noffsinger Chapter 591 (Must Read) The Third Force Enters the Scene! The Celestial Dragons' Ambition!
Chapter 591 (Must Read) The Third Force Enters the Scene! The Celestial Dragons' Ambition!
Sometimes, people's desires and greed can easily become intertwined, making it difficult to distinguish between reality and illusion.
At this moment, Sima Yi listened warily as Du Ji recounted Zhao Yan's story.
Upon learning that it was neither Zhong Yao nor Du Ji's work, Sima Yi was somewhat bewildered.
He confirmed that, apart from Zhong Yao and Du Ji, no one else in his faction possessed this ability.
Is it possible...
Sima Yi thought of a scenario that seemed impossible, but was actually possible!
Just as he thought, the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
The two factions are fighting over Zhao Yan's matter, and it's not necessarily the case that either of them will benefit!
Instead, it's the third faction hiding behind the scenes!
……
Jizhou
广平
Former Celestial Dragon's Residence
Hua Xin, who is over fifty years old but still in excellent mental health, walked in with steady steps.
"Brother-in-law, you're here."
In the main hall sat a man who looked four or five parts similar to Ju Shou from the past, but whose demeanor was somewhat decadent.
"Ju Zong, stop pretending, this is what you've done, isn't it?"
Hua Xin didn't even bother with formalities and immediately pointed at Ju Zong's nose.
"Haha, what is my brother-in-law saying?"
“I’m just a useless person. Even the house I live in now is a relic left by my brother.”
Ju Zong's eyes were filled with utter mockery.
Yes, he is Ju Shou's younger brother, a sibling from the same mother.
After the death of Ju Shou, a Celestial Dragon, his own son Ju Hu also committed suicide along with Shen Pei during the Battle of Ye City.
After losing her son and husband, Ju Shou's wife also died of depression the following year.
Ju Shou's house was inherited by his younger brother, Ju Zong.
Cao Cao and Su Yu did not continue to settle scores with the Ju family.
Firstly, the Ju family's status was already established; without Ju Shou and Ju Hu, they were like a tiger without claws.
Secondly, the Ju family has been the leader of the powerful families in Hebei for so many years. If a thorough purge is carried out against them rashly, it will cause turmoil among many powerful families throughout Hebei and even the whole country!
Therefore, letting the Ju family's status drop and fade away on its own is the best solution.
Acting too hastily will only backfire and cause one to drop a stone on their own foot.
Indeed, this is true; Ju Shou is the only Celestial Dragon.
After Ju Shou's death, the Ju family could only keep a low profile and behave themselves behind closed doors.
The only one still active outside is Ju Zong, the younger brother of Ju Shou, who was born with a limp but has a good speaking ability.
Historically, there were only two records about Ju Zong.
First, he was Ju Shou's younger brother.
Second, he and Ju Shou had a quarrel before the Battle of Guandu, and the two brothers parted on bad terms.
The specific content of the argument is impossible to verify, but according to some records in the Guangping County Annals, Ju Zong was probably trying to persuade Ju Shou to give up something.
……
Seeing Ju Zong's stubborn refusal to admit it, Hua Xin said somewhat anxiously:
"Ju Zong! Do you know you're harming me?"
"Even if Xun Yu can't figure out who the mastermind is right now, do you think Su Yu can't guess either?"
"Once Su Yu finds out about this, I, Hua Xin, will instantly be in the eye of the storm!"
Hua Xin was almost speechless. (A detailed introduction to Hua Xin can be found in Chapter 502.)
His legal wife's surname was Ju, and she was Ju Shou's older sister.
Therefore, he was actually the brother-in-law of Ju Shou and Ju Zong.
The son-in-law of the Ju family is definitely a maternal relative.
Using this identity, Hua Xin rose in status and became the new leader in the eyes of some aristocratic families in Hebei who missed the Celestial Dragons era!
but……
Hua Xin, in essence, doesn't have that much courage.
The aristocratic families of Hebei, especially those of Jizhou, are now in decline and decay.
They have long been left behind by their old rivals, the Yuzhou aristocratic families!
Having lost the Celestial Dragons and failing to invest in Cao Cao, the powerful families of Ji Province have essentially lost everything.
The afterglow of the Celestial Dragons era is possible.
To recapture past glory, unify internal and external affairs, awe the three armies, and even threaten the ruler is highly unlikely.
Therefore, Hua Xin was very cunning.
Even his status as a high-ranking official was the result of a power struggle between Su Yu and Zhong Yao.
Hua Xin confirmed that Zhao Yan's matter was not the work of Zhong Yao's side.
Meanwhile, their own little brothers were all behaving themselves.
The only unstable factor was his brother-in-law, Ju Zong.
In the past, Ju Zong was born with a leg ailment, so he was calm and had stable emotions.
He even took the initiative to advise Ju Shou not to be so ambitious.
But now, having witnessed the tragic end of Ju Shou's family, he is gradually living like the Ju Shou of the past.
He carried the hatred of Ju Shou and the unfinished mission, and was determined to cause trouble.
With his "pitiful" gaze gone, Ju Zong's eyes had already turned cold.
"Brother-in-law, I admit it, I did it all."
So, are you going to blame me?
"I……"
Hua Xin was speechless for a moment.
Although he was not a son-in-law who moved into the woman's family home.
However, the wife's surname was Ju, which meant that Hua Xin's actual status in the family was not very high.
If he dares to yell at his brother-in-law today, his wife will give him a hard time when they get home.
Sigh! Old Hua is also feeling very frustrated, with nowhere to vent his anger.
"Brother-in-law, everything I've done is for your own good!"
"I have a leg ailment, so it's impossible for me to become a figurehead in the faction."
"You will forever be the leader of my Hebei faction!"
"Now that you've taken this position, there's no turning back."
"If you don't compete or fight, others won't ignore you."
"You naturally have the support of many powerful families in Ji Province and You Province."
“There will also be people in Bingzhou and Qingzhou who are inclined to support you.”
"These are your strengths, and also your weaknesses."
"Neither Su Yu nor Zhong Yao will sit idly by and watch you, this third-party force, not get off the table, but they also won't just stand by and watch you grow stronger."
"How long can you hide?"
What Ju Zong said is heart-breaking every word.
Hua Xin covered her face and sighed:
"I understand everything you said."
"But if your attack on Zhao Yan is exposed, how will you handle the consequences?"
A mysterious smile curved at the corners of Ju Zong's lips:
"The real killer move is yet to come!"
"I have men in Yanzhou!"
Upon hearing this, Hua Xin glanced at her brother-in-law with a chill down her spine.
That statement is incredibly valuable!
Who doesn't know that Yanzhou was Cao Cao's true old base and stronghold?
Ju Zong was not one to boast.
This is enough to prove that the Yanzhou native he won over did not have a low overall position in Cao Cao's camp; at least he was in the middle to upper ranks.
(Try to guess who it is; it appeared in the main text. The answer will be revealed on the admin page.)
For a moment, Hua Xin couldn't say whether she admired Ju Zong or felt sorry for him.
To travel the world with a disabled body and plan all this, the burden on his shoulders is far too heavy.
Suddenly, Ju Zong cast a resentful glance his way:
"Brother-in-law, from now on, you have to listen to me!"
……