Why did they come to Jiaozhou and why did they have to deal with the Jiaozhou Navy? In reality, the origin of all of this was because of that little island on the East Sea, that little island that had been bathed in blood.
The pirates on the island were a private army raised by the Ming family. While the court was investigating, they were all killed. Fortunately, a secret agent of the Overwatch Council survived with great difficulty and reported the scene of the bloodbath that night to the top.
It was the Jiaozhou Navy. It could only be the Jiaozhou Navy. In the following months, the Overwatch Council increased the intensity of their investigation in Jiaozhou. Although they still had no way of grasping concrete evidence, the people in the upper echelons of the court who knew the truth were certain that the Jiaozhou Navy was the hand of the Northern Empress of the Ming family, the hand of the Junshang Conference, and the hand raised by the Eldest Princess.
No matter how much the Qing Emperor could endure, he could not tolerate such a thing happening. Thus, he sent a secret letter to Fan Xian and ordered him to handle this matter. As for how to handle it, he did not give him a concrete plan.
Thus, Fan Xian had a headache. He had no evidence in his hands and had to bring the Jiaozhou Navy back into the range of the court's control. What exactly should he do? The Navy was not the Ming family, the Cui family, or the Second Prince. It was a truly powerful martial force. If he did not handle it well, it would cause an uproar and weapons would rise. Regardless of whether or not the court could suppress it in the end, he would still get into big trouble.
He also knew that in the Ming family's smuggling business, the Jiaozhou Navy certainly played an important role, particularly on the route to Dongyi. Without the protection and escort of the Jiaozhou Navy, these dozen years would certainly not have gone so smoothly.
The role the Jiaozhou Navy played in the sea smuggling route was similar to the role Fan Xian's Overwatch Council and Wei Hua's Northern Qi Brocade Guard played in the mainland smuggling route.
However, on that island, the navy had killed too many people …
…
…
Hou Jichang had already gone to the birthday banquet. There was only the disguised Fan Xian left in the little courtyard. Hou Jichang had come under orders to investigate the matter of the Jiaozhou Navy smuggling. Unfortunately, there had been no progress. He had to do many things in the dark, so it was not convenient for him to hire too many servants. Thus, the little courtyard was completely silent.
Without lighting a lamp, Fan Xian thought calmly in the darkness, sorting out his plan line by line. As he thought and thought, he couldn't help smiling bitterly. In a moment, the things he would do in a moment would certainly be childish in terms of politics. In terms of style, it would be rude and unreasonable. However, the Emperor had given him full authority to handle this matter. It could be seen how much the Emperor cared. He had been forced to Jiaozhou, what could he do?
If they followed the normal path of investigation and separate questioning, the navy generals were not idiots. They would not admit to such a crime that could result in their families being wiped out. Furthermore, once the military and the Overwatch Council confronted each other, the military could easily slide in the direction of the explosion. Once there was a mutiny, tens of thousands of navy soldiers would surround Jiaozhou. How could Fan Xian and his subordinates survive?
Thus, he could only take the risk.
Coincidentally, today was the birthday of the admiral of the navy, Chang Kun. All of the high-ranking navy generals had gathered in Jiaozhou and were far away from the soldiers they controlled. Although the Jiaozhou Navy still had tens of thousands of people, there were only a few generals left to guard. Once they moved, it would be difficult to communicate between inside and outside the city. The navy's reaction would also be a few beats slower.
Fan Xian could also use this opportunity to wipe out all of the generals at the birthday banquet in one fell swoop. His appetite had always been this big. However, even Hou Jichang was curious as to where Fan Xian's confidence came from.
He was only one person.
— — —
Admiral Chang Kun looked at the table full of guests with a face full of smiles. However, this smile carried a bit of reservation and a bit of arrogance. He was smiling because he was in a good mood. He had lived for more than 40 years. Everything had been smooth sailing, and he held a high position. All of the officials and wealthy merchants in and out of the city had come to flatter him. Even the important figures far away in Jiangnan had all sent gifts. If he didn't smile, how could he express this pride?
The reason he couldn't laugh to his heart's content was because of his position. As the highest military official in Jiaozhou, the local Emperor in name and in reality, each of his words and actions affected hundreds of thousands of people. He had to be careful and put on a dignified and solemn appearance.
Could he take in another 100,000 liang of silver from this banquet today? The admiral calculated in his heart and raised his cup in invitation to drink. All of the nobles at the table below stood up and raised their cups in greeting, praising endlessly.
Chang Kun's gaze flickered to the table in the corner to his right. Looking at the indifferent expression on the official's face, he felt very unhappy. That official had been in Jiaozhou for a while, but not only had he not come to show his respect, he had not even done a formal greeting.
However, Chang Kun still tolerated it and had even invited him to the birthday banquet. All of this was because the official's background made him very afraid.
