693: Chapter 142 Water and Fire_1 693: Chapter 142 Water and Fire_1 Sudden rain poured down in buckets.
The urgent sound of the rain made this night even more indifferent.
To attack the strong with the weak, one must exert all their strength, Zhuang Country had no privilege to hold back.
Therefore, Xin’an City was now weaker than ever before, with not even enough soldiers to maintain basic public order.
The battle that took place on the streets of Zhuang Country’s capital lasted for a long while without anyone coming to the rescue.
The heavy rain relentlessly battered the long street, and this weighty accusation lasted a long ti before people in the rooms on both sides of the street warily ventured out into the rain to observe the situation.
What they could only see was a body dismbered into six parts.
The corpse of Zhuang Country’s Vice Chancellor, Dong Ah.
When Jiang Wang took action, it was just to kill Dong Ah thoroughly, but he factually created such a grueso death.
The soldiers who received the report rushed to seal off the scene and nearly fainted after identifying the identity of the deceased.
Those officials who had been dispersed by Dong Ah to rest earlier, gradually gathered at Wenhua Pavilion, yet for a long ti, they couldn’t co up with a strategy.
Until… Zhu Weiwo, wrapped in fierce flas, flew in from the border town of Yingge City, breaking through the veil of rain.
…
…
Zhu Weiwo probably never considered Lin Zhengren a rival, ever since that ti he took a boat straight to Wangjiang City, after which Lin Zhengren chose not to engage in battle, Zhu discarded this na from his mind.
Later on, when he lent his spear to Jiang Wang and passed on a ssage that if Lin Zhengren dared to bully others with his cultivation, he would beat him every ti they t, it could be said that his disdain reached the extre.
And indeed, Lin Zhengren endured it in silence, never directly contending.
However, in Lin Zhengren’s heart, the only opponent he truly cared about was Zhu Weiwo.
Of course, now he probably had to add that man who broke into the Lin Family Land at night, wearing a mountain ghost mask.
Zhuang Country waged this war with all its available fighting forces, while those at the top left only Zhu Weiwo behind in the country.
This unspoken expectation made Lin Zhengren feel an intense urgency; he was well aware that in the hearts of the Zhuang Country’s higher-ups, Zhu Weiwo’s importance had already surpassed all young talents and was indeed being treated as the core of the future.
But urgency was just urgency, he Lin Zhengren would never give up.
This Zhuang Yong battle was a good opportunity, where Zhu Weiwo was certainly entrusted with expectations and even considered by so high-level officials in Zhuang Country as a “fallback plan,” a “seed for the future.” However, this also ant that he would accomplish nothing on the Zhuang Yong battlefield.
If he could perform well in this very crucial war and accumulate enough rits, he might rise to the top.
It was with this thought in mind that Lin Zhengren refused to allow anyone to affect his actions.
Leading people to raid around Yong Country’s Lingbei Prefecture and driving civilians to Suolong Gate was not a complicated task, one only needed to be ruthless.
And he had executed it splendidly.
At this mont, Lin Zhengren stopped in mid-air, bowing to a red-faced old man who had hurried over.
“Priest, have you co here suddenly because there is so urgent military intelligence to announce?”
This red-faced elder was Zhang Ren, the Priest of Guodaoyuan.
The head of Guodaoyuan was customarily a concurrent post with the Pri Minister, but the Pri Minister did not have the spare energy to manage the specific affairs of Guodaoyuan.
In reality, the actual head of the Guodaoyuan was the Priest.
As for Zhang Ren, Lin Zhengren was quite familiar with him.
The Yong Country civilians being driven below ford a long line, continuously moving forward.
At regular intervals, there were people holding high torches.
Naturally, Zhuang Country would not provide bright lanterns for these displaced civilians.
Their destination was Suolong Gate in front of Yiyang Prefecture.
But now, it seems that it might be too late.
The situation has changed too quickly, too drastically.
Zhang Ren looked down and suddenly asked, “Lin Zhengren, what do you think would make driving these common people most effective?”
Lin Zhengren couldn’t quite grasp his thoughts and cautiously replied, “Haven’t the supplies sent by the superiors already made their intentions clear?”
Zhang Ren remained impassive and said, “Go on, tell .”
The Priest’s question could not be left unanswered.
Lin Zhengren thought for a mont and decided to speak honestly, “I see the rear army has prepared many Array Pattern Interrupters, which indicates the higher-ups already have a plan.
When the ti cos to drive these Yong Country civilians to attack the city, they’ll hold the Interrupters and move forward.
Once they break an array pattern, they can retreat and be spared from death.
If Han Yin orders to kill them, he will inevitably lose the people’s support, but if he ignores them, then the great formation at Suolong Gate will be breached.”
Zhang Ren sighed, “Even if we take the city using this thod, I fear winning the hearts of the people will be difficult.”
“You’re right, Priest,” Lin Zhengren said, carefully weighing his words, “But I’m afraid we can’t afford to worry about that now, as victory is the most important at the mont.
As for the hearts of the people, that’s the easiest to fool and can be cultivated slowly over ti.”
Zhang Ren gave him a aningful look, “You are talented.”
Although Lin Zhengren had been in contact with Zhang Ren many tis, such a figure was always inscrutable, never showing joy or anger, making it hard to gauge his true nature.
Lin Zhengren himself was not confident and couldn’t determine whether his response would satisfy Zhang Ren,
So he replied modestly, “You flatter , Priest.”
“There is a mission I need to entrust to you,” Zhang Ren gently broached the subject, as if it really was just a casual inquiry, before changing the topic: “So unexpected events have occurred in Xin’an City.
I’m not clear on the specifics, so I need to select a few of the more astute disciples from the state academy to go back and investigate, reporting back any situation imdiately.”
He looked at Lin Zhengren, “I find you very smart, extrely suitable for this task.”
Lin Zhengren’s face was neither sad nor happy, making it impossible to discern his true emotions.
Upon hearing this, he simply bowed politely, “I’m honored by your esteem, Priest, and shall take on the command.
But what about the affairs of the Lingbei Prefecture…”
“You needn’t worry about that, I will find soone to take over,” Zhang Ren patted his shoulder, “Just focus on accomplishing this task.”
“As the student commands,” Lin Zhengren bowed and accepted the order, turning to leave, his eyes flashing a hint of ruthlessness.
Unexpected events in Xin’an City?
The Pri Minister doesn’t know what has happened there but sends ?
Does he think I’ll die too slowly…
He sneered inwardly, but none of it showed on his face.
Because when dealing with the state academy Priest, he had no right to refuse.
Lin Zhengren was always a very clear-headed person.
In his own system of judgnt, he would absolutely not take a risk he shouldn’t, nor would he do sothing that he shouldn’t do.
Even his dissatisfaction with Zhang Ren he quickly pushed aside, focusing instead on more important information and judgnts—perhaps Zhang Ren, having been Priest for so long, had forgotten the cruelty of the world and now may prefer soone with a benevolent heart.
If he had further contact with Zhang Ren in the future, he would need to adjust his conduct.
Thinking over various matters, Lin Zhengren still set out on the road back to Zhuang Country.
From Lingbei Prefecture to Xin’an City, the way was entirely under Zhuang Country’s military control, allowing free and swift travel.
Even if just for the sake of appearances, he couldn’t delay too much, letting his fellow disciples who had received the sa order get ahead of him.
Nearing Hualin County, Lin Zhengren slowed down, observing the situation with extre caution.
To his surprise, Hualin County was quite peaceful, with no signs of turmoil.
None of the dangers he had anticipated occurred.
This confusion lingered all the way until he entered Xin’an City.
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