Wang Long was tied up tightly. The ox tendons that had been soaked in water were very strong. With just a little bit of force, his clothes would be torn and his flesh would sink into it. He knelt there with a blank gaze, watching the young master of the Wu family in Suzhou transform into the great imperial envoy. He really wanted to cry but had no tears.
Zhang Yong, who he had ridiculed as a beardless old rabbit, was really like a rabbit. He bent over on the chair and stared fixedly at him with a pair of red eyes.
Zhang Yong took off his outer robe and showed off his azure blue robe embroidered with gold. More than a hundred customers also, like a magic trick, turned into officials with swords and sabers. The others who didn't change naturally played the role of witnesses and victims. In a short while, "Xin Sheng Lou" had become the main hall of the Ministry of Punishments.
If some drums and cymbals were added at this time, it would simply be an absurd farce.
They had found people to play the roles of good women who had been snatched into the manor by Wang Long and later abandoned by him. They had really reached the age of women. Even Yang Ling couldn't stand it anymore. He sighed and thought to himself, "If I had known this would happen, I would have let the leading flower of the grass-roots troupe, Cheng Xiaoyun, play the victim. These two aunties are really … alas!"
Yang Ling tilted his buttocks and quietly asked, "Liu Biao, where did you find these two? Can they do it?"
Liu Biao said in a low, dry voice, "Daren, women from decent families are not willing to play this kind of role. Also, if we use local people, we are afraid of being recognized. This lowly official hired these two women from the Huairen Maoist Troupe overnight to specialize in cooking. After the job is done, we give them money and quietly send them away. It is safe. Daren doesn't think it is suitable?"
Yang Ling gave a wry smile and said, "Forget it, just make do with it!"
All Yang Ling wanted was an excuse. As long as he could search the manor and not fall into a passive position if there was no evidence, it would be simple. The two aunties cried out emotionally about how they were abandoned by Wang Long, a man with a human's face but a beast's heart. Then they pointed out in unison that there were still kidnapped women hidden in his mansion, and asked the Lord to investigate it.
Since Yang Ling was a righteous person, he naturally had to conduct an open investigation. Yang Ling sneered: "Wang Long, this official has been ordered to inspect the military and civilian affairs of the border. Since I've received the complaint, I naturally have to investigate it to the end. Right now, I will send people to bring these two victims to your mansion to search. If there is evidence, you will be punished for both crimes. Even if you want to run, you won't be able to. If there is nothing, I will punish them for the crime of false accusation and punish you for the crime of offending the imperial envoy. Do you think this official is still fair? "
Wang Long let out a bitter laugh and closed his eyes.
He was not a fool. How could he not see that Yang Ling had an ulterior motive?
Even if his mansion was filled with gold and silver and beautiful women, he was not afraid of Yang Ling's investigation. But if the West Courtyard's half-finished military equipment was found, the crime of colluding with the enemy was enough to exterminate his entire family.
If the Maitreya Sect's altar in the secret underground chamber of the back courtyard was found, it would be added to the crime of treason. He was well aware of the cruelty of the court's punishment for treason. Lighting the sky lantern, dismemberment by five horses, death by a thousand cuts, drawing out the intestines, and skinning people alive. The cruelty made people wish they could die earlier. Now, he did not know where he had exposed himself. Since Yang Ling had come prepared, how could these people from the inner council not find out?
Yang Ling did not feel guilty asking this question. Seeing Wang Long close his eyes and not answer, he only waved his hand. Liu Biao cupped his hands in salute and turned to leave. The red-eyed old rabbit jumped down from his chair. Gnashing his teeth, he said, "I'll go with you!"
Yang Ling was startled by his astonishing jumping ability. It seemed that eunuchs were too feminine. They were too vengeful. Wasn't it just being pushed and cursed as an old rabbit? I was reprimanded as trash by the Red Madame and locked up in a cave for two days. Even then, I didn't have this much of a temper.
Since Zhang Yong had volunteered, he could not stop him. He allowed Zhang Yong to follow Liu Biao and assemble the troops that had long been waiting in another alley. They charged aggressively toward the Wang mansion.
