funbook-pk Chapter 468 Power Struggle: Jia Kui Out of the Game, Dong Bai Worries About Wang Ling's Retalia
Chapter 468 Power Struggle: Jia Kui Out of the Game, Dong Bai Worries About Wang Ling's Retalia
Uncle Dong Baitang arrived at the county town closest to his residence, ordered a few dishes, and inquired with the waiter at the tavern about some major events that had recently occurred in Liangzhou.
Seeing that Uncle Dong Bai was being so generous, the waiter was overjoyed and said with a grin:
"Sir, if we're talking about the biggest recent events, the most significant one is that Liangzhou is about to be returned to the imperial court!"
"Return to the imperial court?"
"Wasn't the emperor seized by that scoundrel Cao Cao and taken to Xuchang a few years ago?"
"Could it be that that fellow has already reached Liangzhou so quickly?"
Upon hearing this, the waiter quickly corrected him:
"Sir, you cannot address Cao Sikong by his full name."
"General Xiahou, who is under Cao Sikong's command, defeated Ma Chao a few days ago."
"The prefects of all the counties in Liangzhou have already handed over hostages and letters of surrender to General Xiahou."
"I heard that the newly appointed Prefect of Liangzhou will be coming to Liangzhou to take up his post soon."
"Including General Xiahou, who will also be stationed in Liangzhou for a long time in the future."
Uncle Dong Baitang was shocked and digesting these explosive news reports.
If he remembered correctly, the last time he came out to gather information from the outside world was during the Battle of Guandu between Yuan Shao and Cao Cao.
Most people in Liangzhou favored Yuan Shao over Cao Cao.
The same applies to the feudal lords.
However, because of Zhong Yao, many minor warlords in Liangzhou did not side with Yuan Shao, but remained neutral.
At the time, people thought that even a hero like Dong Zhuo had fallen.
How could someone like Cao Cao compete with someone like Yuan Shao, who came from the Yuan family, for the throne?
Unexpectedly, Cao Cao not only won, but also unified the north and marched towards Liangzhou.
In an instant, Uncle Dong Baitang realized.
The world has truly changed!
Back home, Uncle Dong Bai told his wife and Dong Bai what he had seen and heard in the outside world.
After hearing this, the lady said worriedly:
"Cao Cao was also one of those who attacked Grand Tutor Dong Zhuo back then. Could he be taking his anger out on the remaining members of my Dong family because of this?"
Uncle Dong Bai waved his hand and said:
"Madam, you are overthinking it."
“Apart from Bai’er, all those of us from collateral branches of the Dong family who are still alive today are like you and me.”
"If Cao Cao doesn't even have the intention to accommodate members of my Dong family, then the world won't remain in his hands for long."
Dong Bai then suddenly raised a question.
"Uncle, Aunt, have you two thought about this?"
"Although Cao Cao won't pursue the matter against us, I'm afraid Wang Yun's clansmen..."
At this moment, Dong Baitang's uncle and aunt fell silent.
The feud between Wang Yun and Dong Zhuo was irreconcilable.
Although Wang Yun is dead, his nephew Wang Ling, as well as most of the Wang family members, are still alive and well.
The Dong family, now reduced to commoners, is worlds apart from the powerful Wang family of Jinyang.
Although the Dong family has now split from a large family into smaller families, and they are no longer in the same county.
But if Wang Ling and his family really want revenge...
Finding them is not difficult.
The atmosphere inside the room gradually became silent.
After a long silence, Uncle Dong Baitang said:
"I heard that Zhang Xiu also serves under Cao Cao."
"Perhaps we can test him."
Dong Bai sighed:
"Uncle, maybe we should stop testing them."
"People's hearts are fickle, and besides, once my grandfather is gone, he's forgotten."
"Who can guarantee that after contacting Zhang Xiu, he won't expose our whereabouts?"
"Ugh……"
"What should we do?"
The three were deeply troubled.
People are knives and servants, and I am fish and meat.
The struggle for power is often extremely brutal.
