socalfunplaces Page 154
Page 154
Li Chang'an shook his head and said, "No need. Give all parties some time to react, and then we'll adapt to the situation."
"Dealing with Shen Zhong and Uesugi Tora is not difficult. It's not that we are so strong, but that their internal situation is too unstable."
"Tell the people in the Luo Wang organization to be careful to stay hidden, and have all the people involved in this operation leave the capital one after another."
Within two days, another batch of personnel will be transferred from surrounding states and counties.
Li Chang'an is on a roll; he has plenty of people. Although he can't have a massive army, he's never short of manpower.
In the same inn, in another courtyard.
The shadows lurked in the shadows, watching Fan Xian's every move.
Fan Xian harbors a great secret and is highly sought after by Emperor Qing and Chen Pingping; no problems can be allowed to arise.
Fan Xian and Zong Zhui were also discussing the follow-up plan. "Zong Zhui, the residence that He Daoren provided for Yan Bingyun is now empty."
He Daoren was an undercover agent of the Surveillance Bureau in Northern Qi, as well as Cheng Jushu's master. He was a ninth-rank master in the capital and a disciple of the Empress Dowager.
"But I talked to some people nearby and found that Yan Bingyun was in close contact with a young lady from an official family, and that young lady was not afraid of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."
Zong Zhui continued, "I have investigated Shen Zhong's family. He does have a younger sister. Do you think she might be this Miss Shen?"
Fan Xian thought for a moment and said, "We are at least 60% sure, but we still need to investigate more carefully before we can draw a conclusion."
Zong Zhui complained, "We are the victorious nation, Shen Zhong is too audacious."
They're being so slow and hesitant when it comes to returning the hostages!
Fan Xian frowned. "The capital has already put pressure on Northern Qi on our behalf."
Now that Shen Zhong has agreed to hand over Sean's body, we've taken a step forward.
"That's how the game between countries works. If you don't want to fight anymore, you have to slowly and steadily advance."
“We’ll send Guo Shao out to distract Shen Zhong, while the two of us go to find Yan Bingyun in private. Shen Zhong has already noticed today.”
Zong Zhui immediately became worried, "If Shen Zhong sends another ninth-rank expert to keep watch, things will get complicated!"
Fan Xian smiled mysteriously, "It's not that bad. Perhaps Shen Zhong will send He Daoren over!"
into the night.
Inside the young emperor's bedroom.
"Squeak!"
A sound of a hidden door opening was heard, and a hidden door appeared in the wall of the young emperor's bedroom.
Empress Dowager Wei, dressed in a casual robe and long skirt, quietly emerged from the hidden door.
"Beanie!"
Zhan Doudou was reading on the bed when she heard that the Empress Dowager had arrived, but she didn't even raise her head as usual.
"Mother is here. Come and sit down."
Although the mother and daughter sat at the highest level of power in Northern Qi, they still had spies from the Embroidered Uniform Guard and powerful officials even in the imperial palace.
Fortunately, when Ku He was alive in the early years, Empress Dowager Wei ordered a secret passage to be built between the two men's sleeping quarters.
"DouDou, are you still reading Dream of the Red Chamber? Didn't you meet Li Chang'an? Ask him to write out the rest of the story."
Zhan Doudou gave a wry smile, "He simply doesn't want to write, and there's nothing I can do about it."
"My son is the emperor, and in his eyes, he is narrow-minded and short-sighted. How can he force someone to write a book?"
Empress Dowager Wei covered her mouth and smiled, "Li Chang'an became famous at a young age, and his vision is indeed exceptionally high, but didn't you manage to control him with Pianpian?"
“As long as you don’t give in, he can forget about getting his hands on Pianpian, so he has to find a way to deal with Shen Zhong.”
Zhan Doudou put down her book, looking puzzled. "But it's been several days, and his Shadow Guards haven't made a move."
"He only sent people to visit the ministers under my son's command. How could they dare to offend Shen Zhong? Li Chang'an's trick is really not clever."
Empress Dowager Wei asked, "By the way, what's the matter with the Marquis of Liyang?"
He actually dared to raid the Imperial Guard's territory! If he had had that kind of courage earlier, you should have given him your full support.
Zhan Doudou smiled helplessly, "I don't know either. Those so-called imperial factions, after joining my side, all of them are just trying to protect themselves."
Empress Dowager Wei comforted him, "It's because Shen Zhong is too tyrannical. Look at how he dealt with the Marquis of Liyang's family. It's been almost half a day, and the memorial still hasn't been submitted."
