Chapter 559: When a Leaking Roof Meets Night Rain

Mid to late March.

Jinyang.

The evening dusk, like a velvet cloth soaked in ink, slowly enveloped the towering palace.

Inside the hall, candlelight blazed; dozens of great candles illuminated the space as bright as day, their flickering flames casting towering shadows on the Qiangbi, complementing the iron‑heavy atmosphere of the hall.

At the hall's center lay a massive silk map, its blue threads tracing mountains and rivers, black ink dots marking the prefectures and passes.

Across the Northern Border, countless red seals marked the recent raids of the Turkic cavalry.

Gao Ying wore an ochre dragon robe, a jade belt inlaid with seven‑treasure beads at his waist; his handsome face was set with frost, his sword‑shaped brows knit, his torch‑like gaze fixed on the map.

Around the map, several high ministers in Purple Robe stood solemnly.

Ku Di Gan's Purple Robe sleeves creased slightly from his clenched fists as he leaned over the map, a brooding hue clouding his brows; suddenly he hammered the nearby desk hard, the tea cup on it rattling and splashing a few drops of tea.

"Your Majesty, these Turkic cavalry are downright cunning!" his voice, tinged with restrained anger, was deep and resonant, echoing clearly in the silent hall.

After speaking, he extended a finger and tapped the Northern Border on the map several times; the fingertip left faint white marks on the silk: "General Hulu has led Iron Cavalry to ambush at these strategic points repeatedly, yet they always avoid battle....."

"Our troops stand ready in formation, but they fragment and slip away along the minor paths....."

"When we finally corner a main force, before we can encircle them they abandon the loot, the light cavalry bursts out, and vanishes like smoke—untrackable!"

These Turkic cavalry not only seize opportunities, they raid wildly amid civil unrest and flee once the plunder is taken.

They also exploit their cavalry advantage to the extreme, coming and going like the wind, showing no intention of fighting at all!

Gao Ying's gaze followed Ku Di Gan's finger, watching the red seals spread across the Northern Border prefectures like festering sores; recalling the reports of burning, killing, and looting, the plight of displaced civilians, he let out a cold snort, spitting out a few teeth‑gritted words, fierce and clenched: "These Turkic cavalry truly are as slippery as loaches!"

"Worthless scum!"

The voice was low but carried a bone‑chilling cold, making the hall's temperature seem to drop a few degrees.

We don't even attack them, yet they rush here looking for trouble.....

It's like kicking a nose and getting a face!

Wei Jin, standing nearby, saw this and hurried forward, bowing and clasping his hands, unable to hide his anxiety: "Your Majesty, calm your anger!"

"The dragon's body is heavy; we must not let these Grassland barbarians inflame our liver."

He paused, then chose his words carefully: "With General Hulu's extraordinary strategy and the soldiers' willingness to give their lives, we should soon locate the Turkic cavalry's trail and drive these ten‑thousand marauders out of our Great Qi territory!"

However, Wei Jin's consolation failed to quell Gao Ying's fury.

【5】 He stared at the ravaged land on the map, recalling the urgent report that had arrived not long ago......

He looked at the map at the stretch of land ravaged by Turkic cavalry, and thought of the urgent report that had arrived not long ago......

Twenty thousand Great Qi elite sent to quell the unrest were ambushed by the Turkic forces in Xianzhou; the entire army was annihilated, and even the commanding Lord Runan Lou Xu fought to the death, leaving no remains.

Gao Ying's eyes reddened further, his hands clenched into fists, the sleeves of his dragon robe tightened around them, his fingertips nearly digging into his palms.

"Expel?" he roared, his voice suddenly soaring with thunderous fury, "These Turkic cavalry first ravaged within our borders, wiping out twenty thousand Great Qi elite, then burned, killed, and looted along the way, slaughtering prefectures, throwing the Northern Border into chaos, leaving the people in destitution!"

"Such a sea of blood‑soaked hatred cannot be settled by a single 'expel'; what is tolerable, what is intolerable!"

The hall's occupants were stunned by Gao Ying's raging fury, bowing their heads and holding their breath, none daring to reply.

The candle flames flickered more violently, stretching Gao Ying's shadow long across the map, as if to completely cover those red seals.

Moments later, Gao Ying inhaled deeply, forcing down the surging anger, his gaze sharp as a blade landing on Duan Xiang standing to his left, and he said gravely, "Minister Duan!"

Duan Xiang, about thirty‑five, towering and sharply featured, solid muscle lines visible beneath his Purple Robe, stepped forward, fists clasped, his voice resonant and strong: "I am here!"

"I command you to lead ten thousand elite cavalry, marching day and night to assist General Hulu!" Gao Ying's voice was steady and firm, "You two must combine forces to encircle those ten‑thousand Turkic cavalry within the Northern Border, cutting off their retreat and severing their provisions!"

