Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Zhong Heng walked out of the tent and saw groups of attendants as well as soldiers waiting for him. Immediately, a sense of satisfaction rose within him. He felt that all the effort he had put in so far was paying off.
Crowds were like treasures, and obedient crowds were even more valuable than treasures. Like extensions of one's limbs, they could turn a lucky someone into a giant in the blink of an eye.
Zhong Heng believed that he was lucky. He used to be among the crowd, doing whatever he could to speculate about the subtle intentions of his superior, and after struggling for many years, he had still failed to outs.h.i.+ne his other compet.i.tors. It was not until he met the Dragon King that his destiny had changed.
'The Dragon King wants to take revenge, no matter the cost,' Zhong Heng thought as he walked, followed by dozens of people.
Unlike Fang Wens.h.i.+, Zhong Heng had never believed that seeking revenge and fighting for supremacy were contradictory. On the contrary, he knew very well how important hatred was to the Dragon King. Without hatred, the Dragon King would be merely an outstanding killer. He was willing to be a part of the Dragon King's cause of seeking revenge, and when he knew that the target was Wei Song, he became even more motivated.
Wei Song had been in Zhong Heng's way for many years and he was also one of the most important reasons why Zhong Heng had been stranded among the crowd. Besides, Zhong Heng was partly responsible for the death of Wei Song's son. If Zhong Heng were in the Central Plains, then Wei Song would have killed him like a mosquito a long time ago.
It was between the second and third night-watch, and it was a time when most people were either asleep or having fun. But it was also a perfect occasion for the birth of various rumors.
Ma Lian took off his official uniform and handed the scepter over to someone whose job was to be responsible for it. Then he stood at the gateway of the tent and welcomed his new friend in.
Zhong Heng had specifically put on a robe of the Western-Regions style. When he was still a couple of steps away, he opened his arms like a Western Regioner. But eventually, he paid his respects by cupping his hand before his chest in a Central-Plains-like manner. During this process, he noticed the expression of Ma Lian and realized that he shouldn't behave too intimately.
There was a small feast. The two sat face-to-face with a small table before each of them. Ma Lian ordered the servants to serve good wine of the Central Plains, while Zhong Heng provided some specialties of the Central Plains. And in that manner, they spent the first half of the feast talking about the uncommon foods and savoring good wine.
And then, the two naturally talked about the officials they knew in the Central Plains. Unexpectedly, there were a couple of people who they both were familiar with, which made them feel even closer to each other. And the forms of address "Brother Ma" and "Brother Zhong" sounded even less incongruous.
Their attendants also provided plenty of interesting topics. One of Ma Lian's henchmen vividly described the scene of the envoy leaving the capital city. "Hundreds of officials went out of the city to see the Lord Envoy off. Numerous residents stood on the two sides of the street, and they numbered dozens of times more than the number of Jade City's residents. On horseback, we saw a boundless sea of people. Though my lord has always been a highly prestiged man, the reason why his departure caused such a sensation was because of the battle of Thousand Hors.e.m.e.n Pa.s.s. It's been so many years since the last time the Central Plains won a victory as great as this one. It really gave us a sense of triumph."
One of Zhong Heng's henchmen expressed moderate regret. "It's a pity that the Prime Minister was unable to be on the battlefield himself because he was in the Xiaoyao Lake. The Dragon King trusts the Prime Minister very much. Whenever there's a battle, he always put the Prime Minister in charge of the rear. If it weren't for the fact that the Lord Envoy came here to reward the troops, the Dragon King wouldn't have asked the Prime Minister to come here."
"You didn't partic.i.p.ate in the battle of Thousand Hors.e.m.e.n Pa.s.s?" Ma Lian asked casually.
"I wasn't lucky enough to. But I never worried about it."
"Why? Was it because you knew that the Dragon King's victory was certain?"
"Not really. I got a confidential letter from the Dragon King, and I knew that Prince Xiao and the Dragon King had formulated a plan to eradicate the enemies. So, I believed that I could rest a.s.sured. I don't mean to be disrespectful to the Dragon King, but even if I don't trust him, how could I suspect the competence of the royal uncle?"
The two burst into laughter. Their attendants excused themselves and left.
Ma Lian's smile gradually disappeared. He sighed inexplicably. "I envy you so much, Brother Zhong. You have a wise master and you are the n.o.ble Prime Minister. How many people under the sun can have such luck and achieve as much as you?"
"Alas." Zhong Heng waved his hand both modestly and proudly said, "the Stone Kingdom is just a tiny country, and its population is smaller than that of any county of the Central Plains. Nominally, I'm the Prime Minister, but that's actually nothing more than a fancy name."
