Chapter 7, Current Situation

Zhao Ping felt a subtle concern for her grandfather's family. Her grandfather had concentrated most of the family's influence in the capital. Although her second uncle held the position of deputy commander in the Xinye camp and was very likely to assume the role of the next commander, this was contingent upon the imperial authority being able to effectively restrain local powers, making the situation rather unstable. At this moment, her grandfather's family appeared to be thriving, yet they harbored significant hidden worries

Cui Shidao certainly understood the dangers involved. As the head of one of the six major families of the present day, he must possess far-reaching strategic vision and exceptional means; otherwise, the Cui family could not have transformed from an ordinary family into one of the six major families of the present era under his leadership

Thus, the two can be said to be incompatible as fire and water

Concerning the survival of the family, Cui Shi certainly could not treat it lightly. He had made detailed arrangements for the analysis of the current situation and responses to various possible scenarios. Moreover, the decisions of the Cui family were primarily made by Cui Yi, and Cui Shi had gradually faded from the center of family power. After chatting for a while longer, Zhao Ping took the family letter written by his grandfather to his uncle, who was far away in the capital, and left the Cui residence.

As it is within the inner city of Jinyang, the residents there are all scions of noble families, naturally adorned in fine garments and riding spirited horses, accompanied by numerous attendants. Only Zhao Ping stands alone; although he wears a simple blue robe, it immediately sets him apart from the rest. With wide sleeves and a flowing belt, he appears ethereal, exuding an air of elegance and refinement.

In front of Zhao Ping, everything about oneself seems to be laid bare, as if there is nowhere to hide. The feeling of being completely exposed, both inside and out, is unbearable even for an ordinary person, let alone for Zhao Gou, who has always been proud and arrogant.

Perhaps some people are truly destined to be adversaries, incompatible like water and fire, born as natural enemies from the day they entered this world. Zhao Ping and Zhao Gou perfectly exemplify this notion

Due to the focus of the Cui family being in the capital and Xinye, most of the capable personnel from the Cui family were arranged in these two locations; there was hardly any strength in Bingzhou. More often, there were only underage members of the family and those lacking in ability. Therefore, there were usually no suitable individuals to provide advice or engage in discussions with Cui Shi. When encountering Zhao Ping, Cui Shi certainly would not let this opportunity slip by. Even if Zhao Ping did not bring it up, Cui Shi would steer the conversation in that direction, and the grandfather and grandson would earnestly discuss the current situation together.

Regarding family strategy and matters related to books, Zhao Ping, being an outsider, found it inappropriate to intervene and could only subtly express his concerns. Moreover, the political struggles are intricate and unpredictable; although they do not have the life-and-death clarity of a battlefield, the dangers involved are even greater than those on the battlefield. On the battlefield, one risks only their own life; whereas in political intrigues, the consequences can extend to one's entire family, and even lead to the extermination of nine generations.

Although Zhao Ping is exceptionally talented, this is primarily evident in his military prowess and long-term vision. After all, Zhao Ping has spent most of his time engaged in battles against the Xianbei, and he lacks significant experience in political struggles. His development still has a long way to go

Zhao Gou was just about to pretend not to see and ride away, in order to avoid the awkwardness of facing Zhao Ping directly. However, someone was determined to thwart his intentions, as a rider on a white horse suddenly dashed past him, heading straight for Zhao Ping. Seeing this, Zhao Gou couldn't help but smile wryly, thinking to himself how he had forgotten about her! Realizing he could not escape, Zhao Gou had no choice but to rein in his mount, forcing a pale smile on his face, while internally hesitating whether to move forward.

No matter how hard Zhao Gou tries, how he strategizes, or how much effort he expends, he is utterly powerless before Zhao Ping, as if all his efforts turn to ashes in a moment of laughter. Everything he has done merely adds a touch of brilliance to the halo of genius surrounding Zhao Ping.

