Surrounded by formidable enemies, under their gaze, iron arrows gave off cold glares and a second would decide if everything was lost.
Cui Buqu had only one opportunity to say two sentences.
And it was what he did.
The first sentence was: Have you seen the bureau's great prison?
The second sentence was: Before you came out, are you sure you left enough subordinates in your study?
The first sentence made Yang Yun furrow his brows, and the second one made his expression pale.
The hand he'd raised high froze in the air.
"Governor!" Wu Yi urged from behind.
"What did you do?" Yang Yun knew that he should ignore it, lay the orders and turn Cui Buqu into a porcupine, but he didn't know why he was hesitating.
"Governor!" Wu Yi anxiously stamped his foot. He would give everything to grab Yang Yun's hand and pull it down himself.
"Cui Buqu!" Yang Yun roared.
Cui Buqu smiled: "You are caught guilty, Governor Yang."
People of ambition would never feel guilty. They see power as their ultimate goal, and wouldn't hesitate even at the cost of their legacy and life. The best example would be Liu Bang of Han1. Even as Xiang Yu kidnapped his father, wife, and children, holding them hostage, he would still calmly request Xiang Yu to give him a piece of the spoils after he slaughtered his family.
At first Cui Buqu thought Yang Yun was also such a person. He had no children and shared no memorable relationship with his wife—these could all be just to minimize his weaknesses and avoid being blackmailed by others. But just now, when both of them stared at each other, he knew that he overestimated Yang Yun. Perhaps the other cared not for children to succeed his legacy, but he did loved himself incredibly.
Yang Yun was over thirty years old with a short mustache and beard that was trimmed tidily. Even during such a windy and stormy night, neither his hair or clothes were messy. He didn't tolerate untidiness. Moreover, his location in the array also had a catch: there were guards on his left and right, yet none behind him. Because once something happens, he could quickly retreat into the protection of his troops and secure his safety.
This is a man who paid attention to appearance and valued his own life.
He loved himself more than he loved anyone else, so he was completely fine with having no wife or children. As long as he was living well, it would be enough.
"Governor Yang, I'm guessing that from the beginning you only wanted to embezzle some provisions and sell them for wealth. You have never thought that it would turn into the situation today, am I right?" Cui Buqu said.
When Yang Yun's hand didn't fall, he saw through Yang Yun's weakness, and so he had enough to spare to turn defeat into victory.
"If it was just corruption, you would only just be dismissed from your office if you confessed to His Majesty. But it would be different if it was treason. You collaborated with the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai, yet didn't know that they were using you. Step by step they lured you into a trap, turning everything into a big deal and pushing you towards a cliff. You have no choice but to be lead on by the nose."
"Kill him!" Wu Yi howled, "Kill that sickly bastard! He merely spouts nonsense with his mouth, what is so scary about him?!"
Carrying his knife he rushed forwards, raising his knife to cut down Cui Buqu.
Cui Buqu roared: "Pei Jingzhe!"
Practically at the same time he called, Pei Jingzhe leaped out of the house!
Wu Yi's speed was a lot slower than the arrow. Very quickly, he was thrown to the ground, rolling. Pei Jingzhe seized him down and placed a knife onto his throat.
The archers by the walls should have shot at Cui Buqu the moment Wu Yi ran out, but they didn't.
Many of them were already looking back with surprise. Their formation has already become disoriented.
It was unknown since when the darkness they came from had lit up with fire. It flourished as it burned and grew brighter as it dragged on; from scattered little fires they turned into a bundle of flames, and following it from afar were voices howling like rolling thunder!
That place was situated neither far away or near. They didn't rush where they stood, but Yang Yun's face turned as pale as snow all of a sudden. He knew where those howlings from the mountains came from.
The Governor's Residence!
"For two consequent years you lied to the Imperial Court with the strategy of waiving taxes via donating grains. Through colluding with distinguished families, you obtained no little amount of benefits. If you had turned back and stopped here, you wouldn't have brought such a disaster upon yourself. But the heart is impossible to satisfy; this year, an explosive wave of rain came, the Imperial Court unexpectedly issued rations, yet as greed rose in you, you embezzled these rations as well, resulting in the loss of homes for thousands of flood victims. Many of them were left with nowhere to go, thus went to the county town and practically raised a riot. At the same time, the Imperial Court delivered an Imperial Envoy to supervise the cause. You feared that long nights would be haunted by dreams, so you rather go big or go home, killing everyone to get over with it. But because there were too many victims, you couldn't kill them all at once, and so you locked up some of them into the great prison, deciding to wait for the Imperial Censor to leave first before deciding their fate. When that time comes, it would be assumed that when the flood came, the people couldn't escape in time and most of them are drowned. Those embezzled rations would no longer be needed. It was the best for both worlds, and all beneath the sky is at peace."
