Chapter 94: Zheng Hui

The Wen family tavern is close to the city gate.

It is normal for the gate official to notice the commotion and bring soldiers here quickly.

But the soldiers under the gate official usually wear nothing but a leather breastplate, if they wear armor at all.

What Cheng the Blind now hears, however, is the rapid, disciplined tread of iron-armored troops approaching.

“All criminals inside, listen! Lay down your weapons and surrender at once!”

A deep, powerful voice of a middle-aged man rang out.

Immediately, Chu Tianshu even heard the sound of bows and crossbows being drawn.

A line of iron-armored soldiers appeared outside the door, arranged in three ranks.

The front row carried shields and swords; the rear held bows and crossbows.

The last row consisted of several unarmored swordsmen, each with a cold, stern demeanor, guarding a man who looked like a general.

It was that middle-aged general, with sunken cheeks and a goatee, who had shouted.

“General Duan.”

Wen Jingniang saw him and smiled, “So it’s General Duan Rusu, who patrols the city—has come here for meals a few times before. He must have happened upon us nearby.”

She called out loudly, “General, these criminals have already been slain.”

Duan Rusu’s gaze flickered as he noticed the corpses inside the tavern.

“If these are truly criminals, how could they be so easily slain? And you two—you hold swords and blades. What are you doing? Are you holding Wen Jingniang hostage?”

Wen Jingniang’s expression turned slightly cold; she sensed something was off.

If these were truly criminals holding people hostage, why would General Duan expose them so bluntly? Wouldn’t that force them to go to extremes?

Chu Tianshu whispered, “Is this man stupid or evil?”

Wen Jingniang stared at the men outside, her steps shifting toward the counter as she replied softly, “I heard he earned merit in the military. He’s probably not stupid.”

The tavern’s servants, who had been hiding behind the counter and pillars, now peeked out.

Cheng the Blind barked, “Stay hidden!”

“What, did I hit the mark? You’re speechless now?”

Duan Rusu shouted, “You criminals have committed too many crimes lately. Even if you’ve taken hostages here, you won’t escape death.”

“Since you refuse to lay down your weapons, kill them all!”

Duan Rusu’s face hardened with cruelty; the crossbowmen immediately moved to trigger their weapons.

Chu Tianshu’s eyes lit up—he hadn’t had enough fun yet.

At that moment, a figure suddenly darted down the long street.

He wore a purple-red robe, his hair bound in a tall crown; his speed was like a flat shadow slicing through air.

He passed straight through the gap between the sword-and-shield troops and the crossbowmen.

Bing! Bing! Bing! Bing! Bing!

All the bowstrings snapped—but no arrows were on them.

The released tension shattered the strings; some crossbow arms broke and struck nearby soldiers.

All the soldiers were stunned.

The swordsmen drew their blades.

Duan Rusu whirled his head, fixing his gaze on a shadow to his right-front.

The man in purple-red robes, after his dash, spun sideways, looping back to stand before the tavern door.

In his hand, he held a bundle of crossbow bolts like a handful of chopsticks.

In that single flash, he had taken every arrow from the crossbows at the front gate.

Cheng the Blind felt the speed of that movement, and his face grew grim.

Chu Tianshu was also startled, glancing at the man’s feet.

The man stood sideways to the tavern door, first glancing inside.

This brief glance allowed those inside to see his face clearly.

His thick hair held a few strands of white, his eyes were long and narrow, his face slender and refined, his black beard hanging to his chest.

His demeanor was that of a learned scholar—yet his belt was inlaid with gold and jade, the floral patterns overly ornate, bordering on vulgar.

He glanced at the people inside, smiled faintly, then turned to those outside, his voice turning cold.

“General Duan, why haven’t you ordered your men to lower their weapons? Are you planning to have your soldiers slash at this purple robe of mine?”

The soldiers, already uncertain, now shifted nervously; some even turned to look at their general.

In Nanzhao, many places imitated Tang customs—but not exactly.

Yet this luxurious purple robe, paired with the belt adorned with six floral gold-and-jade ornaments, was attire reserved solely for the “Qingping Officials.”