Yang Ling paced up and down the stairs with a heavy heart. He was only worried that he would not be able to find anything. Wang Long was a prominent figure in the Datong government and the local authorities. Although he had framed him, he was still in the wrong.
Tang Yixian did not know the pros and cons, and little Zhengde was not afraid of the pros. The two little fellows who did not know the taste of worry sat to one side and whispered to each other. The sight of a beautiful couple sitting next to each other made one's imagination run wild.
Yang Ling tilted his head to listen. The two were actually discussing music.
Zhengde bragged to Tang Yixian, "You are a master of the zither and flute, and my attainments in music are not shallow. This time, I came to the border and saw the scene of the golden spears and armored horses and the long river of the great desert. I was very moved. I want to compose a song. I've even thought of a name. It's called 'Joy of Killing at the Border'. It's to boost the morale of the army and kill all the bandits at the border!"
Tang Yixian pressed her hands on the stool and swung her legs. She asked curiously, "What kind of tune is it? Hum it for me."
Zhengde laughed dryly, "The tune … I haven't thought of it yet. When I think of it, I'll hum it for you."
Tang Yixian giggled and said, "The toad swallows the sky."
Zhengde asked curiously, "What do you mean?"
Tang Yixian tilted her head and smiled mischievously, "I'm just bragging."
At this time, the Wang Residence was filled with cries and chaos. Groups of soldiers rushed into the residence. It was like pouring a bowl of cold water into boiling oil. The common people rushed to the streets and surrounded the Wang Residence. Hualei Street was also filled with people and it was very lively.
In the chaos, two men in leather robes hurried into Taibai Tavern. They came to the private room on the second floor. The young man at the door listened to their narration and quickly ordered one of them to stand guard at the door. He brought the other in and quickly went in.
Yu Yuanwai and the man in green stood in front of the window. They looked solemnly at the situation opposite. When they heard the door open, they turned around and saw the man in leather robes. They quickly asked, "Little Chu, did you find out? What happened to the Wang family? "
Little Chu lifted the sleeve of his leather jacket and wiped the sweat on his cheek. He nervously said, "Protector, just now someone was competing with Wang Yuanwai's' Twelve Beautiful Screens' in 'Xin Sheng Lou'. The girl upstairs is beautiful and skilled. Wang Yuanwai was moved and took a ladder to cross the street. He rushed to Xin Sheng Lou and wanted to buy the singer at a high price. But for some reason, he has been arrested.
I heard that the people in that building are the imperial envoys Yang Ling and Zhang Yong. They said that Wang Yuanwai offended the imperial envoys and someone accused him of kidnapping women. They have already sent people to search the residence. "
"Lies!" Protector Yu's smiling Maitreya face turned ashen. "Wang Long has never forced beautiful women into his residence. He is a reputable figure in Datong. Even if he had offended the imperial envoy, he would not have had his house confiscated."
The man in green sneered, "Since the imperial envoys are visiting incognito, how can it be so coincidental? Wang Long offended the imperial envoys and someone immediately came to complain? Even the soldiers who entered the residence to search came so quickly? Wang Long must have given himself away. We must change immediately. Wang Long must be cut off immediately. "
Protector Yu composed himself and said, "Fortunately, there are not many people who are in contact with him. I will inform Wang Hu and Bao Yun to leave immediately. Even I have to leave immediately."
The man in green stopped him and said, "Wait, don't go. Send someone smart to take a look. If there is a chance, inform them. If the situation is not good, don't bother. If Yang Ling can follow the clues to Wang Long, it is hard to guarantee that he will not send someone to keep an eye on them."
Protector Yu nodded and stamped his feet. "It is a pity that the foundation we have painstakingly built for many years is gone. Great Master, you should leave the city quickly. Even if Wang Long is tight-lipped, once the military equipment and even our sect's altar are found, the whole city will be under martial law. We will not be able to leave then."
The man in green nodded and sighed to the sky. "Wang Long is fine. Wang Hu is in West City. He is the key to our next move. Unfortunately … the plan has to change. Alas! The heavens do not bless our sect. "
He stomped his feet heavily and hurriedly left Taibai House with the man in green. They went straight to the city gate.
