Becoming an immortal from a canal worker

Chapter 186: Open Scheme

Deep in the northern part of the courtyard.

He Qingshan's villa was three or four times larger than the small courtyard of the inner martial arts training ground, and the gate was wide open.

As Chen Ping walked to the door, a servant came up to him, looked at his Cangwu uniform, asked a question, and then led him into the inner room.

The interior was simply furnished, with a large tea table in the center, on which were piled a dozen or so official gazettes, spread out and covering most of the tabletop.

He Qingshan sat behind the coffee table, clutching a copy of the official gazette in his hand, his brows furrowed, his gaze sweeping back and forth across the paper.

His attention was completely absorbed in the official gazette, and he didn't hear Chen Ping's footsteps as he walked in.

A servant whispered from the side, "Instructor He, someone is looking for you."

He Qingshan looked up, saw Chen Ping, paused for a moment, and then casually pointed to the opposite side.

"sit."

After speaking, he lowered his head again and continued to look at the official gazette in his hand, his brows furrowing even more tightly.

Chen Ping sat down opposite him, poured himself a cup of tea, and waited quietly. His gaze swept over the official gazettes spread out on the coffee table.

The writing is dense and intricate, some handwritten and some engraved, with varying shades of ink, as if it came from different sources.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, He Qingshan finally put down the last official gazette in his hand, leaned back in his chair, and let out a long sigh.

His brows were still furrowed.

Chen Ping placed the teacup he was holding on the table with a soft sound.

He got straight to the point.

When will those inner court students return from the front lines?

He paused.

"How long after we return will it be before we head to the battlefield in Yangzhou Prefecture?"

He Qingshan frowned and looked at Chen Ping.

"Who told you you were going to the battlefield in Yangzhou?"

Chen Ping replied calmly, "No one told me. I just guessed based on my own deductions of the current situation." He looked at He Qingshan.

"The Cui family's offerings went to Yangzhou Prefecture without causing a ripple. I guessed that Yangzhou Prefecture was in a state of great anxiety. With just those prefectural troops, they probably couldn't hold out, right? Once those inner court students from the northern battlefield return, will they rush to Yangzhou Prefecture's aid?"

He Qingshan stared at him for a few moments, his gaze becoming more scrutinizing.

"You've got a quick mind, kid."

He hesitated for a moment.

"The students on the front lines should be back in two or three months according to the rotation rules. As for when you new recruits will go, it depends on the results of the competition and the situation on the front lines. If things go smoothly, you can leave one or two months after the competition ends. If things go slowly, it may take half a year."

He looked at Chen Ping.

"You're asking these questions because you want to find out what exactly happened in Yangzhou?"

Chen Ping nodded.

"Before you go, you need to know which direction to cut with the knife."

He Qingshan's lips twitched slightly as he leaned back in his chair.

"Alright, I'll make an exception today. Take a look at these official gazettes on the table first, and then come and ask me." Chen Ping lowered his head, his gaze falling on the official gazettes spread out on the coffee table.

The top few pictures are from the northern battlefield.

"The main force of the Third Battalion on the left flank of the Zhenbei Army was ambushed by the elite barbarian troops at Kuhanling. After a fierce battle for half a day, the entire army was wiped out, with more than 800 armored soldiers lost. Commander Liu Yan was hit by several arrows and died in battle."

"Eight hundred barbarian cavalry bypassed the Shahe defense line and launched a night attack on the army's supply route. The supply commander led three hundred auxiliary soldiers in a desperate battle, but more than half of the supplies were burned. One hundred and sixty men, including the commander, all died for their country."

"In the battle at White Wolf Valley, the Black Flag Battalion killed eleven enemy centurions and three chiliarchs. The captain in charge, Zhao Heng, was severely wounded in the abdomen and his cultivation was half destroyed. He has been urgently transferred to the rear."

"Northern Military Report: A young enemy general has emerged and broken through two of our defenses with ruthless methods. His identity is yet to be determined."

Chen Ping's gaze shifted downwards.

The second half of the official gazette describes the battlefield in Yangzhou Prefecture.

"The imperial army and the rebel army are locked in a stalemate at Hengjiangdu. Both sides have reinforced their troops, and the battle lines are deadlocked."

"On the day that Master Cui arrived in Yangzhou, a Master also appeared on the rebel side. The two sides fought for a day without a result."

"The rebel navy has blockaded the middle reaches of the Huai River, cutting off the imperial supply lines. The Yangzhou Prefectural Government has urgently requested reinforcements."

"The rebel army broke through Linchuan County, the county magistrate abandoned the city, and the people fled south." Chen Ping was about to speak after reading this when He Qingshan reached out and pointed to a government gazette at the bottom.

That was a document from about a month ago.

The paper is older than the others, and the edges are a bit curled.

