Chapter 1100
, Part 2: Birthday Gifts
Chapter 1100 Birthday Gifts from the Two Religions
Inside the restaurant's partitions,
Only the sound of Master Chu sipping tea could be heard. After a while, Luo Fei, the waiter dressed as a hall master, quickly asked a question in confusion.
"Master Chu, could it be that the imperial court has become aware of this? Those two princes changed their route and secretly entered the capital."
This is not impossible. Of the four kings and eight dukes in the court, the Gong family of the Western King is the most powerful, followed by the Lang family of the Southern King. If it weren't for the suppression of the rebellion this time, which brought back the reputations of the Eastern King's Mansion and the Northern King's Mansion, how many people would still remember them?
"That shouldn't be the case. Brothers in the sect have also sent secret reports that the Prefect of Qingyang dared to build a dam on the ancient Han River channel. At this critical moment, the court will definitely be suspicious. Although the Prefect of Qingyang has been imprisoned, the deed is done. That old fox, Xi Wang Gongze, will definitely be suspicious and dare not come to the capital. He must have found an excuse to go back."
Left Protector Zuo Ling squinted and said softly, "There's another reason for our decisive return: the rainy season is approaching. At that time, almost all the official roads in the Northwest will be flooded, making travel difficult. Returning then will be much more troublesome."
“The Left Protector’s words make sense, but if that’s the case, wouldn’t our plan be ruined? And wouldn’t the White Lotus Sect members stop coming to discuss this because of this?”
After all, the Emperor Emeritus's birthday banquet is the day after tomorrow; if we don't act now, it will be too late.
"No rush. They say the best is yet to come. I doubt the White Lotus Sect came empty-handed. Let's wait and see."
Leader Chu remained calm and composed, sitting there without showing any sign of urgency. Luo Fei could only nod.
"Yes, Master Chu, I was anxious."
Just then, a carriage arrived in the courtyard downstairs and stopped in a corner. Lifting the curtain, an old man in coarse clothes calmly alighted from the carriage, followed by a servant who looked like a steward. They then walked down the corridor and into the restaurant.
The first thing you see is a noisy hall where many diners are drinking and playing drinking games, while others are singing and performing on a high platform, creating a lively atmosphere.
"Master, the people who invited us are upstairs. I just found their lookouts in the courtyard."
Right Protector Ying Xiancai, also dressed in coarse cloth, held a palm-leaf fan and continuously fanned the leader to cool him down from the heat.
"It seems that it is the leader of the Chu sect who has arrived. Now that we have met, we have many questions to ask each other. Let's go."
"Yes, Master."
Protector Ying nodded and led the way. Bai Shuiyue felt a pang of emotion. Since the defeat in Xihe County, she had traveled to many places and sent all the elites of the sect to lie low in various places. After many days, she finally planned to return to the capital, but the news she had gathered was not optimistic.
The two went up the stairs to the second floor and walked towards a private room in the corner.
As soon as she arrived at the door, a man dressed as a waiter opened it. As soon as she entered the room, Bai Shuiyue smiled quietly.
"Master Chu, how have you been?"
The voice was soft, and although he was dressed as a man, those in the martial arts world were not secretive about using disguises.
"Master Bai, it's time to meet again. I never expected to meet you in the capital. Please sit down and try the cloud and mist tea I brought from Jiangnan."
Chu Yiyue nodded slightly, made a gesture of invitation, and then took a teacup and filled it to the brim.
Bai Shuiyue didn't stand on ceremony. She walked over in a few steps, sat down comfortably, picked up the teacup, and took a small sip. The aroma of the tea instantly filled her mouth, and she immediately realized with a start that it really was Jinling Yunwu tea. If that was the case, this Master Chu must have come to the capital from Jiangnan by waterway. No wonder he was so fast.
"Truly a top-quality tea, excellent tea indeed. It is truly remarkable that Master Chu still has the mind to appreciate tea."
"Hahaha, oh dear, if these words of Master Bai were spoken by an outsider, I, Chu, would spit on them. But since you, Master, have said them, I, Chu, feel ashamed. More than two months have passed since we parted in Jingnan. I have tried my best, but in the end, I was no match for the elite troops of the imperial court and was defeated here. I am guilty and ashamed."
His eyes were somewhat dejected. His meticulously calculated strategies would crumble and crumble when faced with Marquis Luoyun. Sometimes, Chu Yiyue finally understood Zhou Yu's feelings during the Three Kingdoms period: "Why did Heaven create both Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang?"
