Catching Monsters

Chapter 325 Chen Honghao

Jiang Yun and Linglong waited at the city gate for a long time before the soldier who had gone to deliver the message finally arrived.

Accompanying him was a scholar, dressed in a rupao (a type of traditional Chinese robe), holding a folding fan, and appearing to be around forty years old.

"This is our strategist, Chen Honghao."

Chen Honghao appeared to be a refined and cultured man. He clasped his hands in a gesture of respect and looked at Linglong and Jiang Yun, asking, "May I ask, are you the leader of the Red Lotus Sect?"

"Haha, our Emperor has gone out on business. We have already sent someone to inform him that he will see the Sect Leader as soon as he returns."

"Master, please."

Chen Honghao made a gesture of invitation.

He led Jiang Yun and Linglong into the city. The city of Chongshan County had become quite orderly, but there were many soldiers with red belts around their waists patrolling the streets.

Chen Honghao led the two men and tentatively asked, "Master, we have long admired your name. We have heard that you have attempted to assassinate that dog emperor multiple times in the capital of Zhou."

"Truly a role model for us all."

"I wonder what brings you here today?"

Linglong didn't speak, but glanced at Jiang Yun, who then smiled and said, "To be honest, Mr. Chen, my master has heard that Dao Hua Wang now occupies three provinces and has already declared himself emperor."

"Our leader would like to try cooperating with you."

Upon hearing this, Chen Honghao's eyes lit up slightly. Although he had also heard that the Red Lotus Sect had suffered heavy losses in the capital in its attempt to assassinate the dog emperor, with almost its entire army wiped out.

However, it was precisely because of these assassinations that the leader of the Red Lotus Sect became a well-known figure in the entire rebel world.

If the leader of the Red Lotus Sect were to join them, it would be of great benefit to them.

Chen Honghao's eyes lit up, his smile widened, and he became even more enthusiastic, saying, "Please come in and have a seat in our palace."

Although it's called the Imperial Palace, it's actually just the former government office of Chongshan County, which has been simply renovated.

Along the way, Chen Honghao enthusiastically introduced their current situation. They called themselves the Qi Kingdom and claimed to have a military force of one million.

Of course, in reality, there were far fewer than that, only a few hundred thousand soldiers.

These 100,000 soldiers were also distributed throughout the three provinces, guarding against the 400,000 regular troops of the imperial court led by Wang Longzhi.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yun couldn't help but exchange a glance with Linglong, feeling quite puzzled.

On their way here, they saw many of these rebel soldiers, most of whom were ordinary civilians carrying swords and knives, with no organization whatsoever.

Such an army was no different from a ragtag force in the face of the Zhou state.

Could this withstand the 400,000 elite troops of the Central Army led by Wang Longzhi?

Now, that 400,000 elite troops are merely surrounding the three provinces without launching an attack.

Jiang Yun asked doubtfully, "Mr. Chen, can our troops withstand Zhou's 400,000 elite troops?"

Seeing the confusion in Jiang Yun's eyes, Chen Honghao chuckled and said, "Our Dao Hua Wang is an incarnation of the Dao Venerable. He can turn beans into soldiers and uses all sorts of magic. He scared the 400,000-strong army into not daring to attack."

"In other words, since we occupy these three provinces, we need to recuperate for a while. Otherwise, we would have already marched all the way to the capital."

Can beans be turned into soldiers?

"The Zhou court is already afraid. Not long ago, they sent a group of Imperial Guards to secretly infiltrate the palace to assassinate King Daohua. Fortunately, a master from King Daohua's side intervened and killed or captured them."

"There are still more than a dozen Imperial Guards imprisoned in the jail behind the palace."

Hearing this, Jiang Yun's heart sank slightly. The person Chen Honghao was referring to was probably Yang Liunian and his group.

Including Qin Shujian.

Yang Liunian personally led the team, which consisted of a considerable number of people, probably over a hundred.

Now only a dozen or so Imperial Guards remain imprisoned; the rest have almost all been killed.

Jiang Yun took a deep breath, then forced a smile and said, "The reason why our Red Lotus Sect failed to assassinate the dog emperor all these years is related to these Jinyiwei henchmen. I didn't expect Mr. Chen and your team to be able to capture so many people."

Soon, led by Chen Honghao, the group arrived at the yamen (government office). The plaque above the yamen had been changed to read "Imperial Palace".

"please."

Chen Honghao quickly led the two to a living room, asked them to sit down, and then said, "Please have some tea first, I have something to attend to."

"Mr. Chen, please feel free to do as you please." Jiang Yun nodded with a smile.

After watching Chen Honghao leave, he lowered his voice and whispered in Linglong's ear, "After we see Dao Huawang, shall we make our move?"

Jiang Yun's initial plan was this: to use his status as the leader of the Linglong Red Lotus Sect to get close to Dao Hua Wang.

With the two of them, both experts at the third rank, a sudden sneak attack would surely allow them to kill Dao Hua Wang without any trouble.

Linglong didn't drink the tea on the table. Seeing Jiang Yun's thoughts, she asked in a low voice, "You want to save those Imperial Guards?"

