Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 655 Those who understand the times are wise, those who are adaptable are heroes.
At dusk, a donkey cart that had rushed out of Hanyang before the gates closed stopped under the mottled plaque of Yanfo Temple in the distant suburbs.

"You really caught Li Erzhan!?" As soon as he entered, Li Gui, his face full of anxiety, bombarded the three Cui brothers who came to greet him with the question that concerned him the most.

“That’s right.” Cui Mingji nodded with a stern face before silently completing the greeting gift.

"Where is he now?" Li Gui asked directly, not bothering to return the greeting.

“It’s inside the Heavenly King Hall.” Cui Mingji turned around and pointed to the Heavenly King Hall, which was missing two doors.

"How did you capture him? How many casualties did you suffer?" Li Gui squinted slightly, looking at the gap in the wall, but he didn't see Li Erzhan.

“There were no casualties. Neither side was injured.” Cui Mingji shook his head and explained, “We just stopped his sedan chair on the road and brought him here.”

"Didn't his men resist?" Li Gui knew that Li Erzhan had some retainers and assassins.

“His four sedan bearers did try to resist, but Li Erzhan suppressed them,” Cui Mingji said.

"Four sedan chair bearers?" Li Gui was taken aback. "Where are the others?"

“There’s no one else, just a single sedan chair,” Cui Mingji said.

"Not even a ceremonial procession?" Li Gui was somewhat surprised.

"No," Cui Mingji shook his head again.

“Lord Mozhai,” Cui Jingji, who was in charge of liaison and perimeter security, interjected, offering his guess: “I heard from those who were keeping watch at Wangque Tower that Li Erzhan only went to the Ministry of Rites once after leaving the palace. It must have been an emergency, and he didn’t have time to bring his entourage and guards.”

Li Gui remained silent for a moment. "That makes sense."

Cui Mingji glanced at Cui Laiji, who had remained silent, and Cui Laiji returned his gaze. After a brief exchange of glances, Cui Laiji spoke: "Lord Mozhai, we did not receive any orders from Li Erzhan to take away Jiang Hongli and Jin Jingrui."

“It’s no use getting it now, Hanyang is under martial law.” Li Gui glanced at the messenger. “If your men had arrived a few quarters of an hour later, I probably wouldn’t have been able to leave the city today.”

"Martial law has been declared!?" Cui Jingji exclaimed in surprise.

“Yes.” Li Gui frowned and nodded. “Improve the curfew, close the auxiliary gates, and increase patrols. It seems the order came from the sergeant.”

"What are they trying to do? Are they going to defend the city against the Celestial Empire?" Cui Mingji asked.

"I don't know," Li Gui shook his head.

"Is Guanghai still in the city?" Cui Mingji then asked.

"I know nothing about the situation in the palace, only that it's under palace restrictions." Around the same time Li Gui left the city through Chongli Gate, Crown Prince Li Zhu also left through Dunhua Gate. If he had left later, he could have heard the clanging of ceremonial drums and gongs near Qingyun Palace. "Didn't you ask Li Erzhan? He came out of the palace; he should know the inside story."

“He wouldn’t say anything. He was completely stubborn.” Cui Laiji glanced at Cui Mingji.

"Very hard?"

“That old thief isn’t even afraid of death.” Cui Mingji’s eyes darkened. He had actually been looking forward to seeing Li Erzhan kneel down and beg for mercy, but Li Erzhan had never done what he wanted.

"They even made provocative remarks. More than once," Cui Laiji added.

“No wonder you didn’t get the warrant to take him away,” Li Gui said, frowning but not entirely surprised. In his mind, Li Erzhan, though consistently vulgar and shameless, wasn’t a complete fool.

“That’s not it,” Cui Laiji said.

"Huh?" Li Gui asked, puzzled. "What do you mean, 'not'?"

“We didn’t get the warrant to take him away not just because Li Erzhan was too tough,” Cui Laiji glanced at Cui Mingji again, “but because he thought it was useless.”

Li Gui noticed Cui Laiji's gaze and assumed that the "he" Cui Laiji was referring to was Cui Mingji. "What does Ziqian mean?"

"Huh?" Cui Mingji was taken aback.

“The student said that ‘he’ refers to Li Erzhan.” Cui Laiji immediately understood that Li Gui had misunderstood.

"What exactly does this mean?" Li Gui was even more puzzled. He subconsciously looked towards the Heavenly King's Hall, but still couldn't see Li Erzhan's figure.

“Li Erzhan said that a mere warrant wouldn’t be enough to take away top-priority criminals like Jiang Hongli and Jin Jingrui. He has to come in person. And he…” Cui Laiji took a deep breath.

