Chapter 1083
The Black-Clad Men's Ambush
Chapter 1083 The Black-Clad Men's Ambush
The sun is shining brightly,
A gentle breeze blew across the eastern shore of Qinghu Lake. No commoners were present, and the chaotic scene went unnoticed. Seeing the young master of the Gong family so respectful, Zhang Jinyu, naturally not one to lack manners, pulled on the reins and bowed slightly to Gong Huaiyu in return.
"Your Highness is too kind. We are all acquaintances, there's no need for such formalities. May I ask what's going on here, Your Highness?"
Seeing that thirty or forty people had alighted from more than a dozen carriages, Zhang Jinyu was also surprised. Looking at the dirty group of people, not to mention the stench, it was quite unpleasant.
Gong Huaiyu's lips twitched; he felt somewhat embarrassed and resentful. He had entrusted a perfectly good task, yet such a major oversight had occurred. Fortunately, these people had lived up to expectations and hadn't disgraced the Western Prince's Mansion. Since that was the case, they should be brought under his command.
"What else could have happened? We were just having drinks at Youlai Restaurant when we unexpectedly offended the wedding banquet of Master Bao of Rongguo Mansion. That's why they tampered with things. I just got out of the military prison. I hope you'll forgive me, Lord Marquis."
The words spoken were few, but the matters they subtly revealed were significant. The wedding banquet of Jia Baoyu at the Rongguo Mansion was about his engagement; he had just been released from the military prison, and it seemed even Zuo Anhe couldn't withstand the pressure and had released everyone. Furthermore, judging from the demeanor of this young master of the Gong family, it was as if he had already won over these people; he was truly no ordinary individual.
This suggests that many people at Qinglian Academy are likely involved with this young man. Those admitted this year through the special imperial examination should be extra cautious.
My mind raced, and many thoughts flashed through my mind in an instant.
"There is a cause and effect. It seems that the young master has also gained a lot. The rights and wrongs are complicated and there will be a reason for it. As for the matter here, it is not appropriate for me to get involved. Farewell."
After saying that, he prepared to leave on horseback, but Gong Huaiyu still had many questions to ask, so how could he let Luo Yunhou leave so easily? Looking at the people he had recruited, most of them were resentful, but apart from being disheveled, they had not suffered any hardship. Hua Congyun, on the other hand, had really put in a lot of effort and gave instructions.
"You all get in the carriage and go back to Qinglian Academy to clean up and have a good meal. Then we'll hire a doctor to examine Congyun. All expenses will be covered by this young master."
He spoke with such grandeur that everyone burst into tears, helped each other to their feet, and returned to their carriages. As the coachman cracked his whip, the convoy moved slowly forward. When they turned around again, they saw that Marquis Luo Yun had already gone ahead. They quickly had a guard bring them a horse, mounted it, and rode after him.
"My lord, my lord, why are you in such a hurry to leave? I have something to ask you."
He lowered himself and chased after us from behind. Zhang Jinyu was a little curious; could it be that he had something else to say?
"Your Highness, there's no need to be so polite. If I knew, I would certainly tell you everything without reservation."
Zhang Jinyu seized the opportunity to observe and see what this young man was up to. The Western Prince's residence was now practically a sitting duck.
"Haha, Your Excellency is so straightforward. It's nothing serious. I was thrilled to hear of Your Excellency's victory in the south of the capital. It's a pity I'm useless in the capital and can't congratulate you."
"Ahem, Your Highness, let's skip the formalities and just ask what you want to ask?"
Pleasant words are nothing but a balm for the soul; ignoring the important matters is a waste of time, especially since there are other important things to discuss.
"Ahem, Your Excellency speaks frankly, so I won't stand on ceremony. My father wrote that Pingliao City outside the pass has been recovered by Your Excellency, and that from now on, all those sent from within the pass will be servants under Your Excellency's command. Your Excellency is also aware that in the northwest, the Xianbei Khan has stabilized the situation, and the eastern campaign has been brought under control, making the border unstable. If winter comes, supplies will be scarce, so..."
Gong Huaiyu's eyes flickered. The area outside the pass was indeed harsh and cold, but it had many good things and was much richer than the Northwest.
Zhang Jinyu narrowed his eyes slightly. It seemed the spies from the Gong family of the Western Prince's Mansion were no ordinary people. They had managed to find out everything about his Marquis's residence outside the pass. Although he hadn't deliberately concealed it, to know all this so quickly—tsk tsk, impressive skills.