Cui Buqu's spoke at the speed of light, laying out all Yang Yun's plans clearly with just a few words as if he had witnessed them himself.
What made Yang Yun more shocked was that Cui Buqu had dared to take the perilous road, letting his people release those victims and condemned prisoners in the great prison so they would attack the Governor's Residence!
Here, he brought people to kill Cui Buqu, yet over there, his own residence was being destroyed!
One can imagine those cornered victims and condemned prisoners howling as someone let them out, or someone might even inform them that there would be food in the Governor's Residence. Knowing that if something happened there would be an Imperial Envoy to take the blame, those people would burst into the Governor's Residence like madmen, turning the place upside down. Cui Buqu's people would be among them, finding their way to his study...
The commotions not far away got louder and louder.
People who were originally cowering in their homes had begun coming out to steal a glance through opened windows.
Noise rose up all around, the sound of slaughter rushed into the sky.
Yang Yun even heard there were sounds of knives and spears grinding against each other among them.
Weapons in the great prison seemed to have all been taken by them, and he himself had brought almost everyone out with only a few left in his residence. He could not have guessed that Cui Buqu would be so cruel, using the strategy of "Surrounding Wei to save Zhao2" to bring himself out this difficult situation.
If the Governor's Residence was destroyed, then all the secrets he had hidden there would be destroyed as well!
Yang Yun's eyes cracked, his eyes brimmed red, cruelly glared at Cui Buqu's gaze as if he was looking at his father's murderer in the eye and hating the fact that they live beneath the same sky.
"Do you know what are the consequences of letting out those victims?! The entire Guangqian County would be destroyed. Cui Buqu, for your own selfish desires, you would rather be condemned through the ages as Guangqian's bringer of calamity?!"
He could even convey such a false account of facts in such a rightful manner.
The soldier's hearts were all tossed into frantic disarray, exchanging whispers. They did not even pay attention to those high-sounding words of Yang Yun's.
From not far away, the commotion grew. A great fire rose from the Governor's Residence and quickly turned into a cluster of dense smoke.
Yang Yun knew this cannot carry on. Even if Cui Buqu already had his secrets in his hands, as long as this fellow died, those secrets would forever be safe.
"Archers! I order you to—"
Before he could say the words "release the arrows", he was like a cockerel being grabbed by his throat. His eyes opened wide, turning into a mute in the spilt of the moment.
A knife was suspended on his neck, clean-cut and clear.
Cries from all around rose with Yang Yun and the executor in the center. Everyone took a step back at once.
The man wearing the uniform of soldiers from the Governor's Residence raised his head slightly, revealing the face beneath the armour.
Guan Shanhai.
When the commotion from inside the city reached them, Yang Yun and everyone around him had unawarely been affected by it. Guan Shanhai who stood around the outer fringe blended in. When everyone was worried that the rebels would conquer the Governor's Residence, no one noticed Guan Shanhai had quietly got close to Yang Yun, standing near enough to pose a threat to him.
Pain spread from his neck. Yang Yun really did believe that the other now habours the intention to kill. At that moment, he prioritized his desire to live and shouted loudly: "Everyone stop!"
Two words, curt and brief, exposed his thoughts, allowing Cui Buqu to be more determined that his guesses were right.
He's not afraid that his enemies were afraid of dying; he's only afraid if his enemies weren't afraid of dying.
Cui Buqu glanced all around and coldly stated: "Put down your weapons and surrender. The principal culprit shall be questioned, but all accomplices under duress shall go unpunished!"
As all the surrounding soldiers were perturbed by the commotion in the city, they couldn't help giving in to the panic.
Other than Yang Yun's trusted soldiers, the rest were not his deadly loyal soldiers.
As for Yang Yun's personal guards, their incompetence was the reason he was seized, and so they dare not act rashly.
Qiao Xian, who stood by the gates, was a step too late to seizing Wu Yi.
Because the name Cui Buqu shouted was Pei Jingzhe's, and not hers.
She had also seen Guan Shanhai, who should have gone to the Zhao Family's Teahouse to gather information. Yet, here he is, masquerading as one of his soldiers to blend in.
When she was confused and oblivious, when everyone thought Cui Buqu really would give in without a fight this time, he has already deployed all his chess pieces, completing the entire board of chess and securing its endgame.
