The bright red color reflected in the night sky, followed by people's shouts and cries. The leaves of the trees danced in the heatwave, and the wind whistled.
The wind that night was unexpectedly strong. The raging flames had already engulfed a few streets in the Cloud Manor, and they were still spreading in a wider area. As the fire intensified, the madness of the bandits in Yun Zhong Manor reached its peak.
The moment they learned of Shi Yuanji's identity, Xiao Shuqing, Long Jiuyuan, and the other fugitives understood that they could no longer surrender. Years of living on the edge of a knife told them more clearly what would happen to them if they were caught. It would be a fate worse than death. From now on, there was only one path left.
After the city became chaotic that night, some of the nobles in Yun Zhong Manor were surprised, but a small number of them showed expressions of understanding after hearing the news. It wasn't strange for a group of people to attack the Qi Manor sooner or later. A small number of people with a keen sense of smell were even thinking about whether they should join in tonight. The news that came later was frightening.
In Xi Yin Manor, when Wanyan Youyi first heard about the chaos, he was amazed at his mother's sensitivity in this matter. Then the fire spread and finally got out of hand. Then, the atmosphere in the house became tense. The family guards gathered, and his mother came over and knocked on his door. Wanyan Youyi went out and saw his mother in a long cloak, ready to go out. Beside her was his brother Dezhong.
"Something happened to the Qi Family. Shi Yuanji is dead. Xiao Shuqing and a group of bandits have set fire to the city. The wind is strong tonight, and the fire is difficult to suppress. There aren't enough water dragons in the city. Our family will send twenty. Dezhong, you and Youyi will lead. Go and ask Uncle Shi first. Tell him that the family guards and water dragons in our manor will listen to his command. "
Chen Wenjun was nearly fifty years old. She usually lived a luxurious life, but there was already white hair on her head. But now, when she gave orders, she was as neat and efficient as a man's eyebrows.
"Uncle Shi won't use the family guards, but he will accept the water dragons. Send people over, then come back and stay. Now that your father is out of the family, the two of you will be the pillars of the family. It's just that it's not appropriate for you to interfere too much at this time. If the two of you perform neatly and beautifully, others will remember you. "
As she spoke, she tidied up Wanyan Youyi's shoulders and cuffs. Finally, she said solemnly, "Remember, the situation is chaotic. The bandits know that they are out of luck and will fight like cornered beasts. The two of you, take twenty bodyguards with you and be careful. If there's nothing else, leave early and come back early."
The two brothers, Wanyan Dezhong and Wanyan Youyi, received the order and left. Outside the city, the city guards had already been mobilized on a large scale, sealing all the exits of the city. A commander of the city guards with a noble background was immediately stripped of his military power.
Shi Liai made her move.
That night, the flames and chaos continued in the city for a long time. There were also many small undercurrents that quietly occurred in places that people couldn't see. In the Great Building Yard, the Black Flag had destroyed half of the warehouse's blueprints. Several Wu dynasty craftsmen who had caused trouble were exposed and killed after carrying out the destruction. In the new village outside the city, when Shi Liai's eldest grandson was killed, the commander of the city guards was seized, and the center of gravity shifted, the Black Flag forces had already been arranged to rescue the dozen or so Black Flag soldiers who had been escorted to the new village. Of course, not many people in Yunzhong Manor knew of this news on the fifth night of the New Year.
Tang Minjie passed through the streets, feeling that the chaos in the city had been suppressed. When he entered the simple and crude courtyard where he was temporarily staying, he felt that something was wrong.
The blade was handed over from the side, and someone closed the door. Someone was waiting for him in the dark room ahead.
The blade was pressed against his neck. Tang Minjie raised his hands and was pushed through the door. The chaos outside was still raging. The flames reflected the sky and then the windows, outlining the vague outlines of the things in the room. There was someone sitting in the seat opposite him.
"Are there people like you in the Huaxia army?"
"Wh, wh, wh, wh, wh … Everyone, everyone …"
"Don't play dumb. I know who you are. I'm really disappointed that Ning Yi's disciple is this kind of trash!"
"Hehe … I acted well, didn't I? Madam Wanyan, this is the first time we've met, there's no need … to be like this, right?"
Tang Minjie gestured at the blade on his neck, but it didn't leave. Chen Wenjun slowly stood up from the other side.
"Listen to the voices outside. You're very proud, aren't you? What's your flower name? Clown? " The woman shook her head in the darkness and suppressed her voice. "Do you know what you've done?!"
"Uh … Things that make bad people unhappy?" Tang Minjie thought for a moment. "Of course, I'm not saying that you're a bad person. Of course you're very happy, and I'm also very happy, so I'm a good person. You're a good person, so you're also very happy … Although it sounds like you're a bit, uh … Is there something that makes you unhappy?"
