Chapter 792: People from Dongying have come over

As Tengyuan Liangxin walked out of the Flying Cloud Pavilion, night had already deepened.

He first returned to his residence to pick up Liu Guiyan, then ordered the carriage to go straight to the Yin-Yang Bureau.

After telling Liu Guiyan everything that had happened at the banquet, he leaned against the wing wall, closed his eyes to rest, and recalled everything that had just occurred.

One who advocates kindness and harmony has always been at odds with me.

Songyong Zhenjiu, for the sake of his brother Songyong Jiuxiu, eyes me with a tiger's gaze.

Wutian Xinsheng is just a greenhorn, but he happens to be useful to me.

However, none of that matters.

What matters is that the General still handed over the supreme command of the entire army to me.

As long as military authority remains, the Fujiwara clan still has a chance to soar to great heights.

The carriage stopped in front of the Yin-Yang Bureau's gate.

Tengyuan Liangxin lifted the carriage curtain, glanced at the tightly shut black lacquer wooden door in the night, and ordered his attendant: "Go knock on the door."

Not long after, An Bai Taiqin arrived at the front hall.

He had taken off the festive robes from the victory feast, wearing only a plain garment; his complexion was ashen, his eye sockets slightly sunken.

Liu Guiyan stood calmly behind Tengyuan Liangxin.

The three of them took their seats.

Tengyuan Liangxin got straight to the point: "Grand Master Abe, the General orders you to atone with merit."

An Bai Taiqin's eye corner twitched.

"No matter the cost, bring me the head of the Immortal Envoy of Lieguo." Tengyuan Liangxin said flatly, "If you cannot do that, the General said, then as head of the Yin-Yang Bureau, the Abe clan need not remain."

An Bai Taiqin's face instantly turned ashen.

His hand clenched inside his sleeve, his knuckles cracking.

Tengyuan Liangxin didn't care about his feelings: "Grand Master Abe, though you are of noble stature and have served as head of the Yin-Yang Bureau for many years, you too should understand now."

He paused, and An Bai Taiqin lifted his eyes to look at him.

Tengyuan Liangxin spoke bluntly: "You have lost the General's trust, lost his protection, Grand Master Abe, you are nothing."

An Bai Taiqin's face instantly turned as black as a pot bottom.

Tengyuan Liangxin said solemnly: "After you left, Matsunaga Yoshihisa advised the General to hold you responsible for the false military report."

An Bai Taiqin's heart jumped.

"Still, I say, your Yin-Yang arts have no equal in Dongying; it's only because that Immortal Envoy of Lieguo's methods are too formidable that the General gave you a chance to earn merit and atone."

An Bai Taiqin gritted his teeth: "Thank you, Lord Fujiwara, for your kind words."

Tengyuan Liangxin turned to Liu Guiyan: "Lady Cheng, this time we must rely on your poison arts, join forces with Grand Master Abe, and eliminate that Immortal Envoy of Lieguo."

Liu Guiyan gave a slight nod: "Please rest assured, Lord Fujiwara."

Tengyuan Liangxin looked at An Bai Taiqin: "Grand Master Abe, Lady Cheng will now stay with you; take care of yourself."

An Bai Taiqin knew he had no room left to rebut, so he replied softly: "Okay."

Tengyuan Liangxin rose, said nothing more, and strode out.

The paper door slid shut, leaving only An Bai Taiqin and Liu Guiyan.

Silence lay like a wall between them.

Liu Guiyan spoke slowly: "Grand Master Abe, we two are now in the same boat."

An Bai Taiqin's lips pressed into a thin line, and he did not answer.

Liu Guiyan was not in a hurry either, merely watching him silently.

This Grand Master Abe is usually arrogant and conceited, looking down on everyone, yet before the General's power he is as humble as an ant.

What he truly fears is losing his current position.

"Please rest assured, Grand Master Abe," Liu Guiyan said lightly, "we merely each take what we need."

"You want to regain the General's trust, while I only want the life of the Immortal Envoy of Lieguo."

