Rebellion was rarely a small undertaking, nor was it something a prefect could orchestrate.
Since ancient times, those who sought to overthrow a dynasty had included not only high officials and nobles, but also peasants driven to revolt because they could no longer survive.
Throughout the dynasties, no prefect had ever plotted rebellion. At the very least, it took someone of a chief minister's standing, or an emperor's brother-in-law.
In short, Zhang Qingyuan had stirred up enormous trouble.
Inside Kaifeng Prefecture, Liu Xiangquan stood in his official robes, bowing before a middle-aged man seated in a yellow robe embroidered with dragons.
The man sat upright in a grand armchair, lofty and imposing, commanding respect without a trace of anger.
"Your Highness, Listening Wind Stronghold has been wiped out."
"Who did it?"
"According to reports from our men, it was a Daoist named Zhang Qingyuan."
"Zhang Qingyuan? Which Daoist sect is he a disciple of?"
The middle-aged man addressed as prince was somewhat surprised. Listening Wind Stronghold was one of the several large "granaries" under his control, and the Dragon Lord had been guarding it. Yet someone had wiped it out with ease.
Still, not a trace of anger showed on his face. Even Mount Tai collapsing before him would not have changed his expression.
"I have investigated him. This Zhang Qingyuan appeared in Qinghe County four months ago. He is said to be a Daoist from the Three Purities Temple in Qinghe County."
"The Three Purities Temple?"
"Your Highness, there are three Three Purities Temples in Qinghe County that worship the Three Pure Ones. All are small folk temples. Only one fits: after its old abbot died six months ago, his disciples came to blows. In the end, the third disciple took over the Three Purities Temple, and all the other disciples were driven out. Zhang Qingyuan was one of them.
"Though it was only a folk temple, the old Daoist Sun Daoqian had learned a few martial arts moves somewhere in his younger days. After establishing the Three Purities Temple, he spent his days studying martial arts. Over several decades, he really did develop a few moves."
After listening, the prince narrowed his eyes and said with some surprise, "Then this old Daoist truly had some talent for martial arts."
"Indeed. Those disciples who left scattered across the land. The others have made no name for themselves. Only Zhang Qingyuan stands out. After leaving the Three Purities Temple, he first wiped out a branch of the Black Lotus Sect, then became involved with Bamboo Green Fairy, whose reputation has recently soared in the martial world. Together, they killed the master of Cloud Dust Manor and more than thirty of its disciples. Afterward, he also slaughtered the sect leader of the Seven Luminaries Sword Sect, who came seeking revenge.
"He then went to Taiyin Dao Palace. After descending the mountain, he came to Kaifeng to aid the disaster victims."
Liu Xiangquan cautiously continued his report. "He first provided relief in a small town under Dingfeng County, exchanging all the money and valuables he had on him for grain to help the disaster victims.
"After his money ran out, he went to Dingfeng County's seat and became acquainted with Tang Zhong, a grain merchant there.
"The Chang brothers had seized Tang Zhong's grain, so he volunteered to take the Tang Household's men to Listening Wind Stronghold to demand it back."
"So the stronghold's three hundred-odd men, the Chang brothers, and more than a dozen Dragon Gate experts all died at his hands alone?"
Liu Xiangquan nodded. "From what we can tell, that is indeed the case. They have already hauled away all the hundreds of thousands of shi of grain in the stronghold.
"They are now opening the granaries in Dingfeng County and distributing grain to the disaster victims.
"There are even rumors among the common people... that he is Great Emperor Zhenwu descended to the mortal world."
Liu Xiangquan was somewhat frightened. He watched the man in the dragon robe with trembling apprehension, afraid that he would vent his anger on him.
But the man in the dragon robe was not as furious as he had imagined. He merely asked calmly, "Is the intelligence accurate?"
"It should be. Our men inspected the stronghold and found that all the bodies had been burned."
At this point, Liu Xiangquan paused, then added, "It is said that when he returned with them, there was also a young gentleman in fine robes at his side. We have yet to discover who that gentleman is."
"We cannot wait any longer."
The man abruptly rose and looked at the great banner standing outside the door.
"But our preparations are far from complete. We don't have enough troops."
"We no longer have the luxury of further preparations. Now that Listening Wind Stronghold has been exposed, our affairs cannot remain hidden either.
"There is no shortage of clever people in this world. Your memorial reached the capital so long ago, yet the court still has not sent disaster relief. That means word leaked long ago. If we keep waiting, what arrives may be the court's army."
"As for Zhang Qingyuan, should we send someone to..." As he spoke, he drew a hand across his throat.
The man gave a sinister smile. "Of course. Though the leak has little to do with him, we lost hundreds of thousands of shi of grain because of him.
"We originally had five granaries in Kaifeng Prefecture. Now we have lost one. With this northernmost granary gone, gathering the disaster victims in the north will be no easy matter.
"He ruined my plans. How could I let him live?"
His eyes were hawklike as he said, "So what if he is Great Emperor Zhenwu descended to the mortal world? If he deserves death, he will die all the same!"
"Understood!"
Liu Xiangquan bowed. "I will dispatch all of Dragon Gate's experts at once to take his life!"
"Mm. Go."
The man turned away, clasping his hands behind his back.
He knew himself that his plans for rebellion were far too hasty-so hasty that before the drought, he had never even entertained the thought.
Advisers, plans-he had none of those at all.
Not only had the court failed to see it coming, even he himself had not seen it coming.
"Xiahou Jue, this was all your brilliant idea!"
After Liu Xiangquan left, another person emerged in the room, though it was unclear when he had arrived.
He had a dark, sinister appearance, his entire body concealed beneath a black robe.
His voice was hoarse, and his laughter sounded like scratching at a door.
"Your Highness, isn't ascending the throne what you have always dreamed of?"
"It was you. You tempted me!"
"Did I?" The black-robed man continued laughing. "The old emperor's health is worsening by the day. He is already nearing his end, like withered wood. Once he dies, the princes will surely fight over that seat until their heads are broken and blood flows.
"And just at this moment, Kaifeng suffers a great drought. As the Prince of Yu, you need only raise your arm and call, and tens of millions of disaster victims will be yours to command.
"With such a heaven-sent opportunity, it is not I who am tempting you. Heaven itself is tempting you!"
"Heh. Your Heavenly Principle Sect believes in Heaven too?"
"No, no, no. Your Highness misunderstands. Our Heavenly Principle Sect believes above all in heavenly principle. Such is heavenly principle!"
"But the plan is simply too rushed..."
"Rushed it certainly is. You are not ready, but naturally, neither is the court."
As though his voice carried some magic, Xiahou Jue continued, "General Huang, their most capable commander, is stationed at the frontier, while the other generals are scattered across the land. The capital has only the Three Great Camps, totaling barely more than ten thousand men.
"The crown prince is incompetent. The second, fourth, and eighth princes are locked in bitter conflict, and the Three Great Camps have each chosen sides. They are a heap of loose sand.
"Once the old emperor dies and the princes fall into chaos, you can gather the disaster victims with lightning speed, distribute weapons, and march on the capital. Who could stop you then?
"Let the princes fight like the snipe and the clam. You need only wait to reap the fisherman's reward."
The Prince of Yu looked at Xiahou Jue and drew a deep breath. He admitted that this truly was a heaven-sent opportunity.
Once again, Xiahou Jue's words stirred his heart and hardened his resolve.
"But my imperial brother simply won't die! Half a month ago, you said he should be dead, yet even now, he is still alive!"
"No hurry, no hurry... just another day or two."