Everything was swept away like smoke and dust.
April 28th, Lin 'an.
The carriage galloped on the road between the cities. When it made a sharp turn, the opposite carriage was approaching. It was too late to dodge and crashed into each other. The frightened horses struggled to get up. The wooden wheels left the axle and rolled to a food stall on the side of the road in the distance. In the small square, people cursed in the chaos. Some people gathered and helped to stop the struggling horses.
Cheng Zhouhai climbed out of the carriage and touched his forehead. It was scratched by a piece of wood and was bleeding. He just wiped it away. He didn't know which family the opposite carriage belonged to. Lin 'an had been closed for four months and the pace of life had gradually slowed down. Maybe they heard some news. He patted the shoulder of the person following him and let him handle it. He went to untie one of the horses and mounted it.
Along the way, they arrived at Li Pin's residence in the north of Lin 'an. Someone opened the door to welcome them. In the courtyard, Li Pin and Tie Tianying had already arrived. A lone weeping willow was planted at the side of the spacious courtyard, swaying in the morning sunlight. The three of them walked inside and pushed open the door. Sabers and spears were being sharpened in the hands of the martial artists in the room. In the corner of the room, there was even a person who was sharpening a saber. His technique was skilled and sharp, the edge of the saber was rubbed against the stone, producing a terrifying green light.
The three continued to walk inside.
"Is the news confirmed?"
"In an hour at most, the envoy of the Jin Kingdom will enter from the Anding Gate. His identity is pending investigation."
Lifting the curtain of the door, they saw the same scene of weapons being sharpened in the second room. There were men and women in different clothes. At first glance, they looked like the most ordinary people on the street. The same scene was in the third room.
"The situation in the court is chaotic. His Highness has entered the palace this morning and there is no news for the time being."
"Should we wait for his Highness to come out and make a decision?"
"His Highness left it to me to act according to the circumstances. Wanyan Xiyin's strategy has been operating for a year. You and I don't know how many people in the capital want to take sides. Ning Yi's order to eliminate traitors has made us more united. But when we can't hold on anymore, I'm afraid it will be out of control. "
"Got it."
Tie Tianying nodded his head, his eyes revealing a determined look. Li Pin also nodded her head. Cheng Zhouhai stood there, in front of him was the door to another spacious courtyard, the sun was shining down from there.
"The ones escorting the Jurchen envoys might be the city guards. No matter how this matter turns out, you might …"
Tie Tianying waved his hand and interrupted him. He turned around and said, "We are all people who live on the edge of a knife. What we value is righteousness, not the law."
When he said this, Cheng Zhouhai nodded slightly and smiled. Tie Tianying hesitated for a moment and finally added another sentence.
"We all expected these things to happen, but … it's a little too early."
The martial artists in the room hid their weapons in their bosoms. Cheng Zhouhai did not say anything more. Li Pin sent him out, "Those that should be greeted have been greeted one after another. Time is short and the reply is unknown. The imperial guard Niu Xingguo and I are old friends. I will go see him later to check on the situation. As for His Highness, you have to worry about it … Brother Cheng, the wind rises at the end of the green duckweed. When some things are seen clearly, it is already too late. What should be done should be done. After all, after Ning Yi killed the Emperor, there are no more major events in this world."
Cheng Zhouhai nodded, "I will go and contact His Highness first. Everything that should be done must be done."
*****
In the Inner Palace of Lin 'an Imperial City, in the side room of Funing Hall, Zhou Pei sat there, reading a book and listening to the birds singing in the garden outside the window.
She had been waiting for the whole morning. In the throne room outside, the summoned officials of third rank and above were still arguing and fighting. She knew that it was her Imperial Father who provoked the whole thing. Jun Wu was injured and Zhenjiang had fallen. Her father's order was already in chaos.
In fact, when the Jurchen started the war, her father already had no order to speak of. When he took the bad move of Yan and Hei Qi and broke off relations with the officials, fear had already enveloped his body and mind. Zhou Pei often came over, hoping to persuade her father. However, although Zhou Yong nodded amiably on the surface, it was difficult for him to listen to her words in his heart.
No matter what, his father didn't have the courage to face the difficulties head-on, and all of Zhou Pei's persuasion was built on courage. Jun Wu faced the Jurchen army with courage, but his father didn't even have the courage to believe him.
