Military Camp
The entire camp was very orderly. The walls were high, and there were watchtowers at the corners. The soldiers stood guard like nails, and the military flag was hung high up in the air.
Chen Ping was seated in a large tent. In front of him was a pot of wine and a few candles. Chen Ping poured the wine and spoke, "Brother in law, you have caused me a lot of trouble in the past, but why did you obstruct my orders when I was about to leave the army? Your sister has been crying to me for a while now. "
As Chen Ping spoke, the atmosphere within the tent darkened, and the wind blew.
"Don't let your vengeful spirit haunt me. Take this wine as a toast to you. Go!" Chen Ping poured the wine into his mouth, "This is your favorite roast chicken. Eat it!"
As he finished speaking, Chen Ping fell silent as he stared at the candles. His eyes gleamed with a sinister light. After some time, he spoke, "Governor, you've gone too far."
"Pei Zi Yun is also despicable." Although his voice wasn't loud, it carried a metallic tone. At this point, a voice rang out from outside the tent, "General, General, the Governor requests your presence."
Hearing these words, Chen Ping's expression changed, "What's the matter?"
"His excellency the Governor didn't say anything. He only asked the General to go." The soldier outside the tent replied.
"Prepare a carriage for me, I shall go immediately." Chen Ping ordered.
"Yes, General."
Chen Ping then tidied up the things on the table before hurrying out of the tent.
Governor's Mansion
Chen Ping had just arrived when he saw the Governor walking out of the door. According to the regulations of the dynasty, the first to third ranked officials were to wear a robe embroidered with gold. At this point, the Governor was dressed in a brand-new robe. Although he was over fifty years old, his eyes were brimming with energy. When he saw Chen Ping, he frowned and smiled, "General Chen is here."
Soon after, he saw several important officials gathering around him. Chen Ping broke out in cold sweat. Could it be that he had let this matter slip? Just as he was thinking about it, the Governor spoke to the officials, "Follow me to the pier."
Chen Ping could only respond, "Yes, your excellency the Governor."
Several rows of soldiers were lined up on the shore. The Governor brought several officials along with him as they stood at the pier. Chen Ping felt that something was amiss. It wasn't that he thought that this matter was done in secret, but he understood the rules of officialdom very well. If the entire fleet was destroyed, then King Lu would be the one to bear the responsibility, and the investigation wouldn't be able to continue.
But if it didn't work … Chen Ping's face turned a little green. The sun was a little cruel, falling from the sky and shining on the surface of the sea. The golden rays were shattered by the waves.
A group of bodyguards protected the Governor from both sides, while the soldiers sealed off the pier. Flags were hung in front of the pier, fluttering in the wind. Many commoners were discussing this matter.
The discussion suddenly quietened down. Everyone looked over and saw ten warships appearing on the sea.
"Yi, he's here!" someone cried out in surprise.
Following the exclamations of the crowd, Chen Ping raised his head and looked at the warship in the distance. His face paled, "How did he really get to the dock? Where are the people who intercepted him? Is this the reason why the Governor ordered me to come? "
Chen Ping was filled with fear as he looked around, as though he was afraid that the surrounding soldiers were about to pounce on him. The fat on his tummy started to jiggle.
The navy's ships drew nearer and nearer. It looked as though it had suffered many blows. Traces of blood could be seen on the surface of the ship. It was a heavy and solemn feeling. The closer the navy got, the heavier the feeling became.
Several rows of soldiers stood at attention around the ship. Their bodies reeked of blood as they approached the shore. The surrounding commoners who were discussing this matter quietened down.
The Governor looked at the victorious fleet. At this point, his emotions had finally calmed down. He heaved a sigh of relief as he smiled, "Let's play!"
The sound of drums could be heard as they played the 'Victory Order'. The battleship docked and anchored the ship. A bridge was built. Pei Zi Yun, Cai Yuan Zhen and Chen Pu led a dozen other officers down the ship and bowed, "Greetings Governor!"
"Haha!" A burst of laughter rang out as the Governor stepped forward and spoke, "What a victory. You are all heroes of Ying Prefecture."
"I don't dare, it's all thanks to the Imperial Court and the Governor."
The Governor bent down and helped them up. He then glanced at the pier and smiled, "Everyone has fought hard. I don't usually host a banquet, but I'll make an exception today. Let's go together!"
"Governor's benevolence is immense, and we are overwhelmed by it!" Pei Zi Yun bowed deeply before turning around, "Please allow us to present our captives."
Seeing the Governor nod his head, he then ordered, "Bring all the pirates up here."
"Yes!"
Over a hundred pirates were brought down, all of them had disheveled hair and faces.
"Kill these pirates, kill them all." These pirates were brought down from the ship. The onlookers then picked up rocks and threw them at the pirates.
Hearing the insults and curses, the pirates lowered their heads.
Behind them, they carried boxes after boxes down.
Finally, the soldiers carried the ashes of the pirates down. There were rows of wooden boxes and nameplates.
Seeing such a scene, the Governor's heart sank, "These are all the men of the dynasty."
Everyone disembarked from the ship. Pei Zi Yun then stepped forward, "Fortunately, we didn't fail your excellency. The pirates have all been annihilated. Victory!"
Following Pei Zi Yun's words, the soldiers all shouted out in unison, "Victory to the dynasty! Victory to the dynasty!"
Pei Zi Yun then handed a list over to the Governor. This was a list of all the soldiers that had been captured, the number of casualties, and the treasures they had obtained.
The Governor glanced at the list and took a deep breath, "Not bad. After this battle, the pirates will no longer be a threat."