Hou Jichang, Jiaozhou's Dianli and provincial judge, was only a seventh-level minor official.
However, Hou Jichang's background was too deep. Everyone under heaven knew that he was one of Fan Xian's four disciples. After last year's spring examination, he was ranked third. Even though Chang Kun was a first-level military official, he still had to give the Fan manor some face.
Furthermore, because of the Jiangnan matter, Chang Kun had always been wary of the Overwatch Council. The fear in the depths of his heart could not be eliminated. He didn't know why Sir Fan junior would arrange for his student to come to such a remote Jiaozhou. Was the Overwatch Council truly suspicious of the Jiaozhou Navy? However, the Ming family shouldn't have leaked any information. The old matriarch was also already dead, so no one should be able to obtain evidence.
At his own birthday banquet, Chang Kun held his wine cup, but his thoughts floated to another place. There was no one left alive on that island. The people who had acted were all his trusted generals. Those soldiers were locked up in tents every day, so there shouldn't be any problems.
Seeing the admiral holding his wine cup in a daze, the guests at the table below looked at each other, unsure of what had happened.
Chang Kun came to his senses and smiled self-mockingly. His wives and children were all in Jingdou. He didn't know how they were doing. As for the Jiaozhou matter, even if the court heard some rumors, what could they do to him? The Overwatch Council did not have concrete evidence, so they did not dare to touch a military boss like him.
After thinking clearly about the cause and effect, reassessing the situation, and confirming his own safety, the large stone that had been pressing down on Chang Kun's heart finally lightened. He nodded to the person beside him and agreed to call in the dancers to liven things up.
Looking at the calm Hou Jichang below the table, Chang Kun still felt a bit uncomfortable. He gently coughed and felt his stomach bulge. He said a few words to his subordinates and went to the latrine in the back of the courtyard.
— — —
Fan Xian left Hou Jichang's home and walked to the bustling back wall of the admiral's manor, carefully hiding his figure. Just like how there were rarely any patrolling soldiers on the high walls of the Royal Palace, there were not many people watching the back wall of the admiral's manor.
Borrowing the cover of the clouds in the summer night, Fan Xian gently exhaled a mouthful of murky air. Circulating the zhenqi in his body, his hands steadily pressed against the grey-painted wall. With a slight push, he confirmed that the thin layer of zhenqi flowing out of his palms could still perform the same function as on the cliff in Danzhou.
After the Tyrannical zhenqi in his body exploded, it was fortunate that Haitang had helped heal him. However, he was still worried that his best Spiderman ability would be lost following the slight change in the way the zhenqi circulated in his body.
Fortunately, it was still there.
Like a ghost, Fan Xian silently flipped over the high walls of the admiral's manor and slid into the grass in the courtyard. Very easily, he knocked out the two guards behind him and then walked to the kitchen. From his clothes, he took out the Overwatch Council's special poison injection tool. Using the thin needle at the front of the tube, he poured the prepared knockout drug into a sealed wine urn.
To the side was an unsealed wine urn. Fan Xian thought for a bit and then scooped up a mouthful to drink. He felt that the taste of the wine was indeed not bad. The Jiaozhou Navy's enjoyment was indeed not something that could be supported by military pay.
Before leaving, he casually tossed in a pill.
…
…
Fan Xian stood in the darkness and looked at the distant soldiers outside the room. He couldn't resist smiling. Chang Kun, that bastard, was indeed afraid of death. He needed people to stand guard outside when he went to the toilet.
He climbed onto the roof from the back. Angrily, he pinched his nose and jumped down. The tips of his feet landed on the ground without a sound. He looked at the toilet and found that the admiral's manor's Mao manor was also extravagant. It had two rooms. Unfortunately, the outer room did not have a toilet. Fan Xian undid his pants and began to urinate.
The sound of water dripping rang out. Then, the admiral squatting in the toilet was startled.
Chang Kun's pants were halfway down. He was sitting on a chair. The chair was empty with a toilet under it. Although his appearance was a bit wretched, a eagle-like viciousness appeared in his eyes.
There was someone outside!
When he knew that someone could pass through the admiral's manor's layers of defense and come to his side while he was out, Chang Kun felt a chill in his heart. His first reaction was to yell, "Assassin!"
However, he was a smart person, so he immediately shut his mouth tightly. If the person coming was an assassin, then he would not purposely make some noise to startle him. Since that person had the ability to quietly come to his side, then even if he called for the guards, they probably wouldn't be able to stop the other party's assassination.
Thus, he didn't say anything. He only waited nervously, wanting to know the intentions of the ace outside.
A clear and cold voice came from outside the compartment.
"Why didn't you invite me for your birthday banquet?"
