There were two types of tortoises in this world.
The first was the Xuanwu, a defensive type, but also full of stubbornness.
The other was the thousand-year tortoise and ten-thousand-year tortoise.
Xuanwu belonged to the former type, while Marquis Zhenyuan belonged to the latter type.
The bird that sticks out dies first, and the rafters that stick out rot first.
Marquis Zhenyuan had always adhered to this truth, always following the will of the Monarch.
He was clearly the leader of the old aristocrats, but he acted as if it had nothing to do with him.
It was also because of this that the Monarch never attacked the Marquis Zhenyuan's residence.
Because the Monarch clearly knew that once they attacked Marquis Zhenyuan, it would lead to a strong counterattack.
In order to protect himself, the Marquis of Zhenyuan would instantly transform from a tortoise to a leader. Dozens of old aristocrats would immediately choose him as the backbone to fight against the monarch. The old aristocratic alliance, which was in a state of disunity, would immediately twist together.
At that time, it would be the worst situation for the Monarch.
They would first put the big one aside, then deal with the smaller old aristocrats one by one, and finally deal with the big one.
At that time, if Marquis Zhenyuan wanted to counterattack, there would be no more subordinates around him to summon.
Marquis Zhenyuan, of course, saw this.
But he also believed in another famous saying, "I don't need to run faster than the hunter, I just need to run faster than my companions."
As for what would happen when his companions were all dead, what would happen when it was his turn?
That would be at least a dozen years later.
What would happen in these ten years?
The Monarch was in his fifties this year. To put it bluntly, how many more years would he have?
Within ten years, the State of Yue would definitely have an inheritance war. The crown prince and second prince would be evenly matched.
Apart from the State of Yue, the State of Wu and the State of Chu would also have a winner. At that time, would the State of Yue still have such a stable external environment?
At that time, the situation at home and abroad would be extremely tense. Who would have the time to deal with Marquis Zhenyuan?
In order to fight for the throne, the crown prince and second prince would not even have time to curry favor with Marquis Zhenyuan.
Everyone laughed at Marquis Zhenyuan's cowardice, but Su Nan treated everyone as a fool.
There was no absolute truth in this world.
It was a truth that the bird that stuck out would die first, and it was also a truth that the teeth would be interdependent without the lips.
All truths depended on the right timing.
…
"Greetings Aunt, greetings Uncle!"
Su Jianting, the heir of the Marquis of Zhenyuan, meticulously saluted.
Xuanwu gave him an expression and nodded.
His wife, on the other hand, had a frosty look on her face. She did not have the slightest bit of goodwill towards her nephew.
"Have some tea," Xuanwu said.
"Yes." Su Jianting sat down and picked up the teacup. He was not annoyed.
After that, the atmosphere turned completely cold, and it seemed extremely awkward.
A moment later, Mulan walked out.
Su Jianting's eyes flashed with a glimmer of light and a complicated look.
Once upon a time, this cousin should have been his wife.
With her temperament and appearance, it was really rare to find someone like her. But now, she had become someone else's wife. It was really …
Then, he saw Shen Lang beside Mulan.
Su Jianting had heard many stories about this son-in-law.
Su Jianting got up and cupped his hands in greeting, "Brother-in-law, cousin."
"Cousin." Mulan said.
Shen Lang did not greet him because he had never been polite.
But every hair on his neck was almost standing up.
Because this Su Jianting in front of him was unexpectedly so handsome.
When Shen Lang looked at other men, he would automatically belittle them by 30%. Even so, when he looked at Su Jianting, he was almost as handsome as Shen Lang.
Madam Count couldn't help but say, "Su Jianting, I haven't congratulated your father yet. He has become the great general of the army and re-entered the central command. I heard that after he received the imperial edict, he couldn't wait to rush to the capital and even set off overnight. "
Madam couldn't help but be sarcastic in every sentence.
Su Jianting said, "I've let aunt see a joke."
Xuanwu said, "Why did you come this time?"
Su Jianting said, "Grandmother has not seen aunt and cousin for a long time and misses you very much, so she sent me to invite aunt and cousin to stay at home for a while. Moreover, grandmother also wants to meet this brother-in-law. I heard that he is extremely outstanding. "
Su Jianting looked at Shen Lang and sent out an invitation.
"No need …" Madam Count said, "Even if I die in Xuan Wu Mansion, I don't want to go to your Zhenyuan Marquis' residence to avoid disaster. I was born a member of the Kim family, and I will die a ghost of the Kim family. "
Su Jianting said, "Grandmother is already old, and you are her most beloved daughter. These days, whenever she thinks of aunt, she frequently tears."
