The weather was gloomy, and the cries outside the house had stopped at some point.
In a small room, Tang Minjie, who had a thin face and a full beard, was curled up beside the stove in a daze while holding a teacup. He suddenly woke up with a start. He suddenly woke up with a start. He raised his head and listened to the quiet world outside. He took a sip of water and wiped away some of the patterns on the ashes on the floor before slowly standing up.
He pushed open the door with difficulty. The wind and snow outside had already stopped, and only then did the rustling sound gradually begin to appear in his ears, followed by the sounds of people on the street and the few footsteps.
Seeing that it was afternoon, he didn't know what time it was. Tang Minjie closed the door and calculated in his heart. He turned around and began to tidy up his coat.
When he put on the hat, his frostbitten ears hurt so much that he wanted to tear it off — this was one of the disadvantages of living in the north. Every winter, he would get frostbites. His fingers, feet, and ears would all be frozen. After arriving in Shangjing, this situation worsened, and he felt his hands and feet itch unbearably.
Lu Mingfang was much better in this aspect. In fact, if he had considered this earlier, he should have returned to the south to enjoy a few days of good fortune. With his alertness and talent, he wouldn't have been tricked by Mandu Dalu and ended up in such a state.
As he thought this, he put on his gloves with some difficulty, then put on a tattered cloak with a scarf. His entire person was no longer distinguishable.
This was one of the advantages of a snowy day. The people on the street all covered themselves as tightly as possible, making it difficult to tell who was who. Of course, because Lu Mingfang's actions in Shangjing were relatively restrained and he didn't openly cause trouble, the checks on the residents in this border city were relatively lax. He had the Xi people's household registration, so most of the time people wouldn't make things difficult for him.
Leaving the door of his temporary residence, he walked along the snow-covered road in the direction of the south. It was already the 21st of the tenth month. He had set out on the fifteenth of the eighth month and rushed all the way to Shangjing. It was already the beginning of the tenth month of this year. They had thought that with Wu Qimai's death so long ago, the East and West Mansions would have started fighting to decide who the new Emperor would belong to. However, the development of the situation did not go as planned.
For unknown reasons, Wu Qimai amended his edict before his death. In the final edict, he withdrew his mandate for the next Emperor of the Jin Kingdom and asked the Wanyan Clan's branch leaders and Zhu Bo Ji Lie to vote for the new Emperor of the Jin Kingdom.
This was the method used by the Jurchen tribe in the early years when they were still in the tribal alliance stage. Theoretically speaking, now that the Great Jin was already a country, it was very likely that they would be torn apart by bloodshed. However, throughout the month of October, the atmosphere in Shangjing was indeed somber. There were even a few times when there were emergency movements of the army and small-scale battles. However, the bloodshed that truly affected the entire city was always contained at the most critical moment.
After staying in Shang Jing for twenty days, Tang Minjie had a rough understanding of the situation here through intermittent inquiries.
Currently, Shangjing was in a phase of "Three Kingdoms" deadlock. As he had once introduced to Xu Xiaolin, on one side was Wanyan Zonggan, who had the support of Zong Fu Zong Bi. On the other side was Wu Qimai's legitimate son, Wanyan Zongpan. The third party was Zong Han and Xi Yin who had arrived in Shangjing at the end of the ninth month.
Theoretically speaking, Zong Han had already lost the possibility of becoming the next Emperor Jin. As soon as they arrived in Shangjing, they first made an appointment with Wanyan Zongpan, who was at a disadvantage but still had a lot of power. Then, they visited various families and began to exaggerate the progress and terror of the Hua Xia army in the southwest. They also verbally requested that the Jin tribes put aside today's dispute and choose a satisfactory Emperor to deal with the threat that might come from the south.
