It is actually hard to say whether the Ji family still has the strength to take revenge on the Shusun family.
Now that half of the city has been taken away, it means that the Ji family has lost half of its income. And the shrimps, soldiers, and crabs they raised were almost out of their depth. I'm afraid it would be a bit difficult for the Ji family to take revenge on the uncle and grandson family when they were in such a sorry state.
Therefore, revenge on the Shusun family is probably only a possibility.
However, regardless of whether this "possibility" will become a reality, the worst-case scenario that Li Ran just called is still something that Meng Sunjie needs to consider again and again.
Although Ji's family is currently experiencing constant internal and external troubles, in terms of overall strength, it is still the strongest among the three emperors. And now that the Ji family has suffered such a great shame and humiliation, the future confrontation between the Ji family and the Shusun family is probably inevitable.
If the two families really get into a fight and only two of the three Huan clans in the Lu state are left, how will the Meng family cope with themselves?
Meng Sunjie has been in the officialdom for decades, and he is already familiar with the intrigues and the belief that interests are paramount, and he himself is such a person. The Meng family is now an ally of the Ji family, but one day, who can guarantee that the Ji family will not become the enemy of the Meng family?
In this era, there are no permanent friends and no permanent enemies. Everything is based on "profit" first.
Therefore, Li Ran's words are not unreasonable. Although the Meng family and the Shusun family are rivals on the surface, under the towering ancient tree and the behemoth of the Ji family, they can be said to be inseparable. If the Shusun family survives, they can restrain Ji's family. The Meng family and the Meng family can also benefit from it.
If one day the Shusun family does not exist, then the Meng family will also disappear.
"Is this the reason why you lobbied me today? Huh, it's just alarmism! Do you think I will believe it?"
"I have known Dr. Jisun for decades. I know his nature very well. I'd better save myself on such a trick to sow discord."
As he spoke, Meng Sunjie seemed to be very disdainful of this "possibility" proposed by Li Ran.
He knew in his heart that even if he agreed with the "possibility" proposed by Li Ran, he could not reveal it in front of Li Ran now.
Who is he? Who is Li Ran? Now that the situation in Lu State is so delicate, he, Meng Sunjie, is determined not to do such a stupid thing as giving someone a handle.
"It seems that the doctor still has a glimmer of hope for the Ji family?"
"Then I will tell the doctor something else. Does the doctor know that even though the Ji family has returned the cities of Ju and Zhu, why is the Marquis of Jin still unwilling to let Ji and his grandson return to Lu?"
After Li Ran finished speaking, a nonchalant smile appeared on his face, which looked calm and natural.
When Meng Sunjie saw this, he couldn't help but feel startled. He pretended to be calm and asked:
"Why?"
"That's because the one who doesn't want Ji Sunsu to return to Lu is not me or Dr. Shusun, but... people from the Jin Kingdom."
Li Ran did not explain to Meng Sunjie who was helping him and Uncle Sunbao behind the scenes.
Although he knew that Meng Sunjie had probably learned the inside story of the Pingqiu meeting from the Ji family, and that it was Yangtongue who helped him in Jin, his slight pause , but it left Meng Sunjie with a huge "imagination space".
The so-called speaking skills are nothing more than this.
If he told Yang Tongue's name directly, or even Han Qi's name. At that time, Meng Sunjie would probably sneer immediately and sneer at Li Ran: "Who are you, Li Ran?" Are you worthy of conspiring with powerful Jin officials like Han Qi and Yang Yangui?
But his mysterious pause and the words "people from Jin" perfectly express this sense of mystery.
Yes, it was Yang Yangui, Han Qi, and even the Marquis of Jin who supported Li Ran behind the scenes. The Ji family knew about this, the kings of Ju and Zhu also knew about it, and even Meng Sunjie in front of her probably knew about it.
It is precisely because of this that when Li Ran deliberately did not tell their names, the more Li Ran did this, the more Meng Sunjie believed that he really played a role in this matter.
What's more important is that the words "people of Jin" really represent Han Qi and Yang Tongue?
Is it possible for Li Ran to cooperate with others in Jin?
You know, there are more than just two high-ranking officials in the Jin Kingdom, Han Qi and Yang Yangui!
You know, Han Qi is now just an assistant in the central army, not a deserving general! Is there really no shadow of Zhao Wu behind this?
After listening to what Li Ran said, Meng Sunjie couldn't help but start thinking wildly even though he was experienced and thoughtful.
"what do you want to say in the end?"
Seeing the calm and composed expression on Li Ran's face, Meng Sunjie felt even more incredible.
At such an age, he already has such a mind and courage, which is simply astonishing.
"Li Ziming...what kind of person are you..."
Meng Sunjie couldn't help but feel a flash of fear in her heart.
