There were no excessive greetings, greetings, sorrow, or anger. The members of the Qinian Unit who remained in the quiet courtyard calmly greeted Fan Xian. Then, in the shortest amount of time possible, they reported the internal situation of the Overwatch Council they knew. During these seven days, a large portion of the Bureau of Military Affairs stationed outside the Overwatch Council had been withdrawn. Under the strong pressure of the Palace edict and Yan Bingyun's cooperation, the cleansing and changing of blood within the Overwatch Council was carried out quickly and effectively.
This information was sensitive and important. However, the members of the Qinian Unit in this courtyard were all capable officials in the Overwatch Council. During these seven days, they had purposely asked around on behalf of Fan Xian, who was under house arrest in the manor. They had managed to obtain a great deal of information.
Fan Xian listened silently and nodded slightly. After Chen Pingping died and his position as Director was removed, the Emperor's change of blood and filling of water in the Overwatch Council was all within expectations. With Yan Bingyun's help, in addition to the emperor's might, the Overwatch Council was like a group of dragons without a head. No one could forcefully reverse this trend.
"Although Yan Bingyun doesn't know about this Council, he has often been at your side these years. We are somewhat worried," a member of the Qinian Unit looked at Fan Xian and said. A member of the Qinian Unit looked at Fan Xian and said, "We need to choose a new meeting point in Jingdou."
This official directly called Yan Bingyun by his name. It was clear he no longer had any respect. Although Yan Bingyun had never joined the Qinian Unit, as Fan Xian's right-hand man and a high-ranking official of the Overwatch Council, he had always been respected by the Qinian Unit. However, the things Yan Bingyun had done in the Overwatch Council these days made all of the Overwatch Council officials feel hatred toward him.
Yan Bingyun was Fan Xian's trusted aide, but he was never someone Fan Xian could completely trust. This Sir Yan junior, who was skilled in strategy, was an independent person. Fan Xian was silent for a moment and then shook his head. He didn't express an opinion on this or say they should continue to choose another meeting place. He still had some hope in Yan Bingyun. He was even faintly worried that Yan Bingyun would die in the anger of the Overwatch Council. After today's meeting, the people of the Qinian Unit would have to leave Jingdou. This little courtyard that Wang Qinian had spent 120 liang of silver to buy would be abandoned. There was no need to waste any more effort.
Seeing Fan Xian did not reply, the official shook his head and continued his report. "Once the city gates open, the people heading toward Xiliang and North Min have already left. Presumably, Sir Deng and Sir Su will receive the news at the first instant. Do not worry."
This was what Fan Xian was most worried about when he was under house arrest. Deng Zi Yue and Su Wenmao were his two most trusted subordinates after Wang Qinian, so he had given them the most important duties. One was in Northern Qi and then Xiliang. The other was in Jiangnan to keep an eye on the palace treasury. If these two people were eliminated by the Emperor, Fan Xian would probably regret it for the rest of his life. Although he didn't know if the Emperor would have the leisure to set up an assassination beforehand, since the news had been sent out, Fan Xian felt slightly more at ease.
He glanced at the members of the Qinian Unit beside him in the courtyard. The corners of his lips twitched into a warm smile. He had been under house arrest in the manor for seven days. His subordinates had also been busy for seven days. Other than investigating information, they had finally thought of all the ways to enter the Fan manor. It had to be said that these subordinates were the most effective group of people in the Overwatch Council.
The name of the Qinian Unit was taken from Wang Qinian. From the fourth year of the Qing calendar until Wang Qinian disappeared in the autumn of the seventh year of the Qing calendar, all of the members were chosen by Wang Qinian. These members were originally unremarkable civil servants outside of the Overwatch Council or lower-level officials who were not valued. However, they just happened to be in line with Fan Xian's liking and Wang Qinian's temper. Once these officials were gathered under Fan Xian's command, they suddenly recovered their initial powerful execution abilities and regained their luster. They became a secretive yet famous group within the Overwatch Council, a group that directly belonged to Fan Xian.
