Chapter 634: Zhang Yu Is Followed

The coachman said nothing, but walked around to the other side of the carriage and reached out to lift the curtain.

A person stepped out from inside.

Seeing that delicate face, Zhang Yu was taken aback.

Song Xiang descended from the carriage, walked over to Zhang Yu's side, and said softly, "Greetings, Lord Zhang."

"Why are you here?" Zhang Yu asked with a frown.

Being followed was already an unpleasant matter, but to find that it was Song Xiang who had been following him made Zhang Yu even more surprised.

He couldn't help but feel puzzled.

"Lord Zhang, how about we find a place to talk for a bit?" Song Xiang said.

Without much hesitation, Zhang Yu nodded and said, "Very well."

The two would be working together in the future anyway, so meeting now was only natural and reasonable.

"Then please, Lord Zhang, get in the carriage." Song Xiang said with a smile.

A man and a woman sharing a carriage — Zhang Yu felt it was somewhat improper, so he said, "Why don't you go first, miss? I'll just follow behind."

"Lord Zhang, we will have many occasions to spend time together from now on. Sharing a carriage is a trivial matter; there's no need to be overly concerned." Song Xiang thought for a moment, then said, "Please, Lord Zhang, do get in."

Zhang Yu pondered briefly, nodded, and boarded the carriage.

After Zhang Yu got on and sat down, he found the carriage was quite spacious. Though it was an ordinary four-wheeled carriage, it seemed to have undergone special treatment.

But before Zhang Yu could look around much, Song Xiang came up from below and sat down across from him.

Song Xiang asked with a smile, "Lord Zhang returned to the Ministry of Revenue — was it to gather people?"

"How did you know?" Zhang Yu looked at Song Xiang and asked.

"This sort of thing is easy for us to find out." Song Xiang said with a smile. "We also know you came to recruit Liao Daoyan, but it didn't go smoothly. Liao Daoyan didn't agree to Lord Zhang."

"Your information travels fast." Zhang Yu said in a low voice.

"It's only because it involves Lord Zhang that we had word of it." Song Xiang said. "At ordinary times, the staff office does not permit us to pry into the affairs of the high officials. If anyone found out, it would be trouble — whether it's the Censorate, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, or the Eastern Depot, or even the Office of Transmission, none of them would allow us to do such a thing."

Song Xiang explained, and Zhang Yu understood — it wasn't that these offices forbade it, but that His Majesty forbade it.

It was only because this matter involved him that they paid a bit of attention.

"Still, that's fast enough of you." Zhang Yu gave a cold snort.

"This is what we do." Song Xiang said with a smile. "Naturally, our information has to be quick. Nothing remarkable about it."

"You came to find me today — surely not just to talk about this?" Zhang Yu didn't want to continue discussing this matter with Song Xiang; there wasn't much point. He decisively changed the subject.

Nodding, Song Xiang said, "Of course not. The reason I came to see Lord Zhang this time is to discuss some matters of cooperation."

"But now there happens to be a good opportunity. Regarding this Liao Daoyan, there are some things we can tell Lord Zhang. And if Lord Zhang needs it, we can also help."

"What do you know?" Zhang Yu asked hesitantly.

"It's quite simple. The reason Liao Daoyan was able to come to the Ministry of Revenue without being pushed out is his relationship with Zuo Guangdou. Liao Daoyan is Zuo Guangdou's man. It's because of Zuo Guangdou that Liao Daoyan has what he has today."

"How so?" Zhang Yu asked hesitantly.

"Liao Daoyan is actually only a juren; he never passed the jinshi examination. He is very capable both in personal conduct and in official service, and he is also highly learned in scholarship. It's just that from childhood, because of his strange appearance, he was not well received."

"After he became a juren, he tried again and again to pass the jinshi examination but always failed. Later he met Zuo Guangdou and went farming together with him, and over these years he has accumulated considerable merit. When Zuo Guangdou came to the Ministry of Revenue, Liao Daoyan followed him over. That is also the reason he has been able to stand firm in the Ministry of Revenue."

"I see." Zhang Yu nodded and said, "I've been at the Ministry of Revenue this long, yet I didn't know this at all. I really have been rather remiss."

"Liao Daoyan is usually very low-key and doesn't interact much with others, so even fewer people pay attention to him." Song Xiang said with a smile. "It's no surprise Lord Zhang didn't discover it. But if Lord Zhang wants to recruit him, you'll need to work through Zuo Guangdou. Otherwise, Liao Daoyan won't agree."

Zhang Yu nodded, roughly understanding how things stood.

Back then, because of the purge of the Donglin Faction, Zuo Guangdou had been very dissatisfied with Han Kuang, the Chief Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat. Though relations had eased over the past two years, they had never become particularly close.

If Liao Daoyan followed Zhang Yu, it would be no less than a betrayal to him. Zuo Guangdou had shown him the kindness of recognition and patronage; it was only natural that he wouldn't agree.

Zhang Yu said, "I understand this matter. I'll think of a way when I get back."

"Good then." Song Xiang looked at Zhang Yu and said, "This will be the way I cooperate with Lord Zhang from now on. It will be much the same once we reach Joseon — I can provide Lord Zhang with detailed intelligence."

Zhang Yu nodded in sudden realization and said, "Then many thanks."