Madam Count said, "When you made that choice, I didn't think of myself as your daughter. You go back and tell your grandmother that Su Peipei is dead. "
Su Jianting said, "Aunt, when the family broke the engagement, I was thousands of miles away …"
Madam Count interrupted him and lightly said, "Su Jianting, don't feel too good about yourself. That day, our Kim family tore up the marriage contract first."
"Yes!" Su Jianting bowed.
Madam Count said, "If there's nothing else, you can go. We didn't prepare dinner at home."
Su Jianting said, "There's one more thing."
Madam Count said, "Speak."
Su Jianting said, "I heard that cousin's martial arts on horseback are strong, and your swordsmanship is even stronger. This nephew wants to learn a thing or two."
Mulan wanted to refuse.
But Shen Lang nodded to her.
"Okay, let's go to the courtyard." Mulan said.
… …
Inside the courtyard!
Jin Mulan and Su Jianting were separated by one zhang.
"Please!"
"Please!"
The two of them attacked at the same time.
The style of that sword was indescribable.
Fast!
It was fast!
It was so fast that Shen Lang's eyes couldn't see it clearly.
It was so fast that it looked like there was only one sword, but in fact, there were 17 stabs.
But even in the eyes of a layman like Shen Lang, he could see that Mulan was at her real peak.
Compared to when she killed Tian Heng, he didn't know how much stronger she was.
That day when she killed four assassins, she used at most 50% of her power.
That day when she killed Tian Heng, she used at most 70% of her power.
And now, Mu Lan was using almost 120% of her power to fight.
The two swords instantly clashed, and then like a huge electric light, the two of them were bounced back.
Su Jianting was like a goose landing on the ground.
Mulan was like a butterfly landing on the ground.
Su Jianting cupped his hands and said, "Cousin, thank you for letting me win!"
Mulan didn't speak.
Su Jianting said, "Cousin, I once competed with Jin Hai Bo, the martial fanatic Tang Yan, and I lost! His Meteor Fall, I can't take it. I tried ten times, but I couldn't take it ten times. "
Then, he cupped his hands towards Shen Lang and Mulan, "Brother-in-law, cousin, goodbye!"
Su Jianting left.
Mulan's face was frosty, and she seemed especially unwilling.
Shen Lang went forward and gently embraced her.
Mulan's tears fell, and she hugged Shen Lang and cried, "Husband, I lost."
Shen Lang picked up her jade hand, and the web between his thumb and forefinger was bleeding.
And her aura was very chaotic, and it was obvious that she had suffered some internal injuries from that sword.
Shen Lang kissed Mulan's hand, and caressed her hair.
Mulan said, "I originally wouldn't have lost, but I had to practice swordsmanship, and I also had to practice martial arts on horseback, so I lost to him."
Right now, in front of Shen Lang, Mulan seemed very childish.
But what she said was true.
Martial arts were divided into two kinds, one for the battlefield, and one for the martial world.
The martial arts of the martial world were suitable for one to fight alone.
The martial arts of the battlefield were suitable for battles.
Generally speaking, one could only focus on one. For example, Nangong Xie, the eldest son of Count Zhenbei, focused on the battlefield martial arts, while Tang Yan, the martial arts maniac of the Jin Hai Count House, focused on individual martial arts.
Mulan pressed her face tightly against Shen Lang's chest, and said weakly, "Husband, I can't even defeat Su Jianting, how can I defeat that martial arts maniac, Tang Yan? If I lose to Tang Yan, I will lose one out of three battles, and it may cause us to lose Jinshan Island forever. Then I will be the family's sinner for a hundred years. Now, I can see that even though I have not fought with Tang Yan, my swordsmanship is at least two levels lower than his. "
Shen Lang was heartbroken. He kissed her earlobe, and said softly, "Baby, do you believe me?"
"I believe you," Mulan said softly, "Husband, in my heart, there is nothing you can't do."
She looked up, and her beautiful eyes were filled with tears, as charming as the stars in the sky.
Shen Lang said, "Then I promise you, you will win the battle with Tang Yan! We will also win the battle for Jinshan Island! "
Then, Shen Lang said with a smile, "Wife, I have an idea that I haven't had the time to tell you."
"Hmm?" Mulan asked.
Shen Lang said, "I want to train you into the world's number one master. If anyone dares to provoke me in the future, you will help me beat him up."
"Okay." Mulan nodded hard.
