The Eternal Beauty of the City of Wealth

A few minutes later, Peng Ruo and Chunfeng Ruyi also arrived at the city gate.

After the two met, Zi Ri asked Peng Ruo and the other two to get on his off-road vehicle and drove quickly towards the northwest.

In the Wu Palace in Linzi, Duke Zhuang of Qi and Luan Ying discussed helping him attack the State of Jin.

"Doctor Luan, I would like to ask you, how many soldiers and horses are available in Quwo?"

"Your Majesty, there are over 20,000 armored warriors in Quwo, plus the loyal warriors from Huanghu that your retainers have recruited, totaling over 50,000."

"Well, very good. How about this? I will secretly send you back to Quwo. You will first gather your troops and attack the Jin capital."

"I'll prepare the soldiers and food and follow after me. What do you think?"

Luan Ying nodded: "Okay! I obey your command!"

After the two men had discussed it, Duke Zhuang of Qi ordered someone to secretly send Luan Ying back to Quwo.

Luan Ying returned to Quwo secretly. He gathered all his troops and marched towards Jindu in a mighty force.

Duke Ping of Jin was shocked when he heard the news and immediately summoned civil and military officials to discuss countermeasures.

After the ministers had saluted, Ji Biao glanced around at everyone and said, "My dear ministers, I received urgent news today that Luan Ying has led 50,000 troops in rebellion!"

The ministers were also shocked when they heard this. Imperial Censor Wei Jie came out and said, "Your Majesty, Luan Ying's rebellion was caused by being framed and forced."

"In fact, General Ying had no intention of rebellion from the beginning to the end. It was Lieutenant General Shi Qi and his children who caused this trouble!"

Duke Ping of Qi glanced at Shi Gai and said, "Oh? Really? Sir, please tell me the whole story."

Here! Wei Jie bowed and said, "Your Majesty, this is what happened."

"After Luan Ying's father passed away, his mother found life as a widow unbearable."

"She took advantage of her son's absence to engage in an affair with her retainer, Zhou Bin, and seized all the family property."

"She was afraid that Luan Ying would become angry and kill her, so she went to her father, Shi Gai, and lied that her son was planning a rebellion."

"When Shi Gai learned of this, he reported it to the king, who was deceived into ordering Luan Ying's arrest. He was forced to flee to Qi."

"Duke Zhuang of Qi did not fulfill the alliance agreement and imprison Luan Ying, but instead funded his return to Quwo, where he rebelled."

Duke Ping of Jin looked at Shi Gai with a sullen expression, "General, is what the censor said true?"

Shi Qi glared at Wei Jie fiercely, then bowed to Ji Biao and said, "Your Majesty, Wei Jie is talking nonsense!"

"I have already reported this to you. Qi'er told me on my birthday."

"Luan Ying once told her that it was Fan Yang who killed his uncle, and that was why his father expelled him."

"Later, they put aside their past grudges and agreed to allow Fan Yang to return to the Jin court."

"Fan Yang now holds absolute power in the State of Jin and is deeply favored by the king, leading to the growing prosperity of the Fan family."

"But my Luan clan has been repeatedly oppressed by the Fan clan and is on the verge of decline. I would rather die than be irreconcilable with Fan Yang."

"It is also said that Luan Ying often gathered with Zhiqi, Yangshehu and others in the secret room to make plans."

"He intends to eliminate Fan and his close associates, and then support his own followers."

"Luan Ying was afraid that she would leak the news, so she strictly ordered the gatekeepers not to let her enter or leave her parents' home at will."

"Your Majesty, this is the truth of the matter. Luan Ying is my own grandson, how could I wrongly accuse him?"

Wei Jie continued, "Your Majesty, this is just Luan Qi's rhetoric to frame Luan Ying. It cannot be trusted."

"General Shi was merely being manipulated by your daughter as a pawn."

"You! You! Nonsense! How could Qi'er deceive me!"

At this time, Fan Yang also stepped forward to add fuel to the fire and said, "Your Majesty, I have also heard that Luan Ying is plotting a rebellion."

Just as the two were arguing, the Marshal of the Central Army, Xun Lang, stepped forward to mediate.

"My Lords, now is not the time to argue about who is right and who is wrong. The most important thing right now is to discuss how to repel the enemy."

The ministers also echoed: "Yes, yes, the two adults should not let this matter damage the harmony..."

Seeing the two men arguing, Duke Ping of Jin backed off and said, "My dear ministers, please stop arguing! Let's follow the Marshal's advice and quickly discuss a plan to withdraw our troops!"

He turned his gaze to Doctor Bi Yang again: "I wonder what Doctor Bi's opinion is on this?"

Bi Yang has always had conflicts with Luan Ying's father, but he has a very good relationship with Fan Yang.

Seeing Ji Biao asking for his opinion, he pretended to think about it.

Then he bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the Luan family has great influence in the hearts of the people."

"If we take advantage of Luan Ying's rebellion to wipe out the Luan family, the king's foundation will be secure from then on."

At this time, the doctor Fan Yang came out and said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to lead the troops to destroy Luan Ying!"

Duke Ping of Jin nodded, and said that the person who tied the bell must be the one to untie it.

He immediately drafted an edict, ordering Fan Yang to lead 50,000 troops to rob and kill the rebel Luan Ying.

Soon, the two teams met twenty miles outside Jiangcheng.

Luan Ying didn't waste any time talking to Fan Yang. He led his army to fight a decisive battle with him.

After a day and night of fierce fighting, Fan Yang was defeated.

He quickly led the remaining troops back to Jiangcheng and hid in his own home.

Luan Ying advanced with unstoppable force and soon reached the foot of Jiangcheng.

In the study of the Fugui Palace, Zixuan was meeting with Qiwu, the Provincial Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security. "Qiwu, do you have something important to report today?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. Linzi agents have reported that Luan Ying, a high-ranking official of the Jin royal family, has defected to Duke Zhuang of Qi due to persecution from his in-laws."

"The vassal states, led by Jin, sent envoys to Linzi to sign an alliance with Duke Zhuang of Qi."

"The lottery indicates that the State of Jin will imprison Luan Ying and hand him over to Duke Ping of Jin."

"But after the envoys left, Duke Zhuang of Qi immediately changed his attitude. Not only did he take Luan Ying in, he also funded him to return to Jin to seek revenge on Fan and his son."

"Luan Ying's army has already invaded Jin and will soon reach the capital."

Zixuan was stunned after hearing this. How could Jiang Guang do such a treacherous thing?

She now feels that Jiang Guang has changed, to the point where she almost doesn't recognize him anymore.

He is no longer the honest boy he used to be, but a despicable villain who does not keep his promises and forgets his principles for personal gain.

Just as she was thinking, a guard walked in from outside and handed her a letter.

When Zixuan took it and saw that it was written by Jiang Guang, he frowned, opened the bamboo slips and read it carefully.

The content of the letter mainly stated that he wanted to help Luan Ying attack the State of Jin and asked Zixuan to lead the troops to go with him...

After reading the letter, Zixuan threw the bamboo slips onto the table with disdain.

He said contemptuously: "Jiang Guang, do you think I would do such a mean thing as you? What a joke!"

Qi Wu asked doubtfully, "Your Majesty, did Duke Zhuang of Qi ask you to send troops to attack Jin?"

Zixuan nodded: "Well, you guessed right, that's exactly what Jiang Guang meant."

"Then, I dare to ask, will you send troops?"

"Haha! I have decided that I will no longer associate with Jiang Guang!"

Qiwu nodded: "Your Majesty is wise."