"In a couple of days the marriage will be settled, and after that I'll be spending much more time with Lord Zhang. I ask for your forbearance." Song Xiang also said with a smile.

"And I ask for yours as well, Miss Song." Zhang Yu also said with a smile.

The two exchanged a glance, and Zhang Yu said, "If there's nothing else, then I'll take my leave. Thank you, Miss Song, for seeing me part of the way."

"You're too kind, Lord Zhang. I was the one who was presumptuous today. Lord Zhang, please go ahead."

"Farewell." Zhang Yu acknowledged, then stepped down from the carriage, which had already come to a stop.

Only after the carriage had driven away did Zhang Yu turn and walk off.

As he walked, Zhang Yu mulled over today's events.

This was his second contact with Song Xiang.

He was somewhat astonished — the capabilities of Song Xiang and her people were truly formidable; one could say they got into everything.

But on reflection, he understood — if they didn't have this ability, His Majesty wouldn't have entrusted them with something like the Whale-Swallowing Plan.

Thinking of Liao Daoyan, Zhang Yu felt somewhat helpless.

He had high hopes for this Liao Daoyan, and this matter still had to be handled. Now that he knew the lead, it would be even easier.

Zhang Yu headed back, intending to go straight to see Zuo Guangdou.

When Zhang Yu returned to the Ministry of Revenue office, everyone was murmuring among themselves, their gazes involuntarily drifting toward Zhang Yu.

When Zuo Guangdou saw Zhang Yu, a smile appeared on his face as he said, "I didn't expect you to be back so quickly. I thought I'd have to wait a while longer."

"Lord Zuo already knows why I've come?" Zhang Yu said with a smile.

"Sit down and we'll talk." Making a gesture of invitation, Zuo Guangdou sat down first, then said with a smile, "You're not the type to give up easily — you would surely go and investigate."

"The matter between me and Liao Daoyan isn't exactly a secret. With your abilities, finding out would naturally be easy. Once you learned of it, you'd certainly come to see me — that's hardly surprising. What I didn't expect was that you'd come this quickly."

"Someone helped me." Zhang Yu said with a smile. "Otherwise, I really couldn't have made it back this soon."

"Since I know why you've come, I won't beat around the bush." Zuo Guangdou said with a smile: "I can give you the man, for two reasons. One is that Liao Daoyan truly has talent, and this trip to Joseon he can be of help to you."

Although Zuo Guangdou didn't know the specific plans for this Joseon mission, he understood that it was certainly no simple matter.

After all, he was the Minister of Revenue, and he could still sniff out some traces and clues. He knew this matter would be difficult to handle, yet he was still willing to send Liao Daoyan over.

"Many thanks, Lord Zuo." Zhang Yu quickly rose to his feet and said.

"For matters of state, an official's duty admits no shirking." Zuo Guangdou waved his hand and said: "Among the younger generation, you are a fine figure. Letting Liao Daoyan follow you can also give him a future. That is the second reason."

"But you must also understand—since you're taking the man out whole, you must deliver him back to me in good condition. If anything happens to him, or he comes to any harm, don't blame me for turning my back on you. Even if we go before His Majesty, I will make this clear to you."

"Rest assured, Lord Zuo, I will return him safe and sound, not a hair missing." Zhang Yu said hurriedly.

"Alright then, that settles it." Zuo Guangdou nodded and said: "I'll speak to Liao Daoyan myself—you don't need to worry about that. I'll have him go find you directly afterward."

"Thank you, my lord." Zhang Yu quickly stood up again and said.

Coming out of the Ministry of Revenue offices, Zhang Yu was in good spirits.

That things had gone so smoothly was somewhat beyond his expectations.

He had also come to realize another thing—intelligence could often play an extremely critical role, and his own firsthand experience this time was a perfect example.

Although he had studied these things at the Imperial Academy, without firsthand experience, he truly wouldn't have gained this kind of understanding.

It seemed that what Song Xiang had said about cooperation did have its merits.

Over the next few days, Zhang Yu found two more people. It went more smoothly than with Liao Daoyan.

While he was busy, the court was busy as well. Finally, five days later, the envoy mission to Joseon set out.

The escort guard and ceremonial trappings were all present in full—the long procession of carriages stretched on and on, with many carriages carrying gifts, grandly and imposingly leaving the city of Beijing.

Prince Fu's carriage was among them as well, appearing on a very grand scale with a strong sense of ceremony.

At a tea pavilion by the city gate, Crown Prince Yi Wang of Joseon sat with a gloomy expression, holding a teacup. He didn't drink the tea, but instead turned it over in his hands.

Beside him, a man in his thirties kept him company, his face full of caution and deference.

"Your Highness, you've seen what there is to see—it's time we headed back." The man said slowly.

"Park Jeong-hwan," Yi Wang turned to look at the man, his face full of bitterness, and said: "Tell me, do I still have any chance in this lifetime of returning to Joseon?"

"Of course." Park Jeong-hwan nodded and said: "The Great Ming merely wishes to keep Your Highness here for a time. Even as a hostage, once the war between the Great Ming and the Japanese is over, Your Highness should be able to return."

"After all, Your Highness is the Crown Prince of Joseon—in the end, you must return to inherit the throne."