Chapter 776: Operation Split (Part I)

Wanyan Chixiong had no choice but to stop his attack on General Dong, glaring at him and saying harshly: "As for this matter, I, the Prince, will never let it go easily!" Although Da Yong had already promised to give him an answer, seeing General Dong still standing there unharmed made Wanyan Chixiong furious inside, yet he knew General Dong's background was extraordinary; even so, this time even if he couldn't kill him, he would make this bastard shed a layer of skin, otherwise he couldn't swallow the anger in his chest.

Hu Xiaotian watched Wanyan Chixiong's retreating back and sighed: "This Hu dog came here with no good intentions."

General Dong clenched his fists; in the battle at Red Mountain Villa he had also lost twelve brothers, feeling stifled in his heart, but the court, considering the larger situation, currently meant to apologize and compensate to the Black Hu side, yet Wanyan Chixiong was aggressive, demanding that General Dong kneel and offer incense before the spirit tablets of his fallen subordinates—such a great humiliation General Dong would never accept.

Hu Xiaotian said: "That night I clearly saw a blue-clad person enter Red Mountain Villa."

General Dong said: "I saw him too, but when we searched Red Mountain Villa we found nothing."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Perhaps there are still places in Red Mountain Villa we haven't searched."

General Dong turned to Hu Xiaotian, his eyes full of questioning.

Hu Xiaotian said: "General Dong, do you want to get to the bottom of this matter?" To retrieve the Ice Soul Stabilizing Pearl we must infiltrate Red Mountain Villa, and Hu Xiaotian currently has no helpers beside him, so he must rely on outside aid; regarding Red Mountain Villa, he and General Dong share the same enemy and the same goal.

General Dong said: "How shall we investigate?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Just find the evidence!"

General Dong shook his head and said: "Even if there were evidence these past days, they would have already destroyed it; how could it be so easy to find?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I suspect the Princess's death is also related to the Black Hu people; according to the information I have received, they have always wanted to sabotage the marriage alliance between Da Yong and Dakang." His statement is quite credible.

Although General Dong had no interest in who killed Princess Anping, he wanted to uncover the mastermind who had abducted her corpse that night: "What do you propose to do?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Search again!"

General Dong let out a bitter laugh; that night they had mobilized so many people to search Red Mountain Villa and found nothing, and since then the Black Hu side has taken the upper hand in reasoning, leaving the Da Yong court embarrassed and unsettled; previous matters remain unresolved. If he were to go there again, he feared even his aunt could not protect him.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Since it's inconvenient to come openly, let's do it secretly!"

General Dong said: "You think Red Mountain Villa is easy to enter?" Although Red Mountain Villa is located in Yongdu, it is a gathering place for Black Hu people, harboring many Black Hu experts inside; moreover, after the previous incident, the Black Hu will undoubtedly increase their vigilance. To enter the villa silently and unseen is by no means easy.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Nothing in the world is difficult for one who sets their mind to it; General Dong, I happen to have obtained a map of Red Mountain Villa."

Upon hearing this, General Dong was startled; he hadn't expected Hu Xiaotian to be so capable, having put in such great effort behind the scenes.

Hu Xiaotian said: "The Black Hu people are trying every means to sabotage our two countries' relations; naturally I must devise some Yingdui de ce."

General Dong glanced around, lowered his voice: "This is not a place to talk; let's change locations and continue."

The two arrived at Hu Xiaotian's lodging. Hu Xiaotian produced a hand-drawn map, which Xi Yan had left for him before her departure. To be safe, Hu Xiaotian redrew the map himself.

After examining the map, General Dong silently admired it; the map clearly marked all the mechanisms and secret passages of Red Mountain Villa, even the deployment locations and times were laid out plainly. Hu Xiaotian pointed to Wild Goose Tower and said: "I have bribed an insider in Red Mountain Villa, spending considerable effort to produce this map; according to him, Wild Goose Tower is the most mysterious place in the entire villa, and whenever Black Hu dignitaries come, they always patronize it."

General Dong said: "With just this map it's hard to prove anything."

Hu Xiaotian said: "If we could prove it, would we still need to look for evidence? Frankly, based on the information I have gathered, Red Mountain Villa appears on the surface to be a Black Hu merchant guild, but secretly it engages in spying on Central Plains intelligence; many of their secrets are likely hidden in Wild Goose Tower. If we can obtain evidence of the Black Hu's espionage against the military, the situation will immediately turn around."

General Dong nodded: "Indeed, even if we cannot prove the Black Hu's involvement in abducting the Princess's corpse, if we can demonstrate that Red Mountain Villa is a Black Hu secret intelligence agency, then I can free myself from this predicament." General Dong said: "This matter must not be conducted openly, for previously I led troops to besiege Red Mountain Villa and have been temporarily relieved of my post as commander of the Tiger Banner Camp, unable to mobilize its troops."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Such matters must of course be carried out secretly, but just the two of us are probably insufficient."

