Chapter 447: Secrets That Can Overturn

Jin Ling, Fengle Fang.

That unremarkable three-court residence was anything but calm inside; over these two days, people came and went constantly, brewing unseen tides and hidden storms.

In the study, the middle-aged man sat as if at ease, yet his expression could not hide his exhaustion.

The energetic young man, his face as respectfully deferential as ever, said to him: "My lord, after we received the message from Xuanhe Gate, all the personnel you arranged beforehand have been deployed."

We will intercept Jia Cong before he enters the yamen! But I don't understand—why act now? Isn't it a bit late?"

Zhou Zhou Zhengyang has been in Jia Cong's hands for several days; he may have already confessed, and Jia Cong may already know all the secrets."

The middle-aged man sneered: "Zhou Zhou Zhengyang is no ordinary man. He rose to become Commander of the Jin Ling Guard—not because he's foolish, but because he's no coward."

If he weren't that kind of man, he wouldn't have left behind backup measures; after being denounced, he wouldn't have lived this long."

He knows full well that if he confesses everything, it's a death sentence."

But if he holds back, he believes I have reservations—and perhaps, at the last moment, I might save his life."

The only hope left in his heart since falling into Jia Cong's hands is this one thing; so unless absolutely forced, he won't reveal all his cards."

According to intelligence from Su Zhou, Jia Cong seized Zhou Zhou Zhengyang at night and smuggled him out of the city at dawn; afterward, he was pursued by Luo Xiong's troops, desperate to escape."

This morning, he arrived outside Jin Ling's Xuanhe Gate—no rest, no pause along the way; he likely hasn't even had time to interrogate Zhou Zhou Zhengyang."

So now is not too late—everything is still within reach…"

…

Jin Ling, Xingqian Street.

No one expected that the fire brigade, busy extinguishing flames, suddenly used their water-spraying bamboo poles to douse the gunners.

People like Qu Qu Hongxiu, who knew little about firearms, found this bizarre behavior utterly baffling.

Only Jia Cong understood: the enemy had planned clearly, fully prepared.

The gunners used improved Lu Mi muskets, still firing via matchlock mechanism.

Any matchlock gun soaked by water becomes useless—a mere firewood stick.

The enemy feared Jia Cong's ten personal gunners, whose firepower was a formidable deterrent, so they struck first by disabling the guns—removing his greatest military advantage.

In Jia Cong's mind, a flash of insight struck: could Zhang Kangnian's official reply, ordering Jia Cong's three hundred gunners to camp outside the city, have been for the same purpose?

At that moment, the fire brigade members pulled hidden blades from the water carts and charged toward the carriage.

Doors and windows of nearby houses shattered as dozens of masked men burst out, blades gleaming, rushing toward Jia Cong's party.

When entering the city, Jia Cong had anticipated that news of his capture of Zhou Zhou Zhengyang in Su Zhou had likely already reached Jin Ling.

But the next day, he ambushed Luo Xiong fifty li west of Su Zhou; half of Luo's five hundred guards were killed or wounded, their command shattered.

Yet the news of Luo Xiong's capture had not yet reached Jin Ling.

Even so, the fact that Zhou Zhou Zhengyang had been captured would ensure Jia Cong faced unexpected dangers upon returning to Jin Ling.

The fact that his three hundred gunners had been detained outside the city before entry was a dangerous signal.

Along the way, whether encountering blocked intersections or coincidentally stumbling upon a fire brigade, he had grown increasingly wary.

But he had barely entered the city, hadn't even returned to the yamen, when he was ambushed mid-journey—such haste and ferocity still took him by surprise.

It was clear the mastermind behind this had reached a level of ruthlessness and madness beyond measure.

Jia Cong shouted: "Stand your ground! Protect the prisoner in the carriage!"

Those words were like sparks thrown onto oil—the assassins surged like moths into flame, frantically rushing toward the carriage.

Jia Cong's ten personal gunners had fought alongside him in Liaodong; they were hardened veterans of battlefield blood and fire.

But their training focused on firearms; their strength lay in the skill and precision of their muskets.

Their guns had been soaked by the water carts, stripping them of their most lethal advantage.

Though they were proficient in sword and spear combat, their martial skill clearly paled beside the assassins'.

Each assassin moved with agility, fought with ferocity, advanced and retreated with military discipline, and outnumbered them decisively.

In moments, two of the ten gunners were slashed, another severely wounded, Shengsibuzhi.

Jia Cong and Qu Qu Hongxiu each drew their curved blades and joined the fray; their swordplay was refined, honed through years of joint training, perfectly synchronized.

Whenever a gunner was in danger, one of them would strike to rescue him—barely holding back the assassins' assault. The narrow alley blazed with flashing blades and relentless shouts; both sides were evenly matched.

