Vanquish Them All

Chapter 12 Eliminate Traitors

In Duke Xing's Manor...

"Liu Renneng is a good-for-nothing! A strong Level 2 Qi-refining practitioner even couldn't beat a weaker one who has just reached Qi-refining. It's really a shame!" Li Yao threw away the messaging jade note in his hand and stared at the advisor in front of him. "What should I do now? Li Ye has returned to Chang'an, but Liu Renneng has not yet written back. Did he die?"

The Confucian-looking advisor sighed. "It's reasonable that Liu Renneng wouldn't fail. But if Li Ye had my Glazed Cyan Jade Gourd and Liu Renneng overlooked the enemy, it's possible that he would fail... Now the problem is that our fellows saw in the street that those Taoist priests of Taixuan Hall were brought back to Prince An's Manor by Li Ye."

"Those Taoist priests must be brought out!" Li Yao gnashed his teeth. "If those Taoist priests betrayed me, and then Li Ye goes to the Chang'an Office's Court of the Imperial Clan to sue me, after that, everyone would know that I wanted to kill Li Ye!"

The advisor meditated for a moment, and then tentatively asked, "Now the Duke is on a business trip and will come back in two days. This matter is indeed serious. How about solving it when the Duke comes back?"

Li Yao was even angrier and looked at his advisor with a gloomy face. "Are you saying that I can't deal with a loser who hasn't cultivated in 20 years, and I need my father to come out for me?"

The assistant opened his mouth and wanted to say something. But he didn't speak in the end because, after all, what could he say?

"Although my father went out on business and took away the masters of the Mansion, there were still a few guests at Level 1 or Level 2 of Qi-refining. Li Ye had just reached Qi-refining. Even though he has the Glazed Cyan Jade Gourd, he still couldn't make trouble for me because, after all, there are no other Practitioners of Qi techniques in Prince An's Manor. What's more, there are some of my fellows among those subordinate officials and guards in Prince An's Manor!"

Li Yao quickly made up his mind. "Command those who work in Prince An's Manor to set fire at nightfall and stir up chaos, and for our men to also go and capture those Taoist priests at the same time. In any case, we can't allow them to testify against me... A long delay may cause trouble. Go to arrange it immediately!"

The advisor thought for a while, and found that there was no better way. "Now, that's the only way."

Li Yao said viciously, "If things go wrong again, I'll do it by myself. I don't believe that Li Ye can have his day and compete with me to be Duke Prince An. What an i***t!"

The staff looked stunned and didn't dare to say more.

As a genius of the Imperial Clan descendants, Li Yao now had reached Level 3 of Qi-refining.

The cultivators of the whole world who reached the level of Qi-refining before 20 years old were first-class geniuses. And whoever reached Level 3 of Qi-refining in their 20s, his or her cultivation was extremely amazing.

At this time in Chang'an City, there weren't many practitioners at a high level of Qi-refining. Among them, Officers Liu Xingshen and Han Wenyue, who were lieutenants of the Left and Right God Army, were the highest-leveled practitioners.

As a General of the Left Guards, Duke Xing had a cultivation in the middle-level of Qi-refining. But few of the advisors in his Mansion had reached Level 3 of Qi-refining.

After all, those who had reached Level 3 of Qi-refining might be appointed with a fifth-class official position. According to the Official Law of the Tang Empire, the Inspector General of a state only was a fourth-class official position. So how could such a master be another's advisor?

...

Originally, when Li Ye was not awarded the Duke of Prince An at the Capping Ceremony, Li Yao would immediately start to usurp the Duke of Prince An. According to Li Ye's experiences of his last life, Li Yao would succeed in half a month.

So at present, many people in Prince An's Manor had turned to Li Yao and seized opportunities to flatter him.

Li Yao's order was quickly conveyed to Prince An's Manor.

Inspector Song Ziwen, Leader Zhao Xingyuan, and Manager Qian Zhong were gathering in a remote room to secretly discuss how to carry out Li Yao's plan.

"Since Li Ye came back from the Tai Xuan Summit, the Manor has been in disorder. Shangguan Qingcheng ordered those guards to publicize Li Ye's deeds at the Tai Xuan Summit to everyone. Now in the Manor, everybody is respectful toward Li Ye. If it goes on like this, Li Ye will control the whole Manor in a few days!" Inspector Song Ziwen said angrily.

.

