Chapter 1106
Commander of the Imperial City Guard
Chapter 1106 Commander of the Imperial City Guard
The soldiers entered,
Holding torches to illuminate the surrounding scenery, the entrance to the Jiaofangsi Pavilion had also been cleared out, revealing the mess inside the main hall, with a pungent smell of blood!
Zhang Jinyu didn't speak, but silently observed her surroundings. When she reached the entrance of the pavilion, she saw a patch of burnt ashes in the corner, as if something had been burned inside.
He walked over, squatted down, and used his fingers to stir the ashes. He found some unburnt pieces of paper inside, picked them up, and examined them closely.
“Wang Jieshuai, since the thieves were able to find this place to commit their crimes, they must have been planning this for a long time. Even if we come quickly, we probably won’t be able to catch them. There are some unburned pieces of paper here. Come and take a look.”
He greeted them.
The two men behind him hurriedly led their troops inside, and Zhang Jinyu handed them the piece of paper in her hand.
“Look, there seem to be some writing on these pieces of paper.”
Upon hearing this, Ma Mengquan quickly reached out and took it, carefully placing it under the firelight to examine it closely. His brows furrowed even more deeply.
"The handwriting on it is somewhat illegible, and most of it has been burned away, so only a few words can be made out."
He pointed to one of the pieces of paper.
"Look, it seems to say 'West Prince's Mansion' on this, along with words like 'congratulatory gifts'."
Wang Ziteng leaned closer to take a look and realized that the Western Prince's Mansion was involved. Perhaps someone else had tipped them off. His expression changed.
"What? The Western Prince's Mansion? Could it be that they want to ambush and kill the people of the Western Prince's Mansion? But that doesn't make sense. Didn't the Western Prince's Mansion's caravan not come to the capital?"
As everyone knows, because of the matter in Qingyang County, the convoy from the Western Prince's residence turned back halfway. Although the court was not notified, the civil and military officials were already aware of it. So, it's now clear that since no one from the Western Prince's residence came, how did these notes end up?
Zhang Jinyu stroked his chin and looked around the entire attic hall. There was no one alive anymore. He wondered if that Eunuch Li was still alive. It was a real pity if such a remarkable person had died.
"Gentlemen, for now, we should make a judgment. We don't know who burned this note yet, so we must not panic. I think that the guests who came here tonight may be someone unexpected. Let the soldiers investigate. Go to the private rooms on the second and third floors; perhaps we can find some clues."
After all, if they catch a prefect of Qingyang outside, there might be some secrets hidden in it. If someone from the Northwest gets into trouble, it means that the Western Prince's Mansion has been targeted. But who is this person?
The princes in the capital may have their own ambitions, but to actually take such actions would be truly audacious and reckless. Perhaps it is related to the Four Kings and Eight Dukes.
“Yes, Lord Marquis is right. Men, search the entire attic and make a list of everyone. Zhang Tao, go to the third floor. Ling Chong, go to the second floor. Make sure you get the list of people here.”
"Yes, my lord."
Ma Mengquan, the commander of the Southern Garrison, suddenly realized what was happening and immediately ordered, "How can we neglect the two commanders?" He then led his men upstairs, and the sound of footsteps kicking the door echoed throughout the building.
The three people downstairs lost their desire to go upstairs. They found clean tables and chairs for their servants and sat down. Although their thoughts were different, the secret decrees issued by the palace were almost identical.
After a while,
Perhaps the atmosphere was too somber, Ma Mengquan's expression shifted slightly, and he clasped his hands in greeting to the two of them.
"General, Lord Marquis, there are still some thieves hiding in the shadows in the capital. Since you two have brought troops into the city, it must be because of a secret imperial decree. The security of the capital still needs your strong support."
The personnel of the Northern Garrison have all been brought under the control of the palace. Most of the affairs outside the palace are now handled by the Southern Garrison, which inevitably leads to oversights. Therefore, I would like to add a word of advice.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Jinyu and Wang Ziteng exchanged a surprised glance. It seemed that this commander knew something.
"Haha, very well. Since it was Commander Ma who spoke, how could I stand idly by? However, matters in the capital should be handled by the Imperial City Guard. The Taiping Sect and the White Lotus Sect are hidden among the people and are extremely difficult to find. If it were a real battle, I wouldn't be afraid, but the activities of these spies cannot be discovered overnight."
