Chapter 78: Waves of a Thousand Feet (1)

The continuous heavy rain at the beginning of summer did not bring too much of a threat to the Chu Guo for the time being. Apart from a slight rise in the water level of the Chu Jiang, there were only a few more displaced people entering the country, and some were even seen in the capital, Shangying, many of whom were victims from the seven cities of Fuchuan. For days, the defense of the inner city of the Chu capital had become much stricter. For the Shao Yuan Jun Mansion, which issued this order, it was to further strengthen the control over the Duqi and Capital armies, and at the same time, to prevent spies from other countries from taking the opportunity to enter Chu, making the most rigorous precautions.

The seven cities of Fuchuan, through which the Moshui River flows, were a piece of abandoned territory located between the Chu and Xuan kingdoms. Although it spanned hundreds of miles and cities stood side by side, everywhere was like a ruined city, filled with eerie unease.

To be precise, this territory was originally the border of the Houfeng State. During the reign of the You Emperor, the royal family lost its virtue, and the unrestrained kingdoms trampled upon the weak, leading to frequent wars that spread far and wide. Because the seven cities of Fuchuan were located between the Wei and Mo rivers, they were a crucial hub connecting the three major marquis states of Xuan, Chu, and Houfeng, as well as the Royal Domain, and thus became a place of strategic importance for military strategists. Countless wars, large and small, had broken out here, and the cities had constantly changed hands, with the flames of war never ceasing for years, causing the fertile fields to once become desolate and barren for a thousand miles, with no human habitation.

By the early years of the Xiang Emperor, the Houfeng State captured the seven cities and incorporated them into its territory, which once brought a relatively stable period to this place. But a few years later, the Chu and Xuan kingdoms destroyed the Houfeng State and divided it, launching another great war to compete for these cities, leading to the destruction and collapse of the seven cities, with white bones covering the fields and the people displaced, suffering unspeakably.

However, although the war was fierce, neither country could overwhelm the other to gain control of this territory, and in the end, they negotiated peace and withdrew their troops. Under these circumstances, the seven cities of Fuchuan became a buffer zone that both countries coveted but guarded against at all times. No political power could intervene, which also meant that the people here had no place to belong and lived without any guarantee. Because the armies of any country could step into this ownerless land at any time, and once a natural disaster occurred, the seven cities of Fuchuan were ignored by everyone, leading to empty houses and barren fields, with displaced people scattered everywhere, a tragic scene on earth. Before the mysterious and infinite power of heaven and earth, human beings appeared so small and so fragile.

Just as dawn was breaking, groups of people were blocked outside the city gate, waiting for the Duqi Forbidden Guards to check them one by one before they could enter the city. In addition to merchants who came to the Chu capital to conduct trade and ordinary Chu people, it was obvious that many displaced people were mixed among them. The rising water level in the lower reaches of the Chu Jiang and the recent undercurrents and tense, subtle situation between Xuan and Chu made the people who had lived in the border cities for generations and had experienced war many times smell the breath of danger, and they all sought a safe way out. So, what could be more reassuring than entering Shangying City and being under the protection of the Shao Yuan Jun?

Among the crowd was a man in a gray long gown, about forty years old, with a slight beard under his chin and a fair complexion. His attire was neither that of a merchant nor a scholar, and he was clearly not a long-distance traveler who had experienced the dust of the road, and his demeanor was definitely not that of a displaced person. The city guards were checking passersby one by one. When this person passed the checkpoint, he reached out and touched the hand of the guard in front of him, saying, "Brother, please take care of me." The guard flipped his palm, glanced around secretly, and a heavy piece of Chu gold fell into his sleeve. He waved his hand casually, and the man cupped his hands and successfully entered Shangying City.

After entering the city, he hired a boat by the river, passed through the moat bridge, and entered the East City directly. He got off the boat in front of a luxurious song house, threw a piece of Chu gold to the gate slave, and the gate slave beamed with joy and immediately led him to the designated Tianzi Pavilion.

The man went all the way without obstruction and entered the Tianzi Pavilion's elegant room, where someone was already waiting. Behind the bead curtains and colorful drapes, beside the brocade mat and incense table, a short, fat man in brocade clothes was holding two enchanting singing girls, drinking and having fun. Seeing the man enter, he seemed extremely surprised and waved his hand repeatedly to order the two singing girls to leave.

After the two beauties left the room with great charm, he stood up and smiled, "It is actually you, Commander Yu, who has come in person. Does His Highness the Crown Prince have any important arrangements this time?"

This gray-clothed man was Yu Zheng, the commander of the White Tiger Forbidden Guards under the Mu King, who now controlled the security of the Mu Guo's palace. And that man in brocade clothes was Ji Xian, the steward of the Third Young Master's hostage mansion in the Mu Guo. Unlike in the hostage mansion, his attire at this time was clearly that of a wealthy merchant who had appeared from nowhere. Not only was his clothing exquisite and luxurious, but his attitude did not show the slightest bit of humility or caution in front of Ye Xuanshang, appearing to be two different people. Yu Zheng nodded to him, "Master Ji has worked hard."

Ji Xian raised his hand to pour wine, "It's easy to say, it's easy to say. Since the Crown Prince has sent Commander Yu to the Mu Guo, I suppose this bitter job of mine is coming to an end."