For example, these days, the members of the Qinian Unit's responses were very much in line with Fan Xian's style. Once they knew things were not going well, they would immediately retreat into the darkness. Under the precondition of protecting their own lives, they did not impulsively do anything. Instead, they carefully investigated the reactions and intelligence of all sides. They then found suitable methods to hand to Fan Xian to decide.
It had to be said that it was a kind of good fortune for Fan Xian to have such loyal but not arrogant, capable but not blind subordinates. His gaze swept across the faces of the people in the Council. His heart jumped. He suddenly thought that other than Wang Qinian's discerning eyes, how could there be so many elites within the Overwatch Council that had been buried for so many years and covered in dust for so many years, waiting for him to come from Danzhou to Jingdou before they were discovered? Did Wang Qinian really have such a sharp eye? Or was it that these loyal subordinates had always been suppressed by the old ancestor of the Overwatch Council and left for him to use now?
Fan Xian's brows furrowed, and his heart became a mess. Thinking of Chen Pingping's kindness to him, he was speechless for a long time. He sighed, but he didn't have time to ask these subordinates anything. He waved his hand and walked into the quiet room beside the well at the back of the Council.
There was a large desk in the room. On it were paper envelopes used by the Overwatch Council, as well as a set of tools for making secret words. The inkstone was placed to the right of the desk. The weather in early autumn was not very cold, so it was easy to melt the ink. However, Fan Xian did not grind the ink. Instead, he took out a pencil made by the palace treasury from under the desk and twirled it between two fingers.
The tip of the pencil did not land on the snow-white paper. After thinking of many ways, he had escaped the eyes of the court and come to this little courtyard. Without question, Fan Xian had already thought clearly about what orders he should give. However, he still put the pencil down. Once anything landed on paper, it was a weakness and the possibility of it being leaked.
In the winter of the sixth year of the Qing calendar, he often came to this little courtyard. At that time, Si Lili's brother was still being held hostage by him. At that time, Haitang was still in the little courtyard in the North urging Sizhe to pull the mill. At that time, Fan Xian often wrote letters to Haitang. Thinking about it carefully, although he was fighting fiercely with the Eldest Princess and the Second Prince in the capital, his state of mind was actually calm and happy. Now that Haitang Duoduo had become an enemy of the Qing Kingdom on the grasslands and Sizhe had been forced to disappear in Shangjing, Fan Xian's state of mind had long changed.
All of the members of the Qinian Unit stood in the room, silently waiting for Fan Xian to give his orders.
"In a moment, leave Jingdou immediately. Before you receive my written orders, you are not allowed to return." Fan Xian didn't spend much time sorting out his emotions. Staring at everyone, he said in a heavy tone, "This is the first order. You must survive."
"Yes," everyone replied in a low voice. Then, under the indication of Fan Xian's gaze, they left, leaving only two people.
The Qinian Unit had been under Wang Qinian's control for the first three years. Later, it was handed over to Deng Zi Yue. After Deng Zi Yue went to Northern Qi, Fan Xian personally managed it. Mu Feng 'er was only responsible for personal matters. There were not many people in the unit. Many had died in the turmoil these years. Presently, some of them were with Deng Zi Yue in Xiliang, some were with Su Wenmao in Jiangnan and North Min, and a large portion had been left behind by Fan Xian in Dongyi. The ones still in Jingdou were the only subordinates Fan Xian could directly use. Because of this, Fan Xian didn't want them to lose any more people.
Fan Xian stared at one of the two people in the room and took out a jade hook from his clothes. Handing it over, he said, "Go to Qingzhou. Don't alert the people of the Fourth Bureau. Follow Xia Mingji's merchant group directly into the grasslands and find Hu Ge. Tell him that I need him to launch a feint attack at the end of autumn and trap the Qingzhou and Dingzhou armies in Xiliang Road."
