Lu Shiheng's expression remained unchanged, and he smiled and said, "Master, you are too kind. I have been preparing for war these days, training soldiers day and night, and recruiting experts... Unless Maitreya comes with a large army, it will not be easy to capture Xiangyang with just the few soldiers and horses here."
Tang Wanzhuang smiled and said, "Really? The governor is indeed a capable minister."
"I don't deserve such praise." Lu Shiheng said, "If there is anything that Xiangyang lacks, it is the lack of money and food. Can the chief help transfer some to Jiangnan... Oh, the road is blocked, why not transfer some to Heluo? There is enough food there."
Tang Wanzhuang said calmly: "I can't control He Luo."
Lu Shiheng was stunned: "Why? It is said that His Majesty has given the Chief Lord great authority during his trip south this time..."
Tang Wanzhuang said: "Because the Hongnong Yang have already refused to obey orders, my power has no effect on them."
Lu Shiheng pretended to take a deep breath and said, "The Hongnong Yang Clan has been keeping a low profile these years. Could it be because Wang Daozhong helped them capture Yang Qianyuan? Is it just for such a small matter?"
"I don't know the details... but this is just a lead-in for a deal. The dealmaker may not be the Wang family, but also the Four Symbols Sect." Tang Wanzhuang's beautiful eyes moved around Lu Shiheng's face, and she said lightly: "So if the Yang family goes south and attacks from both sides with the Maitreya Sect... or if the Suzaku and Xuanwu attack the palace directly, will the governor still have confidence?"
Tang Wanzhuang didn't know that Lu Shiheng was colluding with the Maitreya Sect. She hurried to Xiangyang because she was worried that Lu Shiheng would join the alliance of the Wang family, the Yang family, and the Four Symbols Sect.
Because Lu Shiheng was a former official of the Wang family, he had been taught swordsmanship by Wang Daoning, who also promoted and recommended him.
On the surface, Lü Shiheng was in Xiangyang, far away from Langya. After the Wang family's operation to test the world, Lü Shiheng had no contact with the Wang family and became a loyal minister of Daxia. But once the alliance reached this point, it would be a matter of a word for him to change flags.
This kind of force is a hundred times more troublesome than Maitreya. The biggest reason is that they will not encounter resistance from local forces like Maitreya. For example, Lu Shiheng in front of him has completely different performance when facing Maitreya and when facing the Wang and Yang families.
Before the Battle of Taihu Lake, Tang Wanzhuang had heard about the change in the Yang family, and she wanted to rush to Xiangyang at that time. With her here, there is still a chance to shake Lu Shiheng's inclination, at least she should give it a try... So as soon as the war ended, she rushed here overnight, seizing the day.
That's why she reminded Li Si'an and Da Zhou that too many pigeons would easily expose them. This sentence was aimed at the city lord. Apart from the city lord, what other forces were qualified to pay attention to the movement of pigeons in the city? Once Lu Shiheng changed, Li Si'an, Da Zhou and others would be in great danger.
It’s a pity that when I came here, I found that the situation in Xiangongyuan had changed, Li Si'an had been captured, and Lu Shiheng’s rebellious intentions were revealed.
It's still too late... How can I repair all the cracked sky by myself
At this moment, Lu Shiheng was saying, "The northern army needs to cross the river to go south, but it's not that easy... If the leader is worried about this, he might as well contact the capital. Once the Yang family makes any unusual moves, we can attack them from behind, and Xiangyang's danger will be resolved. I don't think the Yang family has the courage to do that."
Of course, the Yang family did not have the courage to do so. What they wanted was to capture the important city of Xiangyang without losing a single soldier.
Tang Wanzhuang sighed and was about to say something when her expression suddenly changed slightly.
She was the one who taught Zhao Changhe the telepathic perception like the moon reflected in the water. Even Zhao Changhe can often use it to sense danger in the distance, let alone Tang Wanzhuang
She could clearly feel the sounds of more and more powerful men coming from inside the Fairy Palace Garden. The surrounding rooftops were filled with powerful men forming formations, and strong bows and crossbows surrounded the brothel.
When Lu Shiheng came over to simply exchange a few words, he was surrounded inside and outside. Was Lu Shiheng waiting for him to fall into this trap
How could he have the guts to go against the will of the world and openly hunt down the head of the Demon Suppression Division in Xiangyang? Even the Wang family didn't dare to do this, so how could Lu Shiheng dare
Did he think he could control the whole city and conceal this? But the Tang family knew that I was here. If something happened, no matter whether the Chaos Book reported it or not, you couldn't hide it from the Tang family. What are you doing
Tang Wanzhuang's mind raced, pretending to know nothing. She swallowed back all the words she had intended to persuade the emperor, and sipped her tea leisurely: "Since the governor has said so, it seems that Wanzhuang was worrying too much. The governor's words also make sense. I should go to the capital immediately."
Lu Shiheng smiled and came over to pour her tea. "It's getting late. There's no need to travel day and night. You can rest in Xiangyang for a night and set off tomorrow morning. You can also send a message. You don't need to run around in person."