Yu Zheng raised his glass, touched his lips symbolically, and said, "Master is a top-tier favorite by the Crown Prince's side. Only by arranging you by the Third Young Master's side can His Highness have no worries from thousands of miles away. I have come to the Mu Guo this time under orders to handle two matters, and I still need Master's great assistance."

Ji Xian was clearly very satisfied with this well-timed flattery and smiled, "Commander Yu, if you have any instructions, just say them."

Yu Zheng took something out of his bosom and handed it to him, saying, "The first matter concerns the Chu hostage Han Hui. A few days ago, His Highness summoned him to the palace for a banquet, originally to investigate whether he had any dealings with the Helian family recently, but unexpectedly, he disappeared without a trace on the way back to the mansion."

In Ji Xian's hand was a wax pill the size of a fingernail, with the White Tiger emblem of the Mu Guo drawn in cinnabar at the seal, which was very small and exquisite. He was not in a hurry to open the wax pill and said in surprise upon hearing this, "What? There is actually such a thing?"

Unlike Ye Xuanshang, who made the Chu Guo relax its vigilance due to the pursuit of his biological brother, the Mu Guo's precautions against Young Master Han Hui had always been very strict, almost treating him as a prisoner with a slightly higher status, monitoring and restricting him everywhere. Under these circumstances, it was not easy for ordinary people to have contact with this hostage, let alone kidnap him without anyone knowing. Yu Zheng said, "His Highness suspects that the Helian Marquis Mansion kidnapped him back to the Chu Guo, and has specifically ordered me to enter Chu to find out the truth. Helian Yiren and the Shao Yuan Jun have been falling behind in their competition, and are of no use to us anymore. His Highness has decided to cut off cooperation with them and no longer needs to accommodate them."

"Oh, good, good." Ji Xian nodded and said, "This matter can be left to me. I will try to find out the situation and see if Han Hui has really fled back to the Chu Guo, and then the Commander can report it to His Highness. What about the second matter?"

Yu Zheng smiled slightly and said, "I'll trouble you, Master. The second matter naturally concerns the Third Young Master. Master's guess just now was not wrong. His Highness wants to..." He raised his hand and waved it downward. Ji Xian put down the wine glass in his hand, leaned forward, and asked eagerly, "What arrangements does His Highness have now?"

Yu Zheng did not answer immediately but said, "May I ask Master, is there any new situation with the Third Young Master here now?"

Ji Xian gave a bitter smile, "The Commander also knows that this Ye Xuanshang is not an easy person to deal with. In terms of martial arts, schemes, and temperament, he is extremely troublesome, otherwise His Highness the Crown Prince would not be so wary of him. To tell you the truth, now that he has the help of the Shao Yuan Jun, he is in the limelight. If His Highness does not cut the Gordian knot quickly, one day when the tiger returns to the forest, the consequences will be unimaginable, and I am afraid my little life will be ended by him early. So, when the Commander came to the Chu Guo, I was truly relieved!"

These words were a true expression of his feelings, which showed that the days of this steward of the hostage mansion had definitely not been easy recently. Even if he took the time to embrace beauties and buy wine to get drunk, he could not hide his fearful heart. Yu Zheng nodded, leaned forward, and whispered a few words in Ji Xian's ear. Ji Xian's eyes lit up, "Really?"

Yu Zheng said, "My Lord can verify the order in the wax ball to know if it is true or false."

"Hehe!" Ji Xian narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Commander, why do you say that? Would I doubt the Commander?" As he spoke, he exerted a little force with his fingers, and the wax pill in his hand broke in response. He took out the secret order on gold paper inside, glanced at it, and handed it to Yu Zheng casually, "His Highness has indeed persuaded that side. It seems that I will be able to leave this ghost place soon."

This wax pill was a special method used by the Crown Prince to transmit secret orders. No matter who was ordered to act, it must be consistent with the instructions in the wax pill. For Yu Zheng, who entered Chu this time, Ji Xian acted as an internal contact while also serving as a check and balance. Making the secret order public like this clearly showed his attempt to win over this commander of the forbidden guards.

Yu Zheng raised his eyes slightly and poured wine with the pot, "In that case, I will toast Master first. In the future, when we are officials in the same court, I will need Master's care!"

Facing this tacit reply, Ji Xian could not help but show a satisfied smile. He destroyed the secret order and raised his glass to drink with him. After a cup of wine, Yu Zheng stood up and said, "It is not appropriate for you and me to stay here for long. I will go first and contact Master later." After saying this, he cupped his hands and left first.

The rain stopped but the clouds did not disperse. The bamboo veranda was cold and clear, and the rain was thick in the wind. Qie Lan carried the medicine cup through the bamboo forest, hesitated for a moment at the door of the hermitage, reached out to push the door gently, and stepped inside.

The room was extremely quiet. Through the faint light of the clear darkness, one could see a long table quietly displayed behind the ice curtains. Apart from the spotless books, there were only exquisite chess pieces on the side, a half-game of residual chess, and the chill was ice-cold. Such simple furnishings made this hermitage appear exceptionally deep, as if even the rain had fallen into silence. Qie Lan stepped quietly through this cold tranquility, her plain white robes fluttering like clouds, turning and falling with the breath of the cold rain along the way.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 79 =====