Zhang Jinyu hadn't yet offended the other party, but then again, espionage is a specialized field, and he genuinely couldn't find anyone suitable.
Wang Ziteng, sitting opposite him, also nodded slightly.
"What you say is absolutely right, Lord Marquis. The capital is too big to be fully taken care of, but I can still look after the area around the palace. I will certainly not let the villains cause trouble. As for other places, I ask Commander Ma to take good care of them."
It was practically an open statement. Seeing the two readily agree, Ma Mengquan greeted them with a smile. If that was the case, he had already guessed that there might be something else going on on the day of the birthday banquet, but these were things he couldn't interfere with; the Grand Eunuch had already given him instructions.
"Alright, thank you both."
He cupped his hands in greeting to the two men, which was considered a proper greeting. Just then, a cry of surprise came from upstairs. There was a sound of tables and chairs clattering in a private room on the second floor. The three men's expressions changed immediately. Could there be thieves lingering here? But after a while, only Commander Ling Chong rushed down with a pale face and reported.
"Reporting, sir, in the private room at the back of the west side on the second floor, someone is dead, dead!"
His eyes flickered, and he stammered for a long time without saying a word. Everyone present was a shrewd person and they all saw through the trick. Ma Mengquan even opened his eyes wide and angrily rebuked him.
"She's being so long-winded, like a woman. Tell me, what exactly happened?"
"Reporting to Your Excellency, during this inspection of the second floor, most of the people found were wealthy residents of the city, along with several officials from the Six Ministries. All of them were killed instantly and did not escape. Only in the private room at the back was the body of Lu Tangfeng, the Prefect of Anyang. Furthermore, a number of secret letters were found in the room, including letters from the White Lotus Sect and secret correspondence with the Western Prince's Mansion."
Perhaps having made up his mind, he gritted his teeth and spoke out, startling the three of them who immediately stood up, sensing something was wrong. Ma Mengquan, in particular, looked regretful, wishing he hadn't let the man speak. Also, how could the Prefect of Anyang be at the Jiaofangsi? And how to explain those correspondence? He felt completely overwhelmed.
Where is the letter?
"Your Excellency, everything is in this package; I have not dared to touch a single thing."
Ling Chong was already kicking himself. He should have searched the third floor first; those letters were deadly. Luckily, the officials were there. They placed the package on the table and opened it themselves. Inside was a stack of letters.
But none of the three reached out. Prince Teng was already terrified. The governor of Qingyang County in the Northwest was still in prison, and the governor of Anyang County was already dead. Of the three counties in the Northwest, only the border army of Beiyun County was still safe. It could be said that if the Western King's Mansion entered the pass at this moment, the counties in the Northwest would be leaderless and could not be stopped for even a moment.
Zhang Jinyu remained aloof, keeping to himself. The matter of the Jiaofangsi was clearly a setup. The key question was what roles the White Lotus Sect and the Taiping Sect were playing, and what the purpose of the Western Prince's Mansion was. After all, the three prefectures in the northwest were in a special position, and with repeated incidents, even if the palace truly trusted the Western Prince's family, they couldn't withstand such provocation.
Perhaps anticipating others' thoughts, sweat had already beaded on Ma Mengquan's forehead. How could such deadly things appear within the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment district)? He sternly rebuked them.
"Ling Chong, when you went inside, did you really only find these things? Were there any others?"
"My lord, there are other things in the room, including silver, banknotes, official robes and seals, as well as performance reports issued by the Ministry of Personnel. They are all in the room. I have already sent someone to pack them up and will bring them to you in a while."
The voice just fell,
Behind him, a squad of armored guards approached carrying several packages. Upon seeing them, Ling Chong rushed over, took the packages, placed them on the table, and opened them one by one. Sure enough, he found the items he had just been carrying: official robes, official seals, and official reports—all laid out on the table.
"My lord, Commander Wang, what do you two think?"
"Ahem, Lord Ma, this matter is under the jurisdiction of your Imperial City Guard. I just happened to be passing by and have no authority to inquire about it," Wang Ziteng quickly coughed twice, trying to deflect the question. After all, the murder of an official returning to the capital was a major case, and he had no intention of getting involved. He would investigate if he could, and not investigate if he couldn't.
With such a brilliant example before him, Zhang Jinyu understood immediately and echoed the sentiment.