The official accepted the jade hook and straightforwardly said, "The Left Virtuous Prince has been dead for almost a year. Although Hu Ge has your secret support and has gathered a lot of power, I'm afraid he doesn't have the power to persuade the Hu people to brave the dangerous weather of late autumn and early winter to attack the Qing Kingdom."
Everyone knew that it was not easy for Fan Xian to come out, so these subordinates did not hide their opinions. Instead, they did their best to express their intentions as quickly and completely as possible.
"It is just a feint attack. Besides, he wants revenge. If he can exhaust the strength of the court and the Right Virtuous Prince, he will certainly be willing," Fan Xian said. "As for the problem of not having enough power, tell him that I will arrange for the people of the court to stand on his side."
"But, presumably, the news from Jingdou will also reach the grasslands. Once Hu Ge knows that you have lost power, will he tear up the original agreement in Dingzhou?" The official who accepted the jade hook still fully expressed his opinion.
Fan Xian did not show a trace of impatience and said, "Hu Ge is a smart person. He will have to place his bet on me." He glanced at the jade hook in the official's hand and shook his head. "If he wants the owner of the jade hook to live."
The jade hook was a childhood accessory of the last princess of the Hu tribe on the grasslands, Ma Suosuo. When Fan Xian had met Hu Ge in Dingzhou, she had given it to him. The token this time was the second one. Although Ma Suosuo had been placed in the Great Prince's manor, her identity still belonged to Baoyue Brothel. No matter how much power Fan Xian had lost, it would not be difficult for him to deal with this weak woman.
The official thought for a moment and felt that the Director's orders had not missed anything. He put the jade hook into his clothes, left the study, and left the little courtyard. As for how this member of the Qinian Unit would escape Jingdou, cross Qingzhou, enter the grasslands, and make contact with Hu Ge, that was his problem. Fan Xian trusted in the abilities of these subordinates.
"Go to Dingzhou, enter the General's manor, and find the heir, Hong Cheng." Fan Xian's clothes were like a treasure chest. He took out another piece of paper. The writing on the paper was faintly a poem. "This is a token. Jingdou is in turmoil, and I have been chased out of the Overwatch Council. He must have received the news early. He probably won't believe the token of the Overwatch Council and the token of the Qinian Unit. Show him this piece of paper, and he will know you are one of my people."
This piece of paper was torn from a book. The book was a collection of poems from the previous dynasty. This was a gift the Second Prince had given to Fan Xian through Hong Cheng many years ago when Fan Xian was spending the winter in the Cang Mountains. Many people had probably long forgotten, but Fan Xian knew Hongcheng would not.
"Tell Hongcheng everything I said earlier about Hu Ge and the news that the Hu people will invade at the beginning of winter. Have him prepare and try to fight as hard as possible …" Fan Xian furrowed his brows slightly. "Yes, he should be able to understand my intentions now. I just want to find a way for him not to be summoned back to Jingdou. He should know what to do. I just want to remind him that the two sides need to cooperate well. I am giving him this seemingly hard to chew bone, but it is actually a delicious piece of fatty meat. Don't let the Hu people take advantage of it."
"Yes, Sir." The official accepted the order and left.
…
…
People came out and people came in. Fan Xian methodically used the members of the Qinian Unit to convey his will to the powers under heaven that he cared about and could influence.
"Go to Dongyi and find Mu Feng 'er first. Tell him my intentions. The rebellion in the Liang Kingdom can be used a little. Keep that fire about the same size. Don't burn too fiercely and don't extinguish it too quickly."
"After this is done, go see Thirteenth Wang and tell him I am waiting for him in Jingdou." Fan Xian sat behind the desk and furrowed his brows slightly. Inciting internal strife in Dongyi could drag the Great Royal Brother there. However, it would be unfair to Thirteenth Wang, so he could only hide it from him for now. "Also, have him use the command sword of the Sword Hut on my behalf to pick out two trustworthy people and send them to Jiangnan by Su Wenmao's side."
