Chapter 68: Ming Jiao, Jiang Nan's Ming Jiao

Three days later, the sky was overcast, swallows flew low, and a downpour was about to come.

Zhao Ti ordered all eight-character water gates and underground channel passages opened; the troops set up awnings to keep watch, crossbows aimed and never straying from their sides.

As the rain came pouring down, not a single person from Ghost Fanlou escaped through any of the water gates, and even rats and insects were nowhere to be seen.

An extremely acrid smell drifted out from within, but as the rainwater washed over it, it gradually faded, and after one night it was almost imperceptible.

Zhao Ti divided the imperial guards into five units of two thousand each, entering through the five largest cave mouths; the rest stayed outside awaiting orders.

As one day passed, reports came in from everywhere—corpses lay scattered throughout, growing more numerous the deeper one went.

Near sunset, Zhong Pu led his personal soldiers out. Seeing Zhao Ti, he saluted and said: "Your Highness, my side has already rendezvoused with the other four units inside. None of us saw any living people."

Zhao Ti asked: "Every place has been searched?"

Zhong Pu said: "There are two places that are extremely dangerous. Soldiers have been posted to guard them, but we haven't been able to enter yet."

Zhao Ti asked: "What places?"

Zhong Pu said: "Your Highness, they are beneath Ghost Fanlou."

"Beneath?" Zhao Ti frowned. Kaifeng did indeed have cities stacked upon cities, but after more than a thousand years of water and earth filling in, bearing weight and pressure, the gaps between the several abandoned cities below should have been completely sealed—how could one still go down?

"Your Highness, it's not that there is an entire city beneath Ghost Fanlou, but rather two places that allow entry into spaces below that have not collapsed."

"What places are they?" Zhao Ti murmured.

"One place is in the water. Ghost Fanlou has a Yin Lake there. The lake water is clear and bright, and when torchlight shone down, one could faintly see half a palace complex at the bottom. However, we felt it unlikely anyone could be hiding there—after all, no one could hold their breath underwater for that long."

"And the other place?" Zhao Ti asked.

"The other place was revealed by Little Butterfly Cui Chong. It's extremely well hidden—a very deep passage, winding and twisting, seemingly even deeper and more far-reaching than that underwater palace. Cui Chong said that Yin Cold Pearl was obtained from within, and that deep inside there lies an ancient tomb from some unknown dynasty."

Zhao Ti thought for a moment: "Has Cui Chong been made to identify the leader of Ghost Fanlou?"

"He has. Everyone he knew, apart from the Worry-Free Cave Master and two attendants by the master's side, is dead. We suspect that Worry-Free Cave Master entered the passage and hid himself inside the ancient tomb."

Zhao Ti stroked his chin. By rights, as long as there was a passage, smoke could seep in. Even if the Worry-Free Cave Master had hidden himself deeper underground, he might well no longer be alive—but one would only feel at ease after seeing the corpse.

He asked: "Is there much treasure inside?"

Zhong Pu said quietly: "Your Highness, there is quite a lot of treasure, and there is Your Highness's earlier order…"

Zhao Ti nodded: "This king's word naturally counts. Is it enough to divide up?"

Zhong Pu said shamefacedly: "The soldiers have all stuffed their clothes full. The few of us did not dare to take anything on our own, awaiting Your Highness's orders."

Zhao Ti smiled: "The soldiers have worked hard these past few days. Not only did they stand guard day and night in armor with weapons outside, but entering inside was also perilous. Since the matter has been carried out to completion without complaint, merits and rewards are naturally recorded. You several generals may each pick a few chests and take them away."

"Your Highness, Ghost Fanlou's treasures are extremely abundant. The remainder, I will inform the several generals to send into Wang Fu under cover of night." Zhong Pu said hurriedly.

Zhao Ti gazed toward the direction of the palace city: "His Majesty must also be sent some, but it's not appropriate to go through here. If the Li Xianggong in court see it, there will be talk again. Entering Wang Fu first is fine."

"Your Highness's consideration is most prudent." Zhong Pu bowed.

"Surround the entrance leading to the ancient tomb. Send more men, with crossbows aimed inward. Do not act rashly for now."

"I will go back and make arrangements at once!"

Watching Zhong Pu leave, Zhao Ti glanced at the sky and ordered a carriage prepared to enter the palace.

Upon reaching the palace city, he passed through the Left Side Gate and headed straight for Funing Palace. The Imperial Study was at the front of this palace. After the eunuch announced him and led the way ahead, Zhao Ti entered the Imperial Study.

He saw Zhao Xu dressed in everyday clothes, sitting properly behind the desk writing. His movements were very focused, but his expression was utterly absent.