A glimmer of viciousness flashed across Chang Kun's face. Shortly after, he smiled slightly and said, "May I know your name and where can I send the invitation?"
The curtain to the compartment was lifted. Fan Xian pinched his nose with one hand and furrowed his brows. Looking at the old general's appearance, he said, "You are Chang Kun?"
Chang Kun was very embarrassed and angry. He was a first-level official of the Qing Kingdom. When had he ever been questioned by someone under such circumstances? Furthermore, the tone of the other party's question was so condescending and frivolous.
However, he knew that now was not the time to be unyielding. He could clearly feel the danger of the young man in front of him. He narrowed his eyes and said, "I am Chang Kun … Sir, may I wash my hands before we talk?"
"Do you want to shout?" Fan Xian smiled and said. "Today, even if you shout until your throat breaks, it will be useless."
Chang Kun's brows furrowed tightly and asked, "Who exactly are you?"
…
…
"I am Fan Xian," Fan Xian put down the curtain and replied through it.
Chang Kun's heart jumped. Both of his hands began to tremble … Fan Xian? Why would the Commissioner of the Overwatch Council suddenly come to Jiaozhou? Why would he appear at his birthday banquet? Why would he appear in his own bathroom?
Was it really that young murderous star outside? As Chang Kun messed around with it, he fastened his belt and said, "Who exactly are you?"
After knowing the identity of the person who had come, Chang Kun knew that today's matter was troublesome. He was even beginning to smell the scent of losing his reputation. He forced himself to calm down. As he delayed, he calculated in his heart.
"Meeting in the bathroom is not very comfortable," Fan Xian said quietly from outside the curtain. "However, in order to hide from others' eyes and ears, this is all I can do."
Hide from others' eyes and ears? Naturally, there was another explanation. Chang Kun's heart calmed slightly, but he didn't lift the curtain and go out. Taking a deep breath, he said, "If it really is Commissioner Fan, what business do you have today?"
"I want to make a deal with you."
"What deal?"
"A deal on the nameless island in the East Sea."
The voice outside the curtain rose gently and drifted in sinisterly. It was like Chang Kun had been struck by lightning. His lips were dry. He couldn't even smell the foul stench in the room. Breathing rapidly, there was only one thought in his mind. The court indeed knew. The Overwatch Council was coming to deal with him.
…
…
After all, he was not an idiot. He heard the hint of change in Fan Xian's words. Gritting his teeth, he said, "I don't understand what you're saying."
"You colluded with the Ming family and secretly ordered pirates to rob the palace treasury merchant ships. You also secretly took charge of smuggling northward toward Dongyi … that is what I want to talk about."
"Don't try to slander me." Chang Kun's body was in the latrine pit. His heart was like a stone in the latrine pit. With a stern expression, he purposely raised his voice a little. He wanted to secretly notify his personal guards outside.
Fan Xian seemed to not notice his little thoughts and laughed mockingly. "You know yourself if you're slandering me or not."
Chang Kun shouted sternly, "Bring out the evidence. Your Overwatch Council can forget about making me guilty … I am not some kind person. The Jiaozhou Navy is also not some sissy official in Jingdou. If you don't have concrete evidence and want to mess around, be careful that it won't end well."
Although Fan Xian had a dark reputation, Chang Kun had tens of thousands of iron-blooded men under his command, so he was indeed not afraid of him.
"It doesn't matter whether I believe your crimes or not. It also doesn't matter whether the people and officials of the world believe it or not." Fan Xian's voice carried a glimmer of coldness outside the curtain. "What is important is that the Emperor believes your crimes. Otherwise, why would he have me come to Jiaozhou to investigate?"
Chang Kun's heart began to beat violently. He was struck down by Fan Xian's words. As long as the Emperor believed there was a problem with the Jiaozhou Navy, then given the Emperor's methods, even if he didn't use the laws of the country to punish him, he still had ways to make his life a living hell. Chang Kun was also an old general who had followed the Qing Emperor on three Northern expeditions. In the depths of his heart, his worship and fear of the Qing Emperor could never be wiped away.
Fan Xian continued to attack from outside the curtain. "In this world, there are not many people who can save you … other than me."
Chang Kun slumped back into the chair. His eyes narrowed slightly as they spun rapidly. A moment later, he sighed and said, "Commissioner … what exactly do you want?"
Chang Kun was the admiral of the navy, a first-level official. Although Fan Xian's power did not belong to a third person, the Commissioner of the Overwatch Council was an official with no rank or rank. Thus, in the beginning of the conversation in the bathroom, Chang Kun had held onto this point and refused to lose any ground in terms of aura. However, at this moment, he began to refer to Fan Xian as Commissioner. Naturally, the defenses in his heart began to loosen.
