Jiang Yunshen actually wished he were Xie Zhenning's illegitimate son.
However, he was not.
His mother had known Xie Zhenning in their youth and they shared a romance, but unfortunately, due to the gap in their social statuses, they couldn't make it to the end.
Later on.
Through a series of mishaps, she became President Jiang's concubine.
After his mother died.
Jiang Yunshen was sent to study in Germany. After returning to the country, he lay low and hid in the Northwest; it was this Uncle Xie who helped him conceal his identity.
"Is Uncle Xie really not dead?"
Jiang Yunshen looked at Bai Liuyue in confusion.
They had clearly agreed to be allies, but why was there some information that he didn't know about?
Bai Liuyue curled her lips, revealing a sly smile.
Her almond eyes twinkled.
"I never said that I only have one ally."
"Who else could it be?" Jiang Yunshen frowned.
Xie Chengxiao pursed his lips, suddenly thinking of an absolutely impossible name.
"Pei Yu?!"
It was his foolish, silly cousin.
Bai Liuyue nodded and said with a smile:
"That's right."
...
Jinzhong.
"Achoo—"
Pei Yu couldn't help but sneeze, rubbing his nose vigorously.
He wondered who was talking bad about him behind his back.
His nose had been feeling itchy all day.
A familiar, steady middle-aged male voice came from behind.
"Xiaoyu, all you eat every day here in Jinzhong is wheat food with no meat at all. I've already lost several pounds."
Xie Zhenning was wearing a plain navy blue short shirt and black cloth trousers.
He looked no different from the ordinary commoners walking on the streets of Jinzhong.
"Uncle, bear with it, just one more day at most."
"At this speed, Jiang Yushen will run over here soon."
"Will he really come?"
Xie Zhenning expressed his doubt. Behind him, another old male voice sounded.
"Zhenning, here, we don't have much mutton to eat in Jinzhong. But this braised pig head meat is not bad, do you want some?"
Bai Wenshan, dressed in a cyan long gown and holding a packet of braised meat, slowly strolled in.
Xie Zhenning nodded repeatedly and said:
"Yes, yes, yes, I finally get a bite of meat. It's still my old brother who thinks of me, wonderful."
He strode forward and took the meat.
Bai Wenshan smiled.
He joked, "You're taking it easy here, but who knows, maybe your son is hiding in some corner right now, trying to kill me!"
"Ah, that child has just experienced too few things. He'll be fine with a bit more tempering."
Xie Zhenning picked up his chopsticks, looked at Pei Yu again, and said:
"Xiaoyu, quick, go get your uncle a few jugs of wine."
Pei Yu glanced at Bai Wenshan and said obediently:
"Grandpa Bai, what kind of wine would you like to drink? I'll get it for you. By the way, do you want some peanuts to go with the wine?"
Xie Zhenning said in dissatisfaction, "Why don't I see you being so attentive to me?"
Pei Yu puffed out his chest righteously.
"How can that be the same? I want to marry Sister Liuyue, and that requires Grandpa Bai's nod of approval."
"Hasn't that girl Liuyue already gotten engaged to Yunshen?"
"That's just to confuse the enemy, it's fake. Sister Liuyue and I are the real deal!" Pei Yu snorted lightly and walked away with brisk steps to get the wine.
He was the person Sister Liuyue trusted the most.
You see, neither his cousin nor Jiang Yunshen knew that his uncle was not dead and was even hiding in Jinzhong.
And this matter was secretly planned by Sister Liuyue and himself.
In the courtyard.
The two old buddies drank wine while eating the sliced braised pig head meat.
Xie Zhenning took a sip of wine and said:
"I don't know how many years it's been since I had such comfortable days."
Bai Wenshan glanced at him and mocked, "Aren't you afraid of what your son will do to the Northwest after you hand it over to him?"
"Afraid of what?! He just went and bombed the Presidential Palace. As long as he didn't bomb our Marshal's Mansion, it's fine."
Xie Zhenning raised his eyebrows proudly and said:
"This is what you call like father, like son."
The two chatted for a while.
Xie Zhenning couldn't help but say, "To be honest, old brother, I didn't expect you to actually be willing to listen to your little granddaughter this time."
"She is the future of the Bai family." A hint of pride flashed in Bai Wenshan's eyes.
"When Jiang Yushen flees to Jinzhong, he will definitely meet with Marshal Zhang of the Fengtian clique. Your granddaughter Bai Baozhu will also come. Are you really willing to abandon her? After all, she is of the Bai family's bloodline."
Xie Zhenning asked tentatively.
Bai Wenshan smiled helplessly and shook his head slightly.
"Zhenning, are you still testing me at this point?"
"Since I dared to delegate power and let Xiaoyue do these things, I was already prepared to abandon the first branch of the family."
"Baozhu looked quite good in the past, but once a person falls into an obsession, they can never be woken up. Marshal Zhang of the Fengtian clique has been itching to make a move on the Northwest territory all these years, and he has now chewed off a third of the land."
"His desires have reached their peak, and his next step will be to make a move on Jinzhong."
"If we don't kill him early, we will suffer sooner or later."
The alliance they had also signed.
It was together with the Bai family of Jinzhong, the warlord Pei family, the Xie family of the Northwest, and the second young master of the Presidential Palace.
And the one who pulled the strings and brought all these people together.
Was Bai Liuyue.
Before the engagement banquet began.
The grandfather and granddaughter had their second conversation in the study.
"Xiaoyue, tell Grandpa, what do you want to do?"
"Grandpa, I want to create the new Republic that I desire."
Bai Wenshan was truly frightened this time!
Originally, she had just wanted the position of Women's Advisor in the Jinzhong Council. Even if she said she wanted to be the Minister of Education in Jinzhong, Bai Wenshan would have felt it was quite reasonable!
After all, this was the standard route for an upward political career.
But, what did she say?
A new Republic that she desires?
The old man realized that his own ambition was still lacking, and so was his drive!
Bai Liuyue glanced at the terrified old man, curled her lips, and smiled lightly:
"Don't be nervous, it's not that. Aside from the President, the three largest warlord factions are the Fengtian clique, the Northwest, and Jinzhong."
"After wiping out the Fengtian clique, I am confident I can hold Xie Chengxiao, Pei Yu, and the Presidential Palace's Jiang Yunshen in the palm of my hand."
"When that time comes, I can do what I want to do."
"And the Bai family will not just be the Jinzhong Bai family, but the new Republic's Bai family. Grandpa, are you tempted?"
This temptation was simply too great!
The Bai family had been rooted in Jinzhong for generations, which was why they dared to say the words 'Jinzhong Bai family'.
Now, Bai Liuyue was throwing out an even bigger bait.
Bai Wenshan's voice trembled as he said, "What is it that you want to do?"
Bai Liuyue smiled:
"When the time comes, you will know."
"However, for the sake of the Bai family, are you willing to abandon Bai Baozhu?"
This was also an open scheme.
She knew that Bai Wenshan was a politician, but even more so, a businessman. Beyond family ties, he valued the family's interests the most.
Had it not been for Bai Liuyue's proposal, perhaps Bai Wenshan would have already been pulled into the camp of the Fengtian clique and the President's eldest son by Bai Baozhu.
"This gamble is too big."
"If we lose, our Jinzhong Bai family will be gone."
"Then... will Grandpa take the gamble?" Bai Liuyue smiled wantonly and brightly.
Bai Wenshan took a deep breath.
"I'll gamble!"