Jiang Yun took a deep breath, nodded, and said in a deep voice, "I don't know if Qin Shujian is still alive. We need to confirm that first."

Upon hearing this, Linglong nodded slightly and then said, "Okay."

“But Jiang Yun, I must remind you, don’t underestimate this group of rebels. There should be some extremely powerful experts among them,” Linglong said in a low voice. “At the very least, they won’t be weaker than the two of us.”

At the same time, Chen Honghao, who came out of the living room, had lost his smile. He quickly beckoned to one of his men and said in a low voice, "Go and call Yang Minghu here. Wasn't he a member of the Red Lotus Sect before?" "Let him come and see if this Red Lotus Sect leader is really who he is."

"Yes."

Chen Honghao stood with his hands behind his back, glanced back at the direction of the living room, and noted that since they started their rebellion, there had been countless swindlers of all kinds.

Before long, a man dressed as a general in armor arrived quickly.

Chen Honghao briefly explained the situation to Yang Minghu.

A look of embarrassment immediately appeared on Yang Minghu's face. He coughed and said, "Mr. Chen, I..."

"You said you were a mid-level member of the Red Lotus Sect before, so you must have met this sect leader, right?"

"Of course I've met him," Yang Minghu coughed and said, "It's just that I've come to the Great Qi from the Red Lotus Sect, and I'm afraid it would be a bit awkward for me to meet this sect leader..."

Yang Minghu is not a member of the Red Lotus Cult...

He started as a local refugee. Hearing that rebels had started an uprising and were being fed, he came to this place and claimed to be a member of the Red Lotus Sect.

Unexpectedly, he was given a high position and is now a commander of a thousand men.

He ate lavishly every day and became a superior person.

It was all thanks to his status as a member of the Red Lotus Cult.

If it gets exposed...

His own fate is probably not going to be good.

He steeled himself and followed Chen Honghao into the living room.

"Hahahaha, Master, isn't this a coincidence? We also have one of your Red Lotus Sect's old subordinates in our army, Yang Minghu, come quickly."

Linglong frowned slightly, looking at the man who had entered, and asked in confusion, "Yang Minghu? A member of the Red Lotus Sect?"

Yang Minghu was also a little confused. After entering the house and seeing Jiang Yun and Linglong, he felt a little uneasy.

Who is the cult leader...?

He couldn't possibly ask Chen Honghao, who was standing next to him!

All I can do is guess based on my own cleverness.

Just as Linglong was speaking, Yang Minghu breathed a sigh of relief, hurriedly ran to Jiang Yun, knelt down, and shouted loudly, "Master, I've missed you so much!"

In Yang Minghu's view, how could the leader of the Red Lotus Sect be a woman?

Eliminate an incorrect option.

Only Jiang Yun was inside.

As Yang Minghu suddenly knelt down before Jiang Yun, an eerie silence instantly fell over the room…

Chen Honghao was also dumbfounded. Looking at the scene before him, he asked in a deep voice, "Yang Minghu, are you sure this is the leader of the Red Lotus Sect?"

Yang Minghu felt a chill run down his spine; he was doomed!
Could it be that we've been exposed?

No, I have to stick to that!
"That's right, this is our Crimson Lotus Sect Leader!"

"Then who is she?" Chen Honghao pointed to Linglong, who was wearing a red robe and a ferocious mask, standing to the side.

“She is the sect leader’s maid!” Yang Minghu said without hesitation.

Linglong, her face dark beneath the mask, exclaimed, "How did I become a maid?!"
I am the dignified leader of the Red Lotus Sect, the real deal!

"Hahahaha!" Chen Honghao burst into laughter, his gaze falling on Jiang Yun. He couldn't help but exclaim, "The Sect Leader is truly cautious. Even when traveling, he still resorts to such deception. I am truly impressed."

Jiang Yun looked at Linglong beside her with some surprise.

Linglong rolled her eyes at him and said quietly, "Master, you've been seen through, what are you still pretending for!"

"Ahem." Jiang Yun couldn't help but cough, and said with an awkward smile, "I hid myself so well, but I didn't expect that some of my old subordinates would recognize me here."

This commotion only made Chen Honghao more certain that Jiang Yun was indeed the leader of the Red Lotus Sect.

"Mr. Chen, since the Dao Hua King has not yet returned, why don't you go and check on those Imperial Guards in the prison?"

"Back when I was in the capital, I was terribly harmed by these Imperial Guards. If you have any enemies there, how about handing them over to me?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Honghao had no doubts and extended his hand, saying, "Master, please!"

Jiang Yun was about to stand up when Yang Minghu fawned over her, taking her hand and glaring at Linglong beside her: "You maid, you have no sense of propriety at all. Hurry up and come help the sect leader."

exquisite:"……"

She had no choice but to bite the bullet and step forward, respectfully helping Jiang Yun up, while secretly pinching the flesh on Jiang Yun's waist...

Jiang Yun's eyes widened in pain, and she gasped.

Linglong stared at him with a smile: "Master, you must be tired. Tonight, I will definitely give you a good massage, like a leg massage and a shoulder massage! I'll make sure you enjoy yourself."

Jiang Yun's smile was bitter as the group walked toward the prison behind the yamen.

(End of this chapter)