Under the monarch, Nanzhao had only six Qingping Officials—equivalent to first-rank ministers.

The most powerful among them rivaled even the Chancellors of the Great Tang.

“Master Zheng, what are you doing here?”

Duan Rusu’s face darkened, yet he stepped forward boldly, unafraid.

“Someone dares cause trouble in the royal city—this is near-insolence toward the monarch. I am here to apprehend criminals; it is a dangerous place. Master Zheng, please return home quickly.”

Chu Tianshu heard this and recalled Dao Baishu’s words: among Nanzhao’s six Qingping Officials, one was of Tang origin, named “Zheng Hui.”

He had originally been a Tang subject during the Tianbao era, passing the Mingjing examination and serving as county magistrate, until the former king of Nanzhao captured him along with the county’s artisans and commoners.

He was heavily relied upon in Nanzhao, ensuring Tang people could live in peace, and played a major role in recent efforts to reestablish an alliance with the Tang.

Yet no one expected this civil official to also be a martial master.

“Where are these criminals?”

Zheng Hui tossed the crossbow bolts to the ground and stroked his beard. “Are the criminals you mean the Elders of the Junzi Alliance? Or Wen Jingniang here?”

“Or perhaps the physician Chu Physician, whose medical skill and benevolence have spread far and wide—I was planning to invite him to my residence?”

“Or the Captain Cheng, whom I long wished to recruit?”

Zheng Hui let out an “Ah,” then looked into the tavern again. “Surely you don’t mean these kitchen helpers or the old storyteller? These are all respectable locals with registered household records.”

Duan Rusu had not expected this old man to know the identities of everyone inside the tavern so precisely.

“Ha, ha!”

Duan Rusu laughed. “So these are all your acquaintances? Then they’re clearly not criminals—and if they were, you’ll bear the responsibility later.”

“Then I won’t disturb further. I’ll just take away the corpses of the criminals.”

Zheng Hui waved his hand. “No need. This matter doesn’t fall under your jurisdiction. Let me handle it.”

Duan Rusu’s eye twitched; his gaze fell on Yuwen Tongxin, sensing he was still alive—but he said nothing, only gestured, and led his men away.

Chu Tianshu sighed inwardly.

That Duan fellow just saved his own life.

Well, this Zheng Hui is far more interesting.

“Thank you, Master Zheng!”

Wen Jingniang smiled and bowed.

The servants emerged one by one, bowing unevenly.

“No need for such formality.”

Zheng Hui turned and hurriedly said, “I arrived too late. These criminals were defeated by you yourselves.”

Wen Jingniang introduced Chu and Cheng to him: “Master Zheng has visited our Junzi Alliance many times. He cares deeply for our Tang people.”

“I’ve heard your concern, Master Zheng,” Cheng the Blind said with a self-deprecating laugh. “Even my rank as Captain is known to you.”

Zheng Hui said seriously, “A few years ago, you arrived near the royal city and spent three straight months hunting down criminals, leaving heads rolling. Such a fierce swordsman naturally drew official attention.”

“I looked into your background and learned you were born a commoner, yet became a military Captain before thirty.”

“How could such a man be ignored?”

Cheng the Blind replied flatly, “Just a lowly Captain. Now I’m just a blind man.”

“The strongest among these criminals wasn’t slain by me. I wonder why they specifically targeted Chu Physician.”

Chu Tianshu said, “Oh? They thought I was an Inner Guard.”

Chu Tianshu uttered an “oh” and said casually, “They think I’m from the Internal Security.”

Everyone in the hall’s expression changed.

Dao Baishu sucked in a sharp breath, his legs trembling; a servant had to support him.

He recalled how, for days, he had spent money every morning asking Chu Tianshu for information.

Good heavens—I was showing off my connections right before a Tang Inner Guard!

Dao Baishu’s throat tightened as he strained to remember.

I took money from the Inner Guard sir—did I say anything foolish those days?

Zheng Hui’s expression flickered slightly: “So you are…”

Zheng Hui’s gaze flickered slightly: “So you are…”

Chu Tianshu waved his hand. “They were mistaken.”