"And what?!" Li Gui pressed on urgently.

“Li Erzhan hopes to cooperate with us to start a rebellion and plot a change of regime,” Cui Mingji interjected, his eyes somewhat bewildered.

"Conspiracy? Him!" Li Gui was genuinely shocked this time.

“Yes.” Choi Rae-gil explained, “Lee Il-cheon said that the Crown Prince was not involved in instigating Kang Hong-rip’s treason. But he can help to fabricate the story.”

"Why? Isn't he so tough he's not even afraid of death?" Li Gui asked.

“He said he wasn’t afraid of dying, nor did he want to die. In order to survive, he was willing to join forces with us to rebel.” Cui Laiji let out a long breath.

Li Gui remained silent for a long while. "That old thief really sees things clearly."

--------

Inside the Hall of Heavenly Kings, beneath Maitreya Buddha.

Li Erzhan had been sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed for a long time. Except for getting a drink of water, he made almost no movement, like an old monk in deep meditation.

boom!
The door directly opposite opened, and the last rays of the setting sun rushed in before anyone else.

Li Erzhan opened his eyes and saw only three figures backlit by the light.

After a moment's thought, Li Erzhan stood up and took the initiative to greet the figure in the middle, bowing respectfully and saying, "I am Li Erzhan. May I ask your name?"

"Let's talk first," Li Gui said with a light laugh, pointing to the gray cloth covering his face.

“But I don’t even know who you are, so what can we talk about?” Li Erzhan retorted.

"Perhaps after we finish talking, you'll know who I am," Li Gui replied casually.

“Perhaps I need to know who you are before we can speak freely,” Li Erzhan said in return.

"Then don't say anything!" Li Gui turned around abruptly, his voice filled with anger.

The Cui brothers, Cui Laiji and Cui Mingji, exchanged a glance and then turned around.

Li Erzhan narrowed his eyes slightly, and without much hesitation, he followed. "Wait! We can talk first." "I don't think it's necessary to talk," Li Gui turned around, but didn't turn back. "Because you broke your promise!"

"How should I put it? We've only just met." Li Erzhan shrugged and smiled. "Perhaps I offended you in some way before?"

"Hmph." Li Gui snorted coldly, pointing at the Cui brothers and saying, "You told them before that you wanted to meet the person behind them. So I came, but now you've added new demands. Isn't that breaking your promise?"

“‘See’ means to meet in person. How can you call it a meeting when your face is covered?” Li Erzhan said.

"Eloquent tongue!" Li Gui turned around and raised his head. He wasn't as tall as Li Erzhan, so even with his head tilted back, he couldn't look down at Li Erzhan. Therefore, he chose to look at him sideways, displaying a contemptuous and arrogant attitude. "Your perverse master has already been deposed by the Holy Emperor, and you're still here playing games with me. Li Erzhan, you're no longer important!"

“Since you think I am no longer important, why did you come here in person instead of having them kill me?” Li Erzhan straightened his already not-so-bent back with a slight effort.

"Do you really think I wouldn't dare kill you?" Li Gui took two quick steps, came up to Li Erzhan, and stared into his eyes.

“Of course you dare,” Li Erzhan softened his tone slightly. “But in my opinion, this is not the most advantageous option for you.”

"Then what is it?" Li Gui had already achieved his goal, so he went along with the conversation and asked.

“Of course, you got that position with my help,” Li Erzhan said with a smile.

"How are you going to help me?" Li Gui asked.

"I would like to ask you first, how far have your preparations progressed?" Li Erzhan asked in return.

"Do you think I would tell you something like this?" Li Gui took a deep breath and said in an impatient tone.

“I think you should tell me,” Li Erzhan shrugged.

“I can tell you, but not now.” Li Gui stared intently into the other man’s eyes. “You are Li Erzhan.”

"Hehe, alright." Li Erzhan nodded with a smile. "You certainly have reason to be cautious."

"Enough with the nonsense. Let's get straight to the point," Li Gui urged.

"Do you have any available soldiers in the capital?" Li Erzhan asked directly.

"Li Erzhan!" Li Gui "angrily" shouted, his voice rising several octaves. "Are you deaf?"

"Why do you do this, Your Excellency?" Li Erzhan took a step back.

"If you're still harboring any thoughts of testing us, then there's nothing more for us to talk about!" Li Gui said angrily, glaring at his opponent.

“Your Excellency, you misunderstand,” Li Erzhan explained. “I was not testing you. The reason I asked the question is because it is indeed very important.”