The document contained only one line of text, in the military's format, with extremely concise wording.

"Military Order: Effective immediately, all military officers in all garrisons of the Great Wei who are originally from Jinnan Prefecture and whose rank is below the fourth-grade captain are to be immediately disarmed and temporarily relieved of their posts, pending investigation on the spot; all officers with real power, who are captains or above, are to be placed under the close supervision of the supervising officer on the spot, and are absolutely forbidden from privately mobilizing a single soldier. Anyone who dares to disobey this military order will be executed on the spot for treason!"

Chen Ping's heart sank as he looked at the words.

The imperial court probably already knew who was behind things in Yangzhou Prefecture.

He raised his head and looked at He Qingshan.

"Yangzhou Prefecture, who exactly are we fighting?"

He Qingshan glanced at him and remained silent for a few moments.

He sighed.

"Although he didn't start an open uprising, and instead used the pretext of a local rebellion, we all guessed it." He lowered his voice slightly.

"King Jingnan".

Chen Ping remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

He Qingshan leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingers twice on the table.

"The Prince of Jingnan is a man of great patience."

"He failed in his bid for the throne and was kicked to that rotten land in the south by the late emperor. For more than ten years, a full ten years, the entire court thought he was useless. He spent his days fighting cocks, walking birds, drinking and carousing, a complete good-for-nothing. The court's spies watched him for years, but they got tired of it and couldn't be bothered to look at him anymore."

He looked at Chen Ping.

"But look at his actions after the uprising began: troop deployment, food and supplies preparation, and the naval blockade of the river. Each step was linked to the next, and none of them were impromptu. This shows that he had been planning for a long time."

He picked up a government gazette from the table and waved it in front of Chen Ping.

"On the very day the Cui family's offerings arrived in Yangzhou, a True Person from the Green Mountain Sect appeared and fought with him. That day, you should ponder those two words."

He threw the official gazette back onto the table.

"He's just waiting to see if we have any backup plans. He probably already thought of a Cui family retainer and prepared a candidate in advance." Chen Ping frowned: "Green Mountain Sect?"

He Qingshan said, "There is a sect in the south that used to keep a low profile. No one expected that they had a true master hidden inside."

He held up his fingers and broke them one by one.

"So far, we can ascertain that on the King of Jingnan's side, there are at least three demonic sects and twelve other sects that have openly taken sides."

He put his hand down.

"The tricks they have up their sleeves are probably endless. Today a Green Mountain Sect might appear, and tomorrow some other sect might emerge. Nobody knows how many pieces they've planted in the shadows."

He picked up the teacup, took a sip, and then put it down.

"but."

He looked at Chen Ping, his tone turning serious.

"If this continues, he will definitely not gain any advantage."

He reached into the official gazette on the table, flipped through it, pulled out a sheet, and pointed to a certain line.

"The court is currently tied down by various parties and cannot spare any troops, but these constraints will not last long. Once the north is stabilized, or the situation in the East China Sea calms down, the court will be able to free up its forces. The small number of troops in Yangzhou, along with his three demonic sects and twelve other sects, will be wiped out." He threw the official report back onto the table and leaned back in his chair.

"So I've been thinking about something."

He looked at Chen Ping, his brows furrowing even more deeply.

"Why did he do this?"

The courtyard was quiet for a few moments.

He Qingshan muttered to himself, "He's not stupid; on the contrary, he's very clever. A person who can endure for over a decade without showing any emotion is far more intelligent than those people in the imperial court."

He tapped his fingers twice on the table.

"Such a clever person couldn't possibly not see this outcome. Once the imperial court sets its sights on him, his meager resources won't last long. He knows this better than anyone else."

He looked at Chen Ping.

"Then why does he still rebel?"

He shook his head, picked up the teacup, and gulped down the cold tea inside.

"I don't understand." Chen Ping looked at He Qingshan but didn't reply.

There is too little information.

He Qingshan seemed to want to stop dwelling on the issue, and patted his shoulder with considerable force.

"Alright, kid, stop brooding over these incomprehensible things. If the sky falls, someone taller will hold it up. You're still a long way from that level."

"Don't think too far ahead. Focus on winning your outer courtyard competition first."

He grinned, the scar curving into a crescent moon.

"Once you're on the battlefield, the instructors and generals will take care of all the trivial matters for you."

He patted Chen Ping on the shoulder.

"All you need to do is kill."

Chen Ping stood up and cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you, Senior He."

He Qingshan waved his hand: "Go on, go on, I still have to read these damn gazettes, the more I read, the more my head aches."

Chen Ping turned and left the courtyard. On his way back, he slowed his pace.

The courtyards to the north are one after another, many with their gates tightly closed and wooden signs hanging by the doors.