If such a thing had not been said by people like Zong Han and Xi Yin, no one among the Jin people in Shangjing would have paid attention to it. But no matter what, Zong Han's decades of fighting for the Jin Kingdom had indeed earned him a great reputation and power. Others might doubt other things, but at this moment, when Aguda, Wu Qimai, Zong Wang, Lou Shi, and the others had all passed away, no one could really doubt his and Xi Yin's judgment on the battlefield. Moreover, in the hearts of the surviving senior members of the Jin Kingdom, Zong Han and Xi Yin's unwavering loyalty to the Great Jin Kingdom ultimately had some weight.
In this way, the delicate balance in Shangjing had been maintained. For the entire month of October, there was still no winner or loser.
Of course, if one were to talk about the details, the whole situation could not be summarized in such a short description. From September to October, countless negotiations and fights took place in Shangjing. This time, because all the branch chiefs of the Wanyan Clan had the right to vote, some of the highly respected elders were also invited to lobby around. When the lobbying failed, there were naturally threats and even murder to solve the problem. This kind of balance almost went out of control twice because of this. However, Zong Han and Xi Yin were active in it. Every time, they would pull some key figures to their side at the critical moment, stabilizing the situation and selling their "Black Flag Threat Theory" more widely.
If there was a team in Shangjing that was good at taking action, or if the matter happened in Yunzhong City, Tang Minjie might have taken the risk out of desperation. But the situation he faced was not ideal. Although Lu Mingfang's next job was here, he was not familiar with Lu Mingfang's original intelligence network here. Under the policy of "entering hibernation", he actually did not want to wake up his comrades here on a large scale.
After being in Shangjing for so long, there was only one source of information that he could trust. Out of caution, the communication between the two sides was intermittent. It was extremely difficult to get first-hand information. Of course, there was no action team even if he got it. Thinking about it this way, it made sense.
When he left the alley of the civilian area and entered the main street, there was a carriage of a prince passing by. Soldiers were clearing the road nearby. Tang Minjie and a group of people knelt on the side of the road. When they looked up, they saw Wanyan Zongfu's large carriage hurrying away under the protection of the soldiers. They did not know what was going to happen.
After this small interlude, he got up and continued to move forward. He turned a corner and came to the side of a relatively secluded small square covered with snow. He put his hands in his pockets and slowly wandered around the vicinity, checking for any suspicious signs. After about an hour, the target, who was wearing a bloated gray robe, came from the other end of the street. He opened the door in front of a simple courtyard and entered the house inside.
Tang Minjie continued to wander nearby. After another half an hour, he went to the door of the small courtyard and knocked on it. The door immediately opened. The person in gray stood at the door and quietly peeped outside. Tang Minjie flashed in, and the two of them walked towards the house inside.
The person in gray seemed to be a woman in her thirties. She looked dignified and had a small mole at the corner of her mouth. After entering the room with a charcoal fire, she took off her coat and poured two cups of water from a kettle. She waited for Tang Minjie, who was choking with cold, to take one cup before she took the other and drank a mouthful.
"What's the situation outside?" Tang Minjie's voice was slightly hoarse. His frostbite was extremely itchy, and he could not help but gently tear off the scab on his hand.
"There's no progress." The woman said, "What I can find out now is some unimportant gossip. The two children of Erdai accepted Zong Bi's things and joined Zong Gan's side. Wanyan Zongpan is trying to win over people like Wanyan Zongyi and Wanyan Ahu. It is said that Marquess of Sui and Mu Zong will arrive in the capital in two days. At that time, all the heads of Wanyan's branches will all be there. But I heard in private that Zong Gan hasn't got the most support yet. Maybe some people don't want them to enter the city too soon. In fact, that's all … Do you trust me? "
When she said the last sentence, Tang Minjie, who was subconsciously leaning against the fire, was slightly stunned. He looked over, and the woman's eyes also quietly looked at him. The woman's name was Cheng Min. She was saved by Lu Mingfang in the early years. She was doing the prostitution business in the brothel in Shang Jing. She used to collect a lot of information for Lu Mingfang and was slowly developed. Although Lu Mingfang said she was trustworthy, he was dead after all. They had only met a few times, so Tang Minjie was still vigilant.
Their eyes met for a moment, and Tang Minjie tilted his head, "I trust Old Lu."