These words of lamentation filled the members of the Taiping Cult in the room with a sense of shame, but Zuo Ling felt only resentment.
"Manager Chu, you are mistaken. In the battle of Jingnan, my brothers fought back with their lives, and not one of them retreated. It was not a fault of the battle, but that Marquis Luoyun was cunning. He was unmatched in the art of war. In the battle of the county city, my subordinates inflicted heavy casualties on Marquis Luoyun's elite troops, but he was full of tricks and even set up a maze, sending water during the day and returning troops at night, which led to the early fall of the west gate and the inability to turn the tide."
Thinking of this, Zuo Ling's face darkened, and he could only pick up the wine pot on the table and drink it all in one gulp, perhaps trying to drown his sorrows.
Bai Shuiyue had never heard these words before. After all, she knew nothing about how the Taiping Sect and the imperial army fought in Jingnan. In just a few days, only snippets of information came in, and the Taiping Sect suffered defeat after defeat, leaving her no time to prepare.
"The Left Protector is indeed a man of strong character. After the battle of Linshan County, the Left Protector's name has spread throughout the land. Who doesn't know that he could inflict such heavy casualties on Marquis Luoyun? Looking across the entire Guanzhong Plain, how many people can do that? The Left Protector should not underestimate himself."
Her voice was melodious and pleasant, as if offering words of comfort, but the occasional flashes of cold light in her eyes revealed that she was not as gentle as she appeared.
"Good, well said. No matter what we do, we need the right time, place, and people. Master Bai, our two families don't need to hide anything. The situation is critical now, and we have to make a careful decision. The day after tomorrow, I'm sure Master Bai understands that the Emperor Emeritus's birthday banquet is just around the corner. This is an excellent opportunity, and I'm sure Master Bai's gift will be extraordinary."
Upon hearing this, Bai Shuiyue smiled, her gaze shifting thoughtfully, and said:
"Indeed, Master Chu speaks frankly. The palace is preparing to celebrate the old emperor's birthday at the Qianqing Palace. All the officials in the court will surely gather there. If we can take action here, we can definitely deal a heavy blow to the court. However, there are also considerable risks involved. On that day, the palace will be heavily guarded, and the hidden sentries we leave behind will not be of much use. If we are not careful, our years of planning will be in vain."
Chu Yiyue nodded in agreement, put down his teacup, and looked serious.
"I've been gathering information on my way to the capital. According to reliable intelligence, the Prefect of Qingyang County has been imprisoned. Just a few days ago, the Western Prince Gong family and the Southern Prince Lang family were also arrested. However, the two princes did not attend the celebratory banquet in the capital and turned back halfway. Our target is now lost."
"Oh?"
Bai Shuiyue raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. She had indeed overlooked this matter. Since the two princes hadn't returned, it indicated their suspicion of the court, which wasn't necessarily bad news.
"This is an unexpected bonus. The Western King and the Southern King command large armies. If they come to the capital, they will surely bring a large army with them. Even if our two families want to make a move, the chances are slim. In that case, we can only try to find a way through the officials who pay tribute."
In this way, they could both influence the imperial court and gain tangible benefits, while also making the officials who offered tribute feel insecure—a triple win.
Upon hearing this, Chu Yiyue narrowed his eyes slightly and pondered for a moment.
"Master Bai is indeed wise. Assassinating the tribute officials would be a piece of cake. We just need to be wary of the Imperial City Guard's henchmen. The day after tomorrow is a grand banquet for the officials, so we only have time to act tonight and tomorrow. In fact, after the discussions, we might not even rest tonight."
Time is of the essence. Since we are determined to take action, it is better to do it sooner rather than later, as the longer we wait, the more things may go wrong.
Bai Shuiyue gently swirled the teacup in her hand, gazing at the weathered-looking Master Chu. A jolt ran through her; he truly was the strategist of the Taiping Sect—decisive and ruthless.
"Alright, since we've reached an agreement with Leader Chu, let's start with the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau). I heard that it's already packed with guests, and almost all the private rooms are booked. It's incredibly lively. They've also brought some Hu women from somewhere, who are famous throughout the capital. I wonder what Leader Chu thinks?"
The Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau) occupied a vast area in the central market district. Located in a bustling area, if a disturbance were to occur, evacuation would be problematic. However, if the disturbance were mainly caused by restaurants in the four cities, it would be easier to handle.
Chu Yiyue frowned slightly, somewhat disapproving;
"Master Bai, the Jiaofangsi is an enterprise of the Imperial Household Department, and there are many people from the Imperial City Guard inside. Although what you just said is true, we cannot easily use our undercover agents. Once exposed, the losses will be huge."
