Volume 1: Zhu Xian Town Crisis Chapter 84: The Person from Lin'an Arrives

  At this time, Yue Yun picked up a cup of tea from the table and took a few sips. Then he stood up and muttered to himself: "I've sent everyone else out, just sitting here like this seems a bit inappropriate, I'd better go take a look at the city wall on the west side of the south gate!"

  That was the place where Yue Yun previously heard Geng Zhong mention at Liu Mingcheng's birthday banquet. During the Jin army's attack on the city, it had been severely hit by boulders from catapults, causing a collapse. At that time, Geng Zhong led his troops to block the gap with great difficulty, but before he could make repairs, he was dismissed from office. Now, with many internal affairs in Chu State, Han Shizhong should not have started major repairs on the city wall yet.

  Yue Yun thought to herself that after the ambush, this group of people might have to leave from there in order to escape without drawing attention.

  He immediately went to the crack in the city wall and observed, and indeed found that although the gap had been sealed with bricks and stones, it was only newly sealed with earth and not solid. With a little effort, another gap could be opened, and from here, he could climb down with a rope and easily leave the city.

  After determining the escape route, Yue Yun felt a lot more at ease. After returning to the inn, Niu Tong was the first to come back and report that Qin Xi had only met with Liu Mingcheng and had no other unusual movements, nor did he go see Xiao Yi.

  However, Guanling never came back, and he couldn't help but feel a little anxious.

  Until late at night, Yue Yun and Niu Tong both thought that Guan Ling had encountered some accident when he finally returned.

  "Guangling, why are you back so late? Did you find anything?" Yue Yun's brow furrowed as she hastily asked.

  Guan Ling was sweating profusely, panting heavily. He took a deep breath and said: "Young Master, I sent people to keep an eye on the four exits of the post house, but Xiao Yi didn't show up until after dinner. He got into a sedan chair with over 30 guards and headed towards Langui Alley in the east of the city. He didn't come out until midnight. Later, I disguised myself as a customer and chatted with the old madam of Langui Alley for a bit, and found out that Xiao Yi has recently become infatuated with a prostitute named Xiaotao Hong, and comes to see her every night. It's even said that he plans to buy her freedom."

  Yue Yun's eyes lit up with excitement as he said, "If he stays in his residence all the time, we really can't do anything to him. Even if he leaves the city later, whether it's to return to Jin or go to Lin'an, there will definitely be a large number of soldiers protecting him, and we won't have a chance to make a move. But if he goes to visit brothels, then he certainly won't bring too many people with him. If there are only thirty or so guards, then we might actually have an opportunity!"

  "Hmm!" Guan Ling also nodded and said: "This is indeed an opportunity! However, I've also investigated that Xiao Yi has four Iron Guards protecting him, who are said to be specially assigned to him from Wutu's eighteen personal guards. These Iron Guards have high martial arts skills, and Wutu has escaped death on the battlefield many times thanks to the eighteen personal guards. We need to discuss the timing, location, and other details of the ambush before we can proceed."

  "Tiwei? Weren't they the four Jurchen guards standing beside Xiao Yi at Liu Zhifu's birthday banquet?" Yue Yun couldn't help but ask. He did have some impression of those four Jurchen men.

  "It should be! I didn't notice their appearance during the longevity celebration, so I don't know if it's those four people." Guan Ling said helplessly after recalling.

  "Hmm, let's first calculate how to ambush Xiao Yu. Niu Tong, you come sit over here too!" Yue Yun called out to the two of them.

  He knew that there was only one chance, and if this assassination failed, Xiao Yi would be on his guard, making it difficult to kill him again.

  Inside a separate courtyard in Chu State's city, lanterns and candles are lit brightly.

  Qin Xi is discussing and negotiating with Fan Tong, Wei Liangchen and others.

  He said with a worried face: "This time, the assassination of Yue Yun failed. Xiao Tao Hong's complexion is not good. Originally, I planned to buy that little peach red and give it to him to make up for this assassination failure. But hearing that old prostitute say, Xiao Yi has already redeemed his body, and tomorrow night he will take her to the post house, and also accompany Xiao Yi to Lin'an... In this way, I am slow again, how can I complete my father's task?"

