Chapter 191

Inside Sun Dingyuan's study, all was tranquil.

Outside the window, the autumn sun was just right, shining on the Xuan paper on the desk and casting a warm, moist glow. Sun Dingyuan was holding his brush, copying the Lanting Xu; his brushstrokes flowed smoothly, an air of leisure.

Governor!

A trusted aide hurried in, his face grave, holding a freshly decoded urgent telegram.

"What's the rush?" Sun Dingyuan said without looking up, continuing to wield his brush.

"Governor, this is..." the aide's voice trembled, "This is a telegram sent from Shen City."

Sun Dingyuan's brush tip paused slightly.

The sender's address is—Shen City, Fourth Bureau.

The brush snapped 'pa' onto the Xuan paper, spreading an ink blot. Sun Dingyuan jerked his head up and snatched the telegram.

The telegram was short and direct: 'Your son Sun Lingyun is in my custody. Within three days, prepare thirty million silver dollars and deliver them to the designated point in Shen City. If delayed, or if you rashly move troops, I will behead him without pardon and send his head back to your residence. —Lin Yu.'

Seeing this naked extortion telegram, Sun Dingyuan's pupils contracted, his fingers whitening from gripping the paper. He suppressed the turmoil in his heart, maintaining composure outwardly, but those who knew him could see the anger burning deep in his eyes and a hint of anxiety hardly noticeable.

"Lin Yu...... what gall! To dare send a telegram extorting like this!" he raged inwardly, but reason told him that since the other party dared do this, they must have some backing.

"Lingyun...... how is he now?" Sun Dingyuan's voice was hoarse.

The aide whispered: 'Governor, we just received an additional secret report from our undercover agents, saying... saying that when the young master was seized, he seemed to have clashed with Lin Yu, and was... was struck on the head by Lin Yu himself with an ashtray, and remains unconscious.'

Sun Dingyuan slammed his eyes shut, then opened them; his gaze was sharp as a blade.

"Thirty million...... and they hurt my son!" He drew a deep breath, struggling to calm himself. He knew anger was useless; he must respond calmly.

"Investigate, investigate at once!" he said in a low voice, "I need to know everything about Shen City right now. What backing does this madman Lin Yu have to dare such blatant extortion!"

"Yes!" the aide replied promptly.

Sun Dingyuan stood by the window, gazing at the distant horizon. His authority was formidable, commanding 250,000 troops. Yet facing this young Lin Yu, he felt an unprecedented sense of helplessness.

That young man who has stirred up a bloody storm in Shen City—what hidden cards does he really hold?

Sun Dingyuan paced over to the huge military map on one side of the study.

It is a detailed map of five provinces, with every important city, military stronghold, and transportation hub clearly marked. His gaze fell on Shen City's location, that red dot now especially glaring.

Come here. he said in a low voice.

Several trusted aides stepped forward at once.

First," Sun Dingyuan turned, his voice calm and forceful, "reply immediately to Shen City, saying the terms are harsh and we need time to raise the funds, asking for a few days' extension. Remember to phrase it earnestly, definitely emphasizing the guarantee of my son's safety! First, hold him steady!

Yes!" one aide took the order and left at once.

Second," he continued, "spare no expense to secretly raise thirty million silver dollars! Use all channels, prepare to pay at any time. But remember, keep it strictly confidential outwardly! This must not leak.

Understood!" another aide hurried away.

Sun Dingyuan's gaze returned to the map: 'Third, order the intelligence department to step up investigation of Lin Yu's true strength. I need to know why he is so overconfident! Where do his troops, weapons, and confidence come from? Especially that so-called 'Ghost Division' under his command—what is its origin!'

Fourth," he paused, "secretly contact Lu Anxiang's side to see what terms he received and how he plans to respond. If necessary, we might consider..." he paused meaningfully, "joining forces to apply pressure.

The aides all understood the weight of those words. Lu Anxiang is the Governor of Nanjiang, and his second son Lu Xiao is also in Lin Yu's hands. If the two regional commanders join forces, perhaps they could exert enough pressure on Lin Yu.

Fifth," Sun Dingyuan's voice suddenly turned stern, "have the staff draft rescue and assault plans. But remember, without my order, absolutely no rash action!

As you command!" the remaining aides quickly withdrew.

The study returned to quiet. Sun Dingyuan stood alone by the window, gazing at the distant horizon. The autumn sun remained bright, but his heart felt as if plunged into an ice cellar.

Lin Yu......" his eyes grew dark, "You think grabbing my son lets you blackmail me?

He clenched his fists: 'I've noted this debt. Once I rescue my son, I will repay you double!'

But soon he forced himself to calm down. The most important thing now is to rescue Lingyun; other matters can be deliberated later. That this young man Lin Yu could stir up such a storm in Shen City is no accident; his confidence must come from some unknown powerful backing.

What could it be?" Sun Dingyuan muttered to himself, "Foreigners? Or some faction in the court? Or perhaps......

His gaze fell again on the map. Shen City, this prosperous port city, is now like a huge riddle, and the young man named Lin Yu is the enigma at its deepest core.

And now he must, while ensuring his son's safety, gradually unravel this riddle.

Sun Dingyuan sat back at his desk, his eyes on the telegram, lost in thought.

How perfect the original plan had been. Sending Lingyun to Shen City was ostensibly a tour, but actually to prop up Qin Chang'an to secure the position of Young Commander of the Security Army. Once Qin Chang'an found his footing, the Sun family could naturally extend its influence to Shen City.

But who could have imagined that so many changes would arise in between?

In the end, the one who actually controlled all of Shen City turned out to be an obscure Lin Yu. The court, the two governors, the Garrison Office, the Security Army—multiple forces united, yet Lin Yu still routed them, leaving them in disarray, even having Qin Chang'an publicly executed by him.

This brat, just what is his origin?" Sun Dingyuan frowned tightly.

If one were to say Lin Yu's troops' equipment came from foreigners, he is just as hardline toward them, even daring to kill consuls. Those foreigners who ran rampant in Shen City now cower like stray dogs before him.

To claim he is backed by the court—yet Lin Yu's actions now amount almost to rebellion. Detaining imperial envoys, extorting governors—where is there any semblance of a subject?

Ghost Division......" Sun Dingyuan murmured, "That elusive force, superbly equipped, well-trained, with astonishing combat power. But where did such a powerful army come from? And who backs them behind the scenes?

He stood up and walked to the map again. Shen City on the map is merely a tiny red dot, yet now this red dot has become the focal point of the entire southeastern situation.

As for Lin Yu himself, from his identity to his origins, and down to the troops under him, everything is shrouded in mist, making him inscrutable.

Such an opponent......" Sun Dingyuan said softly, "is the most dangerous.