Fei Zhong's Calculations

Clatter, clatter, clatter!

Beneath the afterglow of the setting sun, accompanied by a rapid and heavy series of hoofbeats, a group of knights clad in heavy armor, escorting a lavishly decorated four-horse carriage, sped in from the east.

"They don't come in peace."

On the vast and ancient city walls, a man in his forties wearing a blue robe sighed deeply, his black beard swaying in the wind.

His gaze fell upon the three hundred cavalrymen rushing towards the city, chasing the setting sun. Their gleaming armor shimmered under the dying light, causing him to squint slightly.

"Marquis, Zheng Lun is here. With a mere three hundred cavalry, I will capture them all within three charges!"

Beside the middle-aged man stood a rough-looking man in his thirties, with a thick growth of hair on his face. His bulging eyes added a touch of ferocity and recklessness.

This man was Zheng Lun, a disciple of True Man Du E and a fellow student of Li Jing. He now served as the Grain Supervisor under the Marquis of Jizhou, Su Hu.

If you don't recognize his name, you've certainly heard of his other title: he is the "Heng" general of the "Heng Ha" Generals.

At this moment, he held two Demon Subduing Pestles, eager to fight, waiting only for his lord, the Marquis of Jizhou, Su Hu, to give the order to sally forth from the city.

"This is not something that can be solved with a mere battle."

Su Hu waved his hand, signaling Zheng Lun to calm down.

He had naturally received intelligence about the formidable arrival of these visitors, which was precisely why he was so worried.

Fengming Qishan, Western Qi is destined to rise, but this singing phoenix was shot down by Di Xin's arrow from Chaoge. Furthermore, recent rumors claim Di Xin has gained immense fortune, causing hundreds of feudal lords to suppress their restless ambitions, waiting to see how events unfold.

However, the tree may wish for stillness, but the wind will not cease. Why, at this very moment, has Di Xin's favored minister come to his Jizhou city!

Is he here to reprimand me or to win me over? Or perhaps something else?

"Zheng Lun."

"I am here!"

"Let them enter. Do not stop them."

"My Lord, what are you doing?"

"If they ask for me, say I am not in the city; I have gone out hunting."

"Understood!"

After instructing Zheng Lun, Su Hu turned and descended the city wall, heading straight back to his Marquis's mansion.

Zheng Lun stood on the city wall, cradling his pestles, awaiting the arrival of the unwelcome guests.

"Whoa!"

Below the city wall, the leading soldier dismounted and ran to the second carriage.

"Lord Fei Zhong, we have arrived at Jizhou City."

The carriage curtain was lifted, revealing an incredibly luxurious interior: a carpet made of snow bear fur from the far north, a brazier filled with red bird feathers from the far south, and a bed carved from white jade elephant bone from the far west. These three items alone made the carriage feel warm as if it were spring all year round, not to mention the other exquisite decorations, each of which was priceless and the epitome of luxury.

For what purpose had he, Fei Zhong, served as a treacherous minister all these years? Was it not so that he could indulge himself to his heart's content?

"We're here already? We've been traveling for almost a month, my bones are practically dissolving."

Fei Zhong poked his head out, looking at the three ancient characters on the city wall. His gaze followed the city gate downwards, only to find it completely empty, with no sign of anyone welcoming him.

"Rumor has it that the Marquis of Jizhou, Su Hu, has a fierce and fiery temper. It seems the rumors are true."

"My Lord, shall I go?"

"No, it's late today. Go to the posthouse and rest well."

Fei Zhong casually tossed out a luminous pearl and returned to the carriage.

"Treat the brothers to a good meal. We are all working for the Great King, so we mustn't suffer ourselves."

"Thank you for your generosity, my Lord."

The soldier quietly thanked him and turned his warhorse.

"Enter the city!"

On the city wall, Zheng Lun gripped his Demon Subduing Pestles but made no move. Only after the three hundred cavalrymen surrounded the four-horse carriage and entered the city did he descend from the wall.

"Close the gates!"

"Understood!"

In the Marquis's mansion.

Su Hu sat in his study, his brow furrowed.

"Father, that Fei Zhong has lodged at the posthouse."

Su Quanzhong pushed open the door and spoke before he had even settled, indicating his rather impatient nature.

"This Fei Zhong is Di Xin's top favored minister. He was granted the title of Lower Grand Master through flattery and bootlicking. However, we cannot underestimate him. Such people are often more difficult to deal with and more likely to stir up trouble and damage our Su family's reputation. Now that he has led Di Xin's personal guards to my Jizhou, I fear it bodes ill rather than good."

Su Hu's expression was grave. He had originally expected Fei Zhong to come directly to the Marquis's mansion, but he hadn't expected Fei Zhong to go directly to the posthouse.

This move had indeed caught him completely off guard.

"Father, someone like Fei Zhong is a coward. Why don't I tie him up tonight and scare him a bit? We can find out what Di Xin wants him to do, and then we can deal with it," Su Quanzhong said.

As Su Quanzhong patted his head, proud of his "brilliant plan," a look from Su Hu scared him back to his senses.

"Father, why are you looking at me like that?"

"How did I give birth to such an idiot son?"

Su Hu said, full of disappointment, "If something happens to Fei Zhong in Jizhou City, no matter who is responsible, our Su family will be held accountable. And you want to tie him up yourself? Do you think we don't have enough trouble already?"

"Father, then what should we do?"

Su Quanzhong shrunk his head, thinking to himself, My sister is so beautiful, she can't possibly be your biological daughter.

"What should we do? We wait!"

"Wait?"

"Wait!"

At the post station

Fei Zhong smiled knowingly as he heard the commotion outside. Trading a little money for the guarantee of his life was a fair deal.

"Daji, Su Daji. I never expected the woman the Great King dreamed of to be Su Hu's daughter. This time, we absolutely cannot offend Su Hu, the King's father-in-law.

However, Great King, is your intention truly just for a beauty? There are only two Imperial Consort positions in the palace. This Su Daji truly possesses an air of nobility."

Just like Su Hu, Fei Zhong did not believe that Di Xin had sent him on such a long journey merely for a woman.

He might have believed it if it were the previous Di Xin, but the current Di Xin was decisive, swift, and his plans, even when involving three steps, were always successful. This made Fei Zhong unable to help but overthink things.

As a treacherous official, if he couldn't guess the superior's thoughts, he wouldn't be far from death.

"Marquis of Jizhou, Su Hu, has a close relationship with the Marquis of the West, Ji Chang. The Great King's move is likely to win over Su Hu and make him turn against Ji Chang.

Or perhaps it's killing two birds with one stone. Once they are both weakened, the Great King can then strike with overwhelming force, sweep away these two powerful marquises, and intimidate the four directions.

He's gathering talented individuals and recalling Grand Tutor Wen. Is the Great King preparing to deal with the eight hundred feudal lords?

No wonder the Great King values this matter so highly. He's likely using the pretense of taking a consort to achieve the reality of unifying the realm!

Heh heh, if that's the case, then my rise to prominence is surely just around the corner."