Under the leadership of a few baihu, the wolf-like guards separated to the left and right. They did not go straight to the back of the house. Instead, they went along the moon doors on both sides of the front yard and rushed into the left and right side of the courtyard. They passed through the garden, the guest rooms, the servant's rooms, and went straight to the Wang family's craftsmen's shop. They broke open the warehouse and entered to search.
Seeing this, some of the bolder servants began to snatch some of the more valuable items and hid them in their own servant's rooms. The group of gorgeously dressed concubines in the backyard cried with all their might and kept hiding yellow and white items on their bodies. Soon, their slender waists became as bloated as if they were six months pregnant.
When the soldiers appeared in the attic of the Wang mansion, the group of beautiful women and maids were so frightened that they hugged each other and screamed. They thought that they were going to be sent to the authorities for investigation. Unexpectedly, the soldiers ignored them and rushed to the window to report. "Reporting to the imperial envoy, the Wang family has found ten boxes of wolf fang arrows, more than a thousand sets of leather armor that the Tatars often use, more than five hundred sets of horse saddles, and other items such as stirrups and horseshoes. They are all prohibited military equipment."
The people watching the commotion in the alley exploded. It was true that Wang Long had taken things by force and deception, but he was not a landlord. Most of his business was smuggling, so he did not have any conflicts with the people. When the Wang mansion was searched, many people still sympathized with him and secretly cursed the imperial envoy.
Now that they heard that he was colluding with the Tatars to resell military equipment, the people were immediately unable to restrain their anger. Traitors who helped the tiger do evil were the scum that the Han people hated the most. They were even more loathsome than the fierce tiger that was the Tatars. The people of Datong, who had been bullied by the Tatars, wanted nothing more than to eat their flesh and sleep on their skin. The sound of cursing and angry roars immediately shook the sky. Many people were shouting for the imperial envoy to dismember Wang Long.
Hearing this, Yang Ling let out a sigh of relief. He looked at the ashen-faced Wang Long and walked to the window. In a clear voice, he said, "Stand guard here. Do not carelessly move a single item. In addition, send someone to quickly report to the Acting Prince's mansion. Ask His Highness and the inspector's office to send people to thoroughly search the Wang family! "
He then cupped his hands to the people outside the window and said, "This kind of scum that brings disaster to the country and the people will certainly be severely punished by the court. But a country has its laws and a family has its rules. We must find out the evidence and make it known to the people. Only then can these scum be punished. His Highness the Acting Prince, Inspector Hu, and this official will definitely give everyone an explanation. Fellow villagers, old and young, do not be impatient!"
Yang Ling's words won a round of applause and cheers. Yang Ling's eyes hurriedly glanced around. He was about to return to his room when he suddenly felt a familiar gaze flash across the crowd. When he focused his eyes and looked again, the crowd was moving, but he could not see anything unusual.
He slightly knitted his eyebrows and carefully looked again. Only then did he give up and cupped his hands. He returned to the table and said, "Take Wang Long away and bring him to the inspector's office!"
Hong Niangzi was disguised as a village girl wearing a coarse gown with a cloth covering her head. Her skin was dyed yellow with ginger juice. She looked like a sickly country bumpkin. Huo Wu Shu was disguised as an old man selling winter vegetables on the street. He stood next to her.
Just now, when Yang Ling's gaze met hers, Cui Ying 'er's heart was shaken. She hastily lowered her head, her heart was pounding. She could feel Yang Ling's gaze was still searching for her in the crowd. She was so anxious that her palms were sweating. "Damn it!" she cried in her heart, "My disguise is so ordinary that nobody would even look at me. How come he seems to recognize me? He can't see me. There are so many people here, he can't possibly see me. "
Cui Ying 'er's chin was lowered to her chest, the muscles on her calves were stretched taut, her heels were dangling. It was unclear whether she was going to run away or jump up. Fortunately, there were people all around her, so her strange posture did not attract any attention.
