Chapter 422

On a small hillside beside the official road outside Shenjing City,

Jia Jing, under the escort of his personal guards, gazed at two giant ox-crossbows, about fifty foot-trigger crossbows, and a hundred hand crossbows placed in a depression on the hillside, his eyes deep.

Especially the faint blue glow on the arrows nearby made the corner of his mouth curl into a cold smile!

What a formidable array! What vicious methods!

To deal with him, they not only used the giant ox-crossbow but also poisoned the arrows, as if fearing he wouldn't die!

You should know that, although the Da Han Military Regulations clearly stipulate:

Privately owned prohibited items are "armor, shields, fire lances, cannons," etc., while bows, arrows, spears, swords, crossbows, and harpoons and pitchforks are not banned.

But this giant ox-crossbow, a national strategic super-weapon, is absolutely not within the range of privately owned crossbows!

The giant ox-crossbow, also called the three‑bow bed crossbow, is an ultra‑heavy siege engine requiring dozens of men to wind the winch and string; its arrows are like spears, used to pin into city walls for soldiers to climb.

In other words, this is fundamentally not a weapon for killing people, yet now it is being used against him.

One can imagine that, even with his peerless martial prowess, if he were accidentally struck by such an arrow, he would likely fare poorly—let alone when the arrow is laced with deadly poison!

Looking down from the hill, it happens to be a bend in the official road where the road narrows from wide to narrow, leaving no place to hide.

An ambush from above with crossbow bolts, if one is unprepared, is almost certainly fatal.

Had it not been for the Embroidered Uniform Guard's early report, this would have been truly perilous!

A flicker of coldness crossed Jia Jing's eyes as he looked at several corpses in armor on the ground; from his years of military experience he instantly recognized that these armors also came from the Han Army.

From this one can infer that the ambushers must have backing from court military officials!

Just as Jia Jing was lost in thought, a personal guard came forward to report:

"My lord! The Inner Minister Xia has arrived from the palace!"

Soon after, Xia Shouzhong, with a swollen red patch on his forehead, led a group of dust‑covered Imperial City Office emissaries running up the slope, shouting from afar:

"Lord Jing Guogong, are you all right? This servant was worried sick! Are you injured anywhere?"

That expression, just like a servant caring for his master, made the Imperial City Secretary's attendants behind him glance askance; when had they ever seen their own Commissioner so obsequious!

Jia Jing gave a slight nod; Xia Shouzhong's coming was no surprise to him, for after the attack he had at once ordered someone to pass the news to Jing Sheng Di!

Minister Xia, it's just a small matter—why did you come in person?

Xia Shouzhong examined Jia Jing from head to toe, left and right; seeing he was unharmed, he finally let out a sigh of relief and said:

This is still a small matter?! You don't know—His Majesty, upon hearing that the Duke had been attacked, was extremely shocked and angry, and originally intended to personally drive his carriage out of the palace to come here.

If it weren't for Senior Minister Li and the others earnestly advising him, saying that it's already late and Shenjing inside and out is not tranquil, lest petty villains take advantage, then it would have been His Majesty who came at this moment!

However, although His Majesty couldn't make the trip, he was still deeply concerned about the Duke's condition, and ordered the eunuchs to bring the imperial physicians over; as soon as any problem was detected, they were to report it to the palace at once, to inform him.

Jia Jing's expression warmed slightly; in fact, he had already reported his safety to Jing Sheng Di in his memorial, but he hadn't expected Jing Sheng Di to still be so concerned for his safety, and he immediately cupped his hands toward Shenjing and said:

Your Majesty, your grace is vast and boundless; I, your servant, am moved to tears!

He then turned to Xia Shouzhong and said:

Trouble, Minister, to make this trip! This time it was also a stroke of heavenly luck; my camp's scouts discovered the rebels' plot in advance.

By turning their own scheme against them, not only did we avoid the rebels' ambush, but we also netted all those lying in wait, and even captured a dozen or so alive; they are now being interrogated to uncover the mastermind behind it.

Actually, it was the Embroidered Uniform Guard who discovered traces in Shenjing, gave Jia Jing advance warning, enabling us to lure the snake out of its hole and escape disaster.

After this incident, Jia Jing also came to understand more deeply that, in these increasingly turbulent times, the Embroidered Uniform Guard is a vital trump card for self-preservation, and must be vigorously developed.