She could only do her best and leave the rest to fate. During this period, Zhou Pei and Qin Hui met several times. The other party was timid but did not leak anything. Zhou Pei did not know what the other party would eventually do. It was not until this morning that Zhou Pei understood his intentions.
She waited to persuade her father. It was not suitable for her to go to the court, but she had privately informed all the high-ranking officials she could to try to persuade her father and the pro-peace faction. Even if it was unreasonable, she hoped that the pro-war officials could unite and let her father see the strong side of the situation.
She took a sip of the already cold tea in her teacup. She did not know when, but the sound of footsteps could be heard from outside. Zhou Yong's figure appeared at the door to the room. He was dressed in the robes of the Emperor's Yellow Dragon, but his body under the robes was already extremely thin. His expression was also very tired. However, when he saw Zhou Pei, a hint of warmth and gentleness appeared on his wizened face.
"I've been waiting for a long time, haven't I?" He walked over quickly. "No, no, no. Have you heard about Jun Wu?" His face became sad again.
"Jun Wu was only injured. It's not a big deal. I came here today in the hope that … I can tell my father about the pros and cons. I hope that you can take back your order. Although we have lost Zhenjiang, we can still do something. As long as Lin An …"
Zhou Yong waved his hand. "My daughter, leave these things to the officials in the court. I … Sigh …"
"But why did my father order the Qiantang Navy to move the ships …"
"My daughter! Can you let Qin Qing tell you about these things? Qin Qing, come in … "
Zhou Yong looked embarrassed. He called out to the door, but the old official who had been waiting outside the hall came in. Qin Hui's hair was half white. Due to the torment of the morning, his hair and clothes were both messy and tidied up. His head was slightly lowered, and his posture was humble. However, his expression and eyes were filled with the generosity of a man who would not give up even if there were millions of people around him. Qin Hui bowed to Zhou Pei and then began to tell Zhou Pei about the pros and cons of the whole matter.
The morning sun shone into the palace at an angle. Zhou Pei was wearing a long dress and stood upright. She pursed her lips when she heard what Qin Hui said, but the expression on her face gradually turned angry. Before long, she pointed at Qin Hui and cursed him. Qin Hui knelt down right away, but he didn't stop talking. Zhou Pei cursed and argued, but in the end, she turned to her father and spoke.
She looked distressed. First, she said that Jun Wu's efforts at the front were worthless. Then, she talked about the sacrifice of millions of people. Then, she criticized Qin Hui for his wild ambition and said that the Wu dynasty was going to repeat the mistakes of the Jingping era. Zhou Yong couldn't stand it anymore.
"Fight? Fight? Who can fight? The soldiers at the front line were scared out of their wits during the battle in Zhenjiang. Crown Prince Jun Wu is at the front line, and if Xi Yin attacks again, who can protect him? My daughter, I'm a mediocre emperor and I don't know how to fight, but I know what a bad guy is! In your eyes, anyone who wants to surrender in the capital is a bad guy! I'm a bad guy! I used to be a bad guy, so I know what they can do! I don't trust them! "
His voice shook the entire palace and his spittle stuck to his lips. "I trust you and Junwu, but I can't turn the situation around anymore! The only way out is through Black Flag. The Zhenren wants to fight Black Flag, but they don't have time to plunder the Wu dynasty. Let them fight. I've already sent someone to the front line to call Jun Wu back. And you, my daughter, let's go to the sea. As long as the Zhenren can't kill us, we'll have a chance to rise again. I'll be blamed for running away, and I'll give up my position to Jun Wu. Can't I? "
Zhou Pei cried and growled, "If I had known this would happen, I would have given half of the country to the Huaxia army!"
"I want to do that too!" Zhou Yong waved his hand and bellowed, "I've made my intentions clear! I want to negotiate with Black Flag! I can rule the world with them! Even you … you can … but what did Black Flag do? My daughter, I've told you this many times. I … I don't blame you. I, I blame the people in the court who are fishing for fame, and I blame Black Flag! How can you blame me? I've done everything I can! It's their fault … "
"I won't go to the sea, and neither will Jun Wu!"