"As I said just now, it's still too late for the doctor to make a decision. Doctor Shusun will definitely welcome Meng's move. Let the past grudges between the two families be forgotten. I only hope that Meng and Shusun can work together. Let’s work together to protect the king.”
Li Ran came here today for this only purpose.
"But what if I refuse to obey?"
As he spoke, Meng Sunjie narrowed his eyes slightly, and there was a trace of anxiety in his pupils that no one could detect.
Hearing the sound, Li Ran could only spread his hands and said helplessly:
"If Dr. Meng Sun is stubborn and insists on his own way, then..."
"What then?"
Meng Sunjie's voice had become very deep.
Li Ran smiled and said lightly:
"Then I have no choice but to follow what the doctor said just now and determine that the Meng family and the Ji family are the same family. Since I have the Ji family, there is a way..."
"You are presumptuous!"
Hearing this, Meng Sunjie immediately slapped the table and stood up. His face was filled with shock and anger, and his two thick eyebrows were squeezed hard!
A guest of the Lu State actually said such "wild and outrageous" words in front of one of his ministers. How could he not be angry?
"I have been in power for decades and have never seen any big storms. How can I allow a kid like you to make trouble here?!"
"Li Ran! Do you think I'm really afraid of you?!"
As one of the three constants of the Lu Kingdom, although the Meng family was not as big and deep-rooted as the Ji family, their identity and status were still there. It seemed that Li Ran was a little too "arrogant" to say such words in front of him.
But who knew that Li Ran just smiled when he heard the sound, with a look of disapproval on his face.
"Haha, I made a mistake, doctor, please calm down. But in my humble opinion, the person that the doctor is afraid of now is not Li Ran."
"What the doctor is afraid of is actually the Jin people, isn't it?"
Of course Li Ran knew that whether it was the Ji family or the Meng family, how could it be that he, a little guest, was afraid of him? What they were really afraid of was the Jin State behind him, which was bigger than them!
This is exactly why he planned to use the help of Jin to deal with the Ji family from the beginning.
After these words fell, Meng Sunjie was speechless for a moment. He stared at Li Ran blankly, his eyes as wide as bells, but he couldn't say a word.
"Since Li is sitting here today and is willing to discuss with the officials, he thinks that the Meng family is different from the Ji family. He thinks that the Meng family still has a public heart and is willing to assist the king and rejuvenate the Lu country. "
"This is what Li said from the bottom of his heart. Please consider it carefully. But if the doctor thinks that Li is talking nonsense here and boasting about Haikou, then we can wait and see whether the fate of the Ji family today will fall on the Meng family." , how about we wait and see in the future?”
At this point, Li Ran had already said everything he should and shouldn't have said. Especially in the second half, the meaning could not be more obvious.
Although his face was still calm and calm, anyone could hear the "killing intention" in his words.
This planned, resolute "murderous intention" is like the bright sunshine between heaven and earth outside, penetrating from thousands of miles away. It cannot be swallowed by the endless deep space, nor can it be blocked by layers of dark clouds. In this vast world, there is no doubt that there is magnanimity.
Does this count as a threat?
The answer is, not really.
Because Li Ran was certain that Meng Sunjie would definitely agree to today's appointment.
Why?
Meng Sunjie answered this question himself.
…
When Meng Sunjie returned home and informed the Meng clan about today's events, his clan also asked the same question: Why did you agree to Li Ran, and why should you be afraid of a mere guest?
Meng Sunjie’s answer is:
"A person who can persuade Han Qi to fight with Yang Tongue is more than just a guest. Ji's death is a lesson learned from the past, and we have no choice."
Yes, Meng has no other choice.
At this critical moment, the Meng family can either choose to continue to be tied to the Ji family, as Meng Sunjie said to himself: When one is prosperous, both are prosperous, and when one is harmed, both are harmed.
Or, choose to separate from the Ji family, cut off the relationship, and work with the Shusun family to restrict the Meng family, sanction the Meng family, and balance the strength of the three constants in the Lu state, forming a situation where the three constants are in conflict.
But as the head of the Meng family and the backbone of another huge political group, Meng Sunjie was of course willing to be both prosperous and prosperous with the Ji family, but he definitely didn't want to suffer both losses and losses with the Ji family.
As the saying goes, husband and wife are like birds in the same forest. When disaster strikes, they fly separately.
If a husband and wife are like this, let alone "allies" with their own hidden agendas?
By now, it has become a fact that the Ji family was severely injured. If the Lu State continues to develop in this way in the future, the rise of public offices will also be the general trend. If he, Meng, doesn't choose to take sides at this time, he will definitely become the target of suppression in the future.
All members of the Meng clan were silent when they heard this, because they all knew that the sect leader's choice was their only choice at the moment, and it was also the most correct choice. Even this choice is really humiliating.
The torrent of the times is rolling forward, no matter how earth-shaking the world is, it cannot resist it after all.
But the Ji family's monopoly on Lu fell apart.
