The Vermilion Bird Guard----
His Majesty----
Chen Yi's steps faltered slightly. He gazed at the Provincial Administration's yamen, doubts inevitably rising in his mind.
Why had His Majesty ordered Li Huaigu to investigate the affairs of the Dingyuan Army's Three Towns?
Could it be----
A possibility surfaced in Chen Yi's mind, making him frown.
Watching the people coming and going through the streets, he said, "Was planting Chen Yunfan alone in the Commander's Office not enough?"
"He also wants to use Li Huaigu to lay a hand on the Dingyuan Army----His Majesty----"
Chen Yi silently laid this conjecture out on his chessboard. The pieces representing Chen Yunfan, Li Huaigu, General Star, and the others shifted slightly, drawing closer to positions that could influence Shuzhou's situation.
When he had delivered the evidence of Zhu Hao's crimes to Chen Yunfan on General Star's behalf, he had confirmed that Chen Yunfan was the White Tiger Guard's chosen man. They presumably intended to gradually groom him into Shuzhou's Commander-in-Chief.
After that, with the White Tiger Guard's support, the Commander's Office would wield more influence than the Provincial Administration or Marquis Dingyuan's Estate.
But Chen Yi had not expected that even this would be insufficient.
His Majesty had actually prepared Li Huaigu as another hidden move!
"The White Tiger Guard probably knows nothing about this----which means the Chen Family of Jiangnan, General Star, and the others have been kept in the dark as well."
This was not difficult to deduce.
Had the White Tiger Guard known beforehand, General Star and the others would not have specifically investigated the Vermilion Bird Guard's whereabouts.
Chen Yi had originally thought the Vermilion Bird Guard were eyes His Majesty had sent to watch Li Fu, Li Changqing, and the others. Only now did he realize how much deeper His