Chapter 428

False Song, Bianjing.

The clamor brought by the new emperor's accession gradually settled; in the spring of Universal Peace Year 1, a more enduring vitality was infused into this imperial capital.

But maybe the rule expects we keep era names as pinyin because they are proper nouns like reign titles. However the instruction only mentions person names and place names. It doesn't forbid using pinyin for other proper nouns; it says "Use Hanyu Pinyin ONLY for a person's actual NAME... and for place-NAMES that are a bare surname/meaningless proper noun." The word "ONLY" suggests we should not use pinyin for anything else. So we must translate era names.

Inside the Imperial Academy, the sound of reading resonated loudly; before the Tribute Exam Office, carriages and horses bustled; newly appointed and promoted officials wore fresh robes, walking between the Huangcheng and the various ministries, their faces bearing the unique vigor and caution of the new dynasty's early days.

Beneath this seemingly tranquil civil governance atmosphere, an invisible force was quietly tightening its grip on critical nodes.

Chen Dynasty, underground secret chamber of the separate villa.

The air was filled with a different, more condensed atmosphere than usual.

Zhang Huangcheng and Wang Ru stood solemnly before a large spread map of the Bian Capital city area, its surface densely marked with various symbols and annotations.

Chen Wen stood aside with his hands behind his back, his gaze calmly sweeping over the paper.

The target individual can basically be locked down.

Zhang Huangcheng spoke, his voice steady and clear, as he pointed to a residence marker on the map near the Huangcheng.

"Li Yuan, courtesy name Xi Sheng, age thirty-seven, from Ocean Prefecture Between Rivers. In the first month of Universal Peace Year 1, due to 'being meticulous, understanding civil affairs, possessing talent,' he was promoted from acting magistrate of Kaifeng Prefecture to Minister of Works Officer, serving as assistant director of the Southern Division of the Ministry of Personnel."

He is solemn and unpretentious, dislikes socializing, has brought good governance to every locality he has served, excels at sorting out complex administrative affairs, is skilled in evaluation methods, dislikes extravagance, only enjoys reading and drinking tea, interacts little with colleagues, and often comes and goes alone.

Wang Ru's cold, sharp voice then sounded, adding a security assessment.

According to extensive investigations based on the South Wind Chronicle, iron crow army covert posts monitor the surroundings of his residence and his daily commute routes, at a density higher than that for ordinary officials.

His personal network is relatively simple, his teacher-student lineage clear, without complex factional background; as of now, he has not been fully drawn into any faction.

Precisely because he is low-key, pragmatic, and newly entered the central hub, the Iron Crow Army's surveillance of him, while strict, may still have gaps compared to those high-ranking ministers who are in the limelight.

Chen Wen gave a slight nod, his gaze still lingering on the location of Li Yuan's residence.

Although the positions of Minister of Works Officer and assistant director of the Southern Division of the Ministry of Personnel are not high, they control the evaluation and selection of personnel; the post is crucial, perfectly matching his talent for being meticulous and understanding civil affairs.

His promotion at the dawn of the new dynasty also signals the new emperor's intention to employ his talent and rectify officialdom.

He raised his head and looked toward Zhang Huangcheng.

Do we have a rough outline for the contact strategy?

Zhang Huangcheng took out a thin booklet from his sleeve and presented it with both hands.

I and Lord Wang have repeatedly deliberated; forcibly seeking acquaintance would arouse suspicion. It would be better to go with the flow and create a 'chance encounter'.

"Li Yuan loves tea, especially the Dragon Phoenix Ball Tea from the Establish Stream of Central Fujian. Every ten-day rest, if he has no pressing business, he will surely go incognito to the South City's Clear Wind Pavilion to drink alone for a moment; this is one of his few fixed routines."

The Clear Wind Pavilion is not a top-tier tea house, but its advantage lies in its tranquility and elegance; its owner has had some dealings with the South Wind Chronicle.