Immediately they rode the same carriage to the Governor-General's Mansion. The Governor-General's Mansion specially held a big banquet in a 'Feng Chun Lou'. Lanterns were set up everywhere, delicacies were placed on the table, and there were maids coming and going to deliver the dishes.
This was the first time Pei Zi Yun had been to this place. He saw that the floor was made of red wood, and the pillars were carved with the colors of spring. The Governor was seated at the head of the table, while the officials were seated on both sides.
Pei Zi Yun and Cai Yuan Zhen sat on his left and right. Cai Yuan Zhen personally poured wine for them.
"Today's victory is great. We shall not leave until we are drunk." The Governor raised his cup and shouted. Following his words, the officials all raised their cups as well.
After three rounds of wine, the Governor raised his cup and said, "Everyone is here. Top Scorer Pei, tell us what happened."
"Yes!"
Pei Zi Yun stood up and replied, "This time, the pirates are just pirates, and can be considered a source of trouble. However, it's just a matter of a single prefecture. Before the world is at peace, we can still stir up some trouble. Once the world is at peace, they are just a bunch of clowns."
"No matter who it was, with the might of the heavens surrounding them, and with the soldiers risking their lives, it would be easy to capture them. I only took advantage of them."
When the officials heard this, they all laughed. They then looked at Chen Ping and Cai Yuan Zhen. Chen Ping's face turned gloomy. These words were spoken by officials, but they hurt his feelings.
If it was so easy, why didn't Chen Ping manage to capture them after so many years?
Every word he heard was like a knife cutting into his heart. He had to drink two cups of wine before he could suppress the anger in his heart.
Pei Zi Yun then said, "Thanks to the Governor's meticulous planning, we were able to achieve a great victory. The pirates, Dragon King Fang Zhi and his brother, were beheaded. Four hundred and seventy-nine bandits were beheaded. Amongst the captives, a hundred and three of them were captured and brought back to the prefecture.
"Sixteen thousand taels of silver and a thousand bolts of cloth were handed over." Pei Zi Yun then bowed to the Governor, "I hereby return the Governor's command token."
The Governor then stood up and poured another cup of wine for everyone, "Good, I shall present a memorial to everyone. Come, let's drink another cup."
At the end of the banquet, many of the officials and generals were drunk. Cai Yuanzhen was the same. He was swaying unsteadily as he cursed, "This bunch of old men, how dare they try to get me drunk. Don't leave, let's have another jug of wine."
As he said this, his face was filled with joy.
Inside the room, there were only a few candles lit. On the table was a silver ingot, which was as white as snow. Under the light, it shone brightly.
Chen Pu held a small scroll in his hands as he sat down, listening to the Governor's words.
"Silver is really a good thing. Money moves people's hearts!" The Governor fiddled with the silver ingot for a long time as he spoke. Within the study, the light flickered, and the atmosphere was heavy.
"Did he really only take six thousand taels of silver? He didn't intercept it? Did the navy officers and soldiers intercept it? "The Governor asked.
When Chen Pu heard this, he replied, "Yes, all of them were our men. There's no way to hide it. It's just that when the soldiers are suppressing the bandits, there's no way they wouldn't hide it. It's just that they didn't hide much."
"That's a small matter." The Governor laughed, as if he didn't care about such a small matter.
Chen Pu's face was solemn, "I have something to report to your excellency."
"What is it?" The Governor asked.
"Your excellency, there were over a hundred pirates, but Top Scorer Pei ordered his men to kill dozens of them. We don't know why." Chen Pu said.
"Kill the pirates?" The Governor hesitated.
"I will ask. You may leave." The Governor turned around, deep in thought. Just as Chen Pu was about to leave, he heard the Governor instruct, "Don't spread the news. I will handle it."
"Yes, your excellency." Chen Pu retreated out of the room, and was deep in thought. The Governor then ordered, "Invite the Top Scorer in."
Pei Zi Yun entered the study, and saw the Governor sipping a cup of tea to sober himself up. He turned around and smiled, "There's no one else here. I can tell you that you've helped me a lot this time."
"This is indeed a blessing for the imperial court and the Governor!" Pei Zi Yun spoke seriously, "If not, things wouldn't have been so easy."
Although these words seemed hollow, it was what the Governor was thinking. The Governor laughed, "Even if that's the case, we can't deny your merits."
He then nodded his head and handed over a memorial, "This is a memorial to the Emperor. Inside is the memorial regarding the expedition against the pirates. Hence, I'm requesting for you to be conferred the title of Dao Master."
Pei Zi Yun stood up and bowed deeply, "Many thanks, your excellency Governor."
Others might not understand, but Pei Zi Yun did. Nobody could stop him from doing so. This memorial was a hundred times better than being conferred the title of Dao Master.
Just based on this, the Governor had to repay him with Qiong Yao.
The Governor then asked, "But I've heard that you've killed the pirates?"
Pei Zi Yun stood up and looked at the Governor before laughing, "Those matters are too complicated. Not only is it inappropriate to put them in this memorial, it's also very dangerous."
As Pei Zi Yun finished speaking, he handed a letter to the Governor.
The Governor was taken aback. He opened the letter and was enraged. He then slammed the letter on the ground, "Ji Bei Hou dares? Chen Pu dares? Have you checked thoroughly?"
"I've checked thoroughly. That's why I killed them all."
At this point, a gust of wind blew in, causing the paper on the window to swell. Pei Zi Yun then spoke plainly, "If not, everyone would be in a mess."
"Alright, you don't have to say anything more. I know what to do." The Governor waved his hands and spoke coldly.
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