Chapter 204: The Fox and the New Gunpowder

This old fox, he really does have something up his sleeve.

Upon hearing about the new-style gunpowder, Li Yan's heart was already on high alert.

Seeing his expression, Han Kun shook his head slightly:

"It seems there are some things you aren't aware of yet, little brother Li."

As he spoke, he took a sip of tea, a trace of mockery appearing at the corner of his mouth, "The news of the new-style gunpowder actually leaked out a long time ago."

"Just before the new year, someone in the Ministry of Works was bewitched, and the formulas for both the Divine Fire Muskets and the new-style gunpowder were leaked in their entirety."

"Situ Bo, the Assistant Commander of the Capital Commandant's Office, was beaten to death in court, and the Regional Military Commissioner, Wei Yuan, knelt outside the palace walls in the wind and snow for an entire night."

"Although the imperial court tried its best to cover this up, and the court officials dared not speak much of it, how can there be a wall in this world that doesn't let the wind through?"

To be honest, Li Yan was somewhat shocked after hearing this.

Although he had long guessed that such a thing couldn't be kept secret for long—after all, the process involved too many hands, and if someone were determined to steal it, they would always find a flaw.

He just hadn't expected the leak to happen so quickly.

It had been targeted before it could even show its might before the world.

"Who did it?" Li Yan couldn't help but ask.

Han Kun shook his head and said, "The imperial court pinned the blame on the evil cultists of the Maitreya Sect, but the true mastermind is still unknown."

As he spoke, he gently skimmed the foam off his tea, "In my humble opinion, there are too many people in this world who would do such a thing—local gentry, large merchant guilds, the imperial clan, and even the Grand Void Gate are all possibilities."

"Why?" Lu San couldn't help but ask.

"Balance!"

"The imperial court, the Mystic Sects, the noble families, the martial world... many times, they appear to have no dealings with one another, but in reality, they are deeply intertwined."

"Take our Boat Gang, for example. We appear to be just a martial arts gang, but we shoulder the heavy responsibility of grain transport. If we fall into chaos, the price of grain in the north will skyrocket!"

"Some officials won't be able to keep their official hats."

"Behind us, we are also linked to merchant guilds large and small, and these guilds have connections with various factions of officials in the imperial court. With a single order from them, they can make us suffer."

"Other gangs, and even the Mystic Sects, are the same."

"The various forces across the Shenzhou have you in me and me in you; it is a balance formed over many years."

"The only blame lies in the fact that our current His Majesty is too aggressive."

"He wants to take a knife to the Mystic Sects because they firmly control the blessed lands and have numerous believers, making them a hidden danger..."

"He wants to take a knife to the local gentry because they hold vast amounts of land and conceal it from reporting, causing the national treasury to be empty in recent years..."

"He wants to take action against the court officials because these officials are the protectors of the local gentry and those large merchant guilds..."

"He also wants to take action against the martial world because it is uncontrolled..."

Li Yan said with a calm expression, "These are all chronic ills of the imperial court; any emperor with a bit of ambition would try to find a way."

"Indeed, but those who succeed are few and far between."

Han Kun smiled slightly, shook his head, and said, "The balance formed over many years means that pulling one hair affects the whole body. Even our current His Majesty can only plan slowly."

"Opening maritime trade and supporting merchants is to suppress the gentry; supporting the Buddhist sects in recent years is to suppress the Grand Void Gate."

"In short, he wants the whole world under his control, and even more so, he wants to sharpen his weapons and horses to compete with the four seas, leaving his name in the history books."

"However, now that he has these new-style firearms, he can intimidate the Mystic Sects and the martial world, and even dare to take direct action to clear out the factions in the imperial court."

"In this situation, who exactly is the mastermind?"

Li Yan was speechless. He pondered for a moment and shook his head slightly.

If this were truly the case, it would be hard to say.

To protect their power, some people have the audacity to defy the heavens.

