Lin'an Never Night

Chapter 693 Opening the Net and Waiting
Nanzheng.

Before 9 o'clock in the morning, the autumn sun was still strong, making the whole city of Nanzheng warm.

On the battlements of the city wall, soldiers wearing hats and holding guns were patrolling back and forth. Their postures were a little more upright than usual.

Because Taiwei Yang Zheng and several generals in the army were seeing off the troops at the foot of the city.

Due to the erosion of wind and rain and the destruction of war, the walls of the old city of Nanzheng have been repaired so many times that the original color of rammed earth and bricks can no longer be seen.

The entire city wall looked like the fur of a sick old dog, scarred and scabby.

However, with the fluttering red flags and the mighty soldiers, this ancient city wall, which bears traces of time, instantly takes on a vivid image.

Yang Zheng was in front, and Shi Han, the first commander of the imperial cavalry stationed in Xingyuan Prefecture, was beside Yang Zheng. Behind them were several generals in the army.

They were seeing off the Imperial Envoy, Right Counselor Yang Yuan.

Accompanying Yang Yuan to Dingjun Mountain was Chen Zhuoguang, the chief secretary of Yang Zheng’s army.

Yang Zheng sent a group of troops, led by his beloved grandson Yang Shou, to serve as guards for Chen Zhuoguang.

Yang Yuan bowed and said goodbye to his "big brother" Yang Zheng and the generals, then got into the car.

As soon as the curtain of the sedan chair was lowered, the coachman shook the reins, and the carriage rushed away along the official road.

Chen Zhuoguang boarded the second carriage and followed closely behind.

Then the cavalrymen whipped their horses one after another, and a thin trail of dust rose on the official road.

There were many merchants and travelers hurrying back and forth on the road. When they saw the fluttering flags, the galloping horses, and the two carriages guarding them, they realized that officials were traveling, so they quickly moved out of the way.

The car was shaking slightly. Chen Zhuoguang sat in the car, thinking about the instructions of General Yang Zheng, and couldn't help but sigh softly.

Yang Zheng asked him to go to Dingjun Mountain and act according to circumstances, making the best use of Qiu Pi'er's death to direct suspicion to several veteran generals in the army.

These veterans are all hardliners who are opposed to Yang Zheng handing over power to the Lixi Wu family. Among them, Shi Han is the biggest target.

Chen Zhuoguang did not agree with Yang Zheng's plan.

Once upon a time, people like Shi Han, who were capable and prestigious, were relied upon by Yang Zheng as his right-hand man.

It was precisely because of the presence of many such brave generals that the Yang family army in Lizhong was strong and capable of competing with the Wu family army in Lixi.

Now, the old commander wanted to sacrifice the future of his old subordinates for the sake of his own descendants, and cracks quietly appeared between these once close comrades.

And once this rift occurs, it will grow larger and larger and cannot be bridged.

Is it worth it to break away from your old brothers for a vague hope?
Chen Zhuoguang didn't understand why Yang Zheng was so persistent.

However, since Yang Zheng has made his decision, he has no choice. A gentleman should die for his friend!
Chen Zhuoguang was a civil servant who was a top three Jinshi in the palace examination.

Since he was ranked among the top three, it stands to reason that his future should be more than just a military aide.

Because most of the staff serving the officials were juren, gongsheng, jiansheng or shengyuan.

Even though they failed to pass the imperial examination, there were many talented people among them. It’s just that some of them were really not good at writing essays in exams.

Many of these juren, gongsheng and jiansheng students were able to become high-ranking officials and trusted aides to the government. How could this be possible if they did not have real talent and knowledge?

However, those who passed the imperial examination, even if they were in the third place, would be officials of the ninth rank. After many years, even if they only gained experience, it would be impossible for them to still be just a secretary of the eighth rank.

But, Chen Zhuoguang is actually a man with high aspirations. He likes this kind of life where he is truly in power and does great things.

He served as Yang Zheng's aide. Although the position of secretary was not important, his actual power was incomparable to that of an official in a state or prefecture.

Because he was Yang Zheng's military advisor.

He didn't want to be like some of his peers who had passed the imperial examination, living a mediocre life, waiting for a decent official position and then ending their lives.

His life pursuit was achieved with the help of Yang Zheng, so he was willing to give everything to Yang Zheng.

This is the loyalty and integrity of a Confucian scholar.

Yang Zheng, the star of the general, was about to fall, and as his assistant, he was willing to fall with him.

……

Yang Yuan was sitting in the car, thinking quietly.

He was thinking about how to use the Qiu Pi'er case to disrupt Yang Zheng's plan to return power to the Lixi Wu family.

Although the Lixi Wu family also belongs to the army of the Song Dynasty, this force has become too powerful to be eliminated.

If the Wu family of Lixi merges with the Yang family of Lizhong, their territory and troops will be even larger. It is hard to say whether...

After all, people's hearts are fickle.

In the past year since he took office in Tongchuan, he has assessed the situation, made careful decisions, used opportunities, gathered important resources, and implemented various new policies...

After a year of hard work, Tongchuan Prefecture has been basically controlled.

In this process, the situation, current affairs, opportunities, people's hearts, strategies, decisions, momentum building, and leveraging of momentum, etc., are all planned in every possible way and with all the wisdom.

According to the original plan, if he was given another half year, he would be able to completely master Tongchuan Road.

By then, his right-hand man will also arrive in Tongchuan, and he can start planning the Wen family army in Lizhou.

The implementation of these plans requires a large amount of human and material resources in the early stages, and it is not something that can be changed easily.

For example, Ji Xiang, Hanane, and Xiao Nai, who are now leading the "Tongzhou Club", are busy working on Lizhou East Road.

