Chapter 456: The Yin-Yang Master

"What does that matter?" Agutai asked anxiously.

"They want to keep this hidden and don't want it to spread because they're planning to attack us—they're joining with the Khorchin to strike against us. The Great Ming has already sent people to Liaodong, and the news will soon reach Xiong Tingbi. We absolutely must get this information back in time and tell the Great Khan as soon as possible," said Irgen Gioro.

After hearing this, Agutai nodded and said, "Then you come with me. We'll leave this place first, then figure something out. The Wang family can't be trusted—we'll think of another way. In the end, we'll be able to leave here safely; even if we can't leave, we can still get the message out."

"No." Irgen Gioro shook his head again and said, "The old Great Khan has just passed away—we're in a precarious position right now. If the two of them join forces to attack us, this battle could very well be lost."

"This battle can only be won—it absolutely cannot be lost, just like Sarhu back then. When we won the Battle of Sarhu, that was what bought us our long-standing advantage in Liaodong and allowed us to hold such a vast territory. So this time, we must win as well. As long as we win, we can even take Shenyang and Liaoyang—the entire Liaodong will be ours. Under such circumstances, we absolutely cannot let this information leak out."

"Once you've quietly gotten the message out, our side can pretend not to know. If I leave with you, then these people will know the information has leaked, so I can't leave with you. You need to go back and report this to the Great Khan. By then, we can wage war against the Great Ming without them knowing a thing."

"They think we don't know, but we already do. When the time comes, we'll hit them hard, and we'll turn things around. For the Great Khan, my sacrifice means nothing—even if everyone here dies, it means nothing."

Agutai looked at Irgen Gioro and saw how resolute his gaze was. His own expression immediately darkened. He wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come out.

What was there to say at a time like this?

Irgen Gioro was this determined, and his reasoning made sense. Agutai had no grounds to stop him.

Just as he'd said—now that their side knew about this matter, it absolutely could not be leaked. The Great Ming and the Khorchin were far too treacherous. Their assumption that their side was still in the dark would win them a tremendous advantage.

Suddenly, noise came from outside—even sounds of jeering and mockery.

Irgen Gioro's face changed drastically. He glanced at Agutai and said, "The jailers are coming. Leave now! Any later and you won't be able to!"

"Alright." Agutai nodded firmly, grabbing the rope and saying, "Don't worry—I will definitely get the message back."

Irgen Gioro nodded as well and said, "This matter is more important than both your life and mine. You must get the message out—even if it costs your life. Do you understand?"

"I understand." Agutai nodded, and with Irgen Gioro's help, grabbed the rope and climbed back up onto the roof.

In a building not far away, Zhang Chun lowered the telescope in his hand, watching Agutai's departing figure, and said to the subordinate beside him, "Send someone to follow him—whatever you do, don't lose him. You all know what happens if you do."

"Rest assured, sir—we know." The subordinate nodded solemnly, then turned to give the orders.

This time, Agutai had no mind to spare for the Wang family's demands. He needed to leave this place and get the message out as quickly as possible.

As for the Wang family, Agutai had already thought of a way to deal with them—there was no way he was going to waste words with them here.

And as for killing Fan Yongdou—that kind of move would only alert the enemy, and absolutely could not be done. For the sake of this matter, Irgen Gioro was willing to throw away his own life—how could he possibly go kill some Fan Yongdou to help the Wang family head's arrangements?

Agutai certainly wasn't going to listen. If he really went on a killing spree here, that would be the real trouble.

Coming down from the roof at the back, Agutai circled around a few times before returning to the front again.

Letting out a breath, he found an opportunity and climbed over the wall, then quickly strode away from that street.

After circling around a few more times and confirming no one was following him, Agutai finally headed off in one direction.

And in a room behind Agutai, someone lowered the telescope in his hand and said to the person behind him, "He's heading toward Seventh Street."

The person behind him nodded, walked straight to the window, and waved a flag in his hand.

Soon, from another building not far away, someone took out a yellow flag and waved it.

That person lowered his telescope, turned back to his companion, and said, "Seventh Street has received the message—they've spotted the target."

The two exchanged a glance and both let out a sigh of relief at the same time.

Though this wasn't the first time they'd done such a thing, and it wasn't the first drill either, this man was simply too important. Their superiors had stressed it again and again—they dared not delay, and they dared not make a single mistake.

Now that the matter had been handed off to Seventh Street, it was their problem. Their own task here was complete.

The news quickly reached Zhu Youxiao.