Zheng Hui nodded slightly, as if understanding.

“I’ve been aware of recent assassination attempts on the Junzi Alliance. When I learned the clan elders of several nearby tribes had also been killed, I realized the plot behind it must be large.”

Zheng Hui said, “They aim to incite hostility between Tang people and other ethnic groups—and likely plan to incite further massacres, looting, and arson against the Tang.”

Zheng Hui said, “To incite the Tang people to clash with other ethnic groups, you’ll likely need to stir up those groups to burn, kill, and plunder the Tang people.”

And in the end, all of this was clearly meant to sabotage the alliance between Nanzhao and Great Tang.

It’s good that Great Tang also has people paying attention to this matter and upholding the alliance.

His words implied that the Great Tang’s Internal Security had been secretly stirring trouble within Nanzhao, and as long as it helped the bigger picture, he would turn a blind eye.

“I really didn’t… never mind.”

Chu Tianshu shook his head. “Let’s first find out who’s behind these people.”

Yuwen Tongxin was still a skilled cultivator; even with his severed arm and unconscious state, his wound didn’t keep bleeding—he instinctively contracted his muscles to stop the blood flow.

Chu Tianshu glanced at him, then shot three silver needles into his chest acupoints, blocking blood supply to make his mind sluggish, then drove a needle into his third eye to awaken him.

Yuwen Tongxin opened his eyes, a flicker of ferocity still in them—but instantly, a silver needle slid through the air in an arc, curved, and pierced his crown.

“Lin!”

Chu Tianshu uttered a true mantra.

All the silver needles on Yuwen Tongxin hummed, causing his gaze to grow hazy.

Chu Tianshu asked: “Why did you try to assassinate Lady Wenjing and others?”

As Zheng Hui had predicted, Yuwen Tongxin’s answer was to incite hostility and destroy the alliance between Nanzhao and Great Tang.

“Who ordered you to do this?”

As Chu Tianshu asked, he already thought of Duan Rusu and his group.

But Yuwen Tongxin replied: “Huaixi.”

Chu Tianshu frowned: “What?”

Huaixi? All the way over here to cause trouble?!

“The Wu family of Huaixi Military Governor—we of the Yuwen family serve Huaixi.”

Yuwen Tongxin’s voice was dreamlike, as if reliving the moment before departure: “During the An Lushan Rebellion, the Tibetan Empire seized vast territories of Great Tang.”

“Ten years ago, the court defeated the combined Tibetan-Nanzhao forces, tested their strength, and since then has been recuperating, now gathering grain and supplies to launch a campaign against Tibet and fully reclaim lost lands, deterring the frontier.”

“Wei Gao will be appointed commander-in-chief, and since Nanzhao has already surrendered, it will likely assist Wei Gao.”

“We must create unrest in Nanzhao to push it back into Tibet’s arms, uniting against the Tang army.”

“Then Huaixi and other regions can rise up at the opportune moment.”

Chu Tianshu thought for a moment: “Even with all this, can your actions truly sway Nanzhao’s choice? Unless you have allies among Nanzhao’s officials—someone surnamed Duan, right?”

“Yes.”

Yuwen Tongxin said: “Duan Rusu.”

Chu Tianshu chuckled, looking up: “Zheng my lord, if I had acted earlier, you might have sided with Duan Rusu at the critical moment.”

“But now that we have this confession…”

Chu Tianshu smiled. “Could you find out where General Duan’s residence is?”

Zheng Hui showed no surprise upon hearing the mastermind’s identity.

“A confession alone isn’t enough.”

Zheng Hui asked Yuwen Tongxin: “Do you have evidence? Tokens? Letters?”

Yuwen Tongxin said: “No.”

“Of course not.”

Zheng Hui looked at Chu Tianshu: “Chu Physician, even if we had evidence pointing to Duan Rusu, it wouldn’t mean much.”

“He’s merely a pawn sent out to do the dirty work. The true mastermind colluding with Huaixi is someone else.”

Chu Tianshu’s eyes brightened.

“It sounds like you already have a suspect in mind—who is it? Someone of high rank?”

(End of Chapter)