Ma Lian was slightly surprised, "The Dragon King has half of the Western Regions under his rule. Why are you just the Prime Minister of the Stone Kingdom?"
"You've just arrived in the Western Regions, so you are not familiar with the situation here. There are many rumors out there, but actually, most of them have exaggerated the Dragon King's strength and ambition. The Dragon King did save the five kingdoms of Xiaoyao Lake from the Golden Roc Army, and he did expel the Norland cavalry and restore Shule Kingdom. However, he never meant to annex these countries. Currently, these six countries still have their original names, and their kings' surnames remained unchanged. All of them are deeply grateful to the Dragon King. With regards to the Stone Kingdom, its princess is the Dragon King's wife. Because the new king is still young, they 'borrowed' me and made me the acting Prime Minister. It's only temporary."
Ma Lian nodded repeatedly. He raised his cup and urged Zhong Heng to drink with him. After that, he asked, "So the Dragon King only has a king's t.i.tle. Why doesn't he have his own territory?"
"The Dragon King's t.i.tle is from the Big Snow Mountain. It means 'the leader of dragons and the king of five peaks'. Big Snow Mountain's area is over a thousand square miles, and it's the Dragon King's territory. There's another place he controls, and that's Jade City."
Ma Lian raised his cup and kept silent. After quite a while, he said, "For many years, Jade City has been under the rotational rule of three countries. Does the Dragon King want to break this convention?"
"It was not the Dragon King but Golden Roc Castle who broke the convention. The Unique King let the fox into the henhouse. He intended to annihilate the Shule Kingdom with the help of the Norland's cavalry. In fact, the rotational rule no longer existed from then on. Currently, the Norlanders have been forced to give up on Jade City and leave. The Shule Kingdom has rebuilt itself and also given up its jurisdiction over Jade City. So, the Dragon King can take control of Jade City whenever he wants. He hasn't done it yet only because he respects the Central Plains."
With a graver look on his face, Ma Lian put his cup down. "So the Dragon King cooperated with Prince Xiao only because he wants Jade City?"
Smiling, Zhong Heng shook his head. "The Dragon King did have this intention, but Prince Xiao didn't agree. He said that this was an important issue, and that it was ultimately the emperor's decision to make."
Ma Lian also smiled. "Prince Xiao was right. I guess that this was the reason why he returned to the capital, right?"
Zhong Heng looked around and then said in a low voice, "This should be kept between you and me. Prince Xiao did return to the capital because of this issue. He's grateful for the Dragon King's help in Thousand Hors.e.m.e.n Pa.s.s, and he promised the Dragon King that he would help him obtain Jade City. But I'm a little worried."
"About what?"
Zhong Heng was about to answer him, but he eventually swallowed his words back, raised his cup, and drank the wine.
Ma Lian was a little unhappy, "Do you not trust me, Brother Zhong? We're here drinking because our characters are somewhat similar. So in here, I'm not the envoy of the Central Plains, and you're not the Prime Minister either. It's inconsiderate of you to stop talking halfway."
"Please forgive me, Brother Ma. Um. Here's the thing. When Prince Xiao returns to the capital, he inevitably will have to send some gifts to other people in order to keep his social network healthy, so the Dragon King offered to give a moderate amount of money to Prince Xiao, but he met with a flat refusal. To be honest, the Dragon King and I are both Central Plainsmen, but we've been away from our homeland for a long time. Thus, we are not familiar with the rules there at all."
Ma Lian solemnly said, "Prince Xiao did the right thing. Things haven't changed much in the Imperial Court, but the regulation of communication with outsiders is still very strict. Prince Xiao is a n.o.ble royal uncle, so he naturally should set an example. But since he made a promise, then there's a seventy to eighty percent chance of it happening. You can tell the Dragon King that there's no need for him to worry too much, Brother Zhong."
"I see. Hha, I've been in the Western Regions for too long that I've nearly become a Western Regioner. Alas, I don't have the face to go back to my hometown."
"You worry too much, Brother Zhong. The emperor's might is boundless. As long as the Dragon King is willing to be the emperor's servant, then he will always be a subject of the Central Plains no matter where he is. Besides, different regions of the Central Plains also have their respective traditions and customs, and the differences between them are just as dramatic as those between different areas of the Western Regions."
With his left hand holding the cup, Zhong Heng raised his right hand high and then waved it down lightly. "You're a real confidant, Brother Ma. The Dragon King also wants to acquire the acknowledgement of the Central Plains. Even I myself have always longed to gain the nationality of the Central-Plains so that I can sleep well at night."