"Yes, Lord Ma's conduct has always been highly regarded. This matter was first discovered by the Imperial City Guard, and the Imperial City Guard should be in charge of handling it. I will not interfere."
His frankness eased Ma Mengquan's expression considerably. Without saying much more, he rewrapped all the clothes and letters.
"Thank you for your understanding, Your Excellency and the Commander. I will certainly investigate this matter thoroughly."
Is there anything else you want to say?
Suddenly, a commotion broke out in front. Just as everyone turned to look, they saw Eunuch Li from the Jiaofangsi, looking disheveled and with his hair in a mess, leading a few old guards into the pavilion, letting out a wail.
"Oh my god, those damned traitors have committed a sin against heaven!"
A loud wail triggered a collective sob among the girls who had followed. This scene was truly perplexing. Upon closer inspection, it became clear that many members of the brothel were still hidden, including numerous veteran soldiers. Had they chosen not to intervene and fight?
Many questions lingered in their minds, but the three of them didn't move an inch. Wang Ziteng then clasped his hands in a fist salute.
"Commander Ma, since there are still survivors, this case should have a beginning and an end. I will not get involved anymore. Farewell."
With a flick of his sleeve and a wink to Jia Lian, he led his troops away hastily. Zhang Jinyu's heart stirred; he also took a step back and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.
"Commander Ma, until we meet again,"
He also led his troops away, leaving only Ma Mengquan's somewhat gloomy face in the hall. Behind him, the two commanders dared not even breathe. Clearly, something was amiss here today. Just moments ago, there wasn't a single person breathing, and now so many people had suddenly appeared. Were they truly hiding and hadn't been found, or were they connected to the Taiping Sect? It remained to be seen.
"Guards, shut down the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau) and take Eunuch Li back to the Imperial Prison to rest."
"Yes, sir!"
The two commanders behind him reluctantly agreed, and with a wave of their hands, the soldiers rushed forward and arrested Li Gonggong and his entourage, including the old soldiers. Li Gonggong, who was still acting out a terrified scene, struggled and angrily protested.
"How dare they arrest me! If this gets out, it won't look good for anyone."
His sinister words made the two commanders feel uneasy, but Ma Mengquan remained unmoved.
"take away,"
"Yes, my lord."
Outside the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau)
As Zhang Jinyu and his companion were about to withdraw their troops, Wang Ziteng and I walked out side by side at the courtyard gate. As we mounted our horses, Wang Ziteng hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"My lord, the situation in the capital is treacherous. Please think carefully before acting. The Emperor Emeritus's birthday banquet is the day after tomorrow. There may be some disputes among the princes, but for the sake of stability in the court, I urge you to consider the overall situation. I believe the three princes share the same idea. I dare not say more. My lord, please!"
He turned around and nodded to Jia Lian.
"Jia Lian, let's go."
"Yes, Commander."
After speaking, Wang Ziteng led the soldiers of the Beijing Garrison back into the street and headed northwest.
Zhang Jinyu remained, pondering the words Prince Teng had spoken before leaving. There must be a deeper meaning behind it. Was this so-called "considering the bigger picture" a call for him to remain inactive, or a demand to compromise with the princes? If, at the banquet the day after tomorrow, any of them harbored improper intentions, the civil officials would certainly not stand idly by; the sound of impeachments would likely resound throughout the Qianqing Palace.
Given the personalities of those princes, they're bound to cause trouble eventually. Minor issues are manageable, but if the Emperor Emeritus decides to act, the overall situation will ultimately rest in the Emperor's hands.
"Ningbian, let's withdraw too. Go back to our residence to rest. Send the supplies we've given the army over the past few days to Hanyuan Palace. Tell that old bastard Duan Hong to keep a close eye on things in the palace."
"Yes, my lord. The things were prepared long ago and sent back with General Duan and his troops. But my lord, what about the Prefect of Qingyang and Madam Ding tonight?"
Behind the ranks, numerous soldiers surrounded the two, preventing them from being seen. Zhang Jinyu slapped his thigh, realizing he had almost forgotten about them. With this incident occurring so late at night, he couldn't simply ignore it any longer.
“Give them three horses and bring them back to your residence. Let them stay in the guest room and rest well. Let them leave tomorrow. Let's finish this good deed and consider it a token of our goodwill.”