"Proud? Humph, that's true. People like you will feel proud. " Chen Wenjun's voice was low. "You dealt with the Qi family, assassinated Shi Liai's grandson, killed more than ten good-for-nothing children, blew up a pile of waste paper in the Great Construction Yard, implicated those poor people who were bewitched by you, and perhaps saved the lives of more than ten Black Flag heroes outside the city. Do you know what's going to happen next? "
"The Jurchen imperial court will be furious, and those who are fighting in the front line will kill people with all their might! Every time they take down a city, they will start to kill people even more fiercely! No one will be able to stop them! But what about this side? You killed more than ten good-for-nothing children. Apart from venting your anger, what impact do you think it has on the Jurchen? You're crazy! Lu Mingfang has worked so hard in Yunzhong for so many years, and you used it to blow up a pile of waste paper! You saved more than ten people! From tomorrow onwards, the entire Jin Kingdom will carry out a major investigation of the Han slaves. Tens of thousands of people will die, and many of those poor craftsmen in the Great Construction Yard will also die. As long as there's a suspicion, they won't be able to live! Lu Mingfang's arrangements in the entire Yunzhong Mansion are ruined! Do you know that? "
"Uh …" Tang Minjie thought for a moment. "I know."
"You …"
"But isn't war a fight to the death? Madam Wanyan … Madam Chen … Ah, this, we usually call you that madam, so I'm not sure if it's better to call you Madam Wanyan or Madam Chen. But … the Jurchen's massacre in the south is a good thing. Their massacre will let the people of the Wu dynasty know that surrendering is a delusion. After massacring a few more cities, the remaining people will bring out their courage and fight the Jurchen to the end. The death of the Qi family will tell others that being a traitor doesn't have a good ending. Besides … the Qi family wasn't killed by me, he was killed by the Jurchen. As for the Great Construction Yard and Madam Wanyan, in our line of work, there are successes and failures. If we succeed, people will die, and if we fail, people will die. I didn't want them to die. I … actually, I'm very sad, I … "
In the darkness, Tang Minjie spoke, and a sob came from his throat. Chen Wenjun's chest rose and fell, and she was stunned for a moment. "I think I should kill you."
The blade on his neck tightened, and Tang Minjie swallowed back his sobs. "Wait a minute, okay, okay, okay, I forgot, only bad people will cry today … Wait a minute, Madam Wanyan, and the person next to me, like my teacher always said, we should be mature and not scare each other. Although it's the first time we've met, I think the effect of today's show is not bad. Your words make me feel wronged. My teacher used to praise me …"
"That's because your teacher is also a madman! Seeing you, I know what kind of madman he is! " Chen Wenjun pointed at the faint noise and light outside the window. "Look at this fire. Even if those nobles deserved to die, even if you did a good job to vent your anger, do you know how many people will die in this fire today!?!?!?! Among them are Jurchen, Khitans, Han people, old people, and children! This is the way you do things! Do you have any humanity? "
"The wind is too strong." Tang Minjie stared at her, "The wind, the wind is too strong …"
Chen Wenjun looked at him in the darkness, almost suffocating with anger. Tang Minjie was silent for a moment, and sat down on the stool behind. Soon after, his voice was heard.
"Although … although Madam Wanyan is very prejudiced against me, I want to remind you of one thing. The situation tonight is a little tense. A chief of detectives has been tracking my whereabouts. I think he will come here soon. If he sees you with me … what I did tonight, will it suddenly be very effective? Will you suddenly admire me? You see, such a big thing, in the end … hehehehe … "
He laughed in the darkness, and Chen Wenjun and the others in the room suddenly narrowed their eyes. There were also people moving on the roof outside the room. Just before the sword was about to strike, Tang Minjie waved his hands, "It's just a joke, just a joke. My teacher told me that jokes are very effective when you are in danger. It shows that you have a sense of humor, can tell jokes, and are not so afraid of death … Madam Wanyan, how many years have you been with Xi Yin?"
Chen Wenjun didn't answer, but Tang Minjie continued, "I respect you very much, I admire you very much. My teacher said … Hmm, you misunderstood my teacher, he is a good person. He said that if possible, when we go to the enemy's territory to do something, he hopes that we will do our best to abide by morality unless it is absolutely necessary. But I … uh, before I came, I could understand this sentence, but after I came, I don't understand it anymore … "
"I have seen so many … evil things, countless tragedies in the world, I have seen … the Han people here, suffering like this. Are they living like humans every day? No, even dogs don't live like this … Madam Wanyan, have you seen people with their hands and feet cut off? Have you seen those Han slaves with their collarbones pierced through? Have you seen the crazy prostitutes in the brothels? You have seen … uh, you have seen all of them, hehe, Madam Wanyan … I admire you very much. You knew what would happen if your identity was exposed, but you still did what you should do. I am not as good as you, I … hehe … I feel like I am living in hell … "
"I came from the Wu dynasty, I have seen people suffer. I have been to the northwest, I have seen people die one by one. But only here. Every day when I open my eyes, all I think about is setting a fire and burning everyone around me to death. It's this street, two courtyards over there. That Nuzhen raised a Han slave. That Han slave was beaten to a lame leg, his right hand was chopped off, and he was chained up. Even his tongue was cut off, and his teeth were knocked out … He used to be a soldier. Hehehe, but now he doesn't even have clothes to wear. He's as skinny as a dog. Do you know how he cries? Let me imitate him, I can imitate him the best, he … uh uh uh uh uh, ah ah ah ah ah ah … "
Tang Minjie's imitated crying sounded horribly in the darkness, then turned into an uncontrollable low laugh, "Hehe, hehe, hahahahaha … sorry, sorry, I scared you. I burned many people to death, ah, it is too cruel, but …"
He shook his head for a while, "Oh, that is … that is all the fault of the wind. That is … uh … "
The room fell silent again. Feeling the other party's anger, Tang Minjie sat there with his legs together, no longer quibbling, looking like an obedient child. Chen Wenjun took a few deep breaths, but she still realized that she could not communicate with this madman, so she turned and walked out of the door.