Thinking of this, Li Yan slowly took a sip of tea, "We rough men don't understand the great affairs of the imperial court."

"Is the senior also interested in this thing?"

Han Kun sighed, shook his head, and said, "We aren't rebelling; we just hope for peace across the four seas so we can have food to eat."

"I even hope this thing never appears. After a lifetime of hard work in martial arts, to be shot dead by a gun in the hands of a fledgling wolf cub—do you think I would be happy about that?"

"But there's no helping it; the martial world is just like this."

"The thing has already appeared. If you don't have it, but others do, you're going to be in trouble. Who knows when you might get your head blown off."

"To tell you the truth, on the second day of the second lunar month, when the dragon raises its head, someone was already secretly selling gunpowder formulas and firearm blueprints."

"By the time the Commandant's Office arrived, the people had already fled."

"No one knows which faction in the martial world has already bought them."

"It originally had nothing to do with me, but after the Commandant's Office returned to Yunyang Prefecture, they arrested everyone related to Squire Hu and threw them into prison, causing a great upheaval."

"There have been many unfamiliar faces in the city recently. I have a premonition that something big is going to happen, so there are some things I must get to the bottom of!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yan immediately understood.

Han Kun was merely an elder of the Boat Gang; by getting to the bottom of these things and making targeted arrangements, he might be able to set up a secret defense.

Since things had reached this point, Li Yan couldn't keep playing dumb. He glanced at Han Kun and whispered, "The Lord Lord Tian Sheng Sect!"

"It really is them!"

Han Kun stood up abruptly, gritting his teeth, "To tell you the truth, people from the Lord Lord Tian Sheng Sect are secretly contacting several elders of the Boat Gang."

"There have been unusual movements from the Row Sect, and they are causing us trouble for no reason; it might also be related to the Lord Lord Tian Sheng Sect."

"These fellows are likely planning to rise up again!"

"Feng Feng Shixiong Li's information is crucial to me; it might save the lives of many brothers in my Boat Gang. The matter is urgent, so I will return to discuss it with the Gang Shi Pai Tou."

Li Yan nodded and said, "Feng Feng Shixiong, please go ahead; don't worry about us."

The Lord Lord Tian Sheng Sect was different from the Maitreya Sect; they gathered mountain folk, and their initial purpose was merely to resist expulsion by the government.

Many people in the martial world held favorable views toward them and would even help hide them, so it was not strange at all that they had connections with the Boat Gang.

But there is a time and place for everything.

If they were truly involved in this kind of matter, the Boat Gang would likely be in trouble.

"How could that be!"

After standing up, Han Kun shook his head and said, "Even without this important news, I would still have to treat you well."

"I have already booked a room at the Yanyu Tower, the largest brothel in Yunyang Prefecture, to welcome you. Little friend, feel free to go and enjoy yourself; put it all on my tab."

Li Yan was stunned, "Welcoming me at a brothel?"

"Aren't you fond of such things?"

"Who told you I like that?"

"Hahaha, the entire martial world of Shaanxi knows it."

"I..."

…………

In the end, the group still didn't go to the Yanyu Tower.

For one, the situation in the city was complex, and brothels were gathering places for all sorts of people—a place of right and wrong where trouble was inevitable...

For another, they had just arrived in Yunyang, and if Li Yan were to rush off to a brothel, he would never be able to shake the title of "Little Champion of the Brothel"...

The group just had a simple meal at the Jiangzhe Guild Hall.

The dishes were simple, authentic Shaoxing cuisine: Shaoxing three-fresh, preserved mustard greens with braised pork, Xishi tofu, Shaoxing drunken chicken, and so on.

Li Yan and the others had already had a meal of wine and meat at noon, so their appetites weren't great. After eating a little, they each returned to their rooms to rest.

They didn't notice that after they turned off their lights, the window of a room across the way opened silently.

