Chapter 534: Hedong Storm (6)

"Commandery Duke!" Zhao Kuangyin considered for a moment, his expression returning to calm, then said to Li Shaoyou: "I took a walk through the city and made a rough survey of its defenses. The prince's residence is vast, with several hundred soldiers—with one crack company of the imperial army, we could attempt to take it! But the walls of Jinyang are tall and thick, watchtowers linked one to another, with many sentry posts manned by yabing guards. We are cut off outside the city—a thousand men guarding it would be as good as nothing......"

As he spoke, Zhao Kuangyin drew a deep breath: "If we wish to seize the prince's residence, we need the element of surprise. If we cannot deal with the yabing guards problem and slip into the city quietly, forgive my bluntness—I have no confidence!"

Though his words were discouraging, Zhao Kuangyin's eyes were sharp, staring straight at Li Shaoyou.

Noting his gaze, Li Shaoyou grinned slightly and said directly: "The problem of entering the city and the yabing—I'll solve them. I can even provide you with the deployment of the city's garrison forces, as well as the terrain of the prince's residence, its duty rotations, and patrol routes!"

When Li Shaoyou finished speaking, Zhao Kuangyin immediately said: "If that's the case, I can take the prince's residence!"

"Good!" Li Shaoyou was equally decisive: "It'll be within these two or three days! One more thing—General Zhao should think carefully: even if there is chaos, it must be confined within the prince's residence!"

In fact, in Li Shaoyou's considerations, the most worthy of vigilance was the prince's residence guard—those soldiers were basically all Liu Chong's loyalists. Although the Wude Office had planted some people inside, it wasn't secure enough; Li Shaoyou didn't even dare to activate them lightly.

The two men held another secret discussion. Matters concerning the stability of Hedong, and even the security of the imperial court, were being planned by these two young men under thirty.

As he quietly left the military camp, Li Shaoyou silently marveled—this Zhao Kuangyin was truly a hero.

"That Duke of Shouyang—what a formidable figure!" Inside the army tent, Zhao Kuangyin couldn't help but sigh to Han Lingkun.

"I've heard this Duke of Shouyang is fond of women and wine, rarely attends to official business, and basically delegates everything to his subordinates, merely reporting upward to curry favor. There were even rumors in the court before that if he weren't His Majesty's cousin with such a close relationship, the position of Commissioner of the Wude Office would long since have been Wang Jingchong's!" Han Lingkun "educated" Zhao Kuangyin.

"Do you think the current Son of Heaven is a ruler who appoints by kinship?" Zhao Kuangyin immediately countered: "With His Majesty's wisdom in employing people, would he entrust such grave responsibility and power to such a man? The Wude Office—thinking about it sends a chill down one's spine!"

In Zhao Kuangyin's mind were all the displays of Li Shaoyou's confident mastery during their planning. Where did that composure come from? He had gained some sense of how formidable the Wude Office truly was.

Turning around, Zhao Kuangyin said seriously to Han Lingkun in a warning tone: "Brother Deshun, take my advice—don't go prying into things like what was just said. Even if you hear something, don't discuss it. Otherwise, if it reaches the ears of petty men, it could invite unforeseen disaster!"

Han Lingkun was somewhat puzzled, but still clasped his hands: "Fine, I'll listen to you!"

After saying this, he asked Zhao Kuangyin in a low voice: "Yuanlang, is the Prince of Taiyuan planning to rebel? Did you and the Duke of Shouyang both come here under His Majesty's secret orders?"

Meeting Han Lingkun's gaze, Zhao Kuangyin chuckled lightly: "You've been holding that question in for days, haven't you!"

"I admit I'm slow-witted, but I'm not stupid. Among the brothers who came with us, at this point, who doesn't harbor doubts!" Han Lingkun said.

"The Prince of Taiyuan is the Son of Heaven's imperial uncle, Defender of the Northern Capital, Military Governor of Hedong—a pillar of the state, a beam holding up the sky. How could lowly generals like us presume to discuss him......" Zhao Kuangyin said in a detached tone.

"However, Brother Deshun, you and I need to prepare ourselves—we have a great matter to accomplish!" Zhao Kuangyin added, and Han Lingkun's spirits lifted considerably.

Xinzhou, Xiurong.

Inside the government hall, Defense Commissioner Li Cungui was enjoying a song-and-dance performance. Two beautiful dancing girls were a special gift from a Jinyang merchant. This Li Cungui was originally of the Later Tang imperial clan, a cousin of Li Cunxu, Zhuangzong of the Later Tang. Nearly sixty years old, he had been one of Liu Chong's subordinate generals before the founding of the Great Han and had suited his tastes well. Later, when Liu Chengyou was enfeoffed as prince, Liu Chong memorialized requesting Li Cungui be made Defense Commissioner of Xinzhou, and it was approved.

