Tang Dynasty Xie Lu Lang

Chapter 267 Assassination
"It's a rare opportunity to gather with family and friends in a foreign land. At thirty-five, we should stay here and reminisce about our parting. Why rush off?"

Seeing Gao Shi jogging up from behind, Wang Changling looked at him and asked with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Gao Shi's face showed a hint of embarrassment. After a brief silence, he said, "My cousin is busy with official duties and does not have time to chat for long. He plans to visit me later when he has more free time."

The others didn't notice their conversation and continued walking with Zhang Dai.

Guo Yong, who was detained in the prefecture along with Wang Changling and others, was older and more meticulous. He had also carefully studied the personnel affairs in the court. At this moment, he came to Zhang Dai's side and said, "Sixth Brother, Gao Chen is Yuwen Rong's confidant in Weizhou. He has come here on orders. Will he hinder the development of the current situation in Bianzhou?"

Yuwen Rong had been active in the court for many years, and anyone who paid even a little attention to the political situation and personnel was aware of his important interpersonal relationships. Yuan Qianyao had personally promoted him, and now that his son was being investigated and questioned in the prefecture, Yuwen Rong's dispatch of his subordinates to the prefecture inevitably raised suspicions that he wanted to interfere with the investigation in Bianzhou and try to rescue Yuan Fu.

"That won't happen. The banks of the river have suffered from natural disasters year after year, leaving the government exhausted and the people in dire straits. Bianzhou is located at the crossroads of waterways and land routes, and the fact that the officials in the prefecture are so corrupt is already a major obstacle. Now that it has been discovered, it will certainly be thoroughly investigated. If it really causes trouble in the future, the consequences will be dire!"

This year, the disaster situation in Hebei will be more severe than last year, and the border situation will also deteriorate. At that time, the role of the Grand Canal, which is responsible for transporting materials from the Jianghuai region to the north, will become extremely important. As the hub of the canal, Bianzhou must also ensure its efficient operation. The arduous task is clearly beyond the capacity of the current personnel situation in Bianzhou.

Even if Yuwen Rong didn't possess the foresight of Zhang Dai, he was still determined to reopen the Wangmang River project, and his needs for manpower and resources were equally immense. He also found the disastrous personnel situation in Bianzhou repulsive and was undoubtedly eager for change.

They did not discuss the issue in detail, but Gao Shi, who was at the back of the group, became worried and uneasy after hearing this brief conversation.

He was a commoner living in the countryside and knew little about the people in the court. Hearing these words, it seemed that his cousin disagreed with Zhang Dai's position and political views.

Zhang Dai led his fellow students back to their residence in Bianzhou City, letting them rest for a while, before heading out to Xiangguo Temple himself.

Compared to Pei Zhouxian's tough and resolute approach to investigating and recovering stolen goods, Gao Lishi was much more low-key.

After arriving in the prefecture, he neither accepted the banquets hosted by the locals nor the accommodations arranged by the prefecture government. Instead, he moved directly into Xiangguo Temple, where he lived a secluded life and met with all sorts of people.

"Young Master Zhang, please wait a moment. These attendants look unfamiliar!"

When Zhang Dai arrived at the monastery where Gao Lishi lived in Xiangguo Temple again, he was stopped by the guards at the gate. One of them even pointed to several attendants behind him and asked a question.

"They were recruited by me after I went east; they were all loyal and righteous men who made a living along the river."

Upon seeing this, Zhang Dai laughed and said, but in his heart he felt that the guard was making a fuss over nothing. Could it be that he would bring people to assassinate Gao Lishi?
"The Duke of Bohai dislikes seeing strangers, so Young Master Zhang should leave these disciples here."

The guard answered meticulously, showing no leniency despite Zhang Dai's frequent visits.

Because everyone around him had been sent out earlier that morning, Zhang Dai only brought a few of Nan Jiyun's companions with him this time. He hadn't realized before that Gao Lishi's security was so cautious.

He wasn't worried about being harmed if he went in alone, so he signaled to the others to wait for him outside, and then walked into the monastery.

He had just entered the monastery when he heard shouts and screams coming from the side. He followed the sound into the side courtyard and saw a naked man bound and hanging upside down under the eaves, being whipped by someone next to him.

The man had been whipped until his skin was torn and bleeding, and a large pool of blood had gathered beneath his upside-down body, indicating that he had been beaten and punished for a long time. The assailant was a tall and strong middle-aged eunuch.

This eunuch was named Gao Chengyi, one of Gao Lishi's adopted sons. He usually appeared dull and taciturn, but when he started beating people, he had a fierce look on his face, with a face full of scars that was quite frightening.

"What crime has this slave committed to deserve such punishment?"

Seeing that the man was on the verge of death, and even his screams were weak, Zhang Dai couldn't help but ask a question.

Gao Chengyi stopped whipping his horse and explained to Zhang Dai, "This thieving servant sneaked into Father's quarters last night with the intention of setting fire to it and harming him. Fortunately, he was caught by the night watchman, so this punishment is too lenient!"

Zhang Dai was startled upon hearing this and quickly asked, "Have you found out who ordered it?" "If we had, it would have been over long ago."