"Personally deliver this letter to the Great Prince's hands. Tell him that everything is fine in Jingdou and that there is no need to rush back." There was some worry between Fan Xian's brows. He could explain his thoughts clearly to Li Hongcheng, but he did not have the confidence to control the Great Prince.
Once the news of Chen Pingping's wretched death reached Dongyi, the Great Prince's anger would probably not be any less than his. The Great Prince had called Chen Pingping "Uncle" since he was young. Putting aside the close relationship between Lady Ning and Chen Pingping and the fact that Chen Pingping had protected the Great Prince in Lady Ning's womb, given the friendship between the Great Prince and Chen Garden these years, given the Great Prince's personality, it was possible that he would bring hundreds of soldiers to kill his way back to Jingdou.
This was what Fan Xian feared the most. Before he launched his thousand-li surprise attack back to the capital, the only order he had given was for Mu Feng 'er and the others to return to Dongyi and tell the Great Prince not to return to the capital. How could Mu Feng' er alone stop the Great Prince's anger? Fan Xian had no choice but to personally write a letter. With sincere words, he begged his fiery big brother, who had inherited his mother's legacy, to barely control his urge to question the Emperor and his desire to avenge Chen Pingping and stay obediently in Dongyi.
Regardless of whether it was Li Hongcheng, who led troops in Dingzhou, or the Great Prince, who controlled 10,000 elite troops in Dongyi, they were the only two military forces Fan Xian could count on in the Qing Kingdom. However, these elite troops belonged to the Qing Kingdom and the Emperor. If these two young people of the royal family were summoned back to Jingdou, then Fan Xian would have no hope at all.
Fan Xian absolutely believed that as long as Li Hongcheng and the Great Prince returned to the capital, the man sitting on the throne would not give them any opportunity to lead soldiers in the next few years. This was precisely because of their relationship with Fan Xian and Chen Pingping.
The order sent to Jiangnan to warn Su Wenmao had also been sent. Other than his identity as a member of the Qinian Unit, Su Wenmao was also an official of the court's palace treasury transport company. Furthermore, the palace treasury was of utmost importance to Fan Xian, the Qing Kingdom, and the Emperor. No one would let go of it. Thus, Su Wenmao could not hide himself or leave Jiangnan and North Min. Thus, his situation was the most dangerous. Fan Xian could only hope that in these few years, Su Wenmao had already raised enough direct subordinates in the three workshops. He also hoped that Ren Bo 'an's brother would remember old friendships. From his side, other than having Dongyi's Sword Hut send aces into Jiangnan to protect Su Wenmao's life, there was nothing else he could do.
The member of the Qinian Unit heading to Jiangnan also shouldered an additional mission. He helped Fan Xian bring a message to Xia Qifei and had him choose a day to come to Jingdou during these two months. Having the current master of the Ming family come to Jingdou did not mean that Fan Xian had anything important to give to him. Rather, it was Fan Xian's test of him. After all, when Xia Qifei submitted to him, he submitted to the Qing court he represented and the terrifying Overwatch Council. Now that Fan Xian had lost his power and returned to nobility, and the Overwatch Council had been sealed into a pile of mud, who knew if other thoughts would rise to Xia Qifei's heart?
The Ming family was important to Jiangnan and also important to the cold war between Fan Xian and the Emperor. If Xia Qifei thought things through and directly knelt before the throne, what would Fan Xian do? Thus, he had to see just how much loyalty Xia Qifei and the Jiangnan water bandits still had to him. If Xia Qifei had truly forgotten the hard days everyone had spent in Jiangnan …
Fan Xian's head lowered slightly. He could only have the Ming family change masters and have Zhaoshang money house take the lead.
…
…
Orders were given out one by one. The members of the Qinian Unit accepted their orders and left. They did not linger at all. Before long, the lonely and secluded little courtyard was empty. There was only Fan Xian behind the desk and the official in front of him. It appeared particularly quiet. The slightly damp autumn wind blew through the slightly dry air and made the water bucket by the well in the courtyard roll around and make a few noises.