  Wei Liangchen said, "Young master, don't be too pessimistic. I think the Jin people are actually quite nervous. They've been losing battle after battle recently and won't have much confidence to increase the annual tribute. On the other hand, killing Yue Pengju is a thorny issue, and I'm afraid the officials won't agree."

  Qin Xi also nodded in agreement.

  Fan Tong smiled slightly and said: "Young Master and Lord Wei are overthinking, in fact, I think this matter is not difficult to handle!"

  "Oh? What makes Mr. Fan say this?" Wei Liangchen asked in surprise.

  Yan Tong stroked his beard and said, "Yue Fei was a stubborn and unyielding person who repeatedly disobeyed military orders and the imperial court's instructions. In previous northern expeditions, he had proclaimed that he would 'directly attack the Yellow Dragon and welcome back the two emperors', which made the imperial court extremely dissatisfied with him... Moreover, three years ago, he had submitted a memorial to the imperial court requesting that the crown prince be established as the heir apparent, for which he was rebuked by the imperial court... The reason why the imperial court has not removed his official position is because the Jin people's attack was too fierce and they had no choice but to rely on Yue Fei to resist. I believe that if the Jin people truly have a sincere heart and propose a peace treaty condition that everyone can accept, the imperial court will probably agree to kill Yue Fei!"

  If Yue Yun were here, he would certainly be amazed that Fan Tong could see the taboos committed by Yue Fei so accurately. This power of observation and analysis is indeed rare.

  Qin Xi and Wei Liangchen also heard about it, their eyes flashing, both slightly nodding, seemingly moved.

  Just then, a hurried footsteps came from outside the door, and a man called out urgently: "Young master, we just received an urgent message sent by the Prime Minister's messenger, telling us to return to Beijing immediately, something big has happened in Lin'an!"

  "What?" Qin Xi and the other two naturally recognized this voice as Zheng Song's.

  Qin Xi hastily instructed Fan Tong to open the door, and saw Zheng Song holding a red wax-sealed envelope, panting heavily: "Just received it! The messenger is still outside, do you want to call him in to ask?"

  "I'll take a look at the contents of the letter first!" Qin Xi's heart was anxious, and he hastily opened the envelope, took out the letter paper to read it. After reading it, he was shocked and immediately said to Fan Tong and Wei Liangchen: "Lord Wei, Mr. Fan, notify Xiao Yi immediately, tomorrow we will go to Lin'an, Xiaotao Hong has also arrived, there's nothing good to stay here for!"

  "What's going on?" Fan Tong and Wei Liangchen were both perplexed.

  "Look!" Qin Xi sighed, handing the letter to the two of them. He then hastily told Zheng Song, "Quickly call the messenger in, I want to understand the current situation in Lin'an in more detail..."

  Zheng Song led the way out and immediately called the messenger in.

  Wei Liangchen and Fan Tong had only read half of the letter's contents when their faces suddenly changed. They both looked incredulous, muttering to themselves: "How could this have happened?"

  Qin Xi's face turned iron-green as he turned to Zheng Song and said, "Zheng Song, go notify Xiao Yi immediately! Lord Wei, Mr. Fan, we need to discuss this urgently. Faced with Lin'an's sudden situation, how should we explain it to Xiao Yi? When he arrives in Lin'an and sees this situation, I'm afraid..."

  Zheng Song hastily bowed and took his leave, then led the order out.

  Qin Xi's brow furrowed as he began discussing the sudden change in Lin'an with Wei Liangchen and Fan Tong.

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  Classmates are going abroad, and tonight they will have a farewell party for him. The second update was sent ahead of schedule today. The book is about to enter another big one, and the previous foreshadowing of Lin An's visit will be revealed in front of everyone. Please vote for the recommended ticket for this book, and friends who haven't collected it yet, please collect it!