It was not until Yang Ling had returned to his room that Cui Ying 'er let out a long sigh. She felt her back was sticky, she was so scared that she broke out in cold sweat. Cui Ying' er calmed herself down. Suddenly she felt extremely vexed, "Just now was such a good opportunity. If I threw a dart in front of everyone, the news of the imperial envoy's assassination would certainly spread all over the world. I could seize the opportunity to leave. Why should I be afraid of him? He is just a weak scholar, I can topple him with just one finger. The Taihang bandits had such a large force, but Hong Niangzi was alone, coming and going as she pleased. Who did she put in her eyes? He is just a stinky scholar, I … why should I be afraid of him? "
By this time the Imperial Bodyguards had come out of the restaurant and began to clear the way for the imperial envoy to board the sedan chair. The common people squeezed and moved back, about five, six zhang away from the restaurant. More than a hundred Imperial Bodyguards stood in three rows in front of the common people. Yang Ling and Zhang Yong hurriedly came out and boarded the sedan chair. Tang Yixian also had a small sedan chair. She carried her zither and boarded the small sedan chair. The group of people went straight to the Inspector-General yamen.
Huo Wu Shu coughed and said, "Daughter, daughter, daughter!"
Huo Wu Shu's voice was getting louder and louder. Cui Ying 'er looked up as if she had just woken up from a dream. She said in panic, "Ah? What? "
Huo Wu Shu looked at her strangely and said in a low voice, "Let's go, daughter. We still have to go to the market to sell the vegetables."
"Oh, okay!" Cui Ying 'er could not wait for him to say this. She quickly followed him to the end of the alley. When they reached a place with fewer people, Huo Wu Shu said in a low voice, "Just now when he looked out of the window, it was such a good opportunity. Why didn't you make your move?"
Huo Wu Shu practiced eagle claw kung fu. He was not very good with weapons, much less with concealed weapons. Moreover, Red Lady did not want to kill Yang Ling, so she volunteered to take the task. She decided to find an opportunity to make her move and Huo Wu Shu would help her escape.
When the officers and soldiers surrounded the Wang mansion, the news spread like wildfire. They heard about it at the drum tower and rushed here just in time. Just now Cui Ying 'er did not make her move. The opportunity was fleeting. Even if Huo Wu Shu wanted to urge her, it was too late.
Cui Ying 'er felt a little guilty. Luckily her face was smeared with ginger juice so her expression was not obvious. She said, "Just now … I was afraid that I would miss and would not have another chance. I wanted to wait for him to come out again … Hey, let's find another opportunity."
Huo Wu Shu did not suspect her. He nodded and said, "Hmm, yesterday he went to Mount Bai and today he visited Xin Sheng Lou. He is also a restless person. As long as we keep an eye on him, we will definitely find an opportunity. He went to the Imperial Inspector yamen to discuss how to divide the spoils. Hey, hey, Wang Long trafficked in smuggled goods and transported military equipment. He has a mountain of gold and silver at home. He has a lovely wife and beautiful concubines. This imperial envoy can make a fortune! "
Cui Ying 'er did not even think and blurted out, "Impossible! He is not that kind of person! "
Huo Wu Shu was dumbfounded. Cui Ying 'er bit her tongue and embarrassedly said, "Although this person is our opponent, his moral conduct is much better than many other officers. Wu Shu, we fought the Tartars at the foot of Mount Bai, we released the prisoners at the foot of Mount Bai. Among the officers and soldiers we met before, was there such a famous man? "
Huo Wu Shu did not answer and only silently nodded his head. In his heart, he was also thinking, "This child, how can she trust the government officials? I have watched her grow up. Although this child has never been educated, her character is very upright. She would never do anything that would betray her husband. But Hu Zi's rebellion is imminent, yet she is soft-hearted towards the people of the imperial court. No wonder Hu Zi is angry with her. Ay! If there is a chance, I'd better get rid of Yang Ling by myself. Otherwise, this child will ruin the important matter. "
When Huo Wu Shu entered the city, he brought some dried vegetables with him. If he brought them back or found a place to throw them away, he was afraid that it would arouse suspicion. Therefore, he hurried to the market and sold them at a lower price. Only then did he get up and leave the city. Unexpectedly, when he reached the city gate, he saw that the gate was tightly shut.
Cui Ying 'er did not know what had happened. She asked an old man next to her, "Uncle, what happened?"
