Chapter 664: Conspiracy to Eliminate Dissidents
Chapter 664: Conspiracy to Eliminate Dissidents
The Wagang Army is essentially a big underworld, composed of dozens of military leaders of all sizes. Each military leader has his own army, and the seats are arranged according to strength. The strongest is Zhai Rang, who has an army of 30,000. Next is Shan Xiongxin, Xu Shiji, Hao Xiaode and Zhai Hong, who all have an army of more than 10,000. The other generals have several thousand or more than a thousand people.
The rescue operation for Jiyin County was a disastrous defeat, with more than 23,000 people being annihilated. Except for Zhai Rang who suffered the greatest losses, everyone else suffered losses. Everyone hated Li Mi, not only because they thought he instigated Zhai Rang to send troops, but more importantly, Li Mi's suggestion brought them huge losses. Hao Xiaode and Zhai Hong both lost more than 3,000 people.
However, after Zhai Rang died, his army was divided up among the generals. Hao Xiaode and Zhai Hong each received 5,000 men. After Hao Xiaode received the compensation, his resentment was much relieved, but Zhai Hong's resentment towards Li Mi grew day by day.
Zhai Rang is the brother of Zhai Hong, and they are usually protected by their leader Zhai Rang. Zhai Hong is able to call the shots in the Wagang Army and do whatever he wants. Everyone has to give face to Zhai Rang and tolerate what they did. Now that Zhai Rang is dead, no one is willing to tolerate Zhai Hong anymore. What's more important is that Zhai Hong and his son used to bully men and women and rob other armies of their food and territory, making countless people hate them. Now that Zhai Rang is dead, can the past things be let go?
The first person who wanted to get rid of Zhai Hong and his son was Shan Xiongxin. The reason was that Zhai Hong took advantage of Shan Xiongxin's absence from Wagang to humiliate and occupy Shan Xiongxin's concubine. Shan Xiongxin was furious when he heard the news, and went to Zhai Rang to seek justice. As a result, Zhai Rang said, "Brothers are like limbs, and women are like clothes. Don't ruin the relationship between brothers for a piece of clothing." He ordered the concubine to be killed.
Although this matter was suppressed by Zhai Rang, the hatred towards Zhai Hong took root in Shan Xiongxin's heart, so after Zhai Rang's death, Shan Xiongxin wanted to settle the old score with Zhai Hong.
However, it is not right to attack the leader's family just after the death of the leader. But once the idea of revenge arises, it is difficult to suppress it.
Shan Xiongxin found Xu Shiji. After listening to Shan Xiongxin's idea, Xu Shiji said slowly: "Brother, if you want to do great things or become a superior person, you have to let Li Mi become the leader of Wagang. Otherwise, we will be no different from the subordinates of Meng Haigong and Xu Yuanlang. We will be cowardly all our lives. If we follow Li Mi, even if we fail in the end, it will be Li Mi who will die. We will be in a high position wherever we go."
Shan Xiongxin was surprised, "You think so highly of Li Mi?"
"Of course. Li Mi is the representative of the Guanlong nobles. We country bumpkins don't know how to recognize a noble man, and we want to drive him away. It's really stupid. Besides, Li Mi is very talented. It was Zhai Rang who didn't know how to use people, which led to the previous disastrous defeat."
Shan Xiongxin nodded and said, "Brother, you have seen the world. I believe what you said. Li Mi is indeed a noble man, but what happened to the previous disastrous defeat?"
Xu Shiji sighed and said, "Li Mi originally volunteered to lead the army to rescue Meng Haigong, but Zhai Rang was suspicious of him and did not give him the opportunity. Instead, he led the army himself. Li Mi also told Zhai Rang that Zhang Xutuo's strategy was to besiege the city and attack the reinforcements, and he would definitely ambush the Wagang army halfway. We can use his trick against him.
But Zhai Rang refused to listen. Li Mi came to me again and asked me to persuade Zhai Rang. He told me that Zhang Xutuo must have ambushed troops halfway. We should bypass the ambush and attack the troops Zhang Xutuo left in Jiyin County. Zhang Xutuo would definitely come back to rescue after hearing the news. We would ambush Zhang Xutuo halfway and win a great victory. This is a classic counter-siege strategy. But Zhai Rang refused to listen and angrily accused me of being bribed by the Guanlong nobles.