"If I stay here one more night, my head might be hanging on the city gate tomorrow morning." When she mentioned the word "head", Tang Wanzhuang suddenly attacked and grabbed Lu Shiheng's throat!
Lu Shiheng happened to come over to add more tea, and the attack was so sudden that he only had time to tilt his head subconsciously. His shoulder was already hit by Tang Wanzhuang, and his whole body felt numb and sore.
Lu Shiheng regretted it too late. He knew that this woman was extremely strong and would act decisively and never hesitate. However, her appearance was too deceptive. Every time he faced her, no matter how much he warned himself, he was still not so vigilant. He should not have approached her at this distance. It was a pity that he was ranked 48th on the Human Ranking, but he could not even block her sudden attack and was pinned there.
Fortunately, the arrangements had been completed. As soon as Tang Wanzhuang made a move, the people who had been lying in ambush for a long time were attracted and suddenly broke out of the wall. The terrifying knife light attacked Tang Wanzhuang's back.
Tang Wanzhuang was well prepared. She turned her body and her slender hand brushed past, hitting the side of the opponent's knife.
Then there was a sound of "Huh", and both sides shook slightly. The sword light faded, revealing Maitreya's fat body, shaped like a mountain of flesh.
Tang Wanzhuang's face was as gloomy as water. She never thought that it was Maitreya!
How could it be Maitreya
Tang Wanzhuang took a deep breath and said coldly, "It turned out to be you. I didn't expect it... Can Governor Lu give me an explanation?"
"What do you want to explain?" Lu Shiheng, who was acupunctured, became calmer: "Don't you see, Master, he doesn't care about my life or death at all, he just wants your life? It's meaningless for you to hold me hostage."
Maitreya failed in his move, but he was not anxious. He said with a smile: "Master Tang, you never thought that we would meet again after only one day's separation."
Tang Wanzhuang frowned slightly. Maitreya was injured by her before in Taihu Lake and escaped, but she didn't expect him to recover so quickly. Now he looks like he has no injuries at all. Yesterday's victory seems illusory... Is the dual cultivation technique of Ji Le Da Fa really so magical
She took a deep breath and said coldly, "Buddha thought he had a good plan, but he never thought that as a leader, going deep into enemy territory, this behavior... is not only low-level, but also actually makes him a pawn of others?"
"Chess?" Maitreya said with a smile, "It's nothing more than putting the blame for the death of Tang's leader in Xiangyang on Maitreya. In fact, if I want to take over this city, there are other people in the palace who are in the way, either Wang Daoning or Yang Jingxiu... But so what? I am not afraid of taking the blame for killing you, and the plans of the Wang and Yang families may not succeed. After killing you, I will play chess with them again."
Tang Wanzhuang asked, "Could it be that Governor Lu has actually been controlled by your goddess?"
"Guess?" Maitreya said with a smile, "Including you... These famous families, high and mighty, think that selling face is more useful than anything else, but that's all fucking fake."
Tang Wanzhuang did not answer. This statement did make some sense. She had overestimated her own reputation, so she came here alone... Of course, it was not entirely about reputation, but many considerations of power and background were behind it. However, the brainwashing and control of the skills were enough to make these things become nothing.
This is the unique advantage of cults such as Maitreya and Four Symbols, which makes everyone's conventional thinking fall into misunderstanding.
Maitreya said with a smile: "Master Tang, we have fought several times before, and I was actually at a disadvantage. The first time was by the Jianhu Lake, when we were fighting with the Four Symbols Sect. You suddenly intervened and I didn't want to fight you. The second time was at your Tang family, Zhao Changhe and Tang Buqi ruined my plan. The situation was not in my favor, and I had no intention of fighting. In the battle of Taihu Lake yesterday, you and I were evenly matched, but Tang Buqi took advantage of the opportunity and broke my army. And today..."
He pointed outside the house, where a group of Maitreya followers surrounded them: "The situation is on my side."
He pointed to the location of the prefectural government in the distance and said, "Li Si'an, your right-hand man and even the source of money for the Secret Service, is now in the hands of the goddess of my sect. Not only is his life in my hands, but even his money should belong to my Holy Sect."
After saying this, he looked up and down at Tang Wanzhuang's beautiful body, revealing a strange smile: "Master Tang, are you willing to just abandon your arm and leave? This Xiangyang, this Jiangnan, this reputation, this heart of Taoism. Do you... still want it?"
Tang Wanzhuang knew that his words were just an attack on her heart.
Everyone is always evenly matched. As long as one side is confused, he will lose. In the past, it was Maitreya who was confused, and this time it seems to be his turn.
Tang Wanzhuang slowly drew out the Chunshui Bibo sword and pointed it at Maitreya, her expression calm: "Maybe you don't know one thing."
Maitreya smiled and said, "First Master, please speak."
"I've been evenly matched with you several times, that's because... I'm letting you win."
Miroku's face slightly changed, and then he sneered: "Then let's try it, let's see if you cough to death first, or can you explode and kill me first?"
——
PS: There will be extra time in the evening, so it will be quite late.
(End of this chapter)