Return to the City: The Strongest King
Chapter 849 - 850 Constraints

Chapter 849: Chapter 850 Constraints

After Sun Ziyun stayed behind, the Su Family and the Sun family even issued a notice, announcing the matter of the marriage alliance between the Su Family and Sun family.

Such an affair did not need to be overly publicized, it was sufficient to inform all the major families in Minghe.

With the Su Family declaring war on the Cao Family and the Zhao Family, other families could not help but adopt a wait-and-see attitude at this time—a matter so significant, who would dare to rashly take sides? If they chose the wrong side, it implied very serious consequences.

Moreover, for them, they also lacked experience in battles between major families, and how it will end was equally unpredictable.

But the sudden announcement of the marriage alliance between the Su Family and Sun Family was a very significant signal. The alliance between Su Family and Sun Family was evident to all; if it were a normal marriage, it might not make everyone feel any different, as alliances through marriage to strengthen relationships were common practice among them.

However, this time it was the Family Head of the Su Family himself who was entering into marriage with the granddaughter of the Sun family—a testament of how much closer the Su Family and Sun Family had become, meaning that the two were truly cooperating in all respects.

One family alone was already formidable, and now with two families cooperating, their strength increased exponentially—who else would dare to contend with them?

While the other major families were contemplating whether to ally with the Su Family immediately, the Cao Family began to visit them one by one, bringing news that the Zhou Family of the Capital was the Cao Family’s secret backing, and that the Zhou Family would support the Cao Family and Zhao Family.

The Beijing Families, any single one taken out for comparison, could not be matched by local families because they controlled the most crucial resources, namely, official channels. Local families might be wealthier than the Beijing Families, but in terms of officialdom, they certainly lag far behind, and in China, a high official position was definitely an advantage that no amount of money could make up for.

The originally unbalanced situation, with the Zhou Family’s involvement, suddenly made the other families hesitant to make any rash moves. This war, it seemed, no one could predict who would win. Instead of taking risks, it was better to sit on the sidelines and watch the tigers fight.

If both parties were to end up with a Pyrrhic victory, then all could reap the benefits of the fisherman. If one side were to win and swallow the other, then by not intervening, they might not gain any advantages, but they probably wouldn’t suffer any harm either.

So now, the situation became a subtle balance, with no one daring to make careless moves.

............

At the Cao Family, Old Master of the Cao Family, Cao Fengqing, was in high spirits at this moment, looking at the elite members of the family, and slowly said: "Everyone must have heard about the Su Family and Sun Family’s marriage alliance, do you all feel that this will pose a significant difficulty for us this time?"

The crowd did not speak, merely looking at Cao Fengqing, but many had expressions of worry on their faces.

Raising his hand, Old Master Cao declared: "Even if the Sun Family and Su Family are united, so what? Are they stronger than the Zhou Family of the Capital? Once the Zhou Family takes action, the influence of Sun and Su in official circles will be uprooted entirely. You all should understand what that means."

"Father!" Cao Lianzhen, the most outstanding of the second generation of the Cao Family, said: "Although the official influence of the Su Family and Sun Family is not comparable to the Zhou Family, it involves so many personnel changes, and some hold very important positions. Can the Zhou Family handle them all at once?"

"Ha... Then you are underestimating the strength of the Beijing Families. If it’s on the provincial level, the Zhou Family will find it difficult to act, but at the city level, it would be effortless for the Zhou Family. Without official influence, both families are like toothless tigers, at our mercy to knead and shape as we please."

Cao Lianzhen hesitated for a moment, then added: "However, both the Sun and Su families have quite a number of maître d’ in martial arts, which is far stronger than our Cao Family. If they are cornered and resort to the Family Guards to take abnormal measures, then our security becomes a big issue."

Cao Fengqing laughed again, saying: "How could I not have considered this? The Zhou Family will soon send over two top-tier expert fighters. We won’t have to seek trouble ourselves as those elite fighters will take action."

Hearing this, the people of the Cao Family relaxed all at once. It seemed that this time the Zhou Family was going all out in their support. How could the Cao Family possibly not win?

"Elder, the Head of the Zhao Family has arrived."

"Quickly, invite him in!"

Zhao Wenqiang entered in a hurry, and as soon as they met, he said: "Elder Cao, is there any news?"

Cao Fengqing smiled slightly, saying: "Rest assured, everything has been arranged." He then repeated to Zhao Wenqiang what he had said to his own family.

Zhao Wenqiang heaved a sigh of relief and said: "Phew, that’s good. Right now, the Su and Sun families are watching us like hungry tigers, and I really fear that a small mishap could lead them to devour us, leaving not even the bones behind."

Cao Fengqing proudly laughed and said: "Ha, it won’t be long before those two chunks of fat meat are ours to eat and gnaw on at will."

Zhao Wenqiang nodded repeatedly. With this kind of confidence, he was truly looking forward to the benefits after the victory.

Just as the two were jubilant, a call from Zhou Zhengfang came in.

"Elder Cao, there’s been a change." As soon as the call connected, Zhou Zhengfang hurriedly began.

"What’s changed?" Cao Fengqing was startled and asked urgently.

Zhou Zhengfang said gravely: "The higher-ups have just issued an order, they do not encourage or support competition between families, but there’s one thing they absolutely will not allow."

"Which is?" Cao Fengqing was already feeling uneasy.

Zhou Zhengfang continued: "Officials must absolutely not become involved in family competition, no matter who they are, no matter their position. If they participate in family competition, they will be dealt with thoroughly."

"Ah!" Cao Fengqing couldn’t help but exclaim aloud.

Zhou Zhengfang said with resignation: "This is an order suddenly issued from above, and it’s very severe. Even our Zhou Family dares not to engage these connections now."

"What about the other aspects?" Cao Fengqing asked urgently, sweat forming on his forehead.

Zhou Zhengfang replied: "The order from above is strict: competition is permissible, but it must not cause a major fuss, and absolutely must not lead to social instability. This means that we of the Zhou Family won’t be able to use our usual methods."

"So what do we do?" Cao Fengqing wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling that without the Zhou Family’s full support, their strength would be insufficient, and they would not be a match for the combined forces of the Su Family and Sun Family.

Zhou Zhengfang said in a grave tone: "You don’t need to worry about this. The higher-ups haven’t stopped us from clashing in secret. The Zhou Family will dispatch four top warriors to subdue them."

I originally wanted to write about conflicts between major families, but I suddenly remembered that the last book was almost banned because of this, so I can only write some non-political stuff now.