Chapter 547

Dawang let his guard down; Wei Shen tried not to laugh as he comforted him, "This shows we can make a living just by our looks—what's there to be angry about? It's a good thing!"

"My surname is Bai Li; my father, while alive, held office in the Establishing Chapter Palace, and after his death he was buried in the Li Mountain Imperial Mausoleum—am I supposed to beg for food on Long Peace Main Street?" Perhaps it's because I've returned to Long Peace after a long absence, or perhaps I've touched some fragile nerve of Dawang's, but this guy suddenly wants to save face.

"Eh? Your speech is really unpleasant; please call me—a beggar."

Dawang:?

Wei Shen happily picked up the copper coin, "I haven't seen a Great Jin copper coin in ages—wow, a full three wen, enough to buy a steamed bun!"

"Hmph!" Dawang crossed his arms and gave a cold stare.

Steamed buns are unobtainable now; that was the old price. In these times, food gets more expensive by the day—Northern Border cavalry have already reached the Five Passes Plain, so being able to buy a steamed bun for three wen in Long Peace is basically a dream.

That's the reasoning, but Dawang still got his waist knocked by a hu bing costing thirty wen per piece.

"…Thirty wen isn't expensive anymore—look, how many food stalls are there on this street? These days, who would sell even a little grain? Customers complain about the price; aside from this place, the only place nearby that sells food is the Moon-Obtaining Pavilion." The vendor was indifferent, his attitude not great. Dawang wanted to gather information, so he once again dug out a small piece of silver from his magical belt—about two or three qian—and bought three cakes, then sat down at the stall to gnaw on them.

The stall owner also had no business and was bored; he wasn't wary of this pair of half-grown youths either. Seeing that they'd spent money, he was happy to chat with them. "…Who isn't afraid of war? But the people of Long Peace aren't inexperienced—these days, your Huizhou isn't peaceful, and neither is Long Peace. Why, just a few days ago…" The stall owner subtly pointed toward the Imperial Palace.

"…It's not like we've changed anything—if they stormed in, they didn't attack civilians, just replaced the officials in the government office. This isn't something we need to worry about; as long as we aren't conscripted, we're fine. …And the Northern Border King is the same—he's the former emperor's son; there's no reason for him to storm the city and slaughter Long Peace's civilians first; they're not really northern barbarians."

Dawang felt pleased hearing that, thinking the Long Peace populace held the Northern Border in high regard. On his face he looked like he didn't quite understand, but you seemed impressive. "We just escaped from Youchuan; the city gate was terrifying—interrogation and inspection took half a day before they let us in."

Wei Shen went along: "The city walls are fully manned—about eighty percent are the real deal. Still, I think it's a good thing: the Northern Border King's troops are strong and skilled in battle; if he wins, it'll be good for us, and we won't have to fear the steppe cavalry anymore."

"…I've heard—can't we drive off the northern barbarians? But saying that isn't allowed; the storytellers in the teahouses now daily claim he's warlike, with no good points~"

Dawang: ……

I think the Imperial Uncle is just jealous!

Dawang would too: "…We've been rushing these past few days, and everyone says the Northern Border cavalry are right behind us. I heard the Northern Border King is furious at… whoever plotted to seize the throne, saying he's started a civil war, his character is terrible, and he even killed some former emperor—Great Jin will surely fall into his hands sooner or later."

The stall owner greatly admired Dawang's mouth, hastily looking around and saying, "You… really dare to say anything!"

Dawang, the bachelor, said: "It's just the three of us here—what's there to fear? Uncle, do you think they'll attack? Should we brothers hide? Really unlucky—after finally making it to Long Peace and not finding our uncle, we still get caught up in war."

"Sigh. About eighty percent, though. Though I've heard the Pacify North Marquis is also formidable—he quelled the Siyang rebellion with just three thousand men; he's got a knack for warfare."

"Wow~ So the Pacify North Marquis is in charge of defending the city?"

"Otherwise? The Pacify North Marquis is the foremost capable person in His Majesty's presence!"

……

The King and Lingyin rendezvoused in the West Ward, a place where fish and dragons mingle; Lingyin once again confirmed that this Marquis Dingbei was Chen Zhong of the original East Great Battalion; Baili Jun captured the key figure in Chang'an; this person had defected to Jiangxia at some unknown time, and when Baili Jun attacked Chang'an he immediately switched sides, making the tens of thousands of deaths in the East Great Battalion his merit.

The King flared up like a pufferfish; he recalled that the three thousand personal guards he had when he was a prince originally came from Chang'an's East Great Battalion, and this matter was arranged by Chen Zhong; those forces of the King were all fringe weak units, while Baili Jin's troops were strong and his horses sturdy, and even the commander Zhang Tu was exiled to Youzhou only after offending his close aides.

"It doesn't matter; if he can betray once or twice, he'll have three or four times, otherwise it's just not enough chips—wait for me, the King, to draw him a big, fragrant and sweet pancake."

"... You're just suited to open a pastry shop."

"Hmph!"

Just as the fish carving was found, the King enthusiastically declared, "Let's start another new venture; when I, the King, return, we'll settle the accounts together, and then you'll get rich!" The King's pastry shop is honest to young and old; it not only sells people, but also sells carvings.

"Chen Zhong's pancake must be consumed in conjunction with my, the King's, Mysterious Armor Cavalry."

The Marquis Dongdu shortly thereafter received another terse missive from the King: 【After the matter at Five Passes Plain is settled, directly attack Tongguan; as soon as possible, station outside Chang'an City and wait for me, the King.】