Shan Xiongxin sighed, "If Zhai Rang adopts this strategy, Zhang Xutuo will be defeated."
After a pause, Shan Xiongxin continued, "Let's put the matter of Li Mi on hold. I came to you to discuss how to deal with Zhai Hong. You succeeded in assassinating Yuwen Shu, a great achievement, but you didn't get any credit because of Zhai Hong's opposition. Don't you hate me?"
Xu Shiji nodded and said, "I said Li Mi wants to deal with Zhai Hong!"
Shan Xiongxin was startled, "What do you mean?" Xu Shiji smiled slightly and said, "Brother, have you forgotten the Heavenly Dao Martial Arts Certificate System?"
Shan Xiongxin suddenly woke up from his dream. He and Zhai Rang came to Wagangzhai that year, but Wagangzhai already had an owner at that time. It was occupied by the rebel Cai Jiande. Zhai Rang's army outnumbered Cai Jiande and he wanted to become the master of Wagang, but was worried about hurting the harmony between brothers. So he made an agreement with Cai Jiande to have a duel. In the end, Shan Xiongxin represented Zhai Rang and defeated Cai Jiande, and Cai Jiande gave up his throne.
Zhai Rang thought this method was very good, fair and harmonious, so he established it as one of the three major systems of the Wagang Army, called the Tiandao Wuzheng System, and conflicts were resolved through martial arts competitions.
Later, more and more troops came from Wagang, and more and more conflicts arose. Everyone suggested using the Heavenly Dao Martial Arts System to resolve them. However, Zhai Rang, who proposed the Heavenly Dao Martial Arts System, refused to agree. If everything was to be resolved by the Heavenly Dao or by martial arts competitions, then what was the need for him as the leader?
Shan Xiongxin hesitated and said, "But Zhai Hong's son, Zhai Mohou, is a skilled martial artist with great strength. He is currently known as the best fighter in Wagang. Although Li Mi knows a little bit of martial arts, he is definitely no match for Zhai Mohou!"
Xu Shiji smiled faintly and said: "I have already assigned Zhang Jue and Xiong Kuohai to Li Mi. Li Mi also has 3,000 troops."
Shan Xiongxin was still a little hesitant, "Brother, do you think Zhang Jue and Xiong Kuohai are rivals of Zhai Mohou?"
Xu Shiji shook his head. "That's because my brother doesn't know the true identities of Zhang Jue and Xiong Kuohai. They both came to me for refuge. Zhang Jue was a general of the Southern Chen Dynasty and later became the master of the King of Jin. Xiong Kuohai was one of the three greatest masters in the world, second only to Shi Wansui and Yuwen Chengdu. He was the best master under the Crown Prince Yang Yong. Because he didn't take good care of the King of Ancheng, Yang Jun, he was eventually killed by a military riot in Queshu Valley. Xiong Kuohai has been a fugitive ever since."
Shan Xiongxin was puzzled to hear this. Zhang Jue and Xiong Kuohai actually had such identities? He asked puzzledly: "Why didn't Zhang Jue surrender to the King of Jin?"
Zhang Jue wanted to rebel against the Sui Dynasty, while the Prince of Jin was a defender of the Sui Dynasty. The two had completely different ideas, so they naturally parted ways. Zhang Jue's niece is currently the Prince of Jin's concubine.
Shan Xiongxin nodded, "I understand. Then how do we provoke a duel between Zhai Hong and Li Mi?"
Xu Shiji narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Doesn't Zhai Hong also want to be the leader? Let Li Mi openly oppose. Zhai Hong will definitely want to kill Li Mi. We will use the Heavenly Dao Martial Arts System to resolve the issue. As long as Zhai Mohou is killed, Zhai Hong will be the fish on my brother's chopping board. But let's make it clear first, Zhai Hong's army will be given to Li Mi."
Shan Xiongxin said happily: "As long as Li Mi can lead us to great things, I am willing to make him the leader of Wagang!"
(End of this chapter)