But because Jia Cong and his men were pinned down, no one remained to guard the carriage.

This was precisely what the assassins wanted; one of them immediately broke from the fight, leapt onto the carriage's driver's seat, and slashed through the curtain.

Inside, a man bound and hooded was stabbed clean through the heart by the swift, brutal blow, letting out a piercing, agonized scream.

Jia Cong slew the assassin before him with one stroke, leapt onto the carriage seat, and swung his blade at the attacker, stopping him from pulling off the dead man's hood.

They exchanged two blows; the assassin, seeing Jia Cong's lethal skill, had no desire to fight further, feinted, and leapt down from the carriage, shouting: "Mission accomplished—retreat!"

The remaining assassins, hearing their comrade's signal, swiftly disengaged, withdrawing with disciplined precision—they were clearly well-drilled.

In moments, all assassins vanished, fleeing into Xingqian Street.

Jia Cong immediately ordered his men to summon a physician to treat the wounded.

He walked to the carriage, lifted the curtain—the man inside had been stabbed through the heart, long dead.

Qu Qu Hongxiu said: "That was too close—if you hadn't sent Zhou Zhou Zhengyang away on another route earlier, he'd be dead now, and all our efforts would have been wasted."

Jia Cong pulled off the hood of the corpse in the carriage—it was not Zhou Zhou Zhengyang, but Chen Kuishan, the turncoat Zhongche Office spy.

Though dead, his eyes remained wide open, still filled with terror and disbelief.

Jia Cong re-covered his face with the hood.

Qu Qu Hongxiu asked: "Brother Cong, you put this man in the carriage and hooded him—did you already suspect we'd be ambushed upon entering the city?"

Jia Cong replied: "Zhou Zhou Zhengyang is one of the masterminds behind the Water Surveillance case. Once captured, someone in Jin Ling, to protect themselves, would pay close attention to him."

I used Chen Kuishan as a decoy to lure out the mastermind—but I didn't expect them to strike so violently the moment we entered the city.

Before descending to Su Zhou, I reviewed the secret reports collected by Xu Xu Qiniang on the Guard officers' connections—I already suspected who the mastermind was."

Now that he believes Zhou Zhou Zhengyang is dead, this is exactly what I wanted—it will prevent him from taking desperate risks; if he stirs up military chaos within Jin Ling, the consequences would be catastrophic."

Jia Cong left two personal guards to care for the wounded, then, with the rest, escorted the bloodstained carriage straight to the Sun Dali Temple's temporary office in Jin Ling.

News of the assassination on Xingqian Street would soon reach the Ying Tian Prefecture or the Embroidered Uniform Guard—but Jia Cong did not want anyone to touch that carriage.

In today's Jin Ling bureaucracy, the one person Jia Cong trusted most was Yang Yang Hongbin, the Sun Dali Temple Magistrate stationed in Jin Ling by imperial decree.

Once the carriage entered the Sun Dali Temple's temporary office, Yang Yang Hongbin would guard this secret—and he only needed to guard it for two days.

…

Jin Ling, Fengle Fang.

By afternoon, the middle-aged man finally saw a sturdy man enter the study.

"My lord, we have fulfilled our duty—we killed Zhou Zhou Zhengyang on Xingqian Street!"

The middle-aged man's eyes gleamed with triumph: "You're certain he's dead?"

The man replied: "I struck the blow myself—a blade straight to the vital point. He's dead beyond doubt."

At that moment, the man recalled: Zhou Zhou Zhengyang had worn a hood in the carriage; after killing him, he'd reached to pull it off—but Jia Cong had arrived just then.

The thought stirred a faint doubt in him, but he immediately dismissed it.

Jia Cong and his men had guarded the carriage with extreme vigilance—if it hadn't been Zhou Zhou Zhengyang, why would they have fought so desperately?

Even three of Jia Cong's gunners had been gravely wounded by his men, trying to protect the carriage.

So the man would never be foolish enough to voice such a vague, uncertain suspicion to his master.

Otherwise, he'd be the one to suffer the consequences—and perhaps lose his life.

This middle-aged man, who had risen to such a high position, was deeply ruthless and cunning; as his long-serving subordinate, he knew this all too well…

The middle-aged man, hearing this, finally exhaled slightly: "Rest for now. Tomorrow, bring your men with me—we depart together. I won't let you down."

He glanced at the young man standing beside him, whose face now showed a trace of relief: "Liu Qiu Xuan, know this: the most powerful thing in this world is not high office or power."

It's knowing secrets others don't—and those secrets can determine the fate and survival of many."

With Zhou Zhou Zhengyang dead, the Water Surveillance case and all its tangled affairs have lost their threads; no one will ever know where the secret treasury lies. In truth, to the great ones, Jin Ling's affairs mean nothing."