The grandson is so outstanding, yet unfortunately, he is indifferent to a career in officialdom, what a pity! Cui Shizai secretly feels regret for Zhao Ping in his heart

If the situation is manageable, it is acceptable; even if the imperial power exists only in name, it should not cause significant harm to my maternal grandfather's family. At that time, although responding would be akin to closing the stable door after the horse has bolted, it would still not be too late. However, if the Later Han Dynasty collapses, then my maternal grandfather's family will undoubtedly suffer a heavy blow.

However, Cui Shi did not choose Bingzhou, as Bingzhou not only has the Jin Yang Zhao family, which is one of the six prominent families alongside the Cui family, but also the emerging Lü family. Establishing a foothold in Bingzhou is not an easy task. Therefore, he chose the Xinye camp and the Jingzhou region where Xinye is located as the breakthrough point for the Cui family in the local area

The affairs of the world are unpredictable, or one might say that there are no coincidences without a story. Life is essentially composed of numerous coincidences. Zhao Gou, as the next generation head of the Zhao family of Jinyang, possesses ample grounds for pride.

Zhao Ping's character determines that he cannot engage in any form of insincerity with others. Moreover, in Zhao Ping's eyes, Zhao Gou is truly worthless, a duplicitous person who speaks sweetly but harbors malice. This is Zhao Ping's assessment of Zhao Gou, especially considering Zhao Gou's repeated provocations towards him

The current situation is extremely critical, with rumors suggesting that Emperor Zhi has not much time left, while the status of the Crown Prince remains unresolved, adding further uncertainties to the turbulent times. It is undeniable that the current situation is on the brink of explosion. Compared to the power of other noble families in the localities, the Cui family is still far behind, which is a strategic issue for them. Since the Cui family became a prominent clan and secured a place in the Later Han Dynasty, their strategy has been to establish a foothold in the capital. It was not until Cui Shi assumed the role of family head that this ancestral strategy began to change. Now, while maintaining a stronghold in the capital, it is also necessary to establish a certain level of influence in the localities.

Zhao Ping truly possesses a magnificent vision and extraordinary insight, which is undoubtedly linked to his extensive reading. However, mere reading is not sufficient; if one cannot transform the knowledge acquired from books through personal analysis into useful insights, one becomes a mere pedant. Zhao Ping is certainly not such a pedant. Therefore, by integrating the knowledge and information he has mastered, Zhao Ping conducts a meticulous analysis of the current situation, clearly perceiving the ambitions of the major families, which even earns him great admiration from Cui Shi.

When a self-proclaimed genius encounters a true genius, the feeling of being bound and the sense of defeat, knowing that everything is under the control of the other party, is enough to drive him mad Moreover, Zhao Gou is a person who cannot tolerate others; with a narrow mind and an arrogant disposition, this inevitably leads to Zhao Gou's jealousy towards Zhao Ping

Although Zhao Ping was merely walking, he was spotted at a glance by Zhao Gou amidst the throngs of vehicles and pedestrians. Undoubtedly, there are certain individuals who, regardless of the circumstances, will become the center of attention, and Zhao Ping is undoubtedly one of those individuals

Observing the calm and composed Zhao Ping, at this moment Zhao Gou felt a surge of murderous intent towards him. However, Zhao Gou also understood that with his own skills, he was no match for Zhao Ping. Moreover, any schemes or tricks would be utterly ineffective against Zhao Ping's absolute strength, serving only to invite ridicule.

At the moment he hesitated, the white horse galloping towards Zhao Ping was already less than two zhang away from him, yet its rider showed no intention of stopping. Not only that, the rider also leaped from the saddle, using the horse's momentum to soar high into the air, heading straight for Zhao Ping.

With this statement made, the grandfather and grandson inevitably engaged in a detailed discussion regarding the current situation

He not only possesses exceptional talent, otherwise Zhao Xin would not have entrusted him with the heavy responsibility of being the heir to the family; his demeanor is also outstanding, and his appearance is exquisite. If one were to say who Zhao Gou least wishes to see in Jinyang City, it would undoubtedly be Zhao Ping