It was the room of the scholar who had been reciting poetry earlier. Behind the window was a short, fat figure, eyes flashing with brilliance, muttering, "Such strong treasure qi, what is the background of these people..."

…………

The next morning, Li Yan woke up early.

He tidied up and went out with Wang Daoxuan, intending to head to the Chenghuangmiao, while Sha Li Fei and Lu San would stay in the room.

There was no helping it; their luggage was truly valuable.

Yunyang Prefecture had a special status, so it had two City God Temples: one for the county and one for the prefecture.

The one the two were heading to was, naturally, the Prefecture Chenghuangmiao.

By registering there, they could travel freely throughout Ezhou, and Lu San's Daoist certificate also needed to be processed there.

The Prefecture Chenghuangmiao was in the west of the city, one mile from the Small West Gate—the very gate they had passed through the day before.

Yunyang Prefecture by day had another unique character.

!.

This was a critical hub for north-south transport, so trade was prosperous, and even the common folk on the street were in a hurry.

Ox carts, horse carriages, camels... they frequently blocked the streets.

The people of Ezhou had fiery tempers; once there was a traffic jam, they would curse each other, and if things got heated, they would resort to fists and feet.

There were even more people watching the excitement.

The only thing that could make them stop in their tracks was watching the gossip.

Neither Li Yan nor Wang Daoxuan liked to join in the excitement, but along the way, they discovered many strange things.

There were too many martial arts gangs in Yunyang Prefecture!

They hid among the crowd, and ordinary people couldn't distinguish them, but those with some martial world experience could tell.

Especially the traditional five trades: carts, boats, shops, feet, and teeth.

The cart and horse firms here not only had horse gangs from the north, mule gangs from the southwest, but even convoys from the coast...

Needless to say about boat transport, the Row Sect and the Boat Gang were already at odds like water and fire.

Unlike the Boat Gang, which set up branch leaders in every city, the Row Sect took the form of "row heads," and each row head had a massive team under their command.

These row heads were no simple characters; they were all people of the Mystic Sects.

In the north, the Grand Void Gate was the orthodoxy, and the Dharma lineages were actually relatively weak, but in the south, they were superior, with countless large and small Dharma lineages.

Therefore, the various row heads of the Row Sect also came from different Dharma lineages.

Just as Han Kun said yesterday, the situation among the various forces in the Shenzhou was one of "you in me and me in you."

Li Yan had already vaguely sensed this.

The north-south confrontation between the Row Sect and the Boat Gang perfectly matched the current situation of the Mystic Sects; it was hard to say whether they had the support of the orthodox sects and Dharma lineages behind them.

Needless to say about the shops, they were clearly attached to various north-south forces. What kind of person stayed in what kind of shop—if you couldn't figure that out, you would definitely be ripped off...

The foot-trade firms were the same; they had already witnessed this at the wharf yesterday.

As for the tooth-broker firms, they were even more attached to various sides...

Logically speaking, in a port city that connected north and south, such a situation was within reason.

But the saying "All brothers within the four seas, the martial world is one family" was not just empty talk.

The martial world itself was a kind of rule. No matter where you came from, you had to make a living, compromise with each other, and form rules so as not to end up in mutual destruction.

Therefore, some people said the martial world was just about human relationships and worldly wisdom.

And now, this balance had been broken.

The source was the struggle between the Row Sect and the Boat Gang. After all, this was a port city, and these two forces were the largest; other gangs were more or less attached to them.

"Yunyang has become a place of right and wrong..."

Seeing this, Wang Daoxuan felt a sense of emotion and whispered, "This kind of martial world struggle will sooner or later lead to something big. This place is not suitable for a long stay."

Li Yan nodded in agreement. He and Wang Daoxuan quickened their pace, and before long, they arrived at the Yunyang Prefecture Chenghuangmiao.

The Yunyang Prefecture Chenghuangmiao was no less grand than the one in Chang'an.

