"Take care, Daoist."
Wu Di escorted Wuzheng out of the room and watched Jin Chuan lead the abbot of Hidden Dragon Temple out of the courtyard. Only then did his expression darken.
He turned back to the jar of Red Flower Honey on the table, his eyes full of doubt and surprise.
How had Wuzheng obtained the Red Flower Honey?
Had Fang Jing given it to him? Or had he seized it from Fang Jing?
Had Zhou Wuji gone to Red Leaf Ridge?
Such a fine plan-how had it failed? Had Fang Jing been so useless that Zhou Wuji had killed him?
Questions flashed through Wu Di's mind, but he could find no answers. It left him deeply uncomfortable.
Jin Chuan returned, respectfully cupped his hands, and asked quietly, "Company Commander, are we really just releasing all the villagers?"
"We have to give the Daoist sects some face."
Wu Di lightly patted the exquisite porcelain jar of Red Flower Honey. There were a good ten jin in this jar, so he could hardly call it a loss.
Li Cheng'an had also visited him and brought a thousand taels of silver. He had promised to deal leniently with the matter.
He could take this opportunity to put the matter to rest.
He was permanently stationed in Siming County; he could not drain the pond to catch the fish. Li Cheng'an was also a seventh-grade martial artist, so he could not push him too hard.
When cornered, these local country magnates really would dare to do anything.
As for Zhang Xinhu's thousand taels of gold, it seemed he would not be getting them this time.
Wu Di was in no hurry. As long as Zhou Wuji stayed in Siming County, he would have an opportunity to act.
A mere eighth-grade Daoist-what did it matter if his swordsmanship was formidable? Could he withstand a single saber strike from him?
Still, he needed to get to the bottom of this. He told Jin Chuan, "Send two men to Red Leaf Ridge to see what happened..."
Jin Chuan was about to speak when hurried hoofbeats suddenly sounded outside.
Jin Chuan hastily saluted Wu Di, seeking permission. Wu Di nodded. Anyone who dared ride straight into the guard station must have brought an urgent secret dispatch.
Before long, Jin Chuan returned with an agent clad in iron armor.
Following protocol, the agent saluted, then presented the secret dispatch with both hands.
The dispatch was enclosed in a sealed bamboo tube, and the envelope also bore a wax seal.
Wu Di opened the dispatch and read it, then waved for Jin Chuan to take the agent away to rest.
Once they had left, Wu Di read the dispatch twice more before folding it and putting it away.
Secret dispatches all had to be retained in the archives, so they could be produced as evidence if anything happened later.
Jin Chuan soon returned and looked cautiously at Wu Di.
Wu Di said, "Nothing serious. Battalion Commander Zhang Yunfeng is bringing a force to Siming County, supposedly to wipe out the rogue troops. We're to make preparations."
"Wipe out the rogue troops?" Jin Chuan's expression turned somewhat strange. He started to speak, then stopped.
Several thousand rogue troops had poured into Chunan Commandery over a month ago, causing enormous destruction.
The local authorities had complained incessantly, yet the Pacification Office had made no move.
Now the battalion commander was personally coming to wipe out the rogue troops?
Jin Chuan could not shake the feeling that there was something behind this.
Wu Di shook his head. "An opportunity has presented itself. It's only natural that the battalion commander wants to scoop up some credit.
"Someone must have tipped off the prefectural city."
Zhang Xinhu had previously told him that he could help him wipe out a band of rogue troops and earn military merit.
Rewards for military merit were the most generous, and it was also the easiest route to promotion.
Now it seemed word of the rogue troops hiding on Mount Siming had leaked out, drawing Zhang Yunfeng from the prefectural city.
Either one of Siming County's great clans had felt threatened and gone to the prefectural city to report it, or Wuzheng and the others had interrogated the rogue troops, obtained the information, and informed the Cloud Dragon Lower Court.
Whichever it was, it actually had little to do with him. Zhang Xinhu was the one who ought to be nervous.
If the Lower Court was behind this, and if it had obtained evidence from the rogue troops, it would certainly deal with Zhang Xinhu.
Wu Di considered whether to notify Zhang Xinhu and have the fellow owe him a favor.
With the Lower Court and Zhang Yunfeng involved, he would gain little even if Zhang Xinhu was killed...
At dusk, on a slope on the western side of Huamei Mountain, Wang Qi stood atop a huge boulder, gazing toward Siming County.
