After being demoted, my 300,000-strong army trampled the imperial city!

Chen Futu was overjoyed by Zhou Qingzhi's defection. He quickly walked down from the main hall and helped the trembling Zhou Qingzhi up, exclaiming, "To have the old gentleman is like having Zhang Liang."

"Zifang?" Zhou Qingzhi said with self-deprecation, "Military Advisor Zhang is a master strategist with ingenious plans and is invincible in battle. How could this old man dare to compare himself to him?"

All eyes were now fixed on Zhang Liang.

Zhang Liang sat there, his face darkening.

No matter who the Crown Prince gets, he will say it's like getting Zhang Liang. Zhang Liang, as a strategist, is so cheap that anyone can take advantage of him!

Liu Bowen stared at Zhuge Liang strangely, almost bursting out laughing.

Mr. Shui Jing once praised Zhuge Liang, saying that he was not only comparable to Guan Zhong and Yue Yi, but also to Zhang Liang and Jiang Ziya, which is quite embarrassing.

Zhuge Liang coughed, stood up and said, "I congratulate my lord on gaining another great talent."

"Congratulations, Your Highness!"

All the civil and military officials stood up to express their gratitude.

Chen Futu laughed loudly, "Today's feast will not end until we're drunk!"

The singing and dancing resumed, and Chen Futu pulled Zhou Qingzhi to his seat to drink, showing him great favor. Even Liu Longyue had to give up her seat to keep him company.

She also understood that having Zhou Qingzhi's assistance was extremely important, as it meant finding a leader among the literati to legitimize the Northern Frontier King's ascension to the throne.

Guan Yu and the other generals were all overjoyed. The old man was quite sensible; if he had known this would happen, he should have taken out the book earlier.

Even if Confucius didn't exist in this world, it wouldn't be wrong to consider it as a collection of wise sayings written by the crown prince.

The banquet that followed appeared to be a pleasant affair for both hosts and guests, but the scholars seemed to have been drained of their energy, some looking anxious and pale, others listless and dejected.

As for the members of the delegation including Yemo, they all stared intently at the book in front of Zhou Qingzhi. They did not understand what was so magical about that book that could make a great Confucian scholar of the time change his mind on the spot.

Liu Longyue, Yan Qing, and Chen Yuling were also very curious about this and all thought they would ask the young master after the banquet.

The banquet had been going on for a long time, while outside the garden, things were in an uproar.

The news of Zhou Qingzhi's service in the northern frontier spread like wildfire, and then someone secretly relayed the message from Longcheng to the capital immediately.

After the banquet, Chen Futu arranged separate accommodations for Zhou Qingzhi and ordered the Tiger Guards to protect him from outside, forbidding any unauthorized personnel from approaching.

Zhou Qingzhi didn't care. He was now so engrossed in studying Chen Futu's book that he was completely obsessed, as if possessed. He didn't even care when scholars came to see him.

Zhang Liang privately convened a small meeting with Zhuge Liang, Liu Bowen, and Yu Qian.

Zhuge Liang asked, "Sir, are you referring to Zhou Qingzhi?"

“That’s right. Zhou Qingzhi is of great use to the Crown Prince. He is currently engrossed in literature and is unaware of what is about to happen. We must not disturb him.” Zhang Liang’s words revealed his murderous intent.

The reason is simple: once the Great Qian Dynasty finds out that Zhou Qingzhi has defected, the first thing the emperor will probably do is order Zhongshan to arrest Zhou Qingzhi's entire clan and hold them accountable. If Zhou Qingzhi finds out, he will definitely leave, so at least he has to be kept until the heir succeeds to the throne of the Northern Frontier King.

Yu Qian felt a pang of pity, asking, "Isn't doing this too cruel?"

"We can send someone to Zhongshan urgently to bring the Zhou family members to Longcheng, but if anything goes wrong, it is only fate." After Zhang Liang finished speaking, Zhuge Liang and the other two fell silent.

When it comes to ruthlessness, Zhang Liang is the most ruthless.

"You don't need to worry about this matter, nor do you need to inform the Crown Prince. I will arrange for someone to handle it."

After saying this, Zhang Liang turned and left.

Zhuge Liang sighed and left.

Liu Bowen grabbed Yu Qian, who was about to leave, and raised an eyebrow, saying, "Old Yu, don't make a mistake at this critical juncture."

Yu Qian frowned and said, "Back then, Fang Xiaoru suffered the fate of having his entire family of ten executed. Do you want this old Mr. Zhou to suffer the same end?"