"I want these Grassland barbarians to remain wholly within Great Qi's borders, to serve as burial offerings for my twenty thousand elite warriors!"

Duan Xiang heard this, a flash of fierce battle spirit in his eyes, and bowed heavily: "I accept the command!"

He sprang upright, chest as straight as a pine, his gaze blazing at Gao Ying, speaking with conviction: "I will spare no effort, leading my troops to fight bravely, annihilating these ten‑thousand Turkic cavalry, striking their nest, and raising Great Qi's military prestige!"

At this point his voice grew hoarse, his eyes even more resolute: "Also to avenge Lord Runan, to soothe the spirits of the twenty thousand heroic souls in heaven!"

Those buried in Xianzhou were all former brothers of Pao Ze…

Gao Ying watched Duan Xiang's resolute expression, his tense face easing slightly, and he slowly nodded, saying gravely, "Very well! I await good news in Jinyang!"

"If we achieve a great victory, I will spare no reward, celebrating together with all of you."

Ku Di Gan and Wei Jin, seeing this, hurried forward together, bowing, and said, "Your Majesty, wise! May General Duan achieve swift victory and send news of triumph soon!"

At that moment, a soft rustle suddenly came from the hall's doorway.

A young eunuch in a blue inner‑servant uniform bowed his head and hurried in, bowing deeply before Gao Ying, his tone reverent to the point of humility: "Your Majesty, Lord Cui wishes an audience!"

After speaking, he lifted his head slightly, a flicker of his eyes scanning the hall's occupants, then quickly lowered his head again to add, "He says there is an urgent matter to report....."

Gao Ying, still staring at the Northern Border frontier on the map, frowned slightly at the words, his angry hue not fully gone, and said impatiently, "Summon him in!"

"Yes." the servant replied, retreating, his steps a few paces quicker than when he entered.

The hall's doors were gently closed, cutting off the outside dusk and wind.

But moments later, hurried footsteps and heavy breathing came from outside the hall, clearly the runner was in a great hurry.

Immediately, the doors were pushed open, and Cui Yishu, clad in a Purple Robe, staggered in.

Usually impeccably dressed and poised, now his hair bun was slightly loose, the Purple Robe's collar askew, sleeves dusted, clearly having ridden hard.

He rushed to Gao Ying's side, unable even to perform basic courtesy, both hands braced on his knees, gasping, his face as pale as paper.

Fine beads of sweat covered his forehead, rolling down his cheeks and splattering onto the golden bricks before him, leaving tiny wet marks.

"Your Majesty, a major incident has occurred!"

"A major incident!"

His voice trembled noticeably, urgent and hoarse, as if someone had clamped a hand over his throat.

Gao Ying saw this, his brows furrowing deeper, a foreboding rising in his heart, and he asked gravely, "What is so alarming? Speak slowly!"

Inside the hall, Ku Di Gan, Wei Jin, Duan Xiang and others all turned their gazes toward Cui Yishu, their faces full of doubt and gravity.

Cui Yishu took several deep breaths, forcing his rapid breathing steady, stood upright, his eyes filled with panic and anxiety, and said gravely, "Fan… Fan Yang's Lu clan has defected to Zhou State!"

The words cracked through the hall like a thunderclap, and the chamber instantly fell into death‑like silence.

Cui Yisu exhaled another puff of foul breath and, at a breakneck pace, added, "Moreover, the Prefect of Shuo Prefecture, Lu Mianzhi, directly offered Shuo Prefecture to the Zhou State as a Letter of Allegiance!"

"What?!" Ku Di Gan blurted out, his voice full of incredulous shock and anger.

He lunged forward a step, fists clenched, his knuckles clicking, the resolve on his face instantly replaced by a fierce glare: "How dare that scoundrel Lu Mianzhi, that wretched brat?!"

Wei Jin's complexion also changed abruptly.

Shuo Prefecture lies on the Northern Border, bordering the Turkic and the Zhou State; it is a strategic military point. If it falls into Zhou's hands, the Northern Border defense line will suffer a massive breach, with unthinkable consequences.

Gao Ying was struck as if by lightning, frozen in place, the anger on his face instantly giving way to astonishment and disbelief.

He stared blankly at Cui Yisu, as if he hadn't heard the words, and only after a while steadied himself, inhaled deeply, his chest heaving violently, forcing down the raging turmoil in his heart, striving to stay calm, his voice carrying a barely perceptible tremor: "Cui Qing, where did you get this information?"

"Has it been verified?"

Cui Yisu swallowed, drew a sealed letter from his bosom, presented it with both hands, his tone absolutely certain: "Your Majesty, this is an urgent report from Chang'an, delivered by a swift horse!"