"Li Ye was so lucky to have gotten the Taoist's Luck that was left by Celestial Master Yuan, helping him reach Qi-refining in a short time... His identity changed immediately after he reached Qi-refining. People in the Manor changed their impressions of Li Ye, and they all began to flatter him, which is expected."

The leader of security guards, Zhao Xingyuan murmured.

"Alas, who would have thought that a loser who hadn't cultivated in 20 years would suddenly reach Qi-refining?" Manager Qian Zhong sighed. "Fortunately, Childe Yao has responded in time. As long as we don't fail tonight, Childe Yao will still be in the ascendant."

"That's right! Childe Yao is the genius of the Imperial Clan, and his father is the Duke and General of the Left Guards. He has a deep-rooted influence. Li Ye is different. Since Prince An had died, there has been no Practitioner of Qi techniques in the Manor. As long as we succeed tonight, it will still be easy for Childe Yao to seize Duke Prince An with his power!" Song Ziwen said.

"Inspector Song is right. Tonight's event is an opportunity for us to make a contribution. As long as we successfully complete the task, why should we worry about not being put in an important position when he becomes the Host of Prince An's Manor?" Zhao Xingyuan was firm. "Since we have already turned to Childe Yao, there's no way to retreat!"

Just as the crowd was talking, suddenly there was a voice of talking outside the house. Song Ziwen frowned, got up to open the door, and shouted coldly, "What happened?"

"Inspector, the Heir Apparent sent a message. The Heir Apparent is going to host a banquet in the Manor today to celebrate his achievement of reaching Qi-refining. All of you are invited." A guard standing outside the door had run over to report.

Song Ziwen, Zhao Xingyuan, and Qian Zhong looked at each other and got excited at the same time. "Since there is going to be a big banquet today, when everyone is drunk there, it will be our chance to start the fire! Li Ye is really going to bring about his own destruction!"

In the evening, all subordinate officers and officers of the military who were had a class-ranking gathered in the Banquet Hall.

Inside and outside the Banquet Hall, lanterns were hung high, the sound of fireworks was heard, and the servants and maids carried dishes and shuttled back and forth. It was busy and lively.

Li Ye sat in the Host's Seat, smiling and watching the subordinate officers and officers of the military who came in to congratulate him.

Having been reincarnated, it was very clear to Li Ye that many people in the present Prince An's Manor had turned to Li Yao.

After all, this time in his last life, Li Yao was about to become Duke Prince An. Those in the Manor who knew which way the wind blows all defected to Li Yao's side and showed their loyalty to him so that when Li Yao became the new host of Prince An's Manor, they could be reused and promoted.

Li Ye had to get rid of these people if he wanted to really control Prince An's Manor.

"There are 800 guards and dozens of subordinate officials and beadles in the Manor. If I gain the loyalty of these people and gather their Luck through Dragon Qi, maybe my cultivation can improve and reach Level 2 of Qi-refining." While watching the crowd gradually coming into the Banquet Hall and taking their seats, Li Ye thought these things over.

As a Great Cultivator in his last life, Li Ye was not satisfied with his current cultivation.

It was too weak.

Because of the arrangement of Shangguan Qingcheng, many people in the Manor had become respectful and loyal to Li Ye.

As the Heir Apparent of Prince An's Manor, Li Yao also possessed cultivation in the Qi-refining stage, so it was natural for him to gain these.

But the Dragon Qi in Li Ye's body didn't show up at all. Under his careful observation, Li Ye found that since he returned to the Manor, the Dragon Qi was shrouded in a haze, which blocked the gathering of people's Luck.

Li Ye had extraordinary insight and quickly realized the reason. "This is a phenomenon where dirty dogs are in power and Luck is difficult to gather."

The loyal and upright people around one will naturally make one's life prosperous, while the dirty dogs around one will play the opposite role.

In order to bring together people's Luck and achieve the goal of many hands providing great strength, Li Ye had to pull out the villains first.

This is also very easy to understand. There are good people and bad people around you. Some people are virtuous, talented, and motivated. They can complement each other, and their luck will increase. Naturally, they can help others accomplish their goals. Some people are of low moral character. They do not want to make progress, love ease and comfort, and hate hard work. They will only persuade others' to have fun with them, which will dampen their fighting spirit and degrade their reputation. As a result, their Luck will decrease. Naturally, they will hinder the success of others.

The former are beneficial while the latter are harmful.

For ordinary people, friends should be made with care. And for masters, they should also be careful in gathering fellows. To succeed, one must be close to the virtuous, and keep their distance from the dirty dogs.