Moreover, the aura here was even more imposing.

In the five directions of east, west, south, north, and center, the entrances were all set with Dharma flags, stabilized by stone platforms, reaching three zhang in height. Added to the Mystic Yellow Flag standing inside the Chenghuangmiao, there were five colors in total—this was the Five-Direction Cloud Flag.

Ordinary people couldn't perceive it, but Li Yan could smell it: gods were entrusted upon the Dharma flags, and the five divine gongs caused the qi of the gongs and evil spirits to circulate, forming a massive formation that enveloped the entire Chenghuangmiao.

Li Yan and Wang Daoxuan looked at each other, their expressions solemn.

This kind of method was the activation of a formation's defense.

If this were Chang'an, it would only be used when evil spirits invaded, but here in Yunyang Prefecture, it had actually become a habit?

No wonder that night when they besieged the Lord Lord Tian Sheng Sect's mountain stronghold, the Grand Void Gate directly dispatched troops without the slightest hesitation.

The seemingly prosperous Yunyang Prefecture was, in reality, already fraught with peril.

Li Yan was lost in thought. He came to the side door and bowed to the Daoist priest guarding the gate, "Daoist, we are sorcerers from another state, and we need to go in to register."

"Hand over your Daoist certificates!"

The Daoist guarding the gate looked at them with eyes full of vigilance.

And the two Daoists behind him had already quietly placed their hands on their sword hilts.

Li Yan remained calm, and he and Wang Daoxuan took out their Daoist certificates respectively.

Seeing that he held a black Daoist certificate, the guarding Daoist was clearly somewhat surprised. After flipping it open, a smile immediately appeared on his face, and he bowed, "So it is Daoist friend Li from Chang'an."

"Feng Feng Shixiong brother Gu Hanzi has already given word that Daoist friend Li would be coming to Yunyang Prefecture recently. I am Feng Yuanzi. Please come in, the two of you."

As he spoke, he raised his hand.

Li Yan was slightly stunned. He was alert in his heart, but a smile appeared on his face, "Daoist, you are too polite. I am but a nameless nobody."

"Daoist friend Li is too modest."

The Daoist Feng Yuanzi replied, then with a full smile, personally led the two into the Chenghuangmiao.

Meanwhile, another young Daoist boy hurried away, clearly to notify that Gu Hanzi.

Upon arriving at the Mystic Sacrifice Office, Feng Yuanzi personally made arrangements and helped the two complete their registration.

Li Yan hesitated for a moment and asked, "Daoist, I have another companion who wants to process a Daoist certificate in Yunyang Prefecture. I wonder..."

"Daoist friend Li, don't be anxious. Feng Feng Shixiong brother Gu will be here shortly."

Feng Yuanzi smiled slightly, interrupting his words, and gestured, "Why not go to the quiet room for a cup of tea first."

Damn it, showing courtesy for no reason—there must be trouble...

A sense of unease rose in Li Yan's heart, but since things had reached this point, he could only act according to the situation and followed Feng Yuanzi into the quiet room.

Feng Yuanzi was very courteous, personally pouring tea for the two, and smiled, "Tuanhuang, Qimen, and Huangya are collectively known as the three teas of Huai'an. The best of each year is sent to Yunyang Prefecture. Daoist friend Li, please have a taste..."

"Good tea."

Li Yan took a casual sip. He didn't know which one it was; although the fragrance was pungent and the aftertaste long, his heart became increasingly uneasy.

Just as he was about to ask, he saw a Daoist walk in from outside the door. He was tall, with a long, elegant beard—it was Gu Hanzi, who had led the group that night.

"Feng Feng Shixiong brother, I'm going to guard the gate. Daoist friend Li, please take your time."

Seeing this, Feng Yuanzi bowed and left directly.

Clearly, leaving the two here was the intention of this Gu Hanzi...

Only two chapters today; three tomorrow.

Also, recommending a book.

(End of chapter)