Although General Dong is peerless in martial prowess and would fear no one in a head‑on clash, he is not skilled in stealth and concealment; even if they could successfully infiltrate Red Mountain Villa, they might still encounter dangerous mechanisms, so they likely still need a mechanism expert to assist.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I have a few candidates in mind."

General Dong said: "Speak!"

"Huo Shengnan! She is also deeply troubled now, and she has always hated the Black Hu to the bone; I believe she will certainly be interested in joining this matter, her martial arts are first‑rate, and her addition will surely be like adding wings to a tiger. If we can uncover the Black Hu's intelligence gathering against the various Central Plains states, it will surely be a great merit." Hu Xiaotian mentioned Huo Shengnan also to give her a chance to redeem herself through this opportunity and avoid the impending prison disaster.

General Dong said: "Huo Shengnan is currently under the control of the Ministry of Justice."

Hu Xiaotian said: "With her abilities, that place could never hold her; moreover, she is the adopted daughter of Grand Marshal Yuchi, and the Empress Dowager has shown her extra favor. Besides, I have heard that the Seventh Prince will personally preside over her trial; as long as the Seventh Prince speaks, this matter will not be easy to handle."

General Dong said: "This is improper; we absolutely cannot let him know." In martial prowess General Dong is a first‑rate fierce general, but in strategy he is no match for Hu Xiaotian's myriad schemes.

Hu Xiaotian said: "You only need to tell him you want to consult Huo Shengnan about some situation; given your relationship with the Seventh Prince, he will have no suspicions."

General Dong pressed his lips and said: "Good! I will take responsibility for this matter, but Huo Shengnan probably does not know mechanism techniques either."

Hu Xiaotian said: "The renowned mechanism master Grand Master Yuan Zong of the Mojiang Sect is famous throughout the world."

General Dong gave a wry smile: "He is indeed a mechanism master, but he is old in years and of eccentric temperament; how could he be persuaded to join an adventure?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Although he himself is unsuitable, his son Zong Tang has already fully inherited his true transmission; if Zong Tang agrees to help, success in this matter is certainly to be expected."

General Dong said: "I do not have deep ties with him; I may not be able to persuade him."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I can help you approach Zong Tang, but can General Dong guarantee that if the plan is exposed, this affair will not implicate him?"

General Dong said: "What do you take me for, General Dong? If Zong Tang is willing to lend a hand, I will bear all responsibility and will not let him be implicated in this matter."

Spring Fragrance Tea House faces Red Mountain Villa across the street; its business is usually desolate, but today at dusk two customers arrived: the leader was none other than the Commander of the Tiger Banner Camp of Da Yong, General Dong, and the other was the famed female general of Da Yong, Huo Shengnan. Unlike their usual splendid and imposing appearance, today both wore plain clothes and behaved discreetly.

The two came to Spring Fragrance Tea House specifically to meet Hu Xiaotian and Zong Tang, who had arrived earlier.

General Dong had not revealed their plan to Huo Shengnan, merely saying they were looking for her to investigate some matters. Upon seeing Hu Xiaotian, Huo Shengnan only then realized that today's affair was actually orchestrated by him behind the scenes; she felt a bit strange, for previously Hu Xiaotian and General Dong had been on bad terms, yet she did not know what could have made them set aside their differences and unite.

Hu Xiaotian chose these three collaborators because General Dong wanted to escape his troubles, while Huo Shengnan harbors a deep‑seated hatred for the Black Hu and naturally hopes to redeem herself through this opportunity; as for Zong Yuan, Hu Xiaotian had to call upon past favors owed to him, but the key factor that moved all three was patriotism.

These three are all loyal to Da Yong; even without Hu Xiaotian's urging, hearing that Red Mountain Villa is a Black Hu secret intelligence agency, they would wish to excise this poisonous thorn from Da Yong.

Hu Xiaotian spread the map on the table, and the three gathered around. Zong Tang has studied building structures extensively; at a glance he knew the layout of Red Mountain Villa was out of the ordinary. Although it is merely a merchant guildhall, judging from the sentry posts, there are virtually no blind spots; an ordinary merchant guild would not guard so strictly.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Our target is Wild Goose Tower; according to the information I have gathered, there should be a hidden chamber inside Wild Goose Tower."

Huo Shengnan said curiously: "How do you know that?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I just know!"

Huo Shengnan said: "If we manage to sneak in and come up empty‑handed, wouldn't we be needlessly stirring up another big trouble?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "That is why we must conceal our movements and try not to alarm the people of Red Mountain Villa; even if we fail to find the desired evidence, we must ensure a safe retreat."

Huo Shengnan said: "So you admit you have no absolute certainty that Red Mountain Villa is the Black Hu's secret intelligence agency?"

Hu Xiaotian frankly said: "No!"

Zong Tang furrowed his brow and said: "Junior Brother Hu, launching an operation without solid certainty seems rather rash."

Early morning update, seeking Recommendation, seeking Monthly Ticket! (To be continued~^~)