From this moment on, the conversation entered a stage of plain speak. Ma Lian talked about the various benefits of having the Central Plains as a backer, while Zhong Heng implied that the Dragon King had prepared a large amount of money but couldn't find the right person to give it to.
Ma Lian frequently mentioned the battle of Thousand Hors.e.m.e.n Pa.s.s, but Zhong Heng only gave perfunctory responses, saying that he had been on the battlefield. Likewise, when Zhong Heng brought up Prince Xiao and Governor Wei Song, Ma Lian always replied with complimentary remarks, saying that there had never been any partisan wrangle in the Imperial Court of the Central Plains, and that under the emperor's management, there had never been any minor disputes between officials.
It was already late at night when Zhong Heng took his leave. Looking obviously drunk, he was staggering. With the help of two attendants, he managed to walk out of the tent. Ma Lian's face was also red. He walked out of the tent with Zhong Heng, confirmed his figure disappearing into the night, and then returned to the tent.
Zhong Heng washed his face with fresh icemelt water, stretched his fingers into his throat, and vomited several times. After ordering his guards to go back to sleep, he quietly went to meet the Dragon King alone.
He knew that the Dragon King seldom slept at night.
"Ma Lian is a puppet." Zhong Heng told him his conclusion directly. "And he's a coward. He will accept your money without hesitation, but he won't do anything for you after returning to the Central Plains."
"If he's a puppet, then who does he serve?"
"I don't know. Maybe that person is far from the Central Plains, and maybe he or she is right here around him. Give me two or three days and I'll surely find out the truth. I hope that this person is not Wei Song."
"I don't think so. Prince Xiao is not the kind of person who's weak enough to let his political enemy be in charge of this investigation into military exploits."
Zhong Heng nodded. "Also, Ma Lian seems to know nothing about the Dragon King's true ident.i.ty. He cares more about the Dragon King's future plans."
"Check the backgrounds of those around him."
Zhong Heng had sussed Ma Lian out for the first time but hadn't achieved much. After returning to his tent, Zhong Heng carefully recalled the faces of every attendant around Ma Lian, trying to find someone he could use.
Gu Shenwei didn't just stand by and wait for Zhong Heng to come up with a plan. The next morning, he summoned Dog Butcher as soon as he returned to the encampment of the Dragon Army, which was to the east of the Jade City.
Dog Butcher always felt uneasy in front of the Dragon King. If he hadn't been practicing the Virgin Boy Skills, he would have had a grandson about the Dragon King's age. Besides, he was an elder of the Kongtong Sect and had gotten used to being flattered by others, so his words sounded very clumsy when he tried to flatter other people.
But he was still willing to follow the Dragon King because he liked this kind of excitement that was tinged with destruction, and he liked the Dragon King's cold and just personality even more. Surprisingly, this young man who had a suspicious mind seldom imposed any restriction on his men.
But he didn't like this task very much, since he wouldn't need to use his saber, and neither would he need to take any risks. All he needed to do was invite a person here, and that person was his elder sister, Tu Pianpian.
Tu Pianpian hadn't forgotten her failure. She had tried to persuade the Dragon King to cooperate with Prince Xiao instead of attacking Thousand Hors.e.m.e.n Pa.s.s, but her suggestion had been met with a sharp rebuff. However, the Dragon King had changed his mind the moment Luo Ningcha had arrived, which made Tu Pianpian even more resentful.
As a result, although she came to meet the Dragon King for her younger brother's sake, the look on her face was very haughty. Holding a tall crutch, she didn't even nod at the Dragon King. The moment she saw him, she directly said, "Why has the Dragon King called for an ugly old woman like me? How's Madam Luo?"
Gu Shenwei ignored the sarcasm in her tone and directly asked, "Is the Kongtong Sect loyal to Lord Wei?"
Back then when Gu Shenwei was in the Royal Court, he had been informed that the Qingcheng Sect was very close to Luo Village, and that the Kongtong Sect's backer in the Imperial Court was Wei Song.
Tu Pianpian was stunned. "We're a sect of the martial arts world. Why would we pledge allegiance to an official of the Imperial Court? Lord Wei merely likes the temples of the Kongtong Sect, and he regularly donates some money to us every year."
"Very good. I want to kill Wei Song, and I hope that you can offer me some help."
Dog Butcher and his elder sister were both astounded. Tu Pianpian even horizontally raised her crutch before her chest.
