12dz Chapter 636 Whether Zhong Yao betrayed him or not, a difficult decision and a matter of speculation
Chapter 636 Whether Zhong Yao betrayed him or not, a difficult decision and a matter of speculation
"Zhongda, what are you shouting about?"
"What? You were sent to the Minister's residence?"
Sima Lang walked in from outside the courtyard.
Sima Yi, still shaken, asked:
"Brother? Aren't you in Liangzhou? What are you doing here?"
Sima Lang slapped him on the forehead.
"You've forgotten, kid?"
The annual work report trip to Xuchang is just around the corner.
"Since I set off from Liangzhou, I will naturally pass through Xuchang first to give my regards to the Commandant of the Capital Region."
In fact, Sima Lang's position as the Prefect of Liangzhou was originally given to him by Sima Yi.
But he is different from Sima Yi.
Sima Lang was a loyal subject of Zhong Yao and had no idea that his second brother, Sima Yi, who looked respectable, was actually an undercover agent.
"Brother, I have a question for you."
Sima Yi said in a low voice.
Sima Lang raised an eyebrow slightly:
"Zhongda, why are you being so hesitant?"
"Just say what you need to say!"
Sima Yi then spoke with relief:
"If one day..."
"My grandson, who is also your grandnephew, went and usurped the throne. Do you think that's possible?"
Before he could finish speaking, Sima Lang pushed him backward, nearly twisting his ankle.
"no!?"
"Zhongda, have you gone mad?"
"Is it your turn?"
Sima Yi slapped himself and muttered:
"Yeah, what's all this nonsense? How could it be my turn?"
"Besides, even without Zhong Yao, there's still my brother-in-law, the eldest son, and Lord Ling..."
Upon hearing Sima Yi address Zhong Yao by his given name, Sima Lang frowned and said:
"Brother, you seem a bit too cocky now. The Commandant of Sili has done you a great favor, so don't think about such things!"
Sima Yi secretly rolled his eyes.
I thought to myself, I don't even dare to tell you that I'm actually an undercover agent.
Otherwise, I'm afraid you might lose your temper and chop me in half with your sword!
……
Regardless, Sima Lang, an honest man, was indeed very grateful for Zhong Yao's recognition and support.
Under Sima Yi's guidance, Sima Lang brought specialties from Liangzhou, which he had traveled a long way to visit, as a tribute to Zhong Yao.
Zhong Yao accepted it while smiling and saying:
"Berda, please don't be so polite next time."
"How about I have Zhongda accompany you on your trip to the capital to report on your duties?"
"Anyway, it won't take a month to go from Chang'an to Xuchang."
Sima Lang wanted to refuse, but Sima Yi, who was standing to the side, had already accepted.
The road conditions in Cao Cao's camp are much better than before.
Especially the section of road from Xuchang to Chang'an.
How could Commander Su admit that this was to prevent a future falling out with Zhong Yao and to make it easier to launch a blitzkrieg against him?
After leaving Zhong Yao's residence, Sima Lang asked in confusion:
"Zhongda, although your official position is quite leisurely, why waste a month accompanying me to Xuchang to report on your duties?"
"Reporting on one's duties is only the responsibility of the governor and the prefectural governor; it has nothing to do with you."
Sima Yi quickly grabbed Sima Lang's wrist.
"Brother, what you're saying really hurts!"
"I haven't seen you for so long, isn't it enough that I miss you?"
"Besides, I haven't seen my third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh brothers for a long time since Father forcibly sent them to the Minister's residence."
“Father is foolish. As the second elder brother, I can’t just not go and see them!”
Sima Lang shouted:
"How dare you talk about your father like that?"
"How dare you question the decisions your father made?"
"The Minister's residence isn't some evil place. Didn't you come from there too? Father is planning a great future for my third brother and the others!"
Sima Yi was almost speechless.
But he knew Sima Lang's temperament: stubborn and inflexible.