Zhao Ti had never examined him closely before. Now, looking at the hand holding the brush, it was actually lustrous white as jade, with not a single blue vein visible, as if carved from stone. He couldn't help squinting slightly.

"King Yan, sit!" Zhao Xu did not look up, continuing to write—it was a Thousand Character Classic.

Zhao Ti sat down on the brocade stool and recounted the matter of Ghost Fanlou in full. Zhao Xu set down his brush and nodded: "If no future trouble is left behind, it is truly a matter that benefits the country and the people."

Zhao Ti said: "Your Majesty, I'm afraid we'll still need to send people to keep daily watch afterward. Otherwise, once the fuss dies down, people outside will try to sneak back in. I fear that before long, another Ghost Fanlou will appear."

Zhao Xu sighed: "I naturally know this. When you get to the root of it, it's not really about what's underground, but about the quality of governance and the people's livelihood. If it were truly as Mr. Anle wrote in his poem—'When men grow old, the age of peace is yet young; orioles and flowers harmlessly sleep through the day'—how could such foul and sinister places ever come to exist?"

Zhao Ti said nothing, falling silent for a moment.

At this point Zhao Xu suddenly said: "King Yan… do you know of the Ming Jiao?"

Hm? Zhao Ti's heart stirred at the words: "Your Majesty, what Ming Jiao?"

"It is the Manichaeism that was transmitted into the Central Plains during the Yanzai period of the Wu Zhou dynasty. The common folk customarily call it Ming Jiao. It reveres the flame of light, worshipping anything that can kindle brightness." Zhao Xu spoke slowly.

"I… do not know." Zhao Ti shook his head: "Your Majesty, what about this Ming Jiao?"

"I have recently received some intelligence. Recently, Ming Jiao has been proselytizing on a large scale in Jiang Nan, far more than ever before, constantly buying popular support and amassing wealth to nourish itself. I fear they harbor designs."

Zhao Ti thought for a moment. At present, the Ming Jiao's main altar was in Jiang Nan. Thirty years later, Fang La would rise in revolt at Gechuanjian in the Tianmu Mountains of Jiang Nan. After being scattered by Tong Guan and Huang Shang leading the Western Army, they would relocate elsewhere. By the time the Yuan dynasty was established and the Divine Land sank, they would journey far to Kunlun to establish the new Bright Summit.

"Your Majesty's meaning…"

Zhao Xu said: "I'm afraid there are also followers of this cult hiding in the capital right now. I have already ordered the Jiyi Si and the Jisu Fang to investigate. King Yan, in conducting affairs outside, you must be cautious and on guard."

Zhao Ti said: "I understand. When I return, I will look through books to see what kind of rules this Ming Jiao actually follows."

Zhao Xu smiled: "The Privy Council has surveillance records on Ming Jiao from the founding of the dynasty onward. King Yan may go there to request and examine them."

Zhao Ti nodded and rose: "Your Majesty, then I shall take my leave first."

He left Funing Palace, his thoughts drifting. Earlier, when he had heard Zhu Si say that Yang Yang Yun Chong kowtowed to the void morning and evening, mumbling something about life and death and fire, he had already harbored some suspicion.

He did not know the Jiang Nan greenwood, but he knew Ming Jiao in great detail. They believed in the Great Ming Honored One, kowtowed morning and evening, their slogans being "What joy is there in life? What suffering in death?" and they also had the term "Holy Fire."

Judging by this, that little girl and the old man, as well as Yang Yang Yun Chong, were all members of Ming Jiao.

Zhao Ti thought all the way back to the fu. The sky had already darkened. After eating, he entered the cultivation room. At this time, his Phantom Yin Finger had reached the peak of the fifth layer. The sixth layer was not merely a matter of comprehension—it required vast internal force to support it. He estimated it would still take some time before it could be achieved.

At midnight, Zhao Ti came out of the cultivation room. Tong Guan, who was on duty outside, stepped over quietly and said in a low voice: "Your Highness, this servant just heard some movement."

Zhao Ti glanced at him, closed his eyes slightly to sense, then looked toward his own bedchamber. He saw a shadowy figure moving slowly across the roof.

"Who is it? How dare you break into Wang Fu at night!" Zhou Dong's voice rang out from not far away. Then torches were lit all around, and the fu's guards rushed toward this side one after another.

(Dear readers, please give your follow-up reads tomorrow—that is, Monday. Tomorrow's follow-up reads are very, very important. This humble author earnestly beseeches all of you dear readers to follow up tomorrow. I am overwhelmed with gratitude, I will engrave it upon my heart, and I humbly thank all of you dear readers.)