SEC Chapter 356 Jiang Song Seeks Refuge with the Li Family
Chapter 356 Jiang Song Seeks Refuge with the Li Family
When her son wants to ascend the throne, Lü Xiao will be the first to object.
A father stopping his own son from becoming emperor—who would believe that?
Isn't that like lifting a rock only to drop it on your own foot?
After Yang Guang drank the medicine, his breathing gradually became steady, and he fell into a deep sleep.
Yang Ruyi sat by the couch, looking at her father's aged face, and began to ponder again.
It seems unlikely that seizing the throne through legitimate means will be possible.
Even at this point, the Emperor did not consider having Lü Zhen ascend the throne.
Not even a fleeting thought crossed my mind.
In his heart, the throne could only be passed on to the bloodline of the Yang family.
Grandson is ultimately an outsider; he is the child of a married daughter and does not bear the surname Yang.
In the end, it still comes down to force.
Yang Ruyi bit her lip, a resolute glint in her eyes.
I just hope that Lu Xiao, as a father, will be more mindful and think more about his own family.
Stop being so loyal and willing to go through fire and water for the Yang family.
I also hope that Yang You can be rescued.
If an emperor has a tainted reputation, it will reduce the amount of criticism he receives when he is removed from power.
After all, what right does an emperor who has been captured by foreigners and dragged off his horse like a chicken have to continue sitting in that chair?
With Yang Guang falling ill and Yang You being captured, the court was filled with unease and undercurrents.
The Li family, who occupied Bingzhou and half of Hebei, presented a completely different picture.
Active, extremely active.
Like wolves that have caught the scent of blood, they are restless and waiting for their chance to strike.
In Zhuojun, Li Yuanji, the third son of the Li family, was stationed.
Nominally, it was to guard the northern frontier and defend against the recently active Khitan.
In reality, it was about recruiting soldiers and expanding their strength to prepare for future great undertakings.
The people in charge of recruiting soldiers here were Cheng Yaojin and You Junda.
These two are now Li Yuanji's confidants, wielding great power and enjoying unparalleled influence.
Wherever he went, people would bow and scrape, calling him General Cheng or General You.
"Old You, do you think we can never go back?"
Taking advantage of the fact that there were few people around, Cheng Yaojin and You Junda squatted down at the foot of the city wall, munching on dried meat and chatting.
As spies, they came to the Li family to cause trouble.
They sowed discord, fanned the flames, and muddied the waters of the Li family's affairs.
But as things progressed, a change occurred at the imperial court.
Yang Guang fell, and Lü Xiao left.
Although the court was not in complete chaos, the people were unsettled and there was no leader.
Even those of them who were spies outside felt uneasy.
"It's hard to say."
You Junda shook his head.
He also expressed concern about his future.
Not many people knew their identities; Lü Xiao was one, and Yuwen Chenglong was another.
If Lü Xiao and Yuwen Chenglong cannot return from the Western Regions, they will be like kites with broken strings, never to return.
By then, it will be impossible to clear one's name.
"What if we really can't go back to how things were?"
Cheng Yaojin popped the dried meat into his mouth and chewed it continuously.
"What to do? Just keep going."
"Anyway, neither of us has clean hands. If we can't go back, we can't go back. It's not bad to make a living in the Li family."
Although Li Yuanji is not a great guy, he is very generous.
Look at us now, we have money and manpower, we're much better off than we were back in Wagang."
"You're really good at taking things in stride."
Cheng Yaojin cursed, but didn't say anything more.
You Junda is right.
If you can't go back, just keep going.
In this world, who doesn't take things one step at a time?
We don't know what tomorrow will bring, as long as we're alive.
"General Cheng, someone has come to join the army; he's quite skilled."
A soldier ran up quickly, panting, and said to Cheng Yaojin, his face showing a hint of excitement.
Many people have come to join the army these days, but there are really not many who can be considered skilled.
Most of them were starving refugees who came with just a wooden stick to make up the numbers.
"understood."
Cheng Yaojin stood up from the base of the city wall and patted the dirt off his backside.
He winked at You Junda, and the two of them walked unsteadily toward the city gate, one after the other.
Cheng Yaojin was still pondering along the way.
Can you do it?
To what extent will it go?
He'd seen plenty of guys who were out of breath after just three moves.
When they arrived at the city gate, they indeed saw a person waiting there.
Cheng Yaojin looked him up and down, and his heart skipped a beat.
The man appeared to be around thirty years old, and was extremely tall, more than half a head taller than the average person.
His plain white robe, spotless and dust-free, seemed out of place in the wind-swept Zhuojun.
A silver ribbon was tied around her waist, and she wore a pair of black boots. She was as swift and agile as a sword drawn from its sheath.
What is most striking is the silver spear in his hand.
The spear shaft was entirely silver-white, faintly gleaming with a cold light, while the tassel was as red as blood, fluttering gently in the wind.
The spearhead was incredibly sharp; when the sunlight shone on it, it made one's eyes water.
Having traveled all over the country for so many years, Cheng Yaojin naturally knew his stuff.
This gun is no ordinary weapon.
An alarm bell rang in his mind.
This is more than just a skillful move; he's clearly a master!
A master among masters!
You can't just recruit them into your ranks.
If they were to join the Li family, wouldn't that strengthen the Li family's power, making it even more difficult for the imperial court to deal with them?
They must be driven away, preferably to the imperial court.
Although Lü Xiao and Yuwen Chenglong were not in Luoyang, they were spies and had to contribute to the court.
Weaken the Li family's strength by even a fraction.
This is the conduct of a traitor!
As Cheng Yaojin pondered this in his mind, he casually sat down on the chair.
He crossed his legs, took out some jerky from his pocket, and continued to gnaw on it.
They chewed loudly, showing no intention of getting up to greet anyone.
You Junda stood to the side, arms crossed, also looking indifferent.
The two men, one sitting and one standing, looked like two gatekeepers, completely blocking the city gate.
"My name is Jiang Song, courtesy name Yongnian, from Jiangjiabao, Nanyang. I have come here to join the army."
The young man stepped forward, clasped his hands in a gesture of respect.
His voice was neither too loud nor too soft, neither too fast nor too slow, exuding a sense of composure.
Cheng Yaojin paused in his munching on the dried meat, raised his head, and squinted at the other person.
Ginger pine?
Yongnian?
He turned to You Junda and asked in a low voice, "Old You, who is Jiang Yongnian? Have you heard of him?"
"I don't know, I have no idea."
You Junda scratched his head, looking equally bewildered.
Having spent so many years in the martial arts world, he had heard of the names of various heroes and outlaws.
But he really didn't recognize the name Jiang Yongnian.
Jiang Song stood there, watching the two whispering and talking amongst themselves, his lips twitching slightly.
Does it matter who he is?
Didn't they say the Li family was recruiting soldiers and accepting all comers?
Wasn't it said that Li Yuan and his son were courteous to scholars and eager to recruit talented individuals?