"Only if I'm alive, maybe Jun Wu can keep his life! After thinking about it, I've made up my mind … "
"Father, you're afraid of death. You've made a big mistake …"
"Shut up! Shut up!"
Zhou Yong shouted hysterically.
"I'm the emperor of a country!"
"I'm the emperor!"
"I'm the emperor …"
His voice echoed in the air. The majestic and solemn golden robe sleeve that represented the emperor waved in the air. The birds in the trees were startled and flew away. The majesty of the emperor and the princess confronted each other in the palace …
*****
All kinds of people left the courtyard from different directions and merged into the crowd in Lin 'an. Tie Tianying and Li Pin walked together for a while.
"Yu Zihua, the imperial guard, is the confidant of His Majesty. His talent is limited, but he is loyal. I can't persuade him. I'm going to visit Niu Xingguo and then discuss with Niu Yuanqiu. I only hope that everyone is united and things will eventually turn around."
"I'm just a martial artist and can't say anything about the court affairs. I can only fight desperately. But Mr. Li, for the sake of the world, you should take care of yourself. You have to act according to the circumstances. Don't force yourself. "
"Sometimes things in the world can't be forced, and sometimes, you have to force yourself. Who knows?"
"That's true … Mr. Li, we've been reunited for a long time. I forgot to ask you. How's your new Confucianism?"
"It attaches importance to the investigation of things and promotes enlightenment. I hope that Elder Qin's learning can be integrated and promoted. It's a beginning. Unfortunately, the world is uncertain and time waits for no man."
"Do you still believe in it?"
"What I've learned is stupid. Perhaps it's because of what I learned in the peaceful years that I'm stumped in troubled times. But perhaps those who have grown up in troubled times will have even more new insights. Perhaps our hope lies above the next generation. But Confucianism is a thousand-year-old orthodoxy. I have no doubt about it. "
"That's good enough."
"Constable Tie, you don't believe in this?"
"I've been a man of Jianghu all my life. I've also been involved in the muddy waters of the government. There are many things that I can't distinguish between right and wrong. In fact, I'm not that particular about it. "
The old constable smiled. Their figures were gradually approaching the predetermined location near the Anding Gate. Over the past few months, Wu Shu's cavalry was still wandering outside the city. There were not many pedestrians on the streets near the city gate. Several shops and teahouses were weakly opening their doors. The softened cakes on the stall were giving off a fragrant aroma. A few passers-by slowly walked by. In this peaceful scene, they were about to leave.
"Mr. Li, when do you think someone will talk about what happened in Lin 'an today in the future?"
"Maybe one day, when Ning Yi takes over the world, his storytellers will record these things down."
"… That's not bad."
They laughed, said goodbye to each other, and left. The old constable carried a long saber on his back and wore a thin cloak. He stepped onto the second floor of the teahouse. Many people who had just parted were already waiting here. There were more and more people on the street below.
Tie Tianying ordered a pot of tea and slowly drank it by the window. At a certain moment, he frowned slightly. More people came up from below the teahouse. Gradually, all the seats in the teahouse were filled. Someone came over and sat down in front of his table.
"There's someone here." Tie Tianying looked out of the window and took a sip of tea.
The man sitting opposite him was about forty years old. Compared to Tie Tianying, he looked young. His face had obviously been carefully groomed. There was no beard on his chin, but he still looked upright and imposing. This was the temperament of someone who had been in a high position for a long time. "Don't be so distant, Chief Tie. I'm here with sincerity. I'm not looking for trouble. "
"Nie Jincheng, people say that you're the leader of Jiangnan's Wulin. Do you really think that you are? You're just a dog of a few officials in the imperial court. "Tie Tianying looked at him." What's wrong? Does your master want to be a dog? "
"Chief Tie is a person of virtue and prestige. Whatever you say is for me." Nie Jincheng raised his teacup. "Today's matter was forced. I have respect for the senior, but the higher-ups have ordered that nothing can happen to the Stability Sect. I'm just here to speak from the bottom of my heart. Chief Tie, it's useless … "
While they were talking, there was already a mighty army coming from the other end of the street. They drove the pedestrians on the street away or drove them into the nearby houses. They were not allowed to come out. The people on the street were confused. They still didn't understand what was going on.