Then, Mulan said, "But I suspect that the Big Fool will be the world's number one master. What should we do?"
Shen Lang said, "Then let him lose half of his martial arts."
"Ugh!"
Shen Lang begged in a low voice, "Wife, do you still close the window when you shower at night?"
Mulan pretended not to hear him.
Silence meant that she did not close the window.
Shen Lang said to You, "Wife, I … I'm going to turn into stone now."
Mulan stomped her foot, turned around, and left.
She hated Husband's behavior the most.
At such a sweet moment, he always acted like a hooligan and spoiled the mood.
When men and women fell in love, they would recite poems under the moonlight.
Husband, when you and I were in love, you told dirty jokes every day.
Now, Mulan, who used to be pure and innocent, understood everything now.
Her theoretical knowledge was even richer than that of her mother, who had been fighting for twenty years.
Listening to a man's words was better than ten years in bed.
After Mulan left, Shen Lang looked in the direction where Su Jianting left.
Up until now, Shen Lang had faced many enemies.
Basically, he did not have the power to fight. All of them were crushed to death by Shen Lang.
This Su Jianting in front of him seemed to be a powerful enemy.
Today, he did not act like an enemy at all. Not only was he polite, but he also took the initiative to challenge Mulan. He wanted to remind Mulan that her martial arts were far inferior to Tang Yan's and she had no hope of winning this battle.
But the more polite he was, the more he felt superior. It was the feeling that he saw everyone as a fool.
It was still the same truth!
Those who knew how to show off better than me, Shen Lang, deserve to die!
…
Count Chingan House.
"Damn, they're all bastards." Chingan Wu Zhaozhong was furious.
Even as a noble, Wu Zhaozhong was full of vulgarities.
"Marquis Zhenyuan Su Nan is a bastard, a villain, a bastard who should be cut into pieces!"
"I have never seen such a useless marquis. Even a dog is not as obedient as you."
"When the Monarch decreed, you went to the capital to work. Can't you refuse three times? Even a dog wouldn't be as enthusiastic as you! "
Just like the corpses and vultures on the grassland.
Originally, there were only three families who wanted to eat the Xuan Wu Mansion. The New Deal Party, Marquis Zhenbei Mansion, Jinhai Count House, and Count Chingan House took advantage of the geographical proximity to forcefully take a bite out of it.
The other families were watching the show. They were tempted, but they did not dare to rush forward.
Now, Marquis Zhenyuan Su Nan accepted the decree and went to the capital to work. That was nothing more than telling the world.
Although I and Xuan Wu Mansion are in-laws, there is no relationship between us. You can do whatever you want. Don't give me face.
As for those old nobles, they had originally wanted to lend a helping hand to the Black Tortoise Earl's Mansion.
Now, Marquis Zhenbei Mansion requested the Monarch to send the family's private army to the The South Kingdom to quell the rebellion. This was equivalent to handing a knife to the Monarch.
Marquis Zhenyuan Mansion was also terrified.
Whoever dared to jump out, the Monarch would cut them down.
Despicable and shameless!
Before Xuan Wu Mansion collapsed, countless vultures were circling in the sky, waiting to eat the bodies of the Kim family.
"I Count Chingan House want half of the saltworks on Wangya Island," Marquis Chingan said coldly, "I will fight whoever dares to snatch this piece of meat from me. Who is Viscount Zhu Lanting? He is just a cat and a dog. How dare he snatch the meat? Does he deserve it? "
"Go and order Lin Zhuo to be crazier and more vicious. Don't be afraid of dead people, don't be afraid of killing people, and don't be afraid of fighting. Don't harass them through their boots. You can cross the border and attack. It doesn't matter even if it causes a small-scale war. "
Crown Prince Wu Yuanhua of Count Chingan House frowned and said, "Although Shioyama Chihose's army is considered elite, I am afraid they will still be at a disadvantage against the cavalry of Xuan Wu Mansion."
Chingan Wu Zhaozhong pondered for a moment, then slammed his fist on the table and said, "Secretly transfer the experts of the family over and fill them up under Lin Zhuo's command. Tell Lin Zhuo to fight the enemy with numbers. If he encounters any small-scale cavalry patrolling from Xuan Wu Mansion, he will eat them all. "
"Capture them! Capture as many of Xuan Wu Mansion's private army as possible and hang them up in public. "
"Let everyone see that I, Count Chingan House, am the one who works the hardest. In the future, when we divide the meat, I must get a big piece."
"Yes!" Crown Prince Wu Yuanhua said.
More than an hour later.