After hearing Zhang Chun's report, Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and said, "This was well done. Arrange for someone to keep an eye on him right away—ideally, try to pry some information out of his mouth. We need to know exactly what intelligence he's obtained. If it really doesn't work out, there's no need to force it."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Zhang Chun acknowledged, then took a document from his bosom and handed it directly to Zhu Youxiao, speaking with a respectful demeanor: "Your Majesty, this is the content of the conversation between that man called Irgen Gioro and the one who came this time, held in the room."

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao was taken aback for a moment, then asked, "How did you people get your hands on this?"

"Our men rigged both sides of the wall—the wall has been hollowed out. And we buried earth telephones inside the wall, and found several people who could understand their language to listen in."

"There's also a peephole in the next room where the two men inside can be seen. Your servant arranged two people who can read lips to see what they were really saying."

Zhu Youxiao stared at Zhang Chun, saying nothing for a long while.

Give them a lever, and they really would pry up the whole earth.

He'd only taught them a few things, and they really had spun all this out of it.

Now they'd even managed to come up with something as advanced as lip-reading—truly remarkable!

"They were speaking Chinese?" Zhu Youxiao looked at Zhang Chun and asked.

"No—they were speaking their own language." Zhang Chun shook his head and said, "But the man we have who can read lips speaks several languages—whether it's Jurchen or Mongol, or even Tibetan, he knows them all."

"What a talent!" Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but praise him.

"A man like that is a true talent. Being able to speak several languages is already an impressive feat, and on top of that he can read lips—such a man is rare indeed!" Zhu Youxiao said to Zhang Chun: "Take good care of him. Don't assign him any dangerous tasks. From now on, make good use of him for this kind of work."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Zhang Chun hurriedly acknowledged.

In fact, this man was also extremely important among his subordinates. Talent like this was hard to come by—out of all those people, they'd only managed to train up this one.

Zhu Youxiao looked at the document in his hand.

This paper recorded virtually everything the two men, Irgen Gioro and the other, had said.

Zhu Youxiao hadn't expected this Irgen Gioro to be such a schemer—he actually had his side pretend not to know.

Originally, Zhu Youxiao's plan had been to let them know, leaving the Khorchin no room to maneuver, planting a rift between the two houses to benefit his own path forward.

But now this Irgen Gioro had chosen to pretend ignorance—so it became: the Jianzhou barbarians knew about this matter; the Great Ming knew the Jianzhou barbarians knew; the Jianzhou barbarians pretended not to know; the Great Ming also knew the Jianzhou barbarians were pretending not to know, and pretended not to know that the Jianzhou barbarians knew.

Things were getting interesting!

Setting down the document, Zhu Youxiao raised his head and looked at Zhang Chun, saying, "A job well done. This merit will be recorded for you. Eat and drink some meat and wine tonight—let your men have a good meal. As for the rest of the rewards, the merit is noted—we'll reward according to contribution when the time comes."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Zhang Chun hurriedly acknowledged with respect, his tone filled with delight.

People like them rarely had opportunities to earn merit in their daily work, and being able to have this merit recorded meant it would count as military achievement—which would bring tremendous benefits for future promotions and transfers.

It seemed His Majesty was truly pleased with this matter.

"Alright, go on." Zhu Youxiao stood up with a smile and said to Zhang Chun, "Go enjoy your meal and drinks."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Zhang Chun hurriedly bowed in acknowledgment.

After Zhang Chun left, Zhu Youxiao stretched his limbs and said with a smile: "Now that this matter is settled, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Now I can properly go and consummate the marriage. Change my clothes."

Naturally, Zhu Youxiao needed to change into a different set of clothes—certainly not the set worn when an emperor takes a wife. However, to show formality, Zhu Youxiao still had someone prepare a set of bright red wedding garments of the sort worn by common folk when marrying.

With Wei Chao attending him, Zhu Youxiao quickly changed into the wedding garments and walked toward Bumbutai's room with a smile on his face.

At this moment, Bumbutai sat on the bed with a red veil covering her head, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.

She had no idea when that man would come, and even less idea what he intended to do to her tonight.

Bumbutai was now somewhat doubtful of what that man had said, for the atmosphere at the moment was simply too perfectly set.

"Creak!" The door was pushed open.

Bumbutai gave a start; she didn't know who had come in.

Zhu Youxiao strode in and closed the door behind him.

Wei Chao stood directly outside the door.

The personal guards not far away also remained standing—they weren't going to leave tonight anyway.