"Yes, my lord, I know. My lord, this person should know about the affairs of Qingyang County, especially that Lady Ding, who is not simple either. There must be more to the story about the ancient Han River. Should we ask her more questions?"
Although Ningbian nodded in agreement, there were still some questions he wanted to ask. Two of the prefects of the three northwestern prefectures had already run into trouble, and this newly appointed prefect of Qingyang Prefecture might have some secret orders on his person.
"You're right, but unfortunately, all the eyes of the civil and military officials in the capital are on the birthday banquet the day after tomorrow. Even if something happens in the three northwestern prefectures, the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Personnel will only reprimand these few prefects in order to appease the Prince of the West's mansion. So, even if they know the truth, it won't matter."
It can only be said that the position of prefect is a hot potato. If one is wary, one will attract suppression from the Western Prince's forces; if one is not wary, one will be dismissed from office by the court. In short, one is caught in the middle, and if there is a way, one should naturally transfer away from here as soon as possible.
"Then, my lord, what should we do if something changes in the Northwest?"
Ning Bian suddenly leaned closer and asked in a low voice, his words carrying a hint of sarcasm. Zhang Jinyu responded with a half-smile.
"If things change, we should observe the situation. The Xianbei are not blind, and the border troops and the Northwest Army are not dead. The Western King's Mansion is also unprepared. It's not that I look down on them, but if it were a few years ago, there might have been a sliver of a chance. Now that the Xianbei Khan's uncle is dead, leaving behind several incompetent sons, they are certainly no match for that Khan."
I smiled, but there was a hint of melancholy. In the conflicts of the world, there will always be a final victor.
"When the Xianbei Khan holds power, the kingdoms of the Western Regions will surely grovel like dogs. Whether they attack the Donghu people in the northeast or the imperial court in the southeast, they will be invincible. Perhaps they may even cooperate in the future."
The fleeting thought was immediately dismissed. The Donghu people were not fools; if the Xianbei made a move, they would be on guard. Unfortunately, even occupying a land rich in water and grass could not compare to the sustenance provided by the Western Regions.
And so, while the two were having their private conversation, the densely packed soldiers of the Beijing garrison had already entered the Imperial Guard camp on the streets of the northwest market.
Jia Lian was still somewhat uneasy. The horrific scene at the brothel was still vivid in his mind, especially the many familiar faces lying in pools of blood. If it were before, he might have stayed to indulge in pleasure, and perhaps he wouldn't have escaped this calamity either.
“Uncle, why did we leave in such a hurry just now? The Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau) was killed by the traitors of the Taiping Sect and the White Lotus Sect. We came to the capital under the pretext of this, so if we interfere…”
"If you're going to get involved in this matter, then tell me where you're going to put the people from the Military Command and the Imperial City Guard. We've come to the capital with a deeper purpose; these are just excuses. Don't let this distract you."
Before he could finish speaking, Wang Ziteng interrupted him. Some things cannot be said outright, but can only be understood implicitly. However, some things, even if understood, must be pretended not to understand. The reason the Emperor allowed him to enter the city was merely to distract attention and restrain the Imperial Guards. The summoning of Marquis Luoyun to the capital was probably also a precaution. But those princes have remained in the Court of State Ceremonial and have not come out. After all these years, are they still not giving up?
These are things that cause concern, but not really. If there were an opportunity, why wait until now? The person I'm most worried about is the Emperor in the palace. If he were to seize power using this opportunity, the retired Emperor would certainly not agree. At that time, what would become of the "Four Kings and Eight Dukes"?
Perhaps hearing the helplessness in his uncle's words, Jia Lian lowered his head and dared not ask any more questions. Since entering the capital garrison, he had never had a moment of peace. Not only was he mentally and physically exhausted, but he was also forced into battle most of the time, and he didn't know when it would end.
"Yes, Uncle, but Jia Lian has many questions in his mind. Why would the cultists who have already retreated south make a move against the brothel? It's really unbelievable."
"Haha, you know, even if the cultists retreated south, their main force was not wiped out. There must be quite a few of these scattered sentries in the capital. The reason they targeted the Jiaofangsi was probably intentional."
Thinking of the tragic death of the Prefect of Anyang, a thought suddenly struck me: the Gong family of the Northwest are likely highly suspicious.
(End of this chapter)