Upon hearing this, Xia Shouzhong's eyes lit up, and he immediately said fiercely:

We even captured a live one! Good! This lawless, audacious bunch of filthy scum actually dared to openly assassinate Senior Minister Zhang and you in Shenjing!

They also killed more than twenty of my Imperial City Secretaries; it's utterly unforgivable, their guilt equal to treason!

If the eunuchs find out who did it, they will surely confiscate his property and exterminate his clan, hack him to pieces, grind his bones and scatter his ashes……

Xia Shouzhong's fair face flushed with rage, his expression ferocious.

One cannot deny that today's two assassinations made him lose face badly before Jing Sheng Di!

Within Shenjing, at the emperor's feet, two successive assassinations of high-ranking officials have occurred, shocking and horrifying.

And the Imperial City Office, as the emperor's eyes and ears, was actually kept in the dark, uncovering not a shred of useful information—this is… a serious dereliction of duty!

Originally, after Zhang Tingyu was attacked, Jing Sheng Di had already been furious with imperial might, slamming the table and giving him a stern dressing-down.

When the news of Jia Jing's attack reached the palace, Xia Shouzhong was directly struck by Jing Sheng Di with a paperweight!

Heaven knows!

This is the first time in his ten years as Senior Minister and Imperial City Secretary that he has been struck by the emperor!

He still remembers how, just now, Jing Sheng Di in the Qian Qing Gong, furious and fearful, then bellowed in a loss of composure.

Frankly, he even doubted at the time that, if Jia Jing had really come to harm, the emperor's great anger might have had him dragged out and beheaded!

Is Senior Minister Zhang all right? After Xia Shouzhong had slightly calmed his emotions, Jia Jing asked in a low voice.

Jing Sheng Di ordered someone to summon him, but the messenger only said that Zhang Tingyu had been attacked, without giving any details.

Someone who does things with such dedication… a virtuous person, must not be harmed!

Xia Shouzhong said in a low voice:

It's fine! Fortunately, the deputy commander Gu under the eunuchs was alert, sensed something amiss beforehand, took extra precautions, and these past days has been using the 'hide the sky, cross the sea' stratagem, having Zhang's senior servant go first in a sedan chair; otherwise, Zhang would hardly have escaped disaster this time!

Alas… I never expected the rebels to be using a linked scheme; it now seems that Senior Minister Zhang might merely be a bait, and their true target is you, the Duke!

Jia Jing's heart stirred slightly, his expression unchanged, and he said coldly:

Dealing with me, they need not fear breaking their own teeth!

Having said that, he paused, then continued:

However, there are too many demons and monsters in Shenjing; it's also time to clean them out!

Xia Shouzhong hurriedly said:

What the Duke says is also His Majesty's intention! When the eunuchs left the palace, His Majesty had already issued orders to the Five City Military Command and the Imperial City Office, directing us to cooperate with you to thoroughly investigate this matter and cleanse Shenjing!

"Your Majesty said, this matter shakes the foundations of the state, its nature is extremely heinous; you need not follow standard procedure to investigate and gather evidence, suspect anyone and directly apprehend and interrogate them; better to mistakenly arrest than let slip, cut through the tangled mess with a swift blade!"

"If encountering obstruction, regardless of rank, no need to seek imperial edict, you may strike first and report later! Also, His Majesty had me bring this to the Duke of the State..."

"Xia Shouzhong, while speaking, reverently took out from his bosom a gold plaque one chi high and three cun wide, its top arched, rectangular in shape."

"The gold plaque was cast of pure copper, its surface gilded, the lines vigorous and powerful."

"On the top of the plaque's head are carved two banana leaves; in the center a round hole is pierced, threaded with a bright yellow cord."

"On the upper part of its front face are engraved twin dragons, the twin dragons coiling among cloud patterns, baring fangs and brandishing claws; below are engraved twin tigers, and in the center are the four large characters 'As if the Emperor himself were present'."

"The reverse bears a coiling cloud pattern, the clouds intertwining, appearing solemn and imposing."

"Your Majesty said, 'Duke of the State, you already possess the Imperial Sword; adding this gold plaque, the sword commands slaughter, the plaque commands authority—one internal, one external, one civil, one military—within Shenjing City henceforth there shall be no obstruction!'"

"Xia Shouzhong's face showed a touch of moved admiration and envy, his expression shifting, he involuntarily became threefold more respectful!"