Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 262 Burning of New City
Song Shi'an had long known that Dongliang was not safe, otherwise he would not have been able to propose to Zuo Ziliang to separate the control of the hostages on the grounds of 'safety'.

He just hadn't expected Kangxun to be so crazy.

He orchestrated the assassination attempt while he was still in the new city.

Anyone with a modicum of political acumen could tell from this that he was the one who ordered the killings.

After all, Ji Hui died and Kang Yi was assassinated shortly afterward.

This is purely revenge.

What's even more absurd is that if the assassin were captured alive at this point, Kang Xun would be essentially finished, and his position in the Yan state would be greatly shaken, unless a scapegoat of a very high rank was chosen.

Your Majesty, are you really angry?
"How many people are on duty at Kangyi's side? Do we have enough?" Song Shi'an asked.

Xin Yue, who was following along, said, "The guards at the gate are our Imperial Guards, but the nearest defenses are basically handled by the county soldiers. They are all well-manned, and even if there are insiders, they won't easily succeed."

“So, they’re going to set a fire,” Song Shi’an concluded. “Only by setting a fire can they create an opportunity for assassination.”

This is why there was a curfew in ancient times, and those caught wandering around at night could be executed.

Arson was the most serious crime that the lower classes could commit in ancient times.

Especially in cities.

Therefore, when the fire was first discovered, it meant that Kang Yi was still alive.

But if the anger escalates and the entire city descends into chaos, then he might be killed in the confusion.

Just then, a group of soldiers rushed towards Kang Yi.

"I am Song Shi'an! Halt! Anyone who disobeys will be executed!"

Song Shi'an immediately rebuked these people.

"..." The leading officer froze, then said anxiously, "My lord, we're on our way to put out a fire!"

"Who gave you permission to go and rescue them? Don't move!"

After Song Shi'an roared, Xin Yue, who was standing next to him, drew her sword to intimidate the officer.

They could only stay where they were, not daring to move.

"Seal off the area within two hundred paces of the burning inn. Say it's Song Shi'an's order: don't let anyone in or out. If anyone is seen emerging from the fire, make them drop their weapons and prostrate themselves on the ground!" Song Shi'an roared furiously. "I grant you the authority to execute directly. Those who disobey will be beheaded. Those who disrupt order will be beheaded. Those who ignore warnings and insist on fighting the fire will be beheaded. However, the Embroidered Uniform Guard is an exception."

"Yes!"

Therefore, the soldiers had no choice but to go and keep watch.

After a while, another team arrived, and Song Shi'an gave the same order.

"San Gou," Song Shi'an tossed the fish-shaped tally to him and said, "If any more troops arrive from other places, tell them it was my order: don't let a single soldier get close to the fire!"

"Yes!" San Gou went and did as instructed.

"Xinyue, protect me."

"Ah."

Song Shi'an remained calm and composed, showing no signs of panic.

Chaos leads to trouble.

Finally, Zuo Ziliang arrived, asking anxiously, "Is Your Excellency alright?"

"I ordered all the county soldiers to stay away from Kang Yi's residence, placing a cordon two hundred paces away, and forbidding anyone else from entering," Song Shi'an said. "There should only be a few soldiers inside; the arsonist and the assassin should both be among them. You six Imperial Guards... were the rest of you wearing flying fish robes?"

"Once the fire starts, I'll make them wear the uniforms of the Imperial Guards."

Otherwise, the Embroidered Uniform Guard wouldn't have arrived so slowly.

At this point, identity is needed to suppress dissent.

"Then the six of you go in, find Kang Yi, and rescue him. Is that alright?" Song Shi'an asked.

“No problem,” Zuo Ziliang said. “We can risk our lives to rescue any number of assassins, up to fifty.”

"Fortunately."

"My lord, you must also be careful!"

Without saying a word, Zuo Ziliang led all the Imperial Guards to the fire.

Just then, Zheng Qian, disheveled, arrived. Looking at Song Shi'an, who was wearing a robe, he asked with considerable confusion, "My lord, the fire is getting bigger and bigger. Why don't you send someone to put it out?"

"Find Kang Yi, then save him."

Song Shi'an ignored him and continued to stare at the fire.

"...If it keeps burning like this, I'm afraid even the prefectural governor's mansion will burn down."

“That’s perfect. Your Excellency is going somewhere else,” Song Shi’an said. “Kang Qing is in a private place.”

"Why?" Zheng Qian asked.

"Please invite the Prefect to go!"

Song Shi'an immediately got angry.

"...Okay, okay."

This third-rank official was so scolded by the fourth-rank official that he dared not utter a word and could only leave with his personal guards.

Since they're going to kill Kang Yi, they might also take care of his son along the way.

So, there might be assassins on his side as well.

"What if Zheng Qian is mistakenly killed by an assassin?" Xin Yue asked softly.

"What to do?" Song Shi'an snorted. "Hold it big."

If Zheng Qian dies, that would be considered a death in the line of duty.

If Kang Yi or Kang Qing were to die, it would be an international dispute.

Besides, I'm not familiar with this guy.

And so, they waited anxiously.

Suddenly, Song Shi'an saw Zuo Ziliang clearing the way, leading a man and a woman whose skin was blackened by the smoke as they ran out.

"Someone wants to kill us! Someone wants to kill us! Song Shi'an, are you going to do anything about it?" the princess shouted.

