bayedsolid Chapter 243 Assassination of Zhang Liang 5
Chapter 243 Assassination of Zhang Liang 5
Liu Sheng meticulously planned everything. He carefully selected several shrewd and capable people and had them hide in the bustling crowd around the notice board, pretending to be ordinary citizens, while secretly observing the actions and expressions of the people around them.
At that moment, most people surged towards Huaiyang Academy like a tide, the bustling scene resembling a grand gathering. However, a few people stood out; instead of following the crowd to Huaiyang Academy, they went in the opposite direction, striding away.
This unusual behavior immediately attracted the sharp eyes that Liu Sheng had arranged. They followed quietly behind without making a sound, like hunters hidden in the shadows, cautious and focused.
The group of people finally managed to squeeze out of the crowded throng and began looking around nervously, seemingly wary of being followed. Those responsible for tracking them dared not get too close, lest they alert the pursuers, and cleverly blended into the flow of people, becoming one with their surroundings.
Fortunately, the group remained oblivious to anything amiss, continuing their brisk walk, occasionally glancing back to make sure no one was following them. Meanwhile, the pursuers maintained a safe distance, cautiously keeping their way, and the entire operation proceeded without revealing a single clue.
And so, the group walked through the streets and finally arrived at the gate of a quiet courtyard. One of them stepped forward and gently knocked on the gate. After a short while, the gate slowly opened, and the group filed in. Then the gate quickly closed, shutting out the noise from the outside world.
Seeing this, the group that had been following them immediately divided their tasks: one person rushed off to report the situation to Liu Sheng; the rest remained outside the courtyard gate, ready to defend against any sudden escape. In addition, two highly skilled and agile individuals used their lightness skills to leap over the high courtyard wall and silently infiltrate the courtyard, attempting to locate the group.
The two stood in the courtyard, holding their breath and listening intently. In the distance, they could hear faint, indistinct voices drifting on the wind. Instinctively, they slowed their steps, like two stealthy cats, and slowly approached the house from which the voices were coming.
As they drew closer, the initially indistinct voice gradually became clearer. A slightly younger man's voice rang out from inside the house: "Sir, have you heard? Zhang Liang, for some reason, is now wanted throughout the city! What should we do?"
Immediately afterward, the voice of another middle-aged man, who appeared much more mature and composed, rang out: "Could it be that Zhang Liang has already exposed his whereabouts? If so, we're probably in grave danger here and no longer safe!"
Just then, another aged yet steady voice interjected: "Don't panic, calm down! The connection between Zhang Liang and us isn't actually that deep. Besides, those who are chasing him are only focused on capturing Zhang Liang right now. We are people of Zhao, so how much does their capture of Zhang Liang have to do with us? Why are you so impatient?"
Hearing the old man's words, the middle-aged man calmed down a little, but still couldn't help but ask, "What if Zhang Liang is unfortunately arrested? I'm afraid he might not be able to withstand the torture and betray us!"
Faced with the middle-aged man's concerns, the old man remained confident, replying with certainty, "Although Zhang Liang is physically weak, his will is exceptionally strong and resolute. He single-handedly and tirelessly traveled far and wide, recruiting soldiers and successfully connecting with like-minded individuals like us. How could such a man fall into enemy hands so easily? Even if he were captured, in my opinion, he would never betray us in the slightest!"
A middle-aged man's surprised voice came through: "Father actually values Zhang Liang so much?"
At the same time, the old man let out a disdainful sneer. His voice was slightly hoarse as he slowly said, "Hmph! The state of Han is just a tiny place; how can it compare to our powerful state of Zhao? Although Zhang Liang is indeed capable, how can he command those rabble he recruited with money? In my opinion, these people are just greedy for money. Now that Zhang Liang has caused this incident, they've probably been scared into hiding like turtles, too afraid to show their faces. They'll never amount to anything. In the end, it's the people that our state of Zhao cultivates that are truly trustworthy and reliable!"
Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man echoed, "Father, you are truly wise and far-sighted! But... are we really not going to Dai?"
Before he could finish speaking, the old man let out a heavy snort and replied irritably, "What use would it be if that good-for-nothing Zhao Jia became king? Although we all share the same surname, Zhao Jia is utterly incompetent! The responsibility of restoring the glory of the Zhao Kingdom in the future will still depend on you and me, father and son!"
Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man was overjoyed and excitedly replied loudly, "Yes, Father! Your son will do everything in his power to assist you in achieving a great and earth-shattering feat!" Immediately afterward, a cacophony of loud conversations erupted from inside the room. The two men outside listened quietly for a long while before finally realizing—this was a secret stronghold of the remnants of the Zhao state.
The two tiptoed out of the courtyard, afraid of making a sound that would attract attention. Just as they left, Liu Sheng arrived at the spot. He looked hurried.
The two men hurried forward and recounted everything they had overheard to Liu Sheng in detail. Upon hearing this, Liu Sheng frowned deeply. Without hesitation, he immediately ordered his men to find the Prefect of Huaiyang. Before long, the men he had sent out returned with the Prefect of Huaiyang.
Upon learning of the situation, the prefect of Huaiyang immediately ordered the surrounding area to be sealed off and quickly mobilized men to completely surround the area. The atmosphere instantly became extremely tense, as if even the air itself had frozen.
The encirclement gradually tightened, leaving those inside with nowhere to escape, and they were quickly apprehended. Meanwhile, those observing from other hidden locations also made progress, successfully capturing several foreign spies hiding in the area. However, regrettably, despite their extensive search, they were unable to find Zhang Liang, which made Liu Sheng increasingly impatient and enraged.
Meanwhile, portraits of Zhang Liang had already circulated widely, and many people claimed to have seen him. However, when asked about the specific location, the accounts varied wildly, offering little truly useful clue or information.