"The Zhou State has already proclaimed it to the world, bestowing countless rewards!"

"This matter is absolutely certain!"

The inner attendant hurried forward, took the letter, and presented it to Gao Ying.

Gao Ying snatched the letter, tore open the seal wax, and skimmed the paper swiftly.

The handwriting was neat, yet each character cut like a knife, clearly stating that the Zhou State had accepted the Fan Yang Lu clan, with Lu Mianzhi offering Shuo Prefecture in surrender…

After reading the letter, Gao Ying's complexion darkened completely, the chill radiating from him surpassing even that when he had glared at the Turkic earlier.

He then hurled the letter onto the desk with force; the pages scattered, producing a crisp "Snap!"

Ku Di Gan, seeing this, could not contain his fury; a harsh, fierce light flashed in his eyes, his clenched fists nearly crushing, he gritted his teeth and said, "The Fan Yang Lu clan has colluded with the enemy and betrayed the nation; such a heinous act must be eradicated from its roots!"

"Execute their nine families, confiscate their property, to intimidate all under heaven, so that those harboring dissent dare not entertain a second thought!"

Wei Jin quickly nodded in agreement, stepped forward briskly, and, cupping his fist in a bow toward Gao Ying, said, "Duke Ku Di's words are absolutely correct!"

"The Fan Yang Lu clan in Jinyang still has many clan members…"

"Your Majesty, please issue an immediate edict to detain them all, subject them to strict interrogation; they must not escape or convey messages to the Zhou State!"

Gao Ying remained silent, his fingers digging tightly into the edge of the desk, his fingertips nearly embedding into the wood.

The betrayal of the Fan Yang Lu clan felt like a brutal knife thrust into his chest, enraging and wounding him more than the annihilation of twenty‑thousand Turkic elite.

"Both of you have spoken rightly!" He inhaled deeply, the panic in his eyes gradually giving way to resolve, and said in a deep voice, "Proceed as such!"

Having said that, he turned his head toward the attendant beside him, his tone as cold as iron: "Transmit my decree, order the Imperial Guard to immediately surround all residences of the Fan Yang Lu clan in Jinyang; no one may enter or exit!"

"Arrest all core members of the Fan Yang Lu clan and imprison them, under strict supervision, without error!"

"If anyone resists, kill them on the spot!"

Cui Yisu looked at Gao Ying's tense face, his own expression instantly clouded with unease, his hands unconsciously clenching his sleeves.

He mumbled a few times, then cautiously spoke, his voice pressed down to a whisper, tinged with hesitation and fear: "Your Majesty, actually when I first received the urgent report from Chang'an, I foresaw the gravity of the matter and could not delay; I dispatched men overnight to surround the Fan Yang Lu clan's residences in Jinyang, but…"

At this point, it was as if something had lodged in his throat.

His voice abruptly halted, his gaze darting away, unwilling to meet Gao Ying's eyes.

"But what—!"

Gao Ying, already inflamed by the chaos on the Northern Border and the Lu clan's treason, saw Cui Yisu's stammering hesitation, his brows furrowing tighter, the displeasure in his eyes nearly spilling over.

He slammed the desk hard; the candlestick on the desk shook, the flame leapt, shadows flickered: "Speak plainly and directly!"

"Stop hemming and hawing here; we cannot afford to delay the matter!"

The rebuke echoed through the great hall, bearing the thunderous authority of the emperor; Cui Yisu shivered and hurriedly lowered his head.

Beside him, Ku Di Gan could no longer restrain his impatience and added, "Indeed!"

He paused, his tone carrying a hint of nonchalance, and continued, "Lu Huichun is such a big living man; he couldn't just vanish into thin air, could he?"

Cui Yisu inhaled deeply, as if making a monumental decision, lifted his head, his gaze sweeping quickly over everyone, then announced a shocking revelation: "He truly has disappeared!"

"What?!" Wei Jin cried out in stunned disbelief, instinctively stepping forward, his eyes full of incredulity, "How can he be gone just because you say he's gone?"

Ku Di Gan's face was also filled with shock; the certainty he had moments ago vanished, and he clenched his fist hard, exclaiming, "How could this be possible!?"

Gao Ying's eyes widened even more, his gaze full of astonishment as he stared at Cui Yisu, his tone absurdly incredulous: "Could it be that he evaporated into thin air?!"

Cui Yisu quickly shook his head, the color draining from his face, his voice hoarse as he explained, "It's not that he truly vanished into thin air…"

"Rather, Lu Huichun and Lu Zhaoqun in the Lu household were disguised impostors!"

"The real Lu brothers have long been missing!"

