However, when Cao Ren was the Family Head, he complied with every unreasonable demand from Xu Hao!
Even if the Cao Family was large and powerful, they could not satisfy Xu Hao's unreasonable demands time and time again!
Xu Hao was like a bottomless pit!
Therefore, they began to harbor various dissatisfactions towards Cao Ren and subsequently schemed today's rebellion, deposing Cao Ren and allowing the more decisive Cao Zhi to become the Family Head.
Although Cao Zhi was young, his mature and stable father backed him up, which made the clan elders very confident in him.
Upon hearing what Cao Zhi had said, Cao An was immediately furious, and he bellowed, "Cao Zhi, don't slander us! We father and son have always been loyal to the Cao Family, never once harboring thoughts or actions of betrayal!"
Cao Ren slowly raised his hand, stopped Cao An's trembling hand that wanted to strike, and then said slowly to Cao Zhi, "Cao Zhi, my policy of appeasement towards Xu Hao these days was following the instructions of the Patriarch of the Wu Family, Wu Yong. He told me not to conflict with Xu Hao, to meet his demands as much as possible because he has a series of actions planned. Xu Hao, who is just a minor player, won't stir up much trouble; he just didn't want Xu Hao's instability to interfere with his plans."
Cao Zhi sneered, full of disdain, "If the Patriarch truly thought that way, he might as well have had Xu Hao killed. I refuse to believe that the three Grandmaster Level Experts of the Wu Family can't handle a mere Xu Hao!"
"Alas, that's why I say you don't understand!"
Cao Ren sighed, "Xu Hao's family background is unclear, but judging from the attitude of the Sun Family, it must be extremely powerful, so Xu Hao must not be killed! If Xu Hao dies here today, not only the members of the Cao Family but even half of the Wu Family would have to be buried with him! You truly do not understand how powerful the forces are that even the Sun Family fears and has even switched allegiance to!"
Cao Ren had always been telling Cao Zhi that he did not understand.
In his opinion, Cao Zhi truly did not understand.
Not situated in a position of power, one should not manage its responsibilities. Cao Zhi, who had never been a Family Head and had not dealt with major figures like the Patriarch or Old Master Wu, simply did not grasp that there were always greater powers beyond his reach. If Xu Hao's background were simple, how could he still cause trouble in Huadu?
It was because people like Wu Kui feared him that they did not dare to act rashly, for fear of a catastrophic end.
"Huh! I don't understand?"
Cao Zhi angrily retorted, "I don't understand anything? All I know is that by killing Xu Hao, our Cao Family will no longer be threatened, we can break free from the control of the Wu Family, and we can develop quickly! Cao Ren, rest assured, I won't kill you. I'll let you live to see the day I become the overlord of Huadu!"
Cao Ren sighed deeply and said no more. Cao Zhi was far too blindly confident, which was courting death!
It was just a pity for the Cao Family's business built up over decades!
Cao Ren slowly closed his eyes, tears sliding from the corners as he dared to imagine Cao Zhi's and even the entire Cao Family's fate by striking at Xu Hao.
Cao Zhi turned his head to look at Xu Hao, who was still "struggling bitterly," and said coldly, "Since everyone says you must not be killed, are you an heir of the Heavenly King himself? Well, today I, Cao Zhi, will show them! Catapult, ready!"
Cao Zhi shouted, and immediately in front of the astonished crowd, there appeared four catapults, each over two meters tall!
Although they were rather antique items, their construction from modern technological methods was evident, and their power was definitely much greater than those of the same size from ancient times! ThisispartofaseriesfromMyVirtualLibraryEmpire(*).
The Cao family's old residence has standard high courtyards, with walls over three meters tall, so the height of the catapults did not affect the archers' ability to shoot arrows.
Cao Zhi sneered, "Xu Hao, come on then, I'll add some more for you. You think you're so strong? Then let's see how you handle the might of the catapult! Friendly reminder, the catapults are not launching stones but iron balls! Think about it, amidst this unending rain of arrows, combined with the power of these iron balls, let's see how you dodge them! Let these catapults be the last straw that crushes you!"
Xu Hao frowned slightly; Cao Zhi was indeed ruthless, unleashing countless arrows and even these things.
It must be said, when he saw those iron balls about the size of a child's head, he was also shocked; launched from the catapults, they indeed possessed great force, and clearly, the enemy had prepared a lot, much like the endless rain of arrows.
But the more this happened, the more it spurred the fighting spirit in Xu Hao's heart!
He felt his blood boiling like never before, his entire being in extreme excitement, and the flow of Qi Force within his body accelerated by threefold.
Xu Hao pointed at Cao Zhi, laughing loudly, "Cao Zhi, want to kill me? Then bring out all your tricks; I'll take them all on!"
"Hmph! Then I'll accommodate you! Catapult, begin the attack!"
Following Cao Zhi's command, those catapults immediately began hurling iron balls at Xu Hao!