From here, he could overlook the entire county town: its high rammed-earth walls, the two long intersecting streets dividing it into four huge sections, and the little boxlike houses within...
With Wang Qi's eyesight, he could even faintly make out the carts and horses moving along the streets.
South of Siming County, the river running through the mountains joined the Nine Sources River, whose surging waters rushed downstream.
As the sun behind him slowly sank behind the peaks, heaven and earth abruptly grew dim.
Wang Qi shifted his gaze toward the Daoist temple on Huamei Mountain's southern slope. He saw figures moving in the courtyard and wisps of cooking smoke rising.
He felt somewhat moved. With abundant resources in the mountains, well-developed water transport, and broad stretches of arable plains nearby, Siming County was a fine place.
Wang Qi turned to look at Zhang Xinhu several zhang away. Siming County's foremost expert wore a long black robe and held a five-foot saber. With thick brows, tiger eyes, and a dense beard covering his face, he naturally exuded dominance and confidence merely standing there.
Wang Qi jumped down from the boulder. Despite wearing full steel lamellar armor, he landed almost soundlessly.
At the sight, Zhang Xinhu could not help nodding in admiration. "Fine skills, Brother Wang!"
Lamellar plates inevitably clattered against one another during movement. That Wang Qi could make no sound meant he controlled his muscles and tendons at will. His legs had absorbed and dissipated all the force of his landing, leaving the rest of his body almost perfectly still.
Military martial arts were far more direct, markedly different from the subtle, intricate methods of the martial world. For Wang Jing to achieve this proved that his martial skills were exceptionally refined.
Wang Qi paid no heed to Zhang Xinhu's praise. He said coldly, "You said you would give me grain, yet you got thirty-three of my brothers killed. Even my own younger brother died. How are we settling this account?"
"Brother Wang, that's a pointless thing to say. I offered grain in exchange for Zhou Wuji's head. You failed and caused me enormous losses. If anyone's settling accounts, it should be me."
Zhang Xinhu said with some disdain, "We're men who practice martial arts. There's no point quibbling over every little thing like women.
"Your whereabouts have already leaked. The Ironclad Guard from the prefectural city will soon send men to encircle and wipe you out."
"I came to warn you out of loyalty to a friend."
Wang Qi sneered. "You're afraid we'll give you up if we're caught!"
Zhang Xinhu made no attempt to conceal it. "That is indeed a concern. So your leaving benefits everyone."
He pointed south. "Zhou Wuji, the man who killed your brother, is in that Daoist temple. You can avenge your brother on your way out."
"And avenge your son too?" Wang Qi countered.
"Of course. Otherwise, why would I come here in person and tell you all this?"
Zhang Xinhu furrowed his thick brows, thoroughly puzzled. "Aren't we adults simply using each other? Why do you keep holding a grudge over my using you?
"If you were of no use, why would I risk having my household confiscated and my entire clan exterminated to collude with you? Didn't you approach me to use me too?"
Zhang Xinhu truly did not understand. Wang Qi was already in his thirties or forties, and a battalion commander at that. How could he still be so naive?
Wang Qi's expression turned ugly. He froze for a moment before saying, "What do I get for helping you kill Zhou Wuji?"
He stressed again, "The Daoist temple has the protection of incense offerings. A Daoist's power multiplies within his temple. I would be taking an enormous risk going there."
"Our Zhang Household also has merchant caravans in Chubei Commandery."
Zhang Xinhu said, "Once it's done, you can cross the Siming Mountains into Chubei Commandery. We can send people to meet you in Sweet Bamboo Town.
"With a merchant caravan as cover, you'll be able to enter the cities of Chubei Commandery."
Wang Qi remained silent. The terms sounded good, but who knew whether Zhang Xinhu was lying?
If the Ironclad Guard was waiting for them in Sweet Bamboo Town, they would be doomed.
But at this point, he had few choices.
Even if Zhang Xinhu had said nothing, he still had to kill Zhou Wuji to avenge his brother.
All this talk was merely to negotiate terms with Zhang Xinhu.
Zhang Xinhu added, "Hidden Dragon Temple has money and grain-exactly what you urgently need."
"Fine. We'll do it!" Wang Qi gave Zhang Xinhu a long look. "I hope you keep your word."
"Tonight, I'm hosting a banquet for the Pacification Office's company commander, Li Cheng'an, and Yang Shuling. I'll keep all the county's experts occupied."
Zhang Xinhu said calmly, "I think the second watch is the best time to strike..."