If they fail, the whole family will suffer.
If Dong Zhuo were still alive, would the Dong family members be so timid and hesitant?
……
Changan
Upon learning that Sima Yi had been appointed as the Prefect of Liangzhou, Wang Ling secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
As a seasoned opportunist, Wang Ling had no desire to be put on the spot.
However, in order to maintain the relationship, Wang Ling also visited Su Yu and Zhong Yao separately.
Zhong Yao's side showed an intention to win over Wang Ling.
Wang Ling appeared genuinely fearful, but in reality, he sneered.
Ha, I'm a fence-sitter! I'll really take sides when the results are almost out!
Otherwise, if I, Wang Ling, make the wrong bet, wouldn't I be completely finished?
But when Wang Ling visited Su Yu...
Su Yu put on a cold face and said to Wang Ling:
"Yan Yun, it's time for your Bingzhou aristocratic families to change your greedy ways."
"Look at that Jia Kui, doesn't he have any shame?"
"I don't know how much money they spent on hype, but people in the academic world are even praising him as a once-in-a-century genius!"
"I will send him to the Minister's residence another day."
"Let Xi Zhicai record his actions and put them on the front page of the Zhongyuan Daily to lash out at him!"
Upon hearing this, Wang Ling broke out in a cold sweat.
Su Yu is targeting him!
These days, Wang Ling and Jia Kui have been getting very close because they both come from prominent families in Bingzhou.
But now, Wang Ling really wants to tell Jia Kui something:
"Get the hell out of here! Don't touch me!"
Feeling lost and uneasy, Wang Ling left Su Yu's residence.
I made up my mind not to antagonize Su Yu.
Su Yu probably can't deal with Zhong Yao right now.
But dealing with Wang Ling was like child's play!
Sometimes, being a fence-sitter is truly despicable.
Zhong Yao's kind words failed to win Wang Ling's heart.
Su Yu's cold face and reprimands made Wang Ling fear him and dare not be his enemy.
……
Suddenly being disliked by Wang Ling, and having his position as the Prefect of Liangzhou also gone, Jia Kui felt completely innocent.
In order to get back into Cao Cao's camp and to dispel Su Yu's hostility towards him.
Jia Kui prepared generous gifts and personally visited Su Yu.
As a result, before they could even enter the door, "doorman Xu Chu" threw them out along with their gifts.
Jia Kui was on the verge of tears, and angrily ran to Zhong Yao's residence to complain to his old patron.
At first, Zhong Yao pretended to calm Jia Kui down a bit, telling him not to be impatient.
There are plenty of opportunities to become an official, and plenty of opportunities to rise to prominence!
But upon learning that Jia Kui had visited Su Yu with gifts, his expression instantly turned cold.
Good heavens, I thought you were a knowledgeable person from a prominent family in Bingzhou, and a staunch supporter of mine.
It turns out that you're just like that scoundrel Wang Ling, a fence-sitter?
Following Su Yu, Jia Kui was also kicked out of the mansion by Zhong Yao.
This has seriously damaged their reputation.
All the hard-earned good reputation has gone down the drain!
Jia Kui is still too young and not as shrewd as he was in history. He has committed a major taboo in factional struggles.
The thing that faction leaders hate most is being two-faced.
People like Wang Ling, Cui Yan, and Lu Yu are seasoned opportunists; everyone knows what kind of people they are, and we never intended for them to be die-hard loyalists.
After all, the oaths these people made were no different from farting; they would still betray others if they were going to.
But Jia Kui was a staunch supporter of Zhong Yao from the very beginning.
When he was recommended for the civil service examination, it was Zhong Yao who gave him a helping hand behind the scenes.
Now, without Zhong Yao's consent, he wants to ease tensions with Su Yu. If Zhong Yao isn't angry, his subordinates will be out of control in the future!
Therefore, Jia Kui was completely eliminated.
Perhaps he can become an official in the future.
But becoming a high-ranking official, a leader in a faction, and reaching the finals are all things that are impossible to achieve.
……