It would be better to target the restaurants throughout the four cities, ambushing and killing officials entering the capital at night, and then lying in ambush on the official roads outside the cities during the day, before immediately fleeing. This way, we can be safe.
Bai Shuiyue pondered for a moment, her mind racing with the words of this Master Chu. It seemed he had brought quite a few people with him back to the capital, but they were all outside the city, suggesting he didn't have much power within the city itself.
"Master Chu is indeed cautious. His attack outside the city and subsequent escape means the court won't have time to pursue him. While creating a ruckus throughout the capital is good, the high-ranking officials who come to the capital are all seeking pleasure in the brothels. So, this won't be enough to make a significant impact." Seeing Master Bai's probing words, Chu Yiyue glanced at the sky outside. It was already night; further delay would be a waste of time.
"Master Bai, this plan is good, but the risk is too great. There are Imperial Guards and Military Commanders patrolling the streets and alleys. Once we make a move, the news will spread quickly, and the capital's guards will surely assemble rapidly. We have limited manpower, and if we are surrounded, the consequences will be unimaginable."
But what Master Bai said made perfect sense. If it was feasible, the Taiping Sect would primarily use ambushes outside the city, supplemented by assassinations inside, to create a disturbance and buy Master Bai time. As for the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau), only Master Bai could handle it single-handedly, with the Taiping Sect providing assistance. What do you think?
"Very well, since Leader Chu has spoken, and I am a straightforward person, I will go back and make arrangements now, and take action immediately. Apart from the brothels, the situation within the city will depend on Leader Chu's methods."
Bai Shuiyue didn't want to delay any longer. Since the Taiping Sect in the city was hesitant and timid, there was no need to say more.
"Rest assured, Master Bai, I will keep my word. This level of strength is something the Taiping Sect can certainly boast about."
Before he finished speaking,
Just then, a rapid knocking sounded at the door. Everyone inside was on guard, their hands on the hilts of their swords. After exchanging a glance, Chu Yiyue said in a deep voice:
"Who goes there? Come in and speak."
The door opened,
A man dressed as a servant silently entered the private room and knelt on one knee.
"Your subordinate greets Master Chu. I have gathered some information. For this birthday banquet, many officials from other regions have come to offer their congratulations, with the majority being officials of the third rank. In addition, I have learned that Yuan Cheng, the deputy general of An Yunqi, the governor of Shu, and concurrently the deputy commander of Shu, has already arrived in the capital with his congratulatory gifts. He is staying in the Jiazi room of the Jiaofangsi. Accompanying him is Shan Lan, the deputy general of Fang Tianhe, the military supervisor of Shu."
The visitor licked his lips; this was a pleasant surprise—he had managed to find out the information he'd been given.
Those in the room exchanged thoughtful glances, especially Chu Yiyue, whose brows were furrowed. Shu was far from the Central Plains, and intelligence rarely reached them. However, many officials now knew that the Governor-General of Shu had become somewhat disobedient in recent years; perhaps this was an opportunity.
After a moment of contemplation, he asked:
"Have you ascertained whether the information about these two people is true or false?"
"Reporting to the Master, there is no mistake. I happened to be having fun at the brothel today. When I was on the second floor, I overheard what the women serving me said, so I kept an eye on them and secretly followed them. Unfortunately, even though I confirmed the location, I didn't see the real people. However, there was a guard every ten steps outside the Class A private room, with a sentry every three steps and a sentry every five steps. Moreover, there were hidden sentries in the courtyard, all of whom were skilled martial artists."
He was absolutely certain he hadn't misread any of this. There were also boxes from Sichuan in the backyard; these had all been carefully recorded and couldn't be faked.
Sitting across the table, Bai Shuiyue listened with a solemn expression, and she was now largely convinced. Anyone with such guards must be of extraordinary status.
"Such tight security suggests that even if they aren't officials from Shu, they must be of considerable rank. Master Chu, how about we cooperate tonight?"
Chu Yiyue stroked his chin, took a deep breath, and thought, "Man proposes, God disposes." This news came from their own people; how could they not act?
"Alright, let's do as Cult Leader Bai says. Without further ado, everyone go back and make your arrangements. Cult Leader Bai, please."
"Haha, alright, please, Leader Chu."
The two clasped their hands in a fist salute, and Bai Shuiyue rose and left. In a few breaths, she reached the bottom of the stairs, boarded the carriage, and drove out of the courtyard, disappearing without a trace.