This moment, Rong Qing was finally put to use.
A reasonable clarion digress to denounce Yang Yun and guarantee that everyone else would go unpunished. After an episode of warm-heartedness, the archers finally toss their weapons to the ground. Following were the surrounding soldiers, row by row they tossed their weapons, until only Yang Yun's personal guards were left, yet they were already powerless.
Qiao Xian originally thought she knew the extent of Cui Buqu's capabilities, but at this moment, she realized she had underestimated him.
In the recent few times Cui Buqu often worked together with Feng Xiao, Second Commander Feng's bombastic and flashy high-profile appearance near him would give a lot of people the delusion that the reason of their success was mostly because of Feng-er's martial arts. After all, no one could turn a blind eye to Feng Xiao's dazzling figure.
Even the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai would naturally place their focus on Feng Xiao, but they were all wrong. Even though Cui Buqu didn't know martial arts, his chronic illness could serve as his camouflage.
Yang Yun learned that he underestimated his enemy, but it was too late.
As if Cui Buqu could sense it, he turned around to meet Qiao Xian's gaze.
"You... since when did you send people to attack the bureau's great prison?" Qiao Xian forcibly pushed herself to say the latter half of the sentence, "Why didn't you tell us?"
"From illusion the truth is revealed; in the truth lies an illusion." Cui Buqu's expression was unreadable.
Nobody had noticed that those two Zuoyue guards had vanished. Their martial arts were mediocre, and they couldn't help much but serve as errand boys. To disappear for two to three days were common for them. Even Qiao Xian hadn't realized it, but when Yang Yun came rolling with a ferocious aura, both of them were enough to attack the bureau's great prison and let out the convicts as well as victims.
Qiao Xian should have been the first one informed, but now she was left in the dark no different from Rong Qing.
As she thought until this point, she inhaled sharply, piercing through the other's ice-cold gaze like a crumbling icy cellar.
"Commander..." You already knew everything?
Cui Buqu did not reply to this question of hers. He didn't even look at her. Turning around, summoning the wind as he raised his cloak, he resolutely gave a command, a follow-up to the movement Yang Yun was never given the chance to execute tonight.
"In presence of the Emperor's orders, take down all Yang Yun's personal guards!"
It was as easy as blowing off dust.
Yang Yun's face as white as ash, quivering as he watched knives pierced his own soldier's chests, screaming as they fell.
Defeat spread like a contagious disease; in the blink of an eye, all the morale of the soldiers crumpled, and what's more was that the figure they've pledged loyalty to was already in the enemy's hands.
Watching as the big picture settled down, Pei Jingzhe tied Wu Yi's hands behind his back, before walking forward to help Guan Shanhai take care of Yang Yun. He watched as Cui Buqu rode on Yang Yun's horse, ordering everyone to advance to the Governor's Residence to clean up the situation. Pei Jingzhe immediately grabbed a horse and followed.
"We are going to the Governor's Residence. Come along?" As he passed by Qiao Xian, Pei Jingzhe bent to give her a hand.
Qiao Xian was stunned. "The Commander didn't allow me to go."
Pei Jingzhe curiously asked: "You are from the Zuoyue Bureau. Even I could go, why not you?"
Qiao Xian hesitated for a moment. Without taking Pei Jingzhe's hand, she flipped herself onto the horse, landing behind him as she took the reins and rode forward.
"Go!"
Pei Jingzhe: "..."
At once, Pei Jingzhe felt that from Qiao Xian's perspective, he resembled more the beautiful maiden being protected in her arms.
Qiao Xian wasn't able to empathize his difficulty. She only saw him looking around, so she raised a brow and asked: "What are you looking at? Stop squirming."
"Strange. Where is my Lord?" Pei Jingzhe could not find the familiar silhouette among the group of people.
From the way he saw it, regardless of how difficult it is to deal with in the Stormy Tavern, Feng Xiao has already left for half a day, surely, he should be back by now?
From the beginning to the end, there was not a single role meant for Feng Xiao.
...
When Feng Xiao walked into the Stormy Tavern, the sky was still a gradient of purple and blue as night hung at the horizon.
There was only one tavern. Before he entered the tavern he could already smell the scent of sweet wine.
There were not many people inside, but there weren't a few either. There were ten sitting on three to four different tables chatting and reminiscing.
When Feng Xiao arrived, nobody noticed him.
Nobody turned to his direction. Everyone chatter among themselves, as if Feng Xiao didn't exist.