The woman nodded, "You can't be warm by the fire if you are frozen. Stay away." Then she picked up the wooden basin in the room, scooped some hot water, added some snow in it, and put a towel in it.
"Sit down." She said and pushed Tang Minjie on the stool, "You have frostbite. Don't care about the fire. The more you bake, the worse it will get. You can't wash it with cold water or hot water. You can only wipe it slowly with warm water … "
As she said so, she squatted there and gently wiped Tang Minjie's hands a few times. Then she got up and wiped the frostbite and pus on his ears. The woman's movements were light and skillful, but also firm. At this time, there was not much of the feeling of a brothel woman, but Tang Minjie was a little uncomfortable. When the woman finished wiping her hands and ears, she took out a small cloth bag from the side and took out a small box inside. He asked, "What is this?"
"It's for treating frostbite. Smell it." She understood the wariness in his heart, so she directly handed the item over. Tang Minjie sniffed it, but naturally, he couldn't distinguish it clearly. The other party said, "You've come here so many times already. If I really had turned to the Golden Statue, I would have caught you long ago, right?"
Tang Minjie looked at her, "I have a backup plan. If something happens to me, you will die."
"Then it's fine." The woman smiled calmly, took the medicine box, picked out the ointment inside, and began to apply it on him. "This thing can't be cured once or twice. The main thing is to be careful."
After applying the ointment on his hands and ears, she put the basin on the ground and pulled up one of Tang Minjie's feet to take off his shoes. Tang Minjie struggled for a moment, "My feet are fine."
"When I came in, I could see that your feet were itchy, just like your hands and ears. You don't have to be so polite."
"I can go back by myself …"
Before Tang Minjie could finish his words, the woman had already pulled off his boots, and the room was suddenly filled with a foul smell. There were all kinds of inconveniences in a foreign land. Tang Minjie had not bathed for nearly a month, and the smell on his feet was even more indescribable. But the woman just moved her face slightly away and slowly and carefully took off his socks.
Frostbite would fester on the shoes, and many times it would coagulate with the socks. Tang Minjie felt a little embarrassed, but Cheng Min did not care, "After so many years in Shangjing, all I learned is to serve people. You stinky men are all like this. It's fine. "
She took off Tang Minjie's shoes and soaked them in warm water for a while. Then, she took out a piece of cloth and slowly scrubbed him. Tang Minjie remained vigilant in his heart, "You are very observant."
"If I didn't learn to observe people's words and expressions, how would I get information? There are many things that they won't always talk about." The woman sitting in front of him smiled slightly, "By the way, how did Old Lu die?"
"I killed him." Tang Minjie said, "He could have gone south alone, but I saved a woman and asked him to take care of her on the way south. I didn't expect that the woman had been targeted by the golden dog for several years …"
When Tang Minjie said this, the room was silent for a moment. The woman's hands did not stop, but after a while, she asked, "Did he die happily?"
"He wasn't caught."
"That's a good thing."
"You and Old Lu …"
"We are fine." The woman wiped his feet and applied medicine. She looked up and smiled, "A person like me can't tarnish a hero like him."
"…"
Tang Minjie was speechless for a moment. After the woman finished applying medicine, she picked up the wooden basin and stood up, "I can see that you are similar people. You are more vigilant than Old Lu, and you have been paying attention from the beginning to the end. This is a good thing. Only people like you can do great things. Those who take it lightly are all dead. Don't wear the socks first. Let me see if there are any pieces of cloth and I will sew new ones for you. "
A pair of socks had been worn for so long and were basically dirty. Tang Minjie shook his head, "No need, it's getting late. If there is no other important news, let's meet again in a few days."
The woman nodded, "There is no hurry. At least let your feet dry."
After applying medicine on his feet, it was cool and comfortable. Tang Minjie did not want to leave immediately. Of course, on the other hand, the comfort of his body always made him feel a little uncomfortable and a little uneasy — in the enemy's place, he hated the feeling of comfort.
