“Dong dong dong——”
The sound of a bronze knocker hitting the door echoed.
Lin Chao, clad in armor and with a sword at his side, had a somber expression.
He was the eldest son of the Lin Family and General Gu’s deputy.
Leading eight hundred elite soldiers, he launched a surprise attack on Western Liang’s rear.
He slew the enemy general in battle, captured their flag, and set fire to their granaries.
The main force of Western Liang was consequently routed and forced to retreat.
He received the highest merit in this battle and was conferred the title of Thousand Households.
In the army, he enjoyed the treatment of a fifth-rank official.
However, at this moment, his face was full of rage.
He had just returned home today after completing his military duties.
As a result, he saw his mother sobbing uncontrollably.
It was as if their home had been raided by mountain bandits.
Later, he finally learned what had happened.
That good-for-nothing Ning Que was simply shameless!
To obtain Xianhong, he would stop at nothing.
This time, he even went to the palace to lodge a complaint.
He heard that he even brought Old Prince Ning’s spirit tablet.
Who didn’t know that the Empress Dowager felt very guilty towards Old Prince Ning?
With Ning Que presenting the spirit tablet before the Emperor, what could the Empress Dowager do?
He was simply despicable and insidious!
Using his father’s glory to gain personal benefits.
Lin Chao detested such things the most.
He was a military general, valuing only military achievements.
In his opinion, Gu Yuan was a hundred times stronger than Ning Que.
At a young age, he established himself in the army through his own efforts.
He defended the border for three years, achieving illustrious military feats.
He prevented the Western Liang people from entering the pass by even an inch.
Now, he could command large-scale military operations.
There was no one in the army who didn’t respect him.
On the other hand, what about Ning Que?
He haggled over every trivial matter.
He formed factions and deliberately made things difficult for them.
He meticulously calculated accounts from years ago.
He was never straightforward in his actions.
He was, after all, the Heir of Prince Ning, from a family of generals.
Yet, he was so gloomy and shameless, making people look down on him.
And so, Lin Chao came to find Gu Yuan.
Ning Que had bullied his Lin Family to such an extent.
Could they not retaliate?
If they didn’t let them have an easy time, then no one would!
“Who is it?”
“Lin Chao, a Thousand Households in the army.”
“So it’s Thousand Households Lin.”
“I want to see General Gu.”
“Please.”
The steward didn’t even announce him.
This was also something Gu Yuan had instructed.
Lin Chao still had some capabilities.
If Gu Yuan wanted to establish a firm foothold in the army,
Then he would certainly need to win over these subordinate generals.
…
Gu Yuan had now recovered.
He was in his study, preparing invitations.
The Gu Family was also a prominent and influential noble family in Chang’an.
This time, he had achieved great merit and inherited the title of Tiger Marquis.
He was also conferred the title of First Rank General by Emperor Feng.
Naturally, he had to host a banquet according to custom to entertain court officials and friends.
There were many intricacies involved in this.
From the moment the invitations were sent, it was very important.
If it wasn’t handled well, it could easily offend people.
It would also become the laughingstock of Chang’an City.
“Young Master, Thousand Households Lin requests an audience.”
“Please invite him in quickly.”
“This subordinate greets the General.”
Gu Yuan, on the other hand, showed a warm smile.
He personally rose to greet him.
“Brother Lin is too polite.”
“This is not in the army.”
“Given our relationship, there’s no need to be so formal.”
“Please sit down quickly, I’ll have someone prepare food and wine.”
“Since you’re here, let’s drink until we’re drunk tonight!”
“Thank you, General.”
Lin Chao looked at Gu Yuan, admiration in his heart.
Look, this was the demeanor and bearing of a distinguished young noble.
He could unite people with his words and intimidate enemies with his martial prowess!
When he was in the army, he was known for his consideration for his soldiers.
He personally inquired about their food and illnesses, sharing rations with them.
The entire army was highly motivated, with none fearing death.
The sick desired to march, and the wounded wished to be vanguard soldiers.
Compared to Gu Yuan, what was Ning Que?
He was merely relying on his good birth.
“Brother Lin, why the late-night visit?”
“It’s all because of that Ning Que!”
“Him?”
Gu Yuan put down his wine cup.
A subtle, inscrutable smile appeared on his face.
He was just wondering how to cause trouble for Ning Que.
Unexpectedly, Lin Chao delivered himself to his doorstep.