"What do you mean?" Li Gui asked, his tone softening slightly.

“You have laid an ambush of this group of men on the road from the capital to the southern detachment,” Li Erzhan pointed at Cui Laiji. “You should know very well why I left the capital, shouldn’t you?”

"Hmph." Li Gui didn't comment, he just rolled his eyes.

Li Erzhan's eye twitched, and he exhaled: "Guanghai ordered me to go to the South Camp to gather and train the military supervisor to protect Changdeok Palace. Now, it's almost dark, and my failure to return has surely aroused Guanghai's suspicion."

"so what?"

“Therefore, I am no longer able to bring Jiang Hongli and Jin Jingrui out through normal means,” Li Erzhan replied.

"You mean," Li Gui reacted quickly, "that someone should break us out of prison?"

“Exactly!” Li Erzhan nodded emphatically.

“I’ve already sent men to break me out of prison. What do I need you for?” Li Gui looked coldly at Li Erzhan.

"Of course, it's about dragging the Crown Prince into it!" Li Erzhan's expression hardened, but his breathing remained steady. "As I said before, the Crown Prince is probably innocent. If we let things continue to develop, the Celestial Dynasty will inevitably make the Crown Prince king. As the saying goes, Heaven's will cannot be defied, and the imperial decree cannot be reversed. At that time, even if you have so many heroes by your side and troops at your disposal, what use will that be? If you want to sit on that throne, you must do everything you can to drag the Crown Prince into it before Heaven's will is decided."

“The Crown Prince is your granddaughter’s husband.” Li Gui stared at Li Erzhan. “You’re willing to smear his name and side with me?”

"Hehe." Li Erzhan chuckled lightly, and said obsequiously, "If you are willing, I can also marry your daughter or granddaughter and become your son-in-law or granddaughter's husband. Of course, before that, I will divorce that old hag who is past her prime."

"Hahahaha." Li Gui burst into laughter. "Li Erzhan, you really know what's good for you!"

“As the saying goes, ‘Those who understand the times are heroes, and those who are adaptable are great men,’” Li Erzhan said. “The reason I was able to stand firm for so many years under the suspicious, cruel, and ruthless Guanghai is precisely because I understand the times and am adaptable.”

"Then how can I guarantee that you won't become pragmatic and opportunistic again after you've submitted your application?" Li Gui quickly suppressed his smile.

“The will of Heaven cannot be defied, and the imperial decree cannot be reversed. If you can truly ascend to the throne and become the ruler, what are you afraid of, you three-surname slaves and clowns?” Li Erzhan first glanced at Cui Laiji, then at Cui Mingji.

“…” Cui Mingji frowned and clenched his fists again.

Li Gui raised an eyebrow and nodded, trying his best to appear satisfied. "How do you plan to implicate the Crown Prince in this case of treason?"

"Hehe." Li Erzhan chuckled twice and said, "The best way to frame an innocent person is to torture them into confessing. Make them admit their guilt, even to the death penalty! But the law does not apply to high-ranking officials, so this method cannot be used on the Crown Prince. Therefore, we can only try to find out his guilt indirectly, using a large amount of circumstantial evidence. And in this case, the best circumstantial evidence is Jiang Hongli and Jin Jingrui."

"So you want them to help frame the Crown Prince?" Li Gui scrutinized Li Erzhan.

“No,” Li Erzhan shook his head. “We just need to capture them and then hand them over to the imperial envoy.”

“You just said that simply offering them to the imperial envoy wasn’t enough!” Cui Mingji interjected.

"Young man, don't be in such a hurry. You'll understand once I finish explaining." Li Erzhan didn't look at Cui Mingji, but kept his eyes on Li Gui.

"Shut up," Li Gui snapped, adopting the posture of a superior.

"Yes." Cui Mingji lowered his head and shrank back.

Li Erzhan's eyes twitched slightly, and he continued, "Your Excellency, the risk of playing tricks on Jiang and Jin is far too great. After the imperial envoy arrives in the capital, he will surely interrogate them rigorously. After several rounds of interrogation, they will inevitably confess everything they know. However, this does not mean that they are useless. As long as we put more thought into the 'offering of people,' we can make the 'offering of people' itself a poison."

"What do you mean?" Li Gui asked.

"Does Your Excellency know what the Crown Prince said to me before I left the palace?" Li Erzhan asked with a smile.

"I don't know. Stop keeping me in suspense!" Li Gui frowned.

"The Crown Prince ordered me to kill him to silence him." As he spoke, a fierce glint flashed in Li Erzhan's eyes!

(End of this chapter)