Zuo Ziliang, who came over with a torch, said, "It was pitch black and extremely chaotic, but fortunately there weren't many people inside. When they saw us coming, they all scattered and ran away. There must have been several people, some setting fires and others trying to assassinate us, but we don't know who they are."

"Brother Ziliang, you've worked hard. Take him to a safe place." Song Shi'an breathed a sigh of relief.

"Well, be careful too."

Zuo Ziliang then led several Imperial Guards to take the frightened Kang Yi and his wife away from there.

"My lord!" At this moment, the prefectural magistrate hurriedly ran over: "Is there really an assassin?" "Go put out the fire," Song Shi'an said.

"If we put out the fire now, the assassin might escape in the chaos..."

"I said, put out the fire."

Song Shi'an raised his voice, speaking with extreme impatience.

"Yes!"

As a result, the soldiers and civilians throughout the city began to fight the fire.

Song Shi'an ignored the fire and turned to leave.

"Shi An," Xin Yue asked, somewhat puzzled, "If martial law continues and they really make arrests, they should be able to catch one or two."

“I know it was Kang Xun who did it, so why arrest him?” Song Shi’an said. “The northern border needs peace.”

"..." Xin Yue quickly understood.

Once Kang Xun, or rather someone who carried out Kang Xun's orders, is brought out, the situation in the Yan state will become chaotic.

Song Shi'an did indeed intend to cause the Yan state to split apart.

But that was only implemented later when he was about to conquer the Yan state.

Now, he needs political stability in the Yan state.

Otherwise, if the State of Qi takes advantage of the situation to send troops, the war will be brought forward again.

"If we don't catch this spy, there will always be danger in the future."

“You can’t catch all the spies, and you can hire someone as long as you have money,” Song Shi’an said to her quite frankly. “The reason I’m worried is that Kang Yi is still under my jurisdiction. If there’s any compensation, it will be deducted from my funds.”

What if I die after I'm gone and hand over the reins to the next person?
That's none of my business.

"Your idea is the best," Xin Yue nodded in agreement, then asked, "So, where are we going now?"

"I'm looking for my son."

With a clear objective, Song Shi'an went to the house where Kang Qing was being 'detained'.

There were no signs of arson here.

Furthermore, there were virtually no troops gathered there.

There were only two soldiers on duty at the entrance.

"Where is the Prefect?" Song Shi'an asked.

A soldier replied, somewhat confused, "Your Excellency, the Prefect has not come."

"Didn't come?" Xin Yue was a little angry because Song Shi'an had just told him to come over, and he should have gotten there even if he had to crawl.

"never mind."

Song Shi'an understood his feelings.

A newly appointed prefect, with only a handful of men under his command, would naturally suspect an internal traitor in the face of such a terrorist attack, making his immediate priority his personal safety.

They're all shrewd people; how could he not realize that since Kang Yi was assassinated, his son's place wasn't safe either?
Zheng Qian, Zheng Qian, the name was definitely not wrong.

He came here purely because the emperor thought he could make money, so he sent him to manage the economy.

"And what about Kangqing?" Song Shi'an asked.

“They don’t want to leave,” one soldier said, sounding quite exasperated. “And they won’t let us in.”

"That kid is a complete mad dog..." a soldier next to him complained.

"Open the door."

Song Shi'an remained calm.

So the two opened the door.

Xinyue took their lamp and held it in her hand.

The two went inside but did not see anyone.

It wasn't until Xin Yue searched with a lamp that she saw a boy sitting on the attic of the stairs, holding a sharp wooden stick to his neck. She blushed instantly and became unusually irritable: "You brat, what are you pretending to be!"

"It's alright, it's alright, my husband is here."

Song Shi'an noticed that Xin Yue was frightened, so he smiled and patted her on the shoulder.

What a contrast! Xin Yue is actually afraid of ghosts.

After calming him down, he walked to the bottom of the wooden ladder in front of Kang Qing.

Only then did the other person put down the wooden point in his hand, look at Song Shi'an under the lamplight, and tremble as he said, "Father."

Song Shi'an smiled, stepped onto a few steps, and stretched out his hand.

Then, Kang Qing handed him the wooden point.

Looking at the object, Song Shi'an asked, "You must have spent many days grinding down the stool legs after taking them off?"

"Two days."

There can't be a single sharp weapon in the hostage's residence, for fear that he might kill the guards and escape.

But this kid secretly built one himself.

"How can you be so scheming?" Xin Yue said with disgust.

Song Shi'an didn't blame him; instead, he returned the weapon to him and asked, "Why are you hiding here? Didn't you know there was a fire?"

"know."

"Even if the fire spreads to your location, you won't leave?"

Kang Qing shook his head and whispered, "The fire started at my father's place, so someone must be trying to kill him... Then, they might also be trying to kill me."

"What's the reason for not going out?"

“The people outside are not Father… Father Song’s people.”

Kang Qing stared at Song Shi'an and timidly said, "I am very important to my father, but I am not important to others. As long as I stay here, my father will come to save me."

"..."

Song Shi'an's expression froze for a moment, then he slowly smiled.

I bet on it, and I won.

Slowly, he raised his hand and gently stroked his cheek: "Good Qing'er, Dad will take you to a safer place."

(End of this chapter)