The yamen.
Jia Huan looked at the Feng Shui Master and cautioned him:
"Elder Cui, secrecy brings success; loose tongues bring ruin."
Cui Heyun cupped his hands in salute.
"I understand. I'll remain at the Guard Station for the next few days."
Jia Huan nodded in return, watched Elder Cui leave, then summoned Water Skimmer.
"This is their nest!" Jia Huan pointed at the military map and declared with certainty:
"The Yinyu River Grand Canyon, a place of extreme yin in Jiangnan. Within a sixty-li radius, there are fishermen, miners, salt merchants, and medicinal herb workers. They should all be White Lotus Cult followers!"
Water Skimmer was overjoyed and asked excitedly:
"Boss, when do we march?"
Day after day slipped by, and the brothers of the Embroidered Uniform Guard were burning with anxiety!
Jia Huan remained calm and spoke unhurriedly:
"The ultimate aim of these deranged fiends is to drag things past the one-month deadline. They've spent decades putting down roots here. At the slightest rustle of wind through grass, they're bound to hear of it. What do you think the White Lotus Cult's higher-ups will do?"
Water Skimmer's expression grew grave. He forced out a single word:
"Flee."
That was the most sickening part!
Jia Huan's expression remained unchanged as he commanded in a low voice:
"Issue an official dispatch immediately. Have every Embroidered Uniform Guard in the commandery offices and Guard Stations of Eight Min, Huguang, Southern Zhili, Jiang-Gan, and Xiangchu hurry to Jiangnan!"
"Dig three feet into the ground and search every household. We swear to find the White Lotus Cult's nest!"
With that, he went to the desk, immediately drafted the dispatch, and stamped his official seal down hard.
Water Skimmer understood at once and said respectfully:
"Boss, you're creating a false impression, deliberately making us