Lin Chao’s personality was reckless.
There was nothing to say about his fighting skills.
Leading only eight hundred men, he dared to rush hundreds of miles.
He launched a surprise attack on Western Liang’s rear, capturing their flag and slaying their general.
He burned down Western Liang’s granaries with a single fire!
Forcing Western Liang’s main force to retreat three hundred miles.
However, he was too hot-headed and impulsive.
He was just a brute.
He did achieve some merits, but he also caused a lot of trouble!
Therefore, for all these years, he remained only a Thousand Households.
Such a person was very easy to manipulate.
With a few small tricks, he could be made to feel deeply grateful.
Lin Chao also had no ulterior motives.
After two cups of wine, he forgot who he was.
He talked incessantly to Gu Yuan.
“Then Brother Lin, what are your thoughts?”
“Money is a small matter, but I can’t tolerate this insult!”
Lin Chao raised his wine cup and drained it in one gulp.
“What right does that Ning Que have?”
“I, your father, have experienced hundreds of battles, big and small, in Western Liang.”
“How dare he ride on the head of our Lin Family?”
“He haggles over every little thing.”
“He’s not even as good as a damn woman!”
“I definitely have to find a way to vent this anger!”
Gu Yuan nodded understandingly.
He personally refilled Lin Chao’s wine cup.
“There are many ways to vent your anger.”
“Currently, Ning Que is in Jingyang, providing disaster relief to the refugees, and I heard he even made a military pledge.”
“This matter concerns whether he can inherit the princely title.”
“If he cannot complete it as promised, what do you think will happen?”
“Hmm?!”
Lin Chao was also getting drunk.
His face flushed red as he understood the key point.
“Is General Gu saying…?”
“Ah, I didn’t say anything at all.” Gu Yuan chuckled as he continued to pour wine, “I just thought of how Brother Lin defeated those Western Liang scoundrels, which was by burning their granaries, forcing Western Liang’s main force to retreat.”
“This…”
Lin Chao was also stunned.
He was reckless, but he wasn’t stupid!
Setting fire to granaries—that was a capital offense!
“Brother Lin, no need to worry.”
“He wouldn’t dare do anything to you.”
“You are, after all, Xianhong’s elder brother.”
“Even if he captures you, what can he do?”
Lin Chao frowned, also pondering.
That’s right!
He had caused trouble in Chang’an before.
He got into a dispute with someone in a brothel.
He beat the person severely with three punches and two kicks.
It was Ning Que who spent money to smooth things over.
That’s how he was released.
Ning Que did all this just to curry favor with Xianhong.
“I understand.”
Gu Yuan smiled without speaking, then said faintly, “Brother Lin, there are many methods. As long as Ning Que doesn’t smoothly provide disaster relief, and you give him a hard time, that’s enough. After all, Ning Que wouldn’t dare do anything to you; he can only swallow his anger.”
“That makes sense.”
Lin Chao nodded thoughtfully.
Gu Yuan was right!
Ning Que couldn’t do anything to him!
Now Ning Que was being aggressive.
Then he couldn’t be blamed for fighting back!
“I’ll go to Jingyang to prepare right now!”
“Brother Lin, be careful in everything.”
“Just you wait and see!”
Lin Chao stood up, emboldened by the alcohol.
His eyes were bloodshot.
After seeing him off, the steward returned.
“Young Master, actually, there’s no need to pay attention to such people.”
“The Lin Family are all people who can’t make it to the big stage.”
“You don’t understand.” Gu Yuan picked up his wine cup, took a small sip, and said, “Such foolish people, if you just give them a little benefit, they will be deeply grateful. Look at this time, to deal with Ning Que, we don’t even need to lift a finger.”
Gu Yuan’s face turned cold and sinister.
He no longer had the gentlemanly demeanor he had just moments ago.
Instead, he exuded madness and resentment.
“He caused my Gu Family to lose tens of thousands of taels of silver.”
“Moreover, Prince Qi cannot tolerate him either.”
“A Great Feng without powerful princes is a good Great Feng!”
Gu Yuan’s face showed coldness.
Power struggles had always been like this.
The power of the princes was too great, surpassing that of the Other surname Princes.
They were second only to the Emperor Feng.
Now that Old Prince Ning had finally died after a long struggle,
How could they easily allow Ning Que to inherit the princely title?
Therefore, they had to cause trouble!