Sima Lang had never worked at the Ministry of Personnel, so he had no idea what a terrifying place it was.
But Sima Yi knew it very well!
He wrote ten letters in a row to persuade his father, Sima Fang, not to send his younger brothers to the Ministry of Personnel.
Guess what?
Sima Fang simply wouldn't listen!
This is like some parents who don't really understand but pretend to know a lot when helping their children choose universities.
He single-handedly sent his child to study in the sinkhole field!
Therefore, Sima Yi had long since given up arguing.
It was his skill to escape from the Minister's residence.
Don't they realize that over the years, only a handful of people from the Minister's mansion have managed to escape?
Besides him, Yang Xiu, and Ge Xuan, there is only the traitor Mao Jie and the recently emerged Fa Zheng!
Every escaped servant or animal from the Minister's mansion has a story to tell.
Standing in the crowd, she immediately stands out like Gege, becoming the center of attention!
……
Not long after Sima Yi left Chang'an.
Zhong Yao received a letter from Jizhou.
After reading it, Zhong Yao remained silent, then threw the letter into the fire pit, burning it completely.
He hesitated, unsure of what to do next.
When he called out "Zhongda" to the outside, he realized that Sima Yi had already accompanied Sima Lang to Chang'an to report on his duties and would not be back for a while.
However, since Hua Xin and Ju Zong were involved, Zhong Yao did not dare to directly consult with Du Ji.
Therefore, for the time being, the only person he could discuss matters with was Wang Ran, the fourth-ranking figure in the group.
"My lord, what Ju Zong said is correct."
"A scout has sent intelligence from the Hedong Commandery in southern Bingzhou, saying that Cao Zhen recently led 20,000 troops northward toward Jinyang."
"If it were just Wang Chang plotting a rebellion, would such a large force be necessary?"
"I'm worried that Cao Zhen's forces are only pretending to deal with Wang Chang, but actually intend to take the opportunity to wipe out the powerful families of Bingzhou!"
Wang Ran truly lives up to his reputation as Wang Jun's father, the fourth most important figure in the Zhongyao Group.
By sheer chance, he managed to uncover the truth behind the Bingzhou incident.
Zhong Yao's expression gradually became solemn.
He had promised Su Yu that he would prioritize eliminating Hua Xin and Ju Zong.
This is because the existence of Hua Xin and Ju Zong affected the interests of Su Yu and Zhong Yao.
At the same time, it was also to vent Du Ji's anger.
But if we suddenly change our decision now, cooperate with Ju Zong, and betray Su Yu, wouldn't that be a betrayal of faith?
Seeing Zhong Yao hesitate, Wang Ran said anxiously:
"My lord! If you still stick to the original plan and don't make any changes..."
"Have you considered where the situation will go next after Ju Zonghua, Xin, and others fall?"
"The result is that you will not receive a single bit of benefit related to Ji Province, You Province, or Bing Province."
"Furthermore, are you sure that Su Ziyi only wants those three states to become places without powerful clans?"
"If his true goal is to eliminate the powerful families of Yuzhou, including you, isn't your current inaction just a futile act of waiting for your doom?"
Zhong Yao interrupted:
"Wang Ran, if Su Ziyi really chooses to stand against the powerful families of the world, then he will surely die!"
"This world has long been inextricably linked to our noble families."
"Even within Cao Cao's entire camp, how many people aren't from aristocratic families?"
"Su Ziyi wouldn't be that stupid."
"What I'm worried about is that he's using ruthless methods to deal with Ju Zonghuaxin."
"The methods used to deal with me are ruthless and unexpected!"
Zhong Yao did not believe that Su Yu would be foolish enough to directly wage war against all the powerful families in the world.
At that time, even Su Yu's staunch supporters like Chen Deng may not necessarily stand on Su Yu's side.
But this is what Zhong Yao fears even more!
Since Su Yu wouldn't choose such a foolish approach, what would he choose?
……