A group of a hundred elite cavalrymen galloped out, rushing towards Black Warrior City.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
How many benefits would there be if an old noble family collapsed?
The Monarch would eat the big piece, and we would eat the small piece. If we let this opportunity go, Chingan would never forgive himself.
Last time when Dongjiang Count House collapsed, many people ate until their heads were full. At that time, Count Chingan House was too far away, so they couldn't eat.
This time, Xuan Wu Mansion was right next to them. If they didn't snatch a piece of meat, even the heavens wouldn't be able to bear it.
So, don't blame me, Wu Zhaozhong, for being too unsightly.
But don't be jealous, hahahaha!
Wu Zhaozhong had been dissatisfied with these old nobles for a long time. What are you all so arrogant for?
Do you think you are so great just because you have a fief and a private army?
Usually, when they met, these old nobles would pretend to be smiling, but their eyes were filled with a sense of superiority, looking down on these new nobles.
Now, all of you are going to be unlucky and die without a burial place.
If we don't take this opportunity to stab the Kim family in the back, our Wu family doesn't deserve to survive among these wolves.
"Yuanhua, Zhang? He should be in Jin Hai Count House now. You go there. " Wu Zhao said solemnly, "Tell him bluntly that we want half of the Black Tortoise Count's saltworks. No matter who else joins this banquet in the future, this piece of meat cannot be snatched away by anyone. Otherwise, don't blame me for creating trouble for him when he seeks to become the next governor of Yanzhou."
Crown Prince Wu Yuanhua said, "Do you want to say it so directly?"
Wu Zhaozhong said, "At this time, you have to be direct. If you beat around the bush, when Xuan Wu Mansion collapses and everyone divides the meat, it will have nothing to do with us."
Even if the nobles in the army weren't rude and overbearing, they had to pretend to be so.
"Yes!" Wu Yuanhua said.
At this moment, a shout full of fear and timidity suddenly came from outside.
"Father!"
Wu Zhaozhong frowned. It was his third son, Wu Yuanxiong.
He was fond of this son because he was very good at reading and had also become a juren.
However, his private life was too messy and dissolute.
However, these were all small matters. As a noble, what was the big deal about playing with a few women? What was the big deal about playing with a few men?
"What now?" Chingan Wu Zhaozhong said, "What trouble did you get into this time? Which good girl did you molest this time? Send money to shut her up. If that doesn't work, send a knife. "
The third son, Wu Yuanxiong, walked in. He was thin and his face was full of despair.
After coming in, he knelt down straight.
Wu Zhaozhong said coldly, "What happened? Don't look so useless. Did you kill me? But you don't have to look like this. If someone dies, then so be it. "
Wu Yuanxiong did not say anything and took off his pants.
His manhood was full of sores, plum blossoms and cauliflower.
"Father, I'm finished! I'm finished. "
"Father, I'm still young. I don't want to die. I don't want to die …"
Chingan Wu Zhaozhong was stunned.
It was as if a bolt of lightning had exploded in his head.
His whole body stiffened and he felt cold all over.
"How did this happen? How did this happen? " Wu Zhaozhong roared, "All of you played with good girls. Every time you played with them, you would get a doctor to check your body. Only when they were clean would you play with them."
The third son, Wu Yuanxiong, cried, "I don't know either. After playing with them for so many years, nothing happened. Why did something happen this time? I'm not the only one. Something happened to Fifth Brother too. More than ten people were killed. "
Wu Zhaozhong's scalp went numb.
Then, he remembered something even more terrifying.
"Quick, gather all the men and women in the residence and check their bodies. See how many of them were hit?"
"Third Brother, call Fifth Brother in. Tell me honestly, who have you slept with in the residence? How many have you slept with? "
Two hours later!
The results were out!
It was chilling to the bone.
It was frightening to the soul.
In the entire Count Chingan House, dozens of people had been found to be infected.
…
In the room!
A charming and beautiful young woman knelt on the ground and cried. Her eyes were full of panic and despair.
She was Wu Zhaozhong's most beloved concubine, the absolute exclusive.
Now she was also infected. Wu Zhaozhong saw it with his own eyes. It was outrageous.
What did this mean?
It meant that his son had an affair with his concubine.
"Ah … Ah …"
Wu Zhaozhong roared crazily.
He was extremely furious!
The concubine hugged his thigh and cried, "Husband, you can definitely be cured. You can definitely be cured."
"Cure, cure your mother!"
Wu Zhaozhong pulled out his saber and slashed down!
Kill, kill for me!
…