With those words, the hall fell into a deathly silence again, only the crackling of the burning candles echoing in the air.

The shock on everyone's faces deepened; they hadn't expected the Fan Yang Lu clan to have already taken such a step, even preparing a substitute.

Ku Di Gan narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing, he pondered briefly, then said in a deep voice, "It seems, then, that Lu Huichun and Lu Mianzhi have long been scheming in the shadows!"

"Lu Mianzhi's offering of Shuo Prefecture to the Zhou State was not a spur‑of‑the‑moment act, but a long‑planned betrayal!"

Cui Yisu pressed his cracked lips together, his complexion growing even more grim, hesitated briefly, then added an even more alarming piece of news: "Moreover, the men I sent thoroughly searched the Lu household and interrogated the remaining servants…"

"We discovered that the legitimate branch of the Fan Yang Lu clan had long ago left the capital in batches under the pretexts of visiting relatives and studying abroad, and now they are nowhere to be found!"

"Those remaining in the mansion are all illegitimate offshoots and servants, knowing nothing of the legitimate line's whereabouts!"

By the end, his head drooped lower and lower, nearly touching his chest.

He could not bring himself to meet Gao Ying's fiery eyes.

"This is outrageous!" Ku Di Gan, unable to contain his rage, slammed a fist onto the desk; the teacup on the desk fell, shattering, tea spilling everywhere, "These two scoundrel brats dare to deceive Your Majesty and betray the Great Qi!"

His voice was thick with murderous intent, a feral light blazing in his eyes: "The Fan Yang Lu clan has long enjoyed imperial favor, yet they secretly colluded with the enemy, offered a city for glory, and now dare to retreat unscathed; such conduct deserves ten thousand deaths!"

"We must not tolerate this!"

Duan Xiang furrowed his brows, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the jade sash at his waist, his gaze repeatedly lingering on Shuo Prefecture's location on the map.

After a brief contemplation, weighing pros and cons, he stepped forward, bowed with a cupped fist toward Gao Ying, and solemnly reminded, "Your Majesty, regarding how to deal with them, perhaps we can set it aside for now!"

He paused, his tone growing heavier: "The immediate priority is to dispatch troops at once to retake Shuo Prefecture!"

"Shuo Prefecture is the throat of the Northern Border; we must not let the Zhou State gain a foothold, strengthen the city defenses!"

"Otherwise, for our Great Qi, it will bring endless future troubles!"

As soon as the words fell, the irate Ku Di Gan beside him could no longer hold back, leapt forward a step, bowed and clasped his fists, and shouted, "Your Majesty, I request to go into battle!"

Gao Ying did not immediately consent; in silence he paced to the map, his finger lightly tapping the prefectures surrounding Shuo Prefecture, his brows knit as if pondering something.

Everyone in the hall held their breath waiting, even the sound of the candles burning seemed unusually clear.

After a moment, Gao Ying lifted his head, raised his hand and rejected Ku Di Gan's request: "No!"

The urgency on Ku Di Gan's face froze instantly, and he looked at Gao Ying, full of incomprehension.

His gaze passed beyond him, settling on Wei Jin, and in a deep voice said, "Commander Wei, I order you to lead one hundred thousand soldiers, immediately ready provisions and armaments, and go retake Shuo Prefecture!"

Upon hearing the words, Wei Jin did not hesitate, bowed and clasped his fists, his voice resonant and powerful: "I obey your command!"

"Your Majesty, why?" Ku Di Gan could not help but ask, his tone carrying a hint of grievance and confusion.

Gao Ying's eyes flashed with depth, patted Ku Di Gan's shoulder, and in a deep voice said, "Lord Ku Di, it is not that I distrust you, but I have a more important matter to entrust to you!"

A chill rose in Ku Di Gan's heart; he quickly bowed and said, "Please give your orders, Your Majesty! I will devote my all!"

Gao Ying slowly walked to the hall's doorway, his gaze turning to the southern night sky, his eyes growing ever more profound, his pupils narrowed, and he said word by word, "Keep a close watch on the south!"

"If any wind stirs the grass, report immediately!"

Only then did Ku Di Gan suddenly understand, the confusion in his heart vanished instantly, and he quickly clasped his fists again, responding in a deep voice, "I obey!"

Gao Ying nodded, then turned away, his back to the crowd.

The candlelight traced his tall yet solitary silhouette, the five‑clawed golden dragon on the hem of his dragon robe flickering in the shadows.

The onlookers could not see his expression, yet they could feel the intense resentment and murderous intent radiating from the Son of Heaven.

After a long pause, Gao Ying forced a few words from between his teeth, his voice low and fierce, muttering through clenched jaws, "Damn Zhou State!"

"Damn the Lu clan of Fan Yang!"