"As for the rest, I am merely a woman who observes propriety, and I have never cared about such things."

An Bai Taiqin finally spoke, his voice hoarse: "How confident are you?"

Liu Guiyan laughed: "Then it depends on whether Grand Master Abe is willing to lower himself to join forces with me."

The next morning, on the beach.

Xiao Yuanhang stood with his hands behind his back outside the main tent, his two sons standing behind him.

Together they gazed at the distant undulating hills and dense forests.

Zhang Wu'an rode up to him, dismounted, and clasped his fists in salute: "Your Highness, Second Young Master, Third Young Master! I, your subordinate, have scouted the area ten li ahead."

"There are five outposts and three beacon towers, all cleared by our brothers, leaving no enemy remnants."

He produced a map from his pocket and handed it to Xiao Yuanhang: "This is from one of those outposts."

"Along the way, villages were empty, doors wide open, hearths cold, not even a chicken in sight."

"Moreover, the bridges leading inland were all burned down, and even the trees along the official roads were felled and piled in the middle of the path."

"The Dongying people are dead set on not letting us advance another step."

Xiao Yuanhang took the map and unfolded it to examine closely.

Xiao Ningchen said: "Indeed, they are well prepared."

"This place is our first foothold in Dongying," said Xiao Ningxun, "we must hold it firmly."

Xiao Yuanhang nodded slightly: "Issue orders to the entire army to place anti-cavalry barriers outside the main camp, laid side by side, to block cavalry."

"Dig moats to guard against enemy surprise attacks. Extend the patrol scouts' range to ten li ahead."

"Yes!" Zhang Wu'an received the order and departed.

The three were just about to head back to the tent when a clear, bell-like laughter came from nearby, mixed with Xiao Feifei's cheerful chirps.

Xiao Yuanhang looked up and saw Tuan Tuan riding on Xiao Er's neck, both hands gripping Xiao Er's collar.

Xiao Feifei followed at Lu Qi's feet, her fluffy big tail held high like a moving white feather duster.

"Daddy!" Tuan Tuan waved her little hands at him, "Uncle Er, I want to find Daddy!"

Xiao Er laughed and quickened his steps, walking up to Xiao Yuanhang and setting Tuan Tuan down.

As soon as Xiao Tuanzi's feet touched the ground, she lunged at her father, grabbing his thigh and looking up: "Daddy! When are we going to beat those bad guys?"

Xiao Yuanhang bent down, scooped his daughter into his arms, and gently pinched her little nose: "No rush; we're in the bad guys' lair right now, so we must proceed steadily and securely."

"Oh." Tuan Tuan tilted her head, "What does 'proceed steadily and securely' mean?"

Xiao Yuanhang smiled: "It just means take it slow."

"Oh." Tuan Tuan nodded, "Take it slow—does that mean we have to wait until next year to fight?"

Everyone: "……"

"Next year?" Xiao Ningxun laughed helplessly, "Tuan Tuan, you really dare to think that!"

Xiao Yuanhang also laughed: "Issue the order, summon all the commanders."

"Yes."

Soon after, all the commanders gathered in the tent.

Xiao Yuanhang placed the map on the table, sat down holding his daughter, and Xiao Feifei lay at his feet, humming softly.

He raised his hand and pointed at the map: "This is Kamakura Castle, right?"

The commanders gathered around, Zheng Wucheng took a look and said: "Not bad."

Xiao Ningxun exclaimed in surprise: "It's only thirty-odd li from here—that's really close!"

"Really strange," Xiao Ran shook his head: "It's almost as close to the sea as Goryeo's royal city."

"Kamakura Castle is harder to take than Goryeo's royal city," Xiao Ningchen said, sweeping his hand over the map around Kamakura Castle: "Look, it's surrounded by mountains on three sides and faces the sea on one—a terrain that's easy to defend but hard to attack."

Suddenly, hurried footsteps came from outside the tent; a soldier rushed in: "Your Highness! The forward patrol reports that people have been sent over from Japan."