The old man saw that she was the daughter of a sickly farmer. He said, "Daughter, are you going out of the city? Hurry up and go to your relatives and friends. You won't be able to leave the city today. The Imperial Envoy has just confiscated Wang Long's house. The acting prince and the inspector-general's office have sent people to investigate. They found a secret room under the Buddha's hall. Inside is the incense hall of the Maitreya sect. His younger brother, General Wang Hu of the Western City, heard the news and left the city. He was caught by the Imperial Envoy. The acting prince has now ordered the four gates to be sealed to capture the remaining evil sect members. "
"Ah!" Cui Ying 'er and Fifth Master Huo quickly exchanged a look. The richest man in Datong, Wang Long, who had a wide circle of friends, was a member of the Maitreya sect?
Seeing that they could not leave the city gate, the two turned around and walked back. Fifth Master Huo said in disbelief, "Wang Long is a rich man. I did not expect him to be a member of the Maitreya sect. He has a wide circle of friends. There must be many people who have been implicated. What should we do? Where should we hide?"
Cui Ying 'er had vented her disgust, she was very happy in her heart. Listening to his words, she thought for a moment and smiled. "No hurry," she said, "Let's go back to the south street of the Drum Tower first and take a look at the Wang family's situation. When the sky gets dark, we'll think of a way to find a suitable place to hide."
The commoners who were watching the commotion were still surrounding Wang Long's house. The main gate was wide open and officials were entering and exiting the house. They counted the valuables and locked up the criminals. Because of the two major crimes of collusion and rebellion, everyone in the house was locked up and imprisoned. After a thorough examination, it was decided whether to release them or to punish them as accomplices.
Because of the irrefutable evidence and the two major crimes of beheading, there was no need to seal the house and ask for an imperial edict. The Acting King directly ordered the confiscation of the house. The once illustrious Wang family was like a collapsed building, like a dying lamp. Unfortunately, the monkeys who fell after the tree fell could not escape even if they wanted to. The men's and women's prisons were overcrowded and the Wang family's wealth was confiscated.
His wives, concubines, maids, servants, and doormen were all locked up in the prison. His valuables, treasures, and paintings were packed up and transported back to the yamen. The rest of the bulky and bulky items were all registered one by one. Those that could be moved were all moved to the storeroom and sealed. Finally, the red lacquer door was slammed shut with a bang. The seals of the acting prince's mansion and the inspector-general's yamen were crossed over each other. The mansion, which used to be filled with servants, suddenly became empty.
Cui Ying 'er's eyes flashed and she whispered, "Fifth Uncle, let's stay in this house tonight."
Fifth Uncle Huo's eyes brightened and he praised, "Wonderful! This is indeed a very safe place to go! There are soldiers guarding the door. We can sneak in from the side at night. With this good place, we can stay in Datong for another ten days or half a month without being discovered. But Hu Zi and the others have not seen us for a long time and must be very anxious. "
Cui Ying 'er shook her head and said, "No, the news of Wang Long's confiscation of the house will spread throughout the towns tomorrow. When Brother Hu hears the news, he will know that the soldiers have locked the city …" As she said this, she suddenly saw a few patrolmen carrying knives looking left and right. When they saw anyone suspicious, they would stop and question them. She hurriedly supported Fifth Uncle Huo and said, "Let's go."
An unremarkable village girl was hugging an old man carrying a hemp rope shoulder pole as they hurried along the hazy streets of Datong. This scene was very normal and no one paid them a second glance.
* * *
The Acting King, the Imperial Envoy, and the Inspector-General jointly tried Wang Long's case.
Wang Long privately manufactured military equipment and sold it to the enemy. He also participated in the evil cult's plot to rebel. The evidence is conclusive. His younger brother Wang Hu and the jade merchant Bao Yun also participated in it. The Acting King personally presided over the trial. It was said that Wang Long broke free from his restraints and fearlessly rushed forward to assassinate the King. The Acting King was furious and immediately ordered Wang Long, Wang Hu, Bao Yun, as well as the family warriors and servants involved in the case, a total of sixty-two people, to be taken to the high platform outside the drum tower to be executed.