My plan is: we will carefully select one person to pose as an impoverished scholar who has traveled to study in South of the Yangtze and is versed in the tea arts; on the days Li Yuan usually visits, this person will also go to the Clear Wind Pavilion.

Choose an adjacent elegant seat, do not initiate conversation; only when he encounters doubt while tasting tea or needs someone to appraise it, resolve his confusion with appropriately timed erudition, seemingly by chance, to spark his interest. For the first contact, make a brief point and leave an impression.

Chen Wen received the booklet, but instead of immediately flipping through it, he asked.

Personnel?

Wang Ru interjected.

Three individuals have been preliminarily selected, all are clean-background hidden agents planted early by the South Wind Chronicle, whose backgrounds can withstand scrutiny. One of them is named Lu Ming, twenty-five years old, a native of River Peace Prefecture, orphaned early, his family declined; from childhood he traveled with merchant caravans, is proficient in the tea arts, has a steady disposition, is quick-witted and eloquent, and is most suitable.

These three individuals are currently in a dormant state, with no direct link to the South Wind Chronicle's main intelligence network; even if exposed, tracing their origins would take time, giving us a chance to react.

Chen Wen pondered for a moment.

Timing?

The next ten-day rest day, five days from now.

Zhang Huangcheng replied.

The location is controllable, the personnel reliable, the timing appropriate.

Chen Wen paced slowly, considering every aspect of this plan.

The risk lies in that Li Yuan, as an official, is already vigilant; iron crow army covert posts surround him, and any unnatural action could attract attention.

But the advantage lies in that the target's habits provide a rare entry point; the personnel and method strive for naturalness, minimizing suspicion of active contact to the greatest extent.

Feasible.

He finally stopped his steps and made a decision.

Then proceed according to this plan, with Lu Ming as the first choice.

Zhang Huangcheng, you are responsible for refining the contact details, including Lu Ming's attire that day, his speech, and even the books and tea utensils he carries; all must match his false identity without a single flaw.

Wang Ru, you are personally responsible for the final vetting of Lu Ming and the others and the execution of emergency contingencies; ensure absolute certainty.

Qian Gui, continue to strengthen surveillance of Li Yuan and his surroundings; if any abnormality arises, abort the plan immediately.

We obey your orders!

Zhang Huangcheng and Wang Ru responded in unison, their expressions solemn.

The new orders swiftly turned into silent action.

Within the South Wind Chronicle, several long-dormant lines were quietly activated, beginning to pave the way for the 'chance encounter' five days hence.

Lu Ming received the activation order and began reviewing the background information and tea knowledge he had long known by heart.

The covert posts monitoring Li Yuan and the Clear Wind Pavilion raised their alert level.

An invisible net began to be cast silently upon the unaware Minister of Works Officer.

In the secret chamber, Chen Wen once again turned his gaze to the Bian Capital map.

In his eyes, Li Yuan's name and residence seemed to gradually merge with that cyan-green point of civil governance light in his perception.

Li Yuan……Xi Sheng……

He whispered the name softly.

I hope that your name 'solemn and meticulous' is not in vain, so that you may accept this……'fate' from beyond the light curtain.

The board is set; all that remains is to place the piece.

The hidden surveillance posts monitoring Li Yuan and Clear Wind Pavilion have heightened their alertness.

An invisible net began to be silently cast upon the unsuspecting Ministry of Works official.

In the secret chamber, Chen Wen once again turned his gaze toward the map of Bianjing.

In his view, Li Yuan's name and estate seemed to slowly merge with the cyan‑green civil‑governance light point he perceived.

"Li Yuan... Xi Sheng..."

He whispered that name.

"I hope your name 'Simple, Heavy, Meticulous' is not empty, so you can receive this... 'fate' from beyond the light curtain."

The game is set; all that's left is to make a move.

This covert struggle aimed at the civil official system of the False Song court finally took a substantive first step.