"With the Zhou family wiped out, Zhou Qingzhi will be irreconcilably opposed to the Great Qian Dynasty. Without the Crown Prince even having to speak, he will issue a proclamation to the world to vindicate the Crown Prince and will even personally issue a petition to condemn the Great Qian Dynasty. Do you want to let the Crown Prince miss this opportunity?"

"I……"

Yu Qian was speechless.

He was an honest and upright man, known throughout history for his integrity and incorruptibility. He extended the life of the Ming Dynasty by two hundred years and was eventually killed by a student from the Oirat Mongols, leaving behind a lasting reputation.

Now the Crown Prince needs a person of high moral standing and sufficient influence to silence public opinion, so the Zhou family must die, otherwise the Crown Prince will have to go to great lengths to ask Zhou Qingzhi to stand up for him.

As a strategist, Zhang Liang was qualified.

The reason he said he would send people to Zhongshan was merely to find an excuse for the Crown Prince to punish him later, and to give Zhou Qingzhi an explanation. At most, the people he sent would save a few people.

Having considered this, Yu Qian shook off Liu Bowen's hand and said indignantly, "You three are ruthless."

"Fine, we're ruthless, and you're the only honest official, okay?"

Liu Bowen no longer cares about reputation. Having lived a second life, he has come to understand what happens when you're a good person. He didn't meet Zhu Yuanzhang's expectations and was severely punished, ultimately ending up being poisoned by Hu Weiyong.

In this life, he goes wherever the prince points.

Yu Qian said in a low voice, "I'm not going to get involved in this matter anymore. Do whatever you want."

Watching Yu Qian's retreating figure, Liu Bowen shouted: "Forged in the deep mountains by a thousand hammers and ten thousand blows, burned by raging fire as if nothing, I fear not being crushed to pieces, for I only wish to leave my integrity in the world."

As soon as he finished reciting the poem, a boot flew from afar. Liu Bowen dodged it and ran away.

Yu Qian stormed back, picked up his boots, and cursed, "You old Liu! Once this is over, I'll report you all!"

Chen Futu had just been helped back to the royal court by Liu Longyue, unaware that his four trusted advisors were already plotting something.

Liu Longyue had someone bring warm water and helped Chen Futu wipe his cheeks, saying softly, "Young Master, I've caused you trouble tonight."

Chen Futu, with his eyes closed and feeling drowsy, replied, "It's alright. All of this is Kongming's scheme. Those Confucian scholars are worthless. Now that I have Zhou Qingzhi's help, it is inevitable that I will become the King of the Northern Frontier. Let them say what they want."

"Has Your Highness considered this? With Zhou Qingzhi defecting, Zhongshan may not be safe."

Liu Longyue's words startled Chen Futu, who then sat up abruptly. "What did you say?"

"I was talking about Zhongshan..."

"Consort Ge, Jing Si, come see me immediately!"

Before Liu Longyue could finish speaking, Chen Futu hurriedly shouted.

Soon Ge Fei arrived, but An Jingsi was nowhere to be seen. Chen Futu asked suspiciously, "Where is Jingsi?"

"Your Highness, I was summoned by Military Advisor Zhang. It seems we need to discuss something important," Consort Ge replied truthfully, her head bowed.

Chen Futu frowned, stood up and said, "Quickly help me go see what Zhang Liang and the others are up to."

Consort Ge said, "Your Highness, you are drunk. Why don't you call Military Advisor Zhang over for questioning?"

"Okay, call them over quickly."

Chen Futu had drunk too much wine, and now his head was throbbing so badly that he could barely stand.

Moreover, he completely ignored the consequences of keeping Zhou Qingzhi around; he didn't want to harm someone else's entire family.

However, Ge Fei did not return for a long time after she left. Just when Chen Futu was getting anxious, Zhang Liang arrived, along with An Jingsi.

Chen Futu hurriedly asked, "Zifang, have you sent someone to Zhongshan?"

Zhang Liang smiled slightly, "Your Highness, rest assured. I have dispatched General Ma and General Huo, leading three hundred Jingyue soldiers, to Zhongshan, traveling day and night."

"really?"

Chen Futu frowned and stared at Zhang Liang, who remained calm and composed, saying, "That's natural."

"Okay, you guys step back."

Chen Futu rubbed his temples and lay down again.

Zhang Liang immediately gestured to An Jingsi and Ge Fei, and the two exchanged glances and nodded.

Chen Futu didn't see any of this, but Liu Longyue did. Just as she was about to say something, Zhang Liang's silent gaze called her away.