"So, what does the Crown Prince want?"
"Haha, Your Excellency is so generous. I would like some furs from beyond the Great Wall, as well as this year's autumn grain, cloth, and pig iron. I have also heard that salt has been produced beyond the Great Wall, and I would like those as well."
Gong Huaiyu smiled, a hint of jealousy in her heart. If the Gong family possessed these things in the Northwest, they wouldn't be confined to Liangzhou.
"The young master is indeed wealthy and powerful. How can I compare to the old prince? The area outside the pass has just been pacified and is in chaos. Money is needed everywhere. Fur is easy to obtain, but there may not be much autumn grain. However, there should be enough pig iron and salt."
Although they are all prohibited items, they all refer to those sold outside the Great Wall. He doesn't sell them inside the Great Wall, but he can buy them from other princely residences or the Imperial Household Department.
Gong Huaiyu's face lit up with joy. The Marquis had agreed. That meant the people inside the pass could remain as they were, and with supplies from outside, her father's burden would be greatly reduced. But then she remembered that the price hadn't been negotiated yet.
"My lord, what is the price you are asking for?"
"If you want a lot, you can cover the travel expenses, and everything will be 90% of the price. But once it enters the country, how you transport it will be your own responsibility."
Zhang Jinyu thought for a moment. She still had to give face to the Western King's Palace family, but not too much, since these things were scarce.
"Very well, my lord, it's a deal. This is a piece of yellow jade from Jiangnan that I happened to bring. I'm offering it here for you to enjoy."
From who-knows-where, he produced two sandalwood boxes and handed them over. Zhang Jinyu didn't mind, took them, and opened them to examine them. One of them, resembling the tranquil beauty of a gentle water town in Jiangnan, lay quietly inside. It was carved entirely from top-quality yellow jade, its color like the warm spring sun shining on golden rapeseed. The texture was delicate, clearly a masterpiece.
"When did the young master produce such fine jade? I really like it."
Since one was like this, I quickly opened the other one and glanced at it. Sure enough, it was exactly the same. Even if it wasn't very valuable, it must have taken a lot of effort to make it.
"Haha, I'm glad you like it, Lord Marquis. Let me give you a sneak peek: this was mined from a top-grade jade mine in one of the five counties south and north of the Yangtze River."
With a knowing smile, he clasped his hands in farewell, dismounted, and returned to his carriage.
"My lord, until we meet again."
Just a shout from the driver, and the caravan slowly departed. They came quickly and left suspiciously. Perhaps that last sentence was a reminder that the jade mines in Jiangbei could produce such good material, and that he could even get his hands on it. This meant that there must be quite a few people in the capital who also possessed such items. The Imperial Household Department was far too audacious.
"My lord, judging from the appearance, it seems that the Imperial Household Department sold the jade privately, and there are probably quite a few buyers."
Ning Bian sighed in admiration; these were far superior to the thumb rings used outside the Great Wall. Zhang Jinyu snorted coldly, tossed one of the boxes to Ning Bian, and took one out for herself, putting it on her right thumb. It felt cool to the touch.
"Take this one and replace the old one. No matter how he got here, since so many people in the capital know about it, perhaps the officials in the Ministry of Justice also know. Let's take it one step at a time."
Zhang Jinyu stroked his chin, tightened the reins on the horse, and led his men straight towards Lord Nan's residence.
Several hours passed leisurely.
At the western suburbs dock, Xiao Yunzi and her entourage had been waiting impatiently for some time. On a high platform by the shore, eunuchs took turns standing and gazing out over the river, but unfortunately, they hadn't seen a single boat yet.
"Eunuch Yun, Eunuch Yun, why don't you go into the carriage and rest for a while? We'll keep watch here and call you if there's any movement."
The eunuch standing guard by the carriage was very perceptive. He noticed that it was getting late, and that it had been several hours since Eunuch Ming had arrived. Perhaps the Emperor had already retired for the night, and the matter was not so urgent.
“You are all loyal, I can see that. However, we must not make any mistakes in the matters entrusted to us by our ancestors. You should know how many eyes are on this place. After Eunuch Yang got into trouble, many people are eyeing the position of Director of the Imperial Household Department. If things are not handled properly, there will be a lot of turmoil in the palace.”
This isn't just talk. There are many senior officials in the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs and the various departments of the inner palace, but with the Empress Dowager keeping things in check, things are somewhat manageable. However, if they were truly ignored, the palace would face another period of turmoil.