When these people were escorted to the execution ground, they had already been beaten to the point that their flesh was lacerated and they no longer looked human. When the executioner raised the broadsword, they lay on the ground weakly and obediently took the blow. None of them shouted out words like 'I've lost my head and I'll be a big scar' or 'I'll be a good man again after 20 years'. The fact that the condemned prisoners were so unprofessional made the spectators who had gathered all their strength to praise them disappointed. Then, they began to curse out loud.
Their heads were hung at the bottom of the drum tower. Wang Long's crimes were heinous and arrogant. He called himself a Prince and his residence the Prince's Mansion. The Acting King ordered the executioner Liu Xiaodao to skin him and make him into a drum. He placed him on the drum tower. The sound of the drum every day really made the ordinary people who once believed in the Maitreya Sect tremble with fear.
The Acting King also ordered people to pry open the bricks under the drum tower and dig three feet into the ground. Wang Long's thin coffin was buried underground and trampled by thousands of people to punish Wang Long's crimes. The Acting King renamed Hualei Street to Huan Le Street. The people of Datong cheered loudly and were indeed as happy as the New Year.
Many officials were implicated in Wang Long's case. Because of Wang Hu's precedent, all the generals in the army who had close ties with the Wang family were transferred from their original positions, regardless of whether there was evidence. There were undercurrents surging in the city of Datong. This purge would probably take at least three to five months to truly calm down.
The dungeon of the Acting King's Mansion was originally used as a private prison for the servants of the King's Mansion who had committed theft and adultery. Therefore, it was much simpler and cruder than the official prison. However, at this moment, the wooden door of the dungeon had been replaced by a thick and heavy iron door. Inside and outside, there were more than ten foreign agents belonging to the Inner Faction, armed with swords and bows. The entire courtyard where the dungeon was located was heavily guarded, and no one was allowed to enter or leave without orders.
On the torture rack of the dungeon hung a burly man dressed in bloody clothes with disheveled hair. His head drooped softly as if he had fallen into a coma. Yang Ling sat on the chair in front of him and looked him up and down. He frowned and said, "Nothing?"
Liu Biao glanced at the prisoner with sunken cheeks and said, "Yes, I have used all the torture methods that can be used. Wang Long knew that he was going to die, so he still did not say a word."
Yang Ling looked at the exposed thigh of the prisoner under the torn clothes. There was a deep and ugly wound, and yellowish-red pus and blood were still seeping out of the wound. In just a few days, this burly man had been tormented to the point that he did not look like a human. It was unknown what kind of torture he had gone through.
Yang Ling blushed and said, "Since the Song and Yuan Dynasties, the White Lotus Cult has been attacked by the imperial court in every dynasty. However, it has been passed down for hundreds of years and has never fallen. Sure enough, it has its own unique method. Under such torture, even an iron man would not be able to withstand it. Wang Long has lived like a prince for nearly ten years. Even under the influence of wine, women, wealth, and temper, he is still so ruthless. If all the high-ranking people of the Maitreya Cult are so difficult to deal with, it will not be easy to deal with them."
Liu Biao smiled bitterly and said, "This man is indeed a ruthless character. However, I have been in the Imperial Bodyguard for many years and have seen a few. The most frustrating thing is that Wang Long will faint as soon as he is tortured. When he is not being tortured, he will still faint even if he wants to. Therefore, I have no way to deal with him."
"Uh! Faint? How? "Yang Ling was very surprised and hurriedly asked.
Liu Biao smiled bitterly and said, "As long as I use the torture, Wang Long will automatically faint. Most prisoners are forced to confess because the physical pain during the torture is unbearable and exceeds the limits of what they can bear. However, Wang Long faints as soon as he is tortured. When he wakes up, the extreme pain of the torture has already passed. Moreover, as long as he wants to, even if he is not tortured, as long as his injuries are unbearable, he can faint as he wishes. The White Lotus Cult really has a lot of crooked Kung Fu. "
Listening to this, Yang Ling vaguely guessed that this should be some kind of self-hypnosis Kung Fu. The White Lotus Cult had been recruiting followers as a religion for hundreds of years. They were very proficient in magic tricks and verbal hypnosis that could assist in bewitching people's minds. Since Wang Long was an important person that the Maitreya Cult had arranged to amass wealth in Datong, he must have some expertise.