The old princely intrigues, the overturning of imperial authority, the Jiyu of the throne—these are the secrets that shake the world."

Whoever holds these secrets holds wealth and power within reach."

Even without a bureaucratic career, what does it matter? Those once unapproachable figures, before these secrets, are reduced to a single word deciding life or death, a single act causing collapse."

Life is spent struggling through hardship, enduring lowly posts, clinging to survival—all for the chance to seize the winds and clouds…"

Liu Qiu Xuan's eyes flickered slightly; he bowed low: "I have learned. I've arranged a five-hundred-liao merchant vessel in the Zhen family fleet."

All documents have been secretly completed—we can sail at any moment…"

…

Jia Cong, with his remaining guards, drove the carriage into Yang Yang Hongbin's Sun Dali Temple temporary office; the gates closed behind them.

Soon after, news of the assassination on Xingqian Street reached the Ying Tian Prefecture and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, who both sent men to inquire and gather details.

But Yang Yang Hongbin turned them all away, citing that the Lord Weiyuan Marquis had survived unharmed, but Zhou Zhou Zhengyang, unexpectedly captured from Su Zhou, had been assassinated.

The Sun Dali Temple, acting under imperial decree to investigate Zhou Zhou Zhengyang's case, had already examined and taken custody of the body; the Sun Dali Temple refused outside interference in its exclusive investigation.

Jia Cong, a noble of the realm and a fifth-rank official, had been dispatched to Jin Ling under imperial orders, yet was ambushed within the city.

The Ying Tian Prefecture and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, as Jin Ling's governing and peacekeeping authorities, had both moral and official duty to inquire—to maintain bureaucratic appearances.

But Yang Yang Hongbin invoked the imperial decree; they had no wish to press further. The Zhou Zhou Zhengyang case was too dangerous—they were glad to avoid this hornet's nest.

Yet after this incident, the news that the imperial prisoner Zhou Zhou Zhengyang had been assassinated spread through Jin Ling's bureaucracy at astonishing speed.

By sunset, nearly the entire Jin Ling bureaucracy had heard the news.

Some watched coldly, some sighed in regret, some felt relief and secretly rejoiced—reactions varied widely.

Others noted: Zhou Zhou Zhengyang had fled for months, yet neither the Jin Ling Embroidered Uniform Guard nor the Regional Military Commissioner's office had been able to capture him across several prefectures.

Yet that young marquis, merely by traveling to Su Zhou, apprehended this man—too much of a coincidence.

The eighth day of the ninth month was destined to be an extraordinary day, when many pivotal changes occurred, shaping the course of the future.

Meanwhile, rumors concerning the Emperor's dispatch of an imperial envoy to Jin Ling to deliver edicts, and the ensuing political upheaval, grew louder by the day.

Even well-informed sources claimed the Emperor's imperial envoy had already arrived at Gantang Relay Station, fifty li from Jin Ling.

Calculating by time, he should reach Jin Ling tomorrow…

…

In Jin Ling, everyone believed Zhou Zhou Zhengyang had been assassinated.

An unremarkable passenger boat departed from Su Zhou, sailing for over two days through Changzhou and Zhenjiang.

At dawn today, the boat left Zhenjiang's waters and sailed to a point just five li from Jin Ling.

The cabin held more than twenty people, five of whom were prisoners with hands and feet bound.

Zhang Wu and Jiang Xiao Liu stood at the bow, gazing at the churning river ahead.

The boatman Zheng Zheng Xiaohai said, "Gentlemen, if we sail another cup of tea's time, you'll see Jin Ling's Longtan Harbor."

Zhang Wu said, "Brother Zheng, no need to go further—find a secluded river bend nearby to anchor and rest. We'll enter the city tomorrow."

That night, Jia Cong captured Zhou Zhou Zhengyang at Geng Physician's residence and ordered Zhang Wu and Jiang Xiao Liu to escort the prisoner away from Su Zhou aboard Zheng Zheng Xiaohai's boat.

Meanwhile, Jia Cong himself led several hundred men, departing from Xizhang Gate in Su Zhou, and used Chen Kuishan to spread rumors, drawing all attention from Luo Xiong, Commander of the Su Zhou Guard.

Along the water route, Zhang Wu and Jiang Xiao Liu were deeply impressed by Zheng Zheng Xiaohai's seamanship.

Though they had successfully escaped Su Zhou with Zhou Zhou Zhengyang, they had to pass through patrol boats of the Su Zhou, Changzhou, and Zhenjiang Guards.

Before the imperial edict reached Jin Ling, their identities remained secret; if any guard unit discovered them escorting five prisoners, they could never explain it away.