"Your Excellency is truly wise; we servants are foolish and can only follow you around, running errands for you."
"Yes, it is indeed Eunuch Ming who is truly wise and righteous."
Several eunuchs, each one praising her behind her back, made Xiaoyunzi's lips curl into a slight smile.
"Alright, you all stay here and watch over things. I'll go wait in the car."
If it weren't for the heat, why bother coming here? Fortunately, the convoy stopped under the shade of trees and booked a teahouse, so having a cup of tea and cooling off was no problem.
As the sun sets in the west...
As dusk settled and a light drizzle fell, the entire western suburbs wharf was shrouded in a hazy mist. The weather was unpredictable; even the river water beside the wharf shimmered with a faint blue light under the night sky, and the reeds on the bank rustled in the wind, as if telling a story of unease.
At that very moment, from the surface of Anhu Lake, outside the dock,
Blurry figures appeared as several inconspicuous merchant ships slowly approached the dock. The ships were heavily drafted, indicating they were carrying a considerable amount of cargo. The shipwrights on board had solemn expressions but moved with extreme caution, afraid of making the slightest noise to alert others.
On the bow deck stood a burly middle-aged man, scanning his surroundings warily with a hint of unease in his eyes. This man was the Imperial Guard of the Imperial City Division, who was secretly escorting Eunuch Yang and his entourage. Ning Kai and his group had transferred from a luxury ship to a merchant ship on the banks of the Wei River, blending into the fleet.
As the ship approached the shore,
In the shadows of the dock, a dozen or so dark figures quietly gathered. Leading them was a thin, middle-aged man dressed in a long black silk robe and wearing a black turban that almost completely covered his head, obscuring half his face, making him appear ghostly.
The men beside him were all dressed as martial arts guards, with swords at their waists, sharp eyes, and an aura of murderous intent.
"Everyone, stay alert! If this mission goes wrong, we'll all lose our heads! Our master ordered us to intercept and kill Eunuch Yang from the Jiangnan Textile Bureau. The secret guards reported that he's mixed in with the merchant ship."
The burly man at the head of the group lowered his voice, a ruthless glint in his eyes, his gaze fixed on the merchant ship ahead. The prince had instructed them to try their best to intercept and kill this man, and if that failed, to alert him and keep the palace from seeing them. His men around him nodded in agreement, their hands unconsciously resting on the hilts of their swords at their waists.
These people were all Jianghu retainers raised by Prince Zhongshun's mansion. While not all of them were highly skilled in martial arts, they each possessed unique skills. Upon hearing their leader's summons, they all scattered and lay in ambush, secretly taking out their bows and crossbows, nocking arrows, and waiting for their opportunity.
At the dock, as time passed, the merchant ship finally arrived. The sailors on deck quickly lowered the gangplank, and the laborers on the shore gathered around. After the foreman and the manager agreed on the unloading price, they all began to busily board the ship and unload the cargo.
At this moment, the last merchant ship docked. Ning Kai, the Imperial City Supervisor, stared at the shore and saw that everything was normal. He then nodded and gave his instructions.
"Be careful, everyone. Start disembarking now; someone should be there to meet you."
"Yes, sir,"
Several ordinary-looking men, their hands on the hilts of their knives and wearing armor underneath, looked around warily. Then, with a wave of their hand, four men carried a wooden cage covered with a black cloth ashore. It looked like a simple box, but faint whimpering sounds could be heard coming from inside the cage, accompanied by the clanging of metal chains.
As soon as he stepped ashore, Ning Kai felt a little flustered. He looked around but found nothing. Fortunately, there were imperial guards stationed under the trees not far ahead, who were obviously there to meet him. He felt relieved and gave them a word of advice.
"Quick, go to the tea shop."
"Yes, sir,"
The men saw the Imperial Guards under the tree and knew they were their own, so they quickened their pace. Inside the teahouse, the eunuch on lookout, though dozing, became alert upon seeing the group approaching and immediately shouted...
"Stop! Who goes there?"
A chilling roar jolted the resting crowd back to their senses, and the Imperial Guards soldiers all drew their swords and stood up.
The men carrying the cage exchanged glances and quickened their pace. Ning Kai was about to speak when suddenly, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from afar. Everyone was startled, and a group of men in black rushed from the west end of the street.
The visitor is ill-intentioned.
Ning Kai's face turned deathly pale instantly:
"No, there's an ambush!"