…
…
After a long silence, Fan Xian asked in a quiet voice from outside the curtain, "I've always had a great doubt … your relationship with the Ye family is not that deep. Your relationship with Yan Xiaoyi is also not very good. Even in past history, you have no connection to the Eldest Princess. Although your position is high and your power is strong, in the Junshang Conference, you can only play the role of a worker. Thus, I am very curious as to who your true master is … who would order you to move the court's army to help the Ming family and secretly communicate with Dongyi. "
Chang Kun closed his mouth. His face was dark and ruthless, and he refused to answer. What Fan Xian said was indeed what the Jiaozhou Navy had done these years. However, no matter what, he would not answer. Once these crimes were confirmed, never mind Fan Xian, even the empress dowager would not be able to protect the lives of his entire family.
"I won't tell the higher-ups," Fan Xian smiled slightly and said. "Under these circumstances, you can only trust me … I am truly just curious. Whether you die or not, whether your entire family will be buried with you, is of no benefit to me."
Chang Kun still could not say it. He smiled coldly and gritted his teeth. "Am I an idiot? Commissioner, what does these things have to do with our Jiaozhou Navy? If you have evidence, you can take the Emperor's sword and capture me on the spot in the tent. The navy's 10,000 soldiers wouldn't even dare to fart … but, if you don't have evidence, then don't block me in this smelly place to chat. "
He said sinisterly, "Sir Fan junior, today is my birthday banquet. If you are willing to give me some face, we can drink a cup or two at the banquet. As for chatting, that's fine. When your Overwatch Council has evidence, it won't be too late to come find me then."
Fan Xian sighed outside the curtain.
Chang Kun narrowed his eyes behind the curtain.
Fan Xian sighed and said, "Yes, the Emperor is a first-level official. Even the Overwatch Council cannot question you without a special edict … as for evidence, you've killed them all. Even if there were one or two survivors, it would not be enough to remove you, a military elder … as for the Ming family, the old Ming matriarch who knows of your relationship with them has unfortunately died … you're right. Looking at it, I indeed do not have any evidence on hand."
His voice appeared slightly distressed. "The Emperor certainly does not wish for you to remain in the Jiaozhou Navy, but the resistance of the court to move you is too great … the Overwatch Council also does not have evidence … tell me, how can I make you disappear from Jiaozhou?"
Chang Kun suddenly felt an absurd sense of danger. At the same time, he was shocked. Why had his personal attendants outside not charged in?
Fan Xian finally sighed and said, "Since you are not willing to accept this deal, then I have no other choice … I can only choose the most direct and most absurd method."
After saying this, Chang Kun's pupils constricted. It was as if he had seen a strange scene as he stared at the curtain in front of him.
The green curtain was like a piece of flat soil, but a bamboo shoot suddenly grew out of it. The bamboo shoot was not green, but black. It moved the green curtain closer to his chest.
Chang Kun panicked, angry, and dumbfounded, but he could not move. He could only watch this scene helplessly. He watched as the tip of the black dagger tore through the weak obstruction of the green curtain. With a hissing sound, it came in front of him and stabbed deeply into his chest!
…
…
In the moment before he died, Chang Kun kept his eyes open. Countless questions and incomprehension flashed through his heart. Why did the zhenqi in his body suddenly flow so erratically? Why did his limbs feel numb? Why did the Overwatch Council dare to assassinate him?
He was the admiral of the Jiaozhou Navy. He was the local Emperor of Jiaozhou. He had 10,000 soldiers under his command. If he died an unnatural death, it would shock the world and cause chaos among his subordinates.
He was a first-level official of the court. How could the Overwatch Council dare to assassinate him?
In the officialdom of Qing Kingdom, although the Overwatch Council was skilled in assassinations, under the powerful suppression of the Qing Emperor, they never used such methods on high-ranking officials. The Qing Emperor knew that once this precedent was set, the entire country would sink into chaos.
That was why Chang Kun had remained calm in the latrine earlier and was not afraid. He had predicted that Fan Xian would not kill him without thinking. He didn't dare.
But … Chang Kun lowered his head to look at the black dagger in his chest. A wretched smile rose to the corners of his lips.
Fan Xian pulled back the dagger and simply wiped away the blood on the green curtain. He stuck it back into his boots and looked at the blood-covered Admiral Chang Kun on the chair behind the curtain. He couldn't resist shaking his head. It was true that even the Qing Emperor would not dare to assassinate a military elder without any evidence. However, he was not the Emperor. He had to rush back to Danzhou to see his grandmother. Where would he have the time to waste in a crappy place like Jiaozhou?
…
…
I am gradually getting better. Thank you, everyone. The Jiaozhou operation has just begun. Naturally, I cannot rely on assassinations to conquer the world. However, Fan Xian is a bit lazy. Haha, I wish everyone a happy weekend.
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