Unfortunately, this kind of skill was not regarded as sorcery, but as a crooked Kung Fu. People of the orthodox path disdained to learn it. Even if they knew it, no one would dare to say it. Where could the government find such a person? If only Gao Wenxin was here. With her ability, she would be able to make Wang Long tell the truth. Unfortunately … now he could only bring Wang Long back to the capital and let Wen Xin think of a way.
Yang Ling sighed regretfully and stood up. "In that case, don't push him too far. Treat his injuries and lock him up for the time being. After Wang Long was captured, the local forces of the Maitreya Cult must have heard the news and fled. However, they would not be willing to abandon all the forces that they had developed and start all over again!
They might not believe the news of Wang Long's death for ten days or a month, but they should believe it in half a year, right? After a few days, when things calm down, they will make a comeback. At that time, I will definitely dig out the things in Wang Long's heart, and I will make a comeback! "
Leaving the dungeon, he was accompanied by four guards to the courtyard. Wang An, one of the four main housekeepers of the Wang residence, came forward and asked, "Your Excellency is going back?"
Yang Ling smiled. "Yes, thank you for your trouble, Housekeeper Wang."
Wang An chuckled. "The Imperial Envoy is so courteous. You are an Old Slave. Does Your Excellency not want to see His Highness?"
Yang Ling said, "His Highness is newly married, so I will not disturb you." He made a gesture of invitation and, accompanied by Wang An, walked towards Chengyun Gate. Leaving the Wang residence and bypassing the Nine Dragons Screen Wall, Yang Ling was about to pull the saddle and mount a horse when two fast horses galloped towards him. Wu Hanchao immediately held his sword and blocked the way.
Yang Ling squinted his eyes and looked. Judging by their attire, they were just a general and a soldier. As the horses neared, the general dismounted. Only then did Yang Ling see that it was the adopted son of Datong's Commander-In-Chief Du Renguo, General Jing Fuer.
He was travel-worn and had obviously rushed all the way from outside the city. Once he saw them, he hurriedly went forward and saluted, saying, "General Jing Fuer pays his respects to the Imperial Envoy!"
Yang Ling hurriedly said, "General, don't be so courteous. You seem to be in a hurry. Do you have something important to report to His Highness?"
Jing Fuer smiled and said, "Not at all. I went to the Imperial Envoy Residence first and heard that Your Excellency is here, so I hurried over."
Yang Ling was moved. He asked, "What happened?"
Jing Fuer quickly looked left and right before stepping forward and saying in a low voice, "Hua Dang has led the Wuliangha tribe, Wengniute tribe, Wuqiyete tribe and the leaders of the Jianzhou, Haixi and Savage Jurchen tribes. The envoys of the various alliance leaders have set up tents outside the mouth of victory and are knocking on the door to request an audience with Special Envoy Ming Destiny. Commander-In-Chief Yang has specially ordered me to report to Your Excellency."
Upon hearing this, Yang Ling's spirits rose and he blurted out, "They're finally here!"
The Three Duoyan Guards and the Three Jurchen tribes moved from the east to the west. Once they entered the Tartars' sphere of influence, they became cautious. The five thousand men and horses suddenly rushed for a few hundred li, and then like an old ox breaking down a cart, they could not be delayed, making it difficult to accurately grasp their whereabouts.
Yang Ling considered that Hua Dang was leading thousands of riders far away from their base and must be very careful. Moreover, he was originally here to meet Emperor Ming Destiny, so it was meaningless to send scouts to follow his movements. If they were discovered by him, it would be self-defeating. Therefore, once he entered the Tartars' sphere of influence, he withdrew his scouts and was unable to accurately determine Hua Dang's arrival time.
Jing Fuer smiled and said, "Yes, under Commander-In-Chief Yang's orders, I and Xu Tai will escort Your Excellency."
Yang Ling clasped his hands together and laughed, "Good, with you two valiant generals, I can even go to the dragon's pool and tiger's den. Now outside the Pass, only Boyan, Huo Zhai and Hua Dang are the heroes. I will go and meet the leader of the Three Duoyan Guards."
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