Li Cungui in Xinzhou could be said to throw his weight around—flying hawks, running dogs, chasing women, and amusing himself, always living it up. Despite his advanced age, he had the energy and stamina for it. Xinzhou was a key northern border defense post, originally bearing the duty of guarding against the Khitan. But after Yang Ye took up garrison duty in Dai Prefecture, the pressure on Xinzhou lessened considerably. With Yang Ye blocking things in the north, he could hide in the rear and enjoy himself in peace.

Lounging leisurely at his seat, listening to music and admiring beauties, his old face was full of delight. Those two young ladies just beginning to bloom clearly pleased him greatly. He was even considering how to reward the merchant who had presented the girls.

"Governor, the garrison at Xinkou reports that Yang Ye, Militia Commissioner of Dai Prefecture, has brought men and is demanding passage through the pass!" At this moment, a junior officer came up to the hall to report.

"What?" The drunken flush faded from Li Cungui's face, and he exclaimed in alarm: "Yang Ye is attacking! Would the court really dare make a move? How many men has Yang Ye brought?"

He had also received Liu Chong's orders—to maintain strict vigilance over Dai Prefecture—along with notification of the court's military and administrative moves against Hedong and Liu Chong's responses. Li Cungui thoroughly approved of Liu Chong's considerations. If the court succeeded, he would lose his current carefree days.

With something of a guilty conscience, Li Cungui appeared very tense.

Hearing his rapid-fire questions, the young officer was startled, then hurriedly replied: "Militia Commissioner Yang has only a hundred riders!"

"A mere hundred riders dares to knock at my pass city?" Li Cungui voiced his doubt, but his expression relaxed.

"He says he is acting on orders from the Military Governor's office, heading south to Jinyang, and thus passing through our territory!" the young officer answered.

At this, Li Cungui was puzzled and muttered to himself: "Is that so? The Prince only recently told me to guard Dai Prefecture carefully, and no messenger has come north with orders. Why would Yang Ye be heading south on the marshal's office's command......"

At this moment, a staff advisor attending the banquet in the hall offered a suggestion: "True or false, Governor, you could invite him into the city. Additionally, send someone to Jinyang to verify. Yang Ye, who commands Dai Prefecture, is worth being wary of—but inside Xiurong city, it is the Governor who calls the shots!"

His eyes lighting up, Li Cungui laughed: "A mere hundred riders is nothing to worry about. Send word to Xinkou to let them through the pass, and have them lead him into Xiurong city. Say I want to host him for a while."

When Yang Ye led his men into Xiurong city, it was already near dusk. In the government hall, Li Cungui and his staff carefully examined the documents, and the staff officer said: "This is indeed a command issued by the Military Governor's office!"

Yang Ye stood to one side, his tiger eyes like a still pool. With age, his bearing had grown increasingly imposing. Combined with years of frontier service, Yang Ye was like a sword that had been hammered and tempered by fire—finally forged into its finished form. Standing there, his edge concealed within, yet all the more intimidating for it.

Toward Yang Ye, Li Cungui felt both envy and hatred—envious of his frontier achievements and reputation, hateful that he cut off Li Cungui's profits. In the early years, when the court had prohibited border trade, many merchants under Li Cungui's protection who smuggled salt, iron, tea, and wine beyond the frontier had been investigated and prosecuted by Yang Ye, costing Li Cungui no small losses. Now that border markets had reopened, they were still controlled by him. Thus, looking at Yang Ye, Li Cungui was in truth extremely disgusted—he even harbored murderous intent.

"I am passing through on orders to head south. If Governor Li has had his doubts resolved, I shall take my leave!" Yang Ye said, paying no heed at all to Li Cungui's gaze.

Hearing this, Li Cungui hurriedly shook his head and laughed: "It's getting late—why travel by night? Rest a night here in Xiurong city, and set out tomorrow! My residence hasn't had time to prepare, but tomorrow morning I'll hold a banquet to see you off!"

As he spoke, he shot a glance at his staff officer. The man understood: "I'll make the arrangements immediately!"

Seeing their furtive behavior, Yang Ye seemed not to mind, merely clasping his hands: "Your hospitality is hard to refuse—then I thank Governor Li!"

Li Cungui laughed "heartily": "I'll make sure everything is well arranged! Militia Commissioner Yang and the Dai Prefecture soldiers are all meritorious subjects of the Great Han!"

After nightfall, Li Cungui summoned his staff advisor: "Has Yang Ye made any unusual moves?"

"I've quartered him beside the prefectural office, under close watch by the prefectural troops. Nothing out of the ordinary!" the staff officer said.

"Send men to keep an eye on Yang Ye and his party—I feel something is off somewhere!" Li Cungui said. With a pensive expression, Li Cungui did not notice the strange glint that flashed through his staff advisor's eyes.

Late into the night, a sudden commotion erupted from the Defense Commissioner's residence, then quickly subsided. Li Cungui was startled awake from his sleep, pushed aside the two soft bodies lying to his left and right on the bed, rose, and drew his sword.

Seeing Yang Ye leading men into the room, Li Cungui's face changed drastically. And standing beside Yang Ye was none other than his own staff officer.