It is impossible to transfer them to Lizhou Central Road urgently at this time.

Otherwise, some of the things they are doing will have to come to a temporary halt.

If they stopped, they would miss the opportunity and some things might no longer be feasible. Unexpectedly, at this moment, Yang Zheng, who had originally planned to have a relatively stable situation, ran into problems.

Yang Yuan had no choice but to act hastily and counter the opponent's moves.

……

At the foot of Dingjun Mountain, there is a town called "Dingjun Town".

Kou Heiyi rode out of the military camp, went down the mountain and came to a restaurant in the town.

There is a large army stationed on the mountain, so the restaurant at the foot of the mountain is doing very good business. Most of the people who come here to drink are soldiers.

Kou Heiyi went straight into the backyard from the corner door and met the owner of the restaurant.

The shopkeeper's name was Qin Fangze. He was short and fat with smiling eyes and eyebrows, and looked like Maitreya.

When he saw Kou Heiyi coming, Qin Fangze quickly sent away a few people around him and led him into the room.

Qin Fangze wore a square scarf on his head and a dark blue robe, and had a very plump figure.

After pouring a cup of tea for Kou Heiyi, he said with a smile: "The imperial envoy has arrived in Nanzheng and will come to Dingjun Mountain soon."

"Oh? So fast?"

Kou Heiyi was slightly surprised.

The court sent a senior official to handle this case, and the journey by boat and car would inevitably take a lot of time.

However, Kou Heiyi did not expect that the imperial court did not send officials from Lin'an, but instead sent a message to Tongchuan through the Golden Military Post Station and transferred Yang Yuan over nearby.

Qin Fangze said: "Yes, we can start to make arrangements."

Kou Heiyi said: "The imperial envoy has arrived, and the local generals have already developed a grudge against Yang Zheng. By then, the security will be very strict. We must plan cleverly before we can launch a decisive attack."

"Unlucky, Bo Lang's attack failed, and Zhang Zifang failed."

"Oh, but Qin Shi Huang still died."

Qin Fangze shook his head and smiled: "We have been operating in Lizhou for many years. We have many people stationed in farms, wine shops, shop assistants, tenant farmers, and even soldiers and servants. If we gather them together, there will be 70 to 80 people. In short, it is all up to you to deploy and arrange them."

"Okay, I just need them to help me create opportunities. I don't need so many people to take action."

Kou Heiyi said: "Just help me find out the situation as much as possible."

"The basic situation has now been found out."

Qin Fangze said: "The imperial envoy came with 36 guards. Yang Zheng sent his confidant, the chief secretary Chen Zhuoguang, to accompany him, and he brought a whole army with him."

"Who is the imperial envoy?"

"This imperial envoy is a formidable person. If you can kill him, there will be a huge upheaval in the government and the country, and Sichuan and Xia will be in turmoil."

"Oh? Is it a chancellor or a minister?"

"Absolutely."

Qin Fangze stopped laughing and said solemnly, "He is the Right Counselor of the Song Dynasty, and now the Governor of Tongchuan Prefecture, Yang Yuan."

The expression on Kou Heiyi's face suddenly froze.

Qin Fangze said proudly: "How about it? If we kill such a big shot, the effect will be great."

Kou Heiyi took a deep breath and suddenly asked, "The person accompanying him is Yang Zheng's confidant Chen Zhuoguang?"

"good."

Kou Heiyi nodded and said, "We can keep an eye on this man. Killing him will be enough to anger Yang Zheng and provoke a greater conflict between Yang Zheng and the troops stationed at Dingjun Mountain."

Qin Fangze was stunned and said, "Wouldn't it be better if an imperial envoy died? Moreover, this imperial envoy is now the governor of Tongchuan Road. If he died, it would cause unrest in Sichuan and Xia."

Kou Heiyi sighed and said, "Do you think Yang Yuan is so easy to kill?"

Kou Heiyi shook his head and said, "I had contact with this person when I was lurking in the Privy Council of the Song Dynasty. My identity was also exposed by this person."

"This person is extremely meticulous and careful. He can detect any abnormality. Moreover, he has outstanding martial arts skills. Even I am no match for him.

With his martial arts skills, if he misses, he will have enough energy to escape. By then, our mission will be in vain and our good situation will be ruined."

Kou Heiyi looked at Qin Fangze and said seriously, "Killing Chen Zhuoguang is enough to stir up civil strife among the Yang family army in Lizhong. It would be better if we could kill Yang Yuan. The problem is that compared to the risk of failure, we should make a safer decision."

Qin Fangze thought about it and nodded, "Anyway, you are fully responsible for the affairs here. We will just follow your orders."

Kou Heiyi smiled with satisfaction, patted Qin Fangze on the shoulder, and said, "The target has been changed to Chen Zhuoguang. When he comes to Dingjun Mountain, you can find out his whereabouts and cooperate with me to take action."

Kou Heiyi walked out of the restaurant with a smile on his face. When he walked out of the restaurant, he had two jars of old wine tied with straw ropes in his arms.

He put the jar of wine on the horse's back, as if he had come down the mountain for this purpose.

When he stepped into the stirrups and mounted his mount, Kou Heiyi raised his head and glanced into the distance.

"Yang Yuan, Yang Yuan, Yang Che, your brother is really haunting me.

If you are still alive, please protect me from a confrontation with him. Please stop messing with me. It's really annoying!"

PS: I left home on the 8th and will be back home tomorrow. Fortunately, the updates have been stable during this period.

The chapter will be posted tomorrow afternoon. I have to go out on the 16th, but I will still try to update it steadily.

I owe a chapter to JJM leader.

(End of this chapter)