he could not confess it himself.

However, he could not swallow this anger either; he must humiliate Yan Wang.

And there was also that Tianxiang Lou; regardless of who was behind it, he was determined to burn it down.

Thinking of this, he said to Guo Tu: "I have my own plans."

After leaving the manor, he went to the army to assemble the troops and horses, and marched toward Yancheng in a grand manner.

In one day's time, he arrived at Yancheng.

At this time, it was still noon, and the dust raised on the official road caught the attention of the soldiers on the city wall.

The soldiers immediately reported it to Yan Wang.

"A large group of Cavalry!"

Zhao Xu was in the study drawing blueprints; upon receiving the news, he immediately headed toward the city gate.

When he arrived, he saw that Chang Wei was also there.

Outside the city gate, a fat man sat arrogantly on his horse; it was Yuan Li.

Behind Yuan Li were black-armored knights, their formation stretching out into the distance.

"What wind has blown the Prefect here?" Zhao Xu felt a sense of vigilance.

With Yuan Li bringing so many troops and horses, he could easily wage a war.

"This subordinate received intelligence that someone in Yan Commandery is colluding with the Northern Di to smuggle military weapons, so I have specifically brought troops and horses to suppress them. If I have disturbed Your Highness, I hope Your Highness will not take offense." Yuan Li did not dismount, merely offering a slight cupped-fist salute from his horse.

Hearing this, Zhao Xu's brows immediately locked together.

This Yuan Li was a thief crying "stop thief," and having brought so many Cavalry, his intentions were likely malicious.