"I will talk to Lu Mingfang about this matter. Before that, if you continue to act recklessly like this, I will kill you."
After saying this, she walked out of the room with the people who came with her. However, the moment they left the room, a voice suddenly came from behind them. It was no longer the slyly jesting voice from before, but a steady and firm voice.
"Lady Wanyan, war is a matter of life and death. One clan dies and one clan lives. Have you ever thought, if one day the Han people defeat the Lady Zhenren and the Yanran is gone, where will you go?"
Chen Wenjun's footsteps paused, but before she could speak, the other party's suddenly cheerful voice came from behind her again.
"Hehe, the Huaxia army welcomes you!"
Chen Wenjun clenched her teeth, pulled out the dagger at her side, and swung it. The dagger flew into the darkness of the room, and there was no more sound. She took two deep breaths, finally suppressing her anger, and strode away.
In the darkness of the room, Tang Minjie covered his face, not moving. He waited until Chen Wenjun and the others had completely left before he put down his hand. There was a dagger wound on his face, and his hand was full of blood. He curled his lips. "Married to a Lady Zhenren, not gentle at all …"
The night burned, and then gradually calmed down. On the second and third day, the city was still under martial law. The investigation of the entire matter continued, and even more things were silently brewing. On the fourth day, a large number of Han slaves and even Khitans were found, either imprisoned, or beheaded. The killing inside and outside of Yunzhong Manor was bloody. The preliminary conclusion had already been made: the Black Flag Army and the people of the Wu dynasty had conspired to cause this extremely tragic case.
But inside, there were naturally different opinions.
The development of the entire situation of the Yunzhong tragedy was quickly sorted out by the ruthless officials who participated in the investigation. The person who previously linked up and initiated the whole thing was Wanyan Wenqin, a noble son of the Yunzhong Manor who was not very proud. Although most of the leaders who rebelled, such as Xiao Shuqing and Long Jiuyuan, resisted stubbornly in the chaos and died in the end, there were still minions who were arrested. Under pressure from Shi Liai, another commander of the city guards, Wanyan Fang, who participated in the collusion, also revealed the fact that Wanyan Wenqin colluded and incited people to participate in it under the pressure of Shi Liai.
The truth of this matter could no longer be announced to the public. Regardless of whether the whole thing seemed short-sighted and stupid, the Wu dynasty and the Black Flag Army had to take the blame for this. On the sixth day of the seventh month, all the members of Wanyan Wenqin's Public House were imprisoned and entered the process of trial. On the afternoon of the seventh day, a new clue was sorted out. It was about the situation of Dai Mo, the Han slave who was by Wanyan Wenqin's side. It became the new source of the whole incident. After all, this matter was not difficult to investigate.
The officials in charge of the trial looked at the dead Dai Mo. They investigated some of the books left behind by Dai Mo and compared some of the manuscripts in the study of the dead Wanyan Wenqin. They confirmed that the so-called Ghost Valley and School of Traversing and Conquering were scams. On the ninth day of the seventh month, the constables searched the room where Dai Mo lived for the second time. On the night of the ninth day of the seventh month, Chief Constable Mandualu was sitting in Wanyan Wenqin's Manor when his subordinates found something.
Dai Mo had a daughter who was captured and brought to the territory of the Jin Kingdom. According to the testimony of the servants of the central branch of Wanyan Wenqin's Manor, this daughter disappeared and was later not found. However, Dai Mo had recorded her daughter's whereabouts in a secret document.
The moment he saw the manuscript, Mandualu closed his eyes and his heart shrank.
After Dai Xiao 'e was captured and brought to the Jin Kingdom, she was assigned to be a slave under Wanyan Zongfu's name. One and a half years ago, she arrived at the knitting workshop of Yun Zhong Mansion to work as a female worker. During this period, Wanyan Zongfu's servant led Dai Xiao' e to let Dai Mo catch a glimpse of her from afar …
"… the Dead Room …"
At this moment, the document left behind by Dai Mo seemed to have been dipped in poison, burning his palm. If it was possible, Mandu Daru only wanted to throw it away, tear it up, and burn it. But on this evening, a group of constables was watching him from the surroundings. He had to hand the manuscript to Shi Liai …
The sun was setting.
Tang Minjie walked on the streets of Yun Zhong Mansion. His nose was filled with the smell of blood. He looked at everything around him with a humble and cautious expression, as usual.
War was a game of life and death.
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