Feng Xiao was upset by this. How could he, a dignified, elegant, peerless, unbridled and suave gentleman who nobody would dare own up to first if he was second in this world, was ignored like this?
He crossed his leg and sat down, slapping the table and yelled: "Where is the host? And the employees? Is everyone dead? Bring the wine!"
Perhaps he had been too abrupt, for everyone finally turned his way.
Feng Xiao felt a little cocky. Others would be afraid to deliver a high-profile, yet it was his favourite thing to do. After the others looked and looked at him, he not only didn't feel irritated, but even smiled back at them.
The employee finally brought him a jar of wine.
"What does my Lord wish to drink?"
"Wine from Lanling!"
The employee gave a troubled look. "Lanling is too far away from this place. I beg your Lord's forgiveness, we do not have wine from Lanling."
Feng Xiao: "Then what wine do you have? As long as it's good wine, bring them up! I have nothing but money."
The employee raised the jar of wine in his hand. "We sell the best type of wine. Amber's Light. My Lord, have a try?"
Feng Xiao smiled and said: "I don't want Amber's Light, I want wine from Lanling. If there is no wine from Lanling, let me drink the hard way3."
The employee gave a strange look. It's not the first time he encountered a customer searching for a fight, but it's the first time he heard a customer saying he wants to drink the hard way.
Feng Xiao: "Don't you have a hard way for me to drink?"
The employee twitched his lips. "... My apologies, my Lord. We really do not have it."
Feng Xiao's expression changed, morphing from joy to anger as he immediately raised his hand to flip the wine case!
The porcelain bowl and cups all shatter on the ground.
"Why run a tavern if you have nothing!"
He reached out to grab the employee's throat, yet the latter's fearful expression morphed. He reached out with a hand to fling the wine jar in his hand at Feng Xiao, turning around to avoid the attack.
At the same time, the customers inside the tavern suddenly rose to their feet in unison. With bare fists and handheld weapons, they all attacked Feng Xiao!
Feng Xiao laughed boisterously. He leaped into the air as quickly as lightning, avoiding everyone's assaults on the spot. Then, with a gesture as quick as lightning he grabbed the employee's throat, landing on the roof's beam as light as a feather, looking at everyone.
"Having spread such a big net, yet Xiao Lu wouldn't even show himself?" He mocked.
"Dealing with you, these eleven first-tier grandmasters from the Jianghu would be enough. There is no need for the Pavilion Lord to show himself." a familiar voice reached him. Yuan Sansi stepped out from the corridor at the rear, leaping with a gesture.
But because Feng Xiao stood too high, Yuan Sansi had to raise his head to speak with him. This made him look too nimble, so he leaped onto the beam as well.
Feng Xiao exclaimed: "An old friend, ah, Old Yuan! Many days passed since our separation, and you've grown thin. Could it be that Xiao Lu was mad at your failure in Tiannian Mountain, that he refused you meals?"
All would have been well if he was quiet, but when he started rubbing it in, fury rose in Yuan Sansi. The incident in Tiannian Mountain, the change of sides of Fan Yun, the Zuoyue and Jiejian Bureaus' revenge, had all made the Thirteen Pavilion of Yunhai suffer great losses. Yuan Sansi's years of serving as an undercover Prefectural Magistrate could no longer carry on. He could only change into another identity as a dormant hidden in the dark. But he had got used to living in the light, and so having to live in the dark all of a sudden….. How could he be pacified with just luxurious clothes and delicacies?
"Feng Xiao, do you believe that Cui Buqu knew all along there was a trap here, and so let you come on purpose?" Yuan Sansi snorted coldly.
"Of course I believe it." Feng Xiao snickered, "I believe the love of your mother's ass!"
Before he finished his words, he dashed towards Yuan Sansi!
Below the beam, eleven grandmasters glared, simply waiting for Feng Xiao to show his weakness, and then they'd take the opportunity to strike, going for the kill!
====
[1] 汉时刘邦: Liu Bang was an Emperor who prioritized himself over anything else. One time he was pursued by enemies, he pushed two of his own children off his carriage three times in an attempt to lighten the weight. Even though the driver of the carriage eventually saved them.
[2] 围魏救赵的法子: During the Warring States period, when Wei attacked Zhao, the Qis sent out troops to surround the Kingdom of Wei so they were forced to retreat from attacking the Zhaos to save themselves.
[3] 罚酒 (lit. wine of punishment): usually a punishment in drinking games but could also mean to threaten someone if they wanted to deal with matters the hard way instead of any alternative. Feng Xiao is probably messing around with wordplay.