Gao Chengyi first snorted coldly, then continued to whip the dog, cursing angrily, "Even if they don't say it, I know it must be those few thieving families! My father has already fled but still won't give up. When he returns, he will definitely take revenge!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai felt a chill run down his spine.

Just then, Gao Lishi strolled into the courtyard. He also looked gloomy and disgusted at the man hanging upside down. He snorted and said, "Since he has no companions to rescue him, there is no use in keeping him here. This is a pure Buddhist place. Take him out and deal with him."

Upon hearing this, Gao Chengyi nodded in agreement and stopped whipping the man. Instead, he had someone bring a large sack to put the man inside, and then hurriedly left with several eunuchs.

Zhang Dai stared at the scene in disbelief, like a complete novice. After Gao Chengyi and his group left, he turned around and walked up to Gao Lishi, whispering, "Is this person really an assassin sent by Lord Huo and Lord Geng?"

"Hmph, besides them, who else would be so scheming to harm me!"

Upon hearing this, Gao Lishi snorted coldly, his mood extremely foul.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai instinctively took a step to the side, his mind flashing back to numerous martial arts novels and films with the main plot revolving around killing powerful eunuchs. He feared that if he stood too close, he might get splattered with blood.

However, he soon realized that if Wang Maozhong and Ge Fushun were indeed behind this, Gao Lishi was also implicated, and as for himself, it seemed that hiding or not hiding didn't make much difference.

"These people act so arrogantly and lawlessly, showing no fear of local officials. Do they even dare to disobey the Emperor's decree?"

He had previously thought that even if Wang Maozhong and the others harbored resentment towards him, they would probably not send anyone to pursue and kill him. However, seeing that even Gao Lishi could not escape being harassed, he was filled with lingering fear.

Considering his previous nonchalant attitude, if the other party really sent people to hunt him down and retaliate, he wouldn't be without a chance to strike!

"Of course they wouldn't dare disobey the Emperor's will, but who can prove that they did it?"

Upon hearing this, Gao Lishi sneered again. The Northern Gate officials, relying on their favor, were arrogant and conceited; they had used this kind of double-dealing tactic far too often. Like that assassin from earlier, once captured, he refused to divulge any useful information. How could they possibly implicate the Northern Gate general?

"So, how does the Duke of Bohai plan to retaliate?"

Zhang Dai quickly asked again, knowing that even if he felt his personal safety was threatened, he couldn't possibly defeat the other party, given his small stature. But Gao Lishi, as a high-ranking eunuch in the inner court, couldn't simply remain submissive, could he?
"Retaliation? We're lucky we managed to lure them out of their predicament and escape unharmed. They have a strong army and a powerful army, so how could they possibly retaliate?"

Gao Lishi sighed deeply and said resentfully.

Seeing Zhang Dai's furrowed brows and worried expression, he smiled and said, "Young man, there's no need to be overly nervous. These assassins aren't something that can be trained overnight or found everywhere. They carefully consider who they're sending to harm and won't use them indiscriminately. You have no power or influence now, so even if they resent you, they won't use too much force against you."

Zhang Dai thought about it and realized it made sense. He had a few capable men under his command, but he was reluctant to send them to assassinate someone. However, he couldn't rely on the other side's willingness to do so; he couldn't be careless in his own precautions!
He sensed from Gao Lishi's words that the other side's pursuit of him here was not simply to kill him, so he couldn't help but ask, "In your opinion, Duke Bohai, their actions here are not just for killing to vent their anger, but for some other purpose?"

“My life may not be precious, but it will not be taken by others! They sent people to hunt me down, but that was just to intimidate me. If they really took my life, none of them would have a peaceful life.”

As Gao Lishi walked back to the main hall of the monastery, he said in a deep voice, then couldn't help but point at Zhang Dai and sigh, "This is also a trouble you've brought upon me! Lord Geng spent a lot of money to arrange a marriage with Lord Huo, originally intending for him to take over the Northern Army. Unfortunately, the marriage failed, and he was greatly disappointed. Now he's trying to make up for it from various sources, and he's also greedy for the money-making business, trying to take some of it from me..."

"He also wants to seize the flying money? But Lord Huo already has a stake in the North Gate, and recently he even brought in some eunuchs to plot a collaboration. Now Lord Geng wants to directly intervene as well, could it be..."

Zhang Dai was surprised to hear this, somewhat puzzled by the reason. The distribution of profits in the two capitals was already a mess, and now Ge Fushun wanted to bypass Wang Maozhong and intervene directly. Did he intend to establish a new Liansheng Group in the North Gate?
"Indeed, it was an internal strife at the North Gate. The marriage alliance between the two families failed, and the North Gate lost the Emperor's favor due to negligence in guarding. A month ago, the Prince of Hexi led his generals to the capital to present their victory report. The Emperor was pleased with the brave warriors who had brought glory to the frontier, so he retained several of them and incorporated them into the Imperial Guard, and granted the Prince the honorary titles of Left Imperial Guard General and Imperial Censor."

Although he was quite unhappy about being hunted down and threatened, Gao Lishi couldn't help but gloat when talking about the dire situation of his opponents and political enemies: "Now all the generals at the North Gate resent Lord Huo for allowing the border soldiers to enter the palace for guard duty. Lord Geng wants to win the hearts of the 10,000 cavalry, so he is eager to seize property and expand his wealth!"

(End of this chapter)