When the woman poured water in, Tang Minjie said, "You … why do you have to stay in that kind of place …"
The woman put down the wooden basin and replied with a natural look, "I was captured when I was a teenager and was defiled by those beasts. Later, I was lucky to not die. When I met Old Lu, it had been … six or seven years of that kind of life. To be honest, I am used to it. You also said that I am good at observing people's words and expressions. To be able to find out information for Old Lu, I think it is revenge. I hate him, you know? "
When she said this, her words were frank and her smile was sweet. Tang Minjie nodded slightly.
"… Later, Old Lu found a way to give me the identity of a Bohai woman. In Shangjing, I wouldn't be bullied like a Han woman. He also advised me to go back to the south. But what could I do even if I went back? I've spent half my life here. When I think about it, I'll only feel heartache. But staying here to find out information, I know that I am cutting the flesh of a woman. Thinking about it makes me feel better. "
She paused, "This courtyard is the original home of the Bohai people. They died in an accident, and I took over the household registration. So, I come here from time to time …"
When she said this, there was a sudden sound of a gong in the distance outside the house. They did not know what happened. Tang Minjie was shocked and suddenly wanted to get up. Cheng Min, who was sitting opposite, pressed his hand, "I will go out and have a look."
She put on her coat and flashed out. Tang Minjie quickly put on his shoes and socks, put on his hat, picked up a nearby chopper, and walked out the door. The sound of the gong in the distance was urgent, but it was not for the ambush here. He hid behind the courtyard door and looked out. The pedestrians on the road were hurrying back. After a while, Cheng Min came back.
"Something happened." She said in a low voice, but there was a trace of excitement in her eyes, "I heard that the army outside is mobilizing. The Brave Tiger Army is on the city wall. Maybe they saw Marquess Sui coming to Shangjing, so someone wants to make trouble!"
The heads of the various branches of the Wanyan family did not live in Shangjing. After Wu Qimai's edict was officially announced, these people gathered in Shangjing. Once all the people arrived, the clan meeting would begin, and the ownership of the throne would be revealed. Under such a background, it was not surprising that some people hoped that they would arrive sooner, and some hoped that they would arrive later. In such a game, there could be large-scale bloodshed at any time, and then the whole Jin Kingdom would be divided.
When Tang Minjie came here, it was exactly such a wave that he expected. He thought for a moment, "Is it still possible to walk outside?"
"The army is under martial law, and it will be very conspicuous when there are few people. If you live far away, or if you are interrogated … "Cheng Min said this with a frown, and then said," I think you should stay here for a while. Anyway, it will be difficult for me to go back. If we are together, if someone comes to visit, or if something really serious happens, we can take care of each other. What do you think? "
She looked at Tang Minjie. Tang Minjie hesitated for a moment. When he came to Shangjing, he could not trust anyone for a while, so he played some tricks and found a house in the black market to stay temporarily. This was also to have a way out when dealing with Cheng Min. At present, there was no large-scale search for Black Flag spies in Shangjing, but other things were very tight. If he was interrogated, he did not know what would happen.
Thinking about this, he finally said, "Okay, sorry to bother you."
Cheng Min looked at the shoes and socks on his feet, and smiled helplessly, "I will find some rags to make socks for you first, and then find some food."
It was already dusk, and the sky was filled with dark clouds. It seemed that it would snow at any time. The two walked into the room, ready to wait patiently for the possible results of the night. In the dark city, there were already dots of light that began to light up.
"… Currently, there is a rumor that goes like this … The next Emperor of the Jin Kingdom was originally a matter between Zong Gan and Zong Han, but Wu Qimai's son, Zong Pan, was ambitious and insisted on taking the throne. Of course, Wu Qimai did not agree at first … "
In the outside city, the army walked through the snow-covered streets, and the atmosphere had become solemn. In the small courtyard, the lights in the room flickered. Cheng Min took out a needle and thread, and used rags to mend socks, while telling Tang Minjie the story about Wu Qimai.
This was the beginning of a long night …
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