"Since you have respect in your heart, let's count you in? Let's do it together. "Tie Tianying raised his teacup.
Nie Jincheng closed his eyes. "A hot-blooded man gets angry. If this matter had happened twenty years ago, I would have done it without hesitation. But now my family and parents are in Lin 'an. Forgive me for not being able to agree to this. Chief Tie, the higher-ups haven't said anything yet. Why do you want to stake everything on one throw? Maybe there's still a chance to turn things around and there's still room for negotiation with the Female Immortal. Or, if the higher-ups really want to negotiate, won't the Female Immortal make things difficult for you if you kill the messenger? "
"The higher-ups behind you really want to take it slow again."
"Even if they don't want to, Chief Tie, you can't do it today. Once you do it, all your brothers will die. I'm already here. It's proof. "Nie Jincheng said," Don't make things difficult for me. "
Tie Tianying sat there and didn't say anything. After a while, there were cavalry and motorcade coming slowly from the other end of the street. Then some people went upstairs. It was a group of officers and soldiers. The leader was dressed in the uniform of the Chief Patrol Officer. He was the Chief Patrol Officer of Lin 'an, Li Daoyi. The Chief Patrol Officer was in charge of commanding the troops, recruiting instructors for the imperial army, patrolling and guarding against thieves and other duties. He was the usual immediate superior of the people in Jianghu. Most of the people following him were constables and constables in Lin' an.
As soon as the team came up, Li Daoyi, who was the leader, waved his hand. The chief of constables walked to the nearby tea tables. Li Daoyi himself walked to Tie Tianying and pulled out another seat to sit down.
He poured himself a cup of tea and cupped one hand in the other before his chest to Tie Tianying. "Chief Tie, I respect you as a senior in the School of Six-Fans. I won't say much. Call your people and go back with me. After noon today, we'll pretend that nothing has happened. Tonight, I'll hold a banquet to apologize to you in Xingqing Building."
Tie Tianying looked at the scenes outside the window. In fact, he had long been aware of something. Just like more than ten years ago, when Ning Yi killed the emperor, Tie Tianying had long been aware of the problem. This morning, Cheng Zhouhai and Li Pin each had the thought of a fluke. But at this moment, all the evil people in Lin 'an who could move finally took action.
These people were neutral before. When the Princess's Mansion was in power, they also acted in a righteous way. But on this morning, the forces behind these people finally made a choice. Looking at the team coming over, he understood the difficulty of today's matter. They might not be able to do anything. But if they didn't take action and went back with them, he didn't know what would happen next.
In the teahouse and on the opposite building, all eyes were cast here. Their eyes flashed with doubt. Tie Tianying held the teacup and his eyes were more compassionate. He remembered the conversation with Li Pin. If things couldn't be done, there was no need to force it. Yes, the form was stronger than the person, so he didn't have to force it.
"Do you think …" The old arrester with uneven white hair finally said, "In the future, will there be people who will remember these small things that happened in Lin 'an today?"
As the early summer sun shone down, the huge city of Lin 'an was like a living thing, turning calmly and as usual. The towering city walls were its outer shell and skin, the magnificent palaces, the majestic government offices, and all kinds of courtyards and houses were its internal organs, the streets and rivers were its blood, the boats and vehicles helped it to carry out metabolism, and it was people's activities that made it a great, orderly life, and a deeper and greater culture and spirit stuck to all of this.
The old arrester's eyes finally flashed with bone-deep anger and deep pain.
The table between the three people flew up. Nie Jincheng and Li Daoyi stood up at the same time. Someone in the back took out a knife. Tie Tianying's two disciples approached and blocked Nie Jincheng's way. Nie Jincheng's body twisted like a python. With a move of his hand, the throat of one of the people who squeezed in from the back was cut open. But the next moment, the long knife in Tie Tianying's hand was waved like thunder. Nie Jincheng's arm flew out and the wooden table scattered. Another knife like thunder danced. Nie Jincheng's chest was cut open along with his skin and bones. His body flew back two feet in the teahouse, viscous blood splashing.
Li Daoyi's legs were trembling. He saw the old constable suddenly turn his head and stared at him with the bloodshot eyes of a ferocious tiger. Li Daoyi's palm landed on the top of his head. Blood burst out of his seven apertures at the same time.
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