Only those in the private rooms upstairs were still somewhat dazed. Hall Master Luo swallowed hard and asked;
"Master Chu, there are also many veterans from the Imperial Household Department within the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau). If an assassination attempt were to take place there, the casualties would be considerable."
"Enough with the small talk, let's get ready to make the arrangements. There's a secret hideout in the alley south of Sihai Money House, which few people usually know about. We'll use it today. As for the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau), try to have the White Lotus Sect as the main force to coordinate the assassination. This time, we have no choice but to do it. The Shu region might become another Western Prince's Mansion."
Thinking of the secret report from Sichuan sent by the sect leader, he had thought he couldn't plan anything, but unexpectedly, he could lay a trap today, even with the help of the White Lotus Sect. This was a rare opportunity.
"Yes, Master, I obey your command."
in a blink,
The once lively private room is now deserted.
On the streets of Beijing
The city was ablaze with flowers and brightly lit, with people strolling around the streets. It was all celebrating the Emperor Emeritus's birthday banquet, and the whole country was in celebration. Therefore, there was no curfew in the capital, and the city was so brightly lit that it had earned the reputation of being a city that never sleeps.
The front courtyard of the Marquis of Luoyun's residence,
Zhang Jinyu had finished his meal, changed into a more practical outfit, and was preparing to leave the mansion for the south gate to meet Duan Hong's troops as they entered the capital.
"Ningbian, has Duan Hong sent a message?"
"Reporting to Your Excellency, I sent a secret letter this afternoon, and Duan Hong replied immediately. We are all ready to depart. I wonder where Your Excellency plans to camp tonight?"
Although the capital city is large, there aren't many places available for the army to rest, since the Marquis hadn't specified the location of the main camp within the city.
Zhang Jinyu reached up and tightened the jade belt around her waist, then smiled.
"Now that we have been ordered to enter the city, the location of our camp is a minor matter. Do you remember the Qiushui Lake in Yunshan? The weather is hot now, and we can't do without water. Let's find a high spot east of Qiushui Academy to set up camp, where water will be readily available."
Qiushui Lake isn't large, and it's located on the south side of the West Market, so even if they wanted to hide, they couldn't. It's better to set up camp openly to deter petty thieves.
Ningbian thought about it for a moment and felt that what the Marquis said made sense.
"Your Excellency's thinking is indeed thorough. In my humble opinion, we need to conceal the army's presence."
"It's almost impossible to hide. There are countless spies watching in the capital. The only way to conceal ourselves is to break up our forces into smaller groups. After entering the city tonight, we will patrol the imperial city. Two thousand men will be sent to Qiushui Lake to set up camp, while the rest will be divided into two groups, one going through Chongwen Gate to rest in Hanyuan Hall. Duan Hong will personally lead the group."
Zhang Jinyu's eyes flickered. Since they had been discovered after entering the capital, he might as well take advantage of the night to send his men into the palace to wait in Hanyuan Hall, while the rest of his men would set up camp at Qiushui Lake to create confusion.
Ningbian also considered this crucial point, but he still had some concerns, after all, it was a guest army entering the palace, and the implications were significant.
"My lord, this move is commendable, but isn't it a bit hasty for guest troops to enter the palace?"
The words seemed to be both a reminder and a hint of doubt. Upon hearing this, Zhang Jinyu could only sigh.
"How could I not know what you're saying? The Grand Chancellor has already made arrangements. The maze-like palace north of Hanyuan Palace is where the elite troops of the Northern Garrison of the Imperial City Guard are stationed. With the two supervising each other, His Majesty can rest assured. If we don't go, there will only be people from the Imperial City Guard and the Imperial Guards. It will be difficult for the Grand Chancellor to arrange for the troop deployment."
While there may be suspicion of collusion between the two, with all three present, nothing should go wrong.
"Yes, my lord, I understand."
Having made the arrangements, Ning Bian called to his personal guards, preparing to escort the Marquis out of the manor. However, just as they opened the gate, a carriage pulled up and stopped in front of the gate. As Zhang Jinyu wondered what was happening, a corner of the carriage curtain was lifted.
A stunningly beautiful face, like a lotus emerging from water, peeked out from the car window.
"Oh dear, with the weather like this, where is Your Excellency heading?"
The voice was melodious, with a hint of playful teasing. Following the sound, and illuminated by the candlelight in front of the mansion, Zhang Jinyu looked closely and saw a captivating face and figure without any makeup, leaning against the carriage curtain. Zhang Jinyu's expression changed slightly; she hadn't expected it to be "her"!
(End of this chapter)