Moreover, if word leaked, all of Jia Cong's prior planning might be ruined, with consequences unimaginable.

Yet this unassuming boatman, Zheng Zheng Xiaohai, possessed an uncanny familiarity with the waterways, effortlessly evading every patrol by exploiting terrain and timing.

Such an ingenious navigational skill seemed tailor-made for them; originally, transporting Zhou Zhou Zhengyang safely by water to Jin Ling carried considerable risk and trouble.

But once aboard Zheng Zheng Xiaohai's boat, everything became effortless.

Zhang Wu, a veteran of Jin Ling's Zhongche Office, was meticulous, capable, experienced, and shrewd—yet he could not help but admire Jia Cong's foresight in every move.

He had been in the south for less than two months—how had he recruited a man like Zheng Zheng Xiaohai, and why did this man happen to be in Su Zhou?

It was as if Jia Cong had foreseen today's events long ago, and had simply waited to use Zheng Zheng Xiaohai's skills at the perfect moment.

Jiang Xiao Liu beside him asked, "Brother Zhang Wu, we're nearly at Jin Ling—why aren't we entering the city today?"

Zhang Wu replied, "Before we set out, the Marquis told me: until the imperial envoy from the capital arrives in Jin Ling, the city's situation is perilous and unpredictable."

Zhou Zhou Zhengyang is deeply entangled—how many people in Jin Ling want him dead?"

According to schedule, the imperial envoy won't reach Jin Ling today; the city's situation remains unsettled."

If we bring Zhou Zhou Zhengyang into the city now, and someone takes desperate action, our twenty-plus men may not hold out."

So we wait for the envoy's arrival before entering with the prisoner. Brother Jiang, go ahead into the city and inform the Marquis—we'll need more men to meet us, for absolute safety."

…

Ninth day of the ninth month, Jin Ling, Yumin Lane.

After leaving the Sun Dali Temple's official office, Jia Cong returned to Yumin Lane with Qu Qu Hongxiu.

As soon as they entered the courtyard, Baozhu came forward.

She smiled and said, "Cong-ge, you're back! I've accomplished something big for you—I had Zhen San Niang retrieve that storage record for you."

Jia Cong's heart leapt with joy. "Bring it to me at once."

Baozhu ran to her room and returned with the storage box.

Jia Cong examined the sealed wax stamp—intact—and opened the box, Quchu several letters and a blue-covered ledger.

He flipped through just over a dozen pages—his heart surged with shock and delight: the blue ledger was Zou Zou Huaiyi's secret account book.

It recorded more than twenty ocean-going vessels, the quantity of foreign goods on each, their smuggling routes, the silver and wealth gained, and those who shared the profits.

Some names involved had been arrested and exposed during the storm two years ago, but many others remained at large.

These damning details nearly unraveled every missing clue and mystery of the Water Surveillance Office case two years prior.

Zou Zou Huaiyi had secretly preserved this ledger as his insurance for survival—but when events erupted suddenly, his crimes were already exposed, leaving him no chance to use it.

…

Jia Cong captured Zhou Zhou Zhengyang in Su Zhou—obtaining the key eyewitness—and this blue ledger was the crucial physical evidence.

Now, with both witness and evidence in hand, the hidden currents and corruption left over from the Water Surveillance Office case would be swept clean.

The shadow and gloom that had hung over southern Zhou would be dispelled…

…

Jia Cong saw the next few pages of the blue ledger contained Zou Zou Huaiyi's collected anecdotes.

Regarding Du Heng's origins, Jia Cong had already known—but this account was far more detailed.

Regarding the extermination of the Du family, the Wu Prince's rebellion in the capital, the Retired Emperor's abdication, and Jia Zhao's ascension—he had heard these from Zou Min'er.

The content in this ledger matched almost exactly what Zou Min'er had told him.

But to Jia Cong, whether from this ledger or Zou Min'er's account, both only sketched the broad outlines of those old events, failing to reveal their connections or roots.

These records showed the Du family's downfall and the Wu Prince's rebellion were tightly timed—but no link between them had been found.

The Wu Prince's rebellion in the capital must have been a massive upheaval.

Yet Jia Cong had never heard anyone in the Lady Rongguo Jia family mention it—and upon reflection, that was unsurprising.

Such bloody affairs involving imperial power struggles were royal secrets; noble families avoided even whispering about them to escape suspicion.

His teacher, Liu Jing'an, a two-dynasty veteran who held the post of Minister of Rites, retired before turning sixty.

He must have known the details of those events—but never uttered a word to Jia Cong, likely due to that same taboo.

Jia Cong saw the last two pages of the blue ledger and noticed a discontinuity—seemingly, one page was missing… (End of Chapter)