"I reckon by the time he submits his memorial, the Marquis of Liyang will already be beheaded."
Zhan Doudou stared at the bright candlelight and said confidently, "When I grow up and take charge of the government, I will definitely hold the power of the Embroidered Uniform Guard in my own hands!"
Empress Dowager Wei said with heartache, "You have suffered so much over the years. You are a woman, but you have never been a girl for a single day."
Zhan Doudou said firmly, "Mother, rest assured, your child will definitely protect the Great Qi Kingdom and continue the Zhan family bloodline!"
"Anything a man can do, Zhan Doudou can do too!"
Two days later.
The Southern Qing delegation and Shen Zhong completed the hostage handover, but the Northern Qi, citing the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet as an excuse, kept the delegation in Northern Qi for more than ten days.
Shen Zhong also solemnly promised Fan Xian that he would return Yan Bingyun to the Southern Qing delegation before Fan Xian left Northern Qi.
Just as Fan Xian had predicted, Shen Zhong indeed borrowed He Daoren from the Empress Dowager to keep an eye on Fan Xian, and had Nan Qing's spies keep an eye on Nan Qing's people.
So, Fan Xian, along with He Daoren and Zong Zhui, began to keep an eye on Miss Shen, trying to find Yan Bingyun by tracking her movements.
General Uesugi Tora, accompanied by his trusted confidants, stormed into the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard) headquarters.
"Shen Zhong! Where did you hide my godfather's body?!"
After handing over the body to Fan Xian, Shen Zhong moved Xiao En's corpse from Dashilan and hid it in a secret stronghold of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Zhuang Mohan came to Shen Zhong's door to ask for it, but Shen Zhong sternly refused.
Shen Zhong, who had complete control over Sean's corpse, would never easily hand it over to Uesugi Tiger.
Shen Zhong wouldn't give up until he forced Uesugi Tora to reveal any signs of rebellion and brought him to justice.
"Oh! The General has arrived! I am so sorry for not greeting you properly! I deserve to die!"
Looking at Shen Zhong's smug, smiling face, Uesugi Tora really wanted to punch him to death.
That bastard is just asking for it!
"Mr. Xiao's remains are of great importance, and the murderer who killed him has never been found out."
"Judging from the wound, it was indeed inflicted by a ninth-rank expert, but there are quite a few ninth-rank experts in the world."
"I wanted to verify with the Holy Maiden, but she's always up there and I can't find her right now..."
Shen Zhong rambled on with a silly grin, and Uesugi Tiger could no longer bear it.
He, a general who killed without hesitation, despised slick bureaucrats like Shen Zhong.
He grabbed Shen Zhong by the collar and lifted him up like a chick.
"Shen Zhong! Hand over my godfather's corpse!"
"If you insult my father's remains again, I will tear you apart alive!"
During the war against the northern barbarians of the snowy region, Uesugi Tiger became famous throughout the borderlands for eating raw horse meat.
Shen Zhong's slick gaze suddenly sharpened, and his voice became low and deep, like a hissing venomous snake.
"Uesugi Tora, kill me... kill me and you'll find Sean."
"You won't get Sean's remains unless you kill me!"
Tan Wu broke out in a cold sweat upon seeing the elite guards standing ready at the Jinyiwei headquarters and hearing the faint breathing sounds coming from inside the hall.
"General, do not act rashly!"
"This is a vicious scheme by Shen Zhong; we must not fall for it!"
Uesugi Torata was furious, but he also heard breathing sounds coming from the back room. Five hundred axemen were no match for him.
Uesugi Tora swung his spear fiercely, splitting the heavy work desk in two!
"Ah! Shen Zhong, I will kill you!"
Uesugi Tora roared and angrily threw Shen Zhong to the ground before leaving with his trusted men.
Shen Zhong straightened his clothes and tidied his hair, then rushed enthusiastically to the entrance of the government office and shouted at the general's back.
"The general hasn't eaten meat lately, his hands are weak, and it doesn't hurt when he hits you..."
at dusk.
Inside the General's mansion, Wang Qinian tossed a piece of paper onto Uesugi Tora's desk.
After reading it, Uesugi Tora was so nervous that he broke out in a cold sweat.
He hurriedly called in his trusted deputy general, Tan Wu, and handed him the crumpled paper.
"Tan Wu, come and take a look!"
Tan Wu unfolded the crumpled paper and saw that the exact location where Sean's remains were stored was written on it.
However, there are a few more lines below.
"Shen Zhong, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, abuses his power and influence, corrupts the government, acts like a wolf, deceives the emperor, and misleads the country by abusing his authority!"