Dozens of black-clad knights drew crossbows and longswords from behind them, the blades gleaming coldly in the afterglow. The leader, his face veiled in black, revealing only a pair of hawk-like eyes, raised his hand, and the knights behind him charged forward in a fan formation.
"Release the arrows!"
At his command, arrows whistled through the air, instantly engulfing Ning Kai's men. Ning Kai reacted quickly, drawing his sword and deflecting the arrows. Unfortunately, the crossbow bolts were too fast, killing several of his men in an instant.
"Form ranks! Form ranks!"
At a shout, a dozen men lifted the body from the ground, arranged it in a circle, and placed the wooden crate in the very center. Meanwhile, the people on the dock had already scattered in terror, creating utter chaos.
Leave the person here, and I'll spare your life.
The leader's voice was deep and carried an unquestionable authority, but the dockworkers were running around and blocking his way. Xiao Mingzi, who was sitting in the teahouse, was terrified. He had never imagined that someone would dare to openly break a prisoner in the suburbs of the capital.
"Quick, quick, go and rescue them!"
The Imperial Guards and the Imperial City Guards around him drew their swords and rushed forward. He himself was pale-faced and stood behind the Imperial Guards, only able to see the chaotic scene at the dock from afar.
"Who are you? How dare you obstruct important palace matters!"
Ning Kai tried to appear calm, but his hands were trembling slightly. He then secretly made hand gestures, and the group lifted the box and continued moving it. This scene was clearly seen by the man in black.
"Enough talk, leave the box behind, or you're dead!"
The leader said no more, waved his hand, and his skilled men spurred their horses forward. Ning Kai's expression changed, and he shouted:
"Protect the box!"
Then, his men drew their swords and charged forward. In an instant, the dock was filled with the glint of swords and the deafening shouts of battle. While directing his men to resist, Ning Kai secretly plotted his escape and also made sure the box was safe. If Yang Chi was kidnapped, his own life would be in danger.
Fortunately, the Imperial Guards arrived to provide support, and so, Ning Kai personally led his men to escort the cage, while the men carrying the cage took advantage of the chaos to carry the wooden cage back towards the teahouse.
Suddenly, a sharp arrow pierced the air and struck one of the men carrying the box in the throat. With a scream, the man collapsed to the ground, the wooden cage tilted, and the box opened, revealing a figure tumbling out. The chains on his body rattled. When the man sat up, his hair was disheveled, his eyes were vacant, and he was muttering to himself. He was clearly insane. Upon closer inspection, it was none other than Yang Chi.
Seeing this, Xiao Mingzi became extremely anxious. Looking around, he saw the men in black already closing in, and he dared not hesitate any longer.
"Quickly, follow me, rescue Eunuch Yang, and then charge in!"
"Yes, father-in-law."
With Eunuch Ming's words, the Imperial Guards who came here also drew their long spears and rushed over without regard for anything else. Little Mingzi followed behind and, when they reached the box, tried to help Yang Chi up.
Just then, a dark shadow flashed by. The leader of the men in black was already close by, his long knife flashing coldly as he aimed straight for Yang Chi's throat.
Just as Xiaomingzi was filled with fear, Ning Kai arrived and raised his knife to block. With a clang, sparks flew everywhere.
"Who exactly are you? And why are you trying to kidnap Eunuch Yang?"
Ningbian took a few steps back and stood still, his face grim as he asked, "Could it be that someone on my ship leaked the information?"
"Hmph, you eunuchs have wreaked havoc on the court. Today is Yang Chi's death day! I am a righteous man from Jiangnan."
Perhaps it was a desperate gamble, but with a roar, the attack became even fiercer. Only then did Xiaomingzi realize that the other party was after Yang Chi's life. Moreover, what kind of righteous man from Jiangnan was this? Where would a Jiangnan person come from in the capital? Judging from their style, they seemed to be people from the martial arts world.
By this time, the battle at the docks had reached a fever pitch, with both sides suffering heavy losses. Finally, reinforcements from the dock defense camp arrived at the nearby street corner. Seeing the situation was hopeless, the leader of the men in black shouted...
"The wind is tight, pull!"
He leaped onto his horse, led his men, and fled back the way they had come. Just before they left, another volley of crossbow bolts was fired to halt the imperial guards' pursuit. After they had escaped, the wailing of several eunuchs echoed over.
"Eunuch Ming, Eunuch Ming, where are you?"
(End of this chapter)