Li Ye thought, "To wipe out the haze that shrouds the Dragon Qi and bring together the Luck of the people in the Manor smoothly, I have to first eradicate those villains who have turned to Li Yao."

But Li Ye didn't obviously show his intention; he still drank and cheered with the others.

The singing and dancing in the hall changed one after another.

Two hours later, the banquet arrived at its c****x.

At this moment, Shangguan Qingcheng stepped forward and reported, "Heir Apparent, everything has been done."

Li Ye nodded. "Ask the guards to come."

"Yes, sir." Shangguan Qingcheng got down and went to the entrance of the Banquet Hall. Then, she shouted in a low voice, "Guards, take your place!"

Those guards who had followed Li Ye to the Tai Xun Summit had already become Li Ye's trusted fellows. At the moment, at Shangguan Qingcheng's command, they respectively poured into the courtyard and stood outside the Waiting Corridor with their hands on their hilts. They were spiritful and aggressive, staring at those officers.

Upon seeing that, those who were drinking, eating, and enjoying music were shocked.

Song Ziwen and Zhao Hangyuan, who were sitting at the table, and Qian Zhong, who was standing at the edge of the courtyard, all changed their expressions.

Then, they all looked at Li Ye, who was sitting ahead in the hall, and wanted to know what he planned to do.

Li Ye, who sat in the Host's Seat, had already stood up with his hands clasped behind his back. He glanced at the people in the hall and said slowly, "It was a happy event that I have reached Qi-refining. But some people are not willing to see that and even want to murder me. I had no choice but to hold this banquet and asked Shangguan Qingcheng to take the opportunity to investigate. Now I'm going to tell you that there are traitors among you!"

When they heard this, some were surprised, some were confused, some were scared, and some were nervous. Their performances were all different.

One got up and saluted Li Ye; it was a leader of the Trusted Army. He angrily said, "I dare to ask where the traitors are. I'm willing to kill them for the Heir Apparent."

He was clever, rushing to show his loyalty in front of Li Ye.

Song Ziwen, Zhao Hangyuan, and Qian Zhong looked at each other from afar, feeling each other's panic.

Li Ye looked at Shangguan Qingcheng and asked, "General Shangguan, who have you found?"

Shangguan Qingcheng took out a notebook and glanced at the crowd. Under their closely watching eyes, she slowly read, "Inspector Song Ziwen, Leader Zhao Xingyuan, and Manager Qian Zhong intended to set a fire in the Manor tonight!"

"What?"

"How could such a thing happen?"

"Dammit!"

"Where are they?"

The people in the hall immediately became outraged. They got up one after another, looking for Song Ziwen, Zhao Hangyuan, Qian Zhong, and their associates.

The expressions of Song Ziwen, Zhao Hangyuan, and Qian Zhong changed greatly. They hurriedly got up, ready to object.

But Shangguan Qingcheng didn't pause. Waving her hand, she said, "Grab them!"

The guards rushed at them, caught hold of them, escorted them into the courtyard, and made them kneel down.

"You wrongly accuse me, Heir Apparent!"

"We're loyal to you! How could we do such a thing?!"

"The Heir Apparent has accused me of intending to set a fire. Do you have any evidence?!"

Song Ziwen, Zhao Xingyuan, Qian Zhong, and their associates did not dare to resist. After all, there were too many guards in the courtyard, but they all also immediately tried to explain themselves.

"Evidence? I'll show it to you." Shangguan Qingcheng sneered. "Bring them over!"

When the voice fell, a group of guards escorted a group of beadles, soldiers, and servants to the courtyard. Besides that, some guards also threw grease and igniters, which were used to set fires, to the ground.

Seeing these people and these things, Song Ziwen, Zhao Hangyuan, and Qian Zhong looked pale and almost cried loudly.

In order to achieve the purpose of capturing those Taoist priests, they had to set a big fire and cause huge chaos in the Manor. So naturally, they needed to arrange manpower and prepare materials.

The men who were escorted in by the guards were those who were arranged by Song Ziwen, Zhao Xingyuan, and Qian Zhong to set the fire.

"This is impossible!" the three shouted.

They thought that they had arranged it all secretly and that it wouldn't be detected. At the moment, they couldn't think of how Li Ye and Shangguan Qingcheng had accurately discovered those who were going to set the fire four hours later. In addition, they wondered how Shangguan Qingcheng had them under control and found the grease and fire paper.