However, the gates of several courtyards were wide open, the wooden signs on the sides had been taken down, and a dozen or so inner courtyard stewards were going in and out, moving things, wiping the floor, and making beds.

Chen Ping glanced at the open courtyard gates.

The wooden sign was removed.

The people who used to live here will never come back.

He withdrew his gaze, did not stop, and walked towards Xuanzi No. 6.

Chen Ping did not stop.

Return to No. 6 Xuan and close the courtyard gate.

For the next few days, Chen Ping did not go out.

As the embryonic breathing circulates, all the pores of the body open, and the vital energy is refined and purified with each breath.

The third level of the Blazing Sun Burning Sea True Scripture is progressing steadily, and the third level of the Dragon Python True Qi is also advancing little by little. The progress of Bagua Palm is increasing every day, moving from the beginner level to minor mastery.

He knew time was running out and he had to hurry.

The evening of the fourth day.

There was a knock on the gate three times.

It wasn't Deacon Lin's rhythm, nor was it Shen Hui's short, sharp tapping style.

Three strokes, neither hurried nor slow, with great restraint.

Chen Ping opened his eyes, walked over, and opened the courtyard gate.

Zhao Shuyan stood outside the door.

Half a step behind him stood Deacon Lin.

Zhao Shuyan's complexion was not good. His lips were pursed, and his usual composure had diminished somewhat. A shallow vertical line was furrowed between his brows.

Deacon Lin stood to the side, looking somewhat apologetic, and said to Chen Ping in a low voice, "Young Master Chen, Chairman Zhao said he had something urgent to attend to, so I brought him here."

Chen Ping glanced at Zhao Shuyan and stepped aside. "Come in and talk."

Zhao Shuyan stepped into the courtyard. Deacon Lin bowed slightly at the door, but did not follow him in. He turned and left.

The courtyard gate was closed.

Zhao Shuyan stood in the center of the training ground, looked around, and only spoke after confirming that it was just the two of them.

"The Bai family's caravan, which was out on a business trip, was intercepted halfway through the journey."

Chen Ping raised an eyebrow slightly, but did not show much surprise.

Zhao Shuyan lowered his voice and spoke faster than usual.

"This afternoon, a caravan returning from the south was stopped on the official road fifty miles outside the city. Six guards were injured and all the goods were confiscated."

He looked at Chen Ping.

"The one who made the move was a Yuan Gang martial artist."

The courtyard fell silent for a moment.

Chen Ping asked, "How many?" Zhao Shuyan replied, "The caravan guards said they saw two with their own eyes, and there were more than a dozen martial arts masters surrounding them."

Chen Ping looked at Zhao Shuyan and remained silent for a few moments.

Who did it?

Zhao Shuyan said, "Among the people intercepting the goods from Xinglong Trading Company, some were wearing Xinglong Trading Company vests without even trying to cover themselves up."

He paused, his voice becoming even deeper.

"Furthermore, this morning, people from Xinglong Trading Company went directly to the main branch and, in front of the staff and customers, told Master Bai and his men to get out of the south of the city."

He looked at Chen Ping.

"They said they would confiscate every piece of Bai's goods they saw from now on."

He paused, his voice turning somber.

"Chen Ping, they're here for you."

Chen Ping waved his hand.

"I know." He looked at Zhao Shuyan.

"Tell Master Bai that I will handle this matter. Tell him to settle the caravan members properly, treat the injured first, and don't rush the goods."

Zhao Shuyan looked into Chen Ping's eyes and nodded.

"I see."

He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, then turned and left the courtyard.

The courtyard gate was closed.

Chen Ping stood in the center of the training ground, looking at the closed courtyard gate.

Yuan Gang martial artist.

The Bai family's guards were all wandering martial artists with both visible and hidden strength; when they encountered Yuan Gang, they had no chance to fight back.

At this critical juncture, sending Yuan Gang martial artists to intercept a merchant guild's goods is hardly an attempt to profit from the goods themselves.

Someone wanted to see his current strength.

Chen Ping smiled. The method was crude, with no trace of concealment whatsoever. Intercepting the goods and issuing orders were all done openly, as if they wanted him to know who was behind it.

These powerful families are truly ruthless.

A foreign chamber of commerce and two Yuan Gang martial artists are both pawns.

They use them and then discard them, so the investigation will never trace them back to them. But once Chen Ping makes a move, regardless of whether he wins or loses, his true strength is revealed.

They won, and they know how strong he is, so they can better target him in the next match.

If we lose, that's even better; we'll crush them while they're ahead.

This cost is considerable, but for those four great families, the money earned from the lives of a few Yuan Gang martial artists is easily scraped together.

He stood there for a while, thinking.

He didn't leak anything.

But we still have to get the goods.

I'll go check out Xinglong Trading Company tomorrow.