Probably no one would have thought that in such an unremarkable courtyard, a young man who had already had all of his official positions taken away and all of his power stripped was giving out order after order with the intention of carrying out a final struggle against the Qing Kingdom's powerful national machinery.
"Why did you change your name to Hong Yiqing?" Fan Xian asked quietly as he looked at the last remaining official of the Qinian Unit. He used his finger to gently stroke the little knife he had just taken out from his clothes.
This subordinate was the one who had discovered in Qingzhou that the Northern Qi Emperor had intended to use the North Sea Blade Workshop to provoke a relationship between Fan Xian and the Qing Emperor. This person had performed a great service in Qingzhou and was also one of the first people Wang Qinian had placed in the Fourth Bureau of the Overwatch Council. Fan Xian saw that this person was thinking of Lao Wang and had moved him to his side. He had followed him all the way to Dongyi. The last time Fan Xian had returned to the capital to debrief, he had left him in Jingdou to act as liaison. It was because of this that this person now had the opportunity to face Fan Xian one last time and not worry helplessly in Dongyi.
"I heard that in the past, there was a person called Hong Changqing. He was valiant and righteous and deeply appreciated by you. In the end, he died in the battle to quell a rebellion in Danzhou. You often think about him. I am not talented, but since I have received your great kindness, I want to repay your kindness with my death."
"Don't die." Fan Xian sighed. He also thought of Qing Wa, who had died under Yan Xiaoyi's arrow. Qing Wa had survived the hellish situation of the navy massacring the island and the water birds eating people. In the end, he had not lived more than two years with him.
He handed the knife to Hong Yiqing, stared into his eyes, and said word by word, "In the end, I kept you here because I have something important to tell you. You have to listen clearly, don't miss a single word."
"Yes, sir." Hong Yiqing felt a glimmer of nervousness.
"I've already sent two people to Xiliang Road, but Deng Zi Yue is still out in the open. The Imperial Court will definitely take him in. Even if he can escape, I need someone to continue the task of the people I've arranged there. You've stayed in Qingzhou for a long time and are familiar with Xiliang Road. I'll leave this to you."
Hong Yiqing was slightly startled. His throat was a little dry, and his face was slightly hot. He had not thought that the Director would give him such an important task as the manager of Xiliang Road.
"Most importantly, you also have to enter the grasslands, find the King's tent, and find a woman called Songzhi Xianling." Fan Xian's eyes narrowed. Looking at him, he said each word clearly, "Tell her not to worry about Ku He or Dou Dou. Worry about me first! Have her cooperate with Hu Ge and convince the Chief. "
Hong Yiqing didn't know that Fan Xian had already arranged certain matters on the grasslands. He didn't understand, but he calmly agreed.
"I chose you because Songzhi Xianling has seen you before," Fan Xian said calmly with his head lowered. "Give this little knife to her. Then, have her leave the grasslands and come to Jingdou to see me."
"What if she doesn't leave?" Hong Yiqing unconsciously asked.
Fan Xian raised his head. After a moment of silence, he said, "Just say that I am going to die. It's up to her whether she wants to come or not."
These words were said very helplessly and shamelessly. Hong Yiqing looked at Fan Xian in a daze. He couldn't understand why the seemingly omnipotent Director would say such emotional words. He also couldn't understand what kind of person Songzhi Xianling was for him to think so highly of her.
The moment he accepted the knife, Fan Xian's fingers suddenly froze. He stood up from behind the desk. Hong Yiqing only noticed the strangeness a moment later. His face was slightly pale. He pulled out the poisoned dagger from his boots and quietly walked behind the door of the room.
There was a strange movement outside the door. In this secluded little courtyard that no outsider knew about, someone had suddenly come.
…
…
I'm back. My mind is clear. My mood is very good, very high, very powerful …
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